Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

We are having a gorgeous few days here in South Carolina. Hot but dry with balmy breezes. I can't remember a more beautiful and comfortable Fourth of July time in recent years. It's nice when the Fourth falls on a weekend. We can have a few days of continuous fun and celebration without stopping and starting it in the middle of a workweek.

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I kind of lost my blogging groove since May. Isn't it funny how it feels like you could never stop blogging, and then a few busy weeks away and one has nothing to say? Especially amazing in my case! I even missed my 2nd blogiversary date, which was June 22. I actually posted that day but didn't even notice that it went by until this week. A 200th post will be coming up relatively soon, I guess, so I'll think up a giveaway treat to celebrate that one when it comes by.

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I've found some really great embroidery files recently. I'm in love with these vintagey-whimsical designs. I'm really crazy for the bird, but that Circus Mouse on a Unicycle is just darling. I've got them sewn out on blue linen. Don't they look great? I put the birdcage on a pretty blue t-shirt for Camille earlier this week. We offset it on the left side of the shirt toward the bottom. I asked her to keep it nice for one night until the next day so I could grab a photo of her in it, but, I guess I should be glad, she put it on and wore it out right away. It's in the laundry now.

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This week has found me working at home on the business of my studio work. I've been studying my embroidery digitizing software. This is software that allows me to scan a graphic or a real photo into my computer and then digitize it into an embroidery file. It's not so easy, though. My brains hurt! If you take a nice crisp simple graphic, then you can "express" into a digitize file. See my scrolled flourish above? I love it! However, anything more complex takes a lot more practice and understanding. A shout out to the very friendly Cindy and her husband at Cynthia Lee Designs. Cindy has the same machines and software I do and lots more practice. In desperation late the other night, I e-mailed her the file I was having trouble digitizing and begged for help and direction. She and her husband jumped right on it and have offered to help more if I need it. I was a bit ashamed the next morning that I hadn't waited another day and read the manual a bit further, but I am so thankful that they were willing to help me. Anyway, this software will allow me to sell my designs when I perfect them.

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Let's see. One more thing I want to tell you about. I'm leaving it to the end, as probably just my faithful blog friends will have read this far. I have something really important I must save for in the next 18 months. I'm not so great at putting aside funds that aren't taken from me and put into not easily attainable investment accounts. I started a new etsy shop - the handmade fair. It's sort of my "shop on the other side of town." Actually, I've been thinking about this for a while, as I'd like to list a ton of finished crafty items I have stock piled but that don't really fit the calicodaisy brand I'm trying to build at the calicodaisy etsy shop. Here I intend to list those quick and affordable items as well as supplies and kits. My grandmother left me with a huge inventory of beautiful scrapbooking supplies. I hope to break those down into little parcels and post them at the handmade fair. If you happen to see some of the same items in both shops, the price will be the same -- unless it's more embellished and at calicodaisy. So, there you go, and now you know!