Thank You Sampler

The sampler posted one of my greeting cards I sent in. Thank you, Sampler. Funny, this card is probably one of my least favorite ones (shhhhh), but I'm thrilled somebody liked it. It's been proven over and over again, that my taste is NOT the norm. I remember the first apron I sold at a craft show. I was so embarrassed of it, I almost didn't put it out. It was made as a joke for my cousin, but I couldn't even send it to her. It wasn't displayed 10 min, it caught a ladies' eye, she b-lined for it, didn't look at the price tag and paid for it on the spot. She loved it! It takes all kinds of tastes, that's what makes us special! (NOT that kind of "special".)

Jed's Sewing Camp

What a blast! This year I had five girls for sewing camp. We made a three-tiered skirt. The girls got to pick their own fabric and I taught them how to use Simplicity Pattern 4206 . They all did wonderfully and are now sporting their one-of-a-kind originals! My future fashion designers. Someday I'll be saying, "I knew them when..."

The gathering gave most of them headaches, and they EACH were personally introduced to the SEAM RIPPER!!!!!! But mostly what I saw were incredible straight lines and perfect 5/8" seams. Unbelievable the skill of these girls. They were patient, diligent, and focused, and now they have something of their very own, fashioned by hand, completely unique and a reflection of themselves. They built confidence, overcame obstacles, and let their creative juices flow. Sounds like a good week to me! I really enjoyed myself, and from what I gather so did the girls. We ALL did agree that AFTER camp we felt like bumps on a log. We just wanted to sit and stare at a blank wall, and we were ravishingly hungry. I guess using all that brain power really tuckers you out. Sewing really does use a lot of brain power. There is math, engineering, color, composition, problem solving, mechanics, UNJAMMING MACHINES, eye-hand coordination, etc --you get the picture. :) However, I'm sure they have recuperated by now, and they are flouncing about in their cute skirts! Or their altered T's we made from this book.




Upcoming Jed's Events:

• Craft Camp II July 9-12 10:30am-2:30pm $75 ages 11&up


• Craft Camp III Aug 6-9 10:30am-1:30pm $75 ages 5-10

NEW For the ladies...Adult Beginner Sewing Classes. We will meet every other month and do a new project each session. The first one will be this cute tote bag and we'll meet:

Tues July 31 10am-1pm, Thurs Aug 2 10am-1pm, and Tues Aug 7 6pm-9pm
The cost is $55 and babysitting will be provided for an extra fee during the morning classes. Email sarah@jedidiahsnovelties.com for more information or to register. All camps and classes are held at NCA.

Thank you girls for a fabulous week. I hope you learned MUCHO about sewing, but more than that I hope you enjoyed the creative outlet and the growing confidence that comes with using your hands constructively.

We Are Family

We had a full house this weekend. My sister and brother were here with their kids. We had 7 cousins under the age of 5 in one tiny house! It was loads of fun. The kids ran around like banshees, and the sibs tried to finish complete sentences without breaking up fights, fixing boo-boos, or making meals/snacks. :) Good times.



Everyone was here for my little one's birthday party, but last week when I was bustling around getting ready for the party I had to go to the mall to order a cookie cake. I am normally a DIY-er birthday kinda gal, but I taught sewing camp last week (to which I will give a proper post soon) and just didn't have the time. However, my small trip to the mall gave me great insight. It took me 15min to order a cookie cake. I was the only one in line, and there were two people working. The poor kids working were so incompetent to run a store. They hardly acknowledged me, and when they did they had no knowledge of their business. IE: what are the prices of the cookie cakes? how many will they feed? how to spell common words... in general to take an order. They were not rude, just highly incompetent. After that I headed downstairs to a maternity store who is the only place around that carries Palmer's Nursing Cream. I have two friends about to have their first babies, and this is always one of the gifts I like to give to my nursing mom friends. I honestly don't know how nursing is bearable without this cream. It's so wonderful! It's not like lansinoh, or whatever, you don't wipe it off, it smells great, and it's so healing. Anyhoo...get to the store, ask for the one box on the shelf and if they have anymore? They say no. We open the box and the cream is NOT even inside the box. So they have zero boxes. I ask, "when they will be getting more"? They say they order one box at a time and when that sells they will order only one more. So basically they will always only carry one box at a time. My dilemma is I would like to buy two. So the fool-hearted girl in me asks, "could you please order two, I will pay for them right now and you could let me know when they get in". There are three employees and one manager. They all (including the manager) say no. All this said to let you know how appalled I was to be looking face to face with people carrying product and not be able to get what I want. What is that? When did not only customer service, but employee competence become obsolete? This thought catapulted to why I believe the DIY businesses and internet sales are doing so well. First off when you buy from an independent their name is being represented and they have personal interest and value in that name. They want their reputation and name to be respected. They also are immediately compensated for working hard. If they take orders and fill them quickly they make money. The good old "American Dream". As opposed to the min. wage employee working for a large corporation that doesn't even know they exist let alone recognize them or compensate them when they do a job well done. So why would they have any motivation to do a good job, other than plain-prehistoric-good-old-fashioned-work-ethic? Indies also value their customer. Most ensure quality and form relationships with their customers. The scale stays smaller and this keeps the quality better.



When you shop online you don't have to find parking on a rainy day, make your way through the cloud of pre-teen smoke lingering in front of the door, weave your way past the cliques of scantily clad adolescents, deal with rotten customer service, or not finding what your looking for.

From the convenience of your home and the small price of shipping you get what you are looking for delivered to your door without having to deal with the general public. Hmmm... $5 for shipping not looking so bad????



I am not a recluse or a scrooge, and truly not as judgemental as this post sounds, but sometimes I really do get discouraged when I'm out and about. There seems to be real character missing. I'm done ranting. And we did end up with the cookie cake, and it was delicious, and now it's gone. I guess it just boils down to the cold hard truth, "we have to fight for our right to party". Totally laughing outloud.

Sarah

Thou Shalt Not Covet

...this adorable "boy" toddler bag going to Whitney. It's funky and great, but still masculine. I think a Dad might actually carry this bag??? Happy Father's Day (btw). My cruddy pictures don't really do it justice. The outside is this great earthy-toned polka dot and the lining is this vintage baseball print. Whitney wanted baseball, so this is what we came up with. I'm pleased. It has a pocket on the outside and a pocket in the inside. Great for a toddler on the go, and the mom that chases him!

Today is my {now} 3 yr old's b-day. I gave her this apron from Red Velvet. Rachel and I did a swap. My little one loved it. As soon as she saw it, she said, "I'm going to cook." So we made blueberry pancakes for her birthday breakfast. With the blueberries we picked yesterday at Moorehead's Blueberry Farm.

On the To Do List

Doesn't this look like fun?


http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2006/11/pleated_pouch_o.html

photo and tutorial from U-handblog

For more tutorial fun:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=c73264ac825c96aadae253e14ddacc37;www

http://getcrafty.com/

http://craftzine.com/projects/

There is something for everyone. :)

Need A Local Craft Fix

It's fun to see my logo and link on the sampler today. I've probably visited it a hundred times. I guess I'm an "egocentric maniac", it's like those mirrors I pass...can't just keep walking, nope, I've got to stop and take a gander. :) I'm not really that terrible. I've actually been checking out all the other cool sites. So many wonderful crafters out there, and such valuable resources. I like this blog http://www.indiefixx.com/ I've ordered some zines from http://www.croqzine.com/

Any local Houstonians might be excited to know of some weekly and monthly craft fairs. Every month there is the Yale Street Art Market. It's in the heights. Then every Saturday there is the Houston Farmers Market. Not only is it a farmers market which is fantastic in itself, but there are also crafty vendors.

http://houstonfarmersmarket.com/

There is also a Midtown Farmers Market on Saturdays.

Some good summer excursions for those of us finding ourselves with more free time lately.

Swirly Head

Swirly head is back. There is so much to do, and my head is spinning. So in true "Sarah" form here is one of my rambling "debriefings".

I have big plans to promote Jed's this summer. One of those ways is by utilizing The Sampler . I sent in 75 cards to be distributed for the months of June and July. So we shall see.

It's a great website, definitely check it out. Look what I found while I was on there. If this doesn't inspire you to embroider, I don't know what would. http://www.dreamfollow.com/gallery2.html I really love blue trees and summer .

This week I also entered the American Sewing Expo competition. I sent in two aprons to the "Not your Mother's Apron" contest. All the proceeds go to a food bank. Isn't that wonderful? I also sent in some of my favorite Christmas cards to the Somerset Studio "Special Holiday Project" challenge. I would really love to see those cards in that magazine come Christmas time. A girl can dream can't she?

Next on the to do list:

1. send in the Stitch application. fingers crossed, i hope, hope, hope i will peddle my wares at stitch this year.


2. finish a picture journal i'm working on


3. finish two baby quilts i'm working on


4. make two shirts for my 10 year high school reunion. throw back to adolescence, "i couldn't be caught dead wearing anything someone else was wearing, right?"


5. make a commissioned baby bag


6. sew aprons, totes, t-shirts, onesies for stitch and festival of angels. maybe sell artwork this year, like my shadow boxes ???hmmm???


7. write press releases. drum up some PR


8. prep work and sewing zine for sewing camp


9. reschedule camp 1--i'm thinking about july 16th-19th from 1-4pm


10. schedule ladies sewing class--i'm thinking july 31, aug 2, and aug 7. check out the new sewing lounge in kingwood and see if it would be a nice place to hold the class? pick times.


11. start crafty girl's guide to creative living zine

Ahh, much better. Swirly head is ready for bed. :)

Summer Projects with Kids

Is it just me...my kids are crazy!?! They have completely forgotten how to entertain themselves. They take anything I'm using at the moment. And no matter how full the day was, they still complain. My five year old says to me, after a day of blueberry picking, swimming, gardening, building blocks, and watching a movie (whew) "you never play with me." Being the guilt-laden mother I am I instantly felt a sharp twinge of pain in my heart. But hours later after I digest those manipulative words more completely, I realize she cannot entertain herself. I am to blame, though, I have overindulged my children. Because of guilt, guilt that I must make my children content, confident, and happy I have robbed them of their ability to self soothe, self rely, and think creatively. No more, tomorrow is a new day! Mom's, don't feel guilty when you need to do things around the house, or for yourself that don't involve your children. As long as you give your children a healthy portion of your time, you do not need to feel responsible to give your children ALL of your time. When you leave them to their own devices you are allowing them time to get to know themselves, to be comfortable with down-time, and foster their own interest. Such valuable life long skills.

However, if you need some crafty activities to do with your kids on a hot summer's day. Here are some great ones to beat the heat with:

http://getcrafty.com/columns/west_coast_crafty/january_07_getting_crafty_with_kids.php

http://kiddley.com/


Whole sites dedicated to getting crafty with your kids.

This is next on my list. I remember doing this with my mom as a kid. I've been looking for directions for a while, and here they are.

(photo by Anne Margaret )


Crayon Cookies (don't worry, keep reading):


Supplies:
*all your broken bits of crayons (use all the same brand)
*muffin pan
*oven preheated to 300 degrees
Instructions:

1. Peel the paper off the broken crayons and break into small pieces (approx .5in -1 in.)


2. In each muffin tin mix 2-3 highly contrasting colors of broken crayons.


3. Melt in the oven for approx 5-10min. Watch until the crayons become liquid.


4. Set out on counter to cool. Wait until they have hardened again, and then


5. Put them in the freezer for approx 30 min. They should pop right out of the muffin pan.

Helpful Tips:

• don't overfill the muffin tins, that will get too messy


• put a cookie sheet under the muffin pan while in the oven


• these make great gifts for your kids friends


• gives new life to your tattered box of broken crayons

Hope it's fun. If you make these send me some pics and I'll post them. If you do any thing crafty with your kids this summer send pics and I'll post them. Parent's unite, we need the resources, right? It takes a village. :)