petit patchwork

so...tired...
I shouldn't complain about being tired, because actually I'm really excited we're finally putting ceramic tile in our kitchen. I'll post pics tomorrow after it's done, but I'm sore from sitting on the floor. The last floor project we did led to this project- we installed reclaimed maple floors that go from our front door almost to our back door - I wanted it to look like an artists' loft, and since our living room, dining room and kitchen are all one big rectangle, I really wanted to do wood all the way. Now great rooms are all the rage, so even though my house was built in 1910, we are so in 'vogue'.
Sooooo, when we did the wood, we ran out before we made it to the end, so we had a 2 foot area on 3 sides of the kitchen. About 8 feet long on the left and right sides, and all across in front of the kitchen counter, sink, and stove. All in all, about 80 square feet.
So I'm glad it's finally getting finished. I've stubbed my toe on the exposed edge of the wood more times than I care to count (and maple is REALLY hard!)
While I was taking a break from the tiles, I finished a little purse for my kids' shop:

and the back:

I created a pattern for this for myself because I needed a new purse, so I've had an idea to make a super small one, and it finally came together. I love the raw-edged patchwork, and it's just 4 x 5 1/2 inches. I think it would be really cute to create a little softie animal to put inside. We'll see... after the home improvements...

lazy...not so much... days of summer

wow, 2 (?) weeks or so into summer vacation, and I kind of feel like I haven't rested yet. I got sick on my last day of work, and it turned into sinus infection/bronchitis. Then I finally dragged myself to the doctor, and the antibiotics I got gave me hives. Since I don't have a 'family doctor' who knows me and my health history, they said I'd have to come back in, pay another copayment, have another appt. and get a different rx. I said no thanks. I lived with the hives.
So now I'm full speed ahead, working on both shops. I still want to name 'carnivale' something else before I start making sales, but I don't know what. Maybe something with the word 'blue' because I love aqua so much, maybe something with the word 'forest', I don't know. I have had a really hard time coming up with anything good.
I want to work on some academic stuff with S. while she's out of school, but it seems like she's been out and about a lot, and I've been behind my desk. I also want to take her on some photo-shooting excursions since she has the photography bug.
I've been a little obsessed with covered buttons lately - I've wanted to make them for a long time, and they are great for instant gratification. Very quick and easy:

I still have lots of itty bitty scraps of all my favorite fabrics, so it's perfect.

I've also been planning on some more clothing for myself this summer, because all of a sudden it was like- "I have absolutely nothing to wear" every time I needed to leave the house. That seems to happen about once every 3 years or so.
Then I got SUPER frustrated, because I'd find a cute dress at Target or something, and there were lots of XS, S, and XL, but nothing in the middle! It has happened to me so many times in the last few shopping trips, I ended up buying some things online, but the rest will be made by me! Soooooooo frustrating. Why don't they order more of the 'normal' sizes if they know that's what is going to sell the most?
I've had so many people email me and thank me for making 'real woman' sizes in my shop, but really, I just make the original sample my size, and then offer customs (if I have enough of the fabric). That way if it doesn't sell, I can wear it. Sure I'd like to be a size 2 or 4, but I'm not, and I don't foresee that happening anytime in the near future.

2 words: too cute!

I finally got the first photo shoot accomplished today, and my model is just too cute~

what a sweetie!
Thank you Julie, for a beautiful day at your beautiful farm, with your adorable children!

trial and error

well, I'm full swing into creative mode for summer (yay!), and you all know I love to make hats -see my sold items from last summer, because I lost all of the photos from the mac I had to give back :(
So I've had this idea for awhile to make some newsboys caps for kids, and since I have my first photo shoot with the little one this week, I decided to get down to business and make one. I should have started with muslin, but I thought, "Oh, this will be no problem, and it will come out perfect." First attempt:

doesn't this remind you of something?

exactly. My daughter and I were watching a movie around midnight as I was experimenting with my shapes. So my models head would have to be about the size of a doll in order for this to fit, and the onion dome architecture shape would me more like Santa's elf style than cute-sassy-little-girl-style.
It gave us a good laugh, though:)
So this is how it looked an hour later, with wider panels in the cap:

aaaahhhhhh.... much better. If only I were 5 years old, I could wear this :)