Whistle while you work...

Before I started posting up items in the shop, I tried to make sure I had everything in place. Shop policies, appearances, etc.... All the paranoia built up in me, and trust me, the Friday before I started posting I was extremely nervous, and freaking out. But now that's its up and running, I'm proud to say, I only had to wait one day to sell my very first item. I feel accomplished. So with that being said, here is an entry I had prepared a few weeks leading up to the Grand Opening.... 

I flip flopped on a few banners, and  finally picked THEE one. 

The lil parasols from my dad's bday...

 The cupcake measuring tape...

Then finally, the "monster eye" beads...

I settled on the "eyes" because they were fun! But with all the practice I've been getting with photoshop, I know I can easily switch it up now & again.

I've made my invoice doc, and it's ready to go.
I've been taking online training classes thanks to the Small Business Bureau. Call me crazy, but I just want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly, and legally. 


shen

GRAND OPENING!

I had no idea how much work & time I was going to spend today on my online "Grand Opening", but I did it!

The shop is open!!!! 

Girly Spazms on Etsy

Some of the items are there, and I'm not even halfway done. I'll get more up tomorrow, hopefully. On top of going on a 20 mile bike ride this morning (thank you Google maps), I'm pretty beat. So it's time to relax, and unwind. Lots of errands to run tomorrow, a few custom orders have come in already, and Sam has a costume she wants me to make. I just thought I'd put up an entry to commemorate this awesome occasion. 

Stop by & check out the shop. I'll be adding more now, as I finish items instead of doing a ton all at once. 

I also wanted to take the time to Thank everyone of my friends & family for their support & encouraging words. You've all been awesome, and I'm totally appreciative to all of you.

Gnight for now! 

shen

My first serger project!

So I never really thought about what my first project would be when I finally got my serger, but thanks to etsy, I got an idea right away. I found an "iron cover" as mention in the previous post My Vintage Serger Overlock and thought, " psssshh, that shouldn't be too hard."

So I did it.
I didn't bother looking for a pattern online, I just winged it & you know it wasn't too bad. I could definitely recreate this. I'll be putting this one up on the etsy shop as a customizable order. 

When I was little (3-4 y.old, don't ask me why I remember these things, I just do.), I remember many nights where my mom and I were home, while my dad worked late.
My mom ironed (all the time) & while she ironed I watched t.v..  I always thought that the iron itself looked like  a ship & at times when my mom wasn't looking, I would play with it. Not plugged in, of course! Everyone rode on the "ironing ship", Barbie, Rainbow Brite, and her sprites... even smurfette!
Anyways, I thought the pirate ship pattern was an excellent choice for this project. I used two layers of insul-bright which is the brand name for insulated thermal batting, and an inside fabric, and tahdah! Done!

I also love this pattern because it has the aqua/ teal in it.

cozy or Kozzie? does anyone really care?

Velcro

Had to add my label.

shen

My Vintage Serger/ Overlock..

Whatever you want to call it, it's mine!!!

Finally, after months and months of debate, and even contemplating the idea of getting a very high end serger. I finally have one to call my own.

Those cute sweet little old ladies in those sewing shops try to sucker you in, and get the machine there, make you think you are totally incapable of threading this on your own, saying "with just a puff of air, your machine is threaded." Shoot! I was ready to sign my $ away & get one. I was strong, I resisted, even with a migraine and frustration of searching and searching, reading review after review thinking this torture would never end. I finally have one. 
I can even recall burying my face into a pillow a couple times and screaming.   


After yet, another frustrating weekend of looking, visiting shops, and searching endlessly online during Labor Day weekend, Monday night (Labor Day) on ebay, a buy it now, I fell in love. Seriously, I'm so happy. Priced well below my budget, I love her! She's a sergemate Campanion 5040 made several years ago, by a company associated with babylock (don't take my word for it, I found that info on a forum online). FedEx took longer than I thought, but its here!!!! It came with the manual. I threaded it, which I will admit can be a little confusing since I consider myself a beginner, but when everything was finally in place, it ran well, and I can't wait to make something with it. 

I just ran scraps through it. I even had the kiddos try it out, and they were pretty impressed.  Everything seems to be running smoothly, and the ebay seller said it was barely used, so I totally scored with this one. Best of all my hubby bought it for me, and got me a serger book that I really wanted. I was just chatting with him about it, and showed him through IM & BAM! I got the email confirming it was ordered and on its way. 
I'm totally a lucky girl!
I think the best thing is that while I was really panicking about the cost of spools of thread, because this was such a great deal, the money we would have spent to buy a low-end machine can now be used guiltless-ly  on my thread supply. 

Isn't she cute! Pink!!!!

 Girly moment... I've never really been a "pink" kinda girl, but she's cute, right!? :D

I think for my first project, I'm going to make myself an iron cover. Like this... 

Iron Cover from etsy.  

I'll update when I'm done. Hope you all are having a nice day! Happy Hump Day! We're almost there. Oh! And the Santa Clara Arts & Wine Festival is this weekend too! I'm volunteering! yay!!! Life is good..... :) <3


shen