Recovering....

.....from the 3rd annual Hipster's Craft Fair yesterday.  I slept in 'til 9:30 a.m this morning......and I'm sure many of the crafters did, too!

It was a wonderful day - I was awed by the creations being sold, and disappointed that I didn't get to shop!!  These craft shows always re-affirm my support and admiration for artists - for local talents - for shopping locally - for supporting locally.  Thank you, ladies, for spending the day selling your talents at the craft fair!

Here are just a few of the pictures taken.....by some very enthusiastic13 yr. old volunteer photographers:

 More photos to come.....

Loving all things vintage

On Saturday, I received this gift:

....given to me from Sharon Hatcher, my wonderful Sewing 101, alterations, re-create it teacher....who's been on a de-cluttering binge.  Published in 1946, it's indeed 'modern sewing' for its time.  I love pictures like this:

and this:

and this:

I love the 1st paragraph in the book, which reads:

"If you've been feeling wistful about the pretty clothes in the shops.....if you've been down in the dumps because your home is turning seedy at the seams, wearing shabby around the edges....if you've been wondering how you're going to juggle the budget into keeping your small fry in clothes, your troubles are over.  To live better on less, look lovely on next-to-nothing, take to your thimble!"

 

Amen to that!

 

(and speaking of vintage, back-to-the-basics.....next Sunday, Hip Stitch will be included in a special section of the Albuquerque Journal, about going green. (I'm told that's the date it's coming out)  Go out and get yourself a copy!

Craft Night

It was a busy one last night - projects such as this:

....by Joan, making 60 of these for the 4th of July......and this:

....outdoor chair cushions made by Carol.....and these:

....mastectomy pillow covers, to be donated to the American Cancer Society (I just received an email this morning from a friend who just picked one up for herself after having a double mastectomy)
Also in the making last night - a hobo/sling bag by Mandie, paper cards by Norah and Debra, an apron with a vintage flair by Audrey, and adorable shorts for a little boy by Liz.....and that was before Tara & Angie came in, and I had to scoot out the door 'cause it was my anniversary (16 years!).
Come join us in July!

Yet another project

Pillowcases this time, it is!  Like the ottoman, I've been wanting new pillowcases for some time now.  Somehow over the years of marriage and children, matching pillowcases on our bed have fallen into a not-such-an-important-thing category.  This is what we were down to:

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Our grown-up bed has pillowcases that are: Strawberry Shortcake, Christmas, pink flowers, plain white, red paisley, and a light green.  Yes, that's what came out of the linen closet when I change the bedding.

It was time for a change.....I was feeling scattered and, well, not so grown up when I make the bed and lay me down to sleep!  After shopping around, and finding pillowcases that were either outrageously expensive, not-so-expensive but ones I didn't really like, or just nothing I liked, it was time to hit the sewing machine.

Crystal helped me pick out fabric, and here's the final result:

 

Here's a close-up:

Lovely, lovely, lovely!

And speaking of lovely, scamper on over to Melisa's blog, where she's doing a "Me Made" month.....I'm so inspired.....you go, girl!

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: