Blog Redesign!

You may have noticed a few changes to the look of my blog. I changed the font, background template, background colors, layout, width, arrangement of add-ons, and more. I'm definitely not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel pretty good about the current look!

The lovely banner at the top features my work, but was not created by me. I recently purchased a new banner for my Etsy shop from WinchesterLambourne, and decided to buy a blog banner that coordinates. Her banners are a steal right now, only sale for only $10, so I definitely recommend getting one (or two).

I decided to go with a blue theme because blue doesn't strain the eyes and it coordinate well with the blue in the banner images. Also, blue supposedly is an archetype for calm and peace, which I definitely feel when I embroider!

Saturday Night Specials on Etsy!

One of my favorite things about Etsy is the ability to meet other creative people, both buyers and sellers. One fun way to do that is by participating in the Saturday Night Specials thread. The thread started back on the forums in 2006, and we've recently moved it over to the new teams set-up.

Visit the Saturday Night Specials here.

Different sellers post specials each Saturday, starting at 5 pm. Most last all night, but check each seller's post to see how long their specials run. We also chat for the first hour or two of the specials time frame.

Collaboration with NudeeDudee

Last August I blogged a simple tutorial about embroidery on black fabric, including some photos of the project I was working on at the time. The project was a collaboration with Kim of NudeeDudee, who creates the MOST amazing reproduction vintage clothing. Check out the super-amazing overalls and matching top in this photo (modeled by one of her repeat clients):

I embroidered several fabric panels for Kim using a vintage "Mexicana" embroidery pattern which was full of big, bold flowers and leaves. Kim used these panels to create an absolutely stunning vintage style dress:

Isn't her model (a friend of hers) the perfect model for this dress? She's just stunning and I can totally see her stealing the hearts of all the cowboys and vaqueros at the cantina! See the rest of the pictures (or buy the dress) by visiting Kim's shop.

$5 and Under - Hankies On Sale!

I'm having a sale on a few handkerchief designs in my shop right now, $5 and under! These make great gifts... especially when the recipient is yourself!

Kitten, $4

Acorn, $3

Pink flower, $3

I'm Featured!

I was so excited to be featured on the EtsyNEAT blog this week! Check out the beautiful post by Bekah...

EtsyNEAT Blog

Recent Custom Orders -- Bragging a Bit!

Can I make a New Year's Resolution in February? If yes, I'd like to resolve that I will post to this blog at least once a week!

I've recently started contributing to the EtsyNEAT blog, the official blog of the Etsy Needle Arts Street Team. Each Tuesday, I write "Tips and Tricks" that I hope will help our members and any other blog followers.

I've also been VERY busy with custom orders. In fact, I haven't had time to do any embroidery that I just wanted to do since the beginning of January. This is totally a BLESSING, but I am looking forward to spending some time finishing the cowgirl pin-up I started at Christmas!

Here are just a few of the things I've worked on in the past month and a half... I also made quite a few of my popular initial handkerchiefs, but I've posted photos of those before!

(I made 127 of these handmade handkerchiefs.... I cut the shapes from fabric yardage, sew, and then hand-cut each of the scallop shapes on the edges.)

(This was a gift from a bridesmaid to a bride...)

My favorite thing that I worked on this month was a set of handkerchiefs for the beautiful ladies of ZASS. Zass is Zulay and Stephanie, a mother-and-daughter team who are known in local (Raleigh, NC is local to me) craft circles for their AMAZING upcycled jewelry designs. They asked me to create floral handkerchiefs as a gift for their yearly gathering of "Hot Older Women", or "HOW Girls". I modified their logo to be hankie-friendly and stitched it up in various colors on retro hankies. Check them out!

November is.... Busy!

November is turning out to be a very busy month for me! This week my students are performing the fall play (three performances, with me backstage as assistant director).

Saturday, my husband and my sister are going to have a booth at the Fairgrounds Flea Market. Check out my husband's furniture here, and my sister's photography here.

Next weekend (the 13th and 14th), my sister and I are sharing a booth at the State Farmer's Market Craft Fair -- We've been a few times as shoppers, so we're excited to go as vendors as well.

The weekend after that (the 20th), we will participate in the last Downtown Designer's Market for 2010!

Then, it's Thanksgiving week!

WHEW!

Of course, I always find time to embroider... My current projects are lots of kitchen towels for the upcoming markets-- I just finished a bunny and am almost done with a butterfly. Both simple designs, but very pretty!