Thanksgiving Sale

I can’t believe it is that time of year already, but it’s time to start your Christmas shopping if you haven’t already! I am having a sale in my ArtFire shop through the Thanksgiving weekend. I have marked everything down 10%! I am busy making some more Christmas items including some adorable mini stockings that are the perfect size for gift cards. You can even have them customized with a name. Those should be listed in my studio soon and here’s a sneak peek at one that is almost finished ~

I am frequently adding new items as I make them so check back often! I also have a bonus for my blog followers when you shop in my studio! I have listed a coupon on the right to use in my ArtFire shop. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Still Sewing

I cannot believe how much time I have been spending at the sewing machine. I’m surprised because I have spent about 15 years saying that I hate sewing! Now, I can’t seem to get enough. I have beautiful fabrics, but I’m having a hard time deciding what to do with them. I want to create stuff that people will want to buy. I know that I need practice and that beautiful craftsmanship doesn’t happen right away (well, in my mind that’s how I like to think). I designed a very basic piece, not even sure what to call it, that is made using simple rectangles. I figured the best way to get started was to try to sew a straight line! :) I tried putting together something in the cute 1930’s fabrics that are popular right now and we saw all over the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Here are a couple of the almost 40 fabrics that I used ~~

Hopefully it will turn into something cute that I can post a picture of, but keep in mind I’m still in practice mode and this might be a little over my experience level!

Last year once I learned the peyote stitch in beading, I created one of my all time favorite bracelets. It took me forever to make and I still just love it. A friend of mine asked me to make one for her so I did last Christmas. Well, she wears it all the time and gets so many compliments. She just bought 2 more from me to give as Christmas presents this year! Yay! I love making this bracelet, but crazy as it sounds my first thought was that the bracelets would cut into my sewing time! Here’s a little sneak peek at the bracelet~~

New Direction of Ideas

I just got home from Houston where I attended the International Quilt Market and Festival. My head is just spinning with ideas! I even got up this morning about 5 because I could picture a quilt idea in my head and I just had to get to my computer and start designing. I know I’ve said forever that I hate sewing, but I’m starting to view it in a different exciting way. I don’t see myself sitting down and spending months on one quilt, but I do have in mind some smaller quicker projects. My mom was great and sat down with me in front of a sewing machine and went over what each of the presser feet do and showed me all the wonderful things I can do with my Bernina. While she was at dinner with some friends one evening, I made this block from some of her fabric scraps using the paper piecing method ~

Mom made sure that I came home with just about every notion made under the sun so I can continue exploring. We’ll see what I come up with now that I know how to use my “crafting machine” for other purposes.

Yum, What is that Smell?

That smell is Uplifting, Refreshing, Fabulously Fresh and Just Divine. Seriously. Those are just a few of the creative names that Jenn of Jennuinecandles gave her 100% Palm Wax candles. The candles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This is one of my favorite containers she has listed ~



Take a browse around her ArtFire studio and maybe you’ll find a new Annual Tree-Dition ;)

October is here

It is Breast Cancer Awareness month, or as my dear friend calls it “The Month of Breasts”. For some of us survivors, it is all year round though. I know that I am aware every day when I wake up until I fall asleep at night. Please remember to do your self-exams and get your mammograms as suggested by your doctor. Early detection can be a lifesaver.

I finally got my MissBerly’s Designs studio up and running on ArtFire. MissBerly’s Designs are all of my pink ribbon creations and all this month I have my items on ArtFire marked down 10%! I have hundreds of items to list so new ones are being added all the time. Come over and take a look!

Great Greeting Cards

Are you looking for a nice card for someone special? If so, then I’d like to introduce you to A Special Touch on ArtFire. This studio is full of fun, unique and creative handmade cards for just about any occasion. She is even willing to custom make something for you if you don’t see what you like or want one of her designs for a different event. Here are a couple of my favorites...



Check out her studio and enjoy!

Storms

I have been staying with my parents in Houston for a few weeks now while I have some extensive dental work done. I met them at their store yesterday afternoon and hung out for a while letting a storm pass over. We were all in separate cars and headed home about 6. I passed 4 different accidents on the way home and what is usually a 15-minute drive took about 50 minutes. Once I turned onto the main road in the neighborhood there was no power and all the stoplights were out. That’s not very fun in rush hour traffic especially in a neighborhood of about 70,000 people and there are only 3 ways to get in and out of the development! Our subdivision looked like a disaster area and all the neighbors were in their yards picking up debris and looking around at the mess. I turned onto our street and I was greeted with this in the driveway...

It was awful! My Dad just paid to have all their trees trimmed about 3 months ago and unfortunately all the branches in the yard came from neighbors that don’t have their trees trimmed. That company was ringing our doorbell this morning at 7 am once they saw lights on and knew someone was awake! Well, they came back with their crew about 9 and ended up sitting in their trucks for a couple hours because it was raining. They are now working and as I’m writing this I’m listening to the sounds of chainsaws and men walking on the roof. Good thing we weren’t home or else we’d probably have 3 pretty messed up vehicles in the driveway!