Competition

am a competitive person, but only in certain areas. If I'm in an exercise class of some sort, I would definitely want to do the most, the biggest, the spunkiest version of whatever the step is. That is not to say that I can actually keep that up for more than 10 min but the urge to be the most energetic in the class is still there.
I am NOT competitive in the blog world. I am doing my three blogs (yes, three) strictly for my own pleasure. This means there sometimes are long gaps between posts, I do not always take pictures with my fancy camera to post and I do not count my followers or try to get more.
Same thing with my short stint in the world of YouTube videos. I was amazed at the push for followers, just anybody and everybody. The number of followers you had indicated success and possibly brought deals from companies wanting to use you for advertising. I did a couple of giveaways and you had to be a follower to win, but other than that, I never pushed for followers.
Now, I have a business, an Etsy shop. I hate sales. No, no, I like getting a sale in my shop, but I hate being a salesperson, the business of sales. I hate feeling like I'm competing with other people making bags. I don't want to feel like I have to make better bags than them. I just want to make the best bags I can in fabrics and using designs that I think are attractive. I don't like mentioning my business unless it comes up in easy conversation. I don't give my card out unless it's asked for, usually.
Probably not good for business, but if I'm going to promote, I'll definitely have to grow into it. I do want to be able to give more to the Balama Project (www.balama-project.org). Since I give them 10% of profits, more sales would mean more to give.
If you want to help me give and get a pretty bag or earrings to boot. Go look at Molly Blossom and see if there is something that tickles your fancy.
There, I did it.

In the Midst

my Butler once mentioned something about any active seamstress always having many projects going on at once. I remember when I read that, I thought that was kind-of odd. I always sat down with one piece of fabric, one pattern and one goal and didn't really start anything else until that project was done.


Well, I'm now a "real" sewer, I guess. I was just recounting to a friend a couple of the projects I have going on, but I thought it would be fun to really put them ALL down here so I can look back later and laugh, or wonder how I was handling all that at once, or wonder why I ever thought that was a lot...

So here goes:

I have a postage stamp quilt-along from a month ago that isn't even halfway done. I wonder if I'll finish by the time cold weather comes again?

I have Living With Punks' Land of Nod inspired floor cushion cut out and ready to sew and stuff.

I am working on the very last of 10 zippered clutched using Noodlehead's Gathered Clutch pattern for a bride and her 9 maids. She requested I make them for her and I'm just charging her an hourly rate. She bought all the fabric and zips. That's certainly one project I'm going to be VERY glad to be done with.

I have promised 5 people that I will make them a handmade gift this year and I have two of them (Amy Butler's Reversible Everyday Shopper and Anna Maria Horners Multi-Tasker Tote) cut out and ready to begin putting together, but not really officially started.

I bought a book, Sew Serendipity by Kay Whitt, so I could make my own Easter dress this year to coordinate with my 3 year-old's Matilda Jane Platinum dress. It is 1/2 done.

I am ALMOST finished with the Easter dress for my youngest daughter. Just have to do some finishing of seams and cutting of threads.

I am supposed to be working through Amy Butler's Style Stitches book, one bag a month. I did the first month and the second is one of the bags that's cut and ready to sew, but not started yet. I should be finished with the third month by now.... Maybe I'll just skip the fourth month, since I don't need a checkbook cover. hmmmm.

And since I'm failing miserably at two sew-alongs already, I just thought I'd enter a third! HA! I just comitted to the Sis Boom Jamie Dress sew-along at Sew Sweetness. I don't even have the pattern yet, but I have the fabric.

I bought two patterns from Bit of Whimsy Dolls, the Katie Kitten and Liberty Lion. I finished Katie Kitten and have about 1/2 the pieces cut out for Liberty Lion.

Last, but not least, I have my Etsy shop to stock. I've got about 10 bags of various kinds cut out and at the ready whenever I find the time to make it back around to them.

That last "make it back around" really sums it up. I feel like I'm on a merry go 'round with my sewing. I just rotate through projects and never seem to hesitate to think I couldn't add another to my list. I need more fabric to make this pattern? Absolutely! the chance to shop means I'm in. hahahahahaha.

Farbenmix!

indless web surfing can occasionally have benefits.



If you are looking for a cure to the common knot dress, you've got to check this out!
Two days ago, I discovered Farbenmix patterns, fabric and ribbon (my fave found here). I'm tiring of ruffle pants and knot dresses and these european patterns are the solution for me. They are a little off the wall and when totally decked out, can be way too loud and garish for my taste, but I think they could be done really tastefully. The shapes in the patterns themselves are interesting enough without having to mix and match a gazillion different fabrics in one piece of clothing.
Things like aprons on pants, various shaped hemlines for dresses and patterns for knits (yay) that are infinitely variable, not to mention the CUTEST hoods around make these patterns worth their price in my opinion.
I'm looking to get the Winona pant, the Olivia hoodie dress/top and the Amelie knit shirt patterns.
AAAAAAaaaaaaaaand, if you need some BOY inspiration, Farbenmix would be a great was to break out of the box.
You can get the patterns at Banberry Place, but check whether you're getting instructions in English or not.
For some inspiration and to instantly see some creative examples of what I'm jabbering about, go to the Flickr Farbenmix Sewing group.

Sale in My Shop!

y first sale is happening over at Molly Blossom!
i wanted to do something fun to celebrate two good weeks and it seemed perfect to me to discount the Ear Bud fabric flower earrings. This is the kind of piece that looks so unique and elegant and yet is (especially now) very affordable. I seriously receive at least one compliment on mine every time I go out in them. No one, at least around here has seen anything like them.
I'm just in love with the fact that even if I'm not wearing a blouse made from amazing fabric, or carrying one of my bags made from amazing fabric, I can easily wear a little bit of amazing on my earlobes. haha!
Here's my model with the color Mediterranean Crush.  Love these and turquoise is very in.

And here's me with my pair.  :)

There's a great selection in the shop right now, so go see for yourself which ones would look best on you!

Preggers

really enjoy being pregnant. I've been big and preggers twice and I love dressing my pregnant body. The second time I got pregnant, I knew it was probably my last and I swore I would splurge and get something like this top, which I was totally head over heels for at the time.

The only pic I could pull states it was worn by Gwen Stefani.  It's one of Isabella Oliver's best sellers and I really was going to get one.
But.... I didn't.
One hundred and nineteen smackaroos is too much of a splurge for me to wrap my head around.







Well, just in case there is someone out there in the sewing blogosphere that is also in love with this top.  Look what I just found!!!

No, no, not the top... It's a PATTERN!  Looks just like the Isabella Oliver one, no?  You could make yourself one!  Cool right?  or is it just me?

Megan Neilson's etsy shop has a few maternity patterns and I so wish I had found her back when I was pregnant.  

Maybe some other preggo sewer will benefit.

Keyka Lou and my Best Bag

eyka Lou patterns are so stinkin' cute. I'm so glad I found them. They provide great patterns with easy-to-follow instructions. I learned some new techniques, got sewing tips and was able to make a cute bag in about an hour. I've added their Fold-Over Clutch pattern to my Etsy shop (yes, my Etsy shop is LIVE at www.etsy.com/shop/MollyBlossomDesign) as The Sadie Clutch.
I've made several, but I wanted to share my very favorite so far.
It should be no surprise she's made out of the same great Heather Bailey fabric I made my first Cosmo from...

What I Wore Wednesday

his type of post seems to be all the rage and, while I won't promise to do them every week, I may do them every once in a while.
The only reason this is even being done on a Wednesday is because it took me this long to upload the photos from the weekend trip hubby and I took.

Here's the deets on the outfit. I wore it to the 20th anniversary celebration of the University of Georgia Ballroom Performance Group. I was in the group from 2000-2002 and performed in their yearly show, Ballroom Magic, which is what we went to see.

Purple cardigan - Target clearance rack - $10
Mustard shirt - AzWell - gulp $30
Black bead necklace - Francesca's clearance pile - $2
Flower clip - Amy Butler scraps, made by me
Furry Zebra belt - Goodwill - $1
Coral fake leather clutch - T J Maxx - $3
Jeans - Express clearance rack - $11
Strappy heels - Goodwill - $4

So, except for the cost of the shirt (which really, I have to say, inspired the whole outfit), I stayed in the same general mode of dressing as Morgan at Meet Virginia, who I was trying to emulate, both in style and in thriftiness.
How'd I do?
I have to credit my hubby with the awesome pic.  :)