Happy Holidays!

So the holidays are upon us. My sewing cabinet is neatly put aside with the Christmas Tree in its usual spot in the front room. It's sad to have to take the holidays off but it's a break that is needed since things are always busy around this time of year. Once the holidays are over it's back to work. No birthdays and such to occupy my mind and since the weather's still cold we'll be indoors rather than out at the park and such.

I received my December Little Black Box today. I love it. It's a little box of surprises. . .a Christmas present to myself. Soaps, earrings, mirrors, trinkets, etc. . .cute little treats.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Oh the wonderful world of a stay-at-home-mom

People always think that a stay-at-home-mom has so SO much free-time. Between the little man's birthday and the holiday season starting I haven't had any time to do crafts for a while now! It's so sad! My sewing machine always gets packed away for Christmas since it's in the area where our tree goes. I think I may need to find a new spot though so I can 'play' throughout the holiday season. I've been looking for fast and fun projects I can complete in a day or two. We'll see. . .I DID manage to start a new patchwork quilt last week. I've spend the last few WEEKS cutting the squares so now the fun part begins. . . for now though I'm being requested - someone went pee pee on the potty. YEAH!!! :)

More more more

So after the one was finished I went to work on more. I still need to stitch them but the hard part is over and I have quite a few cute cards to show for it. What do I do with them though? Add them to the shop? Use them as giveaways to promote the shop? A little of both? I'm waiting for feedback so we'll see if people even think they're cute. I do but I'm biased. :)

Something New!

So I decided to try something new for the shop - cards.

I love to scrapbook (when I make the time) and I love to sew/quilt so I combined the two and ended up with this:

A Sunbonnet Sue applique card! I posted it on Etsy.com in the forums to see if I could get a little feedback. I think it's cute but you never know - I come up with some off things at times and this could be one of them. On the other hand I may have found my 'thing'. That would be cool.

I'm going to make more 'things'. :)

Getting your name out there

Advertising is important - no kidding. You need to get your name and info out there so people know that you're around! There are SOOO many people out there it's very easy to get lost in it all. . .thus the reason why I have my shop on Etsy, this blog and my website domain The Artful Mommy.

Sometimes you can find good people to help you out. Jocelyn @ The Little Love Bug @ Etsy kindly offered to send out my cards with her packages! Thank you to her and I hope she likes the Halloween Business Card holder from my shop that I sent along for her troubles and kindness. Only 1 left in stock!

Another amazing crafter is actually offering free earrings from her shop for bloggers who blog about her. IF I can get 10 people to click on the link to her shop I get a pair of really cool earrings! Actually, if I don't I may just have to buy a pair because they're really nice. Distinction Jewelry also has jewelry for lawyers (and other professionals). I love that! What to get my cousin for Christmas? She's a lawyer so I'll be looking through this category in another few weeks. This is a very talented jeweler! Check out this mobius ring! AND FREE SHIPPING! I think I really need these earrings. HINT HINT :)

So we'll see how things go with getting my info out there a bit while helping others at the same time. Fingers crossed and sewing machine ready -

TheArtfulMommy.com is LIVE

I just sat here for the last 4-5 hours working on the site. There's not much to it but I kept playing around with the layout and such and finally came up with something I like. . .until I change my mind. :)

Enjoy!
The Artful Mommy

Where HAVE I been?

It's always a shame when life gets a little out of control and you don't have time for 'fun' stuff. Sadly I've been in that situation for a few weeks. BUT, I'm back and I DO have crafts to show for it. I need to upload pics/descriptions to Etsy tonight. AND tomorrow being Oct 1st I need to get my PINK on! That snuck up on me.

I've joined Indiepublic



So here's to Fall, new crafts and all good things that come along!

Keepin' Crafty

I need to take some pictures of the new works from the machine but it's been a very productive few days. I've made a few quilted trivets. It's a cool folded fabric pattern. I also made another halloween tote bag but a smaller one for the little ones to carry. I used my fav glow-in-the-dark thread again and this time did a zig-zag stitch on the handles that looks really cool - I just wish I could get a decent photo of the glow.

Oh! It's official ~ I'm a member of the Etsymom Street Team! Whoo hoo

Mama's got a brand new bag!

Actually it's a tote and technically it's for kids or the kids in all of us! :)


A new halloween tote is available in the shop! Complete with glow-in-the-dark thread along the top hem. It's pretty nifty if you ask me but then again, I'm biased. :)

It's a banner day!

Well, it was - I created a new banner for the shop.

Out with the old:


And in with the new:


Now to work on that darn trivet and finish it today! And the Halloween Totes...with. . .GLOW IN THE DARK THREAD! How cool is that! Granted most chidren trick-or-treat during daylight hours (not where i grew up but where I am now it's only from 6-8 - boring!)...but it's a nifty feature to offer. We shall see.

Go Pink!

I'm adding a new section to my Etsy shop ~ Check out Go Pink! coming soon). October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in honor of this a half of all sales from Go Pink! will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Organization!

I'll also be adding a Halloween Go Green! section with fabric goodie bags! They're in the works as well - there's always something going on! :)

Today's rainy weather means an indoor movie day for myself and the little man - perfect for working on crafts together!

After the rain stops and the sun comes back shining. . .

Weekends are always hectic for me - I hang out at a friend's restaurant helping where I can, hubby's home so we have 'family' time, and there's always mom/wife things to be done.

I stopped at a quilt shop yesterday and got some cute halloween fabrics for an idea I have - shhh, it's a secret. I also got into for the 6th Annual Shop Hop. 15 quilt shops in the area are hosting it and it starts in November. It sounds like fun and there will be a drawing for those who go to all 16 shops! I could win a new machine or even a $600 shopping spree! WHOO HOO! I'm so there! And there and there and everywhere.

In an attempt to get more traffic to my shop I signed up for Link Referral.com. I seem to have gotten more visitors and so far even one review - we'll see.

I have a few halloween ideas in mind as well as little crafts. I hope to finish something today so I can update the shop. I'd like to add new items every couple of days - I lucked out week one but having so much so quickly.

We'll see what today brings. I'm heading to the craft store with a coupon later so maybe I'll find more good stuff.

September is National Sewing Month ~ Get Your Stitch On!

Well aren't we the crafty type. . .

So last night I did it. . .finished a little zipper pouch to match the one bag as well as two little totes. They're rather cute and are all up on the shop now! HURRAY!!!

I have no patience

I decided to start the listings for the two bags I've completed. I figured I could list and not publish them having forgotten that they automatically go up. . .oh well. So much for waiting until I have a decent inventory. I need to get to work.

And you need to look at my shop!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade ArtfulMommy.etsy.com

Finished!

So my tote bag of evil is done. It literally almost cost me a finger! lol It's a nice size though I'm wondering if it needs a zipper or at least a snap on the top. Ehh, this one is DONE. There's always the next one.

Presenting my Luke Tote named after the ER I had to visit due to it. lol

I loved this fabric from the moment I saw it and actually made a dress though I never got it to fit right. . . I need to work on clothes more, watching Project Runway doesn't teach much as far as how-to. Speaking of PR. . .the blue gown and jacket that won - beautiful! That girl is good!! One day. . until then I'll make my bags. :)

New Project ~ New Adventure

So I started my 2nd project ~ a tote bag! It's looking cute and I thought a piece of cardbord would be a nice touch to stabilize the bottom. . .well the rotary cutter blade didn't do great on the cardboard BUT it cut right threw my finger. OUCH! After trying to take care of it myself with liquid bandage and crazy glue. . .I told the hubby that I had a 'problem'.

So we took a trip to the ER and after almost 2 hours I walked out with 2 stitches.

So much for finishing it tonight. . .my finger's sore. :(

I literally put blood, sweat and tears into my work!!!

HURRAY! My first purse is done!

So it's finished! :) My cute little pouch purse. Not too bad and a rather nice OOAK piece! :)

Now to get a few more pieces done before I put them on etsy. . .I'm so excited though! I want to post this one up NOW!!!

Blog, Store, and a Website. . .now we're getting somewhere!

So last night I had the thought to start this blog.

Then I decided to start the store on etsy. http://artfulmommy.etsy.com/

Now I have a website also. http://www.artfulmommy.com/ and http://www.theartfulmommy.com/ . There's nothing on there yet but it's my new home on the net. :)

I also got business cards for another 'job' and decided to get some for this 'hobby' as well. May as well go all the way with it. I hate doing things half ahhh, you know what I mean.

I really have to finish that purse still.

Loop Turner. . .that's what it's called!

So for my first craft I'm making a purse. Very simple pouch purse with a zipper on the back. I used various flannels in similiar prints and ended up with a rather cute little purse. The strap on the other hand was a PITA. For over an hour I sat trying to turn this strip of fabric right side out and finally after many Many MANY attempts I tossed it and went for a simple fold/sew strap. The result is a dainty little strap for a dainty little purse. I just need to sew it onto the rings and then sew the button on for some flair. :) Pictures to come. . .

And it's less than $5! http://www.createforless.com/Dritz+Loop+Turner+10+1/2/pid14053.aspx

Here we go. . .

My sewing machine's been collecting dust lately and it's sad. I have a dress on the dressform waiting to be fitted and finished. I have patterns galore and I have fabric in BOXES hidden behind my sewing cabinet.

Arriving home from Lancaster (Amish Country) I'm inspired to get back into some seriously crafts & quilting. One woman told me that it took her 9 months to finish the most amazing quilt I've ever seen. I've been working on a patchwork quilt for over a year now. . .

So my plan is to get to work and my goal is to sell my pieces. The holidays are coming - we'll see.