A tutorial....of sorts

So, my story starts with my wanting an ottoman.  We've had a big, well-worn coffee table in our living room for years and years.  After we purchased a sectional sofa about 3 years ago, the coffee table slowly started feeling, well, too big for the room, that now had a BIG sofa.
So I started my search for an ottoman....I wasn't ready for a room without some sort of coffee table....to put down a drink, a book, to put our feet up.  But me being me, I didn't want to spend a lot of money when I knew in the back of my head I could re-vamp something to make it work.  I needed something just the right height, the right size.
And here's what I did......started with a Rubbermaid tote - just the right height:

I went out to the garage, found some scrap wood, cut it down to fit the top without the plastic lid, with a 1" overlap.  Using laminated cotton, I wrapped a piece around the top of the wood and staple-gunned it down:

I then sewed a piece of home dec (same colorway/pattern as the laminated) together to make a wrapped-around skirt, and tacked it to the top piece with decorative thumb tacks:

Here's another view:

I love the finished ottoman!  I have blankets stored inside the tote - easy to lift off the top and skirt to access the inside.  The only addition I'll make it to put some sticky-back velcro inside/under the wood to keep the top in place....it slides a little when feet are put up.  AND, I had enough home dec. fabric leftover to cover a throw pillow on the sofa!  Approximate cost for new ottoman: $25.  Happiness at having this new addition to the living room:  FREE.
And speaking of tutorials, go on over to Melisa's blog.....she's been doing some really neat ones, as well as seam finishes!  You can find Melisa herself these days at the Fiber Arts Fiesta - she's in charge of, well, a lot!

Things that make me happy.....

*the customer that came in last Saturday, buying fabric to make napkins and placemats.  Being the nosy shop owner I am, I asked her all about her project, and she said her husband bought her a sewing machine for Mother's Day, and that's what she was doing on her day....a day of sewing.

*Ali and Elizabeth, local crafters, customers, fabulous women, making the just-out issue of Quilter's Home magazine.  Ali submitted a quilt she designed, and it's featured.  Elizabeth's polymer buttons are featured in an article on, well, buttons!

*Sarah and Erin, sisters-in-law, who came and made the recycled tote bag.  Sarah is a wonderful young mom to an almost one year old, and is sewing like crazy.  Erin is a college student, destined for greatness. (That's just my opinion)  While I was waiting for them to begin the class, in walks Norah, whom I met a few years back when she and her mom came in to choose fabric.  Now, Norah is unforgettable - tall, beautiful, graceful....and then there's the inside of her - sweet, self-assured, talented and creative and energetic and just makes me happy to see her!  Soooo, Norah is connected to Erin (following me here?) thru college in Indiana, but their moms, Meg & Debra HERE are good friends, and are both also creative, wonderful women, whom I've gotten to know thru Hip Stitch. 

And why does this all make me happy?  Because most of my customers walk in strangers and walk out as friends......and what a wonderful thing that is.

April in Paris

Saturday night was quite fun - a small, intimate group of us gathered, ate and drank, visited with new friends and old, showed off our hand-made beautiful creations - some knitted, some embellished, some made 10 years ago, some made Saturday.  We then settled in to watch the movie - add in one little girl who "Eeeewwed" every kissing scene, and the evening was complete.  Many of us agreed we'd like to do it again - many movie suggestions were offered.  Here is a sampling of pictures from the evening:

It's Spendid, really!

Imagine me saying that title with a British accent....because that's how I feel right now....it's almost time for the ROYAL WEDDING!  You bet your best fabric I'm getting up at 3 a.m. tomorrow to watch it!  30 years ago, when I was a wee age of 12, I got up with my best friend, Andrea, to watch Charles and Diana's gala.  I'll just come out with it - I'm a groupie.  I know, it's outdated and stuffy, this whole royalty thing.  Silly, maybe.  But I just ate it all up at the age of 12, and throughout my teen years, collected every book & magazine that featured the royal family (they're still in a box in my attic)  I was actually more ga-ga over Prince Edward - much better looking than Charles, in my opinion.

 And here I am, 30 years later, getting up in the middle of the night to watch William and Kate.  And tomorrow, at the store, I'll be exhausted....but it's all worth it!

And if you still think it's just silly, watch this:

The Haute Tote

So I've been making this bag for years - I've sold it, given it as a gift, and occasionally make one for myself.  I finally decided to just teach it - Saturday afternoon, 5 gals gathered with me in the lounge and they were my guinea pigs....I had written up a tutorial, and along the way we edited, omitted, added and tweaked.  Thank you to all of you as you were patient with me!  Here are their bags:
Bonnie:

 Mother and daughter Serefina & Elizabeth:

 Melanie:

Ann is still finishing hers.....picture to come!  I loved loved loved teaching this bag....and will be offering more classes in the near future!  Working on getting new classes on the website (tonight if I'm ambitious enough)....including the Siren Sundress, little girls' t-shirt dress, ballet slippers, a beginner quilt-as-you-go class, t-shirt quilt, and more more more!

Sick Days

While she sleeps (under the quilt made by my husband's Aunt Theresa) and the antibiotic starts working on the ear infection that kept her (and me) up most of last night.....

 I sit and knit the last of my new summer sweater - adding the final binding to the neckline, then sewing up the side seams.  So nice to have a day of unexpected quiet.

Meet Megan

Megan is a lovely, just perfectly lovely customer.  She's a co-worker of my niece, Jenn, so she's very computer and tech saavy, which, (like Jenn), just AMAZES me that she's ALSO got the creative side going.  Because I just don't have both of those brains, and I'm envious (you do too, Ali)  Megan just sews and sews and sews....and here are some of her creations:

the Multi-Tasker Tote from Anna Maria Horner:

a pencil skirt she made in Melisa's class:

Since I absolutely hate having people tell me to "say cheese" and then I have to stand there with a frozen smile until they click the camera, I just point and shoot at people......I love this mid-laugh picture of her!

I have some exciting Earth Day and April in Paris themes coming next month.....stay tuned!