WIP Saturday - No Time For Shennanigans!

I really prefer to break up my WIP posts with fun bags and other projects, but I'm stretched so thin right now that my brain just can't focus on remembering details and fun stuff to say about the backlog of purses and bags I still need to share! I had my first event of the season last weekend, and it did MUCH better than I expected! Now I need to restock a ton of blankets and work on preparing for other shows. I may be able to do another big show in November, especially if the physical therapy helps my shoulder enough that I won't need surgery. Fingers crossed!

Orders that went out last week!

WIP Thursday - September Is Here!

I am really not prepared for it to be already September, there's SO MUCH I should have finished already and I haven't even gotten started...my goal of doing 2 blankets a week has definitely not been met...I don't think I even did 2 blankets every month. At this rate I'll never use up my collection, especially since I can't stop buying more when I see a really cute one! 

Perfect Fall blankets, really need to stitch up the ones I have left!

WIP Wednesday - When Is Fall?

With record high temps, I'm DEFINITELY ready for cooler weather! Or even a day under 100...not that I go outside much but I'd like to have the option. Good news is that rainy weather is on the way, but I'm sure it will be hot again soon! 

Coffee makes me smile! New patch

WIP Wednesday - Planning Time!

Summer is speeding by, and I realized that I only have a few months until the craft show season is in full swing! I'm debating trying to do a show in a nearby town, usually I avoid out of town shows because it means even longer days and a LOT of extra work since most of my helpers aren't really willing to drive extra and I don't have extra room to bring them with me since my SUV is usually packed to the brim. BUT...the chance to clear out a bunch more stuff is really tempting!

Some previous lanterns for inspiration!

WIP Wednesday - Hot Summer!

Summer is in full swing with HOT weather, random storms, and wildfires! The fires are one of the things I don't enjoy about Colorado, but the rest of the time it's pretty great...last week was very smoky and orange as the fire got close to our town, and we seem to be safe for now, but not the towns to the west of us. I just hope that the orders I'm sending out don't have a lingering wildfire smell! 

One of the smaller blankets, but super cute!

WIP Saturday - Here Comes Summer!

I miss being in school sometimes, when reaching the last day meant that there were so many possibilities of everything I could do now that I was free! Mostly my summers involved reading many, MANY books, watching my brothers, cleaning (mainly if I mentioned I was 'bored'), and sometimes a trip to visit family. Having those months off was so amazing, and I miss that. For some reason my day job doesn't give me a 3 month break in the middle of the year... I could really use a few months off to do dedicated organizing and sewing, but I'll make do with my weekends and evenings, for now. 

I'm only slightly obsessed with DCC, and there are some awesome things I can make for it! This is up on Etsy!

WIP Friday - And There Goes May!

May is always a fast month, but it seemed to fly even more this year! Between a surprise graduation (a year early and decided the week before graduation to actually graduate instead of staying in and doing college classes), pattern testing, strike fabric, etsy orders, helping my oldest car shop, getting busy with the day job, and all the other day to day fires, I don't really know where it went! I do need to start focusing on getting stuff ready for shows soon, and the organizing and destashing I've been planning to do for the last few... years...Maybe June will be a good month? 

I am all caught up on DCC, but I should go back and re-read at some point because I finished the first 7 books in a week...

WIP Monday - This is the May!

I feel like May should be ALL Star Wars, so I have plans to make some fun stuff using my stash! First up was a pattern test using pretty Chewie and embossed vinyl. I also have more inspired strike fabric for a promo backpack, and I have 2 moondance notebook covers set aside to sew up, both using Star Wars vinyl! What else should I add in? More keyfobs, finger puppets, bookmarks, blankets....?

Pre-sewn pic of the strike project, it's done now!

WIP Thursday - There Goes Another Month!

One of the good things about the orders slowing down is that I theoretically have time to do fun sewing and organizing...theoretically. In reality, my days fly by just as fast, and I feel like I'm not as productive as I was even 2 years ago...but I'm becoming ok with that. On the one hand, I'm not burning through my supplies so things are lasting longer, but on the other hand, I'm not burning through my supplies so there's no more room for new stuff! I WILL destash in May!

Finally tried out a dog walker bag, just need to make about 50 more for the boutique!

WIP Friday - Spring?

The weather around here is giving me whiplash, we hit 80 one day and had snow the very next day! Now it's back to record highs followed by chilly days, but who knows when the next snowstorm will hit! This is doing a number on my sinuses and allergies -- even my dogs are having allergies. On top of that, there's been an increase in everyday chaos, so I lost the month of March! At this rate, it's going to be November in no time, so probably should get started on some inventory and new things.

Sneak peek of some new fabric coming soon!

WIP Wednesday - Organized Chaos Goblin

I was trying to describe my Sewing Studio to someone, and I told them I was an "organized chaos goblin." I think that pretty much describes me. I like to see those bright and clean spaces with just a few shelves of tastefully arranged supplies and fancy rugs in the center, but I'm more of a collector (it's not hoarding if you use it...eventually) of fine supplies, and my room resembles a craft store that exploded. I actually do know where most of those supplies are, so that's why I say it's "organized" chaos. Anyone else might come into the room, pause in shock, and quickly back out before they disappear under an avalanche of fabric, but it's FINE. 

Misleading pic of one small organized area of the craft studio...

WIP Thursday - And There Goes February

I'm pretty sure I just blinked and lost February. It IS a short month, but not THAT short! Usually my orders slow down once I get past Christmas, but this year it seems like the etsy orders are picking up! Just small things like pony ears and mulan combs, but that gives my shop some good stats and helps with visibility. Maybe I should list up a bunch more purses soon since I'd LOVE to clear out my inventory. 

I love glow in the dark glitter vinyl!

WIP Wednesday - Feeling Sleepy

I think this week I'll try catching up on this thing I've heard about...sleep. Maybe if I start going to bed before midnight, I'll have more energy after my day job. We'll see...or it will backfire and I'll wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back asleep. While I'm figuring this out, orders are starting to come in a little faster, so I need to find that motivation to get all the things done!

Did making sleep masks inspire my sudden desire to sleep more, or is that just a coincidence?

WIP Monday - Crawling Along

Sometimes I have all the motivation and energy and get everything done, and sometimes I take my time and try to enjoy working on projects. Right now I have a little breathing room in my schedule, so I'm not rushing on orders. I try to always pay attention to details and make everything the best I can, but when I'm behind and rushing, I feel like I have to push things out right away, instead of letting them rest and then going back with fresh eyes to double check for things that I missed, like stray thread ends.  

Teal solid lining - I usually go for textures and designs, but the solid does look nice!

WIP Wednesday - New Year, Same List!

The end of the year is always a void time, where I forget what day it is, where I need to be, or when I showered last (If you live on the couch and read books, do you NEED to shower??). Mostly kidding on the showering. I was able to take off almost 3 weeks from the day job and it was amazing! My goals were to organize my sewing studio and my walk in closet that also holds extra craft supplies, plus do some fun sewing, and catch up on orders. I did some organizing, some fun sewing, and some orders...but I think I need to keep the organizing goal for the whole month at least. Maybe just do one area of the room per month, it's a LOT of stuff.

She's so pretty!

WIP Thursday - MORE Last Minute Stuff

My final craft show of the year is this Saturday, and I'm running both my embroidery machines to try to stock up after having a great last show! I originally wasn't going to make any more peeker hoods, but then I got in a few requests for Kpop Demon Hunter characters, and then suddenly I was in the groove! I have 20 hoods to attach to the towels before the show, and 3 of them are for orders. Hopefully they bring in some interest and I can also clear out the older ones!  I'd love to get down to just one tote of towels...and have an excuse to make new ones with my towel stash!

 

20 hoods there - waiting for final trimming and then attaching!

WIP Tuesday - Don't Panic

Less than one week until my big show, and I've got PLENTY of time to do all the things, right?? Well, maybe not. I guess I need to figure out what is going to be the highest priority and go with that. First up will be packaging all the doodles (after they are all stuffed/sewn or trimmed), then I need to add buttons to the cowls and tags for them, stitch out more hand towels and blankets, and attach the 6 or so hoods I stitched out this summer to towels...plus I should stitch up more notebook covers and maybe sew up some crayon rolls or Moondance notepad holders....all in the next 3 nights after work. I can do it...right? (stop laughing at my optimism, please!!)

I think there are about 67 in that bag...

WIP Thursday - November Is HERE!

Time to queue the holiday panic mode, somehow it's already November! I'm trying to get everything ready for the craft shows I signed up for, plus add some new stuff to the boutique, and let's not forget Thanksgiving! I'm pretty on track for the blanket goal, but that is tying up the machine so my doodles, notebooks, and wall art are not getting restocked yet. I'm hoping that by stitching up a few more blankets, I can clear the space to set up the spare machine, but it will probably require me to stitch up more than my planned 40... I really need to work on organizing and de-stashing after my last show this year!

The unicorn is fluffy!

WIP Tuesday - Recovery!

Surgery was a success, and recovery is going well, but I need to make sure I don't overdo it! I almost don't look like I was used as a punching bag since the bruises are nearly gone. I also have the embroidery machine back from the shop, and while I was warned that she's getting close to the end, she's still running! I will probably be doing some sales at the end of the year to go toward a new machine, so fingers crossed she doesn't give up before then!

Decaf is never an option for me...

WIP Friday - Time For a Break!

I only have a few open orders, and once those are done, I can focus on recovery and then restocking! I'm even planning on taking my embroidery machine in for a spa visit while I'm recovering, and then she's going to get a workout! I want to stitch up at least 40 blankets, and I need to restock my doodles and notebook covers since I have them at the boutique year round and my back-stock is getting low. I'm really hoping for fast recovery, I have too much I want to get done and too little time...I might even clear space for my backup embroidery machine and get that running too, then it will really feel like an industrial factory.

One of the few blankets I've stitched up recently. Need to do so many more!