See that? Recipes!!! We Have RECIPES!

I was pretty excited to see that Michala posted the new RECIPES tab. That is until I clicked on it and didn't find a single one! Oh well, she's busy I guess. Still, I wanted her Chicken and Noodles recipe. All I can say is JUST WAIT! Seriously, I hope we don't have to wait too long. One of these days I'll post Kevin's Enchilada recipe, that is if I can get him to give it to me without the commentary that must go along with it. Maybe I'll post the commentary too. Somebody might find it interesting!
I wonder if Brenna and Elizabeth will post their Microwave Mac and Cheese? Probably not.  That was most likely NOT for human (or any) consumption. Pretty creative though!

Box mix, canned icing, should be easy, right?

Here's another creative one...Kevin says the cake mix was old, and the icing was store brand and cheap. Well he bought both! After checking the label, I found that he didn't really follow the directions. He didn't prepare the pans like the box said, didn't let the layers cool enough before taking them out of the pan, and tried to ice the cake while it was still hot! Oh, and the icing directions said to stir well before icing...That glob of chocolate on the top is the ENTIRE can of icing! Oh, he's icing it with a butter knife. Now I have never pretended to know how to bake or even cook something tasty but I CAN read the directions on the box and am pretty good at following them so USUALLY my creations turn out pretty good. It'll be a long time before the teasing stops for this one!

Goldie's Front Porch

For those of you that have been following our blog, you will have noticed that we put an online store up! Well, I'm sad, yet happy to announce that our online store will be out of service for a while. Just last night, I went up to Goldie's Front Porch, a really awesome restaurant/bakery in town, and put all of our inventory up for sale on consignment. So, if you happen to live in the Sullivan area, stop by Goldie's to check out our inventory...and if you don't live in Sullivan but happen to be on your way to Lake Shelbyville, Goldie's is on your way! It's right across the street from the IGA.  Goldie's is such a cute little place with AWESOME food.  I have eaten there on several occasions and have not ONCE had something I didn't like!  Pretty great.  They also cater, and do a fabulous job, it I might add!  So, moral of the story, until we get our inventory back up, we won't have anything listed online.  Don't worry though folks, we will be back to work this weekend, I am sure!

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Saturday Sewing Whirlwind

Today will be another flurry of wild activity! We will try to finish several bags already on order and get a few new ones in there for those that have not yet found the one they love. The matching Pouchies have been a big hit and most of the new bags will have at least one.
We have to get busy! Pictures a little later...

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Artistic People are Not the Neatest People

So cute with a sparkly button!

Why is it that creating happens best in chaos? Last weekend, Elizabeth came home and brought some extras with her. All three are students at the Art Institute, and art students live on a different time schedule than most of the rest of us. Lizzie is a fabulously talented photographer. I hope to feature some of her work as soon as I figure out how to put a slideshow up! Julie is a graphic designer and has her first webpage that you can find in our Favorite Links section to the left. And Sam is doing some other cool stuff that I don't understand totally yet! So there was chaos in the house last weekend. But in a good way! Julie will be designing our logo sometime soon so watch for a little change. Or a wonderful big change!
Michala came for another "Sewing Saturday" and things got crazy! We sort of kicked Kevin out of the house, cranked the Latin tunes and got busy. Well, let me back up a little. We went to the Gordyville Flea Market on Friday night just to check out spaces and really find out what we could about setting up a booth. In our wanderings, we met Cassie who makes some beautiful embroidered hooded towels and jewelry. Needless to say, we spent almost our entire time at her booth! She gave us some great tips on booth location and busy months. We really need to build our inventory now. Cassie's embroidery is really beautiful and we want to use her to offer some personalization on our bags and other things. Our first order is for some personalized Zippy Pouches for a bride's gifts to her attendants. I know Michala is excited to shop for some beautiful fabrics.
So once again, my house became a flurry of flying threads, scraps of fabric, scissors everywhere, needles, buttons, ribbons and trims, stuff everywhere! Whatever we were doing as we started sewing seemed to be working and we cranked out two bags in near record time. Then the phone rang... Thank you Cindy! I just knew you would like our stuff! Way better than those knock offs, huh? Back to work and we finished one more bag. Why is it each new one is my favorite? Michala's too!

Almost opposites! Classy!!!

A sparkly button on a gorgeous bow.

LOVE these big buttons!

Beautiful!

I woke up early this morning and thought I would get a Little Zippy finished to take with me to church today. As I'm cutting the interfacing, Michala calls and asks why I didn't tell her about the time change. I had forgotten! Actually,just yesterday I asked Kevin when the time changes and he told me it was today. So when he gets up today and turned the TV on, he asked ME if I knew the time changed! Oh my goodness! We just talked about it YESTERDAY. Can't he remember ANYTHING? I had to skip the Little Zippy making and get ready for church. Believe it or not, I was actually early today! I have lots of Little Zippys to make this week, watch for new pics... 
At least one or two days this week, I hope to help Cecil and others work on Irene's home. She's a quilter too! I hope to get her permission to talk about her on an upcoming blog. What an amazing story! 

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Repurpose

These used to be pine log pieces that Kevin made into these beautiful fish!

Don't you just love those words? I think we have always been a family that is conscious of what we are using and throwing away. My youngest brother would line the cans up like dominoes on the basement floor. He would then use a concrete block to crush them one by one. So, thirty years ago, he was reducing the amount of aluminum going to the landfill, recycling them by turning them in for cash, and repurposed a concrete block into a can crusher. He was incredibly efficient, much more than the can crusher we have on the garage wall. First, he had to space all of the cans so he didn't knock one over while crushing, and there were lots of them! Winding all over the basement he would then start crushing, lifting that concrete block over and over again and he could get pretty fast so not only was he building muscle, he was getting a good aerobic workout. Then he had to pick them all up and carry the bags upstairs and off to the can man! I really can't remember a time when we didn't recycle something. Newspapers, cans, bottles and jars, plastics...just about anything! We did throw stuff away, but we also reused stuff too! I don't remember our clothes being handed down, I was the only girl with four brothers so maybe the boys had some. Reruns maybe? I have three daughters so there were some hand me downs there. Not so many though because they always seemed to be different sizes when the clothes would be in season. We still recycle cans, plastic bags, and newspapers, have a compost pile, grow a vegetable garden and try to buy items that have minimal packaging. Do I sound like a tree hugger or what?! Not really, I just like to think I'm aware of what we really use and try to keep stuff out of our landfills! 
The repurpose part is pretty new! With all of the girls moving out over the last couple of years and needing to furnish houses and apartments, we have been frequenting Habitat ReStore and the second had shops. Who knew there was so much great stuff out there!


Check out some of the stuff we repurposed into really great "new" stuff!

Chairs from Habitat ReStore that we recovered, I think they should be painted glossy black!

An old parking meter that is now a garage ornament.

An umbrella base that now supports a parking meter.

An old ceiling tin is now wall art! Click the link below to add to your cart. Each piece is custom order, after you purchase, you will be contacted for more information. These take 2-3 weeks to deliver from the time of order. Shipping is additional and depends on your location. Contact us for more information.

Another ceiling tin, Kevin is holding it up to another frame so I can send a photo to someone!

An old toy chest propped up with stacks of paperbacks.

A beautiful boot storage box. Wait, why aren't all the boots in it? Look at those great new legs!!!

Now the boots are safely tucked away.

A sad old steamer trunk...

With a new look and new life as a coffee table!

Beautiful!

An express mail box cut in half, sort of...

That now holds my Too Cool T-Shirt Quilt templates. Soon to be covered with something...

An old closet shelf

Now shows off an old pair of HD handlebars.

The rest of the shelf became speaker shelves in the garage.

Beautiful young ladies turned into cooks for a Summer mission trip to Dulac, Lousiana!

So you see, just about anything you find can be repurposed and used for something entirely different!

Simply Fabulous Totes

Several of our bags

Once again,more absolutely fabulous totes have emerged from the makeshift sewing room studio set up on my dining room table. Michala came over Friday after school and we started by looking through fabrics and tearing a sample book apart. Well, Kevin took the books apart and Michala removed all the paper on the backs of the fabrics. I did laundry because Elizabeth and her friends came home for the weekend. Elizabeth still brings her entire wardrobe home because she doesn't like to pay for laundry. Or do it. Not much else was accomplished Friday night, Michala was really tired and fell asleep, Kevin went to bed early and I watched a movie. Absolutely no creative forces were to be found! Saturday morning though, look out! Kevin made a good, filling breakfast while Michala and I started thinking. First of all, we needed to add a pocket and key fob to an existing bag. The result would have made a good You Tube video. After arguing about the pocket, I realized we were thinking of two totally different options. Finally I gave up and Michala did her thing. she was having trouble turning it, she really doesn't like the turning part so that's usually my job, which I did. Since we only had a few pieces of the fabric left, this pocket needed to be right the first time. Well...this was Michala's first attempt. After a few more discussions, and cuts, and stitches, and turning, and cutting, we finally got it! How can something so simple be so difficult? Michala keeps saying I over think things, but she doesn't think things through. Somehow we work it out!

This ended up in the garbage.

With that one finally worked out and lunch, thanks Kevin, creating the next bag begins. That yellow seems to go with everything! I already have a lining ready so we pick the outer fabric and get started. Somehow in the middle of all of this, we go out to the garage to dig through a bag that I acquired at The Needle & I, thanks Kathy! We found a few good things and set them aside. Well, as we are cutting the bag out, Michala remembers some trim we found! She grabs it and decides how great it will make this bag. Another favorite! I think you all will agree...

I love this one!

A pocket and key thingie!

Now to make a zippy pouch or two in the same fabrics. 


In the middle of all the madness, we design another bag! Focus girls, focus! This one is pink, green, and black. Too cute for words. A little different design but I think you will love it as well. The lining is green and there is a fun line of sequins on the front and back. I made a little Zippy Pouch in the pink and green and the whole thing is just too fun for words.

Pink and green bag with matching Zippy Pouch

I don't think I posted the red, white, and blue bags. These would make fun totes to carry books, or just take along shopping!

Love these big buttons!

Fun buttons!!!

Michala found some beautiful big buttons that actually smell like crayons. Don't worry, that smell will probably go away. Don't you remember getting your school supplies and the smell of a new box of crayons? And a grey and yellow bag with a cool button...

Watch for the Nook Book Covers. For all of you eReader fans out there, here's a sneak preview. There will be several of these, all one of a kind, in fun, bright colors and patterns. 

Photos from Last Night

It just occurred to me that all I had to do was take the memory thingie out of the camera and plug it into the computer, like I always do! Don't need a battery for that. All I can say is it took a while to make those five bags and I was tired!!!

Zippy Pouches

I know there are six pouches in this photo, but I couldn't resist including the one I made the day before! These are just adorable and big enough for make up, school supplies, sewing supplies, just about anything!

Today I will be finishing some projects already in the works and getting ready for Elizabeth and her gang this weekend. Possibly Michala and another sewing day on Saturday. Kevin has already mentioned making his world famous enchiladas as well. (That should bring everyone home!) 

Fabulous Fun New Totes and More!

Brenna with some of the totes and messenger bags.

Another weekend packed full of crazy sewing and discovering a totally awesome new store! Brenna wanted to come home to do a few things, renew her driver's license (she's 21!), do her taxes, work on her Spanish homework with Michala, and maybe to see Mom. Well, she did get to see me! 
Michala also got here Friday after stopping at Sam's and a couple of other places and we got right to work finishing two bags. We made plans to go to Champaign early Saturday morning to check out The I.D.E.A. Store. Wow! If you are into re-using materials for art, you MUST check this place out! We spent close to an hour in the first half of the first isle. There is everything from laundry detergent lids and candy wrappers to maps and mat board. We found frames that Kevin repainted already, ribbon, books, thread, storage boxes, and much, much more! This place takes donations and puts a price on just about anything you can think of bringing in. We walked out with some really great ideas and four bags of stuff. All for about $30!!! Now, this little excursion did cut into our sewing time. We had about four hours left.  Aghhhh!

We have an order for a pink and zebra print bag and make-up zipper pouch. Michala and I seem to work really well together but for some reason, we each started doing the other's "job". Talk about being out of whack. (What exactly is "whack"?) Anyway, we get through it, excited about the trims we choose and once again, fall totally in love with each new bag! We finish two pink and zebra bags for our customer to choose from. Michala and Brenna are off to shower and get ready to meet their friends for the evening and I am left to put together the little zipper pouch. 

Beautiful button and trim

These buttons look like large gems! The pink trim is really pretty.

Check out a close up of buttons and trims!

LOVE the pink!

And the little zippy pouch is the cutest thing ever!

I had so much fun with this little pouch I had to make another. And several more are on the way! All of the seams are totally hidden so the inside looks as fabulous as the outside!

Adorable!

I would love to chat some more but I am so excited about the fabrics that are just waiting to be cut and sewn into some other fab bags and zippy pouches! 

Sewing Marathon

Michala and I made plans for an entire day of President's Day stitching. By coming up the day before, we thought we could get an early start with a few hours of bag making. There are just too many stops between Sullivan and Rantoul though, a President's Day Sale in Tuscola at the outlet mall, Hancock Fabrics, which is open on Sunday, and whatever else! After dragging out all the great fabrics and talking about what to make first, we decided on a few coasters since they were already cut out. 


Before we really get into the big stuff, the bags, Michala and I make a few more coasters as Kevin cooks breakfast. Next is a run to the store for coffee creamer and a toothbrush because Michala brought make-up and not much else! We are off and sewing, mind you there simply was no time to shower or even run a brush though the hair. The decision was made to NOT take pictures of each other during this awesomely fun, creative day. Easiest decision of the day!


Starting Sunday evening, we got a few sets of coasters finished. These are great projects to work on as we caught up on family, friends and church. So one thing led to another, and another, and another until we had a pile of coaster made! With bags of ribbon, button jars  and tins from grandmothers past, and new buttons because they are so great, we had tons of fun making the wraps for each set of coasters! The fun part of these is that there will never be two of the same. We make them out of scraps or new fabrics and back them with something matching or not. The result is so cute we can hardly part with any of them! All are available for purchase. I am still working out the PayPal, Etsy, online store thing but until then, send me a message and we will work it out. These are some of the coasters we made during this President's Day holiday.

Black with red, pink, and white crooked stitching wrapped with ribbon and topped with  some hearts.

Quilted with shiny turquoise thread and wrapped with ribbon.

Such a cute ribbon around brown and green reversible coasters.

Cute pattern on the opposite side!

Black and white plaid quilted with red. Really nice!

These are so fun with a red back!

Black back with a gem of a button! Classy.

Love the pink!

Memories of teaching someone to sew! Love the black and yellow!

All are for sale at $12.00 plus shipping. If you want something in other colors, please contact me and we will see what we can do! Remember to give us some room for creative expression, it's way more fun that way!


Do you know how great it is to have a husband that cooks? So much more time for sewing and other projects. All I did was prepare a couple of bologna sandwiches for lunch and Kevin took care of breakfast and dinner. A little bit, or a lot really, of cleanup after each meal and back to the machines! Thinking we could make three tote bags, we had a lot of work ahead. Thankfully Michala was up for thinking and measuring and some cutting. We each have things we like to do and things we don't. Lucky for us we don't like or dislike the same things! Rotary cutter, scissors, seam rippers, needles, bobbins, iron, interfacing, wow! Hard to keep track of it all! And that ridiculous little piece of paper with the measurements on it, where does it keep going? In the end, we finished three totes, each one too cute to sell! Oh, how does this happen? Check them out...

Beautiful blue paisley with brown accent.

This beautiful button is awesome and the trim is fabulous!

Close up of the fabric and trim.

A matching tote for your little girl!

Love it! soft greys with yellowish gold.

A little decorative stitching at the top.

Same fabric, a little different!

Love, Love, LOVE it!

If only we could keep them!

These tote bags are great for many different things. They will carry your books, files, clothes for an overnight, baby stuff, groceries, whatever you can think of! Most will cost you only $45.00. The blue and brown tote shown today has a magnetic closure and runs $55.00 and a little bit for shipping. Remember, these totes are truly one of a kind bags! 


This week, I will be cutting out several more and starting on some pool or beach bags. You will want to snatch these up as soon as you see them because as you now know, they are ALL originals!