Making Progress

I spent most of the three-day weekend in my craft studio sewing, embroidery, straightening, and listening, as I must do every summer, to my Harry Pottery books on CD set, Books 5, 6, and 7, The Order of the Phoenix being my very favorite. When I checked out #7 the other day, the librarian said, "I hope they enjoy it." I looked at her and said, "Oh, this isn't for the kids. They are bored with it. I have an annual summer Harry Fest in the car." I'm a 43-year-old who misses Harry Potter! Ridiculous or riddikulus!, as one might say to a boggart! If you like Harry, too, and have never listened to the book on tape, run out and get the series. I can vouch for the American version read by Jim Dale. He does such a wonderful job and actually grows the voices as the characters grow up. Okay, enough said!

I purchased the Simplicity 3835 pattern to make for myself, however, Camille was ga-ga for it at first glance, so I made her one first.

I tried to take in all the advice I've read about the pattern from different sewing bloggers. I made the size 6 for her but think the 8 would fit better across the front. However, there is so much excess fabric in the back. I understood one blogger to say not to put the seam back there to lessen the bulk, so I cut it on the fold. That didn't help here. Is this where I might have put in some darts? I really don't want to spend too much time figuring that out to keep it simple and easy to make.

Maybe with the size 8, cutting the back on the fold but take just a bit away, and creating vents at the side seams, the top will drape better. That's what I am going to try next time. Also, I left the elastic out of the sleeves so no puff and no bother with another casing. Camille is quite happy with the top and wore it right away yesterday and then out today again. I hope this is the beginning of a new phase in her clothing - finding great patterns for her - and also encouraging her to sew as well. By the time I was her age, I had it going on in the sewing room. I wish she would jump in, too; she is so artistic.

My husband spent most of our three-day weekend working on the harder house projects, including painting. He painted my bookcase for my studio office and finished up the work table I designed.

Remember this horrible site:

and this:

Now, see this!

Color: Lowes Valspar Playful Pool 5005-7C

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Bright, shiny, and new, all ready for me to add what I need to make this studio office a home. It's not for sewing. That's the other room filled with chaos, which I think is necessary somewhat to create. This room is for meeting with clients, designing, blogging, scanning, creative computer work, displaying my goods, and paper art, like scrapbooking, etc.

You can see some of the art pieces I have to get framed. I found the lamp shade at IKEA in Atlanta in May. Loved this at first site! You can use it on any type of lamp, however, I picked the lamp cord to hang like a little chandelier over the reading chair.

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The two cabinets standing next to each other will be emptied, and I'll use that for display. My friend has one of the panels out to cut glass for all the cupboard doors. The cabinet with the shuttered doors is actually a craft armoire. I will use it for storing scrapbooking and paper art supplies.

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Now I just have to decide on curtains. Do I go with a calico sprigged with red and yellow flowers or do I go more demure and use a black and white toile?

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Ouch! My right index finger is hurting. I've been scrolling, blogging, flickr-ing, and working on the computer for hours now! Looks like that's my cue ....

Happy Fourth of July! and June Swaps

Happy Fourth! We are having a quiet day here and enjoying it. I'm so glad this holiday makes a three-day weekend. It gives me a chance to go a different pace with my deadlines and poke around my desk and computer while I work.

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Mee Crafty Doll Swap

1. June Kitty A, 2. June Kitty B, 3. June Kitty D

I participated in a couple of swaps in June and now am able to post my photos. First, Chloe at Mee Crafty held her first swap, which was a doll swap. I'm not generally a doll or softie maker, but seeing the work so many have put out, I thought I would go with this kitty pattern I have had for a couple of years. Actually, it is to be made in a more Folk Art - Americana type fashion, which I have made before. I thought this one came out pretty sweet in her bright calicos. She went to Jacqui in England. Kind of fun to have my creations out and about in the world.

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Sweet Goodness Swaps - Pararsols, Pink Lemonade, and Polka Dot Swap

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1. Sweet Goodness Swap - June 2008, 2. Sweet Goodness Swap - June 2008 B, 3. Personalized Wristlet, 4. Personalized Wristlet - inside

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The second swap was the Sweet Goodness Swaps - Parasols, Pink Lemonade, and Polka-Dot swap. We were to include the above. I found a beach bag at Michael's Crafts with parasols/umbrellas, embroidered a beach towel, and make a wristlet that includes some polka-dots within the design. I also included some summery scrapbook stickers and pink lemonade mix. This package went out to Jenn in Massachusetts. I hope she enjoys it at the shore eating some fried clams in a box - well, that is what I always enjoyed eating on the Massachusetts shore when we lived in the Boston area.

What do you think about the custom wristlet? I think the font looks really great. You can find one in my calicodaisy etsy shop if you have to have one for yourself!

The Giveaway Winner Is . . . . .

NAN from nannybird! Thanks, again, to all of you who commented on my giveaway post and left me sweet messages.



1. Frenchie Totebag, 2. Welcome to South Carolina, 3. South Carolina welcoming, 4. Hand Towel/Golf Towel/Baby Burp Cloth

Nan was contacted and quickly replied that she would most like to have a totebag and even had a special design request. Nan moved away from South Carolina in the last year or so and misses this place. South Carolina has a really nice state flag design, and embroiderers and artists have gone crazy with it over the years embellishing everything from clothing to home dec to foods with our palmetto tree and moon. You can see my Palmetto State embroidery designs here. I'm looking forward to making the perfect bag for her.

You'll have to stop by Nan's blog and see everything she is into. She's a big crocheter and spends lots of time on Ravelry. I'm a member of Ravelry, too, but I just haven't had the time (brains) to get into it and figure it all out, so she sent me an e-mail sort of mapping out the way.

Well, the last three weeks of June didn't go as I had planned. I had intended to be at Camp Chisholm and stay home this month, get into new habits, organize papers and rooms, and box up items for the flea market or garage sale. However, early on I caught a summer bug that turned into nearly pneumonia by last week! The coughing and decongestants practically made me delirious, and it was hard to stay on track even with my "real" work. Thank goodness for a good old Z-Pak and some cough syrup with codeine! Saturday morning I woke up for the first time feeling rested and ready to go. I sewed all weekend getting out some postponed orders today. Now I need to get to that sewing I promised Camille. By the time I make the dresses and tops we have planned, summer may be gone. Not really, though, this is South Carolina, and we could have a heat wave all the way into October!

Adding To My Repertoire

A big "thank-you" to whomever began that flickr meme earlier in the month. It was fun to do, and I am so happy that I learned to use the mosaic maker. Using the mosaic as my post photo makes things nice and neat and uses less space.

I've been getting summer orders for the hand towels and dishtowels above and my little makeup bags. These are repeat pictures but good examples. The handtowels are usually ordered as part of a larger towel set, but they are also designed for guest bath, sports/golf towels with a grommet included for hanging, and baby burp towels.

Another big thanks goes out to all of you who have commented on my first blog anniversary below. Bloggers have come from everywhere and have left sweet notes. I'm anxious to see whose name is drawn on Sunday and what prize will be chosen.

So, now that I have a year under my belt of blogging and checking out the way things go for other craft bloggers and home entrepreneurs, I decided to open an etsy shop, calicodaisy, of course. I've had an e-bay shop for a couple of years but with no real success, as I didn't really work that hard at it nor do I understand all the ways to be successful there. However, I do find the etsy shop to be VERY affordable and easy to manage. I was so surprised to get featured along with several other South Carolina vendors pretty much in the first couple weeks of opening the shop. I didn't understand what was happening first with the "treasury" idea but soon figured it out. Some South Carolina etsy vendors have put together a "street team" of Palmetto State shopkeepers, and participating with the group is giving me great ideas for marketing and etsy-how-to's as well. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds in my little store.

I hope you'll stop by the calicodaisy shop and find something perfect that you just have to have for yourself or give as a gift. Obviously, much of what I do is custom made, so if you check out the clubbmish studios flickr site and see what work I have already done, you might find just what you are looking for.

First Blog Anniversary Giveaway

1. Sassy Apron Swap - Spring 2008, 2. Custom Wristlet 3, 3. Frenchie Totebag

Friday, June 27, 2008, is my first blog anniversary! Just as everyone has said before me, it has been a quick year. It seems like just a few months ago, I was sitting in the recliner with the laptop on my knees googling about embroidery when I came across Feeling Stitchy and Nikkshell. I had noticed the term "blog" previously when reading the websites of Sublime Stitching, Alicia Paulson, and SisBoom fabrics after spotting features about them in various magazines, but the term didn't really stick with me as I had no idea what it meant. However, everything finally connected in one moment of understanding, and I knew instantly that I had to have a blog, too.

After lurking about a bit, checking out the different blog services, and following the path to other bloggers' favorite sites, I got down to business. Most important to me at the time was getting involved in the swaps in which I have had such a great time giving and receiving and getting to know new blog friends.

I want to thank everyone who makes regular visits to my blog, sends me comments and e-mails, and is interested in keeping up with the postings of new creations from my craft studio and letting me brag about my family. This opportunity makes our world a smaller place and allows us to learn so much from one another from both near and far away. I am really grateful to be part of this crafting blog world and can't wait to see what happens in the upcoming year.

Earlier in the week, I held a little poll to see what I should offer as a giveaway prize. The choice is hard for me, because I think everything I do is already done and all the crafters on the blogs has one anyway! However, after comments and e-mails, there is a three-way tie: Apron, totebag, and wristlet. I made the mosaic above to show an example of each.

The prize, then, will be a choice of one of the three above, monogrammed, of course, created in your favorite colors. On Saturday, June 28, 2008, I'll draw the winner's name. Be sure to leave your comment here if you'd like to be part of the drawing and, if I can't reach you through your comment profile, please be sure to leave an e-mail address so I can get in touch with you, otherwise, I'll have to pick a new name from the hat.

I'm looking forward to finding out who leaves their name and whose name gets drawn!

A Lovely Surprise

"waiting sarah"

** please read my 06/17/08 posting below and help me decide **

** what I should use as a giveaway for my first blog anniversary **

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"You WIN!" This was the surprising message I received last week from Lorajean. She pulled my name from the hat for her 150th posting giveaway, and I was able to choose some of her artwork. I fell in love with "Waiting Sarah," an original acrylic painting by Lorajean. Sarah is no longer waiting but is home with me. I'm looking forward to framing her and hanging her in my office. Both my daughter and husband said this favors me when I was younger. Now I'm deciding whether to purchase a companion piece. I'm really loving "Lydia."

Lorajean has many talents. She makes softies, stationary from her prints, and paper mache sculptures. I was happy to learn that she knows the paper mache, because, as I answered the other day on the 20 Questions, #5, an art I would next love to learn is paper mache and making holiday folk art people and accessories. Maybe LJ will coach me from afar.

This is her blog: Lorajean's Magazine
This is her etsy shop: little lolas

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Here are some more rabbit trails for you to follow:

1. bura ellen - Don't know how I got there, but that is where I heard about Lorajean's giveaway. She lives in Atlanta, which makes me feel like a kindred blogger since I went to high school there and think of it as "home."

2. Flossie Teacakes - Lovely lady in England. She writes very well and reminds me of Nigella Lawson, by both her descriptions in writing and looks.

3. Feeling Stitchy - All about hand embroidery. One of the very first blogs I came across.

4. Lee Lou Blogs - This one looks fun. She has free and custom blog designs, but I can't figure it out. When I tried to do this, I lost all my categories on the sides. Good thing I saved the original template - take my advice and do that first! Maybe one day I'll write her and ask her how to get it right.

5. Tiny Happy - I found her through Ravenhill. She moved to Norway from New Zealand. She does lovely sewing and embroidery.

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And finally, at risk of bugging you, but I have been taking you down rabbit trails, don't forget to comment on my 06/17/2008 post below about what might be a good giveaway for my first blog anniversary. I'll have to get that started next week.

Come Surf With Me and Celebrate

Though I haven't been in my sewing room much the last couple of months while getting ready for the end of the school year, I have been surfing the blogs and finding loads of inspiration. You know, my first blog loves are off there to the left under the "inspiring blogs" category. However, starting at those sites, I've made a bunch of rabbit trails hopping from one blog to another and thought I would share some of my new finds with you, maybe a few each time I post to give you a chance to look around.

1. How About Orange - Fun and Informative.

2. You Can Make This - Not a blog but all kinds of great craft patterns to buy and download, some free.

3. Spoonflower - Very cool. They can print-your-own fabric for you from your graphics. Too bad I can't participate; I don't know how to do anything on PhotoShop or the like. However, Camille is taking PhotoShop at school next year, so I might set her on that path for me.

4. True Up - All Fabrics, All The Time

5. Pimp Stitch - If you know the conservative me, you know I might not love the name. However, the art is fun and all about the new wave of embroidery.
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6. A Year of Crock Potting - Exactly what it says. This chicky cooks something in the crockpot everyday and then tells all about it.

7. Just Lilla - Lilla is the mother of my first best friend in college (lucky me, I have several BFFs). We met the very first day while moving into the dorms - in 1982! Anyway, I went home with Beth through the years but didn't get to know her mom very well - as we were always running around as college girls do. I knew Lilla was a crafter and loved antiques. A while ago, I received an e-mail from Lilla, who lives in Hawaii and is from New Zealand, and she blogs. She has also gotten some press in Somerset Magazine Altered Couture -- and Haute Bags, I think. I'm looking forward to visiting with her and Beth in October when I hopefully make it out to Houston to the International Quilt Festival.
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If you stop by any of the blogs, leave a comment at that blog and tell them who sent you (Michele at calicodaisy). Maybe they'll take a trip over here.


CELEBRATION APPROACHING ...


My first blogiversary is nearly here! Back on June 27, 2007, I had the courage to enter the blog world and get my own started. I didn't know what I was getting into, but I have made some lovely new acquaintances here and have had a lot of fun in the swaps.

Of course, I want to do a giveaway, but I can't decide what of mine someone would really want. Would you take a look through my clubbmish studio set and leave me a suggestion as to what I might give as the gift? It has to be small enough to fit in a large envelope (maybe 11 x 13) - I learned a big lesson on gregariously sending boxes away overseas! Big Dollars! How about an embroidered pillow cover, monogrammed dishtowels, wristlet, or totebag?

If you comment here in the suggestion posting by Friday, June 20, 2008, I'll automatically count your name twice when I post the giveaway dates. Thanks for helping me choose, and tell your friends. Oh, yes, be sure to leave me your e-mail address should I need to get in touch with you.