Bumbleberries Boutique

More Fun with Buttons

2012-02-15T11:06:00.001-06:00

Simple covered button ribbon headband.Make a leaf from ribbon. Gather and tie at the bottom. Thread ribbon through shank. Tie loose knots between buttons. Make a ribbon button necklace.

Buttons Buttons Buttons

2012-02-11T16:05:00.002-06:00

I think everyone loves buttons. They're so versatile and come in all shapes, sizes, colors, materials. I have rounded up a few of my favorite button tutorials to bring together for you. I'm sure one is bound to be your favorite too. I just love button bracelets. Here's the one I made today using this excellent tutorial from Aunt Peg's Jewelry. This is my first attempt so don't look too closely.

Embroidered Paper Doily Hearts

2012-02-04T10:50:00.000-06:00

I bought some paper doily hearts from the dollar store thinking I could do something with them for Valentine's Day. And this is what I came up with, I used embroidery thread and ribbon to prettify them even more than they were. You can make them as simple or ornate as you want. Let your imagination run wild. Maybe use some beads or pearls, glitter, colored pencils, paint, etc. You may want to

Pacifier Pouch Cubed

2012-01-04T14:13:00.000-06:00

When baby Liam was born on Dec 2, my daughter requested that I make her a paci pouch. She wanted it to hang from the diaper bag with a plastic link toy. She then wanted another to hang from the stroller and one to keep in the car. So I came up with this cute little cube shaped zippered bag. It is small --- only a 2 1/2" cube. It holds a pacifier or 2. Or it can be used to carry all sorts of

Online Advertising

2011-12-12T07:17:00.001-06:00

As you may notice, I have a small online business where I offer my designs as tutorials for you to make. It's a small business but has grown since I started in March 2009. I'm pleased with the success I've had, but it isn't without a lot of work and effort. I have spent many many hours on my shop, more than any regular I've ever had. It has been my only personal source of income for some time now

Olorias

2011-11-08T18:16:00.000-06:00

Ok take a look at this sweet Etsy shop that I just discovered. It's called Olorias and is owned by Lori & Olivia. They make the cutest clutches, wallets and card holders! These make perfect gifts, you'll definitely want one of these for everyone on your list. Clutch Wallet with Matching Tissue Holder Cute Business Card or Gift Card Wallet Say hello to Lori & Olivia for me when you visit Olorias

Ribbon Poinsettia "ish" Flower

2011-11-05T12:35:00.001-05:00

I used sheer ribbon to make this one, but you can probably use any kind of ribbon or fabric. Mine is actually red but it doesn't show up too well in the pictures. For the bottom layer I cut 4 strips and pointed the ends, probably could have gotten by with 3. Just wind thread around the middle. Repeat for all your strips. Then tie them together, straighten them up a bit. I made a second

2011-10-28T22:17:00.000-05:00

Whimsical Christmas Stocking Tutorial

Reversible Hooded & Cuffed Poncho

2011-10-22T11:05:00.000-05:00

My newest tutorial just in time for the crisp fall air. It's available now, you can find it here.

Autumn Harvest Rag Wreath

2011-07-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

I have admired beautiful rag wreaths for a long time. I finally decided to make one. I think of wreaths toward the fall and winter with their rich colors. I used fabric from the Pumpkins Gone Wild collection by Sandy Gervais plus some other fabric I had lying around and even some burlap, which I love in these kinds of projects. I added some artificial flowers and sprays, some ribbon and voila,

2011-07-13T18:50:00.001-05:00

Here is a little tutorial I made up today. I had really intended it to be a bit less defined and a bit more scrappy looking, but I didn't quite get there. Anyway, start by layering 3 strip together. Mine measure 2 1/4", 2", and 1 1/2" wide and are 15" long. Baste them together 1/4" from the raw edge. I used a beige cotton crochet lace, off-white cotton crochet lace and a strip from an Aviary

Halter Top Pillowcase Sundress

2011-07-08T12:42:00.001-05:00

This is my newest creation, a collaborative work with my daughter, Crystal. It is a Halter Top Pillowcase Sundress. This little sundress can be made using a pillowcase if you want to or with yardage. It has lots of variation possibilities. I have 2 options pictured here. This first one is a sundress modeled by Crystal's precious Aurora. The next set of pictures is modeled by my other beautiful

Crochet Flowers

2011-06-22T22:21:00.001-05:00

I really love crochet flowers. I am so glad that they are popular again. They are just so cute and colorful. And they are the perfect take-along project, don't you agree? I recently made this crochet flower. I used 100% mercerized cotton and I'm not sure what size hook, maybe "F". I crocheted it loosely because, well, that's how I crochet naturally. But I think it gives it a lacy look. I love

Miss Emily Kanzashi Flower Revisited

2011-06-07T21:29:00.000-05:00

I've been working on some items to get ready for the photographers and my Miss Emily Flower is getting a little re-do for the occasion. I just left off the center flower and added leaves. My daughter, Emily, chose the colors and as she puts it, "it really screams Summer". I have to agree. You can read about the original My Emily tutorial here.

Raspberry Sundae Fabric Flower Headband

2011-06-05T11:54:00.000-05:00

I have had a serger for many many years, but I certainly haven't gotten much use out of it until recently. I started working with t shirts and making lettuce edges on stuff. I absolutely love the sweet little ruffles. I call my newest tutorial the Raspberry Sundae Fabric Flower Headband. I think it looks like a rose but has the colors of the Raspberry Sunday Peony I use for my avatar. These

Raspberry Bowtique

2011-02-10T18:56:00.000-06:00

I have a lovely shop to feature today, Raspberry Bowtique on Etsy. The owner of this sweet little shop is Elena. Elena has the cutest headbands and hair clips! She uses different materials to make them, some are fabric, some are wool felt, some are made with ribbon and they are all beautiful! This gorgeous fabric flower can be made into a headband, hairclip, brooch or ponytail holder, and it

New Fabric Flowers

2011-01-31T14:50:00.000-06:00

I've been working a lot over the last few days to make up for the time lost when I was sick for those several days. I finished 2 new flowers for my shop, the Round Petal Fabric Flowers and the Ruched Roses. And while making these I decided to create another Fabric Flower Bib Necklace. Please visit my Etsy shop for these tutorials.

How To Make Your Own Bias Tape

2011-01-27T14:52:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love bias tape, handmade bias tape that is. It is quite a chore to make though. I broke down and purchased a couple little gadgets that I thought would make this chore easier, the Bias Tape Maker and the Rotary Cutting Machine, both from Simplicity. I tried them out today. Here is my story... An easy way to make bias tape is to start with a half yard of fabric. It is a good

Double Kanzashi Flower

2010-12-29T21:50:00.000-06:00

After completing the Miss Emily Flower I decided to fool around a little bit with it and came up with my newest flower, a double layer kanzashi style flower. It is the first of my work for Valentine's Day. This tutorial actually has 2 versions in it as you can see here. It will be available in my Etsy shop soon. I just don't know what to name it. I'm not real clever when it comes to that. I

Miss Emily Kanzashi Flower

2010-12-11T23:34:00.002-06:00

My newest tutorial has taken me literally weeks to get finished. Of course most of that time I spent saying, "I gotta start on that soon". Sometimes you just get in slumps and it is difficult to pull yourself out of them. I am in somewhat of a slump right now, probably just worn out getting ready for the holidays. I kinda forced myself to get this tutorial done. I had it to the testing stage

Peonies & Roses: A Christmas Stocking

2010-11-22T23:48:00.002-06:00

Every year my church holds a raffle as a fund raiser and every year I make a one-of-a-kind Christmas stocking and donate it. I enjoy making them and it is challenging to come up with new designs every year. Most of the time when I am designing something I let the fabric guide me. This year I couldn't decide between 3 different fabric collections, I wanted to make them all. So in addition to the

Quilted Christmas Ball Ornaments

2010-11-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

I have just listed this newest of my tutorials, the Quilted Christmas Ball Ornament. I first made this a couple months ago as a gift for my Mom, you can read about that here. Recently my daughter and I sat down and made some more of these and created this tutorial to list in my Etsy shop. These are limited only by your imagination. They require only scrap fabric and trims plus a few other

Tracey's Treasures

2010-11-03T12:20:00.000-05:00

Recently one of my lovely customers, Tracey Lipman, wrote to me to show me what she's been up to in her Etsy shop, Tracey's Treasures. She had purchased my Single or Double Layer Fabric Flower and adapted it a little and added it to all sorts of wonderful handmade goodies she has in her shop. I just love these Stroller Bag Caddies. They attach over the handle of your stroller and will hold all

Felt Flowers

2010-09-21T13:47:00.001-05:00

One of my favorites materials to work with is felt. I have made felt flowers to use as decorations on various things and decided to put them into pdf form and share them in my Etsy shop. I finished 2 so far, with a couple more in the works. Here I have a poinsettia type flower. The poinsettia tutorial includes this daffodil flower. I also just finished my Felt

The Start of a Tradition

2010-09-06T19:35:00.002-05:00

My Mother requested a special ornament for Christmas this year. She asked for something classic with crimson and gold, something with poinsettias. And, she told me, if I did a good enough job on it she would get some orders from her friends, lol. Well that got me thinking. I have seen the beautiful ornaments made by Darlene in my previous post. And what an inspiration those are. So, I attempted

Prairie Creations Ornaments

2010-09-02T19:54:00.001-05:00

I would like to show off the beautiful work of one of my Etsy shop customers, Darlene, from Prairie Creations Ornaments. She makes these fabulous unique quilted ball ornaments. She makes them for all seasons and holidays and welcomes custom orders for special occasions. Darlene purchased my Single or Double Layer Flower Tutorial and my Scrappy Loopy Flower Tutorial and used them in such

Giggle Girls

2010-08-26T17:06:00.000-05:00

I had the wonderful occasion to do business in my Etsy shop with Stacie from Giggle Girls. Take a look at this beautiful shop and all the gorgeous goodies she has. If you are looking for something special for your little girl you will surely find it here. She has sweet glitzy tops and boutique bottoms, preppy pillowcase dresses, sassy jeans, rompers, dressed up flip flops, frilly boutique hair

Computers, Cameras, & Photos

2010-08-21T21:55:00.000-05:00

I have a definite love/hate relationship with computers and electronics. I'm sure most would agree that it's all something you can't live with and you can't live without. But since I have an online business it's a necessary evil. I have a desktop computer that runs well, it's dependable, but it is very slow. I definitely need to get a tune-up on that one. I have been using only a desktop

Meet jp pinkdaisy

2010-08-14T20:59:00.000-05:00

Recently I have asked my customers who have purchased my tutorials to join me here on my blog where I can talk a little about them and show off some of their treasures. I'd like to introduce you to Judie, a fellow Etsian, and her darling Etsy shop, jp pinkdaisy. Judie has handmade, wearable art that is unique and vintage inspired. Judie has some sweet hair accessories in her shop, so shabby and

Crafting With Patience

2010-08-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Today Patience and I decided to make some quick and easy flower hair clips. She found some artificial flowers at the craft store that she liked so we brought them home. This is definitely a project she could do mostly by herself so I let her have at it. After all, she is the designer behind my Miss Patience Bag which is for sale in my Etsy shop. And she is 9 years old, I'll have her on a sewing

Halloween is Fast Approaching

2010-07-27T11:31:00.000-05:00

I have just listed some Halloween fabric in my Etsy shop. It may be a little early, but I don't think so for fabric. It does take time to create all the things you want to create and it's best to start early with that. And you may want to order early too before it's all gone. I brought back some favorites like Pumpkins Gone Wild by Sandy Gervais for Moda. I have the jelly rolls. I have

Many Purpose Bags

2010-07-24T07:48:00.000-05:00

I had been working on these bags off and on for a little while. I wanted to make some bags that were not only attractive and functional, but I wanted to create something that had many uses. I think this Simple Drawstring Gift Bag is a no brainer. You can make this any size and use it for just about anything. I will be making more of these for my good shoes. You can store stuff in them, so many

Christmas in July Sale

2010-07-14T23:03:00.003-05:00

I am having a store wide sale in my shop. But I am really tired right now and I need to go to bed. Basically it's a sale. Please visit my shop to see the sale ad details. I hope to see you there. Sale runs July 15-25.

From My Scrap Bag...A Mini Message Board

2010-07-13T07:07:00.001-05:00

For this project you will need the following materials: cardboard~~I used corrugated fabric~~I used cotton thin batting~~I actually used fleece, but I'm not too happy with it ribbon and pre-gathered eyelet trim decorative buttons~~I used 4 glue~~I used Fabri-Tac and hot glue You can make yours any size, mine is about 7" square. Start by cutting your cardboard the size you want. Cut 1 piece of

Go Green With My Clothespin Bag...Coming Soon!

2010-07-12T21:15:00.000-05:00

I wanted to make a clothespin bag earlier in the season so people could actually get some use out of it. Well here it is almost the middle of July and I'm still working on it. No worries though, there are still a few months left to hang things on the line. And it is a wonderful way to reduce your footprint on the earth. Go here to find some more reasons and for some interesting facts. I

The Madison Bag

2010-07-04T20:56:00.000-05:00

Today is Independence Day, a day when most are spending time with family and friends, having BBQs, going swimming and watching fireworks. I was not fortunate enough to be able to do any of that this year because as kids get older they like to spend time with their friends, not their Mom :( So rather than feel sorry for myself I decided to go through my fabric stash and find some beautiful fabric

Scrappy Loopy Flower

2010-06-30T17:34:00.005-05:00

I just finished a new tutorial for my Scrappy Loopy Flower. I have been making these for some time and have used them instead of traditional bows on packages. It really gives a nice personal touch to special gifts. The sky is the limit when it comes to the different combinations of fabrics you can use to make these. And you can make them any size and even use different widths of fabric. Visit

In Full Bloom

2010-06-21T14:54:00.001-05:00

I am so thrilled to discover that my Spring Day Bag and Brooch have been chosen as 1 of 15 wonderful projects made by very talented and creative people in the Martha Stewart website community to win the Best Sewing Projects 2010. I am in disbelief, really. There were so many projects entered. Here is a link to see the winners: http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/your-best-sewing-projects-

Moda Candy Bars

2010-06-20T09:11:00.004-05:00

These wonderful "candy bars" are new from Moda and so fun! There are 2 different boxes, a "Dark Chocolate" and a "Milk Chocolate". Each box comes with 4 different "candy bars". Each one contains 40 fabric rectangles which measure 2.5"x5". The Milk Chocolate Box contains the following collections: Bliss by Bonnie & Camille City Weekend by Oliver + SFandango by Kate SpainBreakfast at Tiffany's by

Got T-Shirts? Make Some Flowers

2010-06-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

I just had to make something with all these t-shirts that were on their way out. I created t-shirt roses and t-shirt chrysanthemums or dahlias. See my tutorial here in my Etsy shop. .

Miss Patience

2010-06-03T21:56:00.001-05:00

Two of my grandchildren, Patience and Edward, are staying a couple weeks with me right now. They are 9 and 11 years old, respectively. I am thrilled they are here, I don't get to see them nearly as often as I'd like to. Ed keeps busy doing lots of stuff, playing with my dog, Chloe, or helping with the yard work or playing video games, etc. But Miss Patience is easily bored and keeping her

The Li'l Lizzy Hipster

2010-05-31T10:29:00.000-05:00

Several months ago I made a few messenger style bags and sold a couple online and a few more at craft shows. They were a little different, I had not put a zipper in those and they had a flap closure. Here are a couple examples: This new one has a zipper closure and a back pocket. I made a tutorial for the new one and have listed it in my Etsy shop and it is called

DoOdLeBuGs

2010-05-29T16:35:00.000-05:00

I made a fabric flower bib necklace a few weeks ago which had a kanzashi style fabric butterfly on it. I have had many requests for the pattern to making these butterflies. I didn't have one made up until now. I finally made the tutorial and I have included 2 versions of butterflies, 2 bumblebees, 2 ladybugs and a dragonfly. I call them Fabric Doodlebugs and the pdf tutorial is available in my

Lotus Flower Tutorial

2010-05-17T22:24:00.000-05:00

Seems I can't get too far away from the flowers. I finished another tutorial today and have posted it in my Etsy shop. This one is called Fabric Lotus Flower. Actually I have had 2 projects in the works. One was this flower, which is pretty easy to make. It is not too time consuming. However, the other project I am working on is taking some time to get together. Once I'm finished it will be

We Have Some Winners!!

2010-05-15T19:50:00.001-05:00

I want to thank everyone who entered my 1 year anniversary/customer appreciation giveaway. It has come to an end and I have 3 winners!! My grand prize is a choice of any 4 fabric flower pdf tutorials in my shop, plus choice of 4 fat quarters of any fabric in my shop. This grand prize goes to Jaime from The Hair Candy Store. Congratulations Jaime! The 2nd place winner gets to choose 2 fabric

From My Scrap Bag: Lacy Flower Bib Necklace Tutorial

2010-05-11T17:02:00.005-05:00

I put together a tutorial to share with you on how to make this Lacy Flower Bib Necklace. It is pretty easy to construct. I just used pieces from my scrap bag. I started with 2 pieces of these gorgeous Venise Laces, about 10" long and some satin ribbon. You can use any scrap of lace or eyelet that is decorative like this. I sewed the 2 pieces together at the top edge. Cut your ribbon long

The Cameo Bag

2010-05-08T16:00:00.008-05:00

I would like to share my newest creation, I call it The Cameo Bag. The tote bag measures about 11 1/2" w across the top, 6 1/2" w across the bottom, 10" h, and has a 3" gusset. The handle drop is about 8". There are 2 full pockets on the outside of the bag, 1 in front, 1 in back. There is 1 zippered pocket on the inside. This tote is fully lined and is nicely padded. There is a magnetic snap

My Studio

2010-05-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

I recently had the occasion to take pictures of my studio and so I thought I would post them here to share with you. I have been crafting and sewing for so many many years and I have never had a space like this one. I am thrilled to have it. You can see in this picture that the originals owners of my house must have had the plans to make a 2nd kitchen or bar downstairs here. And

Spring Day Tote

2010-05-06T10:07:00.008-05:00

I'd like to share my newest pdf tutorial with you. It is called Spring Day Tote. I just listed it in my Etsy shop. The tote bag measures about 12" x 11 1/2" and has a 2 1/2" gusset. The handle drop on the bag pictured is about 5 1/2", however you can make the handles longer if you wish. There are 2 large pockets on the outside of the bag, 1 in front, 1 in back. There is 1 pocket on the inside.

Picture Redo

2010-05-05T13:22:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I got my photo box set up and decided to start experimenting with picture taking. I don't know very much about my camera as far as settings go. The camera I used for these pictures is digital and has 5 megapixels. I shot all these pictures with the flash off and the camera in close-up mode. My photo box is equipped with 3 lamps with 20 watt (which equals 75 watt) 6500K natural light bulbs

My Homemade Light Box

2010-05-04T21:19:00.001-05:00

I have posted on the subject of my shop photos a couple of times. Both times complaining about how I need to improve them and not really knowing how. I've brought up the idea of making a photo light box and hoping that was all I needed, but it was pointed out to me that is not all I need. But you gotta start somewhere. I have done some research about making a light box of my own instead of

Back to an Old Favorite

2010-05-04T16:18:00.000-05:00

For some little while I designed handbags, totes, little clutches and wallets and the like. I sold many of these at local craft fairs and Ebay. Some didn't sell at all, but I always got wonderful feedback from my customers and had much repeat business. I had several designs and lots of different color choices. I also made lot of things that I used for my home and to give as gifts. It was such a

Spring Giveaway

2010-04-28T19:39:00.000-05:00

I have been selling on Etsy for just over 1 year now and am celebrating a wonderful year with a giveaway. This giveaway is open to everyone!! I want to thank all my fabulous customers and all the wonderful Etsy people who have hearted my shop and my items. I also want to thank my blog, facebook, twitter and my craft corner friends. Thank you all very much. There are lots of terrific stuff in

Spring Flowers, My Etsy Finds

2010-04-18T07:10:00.003-05:00

Well it seems I can not get enough flowers. But really, who doesn't love flowers. I am ready for some blooms out in my garden for sure, but until then I will enjoy them right here. Here are some beautiful Spring flowers from some talented artists on Etsy. Please take a look. Spring Sonnet, Sweet Floral Lampwork Bracelet by ShaLayne Originals Beautiful Wedding Invitation Pillow by Boutique

Frilly Fabric Flowers

2010-04-17T19:04:00.000-05:00

I'd like to show you my newest listing in my Etsy shop. I call these flowers Frilly Fabric Flowers. They are super easy to make and can take on different looks depending on how you make them. This one I made with red satin and red netting and I singed the edges. More examples of how different you can make these. Visit my shop for the tutorial. Thanks for looking. Stay tuned for tomorrow's

Kitchen Kitsch? Maybe

2010-04-15T22:30:00.001-05:00

I'l like to show you my newest listing. It is a PDF tutorial for making this little chickie pot topper. I made these and sold them at local shows a couple years ago. It all started when my Dad gave me a similar one and I fell in love with it. I used it all the time. It served me quite well. Recently my little chickie had to be retired from use. I depended on it so much that I had to replace it

Wonderful Etsy Finds

2010-04-11T09:03:00.000-05:00

I like to show you some wonderful items I found on Etsy. I think they are all very charming and amazingly, these are still available. I'm thinking Mother's Day here. Vanilla Bean Noel Type Scent Handmade Soap by Forget Me Knot Soap Shop I Love Western 3 pc set by Joonie Bean Fun Hip Chunky Vintage Bauble Statement Necklace by MTY Designs Tangerine Dream-wrist cuff-choker-headband by

Singed Fabric Roses

2010-04-10T22:44:00.001-05:00

This is my newest listing, a pdf tutorial for making these gorgeous singed fabric roses. I used polyester fabric, satin, tulle, and netting to make these. They are super easy to make and so nice, they would be perfect for wedding decorations and bridal accessories.

From My Scrap Bag...Half Marble Magnets

2010-04-07T14:20:00.001-05:00

I found this bag of clear glass half marbles on the clearance rack and thought, oh goodie, I will make myself some magnets. Here is how I did it. You will need clear glass half marbles. I don't know if that is the correct name for these or not, but for today they are half marbles. You need some decoupage glue or other glue that dries clear. I used Mod Podge matte finish. You can also

Sewing Machine Mat Organizer Tutorial

2010-04-06T13:06:00.000-05:00

Brand new to my Etsy shop is the handy dandy sewing machine mat with organizer pockets, pin cushion and removable thread catcher. Well, actually it is just the tutorial for making it. I am keeping the one I made, 'cuz I've been wanting one for some time and finally took the plunge. So happy! You can read all about it here. This one is made from the Marabella collection by Amy Hamberlin for Henry

Blessed Easter

2010-04-03T11:10:00.000-05:00

This will be a brief message to all who visit. I just want to wish everyone a very Happy and Blessed Easter weekend. Now that Lent is over we can rejoice with renewed spirituality and celebrate new life in our spring season.

Coming Soon!

2010-03-28T20:33:00.002-05:00

Within the next couple of days I will be adding some new fabric to my Etsy shop. I think they are beautiful and perfect for Spring and Summer. This one is green/lavender Flowers on Dots from the Marabella Collections by Amy Hamberlin for Henry Glass. This green/lavender paisley is also from Marabella. This one is lemon/lime/violet Cat Portraits from the Cat Crazy collection from Benartex.

My Photos

2010-03-24T07:36:00.000-05:00

Today my focus is going to be on the photographs I use in my listings in my Etsy shop and here on my blog. I have a real problem with lighting. I'm sure that's what most of us complain about. I don't get what people say when they suggest use natural lighting. I have tried taking pictures using only the light from outside and I don't think they look good at all! What am I doing wrong. I think the

PIF PDF

2010-03-21T20:11:00.003-05:00

I would like to offer this Scrunchie and Matching Clip PDF tutorial for almost free at my Etsy shop. It is a small way to say thank you. This will be offered for a limited time. I have been on Etsy for 1 year in a few days and I have had such a great time and such a busy time. I am just getting started really. I have got a lot planned in the next little while. I think I may even open a 2nd shop.

My Easter Etsy Finds

2010-03-21T06:44:00.000-05:00

Today I have decided to feature Easter items I found at Etsy. I think these things are cute no matter what time of year it is. Have a look! Kitty Egg Crayons-6 colors-Easter by kittybblove Polymer Clay Peeps Charm/Pendant by FrenchiesStuff Easter Carrot by handmadebyannepotter Lilly the Bunny Dog by wishwithme Easter basket decoration with knitted chicks by blueshedcrafts Thanks for

Got Jelly Rolls?

2010-03-18T20:59:00.004-05:00

I have been making these flowers forever and just never got around to making a tutorial for them. I am happy to report that I am finally finished with this tutorial and I have listed it in my Etsy shop I think these are kinda great and versatile flowers and guess what? They are incredibly easy to make. Got jelly rolls? These flowers and jelly rolls go together like milk and cookies.

How I Spent My Whole Morning Or My New Shop Banner

2010-03-15T10:01:00.002-05:00

A graphic artist I am not. I certainly wish I knew a little bit more about it, at least enough to do the basics without spending my entire morning making a simple shop banner. Alas, I do not, but I wanted to have a better shop banner so I made my cup of French Vanilla Cappuccino and sat down to work. Two cups and about 3 hours later I came up with a wonderful wonderful shop banner, but I'm sure

Beautiful Organza Flowers

2010-03-12T14:01:00.002-06:00

I have added another flower tutorial to my shop. I have really been on a flower kick recently, I think I must be trying to get Spring here. These flowers are really gorgeous, so light and delicate. I love them. The tutorial includes instructions for making this beautiful corsage and 3 flower headband. It also includes instructions for making your flower into a brooch and also attaching it to a

Luck of the Irish Etsy Finds

2010-03-06T20:09:00.000-06:00

Wow, has it been a week already? Well, actually no, because I was late last week. With St. Patty's Day just around the corner I decided to feature some special items to honor the day. Take a look! Irish Green Shamrocks and Brass Earrings by The Goblet St Patricks Day Charm Bracelet by Rackamoon Tie Bar Clover Shamrock by Antoinettes Whims Gold Plated St Patricks Day Four Leaf Clover

Sleepy Little Town of Pascagoula...and Home Again

2010-03-06T07:16:00.001-06:00

My daughter, Emily, was on spring break this past week! Kinda early don't you think? She had a total of 9 days off and we decided to take a drive down south, way down south, all the way to the gulf. I have been to New Orleans and other southern cities, but I had never been down to the water. I grew up in southern California and going to the beach was a normal almost everyday (in the summer)

My Undiscovered Etsy Finds

2010-03-01T13:10:00.001-06:00

I know I am a day late with this post, but it is a long story. The short version is that I had to go out of state for about a week. I was promised internet access, but I didn't get it until now. And even now it is sketchy. It's amazing, the withdrawals I'm going through. This week I wanted to featured items that have yet to be discovered on Etsy. These are truly beautiful. Please take a look and

Fabric Flower Bib Necklace

2010-02-25T16:05:00.003-06:00

I just love these bib necklaces, don't you? I have priced them at stores and um yeah, no thanks. So I devised a tutorial on making these at home, they're easy. You can find this tutorial at my Etsy shop. Of course the possibilities are endless when making these. I made this one using fabric flowers, but you can use buttons, rhinestones, beads, you name it. So fun for Spring. Oh there I go again

Is It Spring Yet?

2010-02-22T13:44:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but I am ready for Spring. Don't get me wrong, I love the winter, but let's be honest it can be a little rough to go through. And it seems we had more than our usual snow and ice and drop dead cold temperatures this winter. Yes, I am looking forward to Spring. And I am trying to urge it along with this Spring Bouquet I made over the weekend. It's not fancy or anything. It

Crocheted Etsy Finds

2010-02-20T21:27:00.001-06:00

Back again for another weekly treat of beautiful Etsy finds, this time some pretty sweet hand crocheted beauties. Take a look! Granny Square Dish from Speckless Roses Flower Scarf from Eclectica By Jan Ruffle Maroon Scarf from Megnificent Co Crochet Doily Rose Parade from Mishap Blue Girls Vintage Button Slippers from The Recycled Pearl Did I do good? Oh I think so, you must agree!

2010-02-19T07:34:00.003-06:00

Making Half Squares, in other words...Triangles

2010-02-13T10:46:00.001-06:00

Many times a quilt pattern or other project calls for these half square triangles. And cutting and piecing them is sometimes an issue. The problem comes when dealing with the bias edge, it is stretchy and can easily get misshapen. Here is a technique (I wish I was clever enough to have thought of it myself) that will give you very good results. Cut your squares out of 2 different fabrics on the

My Red Etsy Finds

2010-02-12T21:43:00.002-06:00

Wow, I have found some wonderful wonderful red treasures to feature here. You will agree that these gorgeous items are perfect for Valentine's Day or any day of the year. Take a look. Children's Red Ear Flap Hat-Hens and Chicks from woodsmoke woodworks Daisy Girl Reusable Sandwich Bag from PraireWindDesigns Watermelon Olive Oil Soap from ParadiseBodyShop Red Crochet Beanie from 2kute

Cupcake Etsy Finds

2010-02-06T21:53:00.007-06:00

I've got a sweet tooth this week! I have found some yummy cupcakes to show you. This is my 3rd week of featuring neat stuff that I find on Etsy. I enjoy doing this, I've been seeing so many gorgeous things. Those Etsy people are truly talented. Look and see what I mean. Coffee and Cupcakes from CinnamonBreeze Sweet Treats Cupcakes from paperfantasy67124 Cupcake Buttons from

itty bitty pretties

2010-02-04T10:35:00.000-06:00

Here are some little sweeties I have been working on to fill a custom order through my Etsy shop. These look good enough to eat. Come visit my shop and let me bake some up for you! Make a Smilebox recipe

Baby Animals Etsy Finds

2010-01-30T14:23:00.002-06:00

This week I have featured the cutest little animals from some talented Etsy people. Take a look! A Mother's Love Bookmark from cartooniecatdoodles Origami Congrats from KittyKatKards Birds on a Branch from theLittleGreenButton March of the Penguins Organic Onesie from AsSmallAsMe Best Friend Puppy Dog Bib from ourkidsboutique Silly Penguin from wigglysee Personalized Birthday Cupcake Toppers

2010-01-29T17:22:00.001-06:00

Valentine Necklace...a tutorial

2010-01-28T18:07:00.000-06:00

St.Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but there is still time to make these sweet little necklaces. What you need are a variety of trims, some ribbon, and some fabric and felt. Decide on your design. We made 2 to show you here. We chose to make hearts from felt for the pendant part and added a fabric cutout to it. You can adhere your fabric to the felt using a heat 'n bond type product

Pink Etsy Finds

2010-01-24T09:08:00.001-06:00

Take a look at the cuteness here. In honor of my new granddaughter, Aurora Sky, born 12 Jan., I am featuring pink this week. Crocheted and beaded mini cupcake key chain in pink cotton-strawberry Heart Cookie Felt Pin with Neon Pink Frosting, So Kawaii Pink Pony Crocheted Purse for Girls Valentine Bird Nest Tags Set of 10 pink eggs Sweetheart Pink Necklace Pink Romance

Sweetheart Tees

2010-01-23T19:24:00.001-06:00

We have had a full house over the last few days and so I took the opportunity to do some Valentine's Day crafts with my granddaughter, Patience. These cute t-shirts are the perfect craft to make when you only have a couple hours to spend. They are super quick and super easy. I bought these tees on sale for $3.00 each. I used a few fabric scraps, some fabric paint, heat 'n bond, a little ribbon

Covered Button Ponytail Holders

2010-01-21T14:27:00.003-06:00

New to my shop are these cute covered button ponytail holders. They are made with quality 100% cotton fabric. The ones I have listed at this time are perfect for Valentine's Day or anytime, but I can custom make these any color and several sizes. For a limited time I am offering the sweetest felt-lined heart shaped keepsake tin to keep your ponytail holders in. I also have several sets of covered

SALE SALE SALE

2010-01-19T09:23:00.001-06:00

I have put a lot of items on sale in my shop. I have set up a special sale section where you can find wonderful deals on designer fabric including yardage and precuts from Moda. I slashed the price on all my honey buns, turnovers, some jelly rolls, and alot of charm packs. You'll find Swanky, Sultry, Baskets of Flowers, Oh Cherry Oh, Soiree, Sweet, and other great collections. I also have all my

Moda Bake Shop Sampler Box

2010-01-16T18:17:00.002-06:00

Does it get any cuter than this? Check this out_this box has twelve packs of 40 - 2.5" x 2.5" assorted fabric squares. There's 480 different squares, 12 different fabric lines! This is a sampler preview of the Spring 2010 collection from Moda! Includes: Lakeside Resort by Holly Taylor Frolic by Sandy Gervais Butterfly Garden by Kansas Troubles Verna by Kate Spain Eden by Lila Tueller Garden

Rearranging My Shop

2010-01-12T21:06:00.000-06:00

I have been working on my Etsy shop, putting stuff on sale and rearranging the order of things to make ready for Valentine's Day. I have finally added a "SALE" section and have moved several items to it. Mostly this section will consist of end of season stuff, but it does have other things that I currently have on sale. These things will change periodically so check this section often for any

MaxsonCreations Etsy Treasury

2009-12-28T15:08:00.000-06:00

I am so totally thrilled to be included in MaxsonCreations Etsy Treasury. I am honored to be in the midst of such adorable treasures. Thank you Jeni. Jeni has some beautiful handmade items at her Etsy shop, Maxson Creations. I am sure you will find something you like for your little one. Go check it out.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-25T13:40:00.000-06:00

I would like to extend my wishes to all of you for a very wonderful and blessed holiday season. I hope we all see the true meaning of this season and welcome it into our everyday lives.

Early Holiday Greetings

2009-11-24T18:41:00.001-06:00

Well I don't know how many of you are aware of my recent 3 month long job search which amounted to much worry, depression, loss of self esteem, panic, and desperation. I have been out of work for about a year and apparently local employers were not too keen on that idea. I had very few call backs and even fewer interviews. And as time went on those interviews seemed brutal and I found myself

Meet Catherine

2009-11-05T07:34:00.000-06:00

This week for my artist feature I would like to introduce Catherine. Catherine has 2 Etsy shops: Bridal Jewelry For You and Catherine's Handcrafted Jewelry Designs. Catherine says, "I sell jewelry, but also sew, make soap, knit, and crochet. I do have a blog although I a lot of times forget about in the busyness of life http://jewelryforever.blogspot.com . I started crafting when I got started in

Another Surprise!

2009-11-02T12:40:00.000-06:00

Today must be my lucky day! One of my fat quarter combos was chosen to be included in the "Color Feature of the Week" on Charan's blog, Creative With Clay. I also want to give you the link the Charan's Etsy shop of the same name. She has some gorgeous creations there. Thanks again Charan.

Susie's Etsy Treasury

2009-11-02T07:58:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I made the long trip to see my daughter, Shelley, and 2 of my grandchildren, Edward and Patience. It was Patience's last soccer game and I just had to watch her play at least once, even if it meant driving 4 hours each way all in one day. And it was so worth it. When I got home last night I discovered that my Autumn Leaves Embroidered Coasters were included in someone's Etsy treasury.

Autumn Leaves

2009-10-31T10:22:00.000-05:00

I have finished a set of freehand embroidered felt coasters yesterday and have them listed at my Etsy shop. These are about 4" square with rounded corners. I made them using ECOSPUN®. ECOSPUN® is made from 100% Certified Recycled PET bottles, saving landfill space, natural resources and reducing harmful air emmissions. I chose some wonderful fall colors like camel, sandstone, gold, orange,

New Fabric Coming Soon!!

2009-10-29T08:28:00.002-05:00

Who doesn't love fabric? I can't think of anyone, well anyone in their right mind. For me it is a passion, I can't get enough. So to appease my insatiable appetite for fabric I have made a couple rather large orders recently. I will be getting new fabric over the next weeks and months and will be listing it in my Etsy shop. And let me tell you there are some gorgeous fabrics coming out. Here is

I'd Like to Introduce Teresa from Digicute

2009-10-28T16:06:00.000-05:00

I have wanted to get to know some of the wonderful crafters out there and introduce them to you as well, so I am starting a new feature on my blog. I am going to be featuring a new artist about once a week. Today I would like you to introduce Teresa. Teresa is the owner of Digicute, a sweet Etsy shop. Here are a few words from Teresa, "I majorly use Illustrator and Photoshop to create clip arts,

My Birthday

2009-10-26T07:55:00.000-05:00

We celebrated my birthday this past weekend. My birthday was actually Friday, but we had a party yesterday. On Friday I did go out to lunch at Casa Gallardo, a fabulous Mexican restaurant, where I ate entirely too many enchiladas. Yummy! And that sweet Mexican cornbread...to die for!! I love that stuff so much that I came home and looked up a copycat recipe for it. I found 2 that I am going to

Spontaneous Sale Time

2009-10-10T08:35:00.001-05:00

I am having a 2 day only sale, Oct 10 & 11. Spend $50 and get 10% off your next order at my shop. This is the first of a series of upcoming sales I will be having, so keep watching.

At Long Last

2009-09-30T20:27:00.002-05:00

After what seems like an eternity, I am finally getting my studio back. Like a lot of parents out there, I gave up something near and dear to me for someone much more nearer and dearer to me, my daughter. She needed to come back home for a while (which is happening so much these days) and so I gave her my studio. I am very happy that I could help, but things are better now, so studio here I come.