#69: Mend Clothes

Sewing buttons, hemming pants, slip-stitching a seem....I literally hate these tasks. But last night I finally put the button back on Mike's pants. At least my sewing box is full of vintage goodies and pretty to look at!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating.  

The Great Halloween (Costume) Debate

Not once in my life has it been three days before The Halloween Party and I haven't had a costume. Not once. Until now. I don't know what it is this year, but I'm just not into it. Crazy, I know. I think it's partly because this is the first time in five years we are hosting the party. It may also be because Halloween is still six days from the party...or that we've been on the go, and we'll be driving home from William & Mary Homecoming right into the party.

Or maybe because the beau ordered a Superman costume without telling me and I'm still grumpy.

Whatever the reason, I still don't have anything to wear and am debating about six options at this point.

A costume that would be warm, comfortable and completely effortless? Plus, it has a bag as a must-have accessory? Quadruple bonus! 

A dead bride. This would be much cuter if I had a dead groom to match. And perhaps a real wedding ring to make the scenario complete ;)

I have wanted to be one of Martha Stewart's adorable lambs for YEARS. However, I have not wanted to sew or make the furry leotard, well, ever. 

I came across this idea just last week and I love it! The trick will be finding a bright yellow dress in October...

Or, just go for the classic witch in my favorite black dress, tights and heels. So, what are your thoughts? What are you dressing up as? Have any other great last minute ideas?

Monday Musebles: Cleaning and Organizing

Some people (ahem...Mike...) might say I'm rather messy. I personally wouldn't consider it messy, maybe just a little cluttered. Or maybe an organized mess (does that fit into the same category as a functional alcoholic?). Anyway, I've been waiting a while to get all my craft stuff organized. I had to find the right furniture, then sell my desk and buffet table - both of which sold on Craigslist in less than three weeks!

I found these new storage pieces at Garden Ridge in Chesapeake. Unfortunately they were too short for my existing bins so I had to buy all new ones. Wasn't too upset though, it gave me a chance to go through all my supplies and purge a little. I have space for all my felt food packaging in one place, along with organizing all my packaging and shipping labels. Guess that means Fairview Place (via Etsy) is open for business again!

This plant stand I bought when I first moved here at an antique store out on Granby Street. I had actually left the store and drove halfway home, only to turn around and go back and get this! It was $14! I used it for all my shoes (with canvas bins), but now use it for my buttons and packaging station.

Mike's dresser is still in need of its makeover. I had this in mind, but since almost everything in our house has some sort of distressed look to it, I'm thinking about going NORMAL. Maybe this or this. I'm using this piece for all my paper/sticker/stationery/paper parcels materials and for the finished products.

I also got the pillows (#86) made for the guest bed, I have to say I'm pretty obsessed
with the patterns (even if Mike thinks the blue pillow is actually Batman material)

I typically don't use a lot of ribbon, but this year I plan on making a whole slew of the holly-day brooches. This ribbon (plus what I have in storage) will come in handy then and so will this dispenser made from a wine rack and dial rods. I'm feeling pretty satisfied that I can finally cross off #64: Clean and #43: Organize.

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. To learn more about it, click here.

Thrifty Thursday

Cookbooks and sewing books - two things I just can't say no to. I recently found this Complete Family Sewing Book at an estate sale for $2. I am absolutely in love with all the illustrations and can't wait to get started on a new crafty project with them. Perhaps some of the pages would make great art, put a colorful matte behind it and an interesting frame. I need to find a contact who would be interested in selling (or consigning) art like that.

It's About Time

Mike was the best boyfriend in the world and bought me a new sewing machine. For Christmas. Seven months ago. Today was the first time I used it. To be honest, I haven't sewn one thing since before Christmas (that must be a record for me). Not to mention the machine actually scared me a little. It's so fancy! More than 50 stitches, a built in thread cutter, an automatic needle threader...I mean there was a giant red Stop Sign on the front of the machine saying I could ruin it by not reading the manual. Who has time to read a manual!?

I actually got out my old machine and started working with that one. But I had it with the noise and the loose stitching so I busted out the new machine, read the book and got to sewing. I have a lot to learn yet, but was able to knock out four felt cheeseburger sets, so I can't complain.


This is definitely worth a Freebie on the 92 Days of Summer list. #61, you're done!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about it here.

Thrifty Thursday

The tease of a photo my Mom texted me while in the store.

In a far away land called Amish Country (Berlin, Ohio), there's a place called Zinck's. It's a family-owned fabric and textile wholesale heaven, that I'm not sure I should even be sharing! My mom and I would travel the hour and half to this craft mecca to score some awesome deals. When I explained the Better Block project to my Mom, we both agreed I needed a Zinck's to help supply by pop-up.

Being the awesome Mom she is, her and my stepdad took a trip down to Amish Country one Saturday and perused the 17,000 sf warehouse for items for Fairview Place. From the photos she sent and pictures I saw on their website, it's definitely changed so much since the last time I was there. The duo spent an hour gathering up random items from my wanted: craft items list.

I was lucky enough to get a care package full of crafty goodness in the mail just a few days later! Everything from lace to buttons, pom poms to interfacing. I've already put most of the stuff to a good home in my Fairview Place pop-up pile....and what makes this so thrifty is that it was a "donation to the cause." Gotta love that :)

In a side note, I was explaining Amish Country to Mike - the buggys and homemade cheese, meats and awesome restaurants and shops. He's totally agreed to go with me the next time we're home, so I see a visit to Zinck's in my future! Woot woot!

Thrifty Thursday

Last time I was home I went to visit my Buni. We spent a lot of time catching up and chatting about our current craft projects. I had taken one of my quiet books to work on (which, consequently, no work actually got done) and explained to her my newest felt food creations. I could see her eyes lighting up as we talked, only to find out she had some supplies she was dying to give away.

Lucky for me, it was everything I use (well, except the large glass jar of seashells). Embroidery floss from her sister (which is more than 25 years old), fabric, beads, glue sticks, a random Christmas ornament and more. She tells me she has heaps more in her garage, so maybe we'll go exploring that when the Spring comes around.

New on Fairview Place

Throwback 70s Plaid Vest, $17

I remember when I first started Fairview Place it was all vintage and thrifted items. I had always planned to introduce clothing into the mix, but never wanted to commit all the time to searching, mending and measuring the items. However, the last week I've been preparing the clothes for their big debut on FP and cannot wait to show you these lovelies! Be sure to check the shop this week and support your local businesses!

 1960s Grey and Red Ruffled Dress, $23

 Gradient Pink Mesh Dress with Black Polkda Dots, $27

1980s Roffe White Ski Jacket, $45

Vintage Handmade Angora Womens Sweater, $22

Tan Showoffs Kitten Heels, $14 and Gold Seychelles Peep Toe Pumps, $25

1950s Blue Plaid Pancho, $26 and Red Wool Winter Coat by Jill Jr., which already sold!

Halloween-inspired Goods

I'm actually ahead of the game this October... My costume is 60% done (post to come on that next week). Plans for camping, Winefest, W&M Homecoming and our Halloween party are in order. AND I have my Halloween items already at Kitsch!

I sent five packs of greeting cards made from an old 1960s Zombie book. The book was actually taken by my sister's high school boyfriend in 90s and never returned. It's traveled around with me for ages and when I looked through it last month I realized half of the pages had been torn or ripped out. So, why not continue the process and make some sweet Halloween greeting cards.

I found the stamps at Michaels and AC Moore for $1 each. Now I need to keep my eyes out for Christmas and Chanukah versions.

From my stash of Halloween material I made some orange and green memory games. I dropped two sets off at Kitsch and have one online... Get them while you can, these are the only ones for this year!

The memory game pieces are approximately 2.5" squares, there 11 pairs and come with a little drawstring bag for easy storage.

#62: New Books

These books are way overdue, but with the high demand of felt sushi and cheeseburger sets the books took the back seat for a little while. I'm proud to finally show off my newest felt book "Jungle Gang" with 10 adorable felt creatures (I've been dying to make a flamingo)! I have two copies of this book, both of which are on green and white pin-stripped flannel.

 I also created a totally different type of book from my ridiculous amount of fabric scraps. I saw the book somewhere online and it was immediately on my craft list. I added the ribbons in attempt to use up my stash from the these blankets I made a few months back. I battled with the name for a little while, but finally came up with "Bunch 'O' Colors" and just finished it today. I can't wait to get them up on Etsy and hopefully into some local stores!

 

You can see my whole collection of books here, and if there's something you don't see let me know...I do custom orders! 

I'm tackling the second annual 92 Days of Summer list.
See the full post and list here and comment
if you want to help me cross a off a few!

#28: New Embroidery Stitches

Obviously, I do a lot of embroidery. Typically, I only use one kind of stitch, which can get pretty boring. So, I was determined to learn some new stitches this summer to make some more interesting patterns in my books and even on some of my felt food. I consulted my Martha Stewart Encyclopedia (yes, I do own a copy) and started stitching away.

It's actually quite harder than it looks! I love the chain stitch, but definitely need some more practice at that. And I'm thinking the long and short stitch could make a nice design on some of my new felt pastries. I have a long way to go before mastering any of these techniques, but practice makes perfect, I suppose!

I'm tackling the second annual 92 Days of Summer list.
See the full post and list here and comment
if you want to help me cross a off a few!

#56: Make Something for a Friend

Some much needed (I hope) bags for organizing a friend's purse... It's also her birthday, so I'm killing two birds with one stone with handmade pouches and cards. Very niiiiice.

I'm also sending out some letters in the forms of cards, postcards and a ridiculous collaged card I made for Shawn's monthly recipe/travel/weird-clippings-from-magazine roundup. #54: Write letters has also been crossed off the list!

I'm tackling the second annual 92 Days of Summer list.
See the full post and list here and comment if you want to help me cross a off a few!

#43: New Fairview Place Products

This has been a very productive month in cranking out the new products for Fairview Place. I was even commissioned to make a felt Southern BBQ dinner set (above), which I just love to pieces. 

Thanks to Hollywood and Michelle over at Kitsch for the great Breakfast Set idea, this is another favorite I can't believe took me so long to make!

Between Kitsch, The Knapsack and my online shop, you can find all these must-haves. If for some reason you can't find what you're looking for, lemme know and I'll be happy to make your desired piece ASAP!

Chocolate chip, peanut butter and iced sugar cookies came at the beginning of June when I decided I needed some more smaller, easier pieces to throw in the mix. I'll definitely be making the sugar cookies in different shapes for holidays and icing colors for girls and boys.

The banana split set (another 92 Days of Summer cross-offs), is the perfect addition for Summer time and came together really easy... Can also customize with whatever flavors your little tummy craves.

The Fruit Basket was inspired from the plastic container I got my strawberries in at the Farmer's Market. And the Italian Feast idea came from my friends Doug and Krissi (we'll leave it at that).

  

I'm tackling the second annual 92 Days of Summer list.
See the full post and list here and comment if you want to help me cross a off a few!