My first Etsy sale

Woo-hoo, I'm excited. I got my first special order/Etsy sale done this weekend. It was a special order request (from someone that I don't know personally). She wanted the Duckie quilt (Lizzy House Red Letter Day fabric) done for her toddler. Same one that I did before but bigger and with an orange backing. I thought it turned out super cute with the orange backing.


I even added her little girl's name to the quilting. Clever idea from the buyer. This about gave me a stress attack though. It's hard to write with your needle (at least it was for me). After I ripped the stitches out for the third time, I tried to relax and just go for it. It's not perfect (to my standards at least), but it was cute and you can read what it says.

I'm such a perfectionist. I get so nervous selling my work. I seriously said a little prayer over the blanket that the tiny flaws would go unnoticed and the buyer would be thrilled with the result.

My second special order (different pattern, same fabric) will be finished this week.

I'm excited that I'm getting my name out there. Someone from the SPCA contacted me and asked for a donation (I donated the Hushabye stacked coins quilt). Hopefully, that will bring some lookers to my Etsy site.

I'm also going to be apart of my sister's craft fair in November. I'm furiously working to get a small stash of quilts ready as well as table runners, hand stamped cards and other small crafts.

And I got so excited that I even purchased a few business cards this week (mainly for the craft show).

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Such a fun book. I love Roald Dahl's writing style. It's very much like his other book, Matilda, which I adored as a kid.

Super easy read and it will probably make you want a piece of chocolate afterwards!

My husband is famous

My hottie hot husband is in our gym's tv commercial-- He's the one boxing in the UNC shirt (8 seconds in). Check him out.

More books

Never Let Me Go is quite an interesting novel by Kazuo Ishiguro.

It's a novel about cloning and organ donation, but not written in a scientific type way at all. In fact, it's very vague about all those details. It's actually a novel about people and their relationships. So interesting and such an easy read.

It's a little sad, much like the other novels I've read. But it's good.

I just read that they are making a movie based on this novel and rumor has it that Kiera Knightley will be in it. It should be good and I look forward to seeing it when it comes out.

I also finished C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I'm shocked I never read this as a child, but I think I was turned off by the "fairy tale" element to it. It was delightful though. So sweet, fun, noble, moral, etc. I look forward to reading this to my kids (or having them read it for themselves at a young age). I love, much like Winnie the Pooh, how C.S. Lewis talks to his readers as if they were part of the story. It just makes the book special, I think.

Both books are great, easy reads.

Dreaming With a Broken Heart

Yes, I know the title is dramatic. But I'm in a dramatic kind of mood today. (By the way, the title is from a John Mayer song).

I was so sure that this would be the day for some good news and once again and I was disappointed with the results. I don't know the best way to protect my heart, but I need to do a little better. I know it's not a surprise to most of you that we are trying to have a baby. We've been trying for what seems like a long time (but not really, I guess).

So, I continue to hope for the future, but not without some sadness. Appropriate title, yes. A little dramatic, of course. It's a dramatic kind of day. And it's only 11:20 am.

Books on Tape

Have you discovered these little jewels? They are awesome. It is such a great way to pass time.

I admit that I am not a huge music lover. I don't know why, but I really do not like anything on the radio and just don't care for most music. But I have to pass the time in my car somehow, so a couple of years ago my library started loaning out books on tape and I was in HEAVEN. I tried to catch up on some of the classics, then fell in love with mysteries, and then lighthearted novels.

Well, in my quest to read Time's 100 Best Novels, I decided that books on tape were allowed. And I'm glad I "allowed" myself to go that route because, let me tell you, I would have spent hours reading Gone With the Wind!! Hours-- 50 + hours according to the book on tape. Instead, every time I sew, I listen to Gone With the Wind and it has served two purposes. I'm not watching mindless, dumb tv and I'm catching up on my list. It has been so much fun to sew and be caught up in the story of Scarlett O'Hara. I can sew for hours without even batting an eye. Really, there is only so much Deadliest Catch and CSI that I can take.

I would recommend listening to books on tape. Listen to one while in your car. Listen to one while working on your hobby. Listen to one while working out. So much better than reruns on tv and, in my case, the radio.

Revolutionary Road

Things have gotten busier at work and home so the reading has slowed down some. However, I did get to finish Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates this morning. It was a surprisingly easy read-- had an easy flow to it.

Of course, it was a sad tale of a middle class American family that ends in tragedy. If you've seen the movie, you know how it ends. Speaking of the movie, it was fun to read the book and already have pictures of Leo and Kate as the main characters.

This book was set in the 50's and it was interesting to see how much conformity went on during that decade. So much so, that I suppose I can imagine how many couples felt trapped and desirous of a nonconformist lifestyle. Not that this couple fulfilled their dream escape, but I would still argue that they most definitely were nonconformist.

Are any of the great novels happy stories? I guess I'll just have to keep reading.

Another Stacked Coin Quilt

It's hard to decide, but this might be my favorite quilt so far. I adore the colors. They are so soft and sweet. This thing just screams baby girl.

I used the "Hushabye" charm pack by Tula Pink for Moda.

This time I put a strip of polka dot fabric on the backing. You know to spice things up a bit!

Here it is--

My new skirt

So Grant whispered sweet nothings to the computer and she decided to upload my pictures today.

This is the skirt that I made last week. I used a fabulous Joel Dewberry fabric. It is bold.

It twirls.

It's me.

(And wow- I look like my mom in this picture)

Busy as a Bee

Life has caught up with me at the moment. Let's see, what have I been up to lately:

* * *

Made a skirt out of some fabulous material

Finished a super adorable quilt

Finished a second quilt top

Turned 29

Almost finished the book, Revolutionary Road

Went to my favorite restaurant, 518, only to find out they no longer make my favorite dish

Had a cupcake from the Cupcake Shoppe

Went shopping for some new work clothes

Had dinner with some family members

Had lunch with my mom

Got three special orders for quilts

* * *

I'm sure there is more. My computer is not uploading my pictures, so when it decides to cooperate I'll post some stuff.

Life is starting to get a bit busier. Hope I can keep up!