What's Up Wednesday!!!

Do I have news?! Lots of happenings in my life and online. Blessings are abundant in my life and I am so grateful. Here is a bit of what has been happening...

On Monday, my daughter, Emily, and I auditioned for "My Fair Lady" together. I was keeping my fingers and toes crossed we would both make the show. We got the calls last night and we are in the ensemble together! We did this a couple of years ago at the same theater and it was fun. I can't wait to get started!

Last night, I had a night off from theater since we are finished rehearsing the current show I am in, Fiddler on the Roof, and we have only two more shows this weekend. I decided to start getting the crap...oops!....I mean, Craft room back in order. Over this summer it had become a haven for anything that came under the category of "Where should we put it?". The answer always seemed to be the craft room. I did get a great start...there is now a walkway to my craft table, my beading supplies are all in one spot, fabric scraps are together in one basket and my table has been cleared of miscellaneous paperwork! It is still not pretty but it is a much better work environment.

As I was putting things away, I started to look at the tubs of finished items I have...and I have more than I thought I did! I really need to get to posting these items! I have some cloche hats that need just a little embellishment, scarves, more cotton cloths, and other various crocheted items looking for a new home. My goal is to get photos and postings done by September 1. That gives me almost a month so that seems doable. Plus, I can't sell them if I don't post them.

Another thing that has been occupying my time is Facebook. I truly believe that this can be a great networking tool for sellers on Etsy. I began a thread in the Etsy forums on July 20th asking "Do you need Facebook fans?" I am amazed this thread still has life!!! I just wanted to get over 100 fans for my Etsy shop's facebook fan page. I am quickly coming up on 270 and I have began a group on Facebook called Facebook Fans on Etsy. It has already gotten 101 members! That tells me this is a direction that needs to be explored. If you have any tech savy and would like to help, please let me know!! I could definitely learn from you!

That's a bit of catching up for now...next time I will try and post something lovely with pictures! Don't forget to check back on Friday when I feature one of my Facebook Fans!!!

God bless!

~gloria

Rag Quilts are Fun!!

First thing I must do is apologize for the photography. I took these pictures with my cell phone before leaving for work this morning. With that said - on to my post for today.

I have been intrigued by rag quilting. I searched around the internet and most of what I found said it was easy, fast and fun. I decided to try it. I bought various black/white fat quarters and some fabric for the back and began to make a small quilt for my daughter. She always gets my first attempts at anything. I must say it was so easy and fast!! I made it in one weekend! While it isn't perfect, rag quilting is quite forgiving =) Like I said at the start ~ the picture quality isn't the best but here is the result of my labor...

Last night, I had some time and decided to make a tote. There are things I will change next time around but overall I like it. It still needs to go through the wash.

This technique has my creativity on overdrive! As you can imagine...there will be more things to come. So many different ways I can use this! I really enjoy the simplicity of the rag quilting. The wheels are turning! Stay tuned!!

I hope you enjoy many blessings today! God is good indeed!

Crafty Blogginess!!

A quick post on a site I happened upon today while looking for some sewing assistance. Some of you may already have found this little piece of crafty blogginess. Oh my! I will be back to visit and often!

Check out Craft Gossip.com!! This was too good to keep to myself!

God bless!!

Woohoo!!! New Listings!!!

I finally managed to get new items listed in my shop! I spent today at home with a heating pad on my back. I was moving a desk in my craft room and I must have done a little too much. I went to work yesterday when I shouldn't have so today it was much worse. I found that I could sit at the computer with the heating pad so I was able to work on my etsy shop at last!! Here is the new batch of items listed today.

I am not the greatest photographer but at least they are listed. I hope you like them! Stop by the shop and check out all my items!

I guess having an aching back and taking a sick day had a silver lining...what a blessing!!

Finally Friday!

Goodness gracious...Friday took forever getting here! This has been my first full week of rest and relaxation in the evenings and I have been loving it. I have been in my craft room experimenting with different pattern ideas. Nothing that is shop ready yet...but I am getting close!! I have gotten some fun fabrics from http://www.craftersvision.com/ This is my new favorite place to find supplies. Check it out!!

I am still trying to figure out how to arrange my craft room. Right now I have a small computer desk that is just big enough for the sewing machine. I need more work space. I also want to paint it. Lots to do...just need to find the time and motivation to get it all done!

I don't have much more today...just some wonderful blessings...my number one is FRIENDS! I am so lucky to have my present circle of friends and to have found some friends from high school recently. I am blessed beyond belief.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy your blessings for God is good indeed!!

Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Oh my...it has been a month since my last blog post!! How did that happen?? I am thankful to say that my life has been full of theater and friends. After Nunsense closed, I went right into producing Dancing at Lughnasa.

The show closed yesterday. Wow ~ we had a successful run and the show was incredible. I am in awe of the talent that was assembled on the stage. It was just crazy. As is tradition, after the last Sunday matinee we strike (disassemble) the set then head off to have on last dinner together and laugh and enjoy a much needed rest. I thought that producing wouldn't wear me out as much as it did. Boy, am I wiped out!

I did manage to do a little crafting and came up with some items to finally update my etsy shop! In fact, I already sold one of my key chains before I got a chance to post it! I don't have any pics yet, but now that it stays light until 7:30ish I may get some posted this week.

I need to catch up with everyone. I have got to get to reading my favorite blogs and get back to posting on a regular basis.

God bless!!

Catching Up

It has been forever since I posted on my blog. I really need to get back at it! There has been a number of things keeping me busy. First my sweet little furbaby has been ill. Max has had a fever of unknown origin for over two weeks. We have been to the vet a number of times, he is on antibiotics and aspirin and he seems to finally be turning the corner and getting better. I am keeping my fingers crossed...hoping this time will be the time he finally breaks the fever and gets back to be his playful self. I hate seeing him so sad and lethargic. This morning his temp was down and he ate his normal breakfast. Things might just be looking up!!

This is my Max!!

The second thing that has occupied lots of my time is a show ~ Nunsense! My church put on the show over Valentine's Day weekend. I played Sister Robert Anne.

You just gotta love the sneakers with the boa!! She was tons of fun to play! Here is the chorus line of the Little Sisters of Hoboken. I am in the middle.

I had a blast and I got to share the stage with some talented gals!! The audiences were great. They laughed and cheered and made us feel great. I think it was about the most fun I ever had on stage. I am sad it is over but I am already on to my next project.

I am producing a show at Buck Creek Playhouse. It is Dancing at Lughnasa. It is set in Ireland in the 1930's. Meryl Streep played in the movie version. We have a crazy talented cast and the show just gets better with every rehearsal. I spent most of yesterday painting the set. Today I feel like a truck ran over me!! It is kind of nice being behind the scenes this time. It is incredible watching all the pieces of the show come together. I will post pics when I get them.

With all that said, I actually managed to spend time in my craft room!! I made a make up bag and some key fobs that will soon be in my shop. I used to share the room with my husband's drum set which left little room to work in. I am happy to say the drum set has been sold and the room is all mine. I am looking to paint and rework where I have my furniture placed. That is for another day. Right now I want to catch up on the blogs I have missed.

Moving Forward

I feel like I can finally move forward. Turkey day is coming and I have a 5 1/2 day weekend!! We close at Noon tomorrow and I took Monday off. Time for me to get busy!! I need to catch up with all my Etsyblogger friends. I have items that need to get in my shop. And, I need to dust off the Christmas decorations!

Last night, I finally spent time in my craft room with my sewing machine. I made two sets of coasters. Not totally perfect but I may just put them in my shop. One is for everyday and the other is holiday themed.

I finally finished the baby afghan...I will post a picture later this week. I just need to weave in some ends and do some trimming and it will be ready to hand over to my friend.

I feel like the holidays have crept up fast this year. I turned around and it is almost December.

Hope all is well with all of you...I need to get back on the Etsyblogger team track and get some posting done.

Blessings...

~busy hands...

~holidays with family

~fun fabric

God bless!!

Sewing Away!!

I do believe that sewing is becoming my new crafting addiction! I spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights sitting at my sewing machine working on simple tote patterns. I broke two needles, messed with the tension, sewed up the wrong side, managed to work with the zipper foot, fixed a sweatshirt for my daughter, and ripped out a number of seams =) I am getting better…believe me. I actually made a mini tote that I gave to a co-worker today for her birthday. She loved it…it was the perfect size for her lunch!

Now that I am inspired to sew and create I headed off to the fabric/craft store on my lunch hour. I found some lovely fabrics in the remnants bin. One is soft paisley corduroy that looks like it will be fun to work with. I also bought some batting…my co-worker gave me some tips on quilting I might try this weekend if I get up enough courage. I also embellished some cloth diapers for burp cloths. Not perfect but I think I am on the road to getting some items in my shop.

I also have to work on some bracelets. I haven’t touched my beads in weeks. I want to get some holiday inspired items together. And there are a couple of paper projects I have been dying to try. Not enough hours in the day. Isn’t that always the way?

Right now the trainings are finished until the end of the month which should mean things are quieter at work. I finally had some time to organize my stack of papers and filing. I feel like I have a better handle on things. At home I need to get on the computer to download some of the pictures I have taken of my sewing attempts. I will only post them if you promise not to laugh!!

I need to count my blessings…I haven’t done so in a while. Let me see…

…learning something new! ~ I never thought I would enjoy sitting at my sewing machine as much as I do!

…fabric remnants and fat quarters ~ so many choices so little time!!

…my hubby and daughter ~ they are very complementary when I emerge from my craft room with a newly sewn item!!

God bless you all…I will venture around to your blogs sometime soon!!

A Sew Sew Weekend

This weekend I was determined to get some practice sewing in and, boy, did I ever? I headed off to the fabric store for some supplies after searching the net for some easy projects. I am getting more comfortable with my sewing machine and my seams are getting straighter. I had some tension issues but I did what my manual said and the problem was fixed in a jiffy. I even brought one of my projects to work to show my co-worker who sews and she was impressed. That definitely gave me a boost of confidence. I am not up to selling my items on etsy yet...but practice makes perfect! That was how I taught myself to crochet!

Another thing I did this weekend was head to the local library and straight to the section with the crafting books. I could spend hours just going through the books. I ended up bring home ten books on beading, crochet and sewing and one script for an audition in January!

Today at lunch I headed over to Half Priced Books and picked up a sewing and a rubber stamping book. If I don't like them I will just sell them back to the store. Both books look like they had some helpful hints in them. Hopefully, I will get a chance to look them over tonight.

I didn't spend much time online this weekend because I was buried in sewing books and fat quarters. I definitely need to catch with everyone. I need to get my etsyblogger posts together. I also need to get some pictures of my latest creations!! It gets dark too early now to take them outside...I have to find another option.

God bless you all!!! I need to get back to work!