Just when you think Etsy can't get any better ...

So I'm browsing Etsy the other night, because that's what I do, and I see something on the front page that catches my eye ... then I see something that person has "hearted" ... and so on, until I stumble on a PIF.  Pay it forward.  On Etsy, this ridiculous little phrase (based on a MOVIE, remember?!) has a whole new, wonderful meaning.  Check it out for yourself HERE.

As for now ... I've already wasted more than enough time online and I need to call it a night!

Ebb and flow ...

So I keep saying, maybe tomorrow ... maybe tomorrow ... maybe the tomorrow after that!  Finding the time (and energy!) for creative, non-essential pursuits is beyond difficult with a toddler and a baby.  Whew!  But the first time for "adult playdate sewing party" has been set, which means now I have a deadline for getting my projects to the hand-finishing stage, or at the very least tidying up the project corner to make it somewhat presentable.  Explain that to my 2 1/2 yr old who spent the entire weekend pushing the bounds of every conceivable limit while refusing to nap and catching herself a lovely little cold in the process.  (Good times!)

How do you like your minky?

One of my favorite things to make is minky pillowcases. Minky is just so delicious, it washes really well, and to get to sleep on it every night - heaven!

At right is the minky squares king sized pillowcase I made for my husband in maroon and navy minky dot. I really like how well behaved the minky is, even in semi-quilting applications. I just single-stitched the blocks; didn't have to press the seam allowances down or anything. The blocks pattern wraps all the way around the pillow, front and back, with a simple blue border at the open end.

At left is my maternity pillow that I used through my entire second pregnancy. The pillowcase that came with it was terribly thin and somewhat scratchy. So I stripped it off and used it as a pattern to make a new one ... in minky of course! The upper portion is in a cream minky dot, and the feet are in faux leopard velour. (It reverses to a cream fleece on the underside.) Delightful! I even caught my hubby stealing catnaps in it from time to time.

One of the First Projects

This group of hats and scarves is one of the first projects that I set about and completed. They were Christmas gifts (2006) for my husband's several young cousins, and they were quite fun to put together ... once I got the spring-opening scissors to assist with cutting all the fringe. 

The three bigger girls got hats and matching scarves; the baby got a hat and patchwork blanket. I tried to pick complimenting patterns for the two sets of sisters that tied together with the shared use of green. (The color balance on this photo is just NOT quite right; it wasn't that garish!) 

The blanket is true patchwork, in that I cobbled together the various scraps left from hats and scarves and stitched them as I went. I was pretty proud that it actually laid flat when finished, especially since I'd only started sewing at all a few months earlier.

I had a lot of fun with this project, but quickly realized that in order to be successful with making "all" your Christmas presents in any given year, you really need to start working in February! 

Grown-up Playdates

Since when is going to the grocery store by myself a treat?  And how telling is it that when asked to describe a "fond memory" from university (for a class reunion survey), the only thing I could think of was laying down on the lawn and getting to take a nap outdoors?!

But grown-ups get to have fun too, and right now I'm trying to schedule a craft party with two girlfriends to help us all make some progress on our sewing and other projects.  I've got several items nearly ready to go up in the shop, but haven't been able to force myself over the inertia hurdle to complete the final steps.  So many chores and clever ways to procrastinate.  And excuse making - did I mention that?  For example, if only I had a dedicated sewing space, I'd be able to get more work done ... blah, blah, blah.

Problem is ...

Just when am I supposed to find time to sew exactly?! I have so many ideas for things that I'd like to make for the shop - especially my big baby set: 2 burp cloths, change pad, blanket and travel toy - but haven't yet been able to. A few things are posted (and two sales!), but most are not what I would consider my "core" business products. It's frustrating, yes.  But being a mommy is my first job ... so I just need to do a better job of managing my time otherwise to make room for the hobbies.

It was love at first click!

I discovered Etsy on a Thursday - thanks to good friend "bearchick" - and spent every waking moment for the next four days online.  Every waking moment that the girlies were sleeping anyway.  It was pure ecstatic delirum, but in a very good way.  :-)  A few days later I emailed bearchick to fill her in on my new obsession ...

"Reasons I'm falling in love with Etsy"

• you can search for items by color
  
• you can search for items by birthday!
  
• they use the word "Etsians"
  
• I've been on the site non-stop since Thursday, and I have YET to find someone with other than 100% feedback
  
• the things these people are making are just so amazingly cool
  
• I am utterly addicted to this site, even though most of the things I see I'll never ever buy - it's all the great artistry of a really good craft show, with out the hassle of having to get dressed or wash my hair
  
• I think I'll have a corner on the minky Texas flag baby lovey market!  :-) 
  

Entering the world of Etsy blogging!

Well, so far tonight I have done the dishes, completed 2 1/2 loads of laundry, and re-discovered and re-animated the remains of a long forgotten blog! All part of the grand Etsy experiment, I am re-designing this blog to support my Etsy shop and share a little bit more about my crafts. It is now 11:03 p.m., precisely three minutes past my self-imposed bedtime, and I have NOT accomplished the significant list of "actual" work that I needed to do tonight ... but I sure did have fun!

Sigh, this Etsy thing (and the accompanying sewing, blogging, shopping, etc.) is going to be the absolute ruin of my to do list, I can tell.