Starting to Sell

I took a tutu to work to show it off. And made 3 sales. WooHoo! So I decided to try selling them on Crobbies. That's www.crobbies .com. They are set up just like etsy and ebay. You post info and pictures of items you have made and try to sell them. Though unlike ebay you have to have made the item to sell on Crobbies. There are hundreds of tutus on ebay and several dozen on etsy. But I could find none on crobbies. Wish me luck in my newest endeavor. I 'll be back in a day or two with a new item I've made.

Tutu Cute

This is tutu cute. I finally got my youngest granddaughter over to the house and we had picture day. One is a picture of the tutu I showed here earlier and the other is a shorter tutu. I'm amazed when you put something as cute and girly as a tutu on even someone so young, their whole perspection changes. Fun and free. Flowing layers of soft tulle transforms a young girl into a princess or ballerina. She ran and played and had a wonderful time. I am so glad we did it. Although I have to admit, I wanted perfect pictures and she wasn't having any of it. I have made 7 of these so far. Some longer than others but the beauty is they will all fit a waist 18" to 26". I am working on the head pieces now. Flowers, ribbon and tulle to match each one. I must admit.... I'm addicted!

It's Marzipan, Baby

Some one sent me an email recently of pictures of things made from marzipan. This is by far the most detailed and adorable thing I have ever seen. The lady (whom ever she may be) formed this precious little baby from just a wad of sugar, shortening and water. Hand painted it with maybe food color or acrylics, I'm not really sure.
I have in the past seen fruits and flowers made from marzipan. They decorate the tops of candies and cakes around the holidays. And yes it is very edible but come on... who could even think of eating this little treasure. It belongs under glass to just adore.
If you are interested in learning marzipan simple do a quick (LOL) search in your web browser.
Type in the words how to make marzipan. You will be shocked at what is available.

Tutu Much

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I am trying to get ready for a craftshow. I am doing lots of baby and children items for this one. I have been searching the internet for easy cute ideas and came across a no-sew tutu tutorial. This is my first attempt. Lilac tulle intermixed with white tulle. I purchased 4 rolls of white tulle at the Dollar Tree and 2 rolls of lilac tulle JoAnn Fabrics for 2.50 each. I like the rolls of tulle. They come in 6 inch rolls and have about 25 yards of tulle.
I simply cut lengths of 24 inches. Butterfly wrapped each piece around the length of elastic. I used 1 roll of lilac and 1 1/2 rolls of white. The white tulle rolls from Dollar Tree only had 8 yards each. I already had the 1/2 inch elastic and a roll of sheer 1/4 inch ribbon but if you had to buy the ribbon it would cost about .50 cents.
I guess it cost me about $5.00 to make the tutu adding the cost of everything I had and bought. You can get a good tutorial with pictures at GirlyThingBows.com
Cute, cute, cute! I then did a flower headband. A crocheted headband in purple with a bit of tulle glued to it and a pretty purple flower (with the stem removed) glued to that.
Simple and adorable!
There are people who are making a decent living making tuts and headwear. Just look on ebay and etsy and several groups that have forums for people who make these.
So after I got this done I went to Wal-mart and bought several yards of tulle by the yard. I cut the tulle up into strips and began making another one. I did find out that I should have bought at least another 2 yards but I pick it up later next week.
This particular tutu will fit a child age 4 - 6 years. I think I will charge about $20.00 for the set.
Thats alot cheaper than ebay, etsy or the other websites I have been looking at.

Maybe for a bridal shower?

Ok, I was fooling around and made a washcloth Sundae and a washcloth LogRoll. These would be really cute at a bridal shower. Easy peasy to do. Go to the Dollar Tree and pick up a couple packages of the champagne glasses (6 for 1.00) and a couple packages of washcloths.
To make the sundae... make a ball from the washcloth and stuff it inside the glass, add a plastic spoon and a little red pompom. Done! The LogRoll is a brown and a white washcloth rolled up to make a cloth logroll (you know like the chocolate cake rolls in the store). Tie a pretty ribbon around it and there you go. Although I did add a green pompom simply because I like the things.
I am working on washcloth parfaits and washcloth pie slices. I am also trying my hand at diaper cupcakes in a 6 pack package. I'll post them if I get them done to my satisfaction.

Baby Booties Galore

I have gone Bootie Crazy. These things are addicting. I don't even have a baby to give these to. But I'll just save them until I need them for a baby shower or two. With just a bit of felt and some hand stitching you can create an adorable fashion accessory for the little one in your life. I have had an awful last couple of weeks. With a funeral, a reunion, work and dealing with every day pressures, I'm surprised I have gotten any sewing done. OldSchoolAcres.com has tons of patterns for baby shoes so if you want a pair go check this site out. Of course there are tons of patterns out there if you google them up.
The pair of ballet shoes with matching headband (below) is my own adapted from several patterns I found online. I made them with a animal print cotton, added ribbons for tying. The headband is several layers of ribbon attached to a inexpensive headband I bought at Family Dollar 6 for 3.00. There are several really good sites to teach one how to make a bow or two. Theribbonretreat.com is one of my favorite sites for this.
This little pair of felt booties I embroidered using my regular machine.

This little pair of ballet booties I hand embroidered and used those inexpensive snaps that can be bought on cardboard sheets for under 2.00

This little pair of booties I did the same as the others only this time I sewed a cute little plastic butterfly to each strap.

Dealing with a crisis

Sorry, I haven't been here for awhile.
We (hubby and family) have been dealing with my father in law's death.
I'll get back to it real soon. I promise. Until then..... be kind to your family and friends. Never go to bed without saying I love you. And remember to give other family members a call to to check in with them.
The finally happens in a blink of the eye.
As we have learned this week losing Ed McManhn, Farrah Fawcet and Micheal Jackson and loved ones.

Bibs and Bears

You got to love bibs and bears. Bibs that look cute and also protect those so expensive baby clothes. Bibs can be really cheap and so it doesn't matter if you have to throw them away after several or several hundred uses. On the other hand they can cost a small fortune, depending on the name brand or the store where purchased. You can get bibs just about in any store that has a baby section. But I decided to make them for all the baby showers I get invites for.
Okay, I wanted something else to go with the little bib so I drew out this little 6 inch bear. Used matching fabric and embroidered a little face on the bear. Yes, I know the thing is not perfect but did you know that the Amish create a flaw in everything them create. It is their way of remembering that no one is perfect except the Lord.
Well anyways I think it's an adorable set for gift giving.
I've made at least a half dozen of them so far. All in different fabric to match the bib of the moment. I actually have 3 showers coming up really fast. Of course I will be giving other items too. But some of the things I've made have actually been passed down from friends and family children to their children.

Baby Talk

I've been busy this week getting some things done for the fall craft show. Several pair of felt booties. These are called Chinese Slippers. I hand embroidered around the top and straps with a purple embroidery thread and added velcro for closing. I designed the little bonnet from pictures and it was really easy after I got the correct measuremnets. The baby socks are a bit tricky to hold as you're sewing and I got the ruffle too long but I can fix that. I think the pdf file came from The Ribbon Retreat but I will have too double check it.

I got some instructions for the boutique style bow from Girly-Things and then did my own design. The little slippers came from doing a google for baby booties and then I altered the pattern a bit.

Lost in Cyberspace

I've been lost in cyberspace for days now. I went to one site to look for a particular pattern and started clicking on the links that were there and have been so caught up in all the blogs and the talent available. It is truely amazing what is out there for all the crafters and non crafters. If you need a purse pattern, something for a baby shower, a wedding gift, birthday gift. Just need something to do. Do you need to know how to fix something, make something. Need a good recipe? Just do a search and you will find hundreds if not thousands of links. If you have been searching for certain craft instructions, you begin to recognize certain sites and peoples regularly.
I have been on here all morning checking out http://blog.craftzine.com
Hundreds of things to look at with alot of directions.
You may have noticed I have added a link section on the right hand side of my blog.
I thought it might be useful to you as well as me.
I have also went to several sites that are in a different language. I have just found out that if you get the url then go to google translate and put that url in, it will translate it into your language. Now that is an awesome tool.
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I am suppose to be sewing today. I have been making lots of baby things for the fall festivals. I have gotta to be quite fast at making baby bibs with matching toys. Burp cloths and baby booties. My next project will be hair bows. But I need to go to Walmart and JoAnn's to get some supplies. I'll be posting pictures of some of my things early next week.

Fire Roasted Corn Soup

Did I ever tell you I have won awards for my cooking. At the regatta each year here we have a cooking contest. All the local restaurants pick some of their best items and show them off at the civic center. People come from all over the country for our regatta so Thousands of people show up for the "Taste of Charleston".
For the last couple of years my hospital cafe has entered the contest. Since I'm the cafe cook and caterer, it is my food. Anyway I thought you might like the recipe for my soup that won in 2007.

Fire Roasted Corn Soup:
2 cups of fresh or frozen corn
1 cup each of diced celery,onions,carrots
1 can of diced pimentos
1/2 cup of diced red peppers
4 oz. solid pack chicken base (boullion)
1 TBSP. cumin
1 tsp. garlic
1 tsp. cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp. cayenne
salt and pepper to taste
*note: go light on the salt since boullion is salty anyway.

Place all ingredients in large stock pot cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 2 hours.
If you have a cream soup base add this to soup using a whisk and following container directions and simmer for 15 more minutes.
If you donot have cream soup base (starter) you can make your own
1 cup milk and 1 cup of flour whisk together and then whisk this into 1/2 cup melted margarine or butter.
Then whisk this roo" into the soup same as if you were adding the cream soup base.

Make a salad and serve with mexican or regular corn bread.
Yummy!!!!

A Good Place To Rest.

My hubby and I went visiting recently. We went to our son's camp up in Clay,West Virginia.

He own's a bit of land with a very small cabin on it. Such a beautiful, quiet place to visit when things get a bit too stressful. This picture was taken from a small deck over looking the Elk River.

The over hanging trees lent an aura of seclusion. We watched a few fish swim past as well as a snake slithering through the water. We saw deer tracks along the river bank. By the time we left I felt at peace. Boy we're gonna have to do that again real soon. Hubby wants to go fishing there soon. Fine with me. Although I do fish some. I'll take a book and maybe some type of small craft to do and he can fish all day.