Have a blessed Memorial Day!
P.S. The winner of the felt flowers was ssbarton, comment number 3!
P.S. The winner of the felt flowers was ssbarton, comment number 3!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tagging Game #8
{The felt flower tutorial and giveaway goes through tomorrow... don't forget to enter!}
Thanks to an awesome blogger over at Quiltish (check her out, you'll love it!), I'm going to share the 8th photo in my 8th folder of my pictures on my computer. So ... here it is!
This is the one and only craft show I have done so far! It was last November, and I really really enjoyed doing it - plus it was fun to do one around Christmas! I'm not sure about this summer, but I certainly plan on doing another show at some point. It was quite an adventure doing my first, but I loved it!
Some things I learned:
Comment below with a link to the 8th picture in the 8th folder of your pictures!
Thanks to an awesome blogger over at Quiltish (check her out, you'll love it!), I'm going to share the 8th photo in my 8th folder of my pictures on my computer. So ... here it is!
This is the one and only craft show I have done so far! It was last November, and I really really enjoyed doing it - plus it was fun to do one around Christmas! I'm not sure about this summer, but I certainly plan on doing another show at some point. It was quite an adventure doing my first, but I loved it!
Some things I learned:
- Depending on your area, sometimes you don't really need a credit card machine.
I debated for a long time about taking credit cards, but decided against it in the end since it was my first show. I don't think a single person even tried to pay with plastic!
- HEIGHT.
I thought I had a wide variety of heights for my table, different levels, etc... but once it was all set up, I was wrong! I learned that I really needed to put some displays up higher - even eye level if possible! Having everything at one level makes it hard to see lots of things at once.
- Use stronger tape!
Although I did tape down the vintage bulbs borrowed from my mom, more than a few fell (luckily, not all that fell broke).
- Be friendly, but not overbearing. Take something to keep busy.
If it's possible to do your craft on the go, take it and work on it there. During downtime, or times when people are shopping but don't require attention, it would have been nice to have something for my hands to do! I didn't want to make shoppers feel awkward by watching them, so having something to keep me busy, while still being available for their questions would have been great.
- Get help!
Both my husband and my parents helped me set up that day, and I was extremely grateful for that. Since this was my first show, I didn't necessarily have all the nifty setups and packing techniques that others did, so it was very helpful to have quite a few arms helping me load and unload. Plus, having company during the day was great, too, so that I could take a break if I needed to!
Comment below with a link to the 8th picture in the 8th folder of your pictures!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
New Profile Update
Today I decided that my Etsy Profile needed an update... so I decided to post my new profile here as well, because it's my story. And I enjoy telling my story.
Since I was just a young girl, the thrill of creating grabbed me and took hold. I loved to create “beautiful” ornaments from paper, sketches and drawings with my pencil, or lovely macaroni necklaces. As I got older, I would drag my mother’s heavy sewing machine out of the basement and begin to sew with whatever fabrics I could find. Passion… I have passion. I loved the idea of taking old clothing, cutting it up, and making something pretty, perhaps a misshapen bag or a quilt for my doll. For some reason, creating something new out of old enthralled me…. and it still does to this day.
One of my favorite things to do on an early Saturday morning is go hunting at flea markets and garage sales for those perfect items… you know the ones. The ones you don’t even know you’re looking for, but when you see that item, that perfect item, you know that it’s something special, often for inexplicable reasons. You look and examine it from all sides, and determine that yes, you love it, and yes, you can find some use for that.
Then there’s the feeling of taking your prized possession home and finding its place. Sometimes it might sit on the dining room table for a week or two until it finds its rightful home. Sometimes it might get put on a shelf in the closet until its proper use is determined.
One day it’s a simple hankie… but the next, oh the possibilities. Purse? Pouch? Pillow? Once the inspiration hits, it’s to the sewing machine I go, working hard to form that wonderful item, that sometimes forgotten item, into something beautiful and full of life.
This passion is what fills my shop with unique and lovely items. Sometimes it’s slow, the inspiration isn’t always there. But then, as a gift from God, the inspiration will come… it always does.
Proverbs 31:24-25 “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
Don't forget, the free tutorial and giveaway are still going on through Friday!
Since I was just a young girl, the thrill of creating grabbed me and took hold. I loved to create “beautiful” ornaments from paper, sketches and drawings with my pencil, or lovely macaroni necklaces. As I got older, I would drag my mother’s heavy sewing machine out of the basement and begin to sew with whatever fabrics I could find. Passion… I have passion. I loved the idea of taking old clothing, cutting it up, and making something pretty, perhaps a misshapen bag or a quilt for my doll. For some reason, creating something new out of old enthralled me…. and it still does to this day.
One of my favorite things to do on an early Saturday morning is go hunting at flea markets and garage sales for those perfect items… you know the ones. The ones you don’t even know you’re looking for, but when you see that item, that perfect item, you know that it’s something special, often for inexplicable reasons. You look and examine it from all sides, and determine that yes, you love it, and yes, you can find some use for that.
Then there’s the feeling of taking your prized possession home and finding its place. Sometimes it might sit on the dining room table for a week or two until it finds its rightful home. Sometimes it might get put on a shelf in the closet until its proper use is determined.
One day it’s a simple hankie… but the next, oh the possibilities. Purse? Pouch? Pillow? Once the inspiration hits, it’s to the sewing machine I go, working hard to form that wonderful item, that sometimes forgotten item, into something beautiful and full of life.
This passion is what fills my shop with unique and lovely items. Sometimes it’s slow, the inspiration isn’t always there. But then, as a gift from God, the inspiration will come… it always does.
Proverbs 31:24-25 “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
Don't forget, the free tutorial and giveaway are still going on through Friday!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Upcycled Sweater Tutorial and a Giveaway!
Recently, a friend online, greenviewlane, began selling adorable felt flowers for crafters to use in their... well, crafting! I loved the flowers from the start and thought they would be perfect for on a pillow. Weeks later, I found a cashmere sweater at a garage sale that unfortunately had a hole in it. Lucky for me, because of the hole, I got the sweater for free, and decided it would be the perfect thing to turn into a pillow cover.
{pillow cover is available for sale in my shop}
Would you like to make your own? I have a pdf tutorial available for free for a limited time, all you need to do is click here and download it. And GreenViewLane has made it so easy to get going - she has a special listing in her shop just for this tutorial! The materials you need are:
In addition to this free tutorial, GreenViewLane is generously giving away a set of 3 flowers (winner picks the color) to get one lucky winner started with their pillow or other project.
To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know what you would do with these felt flowers.
One entry per person, and please make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you if you win!
Entries close on Friday, May 28.
{pillow cover is available for sale in my shop}
Would you like to make your own? I have a pdf tutorial available for free for a limited time, all you need to do is click here and download it. And GreenViewLane has made it so easy to get going - she has a special listing in her shop just for this tutorial! The materials you need are:
- 1 ready to cut up sweater
- 1 set of felt flowers from GreenViewLane (only $3.75 + shipping)
- 1 old pillow or pillow insert
In addition to this free tutorial, GreenViewLane is generously giving away a set of 3 flowers (winner picks the color) to get one lucky winner started with their pillow or other project.
To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know what you would do with these felt flowers.
One entry per person, and please make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you if you win!
Entries close on Friday, May 28.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Neglected...
My poor blog here is suffering from lack of inspiration, so for today, I will just show you my most recent Etsy listing! I'm actually quite fond of it, I'm loving the linen I found online.
I'm also trying a new tactic with my shop - rather than making one of each item, I'm working on making multiples of everything. I'd much rather have a full stock of items for sale rather than selling items that I haven't made yet, so I'm starting with making 2 of everything. We'll see how it goes from there!
I'm also trying a new tactic with my shop - rather than making one of each item, I'm working on making multiples of everything. I'd much rather have a full stock of items for sale rather than selling items that I haven't made yet, so I'm starting with making 2 of everything. We'll see how it goes from there!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Different Types of Window Treatments
Window treatments have always been a bit of a mystery to me... never quite sure whether to go with curtains or shades or blinds... or nothing at all...
So when our house had slatted blinds there already, that was one easy thing to cross off of our immediate to-do list.
But now that we've been there a bit, I've been thinking about upgrades... specifically curtains at the moment... so here are some inspiring photos of different types of curtains.
I'm not a big fan of too formal, so these are all pretty casual, and all good options for our home.
{source}
I love the flowy-ness of these, so light and airy.
{source}
Roman shades are definitely a favorite of mine. These black and white stripes look so nice - not overpowering at all.
{source}
What I think of as traditional - although these look to go all the way to the ceiling. Picking a fabric for these would be daunting! Solid? Pattern? Bright and bold or earthy and mild?
{source}
Another Roman shade, this time, bamboo. We actually have these in our kitchen already :)
{source}
And these... mysterious ones. Not quite sure if they're Roman shades, or if they're just stuck up there, but they sure are pretty!
What do you like for your window treatments?
Also... I am happy to announce the winner of the JessicaRae Necklace is Rebecca Mann! Congrats Rebecca!
Subscribe in a reader
So when our house had slatted blinds there already, that was one easy thing to cross off of our immediate to-do list.
But now that we've been there a bit, I've been thinking about upgrades... specifically curtains at the moment... so here are some inspiring photos of different types of curtains.
I'm not a big fan of too formal, so these are all pretty casual, and all good options for our home.
{source}
I love the flowy-ness of these, so light and airy.
{source}
Roman shades are definitely a favorite of mine. These black and white stripes look so nice - not overpowering at all.
{source}
What I think of as traditional - although these look to go all the way to the ceiling. Picking a fabric for these would be daunting! Solid? Pattern? Bright and bold or earthy and mild?
{source}
Another Roman shade, this time, bamboo. We actually have these in our kitchen already :)
{source}
And these... mysterious ones. Not quite sure if they're Roman shades, or if they're just stuck up there, but they sure are pretty!
What do you like for your window treatments?
Also... I am happy to announce the winner of the JessicaRae Necklace is Rebecca Mann! Congrats Rebecca!
Subscribe in a readerSunday, May 9, 2010
Garage Sale Deals
This weekend I went garage sale-ing with my mom - we had a ton of fun. I love going with her, and it's been quite some time since we went together. She taught me everything I know about garage sale-ing, and if I do say so myself, I think she did a pretty awesome job.
So here are the deals I got:
I scored these two concrete planters for quite a bargain - plants included! They're already on the back porch waiting for me to fill them :)
Love this boat picture- $2!
Another one of my bargains that gets lots of eye rolls from my hubby :-) Probably just because he knows he will be the one "rescuing" this with silver polish... but at $1 who can complain?
For whatever reason this week there was a ton of fabric - a lot more than normal. And I scored probably 12 or more spools of serger thread - perfect timing, I was just about out!
And my final bargain - a vintage apron that I just love. Another eye roll from hubby. But hey, it'll make me feel domestic, really, it will! (Notice the cute kitty in the background, hehe. Ready to pounce, I'm sure.)
And don't forget... Monday is your last chance to enter the GIVEAWAY!
So here are the deals I got:
I scored these two concrete planters for quite a bargain - plants included! They're already on the back porch waiting for me to fill them :)
Love this boat picture- $2!
Another one of my bargains that gets lots of eye rolls from my hubby :-) Probably just because he knows he will be the one "rescuing" this with silver polish... but at $1 who can complain?
For whatever reason this week there was a ton of fabric - a lot more than normal. And I scored probably 12 or more spools of serger thread - perfect timing, I was just about out!
And my final bargain - a vintage apron that I just love. Another eye roll from hubby. But hey, it'll make me feel domestic, really, it will! (Notice the cute kitty in the background, hehe. Ready to pounce, I'm sure.)
And don't forget... Monday is your last chance to enter the GIVEAWAY!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Beautiful Necklace GIVEAWAY!
It's another special day here at Creek Bed Threads. Remember the giveaway from QuirkyBeauty? Well, the winner of the giveaway contacted me about doing her own giveaway here!
Introducing: JessicaRae Jewellery!
Tell us a little about yourself. Do you have a family? Pets?
My name is Jessica. I live in Vancouver, Canada (recent host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games). I have 3 awesome little boys who are the light of my life and a supportive husband. I also have 3 freshwater fish tanks, one of which is 110gal 6 footer! <3 it!
How and when did you get started making jewelry?
Jewelry, Jewellery - Tomatoe ,Tomato hahaha. I only started creating jewellery about a year ago. I was trying to find some nice pieces for myself and my bridesmaids for my Oct. wedding and I just couldn't find anything I liked AND would fit in my budget! So I set out to create my own. I started getting requests for commissioned work and decided to open my first etsy store (KarmasCreation). Recently I was approached with a wonderful opportunity to have my jewellery showcased in local fashion shows! I seized the opportunity and decided a name change was in order. I needed to take my hobby/craft and refine it so people would take me seriously, thus JessicaRae Jewellery was born!
What is your favorite item to make? Do you have any you dread?
My favorite item to make is a custom piece. I love being able to work with a client and help them create their vision. I dread working with little beads haha... more often then not my floor obtains more then the piece I am working on ;)
What does a typical weekday look like for you?
Busy! I try to juggle 3 little boys, a house and my business! Don't ask me how I do it, most days I'm just on autopilot haha. Thankfully my youngest (15 months old) still naps twice a day so I'm able to use one of those to make a few jewellery pieces and another to clean/tidy the house. I also have an awesome husband who tries to help me out and give me some downtime to focus on my jewellery as often as he can :)
Where do you see your business in 10 years?
In the very least I would like to say I am making a profitable living from doing something I love and enjoy.
What is one of the largest obstacles you have had to overcome with your business?
Did I mention I have 3 little boys?! Haha. Money and time! As a young family of 5, it's a struggle at times but it's worth it. The joy I receive from my children and my jewellery creations far outweigh the obstacles!
What inspires your new designs?
What doesn't?! I live in a gorgeous place full of natural beauty and inspiration. I look inside of myself and create from within.
JessicaRae is giving away this beautiful necklace for one lucky reader! I am so pleased to be able to give this away to one of you, it's gorgeous.
To win, please tell me in the comments what your favorite lunch food is.
Random, yes, but I need ideas. Our lunches get boring.
One entry per person, please!
Winner will be chosen by random.org the morning of May 10th.
PLEASE make sure that your email address is somewhere in the comment if you don't have it linked with blogger!
Introducing: JessicaRae Jewellery!
Tell us a little about yourself. Do you have a family? Pets?
My name is Jessica. I live in Vancouver, Canada (recent host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games). I have 3 awesome little boys who are the light of my life and a supportive husband. I also have 3 freshwater fish tanks, one of which is 110gal 6 footer! <3 it!
How and when did you get started making jewelry?
Jewelry, Jewellery - Tomatoe ,Tomato hahaha. I only started creating jewellery about a year ago. I was trying to find some nice pieces for myself and my bridesmaids for my Oct. wedding and I just couldn't find anything I liked AND would fit in my budget! So I set out to create my own. I started getting requests for commissioned work and decided to open my first etsy store (KarmasCreation). Recently I was approached with a wonderful opportunity to have my jewellery showcased in local fashion shows! I seized the opportunity and decided a name change was in order. I needed to take my hobby/craft and refine it so people would take me seriously, thus JessicaRae Jewellery was born!
What is your favorite item to make? Do you have any you dread?
My favorite item to make is a custom piece. I love being able to work with a client and help them create their vision. I dread working with little beads haha... more often then not my floor obtains more then the piece I am working on ;)
What does a typical weekday look like for you?
Busy! I try to juggle 3 little boys, a house and my business! Don't ask me how I do it, most days I'm just on autopilot haha. Thankfully my youngest (15 months old) still naps twice a day so I'm able to use one of those to make a few jewellery pieces and another to clean/tidy the house. I also have an awesome husband who tries to help me out and give me some downtime to focus on my jewellery as often as he can :)
Where do you see your business in 10 years?
In the very least I would like to say I am making a profitable living from doing something I love and enjoy.
What is one of the largest obstacles you have had to overcome with your business?
Did I mention I have 3 little boys?! Haha. Money and time! As a young family of 5, it's a struggle at times but it's worth it. The joy I receive from my children and my jewellery creations far outweigh the obstacles!
What inspires your new designs?
What doesn't?! I live in a gorgeous place full of natural beauty and inspiration. I look inside of myself and create from within.
JessicaRae is giving away this beautiful necklace for one lucky reader! I am so pleased to be able to give this away to one of you, it's gorgeous.
To win, please tell me in the comments what your favorite lunch food is.
Random, yes, but I need ideas. Our lunches get boring.
One entry per person, please!
Winner will be chosen by random.org the morning of May 10th.
PLEASE make sure that your email address is somewhere in the comment if you don't have it linked with blogger!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Old Things Made New
I love to use old things to decorate our home.
I love to take old yo-yos and transform them into pretty flowers. I love to find old furniture, give it a fresh coat of paint... and suddenly there's a functional but beautiful sewing table. Better yet, leave the furniture alone, stick it in a clean modern room, and you have rustic kitchen charm! I love to stack old books on a mantle to give a modern piece a rustic edge.
Sometimes old things need a lot of work... sometimes they are perfect as they are... and sometimes they need just a little help.
My mom had this old quilt that is quite literally falling apart. She gave it to me, thinking it was useless... but I made sure to put it to good use. I've been wanting to find a cutter quilt (a quilt that is beyond help and needs to be cut up to be useful) to use for some pillows. This quilt is the perfect colors for our living room, I was delighted when I saw it!
I wanted to cover two 20" pillows that we had, and 4 quilt blocks measured about 17" square. So I needed to add just a bit of fabric along each edge of the quilt, and then I added the backing as well in the same fabric. Luckily I already had the fabric, and it matched perfectly!
The living room really needed a bit more rustic added to it, so this was exactly what I had in mind. I'm in love! I have another one half made, but once complete it will adorn the opposite side of the couch.
I love to take old yo-yos and transform them into pretty flowers. I love to find old furniture, give it a fresh coat of paint... and suddenly there's a functional but beautiful sewing table. Better yet, leave the furniture alone, stick it in a clean modern room, and you have rustic kitchen charm! I love to stack old books on a mantle to give a modern piece a rustic edge.
Sometimes old things need a lot of work... sometimes they are perfect as they are... and sometimes they need just a little help.
My mom had this old quilt that is quite literally falling apart. She gave it to me, thinking it was useless... but I made sure to put it to good use. I've been wanting to find a cutter quilt (a quilt that is beyond help and needs to be cut up to be useful) to use for some pillows. This quilt is the perfect colors for our living room, I was delighted when I saw it!
I wanted to cover two 20" pillows that we had, and 4 quilt blocks measured about 17" square. So I needed to add just a bit of fabric along each edge of the quilt, and then I added the backing as well in the same fabric. Luckily I already had the fabric, and it matched perfectly!
The living room really needed a bit more rustic added to it, so this was exactly what I had in mind. I'm in love! I have another one half made, but once complete it will adorn the opposite side of the couch.
Monday, May 3, 2010
A Menace and a Solution
Can this cutie really be a menace? Surely not!
And remember this quilted square I didn't know what to do with? Well, I finally figured it out...
An artist's roll! A perfect place to protect my brushes from our sweet kitty who looooves to chew on them :)
This is such an easy project, too, even without the quilting. All you need is two 18" or similar size squares of fabric... sew them right sides together leaving a small gap.
Turn it inside out, so that the right sides are facing out... press... then topstitch all the way around the edge (this will close up your hole from turning nicely).
Fold the bottom part up, press, and sew a few vertical lines to create pockets for your brushes, knitting needles, or whatever else you want to keep in it.
Voila! Roll it up and tie a bow around it!
And remember this quilted square I didn't know what to do with? Well, I finally figured it out...
An artist's roll! A perfect place to protect my brushes from our sweet kitty who looooves to chew on them :)
This is such an easy project, too, even without the quilting. All you need is two 18" or similar size squares of fabric... sew them right sides together leaving a small gap.
Turn it inside out, so that the right sides are facing out... press... then topstitch all the way around the edge (this will close up your hole from turning nicely).
Fold the bottom part up, press, and sew a few vertical lines to create pockets for your brushes, knitting needles, or whatever else you want to keep in it.
Voila! Roll it up and tie a bow around it!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Custom Purse and New Pouch
Saturday was a busy sewing day for me, I was so thankful to be able to sit down and sew for a large chunk of time! I got a lot done, and it felt great.
One of the things I made was a purse for my friend, Colleen. She picked out the fabrics herself, and I made sure to get all the pockets, etc., that she wanted. I even added a little loop of fabric to hook her keys off of!
I also worked on some pouches using my new free motion quilting technique. I made three identical pouches, 2 as gifts and 1 for sale in my shop. I love the Joel Dewberry fabric I used, and the brown thread added a nice touch, I think! The first two pictures show the large block of fabric that I quilted first and then cut up into the pouches.
I suppose the correct name for the technique I use is stipple quilting, where the line does not cross itself - if you look closely you can see that it is one continuous line. Do any of you quilters out there know if stippling is the right term?
Front:
Back (with fleece interfacing):
Finished pouch:
One of the things I made was a purse for my friend, Colleen. She picked out the fabrics herself, and I made sure to get all the pockets, etc., that she wanted. I even added a little loop of fabric to hook her keys off of!
I also worked on some pouches using my new free motion quilting technique. I made three identical pouches, 2 as gifts and 1 for sale in my shop. I love the Joel Dewberry fabric I used, and the brown thread added a nice touch, I think! The first two pictures show the large block of fabric that I quilted first and then cut up into the pouches.
I suppose the correct name for the technique I use is stipple quilting, where the line does not cross itself - if you look closely you can see that it is one continuous line. Do any of you quilters out there know if stippling is the right term?
Front:
Back (with fleece interfacing):
Finished pouch:
