Life In Color

Summer Sewing

I've been adding lots of stuff to the Ribbon Jar lately in anticipation of fall (and dare I say it holiday!) crafting. I am loving this super wide ric-rac so I thought it would be fun to do it around a big pillow.

 

I might go back around it and sew it a little closer together so just the points stick out, but I like it!

 

The back is a combo of vintage sheets from the swap I participated in and some kona cotton.

I am working on re-organizing the basement and I want to do a little pillow full reading area for Tuesday. I'm also thinking play kitchen and big set of blocks. Plus these awesome drawers for mama that I am picking up tomorrow. Wait... back to the sewing.

 

I made Tuesday this little dress from another vintage sheet (actually I cut apart a pillowcase). I used a pattern out of this book, it has so many cute little things in it!

 

I wanted to highlight some of our new pom pom trim (speaking of this could you please tell me what you think of how I took the pictures for the trim. I was trying something new since pom poms can't be scanned).

 

I found it much easier to sew on with a zipper foot. The other two ribbons are herringbone and pinstripe. Now it's almost 100 outside so I think I'm going to go back to the sewing zone (aka the basement!).

Spool lady

Something tells me she won't put them back in so easily...

Ribbon Jar Sale

Just a heads up for those of you who don't get my newsletter. 

 

I'm having a big sale over at the Ribbon Jar from now until Monday, November 30th. From now until Monday, November 30th, not only are we offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50 (domestic only, and yes this includes our heavy jars - use coupon code 50free), but we have many other specials as well. All of our favorites are on sale: Double Faced Satin 20% off, Ric-Rac 20%, Organdy 20%,Herringbone/Twill 20%, Velvet 10%, and Silk 15% - no coupons needed. But that's not all. Spend $75 and get an additional 10% off your whole order. Use coupon code gobble. 

Okay I totally cut and pasted that from my newsletter (and took the picture from my mom, mmm I love that new crushed velvet). I am super tired today, because I stayed up late working on it, but also because our fire alarm (which is now hard wired, so it goes off in three places) went off at 3:30 in the morning, and we have no idea why. Like Bj said, "Maybe the sleep gods are against us."

 

A wonderful weekend

Thank you so much for all your kind and thoughtful comments about the live/work/baby balance. I appreciate them so much! I am seriously thinking of printing them out to have around when I feel overwhelmed again! As it happens a nice relaxed weekend is making me feel a lot better. We stocked up on safety supplies:

 

And they should be installed soon, I know Bj is really looking forward to all those little screws :) While in Portland I also picked up new luggage for an upcoming trip (it's green!), a set of reflectors and this cool new thing:

 

It's called a Spyder cube. You hang it directly in front of the light source for your subject, take a picture of it in RAW, and then use it as a basis for all the rest of the photos in a series. I haven't figured it all out, but have started playing around with it:

 

Pretty cool huh? Sunday was nice and relaxing. Bj and I said we were not going to do anything, but we both ended up getting lots of little things accomplished. I cleaned up downstairs, of course today Tuesday still was cruising around trying to find things to eat, like the stool she is holding onto. I also packed up lots of orders. I love seeing what combinations people order:

 

We've decided to save up for a car seat for my mom's car, so she can pick up Tutu sometimes for little jaunts so I can do some computer related work. I think this is going to be the perfect solution to my feeling overwhelmed in that regard. Of course I'll probably never let her out of my sight longer than an hour or two, since she is so darn cute.

The Day Job

I am trying to look on the bright side of the fact that only my mother had some advice for me on the last post. I guess it just means that it is hard and other work from home moms are trying to figure it out too, so if I come up with something brilliant I'll be sure to let you know. One brilliant thing that I did do yesterday was have my mom  help me! Yeah for grandma time. I woke up with a pretty serious blocked milk duct (no fun), so my mom came to get Tutu so I could rest and work it out. Then she came and took her for a little while in the afternoon so I could get some Ribbon Jar business taken care of. Everything came together in the evening and the plugged duct was gone, and I got out a newsletter! Though my business has been trucking right along this is the first time in over a year I've put out a newsletter. I have new email marketing software though so I think it's going to be much easier. I'm excited to be able to put more projects up on the ideas page, and to have more sales and specials. I just added a bunch of stuff to the sale page, and all in stock ric-rac is 20% (through Monday). And if you didn't get a newsletter and you would like to in the future it's easy to sign up on my home page. 

Working it

Bj just asked me if I was finished with all my work. I think that is something I could never fully say yes to, that's a problem with having your own business (and being the only employee). There is always something to work on. I did get lots done though, with my super special helper.

 

Actually though, she is not as big a help as she thinks, but I still love her. I am finally FINALLY getting my butt back in gear with Ribbon Jar, working on fun things like my Special Collection Jars. Heads up I'm going to be putting a lot of stuff on the sale page, and adding lots of new stuff. Plus re-vamping my home page, idea pages, and gallery pages. Oh and a newsletter, I've got to get out a newsletter.... so ya, work is not done. :) It's funny though, just two days of shredding it and I've got more energy, whoo hoo. I know Sciarrino is always telling me this, but I keep falling off the wagon. Not this time though. If I want those cabinets I have to get my act together, the special deal on the price only lasts through mid november - I've got 9.2 pounds to go, so what is that like 1.5 pounds a week. That sounds impossible, but I'm going to give it a go. Damn you mini candy bars in the freezer...

Tuesday's Tactile Pillow - And a giveaway!

I was trying to come up with a fun pillow for Tuesday's room to go on the glider, and was going to do a pieced block like the bumper, but then I thought, why not make something Tuesday will really love right now? So I came up with this:

An 18 inch pillow cover (envelope back), that she can tug, taste and explore. 

So far it's been a big hit. The ribbon is triple attached, because of how I made the pillow, at each end, but the middle is left free for little hands to pick at. 

I tacked down some doily things cut from a panel I found at an estate sale, she loves stuff like this.

Then I printed out a big letter t and hand embroidered it on (using all six strands of floss so it was thick). I think my favorite part though might be the edges:

I used a silk piping, and finally came up with a cool "made by mom" label. I am using some new to the ribbon jar twill that is just the perfect size for this (3/4"). I took a date stamp and stamped (with StazOn ink) my birth date on one side,

And Tuesday's on the other. I am totally using this idea for everything! I love having a label, the numbers look fun, like a series, but have a secret meaning. So my number will always be the same, but the other will be different based on who I'm giving it to. And maybe if I don't have anyone in mind I could do the day I made the item. If you want to make cool tab labels check out the twill, it's cheap and I'm already thinking of other things I can stamp. I didn't put this process through the full battery of tests, but I did try to scrub the numbers off and they seem to be on there pretty good. 

*edited to add: Dianne emailed to say heat setting the StazOn works great, just use a hot iron, no steam, and paper between the iron and ink if you want. 

Now for the giveaway.

I made up a little kit for you to make your own pillow case (you'll need the 18" pillow form, or you can just use the goodies for other projects if you like). Included are all the fabrics, three little doily things, lots of ribbons, including the piping and twill, embroidery floss, warm & natural batting, and I'll even print off a big letter of your choice if you like for the tracing (I made mine in Illustrator, size 1296 font, the biggest the program lets you go). I'm not going to sell these kits on the Ribbon Jar, though all the ribbon and trim is available on my site, I just thought this would be fun for you dear readers. If you'd like it please comment by Tuesday, August 25, noon pacific, and good luck!

4 years and 3 months later...

I finally got a badge for my shop put up on my blog (oh and when did I first blog about it? Back in the blogging stone ages). And I didn't even do it, Bj did because HE IS THE BEST. He even made it extra cool so roll your mouse on over there and check it out. I have a lot of things I've been working on for The Ribbon Jar, including lots of new ribbon I need to add to the site, projects to upload to the gallery, and new special collections I'm planning. 

I'm also working on a nice long post about our trip up to Alaska. It was wonderful, and last time we went I did not do it justice on the blog. I tend to be good about my crafty endeavors and everyday life, but fall short on reporting about the big adventures. I like to just live them, maybe I'll do a photo wrap up, I took lots!

Something to gaze at

I have been meaning to do this for a while.

I saw this idea on another blog, I think inspireco, but I'm not sure. 

It was really easy to make. I just took a 12" wreath frame, spray painted it white and then tied ribbon on in various lengths. (Ribbon is all from my shop: The Ribbon Jar). I made sure I tied the ribbon on super tight, and warmed a few of the ends that I thought would fray. 

The ties that are hanging onto the cup hook are made from this ribbon. Now looking into Tuesday's room:

Tuesday loves it, it is very high so there is no way for her to reach it, but it moves a little bit with the fan and she likes that. I think doing something like this at showers, weddings, or with lights and in a studio would be awesome. Happy weekend all!

Old Ideas

I have tons of ideas floating around in my brain, culled from blogs, magazines, etc. A few days ago I finally reached up in that foggy space and grabbed some of them. They are all very easy. I have seen this arrangement of frames in many design idea books, but I sent Bj to Ikea and he found some colorful frames and help me finish off the artwork section of Tutu's room:

I didn't bother framing the record sleeve or invitation to my baby shower, I just stuck them on the wall with double sided foam tape. We have one more awesome print to get framed, and are going to look for another to fill in the bottom space at the art fair this weekend. On the other side of the window:

A framed paper sample from Sciarrino (one of her graphic designer perks). Tuesday loves this and will twist around to see it when she's on her changing table. In my craft room I finally pulled apart a few Foster Art Guides and framed them up simply:

But when I went to hang them I had a springy nail problem. Anyone with lathe and plaster get this? I don't know what I kept hitting but after six holes in the wall I called it a day, we'll bring in the experts (Bj) tomorrow.

I got this idea from a photojojo newsletter a long time ago. 

And speaking of jars... I have finally re-instated custom jars. I know a lot of people have been asking about them, but I wanted to make sure I could get the turn around time down to a couple of days, so that custom orders didn't take weeks to get out. Seeing as how I now have baby fun zone down in the work area:

I am able to make this happen. I have been getting re-energized about Ribbon Jar with my machine, and Tuesday's love of anything ribbon or tag like. More ideas coming soon with my pretties. Right now I do want to let you know I'm clearancing out the jars that are in stock now, as well as the spring fling paper kit. Lots of yummy goodies in there so check it out. 

Unrelated, but I have an old Franklin Covey planner and storage binder I'd like to see if anyone wants before I give it to goodwill. It's the classic size (and needs a refill), and in the most wonderful pea soup green color that I love so much:

It is well loved, but still I think awesome. If you'd put it to good use let me know and I'd be happy to send it to you. snapped up, thanks!