Back to School Bags! Sale at my Etsy shop!

It is that time of year, ok I am posting this a bit late, most of you probably have your back to school shopping done..... For those of you that don't,  I am having a sale at my Etsy shop now through Sunday, August 25.  Use coupon code SCHOOL30 for 30% off your purchase.  That is a huge deal! 

I don't know about you, but I like to be different.  I don't like to buy the same school bag everyone else got at Target too.  Check out my gypsy section in my shop.  Here are a couple of my new bags and I have a few more I am working on...

Brown corduroy with vintage fabric flowers.

 

 

 

Brown corduroy with vintage fabric flowers.

               Canvas with a vintage tie and mustard ruffles.  Straps are vintage upholstery.

 Canvas with vintage yellow ruffles.  This bag is on ebay right now, and not etsy.  Starting bid is at 30% off price so no further discounts would apply, email me if you want the link.

A pink velvet heart is on the side of this bag, it is so cute. Interior is Heather Bailey cotton in bright green.

Other than that, are you all ready for school??  I am really excited because this year I will be homeschooling all 3 of my girls.  I have a senior, a 6th grader, and a 1st grader.  Looking forward to this adventure!  And I have a gut feeling I have a few more adventures ahead of me....

If this isn't the cutest idea ever............

I met Becki from whippy cake at The Creative Connection a couple years ago, we traded products, my girls have super cute whippy cake hair accessories and she has a vintage ruffled Lollibag.   I saw the cutest picture of her on my news feed for my Facebook page and went to check out her blog.

I read the  jewelry board tutorial and it is such a great idea!  If my life ever slows down I may have to do this.  Maybe all my girls can help me build it for a homeschool lesson this winter.

Have a great Sunday!

Scarf anyone?

I am having so much fun crocheting.  I started out with granny squares.... I have about 60 so far for a blanket.  I am not sure how to crochet them all together to make the blanket but I'm sure I'll figure it out!  If anyone knows you can fill me in.

Then my daughter started crocheting infinity scarves, and those were so cute I thought I would try that too!  Only I bought some real thick, heavy yarn and a little bit bigger hook.  The yarn is so, so soft and warm and cozy.  I love it so much!  Only I'm having a hard time finding the colors I want in stock anywhere!  I need 3 of each color to make one scarf and no one seems to have 3 in stock!

So far these are the ones I have made and I decided to list them in my etsy shop.

This pink is so fabulous, it is called Honolulu Pink~ perfect.  It is so bright and cheery!  The scarf is wrapped twice, it is about 60 inches in length, like this.....

Here is a green one, the green is kinda between moss and spinach.

And a mocha brown tweed......

I love making these, currently I am OUT OF YARN!  I am just waiting for my shipment to arrive, so these 3 are all I have in stock.  Thanks for looking and have a great day!

New Lollibag's

Hey gals, stop on by my ETSY SHOP  and check out my new bags!

Big Jewelry

I'm a sucker for big, bright, gaudy, chunky jewelry.  Whether it's a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or a ring it does not matter!

I just got a big JCrew catalog in the mail and I was tossing it because I just toss them and not even look because what is the point, I don't want to waste the money, and it's not a need, it's purely a want.  Besides I can find waaaay cheaper stuff at Target.

But  for some reason I was stopping my  hand from tossing and sat down to real quicksy take a look.

Love, love, love this pink (favorite color),  chunky (favorite shape), bracelet!

I love this necklace too, the color combination is so pretty!  This is also from JCrew.

 

Sparkly big stones!  From JCrew

 

This necklace is actually from Etsy.  Isn't is divine?  I love how bright and chunky and over the top it is!

And speaking of buying things cheaper at Target....... they have some really cute sort of gaudy, chunky jewelry out right now.  There is a really cute ring for only $16.99 and I am going to wait till it goes on sale and then pounce.

Couture Headbands

I've stumbled across something called couture headbands on etsy.  I know I am a bit slow, but I had no idea these existed!  And now I'm obsessed.  My youngest girl is 5, so I may still have time to get some of these glorious headbands for her.  Or I can give them as gifts.  I've ordered a few already....

Then I thought well why can't my girls make these?  That may be fun.  But then I would have to get all the supplies.....we'll see..

Here are a few of my favorites on etsy.

This pink headband is from Kailene's Kouture. 

This one is from Sweetest Things Bowtique and she has MANY lovely designs.

I love the bright colors on this headband.  It is from Bella 406. 

I should really explore etsy more than I do, but where does one find the time??  However I do try to purchase Christmas gifts from etsy every year.  I love to support mom's who make things!

What are some of your favorite etsy shops?

New Gypsy Tote's Lollibag's....

Here are a few more!  I've been having so much fun sewing..... And I used magnetic snaps for the first time, they are just OK.  They are expensive, and a bit time consuming to install.

This is vintage upholstery, I absolutely love this fabric, it's so RETRO.

A brown velvet heart on the front with a huge hot pink flower.  I love bright colors.

This is also vintage upholstery in mocha brown with a mustard velvet heart, coral flower and peices of vintage quilt.

This is vintage olive green and blue checked fabric, the ruffles are vintage drapery sheers and a heart in vintage upholstery.  I think the coral flower gives it a nice POP of color :)

I thought my Lollibag's were getting a bit expected and boring, so I hope this spices them up a bit!

Happy 1st day of October!!

New Gypsy Totes!

I have new lollibag's coming out called Gypsy Totes.  I know these aren't too crazy but I'm going to stretch myself and make some crazy gypsy bags!  I have great vintage fabrics and trims  I want to use and will be on the hunt for more...

Off to the sewing room!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Just some new Lolli's....

With the weather getting colder, I have been spending more time inside sewing.  Here are a few of my new Lollibag's.

My hubby is out of town again, so I am thinking I should be painting something!!  I would love to put a few big chevron stripes on one wall in Sophie's room.  Her room is bright bubble gum pink, and I already have the white paint.....We shall see!

My new studio Part 1

Hello!  Well, I went back to that Goodwill and bought the vintage salad cookbook.  Yes I did, it has a whole section on "Molds".  Did any of my followers eat molds growing up?  As in, the gross molds?  Tuna molds?  Avacado molds?  Gelatin molds with sour cream and worcestershire sauce?   I am now obsessed with these creations.....I may even bring one to the next family holiday dinner just as a joke.

Ok, as you know I love Where Women Create magazine.  I would love to have my own space to create like that.  I have always done my creating in my dining room and everyone holds it against me that we don't have dinners at the dining room table because it's full of fabric and buttons.

Well that is going to change, hopefully sooner rather than later.  There is a room above our garage and that is going to be my studio!  Right now the stairs are in the garage.

We have been wracking our brains trying to figure out how to get them in the house.  First we were going to incorporate them into the laundry room which is just right inside the house by the stairs now.  Then we were going to have them come out in the dining room, but the latest which I am loving is having them come out in the house where my pantry is right now by the kitchen.

Going up.

It's a great space.  Very roomy.  I am a bit worried about light, so we are going to add dormers to the wall on the left for two more windows.  That is what will slow this project down, I'm not sure when we'll be ready to do that.

Dormer wall.  There are lots of outlets for all of our sewing machines.

This is the pantry where the stairs will go up, it is right over the stairs going to the basement.  It's a mess isn't it?  We will still make our laundry room bigger, so I can move the pantry storage in there. 

The door in the hallway that is closed is the pantry.  So the plan is to open the wall up on the left side of that door so there will be an open stairway and railing.  I hope we can, I would love that openess.  To the left is the dining room where I now sew.

If you have any bright ideas, I'll take them!

Fashion Trucks

Do you love watching The Great Food Truck Race on Food Network?  I do!  I love the food trucks.....  So when I saw the article in Lucky Magazine on fashion trucks I was all over that!

Le Fashion Truck  has a cute pink truck, I would just love to drive it all over!  I am drawn to anything pink.

Check out Wanderlust, they are in Portland, Oregon... shoot, wish I would have known about them when I lived there!!



Here is another cute one...... The Vintage Mobile.

 I LOVE that vintage green bus!!

Spring is almost here!  What projects are you working on for spring/summer?

Where Women Create

Hello
I have two issues of Where Women Create that I have yet to read.  Normally that does not happen.  But I have been so busy with the holidays, sickness, hubby traveling....etc..  So I brought both issues on vacation and am flipping through them now, it is absolute relaxation sitting on the beach, with the ocean waves in the background, looking at my favorite magazine. 

I am looking at the Feb/Mar/Apr 2012 issue now and it is so inspiring!  I have new Lollibag designs turning in my head.  I can't wait to get home and start sewing again!  I love seeing "studio" spaces and where women design their wares.  I am so excited to get my space finished.  It is the attic space above our garage.  We just put the sheetrock in....stay tuned :)

Aloha!

Lollibag's for Spring

I just listed 3 new Lollibag's in my etsy shop!

Two of them are my new size.  Kind of in between a Lollibag and a Little Lollibag and the strap is long so you can wear it across your body.  I had a custom order for a long strap on a Little Lolli and it was so cute!

I love the pink and white check material, it's so springy!

Who doesn't love Amy Butler fabric??  If I could I would have STACKS and STACKS of it in my fabric cupboard.  I know she has some new prints out, have you seen them?

I need to get sewing, as these are my ONLY new bags!

OH MY GOODNESS!!  I just took my own advice and snooped around Amy Butlers new spring 2011 collection and she has WALLPAPER!  How cute is that???

I really really hate wallpaper, but this may change my mind!



MaryJanes Farm

I received my latest issue of MaryJanes Farm magazine over a week ago, I had forgotten about it till I past by it today.  I paged through it while I ate my lunch.  Normally I don't read the "readers write" sections. 

Today I did and I really enjoyed it.  As a matter a fact you should go pick up a copy just to read these stories.

Sister Act a Helping Hand by Kameron DeWulf

Neighbors by Christine Anderson

Recipe for Disaster by Kathleen Everett

I even teared up at the end of Recipe for Disaster.

I am just being silly, I'm sure.  But in the story the writer tells how often women make bread or soup or something for friends or family or even strangers who are sick, sad, busy.....etc.

And one day her daughter texted her and said mom, my friend just broke up with her boyfriend, should I make her cupcakes or a torte?

And that is what I thought was so sweet, and I hope SOMETHING will be passed down to my daughters like that.

Today I am making Pioneer Woman's Mocha Brownies and for dinner her recipe for Lasagna.

Last week I made Pioneer Woman's macaroni and cheese, I'm sorry to say I did not like it one bit.

Two of my kids liked it, that's it.  The rest of us thought it was pasty and gluey.

Spring break is here, and I will be enjoying having my kids home from school!

Have a great Sunday!



Where Women Cook

You have to know that I read this magazine too!

I went to Costco today and saw the latest issue of Where Women Cook.

Of course I grabbed it and threw it in the cart!

On page 66, well, there are not words to say...

Back in the Day Bakery.

The owner is Cheryl Day.

The bakery is so cute, so pastel, so cakey, so wonderful.....so dreamy.

So much how I would love my own bakery to look!

Oh how I wish I could go to Georgia and take a pastry lesson from Cheryl.

I would love to raid her recipes and study them.

I would love to bake some cupcakes in her kitchen and drink a chai tea in one of those retro mugs.

The best part is, she leaves us with a cupcake recipe and a vanilla buttercream frosting recipe!

I am off to bake!!

New Where Women Create Magazine....Get it!

So I was at Costco today and I saw my favorite magazine there!! 

How CONVENIENT is that??

I got home and put all my cold stuff  away and then opened it up to quick browse through.

I turned the first few pages open and saw photo's from The Creative Connection Event 2010.

And Lo and Behold....wait... is it?.... no .........wait, yes it is!

There it is~

A Lollibag!

Then I turned the page and ANOTHER picture of a Lollibag!

This has just made my day!

What are you waiting for?  Go to Costco and buy your copy!!



Food Friday~I love donuts...I won a giveaway!!

Well I do not have a recipe today, but thought we could chat about donuts and bakery's.

Hmmm?

There is nothing I love more than a donut.

I love chocolate eclairs.

I love apple fritters.

I love old fashioned glazed.

I love cake donuts.

I love jelly filled with powdered sugar.

I love a donut with hot coffee.

I love a donut with iced coffee.

I love starbucks mini birthday cake donuts.

I treat myself to a donut about 3 times a year.

Why only 3 times a year?  Because I cannot control myself around donuts.

I turn into a crazy lady who hunkers over the donut box and can't shovel them in fast enough.

I have always wanted my own bakery.

To have commercial size mixers.

To make donuts and cakes and pies.

To get up and start baking at 3am, when no one else is awake, to have a cup of coffee in my hand, to drive to MY bakery in the dark...

To start crafting baked goods, all by myself!

What's your favorite donut?

Do you treat yourself to that donut?

I ordered these earrings...

I fell in love the minute I saw them.

They are different.

I wore them last night on date night.  I adore them!

They are from here .

I also entered the giveaway on her blog and won this necklace!

I can't wait for it to arrive in my mailbox!

Something else I love, packages in the mail.

Thanks Patricia!

WHY NOT?

Last night Sophie had a hankering to do the dishes.  So I threw caution to the wind and said...

WHY NOT?

Right before that, me and the girls declared it was going to be a GIRLS NIGHT!!!

Which means I made brownies from scratch and we were gonna eat them with Breyers mint chocolate chip ice cream.  Cuz if there is one thing my dad taught me, it is that Breyers is the ONLY brand of ice cream you buy.

We decided to include hubby in girls night.  Just as soon as Soph was done with the dishes.

So in the above photo, Soph has drenched her shirt and is screaming wildly, so her big sis Lolli, or

Koeten, as Soph calls her...

Koeten went to comfort her and take her shirt off.

Another

 WHY NOT??

I say, WHY NOT, do the dishes topless!

As all good dishwashers do, Soph proceeded to lick all the chocolate off the utensils in the dirty sink before she put them in the dishwasher... ya, I had a hard time with that one too.

But....heck........WHY NOT!

I say if everything is going to pot, you might as well have some chocolate.

She rinsed and soaped up and scrubbed and when Koeten tried to help her put a measuring cup in,

out came the shrill death scream again.

Sister

she was doin this

on.

her.

own.

So eventually I had to pry her cold soapy hands from the dishes that were left,

to big for her to throw in...and give her a bath.

Actually Koeten gave her a bath..

We all worked together, I cleaned up the kitchen, hubby finished the dishes, Koeten bathed Soph and Portia put laundry away.

And then we all had brownie's with ice cream and chocolate syrup!

And after everyone went to bed , except me and Lolli...

We watched a cake show and dreamed up what our own bakery will look like some day.

We decided on a vintage interior with all pink appliances and white buffalo china.

Note to hubby, said china is for sale at Williams Sonoma. We could test it out at Stella's.

(Stella's would be what hubby calls our kitchen).

We will serve pastries:

cookies,

pie

cake

donuts

whatever Rue (Lauren)  comes up with.

Poor girl has to many nicknames...

And we are going to wear pink waitress dresses with white aprons and serve coffee and pastries.

No espresso, this is vintage, well maybe chai tea.

This night has left me asking myself

WHY NOT?

As I watched the cake show with my creative apprentice I remembered the phrase:

If you knew you could not fail, what would you do?

I do not have to search for an answer to that, I have a whole list.

And I ask myself

WHY NOT?