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At the end of 2008, this lovely machine arrived in my studio. However, in the 21.5 months since it has lived here, I have NEVER learned how to use it. It's been such a burden on my shoulders; I just haven't had the time and have been afraid of the effort. You know, though, how one is forced into action every so often? Well, today is the day.
A couple of weeks ago, I designed some lovely, monogrammed, linen pillow covers with a new customer. Please, click the green link and see the inspiration photo. However, the pillow covers are 20" and require an 8" center monogram. No problem, I say, and purchase the embroidery font. Well, there is a problem: The largest hoop for my one-needle embroidery machine isn't wide enough for the font. Ha! I've never experienced that. Immediately, I think, hmmmm, well, see what Miss 6-Needle has to offer. Thankfully, I have the proper hoop for the big machine, and finally the time has come to dust the poor thing off, oil her, stick the how-to video in (as well as visit the store for my lessons), and start using the 6-needle and 6-threads-at-one-time machine! Of course, I have begged patience from my customer and offered a little thank-you-for-waiting gift, but I'm pretty excited. My dad will be, too, as he sponsored the purchase way back.
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You know what this means, though, and I've been a little afraid of the idea. When I am able to use this machine to its full potential, I can have "inventory" like a real shop because I can multitask and embroider leather bags and get inside the pocket of a diaper bag and easily embroider socks and, and, and -- just like a brick and mortar embroidery shop. I think a lot of my resistance to learning to use this machine is wrapped up in being responsible for the possibilities it holds. I'm weird like that. Today is the day! Well, this week is the week anyway. It's already 3:00 PM, and it does have to be dusted and oiled, but the monogrammed pillow covers are due, and I'm hoping she doesn't want a refund!!!
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For nearly a year, I've been loading up a box full of planned scraps from the ends of my fabrics while cutting out my projects. Reading about a new Scrapalong going on in the bloggy world right now was the impetus I needed to start packaging the pieces into Fabric Stash Packs.
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The Priority Flat Rate envelopes are stuffed full. I've got the packs priced at $10.00 and listed in my devoted college savings shop: the handmade fair. There are just these two right now, but there are loads more where these came from. Please consider forwarding the listings -- or sharing with the facebook link on the etsy listing -- to any interested sewists you know.
And since I mentioned FB, I have an FB account for calicodaisy. I only chat about crafting there and meet up with blog friends. Nothing personal going on there. There is also a calicodaisy handmade fan page, which I don't use to its best potential yet. Please be a friend on the FB page and/or "like" the fan page -- and, again, "share" with your friends who might be interested in my work. That would be such a nice compliment to me and gives me a lovely opportunity of marketing to those I may never meet. Thanks!
Off to work the Sunday evening shift! Hope the rest of your day is lovely.
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Really, I am missing hanging out in all my favorite blog spots and having comment conversations with my blog friends. However, I have LOADS of work right now, and I must tend to that. This time last year, I was just devastated with barely any work available for me, and now I can't clean house, I'm gaining weight because I'm eating on the run, and I'm passing on lots of the social events of this season because I have to keep on schedule. All good, though.
Quilt Bee friends -- if you call me a friend anymore :( -- I will catch up. We just need to paint the downstairs apartment this weekend in anticipation of a big Fall show I have here with some other friends in sales in early November, and I have to prepare the area. Then I'm free.
Recently, a number of new customers have come to my etsy shops - calicodaisy and the handmade fair - and have worked with me on custom orders. I've been so pleased to be "found" through googling and etsy searches and then chosen to create the design desired. I can't wait to show you the final products.
You know, I have the two shops set up in etsy for a purpose. The calicodaisy shop is to market my new ideas and build my label. The Handmade Fair is all about saving college funds for the kids in my family (mine and the cousins). One of the cousins is a freshman and needs a little big tuition pump. My kids are used to me marketing my designs over the years and they don't really think of this as big income driver, but I know it is. I've never gone out on a limb and really campaigned for a big sale at one time, but this is very important and needs a good go. So, here goes:
At The Handmade Fair, there are already a number of items ready to ship, like the Roundabout Cowl / Scarf shown above.
I have "The All Boy Charm Packs" ready to go and can put together more. I have a boxful of our favorite quilting fabrics cut into charms ready to be packaged. The fabric is washed and the charms cut; just let me know what flavor you are looking for. The "charm" of these packages is that the fabric is prewashed and ironed and then sliced, so no shrinkage or running colors to worry about.
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There is a new scrapalong going on in blogland (just google it to find), and I have my first fabric destash package ready to ship.
There are crocheted baby hats, scarves, throw pillows, camera strap covers (padded and non), and you can go through my sold section and ask for a design that has sold before.
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Custom embroidered / monogrammed piped pillow covers have been my big sellers lately and are the easiest items for me to put together -- they are squares and easy to get out. The pillow covers are listed for $25.00 for one, however, if you read through the listing you'll find a discount when ordering two identical covers and a SPECIAL of "buy four get one free." Think of graphic holiday designs or phrases, sports themes, favorite sayings like above or anything else that is popular. Have you fallen for pillow covers in the PB and Anthropology catalogs but can't take the price? Let's design one together. Check the calicodaisy gallery for a number of fonts and designs I already have -- look at the sets on the sidebar.
It would be so amazing if I could meet this tuition need through my own hands in my own little shop. Thanks for bearing with me and, in advance, for any early Christmas or birthday or personal shopping you might do at The Handmade Fair.
Okay, I'm off to work again! -- michele
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Sorority Rush season is in full swing right now. Greek gals are looking for fun Big and Little Sister gifts, and I love it when they find my shop! Florida State University AXO sisters came by the shop last week for a second year of embroidered pillow cover orders. Fun!
