Samples and Fabric…

Posted by on January 5, 2012

First of all, I think most of you know I do my own samples. I typically test the 5×7 design in PES format. This is to make sure all of the steps are right, in the right order, the design is laid out efficiently (can I cut out any unnecessary steps?), etc. I have, in the past, subbed out my sampling. Now that I’m not so busy with customer work, I usually just do them myself so I can guarantee the steps are right and that I get the fabrics I want and a good web photo.

Every now & then I get an email from a customer saying they are sewing a design and the stitches aren’t lining up. I had a girl ask me this week if the design she was sewing had been tested. They are, of course, and they are also sold to hundreds of people! I usually resend the design and that fixes the problem. Since these are digital files which are emailed and downloaded and sent here & there, anything can go wrong! Any little thing can corrupt your file or make it not sew correctly. It doesn’t happen often, but if it happens to you (my design or anyone else’s), simply request that the design be resent and try that! 99.9% of the time that works.

Anyway, I usually sample mine on 2 layers of cutaway stabilizer if I don’t have a blank t-shirt. I try to take my web photos outside on a sunny day. When the designs are listed these usually go in the trash! I thought I’d take a picture of these today before I dumped them. These 5 designs were listed yesterday BTW!

 Every now & then I get a surprise UPS package from TJ’s Fabric in Opp, AL. Today was one of those lucky days!! Is this not a picture of beauty?? By next blog post I will try to photograph and share some of my favorites! P.S. If you go to LINKS on my blog, you’ll see a list of fabric websites ~ TJ’s is #1. I hope to get by there again this year when we go to the beach! I assure you it is fabric heaven! You can see more photos of TJ’s in this post!

 I know you are SOOOO SICKKKKKK of hearing about my stinkin’ sewing room. I am sick of it too! I wish I could just snap my fingers and it be Pinterest-picture-perfect!! I keep going back to Pinterest, and back to Pinterest, and back to Pinterest. Just trying to figure out what I can do to this sewing room/office to make me walk in it and SMILE!! 😉 I’m happy with the green desks, matching bulletin boards, new black chairs ~ basically 1/2 of the room. What I am buggin’ about is the white Expedit on the white walls (I think?). I keep wondering if I should paint the walls. I think that might be cheaper than buying a black/brown Expedit?? Below is the fabric that I ordered. I’m not sure if it is too busy to recover the chairs in. Or find something that compliments this and recover the chairs?

 Do I chose a color and paint my walls?? A pretty yellow?? The room is not that big. I like the blue too but that might be too much. If I don’t use this fabric on the chairs, then what do I do with it? There are 2 windows, both with plantation shudders. Simple valances? Ironing board cover?

 Anyone have any suggestions? Or just send Candice Olsen my way!! Please!! Someone!! Help!! :</ While I LOVE Pinterest, I get so frustrated with myself because I see what I like but don’t know how to achieve it! Arghhhhhh!!!! I won’t get started on the rest of the house! While the kitchen was completely renovated and I love it, we have done NOTHING since it was completed. It’s 2012 and time to get to work!!

Any ideas are appreciated! Here are a few pics of the rest of the sewing room…

To the right of my desk – the 2 windows. I have since hung a shelf, peg boards and my “Take Chances…” sign in between these 2 windows.

 The wall-o-desks. The left wall with the golf ball display is totally blank.

 The wall-o-Expedit. My thread is to the left of the Expedit, and the door is to the left of my thread.

 THANK IN ADVANCE!!

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Designs and Fabric

Posted by on August 23, 2011

 Sorry I have been MIA for a bit. My oldest has started school, but my youngest 2 have.not.started.yet…. I love my kids, but we get up at about 6:40 to get ready to take B to school and I am with them until bedtime at like 8:30. It makes for a long day some days. I “need” that little preschool break and they love it too, so we’re counting down until they start later next week! Factor the summer heat (which I am SO OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) in to the equation and being stuck inside so we don’t melt, or running errands with them in tow (in and out of the car 8 times. did I mention the 100+ degree heat?). You get the picture! 🙂 This was the scene yesterday as I tried to work on a couple of items (to help pay for all the bedding and “decor” for Mallory’s room I’m having made). My sewing room ain’t that big. 4 seconds after this photo were “I’m doing homework and they are being too loud!!!!”, “Mom she is ripping my book!!!!”, etc etc etc. Love them!!

I really haven’t been doing too much work, and said I wasn’t going to until they were all in school. I did some backpacks this weekend and a few things yesterday and today. Like I said, I got the total for Mallory’s room yesterday and I’m lacking a little in my “big girl room” fund! It’s going to be precious and I will post a pic when it’s all done! BUT, it’s a shame I can’t sew!!

Here is the AC Sleeping Owl done on this light blue gingham A-line dress.

And the AC Flower Purse done on this lime gingham A-line dress! I thought they turned out cute!

I also did a couple of bibs this morning, with the AC Airplane on one of them. The airplane is one of our very first designs! The C on the left one is from Embroidery-Boutique’s Chunky Alphabet. Font – both Library which is available for MWP users at Needleheads! It’s one of my favorite boy fonts (I also like Tipsy and Atilla – both MWP). Notice the cute fabric on the applique C – it’s Michael Miller and I just got it from TJ’s Fabrics! I love it for boys!

Speaking of fabric and TJ’s…. every now & then I get a surprise package from TJ and I got one last week! When the UPS man drops off from TJ’s, I get excited!! If you’ll remember I spent the day down at TJ’s in June and here is that post with more pictures from her store. Anyway…. LOVE THESE!! I tried to make a note of who they were from, and some of them don’t have the wording on the piece I have. Also, some are a designer “for Robert Kaufman” for example.

Oops I think this photo is upside down but I LOVE THESE!! I must sew something like an owl or something with these! I don’t think I have a lot of gray in my fabric collection, so these are great additions!

CUTE CUTE CUTE! The right hot pink dot is one of my FAVORITES!! I used it on a few of my AC Samples ~ it goes great with lime gingham!

These are pretty too ~ again with gray!

These are cool too! The pink & blue would make very pretty cross appliques!

Here are a few more, and a bigger piece of the Michael Miller plaid.

This is not even all the fabric they sent! If you buy fabric online, check out TJs! They are located in Opp, AL, and as I’ve said before if you travel to the Gulf (beach) via 331, you go right by it!

Here is my Coop produce for this week ~ I actually share a box with someone so I got 1/2 of this! I plan to make Parmesan Zucchini tonight and might do something with the potatoes as well (I’ve been craving a loaded baked potato). I’ll let you know how it goes ~ I got the zucchini recipe off of Pinterest!

On Monday the kitchen reno begins!! I’ll be sure to take pics and post along the way. Monday they begin with taking all the cabinets out (kitchen, eating area and laundry room), then they will take all of the tile out (700 sq feet of tile) of the kitchen, pantry, eating area and laundry room. Should be interesting!!?? Pray for me.

Filed Under: Applique Cafe, Design, Fabric | Tagged: Tagged With: ,

Prepare to drool…

Posted by on June 26, 2011

Last Saturday I drove down to Opp, AL to spend a few hours at TJ’s Fabrics. We planned it so that my visit coincided with our family beach trip to Seagrove, FL so this was my 3 hour “pit stop”. If you’re going to the beach this summer, or fall, or winter, or anytime, or even if you are not going to the beach anytime soon and live in the area, or don’t live in the area, PLAN A VISIT TO TJ’S!! Mapquest it, GPS it, whatever! (While I was there a couple of girls came in from Montgomery who had made the trip the Saturday before, and loved it so much they came back). I mention the beach because it IS on your way to the beach if you’re traveling to the Destin area and if you travel Hwy 331. Find it!!

Not only do they have a store full of B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L fabric, it was just a fun time in general! Granted they had called in the troops for this special Saturday (not just for me, but they also had a big fabric sale). Everyone was so fun, everyone knew everyone, everyone knew what everyone else was working on (these shirts, that project…) and it was just a fun time spent there meeting people, looking at all the fabric and appreciating a small town and all it has to offer (great service and a fun shopping experience). A lot of the ladies there I felt like I had known for ages! I met a couple of first cousins and they get together and sew with their grandmother! How sweet is that!! They showed me how they used tulle on some of their raggy designs underneath the fabric (idea!!).

Here are the pictures I took and most speak for themselves…

CHRISTMAS:

ORGANIZED AND COLOR COORDINATED!

IS THIS NOT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT????

LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE!

WHO DOESN’T LOVE PINK & GREEN?

I BELIEVE SOME OF THESE ON THE RIGHT ARE TY PENNINGTON FABRICS (and I got to see a picture of Teresa (aka TJ) and Ty at a Fabric Show!)

THIS WAS MY FAVORITE ROUNDER – THE STRIPE ON THE LEFT IS A MUST HAVE!! I love the pink & green Michael Miller Picnic “gingham” too!

THEY ALSO HAD AMY BUTLER ITEMS ON DISPLAY FOR YOU TO GET IDEAS! BEAUTIFUL BAGS AND THINGS for those of you who sew!

On the other side of TJ’s Fabrics is T & C Pharmacy (which is a real pharmacy). Teresa told me years ago she had the idea of maybe getting in to selling a little fabric. Not long after that (while she prayed about it), she got a postcard in the mail about a Fabric Show. A few bolts turned in to a few more, and as you can see now she has 1/2 the store! They also have tons of gift items, sewing supplies, embroidery supplies, vinyl, ribbon, trim and everything else you’d need!

They also have an excellent system of cutting your fabric while you shop! They put it in a little basket with your name on it while you shop some more!

CHRISTMAS AGAIN ~ IT’LL BE HERE SOON!

Thank you Teresa for inviting me to come spend some time in your store! I had a great time and will come again SOON! P.S. her cute apron came home with me!!

Here were the YUMMY cookies and I also left with a big bag of these. They didn’t last long at the beach! I believe they were made by “Sister Schubert’s” daughter who lives in Andalusia. They also came in hot pink and a pretty turquoise blue color.

I had to take a picture of the sign out front!

We had a great time at the beach! We got home yesterday and we move Wednesday and I have not packed the first thing! Operation cleaning is in motion later today and tomorrow so that the house will be ready to move in to. We have a hectic week ahead! I’m also sampling some new designs today to list. BTW, Patriotic designs are still 50% off and the rest are 30% off ~ stock up at Applique Cafe!

Have a great week! If you have any questions about TJ’s or how to get there, let me know! THEY ALSO SELL THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FABRIC ONLINE IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT DOWN TO OPP!!

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