Source: outcamethesun.tumblr.com via Melissa on Pinterest
January 11th, 2012
2012 – Shiny and New
2011 seemed to fly by and 2012 snuck up on me and tapped me on the shoulder. I’m not going to make a list of resolutions to ring in this new year. 10 days into it, the only resolution I have for the year is to Do Better and Finish. As it pertains to me – For better: make better choices, keep a better schedule and stay on task. For finish: I’m an ideas gal. I live for plotting and figuring things out and usually with multiple ways to get to the outcome. But to actually finish a project I feel “the angst”. The creeping doubt that the bag, skirt, whatever is utter crap. So for me the resolution is to finish the damn thing anyway.
Pendant by speakingyourtruth on Etsy
December 9th, 2011
Handmade Holiday 2011
Handmade Holiday 2011
Time for holiday cheer! The Richmond Craft Mafia yearly Handmade Holiday Craft Show is this Sunday. I’m busily sewing away on more pouches and may make some new items to throw in the NLD mix. Here is a sneak peak of what I am working on.
pouches in progress
August 26th, 2011
Summertime Buzz
I’ve been keeping busy this summer although a bit on the quiet side. Working on projects, patterns, sewing, sewing and then some more sewing. It’s hard to find the mojo when all you want to do is have a mojito in a hammock and chill out. 
Someone I marvel at where she gets her energy from is my friend Kelly McCants of Modern June. Let’s see… she has a groovy husband, two great kids (that she home schools!), runs not one, but TWO businesses (Modern June and Oilcloth Addict) and just wrote a crafty how-to book Sewing with Oilcloth!! I have a dog, one business and chronic insomnia. 0_O Oh well! Good thing I have good friends that spur me on and show me that big things can happen if you persevere.
Sewing with Oilcloth book by Kelly McCants
Check out her cute book trailer on youtube.
Sewing with Oilcloth book shout out to the pattern testers
Wait a minute! Who is that last name listed? Oh – That’s me!!! 
I got the honor of being one of the project testers for Kelly’s book. It’s a bit thrilling to have my name in print floating out there in the world. Perhaps it will happen again with my own crafty book in the future. Hmmmm…
Did you know you can enter to win a free copy of Sewing with Oilcloth and all the fabric you need to make her Oilcloth Market Tote? Well, you can! Head over to the Wiley Craft website http://www.wileycraft.com/?p=1215 and enter. You should do that today!
June 17th, 2011
Blogoversary!
Time sure does fly. I’ve been “officially” keeping a blog for 6 years. When I look back at my old blog and the first posts, I cringe. A lot has changed, thank god. New business name, an ever evolving design style, new perspective of things, life and new goals.
There is something about June that I always find myself doing a check-in of where I’m at and where am I trying to point myself. Most people probably do this at the turn of the New Year. June is my January.
May 3rd, 2011
It’s all about the machines.
I totally love behind the scene workshop/studio videos. I stumbled on to Grain and Gram, a very cool blog that features crafters and artists, all guys! Awesome that crafty dudes are getting featured for a change. Shout out to Dude Craft for finding this blog gem. One of the newest posts on G&G is on Roy Slaper, the man with all the cool toys *ahem* specialized sewing machines used to make Roy Denim.
behind the scene at Roy Jeans
So, I went digging because I like to read about small clothing designers, because I am one and nosy. On Roy’s website, he has a couple of neato videos of the workings of his workshop. http://www.roydenim.com/video
I’ll admit I’m a nice shade of lime with envy of the workshop gadgetry going on at Roy headquarters. Now bring on to the machines!
February 17th, 2011
Pin On, Pinterest.
Have you been pinning? I have! Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com) is new-ish social catalog started in 2010. Think of it as a cyber corkboard, “pinning” up favorite finds as you surf the web and sharing with friends. You create your own collections, called “boards”. Boards generally follow some sort of theme, such as birthday wish list, bunnies, movies to see, etc. And to make things interesting (pinteresting, har-har!) you can in turn follow other interesting collections and “repin” cool items to your boards.
My pinterest boards
December 31st, 2010
Goodbye 2010…
Hurrah 2011!! This past year had its ups and downs but all in all, I really can’t complain. Business picked up a some, I’ve been a Junie for a year, was “booth babe” at the County Living Show in Atlanta for my friend Kelly (Modern June). I took a Crafty Pod class taught by Sister Diane that would help me with secret project #2. After many good years, I had to let my ole faithful first ever car, ’92 Saturn aka silver streak go. It was sad to see my cute, quirky yet reliable (until this year) car go on the tow truck. But, I was finally in a position to get a new and shiny car, the silver bullet. YAY! Who would have thought I’d be so happy to have cup holders! And I tried to stay inspired and creative when the lows kicked in and work through it.
For 2011, I have plans, Big plans I tell ya! I remember watching the Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland movie and what The Mad Hatter said to Alice: “You used to be much more…”muchier.” You’ve lost your muchness.” That quote stuck with me. I use to be muchier. I believe I lost a good deal of it along the way somewhere in little kernels and grains. I’m not usually big on resolutions, but this year I’m writing it down and sending it out in the ether. I’m going to get my muchness back! Here are the goals for 2011:
1. Secret project #1 – publish my own sewing patterns. (secret no more – putting it out there now!)
2. Secret project #2 -produce a ebook (or two!) of craft projects. (ditto)
3. design some fabric via Spoonflower
4. Make clothes again!
5. update the blog on the regular (yes, I know I’ve been slack)
6. Work on writing that novel I have back burnered for too long.
7. No more second guessing, just do it!
8. make organization my friend
9. work though my fabric stash (use it or destash it with a quickness)
10. *sigh* procrastination, see the list above… the battle continues!
What are your New Year resolutions? Happy New year everyone!
December 6th, 2010
Holiday Rush!
It’s that time of year again! Holiday season, shopping, and craft shows. Handmade Holiday to be exact.
Handmade Holiday Craft Show
I must say I’m a little bias, since I help organize this one. But it is really is awesome. Stop by and get your holiday shop on!