Jane of all trades, Master of ONE

Everything in its place:
So if you read here often you know I have an affinity for all things clean and organized. I really, really love to organize. I think I've told the story before, so humor me if you've heard it, but I was the nerd who would go to my girlfriends house when I was in grade school and ask, when I would stay for an overnight, if I could reorganize their closet. I really did - I have loved it from early on. I do enjoy doing my own, but lets be honest, you can only do it so much, sure you can purge, but why change a system that works? What I really love to do is other people's spaces. I had an opportunity to go up to Chicago and stay with my girlfriend Jill, for the weekend. Our goal was to purge and reorganize ALL of her closets. I was GEEKED!!!! Jill was TERRIFIED!!!!! Seriously.

I know that my dear friend had conversations with some of our mutual friends, nervous of what I was going to make her get rid of and attack her organization or lack thereof depending on the circumstances. I am happy to report that I am more of Glenda, The Good Witch, when it comes to organizing other peoples spaces. We got started in and in about 14-15 hours of hard work we had one large trash bag of garbage, 6 or 7 boxes for Goodwill and a whole lot of recycling material.

See what the problem was, and is very common is that we are so freaking busy, we just buy and shove, buy and shove. Nothing has a home base - if you don't have a common location for something you wind up with 4 tubes of burn cream or 6 or 7 packages of Nutritional Yeast. It's not just having a spot, its having space around that spot so you can SEE the home base. It's okay to have a partially empty shelf - contrary to what your mother in law might say, you don't need to fill every shelf or closet with stuff. Let it breath.

So by clearing, sorting and organizing, we were able to reuse all of Jill's bins, and she has amazing closets so we had space to spare.

Emotional attachments:

Here's where things get a bit hairy and I believe were the core of Jill's fears. Is what is important to her, going to be important to me? We all have things, something that was our grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, etc. that they gave to us and we cherish in our own way because it was theirs. I'll be the first one to admit that I do have things that I keep based on pure emotion. Honestly, people who have zero attachment make me wonder a bit. So anyway, I will be the first person to tell you to keep things that mean something to you, but USE them, put them OUT. They are doing no one any good and are not honoring the original owner in any way by storing them in a box under a bed. For example, Jill had this beautiful table cloth that her great - grandmother had embroidered. It was meticulous and definitely something that should be enjoyed, it was art. The problem was it was stained and it doesn't fit her table. So what is the solution, you can't bare to part with it, but you can't use it? Here was my suggestion and this can fit with all sorts of handmade goodies (handkerchief, ties, clothing, blankets, you get the point). Cut it, frame it and hang it up or cut it and sew a backing onto it and make it a throw pillow. You at least salvage the artwork and it can be used and/or enjoyed by you and your guests. For this table cloth I recommended hanging it as a collage of three frames, there were so many groupings of flowers that were different, that it would be a great collection of each of the designs. I think Jill liked the idea - it will still be with her and it will honor her great - grandmothers amazing talent. I have a shadow box in my kitchen of a mixed bag of things. To a stranger you might think it's just this crazy eclectic box, but to me it is all sorts of special things from my mom and grandpa. It didn't make sense to shove them in a box and put them in the basement like my mom had done for years, I had no real USE for them, so decoration they became.

In closing I'd like to share a few excerpts from an email Jill sent to Brooke (yes Jill, very little is sacred, but nevertheless I am touched, love you!!!) I am so happy and proud and excited.

OMG - it was fantastic. I feel bad, but i had no idea that she would be as calm and soothing as she was. I think i had imagined her just tearing into the closets and my clutter and just heaving things into boxes and telling me to stop being a hoarder, but it wasn't like that AT ALL! If i had the slightest hesitation, she would just listen to my explanation, and then either let it go or explain how to better save stuff. My biggest problem is holding onto to stuff for sentimental reasons (i had 20 of my Grandma's pretty lace handkerchiefs), and Ann said i wasn't respecting anyone's memory or honoring her stuff by stuffing them into a drawer. She said if i wanted to use the stuff or display it, that's one thing, but a big wad of stuff in the back of a drawer just wasn't doing anyone any good. She also gave me some ideas for saving things, but using them better.

i just feel so energized - I've cooked several dinners since she left (my stuff was so messy i probably hadn't cooked from a recipe in 2 months), and I've gotten started on some much needed projects since my stuff is in better order.

Honestly if I could be a professional organizer I would, I'd chuck my paints and needle and thread and travel the country fixing one room at a time, but until then (or until Oprah calls me) I'll just do what I do each day. A little bit of everything!

Thanks!

One of the roses from Dad's garden, we visited there before we headed up to Jills. Just wanted to share - it's just so peaceful and pretty.

McCartney's Watchful Princess

I am really excited to show you my latest painting.  It is for a little girl, McCartney, who is 2 1/2 years old.  I was contacted by Mike, whom I went to high school with and reconnected on Facebook.  I seriously love Facebook.  He said that he and his wife wanted to do something unique and special for McCartney since they don't get to see her as often as they would like. I am all about unique and special! He checked out my Completely Art page and mentioned he liked this painting (now that I am looking at it I am horrified at the photograph and may need Ryan to bring it home from the office so I can have Leslie take a crack at it with her new lens). After thinking about it for a bit, I thought that while replicating that painting wouldn't be difficult, it was a bit mature for a two year old.  Since I am a fan of trying to make something that will last, I thought why not add a bit of something to make it more age appropriate and beyond.  So I decided it would be neat to have a tower and princess leaning on her balcony looking out into the waters and at the moon.  Maybe she is a night owl, maybe she has insomnia, maybe she's waiting for her prince to return, whichever the interpretation - I am very happy with the result.  What I am happiest about is the reaction I received when I delivered the painting to Mike's house this afternoon.  I have to say I am always nervous to ship out my paintings, I just don't know what the recipient will think.  Art is so subjective and you never know what people envision in their minds vs. what they actually receive. So when I delivered the painting today, I am please to say that they were really happy with the finished work.  What I think I love the best is the look on their faces, like, "you really did that?" Perhaps I don't look like a "typical" artist, whatever the case, I am pleased as peas that they liked it and I can't wait to hear what McCartney thinks. 

Thanks again Mike and Lee Ann for letting me create this fun piece. I really had fun with it and I am so glad that you like it.  Thanks again for letting Penny and I crash your house - your family is wonderful!  So much fun!  I look forward to seeing you again soon and maybe even working on something for you!  Thanks!

Penny's new kicks

Can I tell you how excited I am for the day that Penny and I wear the same size shoes.  Based on those Great-Dane puppy paws of hers it will probably be by third or fourth grade, a scary and exciting prospect all in the same.  You see Penny isn't interested in black Mary Jane's or shiny white sandals, no sir.  When presented with the choice of white sandals or white slip-ons for the summer, she promptly grabbed the lavender slip-ons and the metallic lavender gladiator sandals.  This is all part of Penny's quirkiness.  Penny has flair - that is the only way to say it.  Earlier this summer I splurged on a pair of red cowboy boots - to which she wears on an every other day basis -I keep hiding them, she keeps finding them. I want them to make it at least through fall or hell at this point to fall.  It is a common sight to see Penny in her t-shirt, diaper and red boots at about 7 am in the morning in our back yard.  So far no one has thought to call CPS on me, so far.  So earlier this week I took the kids to the Crocs outlet in Edinburgh - I don't personally like Crocs, their weird and make your feet look similar to clowns feet and well most of you know where I stand with clowns. That being said they are a dream for kids, they are easy to wash, can be put on by the kids themselves and if you buy the ones without holes they can double as dress shoes.  The boys needed new ones for school, so off we went.  After a successful shopping adventure for the boys, Penny came home, much to her chagrin with no shoes.  So when we went downtown yesterday and walked through Nordstroms, I realized it was fate.  We weren't meant to find Crocs for Penny at all.  She and I both passed the display and our eyes caught a glimpse of shimmer and well, if I could have had a camera ready to snap Penny's expression.  Mouth open, eyes wide, and "Wow" came out of her mouth crystal clear.  There, in the window, were a pair of metallic, hot pink puma gym shoes in her size.  Of course I tell Ryan we need to check them out - he say's it's Nordstroms, their going to be fifty dollars.  I say, if they are I won't get them. I decide to do reconnaissance without Penny and found out that the shoes are in fact on sale and only 22$.  Now some of you may think I'm nuts for spending 22$ on a pair of gym shoes for a two year old.  Perhaps I am, however, I have been the fortunate recipient of hand-me-down's galore for Penny, so I don't have to buy her many clothes.  I came downstairs to find Ryan. He states - does she need gym shoes - well of course she does, not only that she wants them and so do I, so that is the tri-fecta of purchases my friend.  I scooped Penny up and off we went to try on her new gym shoes.  Can you buy happiness, maybe not a lifetime of happiness, but you can surely buy an hour or two.  Penny put her new shiny, hot pink pumas on and there was no turning back.  She wore them out of the store, around downtown, around the house, into bed, hell she'd have worn them in the tub if I would have let her (one did make it into the kiddy pool today so it is drying nicely in the sun now).  They are so Penny and all I can say is, keep up the style sis, momma can't wait until your an 8 1/2!

Sweet shoes

Yes, she's a lady

Yeah - scored some new kicks!

Thanks!

When it rains it pours...

Okay so have you ever had the rug pulled out from under you? Sure you have, I mean things are going well and then BAM! the car needs repair, BAM! the kids need to sport shoes, BAM! every organization you belong to has their dues due, BAM! your stove catches fire and you need to buy another one, but want to renovate your kitchen, but can't at the moment so you need to buy a cheap one knowing in a few years it will be resold on craigslist.  No, you haven't had those WEEKS?  Well consider yourself lucky - add in the visit from the in-laws and you have my week in a nutshell.  Not that I'm complaining, no sir, I have learned not to say, "this is the worst." Believe me their can be worse, so I don't tempt fate or God or whoever is the puppet-master of my life. My father in law once told me, never pray for patience all you will get is strife.  So therefore I don't speak of such things.

Let's start at the top shall we?  So the brakes were going out on the van, so Ryan the jack-of-all-trades bought brakes and went to change them, well lets say the van isn't as easy as the Tribute and past cars so we wound up at the dealer - now I don't normally swear on here, because well it's a child art blog first, personal blog second.  I am going to assume no one is letting their children read my blog, so I'll say it.  Their jackasses.  Period. JACKASSES!!! There I said it and I feel better.  They quoted us one price and then when Ryan went to pay they added a bit more - okay a lot more.  We are currently playing phone-tag with the GM and while that is fine and dandy, being Italian, I am thinking of our other "options," but don't have the right connections for that type of fix.  

Then we have football and soccer sign ups and of course new cleats because our feet have grown. Yeah! Now I know it could be worse, I could have more kids in more sports, don't worry that will happen soon enough, let me moan about my purchases now, okay? Okay. Then we have preschool dues, school dues, lunch dues, magazines that we give as presents due, all our museum memberships due (and they've gone up, bastards!) and that's the ones I can think of, ugh!

Then Sunday, oh sweet Sunday.  We had a lovely day planned, Ryan working on our TV room, me finishing up a painting, the kids playing, a sitter ready to watch Penny for a few hours so we can take the boys to see Harry Potter and then the BAM! of all BAMS! occurs.  I put a delectable lunch of corn dogs and tater-tots in my disgusting, crappy 24 year old stove.  It was so old that none of the dials worked other than the electric coil dials and those were inaccurate at best.  It had one setting - 350ish degrees so I've learned to work with that over the years.  I placed the kids lunch in the oven, fifteen minutes later I came up stairs to check and dark grey smoke is billowing out of the back of my stove.  I see a bright orange glow coming from the window and the light hasn't worked for as long as I have lived here, so I am pretty sure it wasn't the light.  I open the door and there are flames and the heating element is melting.  Okay, so I do what every mom does, I grab my pot holder and pull out the food because A. I don't have a lunch back up plan and B. that is my good cookie sheet.  It is remarkable really, I find myself able to stay abnormally calm during situations like this -perhaps I was a trauma nurse in a former life.  I call for Ryan who is just about ready to leave for Home Depot to return things.  I turn off the stove and Ryan comes in and pulls it out - we douse it with our fire extinguisher (I never thought about having one of those, but we've needed it twice in this house).  Our neighbor comes over and helps Ryan remove our smoldering stove into the garage, where Ryan proceeds to remove the back panel to find the source of our fire.  It seems over twenty four years that the connections lost their protection and in not one, not two, but three points the connectors had set fire to the insulation of the stove.  So it wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when.  In hindsight I thought perhaps I should have left it a bit - I might have gotten my new kitchen a bit quicker, what's the penalty for insurance fraud?  So we did what anyone else would do - we left the crappy stove in the garage and went to the movie to shake it off.

Pretty, no?

Kids don't try this at home

Now we have grand plans for our kitchen, so it isn't a matter of what to do, it is a matter of how do we pay for it?  So our grand kitchen sits on paper for now, but it includes a range and a double oven.  Neither of which our current kitchen can support.  So we face the same conundrum that we did three years ago when our original-to-the-house fridge went out - do we buy what we want or what fits and we can afford?  Well this one was a no brainer, so we wound up with a temp stove.  Now we did check craigslist, but to be honest there was only one worth inquiring about - and it was sold. So we headed to the Depot to see what we could find.  They had one and it was only 270$, not too bad, but it was so cheap I worry about fires in the first year, not in 24, so we went up one step and got a nice little black number that although is not the stove of my dreams it has a self cleaning feature and I am betting all the dials and displays work, so it is an upgrade.  I am also betting it knows the difference between 275 and 425 and that brings me a modicum of joy.  Ryan, of course, is taking this much harder than I, we're both impatient people, so with this economy and the lack of raises, bonuses and lets be honest still recovering from being laid off a year ago, the ability to renovate our kitchen is a touchy subject at best and seems further and further away each day that passes.

I will say that with all this chaos and fire extinguisher dust, my kitchen floor has never been cleaner and the Depot will haul our old stove away. You have to look at the silver lining. Right?

So farewell crappy-ass old stove, hello cheap (but not cheap enough), electric  GE number - I look forward to meeting you on Thursday.

Thanks!

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

So yes, my husbands birthday is the day after our anniversary.  Oh, that stinks you might say, but no, not really. See we made it easy on ourselves, we got married in 2000, so we would always know how long we've been married (2009= 9 years).  We did this to help us out now in our youth and when we're senile, if we can remember the date we'll at least have a clue about how long we've been married.  We also thought if we coupled the date with another important date like say, Ryan's birthday, then it would be even easier (it would be the most, easiest (to steal a phrase from my kids) if we used my birthday because heck, who forgets that? Hello Annakuah!) I also have teased Ryan for years that his birthday presents are contingent on what I get for my anniversary - he knows I'm bluffing, but he hasn't tested the theory either.  So today is my darling's 34th birthday.  Poor thing had to work, usually he takes the day off, but that wasn't in the cards this year, so he settled for a few hours early off work.  As we speak he is busy putting together his birthday presents - two colts bar stools for his newly constructed bar.  He had one, now he has three.  I envisioned having them put together lined up at the bar with his cards and freshly poured beer.  When I opened the boxes, my vision was dashed and I just gave him the boxes and let him put them together - I told him about my vision though and he liked it, it would have been nice.  I was also going to make him a cake, but with our strawberry overload yesterday* and I was contacted by the girls at his work - they got him a cherry pie, his favorite, I decided to keep my family from going into a sugar coma tonight.  

This is the quintessential picture of my husband, laughing and pulling out his card to pay for something. (He would agree whole-heartedly on that last part!)  So with that I say Happy Birthday Babe (we know how poetic I am), I love you and enjoy your day!

*if you didn't see my comment on face book  - yesterday as a surprise I ordered a box of chocolate covered strawberries from edible arrangements, while at the dentist I got a call that I had a delivery from edible arrangements.  I told the girl I was suppose to pick up my order.  She said it was another order, Ryan ordered chocolate covered strawberries as a surprise for our anniversary.  I was nervous, but we took down the first twelve with ease, I am guessing we'll be able to handle the next twelve tonight or tomorrow - no worries they won't go to waste!

Happy Anniversary

Today is Ryan and my 9th Wedding Anniversary.  Nine years ago today I was sitting in my blue house in Broad Ripple, hanging out with my dear friend and attendant Traci, gearing up for a pretty big day.  We married at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and it was a beautiful, hot day.  Ryan is the more eloquent writer of the two of us - he'll belt out some of the most beautiful prose and I'm more of a "love you babe," type of person.  When we watch emotional movies, he is more likely of the two of us to cry and I hate to admit he is much more of a snuggler than I am.  If you would of told me that we'd be at this point right now, when I first met Ryan 15 years ago, I wouldn't believe you, neither would he.  Not that we weren't great friends, but what we thought would be the perfect person for us, and what actually was, were two different things.  If you asked either one of us though, we wouldn't have taken a different path.  We wouldn't have been able to handle what we have at 17 and 19 - and we wouldn't be who we are now without the people we encountered through our years at college.  I know everyone says "I married my best friend," but for us it was doubly true and because of that we were a hair trigger shy to date at all.  I can't speak for Ryan, but I didn't want to lose him if things didn't work out on the dating end.  Fortunately for us it did work out and I feel blessed every day to have him in my life.  I have friends who get frustrated when their husbands are home from work, with all honesty, I wish we were independently wealth so that he could stay home every single day.  When he was laid off and at home last summer, although it was a stressful time, I loved having him here.  Retirement can't come fast enough.

We've encountered over the years friends that have lost their spouses to disease, friends that have divorced or faced infidelities.  With each of those experiences I embrace what I have with Ryan more and more.  See, I know whether it is in this life or the next we'll be together for eternity.  Ryan matches my soul with such perfection, I just can't help, but call it miraculous.  So with that, I say Happy Anniversary, I love you babe!

photo credit to my lovely friend Leslie Webber

Princess Emma's Jumper

The title of this post is in reference to a comment from my latest and littlest client - "Oh, I feel like a princess!" Whenever I make something pretty for Penny or put her in a twirl-y skirt she says, "I'm a butterfly!" or rather (I a bufferfi!) It makes me sad because we lose that magic at some point.  I mean if we put on something that makes us feel beautiful, it causes us to smile, but if I put on a dress and twirled out of my closet saying "I'm a butterfly!" my husband would wonder what I hit my head on the way out of the closet.  So I relish in delight with happy little girls and their new beautiful dresses.  We become so self-defeating with our image at such an early age - it is refreshing to see confident happy ladies (regardless of their age!) Off my soapbox now and onto my recent work!

I have been chomping at the bit to show you my latest and greatest in P2 jumpers.  I was contacted a month or so ago by Stacey.  Stacey and I went to high school together back up at LC!  We reunited on Facebook (which has seriously been the best thing I could have ever done personally and professionally) and she saw some of the images of jumpers past.  She contacted me to make a jumper for her little darling, Emma.  Since Emma is about Penny's age it was another opportunity for me to perfect my 3T pattern.  I finally have the measurements I for each cuts of fabric and how much fabric that equates to when buying.  I am embarrassed to say I am such a "winger" when it comes to sewing, but I felt it was high-time to actually make it a bit more concise.  So anyway, I realized while working with Stacey that while I enjoy pulling together the perfect custom piece, sometimes it really helps to have options.  So I went to may favorite local fabric store (Always in Stitches), where the ladies are so kind and just let me hop around the store pulling bolts and pairing them up and photographing them.  I was able to give Stacey 6 different options and she chose from that lot of fabric.  I gave you a teaser last post, but I can't tell you how much cuter it all came together in person.  Presenting - Emma's Jumper:

As you know it's one thing for me to like it, heck I made it, of course I like it, but I am always nervous about what my client thinks. I woke up to a wonderful email that I am happy to share - it has totally made my day!

Oh my goodness, Annie!  The jumper is AMAZING!  I absolutely LOVE it!  It's perfect.  Emma was thrilled with it, too.  I opened the package and showed her and she said, "Oh, I'm a princess".  She then wanted to put it on and played around in it.  You did a fabulous job.  I'm so bad, but I totally want another one. :)   I took some pictures and I'll send them to you soon.

Thank you so much!

Stacey

Thank YOU Stacey for working with me to make the perfect jumper for your girl.  I can't wait to see the pictures (and maybe work on something special for you again)! 

Next up: McCartney's Big Girl Painting!

Have a great weekend and talk to you all next week! Thanks!

back to my simplicity stuff

You might remember a few months ago I did a series on simplicity.  One of the topics I touched on was buying local.  I had the pleasure of interviewing the owner of my much loved The Wild Bookstore for my blog on the Indy Star.  Now, I'd like to think I'm a pretty friendly gal, someone that is pretty easy to talk to, so I have known for some time that things haven't been all sunshine and puppy dog tails over on the square.  After discussing things with Jane today, I am saddened more than I can express. While business is picking up slightly (and I use that word delicately) it isn't where it should be, and unfortunately many of our beloved stores on the square have closed. At least 10 to be exact.  

I'd like to take a minute to attach a blog post from Jane emphasizing the need for shopping local, not to leave it up to other people and get caught up in the convenience of the superstores.  We all like the idea of independently owned businesses, but are we really doing our part?  I spoke with my cousin today that lives in Cicero and she had the misconception that because it is more of a specialty store and independently owned that it must be more expensive.  That isn't the case - sure you can't get a 4.99 Bakugon, but you can find some great books, crafts, art supplies and more, something of much, much more substance for your kids and not break the bank, at all! So please check out Jane's blog - I will be doing my Indy Star blog about her and her store this Friday and next week I am going to delve into whether or not our fine City of Noblesville is doing enough to retain and assist these independents (I'll tell you right now they aren't, but I get into more of that next week).  Thanks for tuning in - I've shipped out my latest jumper so by the end of the week I should be posting a new blog with pictures! Thanks!

Watermelony

So at dinner I realized that Penny has never had watermelon before.  I mean she's had a chunk or two, but its usually honeydew or cantaloupe, and never a big 'ol chunk with the rind attached.  We had watermelon at dinner and the kids dug in.  I think I have a picture of each of my kids with the biggest smile, watermelon in hand with juice running down their chin.  It is the quintessential image of summer for me. So I thought I share some pictures of my chickens enjoying their summer treat.  

Yes, she loves to be photographed

I have my latest P2 jumper finished and it is getting shipped out this week, so as soon as it is delivered I will post the pictures.  Thanks again!

shameless pictures of my girl in her new jumper...

Okay so I was fairly cryptic in my last post - which when accosted by some of my friends, I found humorous because I really can't believe that people are interested in what I have on the horizon. That's me, lack of confidence girl.  I will fill you in on that later, but first I have a new jumper to share.  

I was hired to do a jumper, so went out and picked out some fun fabric and such.  Turns out it wasn't exactly what my client was looking for - no problem, so I decided that it would be just perfect on Penny, and it is.  You see I don't sew every day (yet) so I like to do a small personal project before I launch into a hired one.  It's like getting my sewing legs about me.  Plus, I wanted to try a few different things in the way I laid out the pieces and how I put it together - which ultimately saved me time and made for a much more finished looking product.  I am happy - now if I just had a serger, it would be perfect, but that will have to wait until a few clients from now (it finishes the raw edges of fabric). I also was pretty happy to test drive my new pressure foot.  So if you are at all familiar with sewing machines they have a foot, a little two toed foot that puts pressure on the fabric evenly so that your stitches are straight and your fabric is smooth.  Well about a year and a half ago my pressure foot broke -it was plastic and I had my needle set wrong and BAM - it was gone.  So one would think that finding a pressure foot for a Singer sewing machine would be fairly easy.  It's a name brand and the machine is just ten years old.  Well you would be wrong.  There is only one store of ALL of central Indiana that carries the foot I need.  It was in my old neighborhood, but I don't get down there much and when I do the store is usually closed. I could order it online you say, well that would be true, but I wanted to see the foot, size, etc. since I also join pretty tiny ribbon together -so larger feet wouldn't necessarily give me what I need. So store shopping was my only option.  A few weeks ago I sauntered down to the ol' neighborhood and picked up my foot - a metal one.  I am smitten.  Up until now I've been sewing with a zipper foot - which is a pressure foot, but it only has one side so you can sew in zippers, making my job feeding the fabric and joining ribbon that much more difficult.  It is amazing what correct tools will do for a project.  So sewing Penny's jumper today was a dream, it actually takes my more time to cut my pattern out than to put it together - now anyway, with my new foot.  It went together like with out a stitch (pun intended) and Penny is a doll about being fitted and letting me pin things onto her.  Ah, such a girl.  Well here are like a billion pictures of my ragamuffin girl in her new dress that she reluctantly took off before bed:

details

discovering pollen

Penny rarely walks, she's always running AND falling and then running again

hello model pose (mom clearly takes too many pictures of this child)

 wishing the grill wasn't there...

Penny has naturally curly hair, so we experiment on a daily basis on how to tame the beast during this humid time of  year, we've yet to win, but we aren't quitters...

mom and her girl

So what I discovered with my latest client is that I like giving choices.  It takes some of stress off of me to find "the perfect" fabric, as if I were reading their mind.  So instead I went out and found 6 sets of perfect fabric and emailed her the options - she loved two and we agreed that one really was going to be the best fit for her - here's a teaser:

I've got to be honest with you, I LOVE to pick out coordinating fabric and pull it together with just the right accents.  I never thought I would love it as much as I do, but I do.  So these evening I'll be cutting out my next project and hopefully getting that done this weekend (coming your way Stacey!)  Working on this project has opened my eyes to a new world of possibility.  I don't have things completed, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that I am expanding PP into a few girlie items.  Right now it's just my jumper and I'm farting around with a top and skirt pattern, along with little purses and such.  One thing at a time though.  Right now I'd like to incorporate what I did with this project, offering several groupings of fabric and allowing my client to choose from those fabrics.  Of course, I'm always game for a creative license endeavor, but I think that a lot of people like the ability to choose, making it entirely their own.  I guess I'd like to ask some of my loyal friends and fans for their input on how you think that should be laid out - do you have any suggestions? I'm all ears - so for now I am annoying my friends with girls who shop and shop well - I've been fortunate with a multitude of hand-me-downs so I am not as savvy when it comes to shopping for the little ladies.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, be safe and enjoy.  I'll be hanging out, sewing and painting (I am working on what I think is one of my coolest paintings yet) and I'll post again soon!  Thanks!

BTW - if you haven't had a chance to check out my Noblesville Blog for the Indy Star - I'm going to include a link here on this page - check it out or RSS it if you are interested.  Thanks!