JOY!

Ever since I put this together on my coffee table Sunday afternoon I have had such joy fill my heart.

I just love it.

The ornaments came from my mother's basement last Christmas.  I can't say I remember having them on our tree going up, but I will happily pretend that we did.  The are some of my "new" favorite ornaments from my childhood.  And in their original Shiney Brite box to boot! 

JOY!

Thrifty Finds

Holiday shopping this weekend took me to a couple of my favorite thrifty spots. 

I can't show you all my thrifty treasures, as two are gifts...yes, that's right.  Gifts.  I love giving gifts which are something that was no longer wanted by the original owner and will be the loved by the recipient.  Hopefully both gifts will be "on the mark".

Otherwise, I found these lovelies.

I'd been on the lookout for the small pyrex dishes.  I have always liked them (they remind me of my grandmother), but never thought I had a reason for having them.  And since storage is at a premium in our kitchen, I always left these lovely little bowls behind.  Until a week or so ago when I needed to melt just a little bit of butter, and had nothing but a large soup bowl to melt it in.  I instantly had a reason for owning these tiny bowls.  And I figured out a spot to store them.  So the hunt began.  I was thrilled to find these on Friday night.  And I left at least three others behind for the next lucky soul.

The tin and the pear I don't have definate plans for.  I'd like to incorporate both into this year's holiday decorating.  We'll see how that goes.  All the boxes are in the living room, and the tree is up.  Decorating has begun!

In Boutique Girl Gift news, I also found this at Marshalls.

Pretty cute...and I think might just work for displaying bibs.  The question is, should it stay pink, or should I spray pain it red.  Or maybe white?  Let me know what you think!

Friends help you keep your sanity

A very special friend of mine is having her first baby in January.

This weekend, her mother in law and sister in law are throwing her a baby shower while her mother is in town.  So in addition to being 7 months pregnant, she is hosting Thanksgiving, AND will be the center of attention for what I imagine will be one of the biggest baby showers in PA, EVER.

And I can't go.

I'm participaing in my largest craft show ever this weekend.  (Heck, I don't even get to go Black Friday shopping to purchase flannel...what am I going to do?  That's a holiday tradition!)

So while I can't be there in person to help this mama to be keep her sanity thru all the weekend's events, I'm sending her a box which I hope will make her smile and maybe chuckle a little.

Is this not the cutest fabric?

And yes, my craftiness is not limited to fabric.  Maybe someday I'll show you my collection of rubber stamps.  I was reminded of its size last night.

Brick Funraiser

The office to my "pays the bills" job is on a street with brick paved sidewalks.  These are no ordinary brick sidewalks.  Oh no.  Someone decided that they would sell these bricks to local business, dignitaries and regular folks and allow those bricks to be engraved with whatever sentiment they desire.

Many businesses purchased more than one brick, and had their logo, or company name scribed on their bricks.  Some professed their love for their spouse or kids.  Some just put their names on their brick.

I saw a particularly humorous brick the other day as I was walking to get my lunch. 

Seriously.  I almost laughed out loud. 

Luckily, I was wearing pants.

One Down, One To Go

The good news is the Hartsbrook Holiday Festival was spectacular!  It was a georgous day, and in addition to supporting the fantastic Hartsbrook School, folks were out in force supporting buying handmade.  It was definately the best one day show I've had thus far...so I had a great time.

Sadly, I managed to take no photos.  None.  I will say that an 8 ft table RWAKS! especially when your space is *just* your table.  And the heavy black rack I inherited from Catherinette is a must have for an indoor show.  Thanks crafty Katie!

I'm gearing up for this weekend.  This will be the first Black Friday in a LONG time that I am not going to be out shopping for fabric.  The Old Deerfield Christmas Sampler begins at 12 noon on Friday.  Three days of crafty vending.  I'm still sewing as many hours as I can hoping I have enough *interesting* product...I've got plenty of stuff that I can't seem to get anyone to buy...it's the stuff I spend hours sewing at the last minute that seem to sell.  Who knew?

Buy Handmade his holiday season.  You'll be glad you did. 

Crafty Progress

For those of you following along at home, November is progressing along.  We're 10 days in.

Which means there are 11 days left until the first craft extravaganza this month.

Luckily, the number of completed items has outpaced days down, and days to go.  18 completed items.

A million other ideas, desires, and pieces of things cut out.  The pile of fabric "to be made" is always enormous.

Anyone want to make a guess as to how many compeleted items the Boutique Girl Gifts stock will grow before the games begin in 11 short days?

Ask Boutique Girl

Dear Blog Readers,

What do you wish you could read about here on the Boutique Girl Gifts blog?

What would make you send a link to your friends with a note that says "you've got to read this?"

We are looking for bloggy inspiration here, and we're all ears.

Just remember, this is a family show. (and if any of you readers aren't members of my family, I promise to explain the question in addition to giving the answer.)

Let the asking begin!

Craft Insanity

I may be insane.

I just filled out applications for two crafty shows, two weeks in a row, in less than 20 days. 4 days to sell my wares.

Not a big deal you say? Easy for you to say. You didn't have your best show EVER in September, where you sold more product in two days than you've sold in an entire month. So replenishing the stock is essential.

Here's the problem.

I sewed for a total of 15 minutes in October.

15 minutes.

Did I mention there are only 20 days until the first show?

Stay tuned for more sewing insanity as I attempt to make these holiday shopping extravaganzas possible...

Introducing...Sassy Bags!

Last time on Boutique Girl Gifts...

Back in July I began hoarding t-shirts with great graphics, sayings, or something that just struck my fancy. I was compelled to turn them into something crafty, but what?

I'd like to introduce you to Sassy Bags!


Aren't they awesome? Totebags 100% handmade by me with recycled t-shirt embellishments.




Be on the look out for them in my Etsy shop...once I figure out a better way to photograph their awesomeness. Any suggestions?

A New Idea?

If I could upload photos to my computer, I would show you the fabulous thrifted t-shirts I've found this week.

I would tell you that they are not going to fit into my everyday wardrobe, and that I am looking for alternate "re-use" uses for them.

If I tell you that I'm going to make them into something fabulous, then I have to, right? That means they can't just sit in a pile amongst all the other fabric and yarn and what not that has accumulated in what a realtor would call the "third bedroom" and that they will actually have to be turned into their new, useful and recycled form. Right?

Maybe by the time I figure out how to get my computer to recognize my camera again, I'll have pictures of the finished product.

Maybe.

11pm edit
So after trying a different computer, I have a photo.

The one that started it all.

Thrifty Finds

Whew! It's been forever since I've blogged!

I'll blame it on my latest thrifty finds...I'm always inspired by different blogs I read where people have found amazing vintage sewing notions for a fraction of the price (and sometimes superior quality...like metal zippers!), fun storage ideas and things generally transformed with a coat of paint, or a little elbow grease. My thrifty luck has been running pretty high lately.

A few weeks ago, I found a bunch of zippers and bias tape at my local Goodwill. These are definitely from a fellow sewer's stash.

The polka dot and plaid bias tape are my absolute favorites. I can't wait to find the perfect project to use these on.

On this same trip, I also found a great faux needlepoint tin. There were two of these, and I rationalized only purchasing one of them. WHY?!?!?!? I'm tempted to go back and see if this special wonder's friend is still there. Maybe her sticker will be on sale, and she'll have to come home with me.

Today's find is amazing. I don't know if this lovely will work in my sewing room with it's red, red walls, but for 5.99 this piece of handiwork had to be mine.

Isn't she lovely? The only thing missing is a matching boy, perhaps a shepherd. Oh if only there had been another.

The Big Time

Today was the first day of my first big-girl show. Two days, 100 vendors. My display is small potatoes compared to most folks, but I held my own today. All things considered, I had decent sales, and hope for the same for tomorrow.

I'd show you a picture of my booth, and my cute new free standing clothes line (found on last weekend's driving excursion) but blogger isn't cooperating. So you'll have to imagine how wonderful my bibs and aprons looked on a vintage rectangular free standing clothesline. UPDATE: Cute new clothes line above! Cute!

Ok for my first really big time booth, don't cha think?

Knitting Update

Since Blogger isn't cooperating and letting me upload photos of any kind, I thought, "What the heck! Let's do a post without photos." So here goes.

I've been struggling with starting the knitting part of my challenge. Seems I have a huge fear of trying to knit socks, and failing. I don't want to frog them back. Or find they are too small, too big, not the same size, or god forbid...don't stay up. How can I possibly be proud of handknit socks that pool at the ankle? Anyone can have socks that pool at the top of their shoe, requiring pulling up at the most in opportune times.

When I have fear, I am an expert at procrastination. (Case in point? I applied to my 1st 2 day craft show 6 days before the date of the show. No lie.)

I did try to incorporate TCB (taking care of business) and it's sister mantra--Just Do It!-- this weekend, and found the sock yarn, needles, and my trusty "anyone can knit socks" book.

And I did something I never do. I started knitting a gague swatch. All successful knitting starts with a gague swatch, right? I realized after re-reading the instructions halfway into the swatch, that I probably should be knitting in the round instead of flat...but who said this process was going to be perfect.

So I'm on my way to starting my 1st ever handknit sock.

Don't get too excited...I didn't actually figure out the gague from the swatch.


Yet.

Zoom Zoom

Introducing
Black Cherry
(Blogger not cooperating in loading photos. Photo to come.)

She's my awesome new Mazda 6.

Yea, we enjoying zooming around in the sunshine on Saturday. Just doing my part to stimulating the economy.

Now I have to figure out how to back her out of my garage...she's a bit bigger than my Saturn.

A Challenge Filled Weekend

This weekend has been all about challenges for me.

The good kind of challenges. The get of your butt and do something kind of challenges.

First, I had lunch on Friday with my crafty friend Katie. Her challenge to me was to blog twice a week for the next six weeks, and to create two things in the same time frame. The catch was that the two things had to be a pair of socks and fingerless mitts. Katie and I went to Webs over a year ago (or close) with Rachel and I bought sock yarn to make my first pair of socks. I still have a ball of sock yarn. Katie also posted a tutorial on making fingerless mitts which I foolishly comments on, saying I had been wanting to make a pair. So that's how I ended up with my knitting assignments.

What Katie didn't know is that this weekend already had a built in challenge. Rita, my sewing buddy who currently lives in Boston, and I decided that instead of giving gifts to each other for Christmas that we would commit to two weekends (one at my house, one at hers) dedicated to sewing for ourselves. This weekend was the first such weekend. No work projects, no fixing things for the house, no hemming those pants for that friend. Only sewing on garmets that would go into our own closets, and build our wardrobe, since we both have "nothing" to wear. Since we both have gigantic fabric stashes (or hoards, depends on who you ask) we also challenged ourselves to use things we already had. No new fabric allowed. Notions (if absolutely necessary) are ok.

A few months back I discovered this fabulous cowboy shirt made by Bitter Betty. (Go to the October 1, 2008 post.) Now I don't love the huge 70's collar, but the idea has stuck with me for months. Then I remembered this fabric:

I also had a coordinating fabric with more brown. Rita has a fabulous pattern, and after a few hours, I have this:

Could that be cuter? The tiny ric-rack is from the stash of notions I liberated from my Grandma Helen's sewing stuff before my step mother gave it all to the Salvation Army. All supplies I had on hand. Woo hoo!

There was also an incident with some inferior interfacing which required the recutting and re-interfacing all interfaced pieces...GRR. That wasn't a pretty few minutes this morning. I'll spare you the details. Said interfacing is in the trash so it won't be able to ruin another project. A sign of a good sewing day is a full garbage can. Whatcha think? Were we successful?

I've been featured!

In an effort to move some of my stock this month, I've been actively searching out trades. Not everyone is looking for baby items, but given the looming February 10th date for CSPIA to take effect, I'd love for my items to head to loving homes, for babies to use now, or later. It might not be possible for me to continue to create and sell, depending on what ammendments are made to this legislation.

But I digress...

In looking for trades, I was contacted by a lovely lady on Twitter who was looking to trade baby gifts for her sister. My Tutti Frutti Bib and Burp set was the "inspiration" for her blog post. Check it out!

Adore By Nat: Feeling Fruity - Apples and Pears

I'm looking forward to getting some of Nat's great cards in return.

Let me know if you want to "stock up" on handmade baby items for your future baby shower gifting needs...I'm sure we can work something out. *wink*