Tutorial Tuesday: Home Sewing Is Easy: Darts and Mitered Corners and Shirring!

Here are my pals Sally Stitch and Mrs. Home Maker with the tutorials for today.
Please click the images to enlarge!

There is even another sample for your sewing practice scrap book!

What? you haven't seen our "Home Sewing Is Easy" gals in action before? Well, Let me tell you!
These women have mad skills.
Click on the label "homesewing is easy" below and see all the tricks and tips , previously published!

Hmmm.. since they are taking care of the tutorial... I better get to my sewing machine!

Made It Myself Monday: Needle Felted Birds

Here are a couple of chirpers from my newest batch of needle felted birds. I am thinking of putting these in my Etsy shop.

I originally put them together because a lovely lady at Candystore in SF mentioned she believed they would sell there. I don't know if I am afraid of success- afraid of failure- or afraid that selling at wholesale prices would make me feel like I was working for nothing... But I haven't emailed her. Of course if I pop them up on Etsy and no one buys them... then that is pretty pathetic in it's own way.

I do enjoy making them.
Oh, Business. It is bothersome to me.
Sure, selling is fun. Knowing something I made is in someone's house... that they like it.
And the money helps take the edge of the cost of the habitual hobby. That is certainly a positive. But it isn't always successful. Sometimes it's stressful.
Sometimes it takes all the funny fun-ness out of making whatever I want. Goodness knows, I can't keep storing all the stuff I make.

It needs to go SomeWhere.
But Where?

I have only ever sold 9 whopping things on Etsy. Not an amazing track record in the year or more I have had the store. I try not to take it personally, but when all my stuff "expired".. I didn't have the heart to list it all again. I don't know if it is the enormous amount of craft available at rock bottom prices on Etsy, or if it is my less than stellar marketing practices or maybe just my stuff isn't what the people want. Maybe I charge too much. Maybe it's too wierd. Too Normal. Too hard to find. Who Knows?
I am of the general opinion that I will probably be happier if I don't over analyze it and I just keep making what I like... and putting some of it here or there, and if it sells.. Well, Jolly!

And if not, some poor relative will get another
handi-crafted thinga-ma-jig for the holiday du jour.

And speaking of Holiday Du Jour....

Happy Halloweek...

We have embarked on the most ambitious Jack-O-Lantern in our family history.
That, my friends, is a whole wad of pumpkin guts.... looking for a place to happen.

Thrift Thursday and Thank You Thursday too...

Well, it will probably take a week or two for me to come anywhere close to posting 5 days a week. But here is my " Thrift Thursday" entry for today!

I got this quilt at the Goodwill for 16.00. Not in my usual budget but I was really drawn to the craftsmanship and the cozy fall palette. I am working on some cute Joel Dewberry throw pillows to go with it. I may sell it with the pillows on Etsy, as I don't have the perfect place for it in my house.. but for now it is on my rocking chair... daring me to redecorate, so it can stay.


Here is a belated Thank You Thursday Post too..

Look at this gorgeous donkey from
Laurie at Old School Acres... This guy is so cute and poseable too. He reminds me of Eeyore and of Brighty of the Grand Canyon.. all the storybook donkeys of my youth. I love him.
And if that isn't enough look at all the baubles and trims! Thanks Laurie! You are too kind!