Best Christmas Gift!

First, let me start by saying I have been horrible at keeping up with blog posts. That is all going to change in 2011! My New Years resolution is to post something interesting about my sewing business, the upholstery shop, my life or anything EVERY week in 2011! I will even label the posts 1 - 52 for each week.

With that said, let me end 2010 with a post about the awesome Christmas gift I got from my husband. In 1997 my great grandmother passed away and I had the privilege to assist in cleaning out her home. I came home with MANY fabric treasures, and a few other, non-textile related treasures. One of those being her cuckoo clock, which unfortunately had experienced an accident and was in a couple pieces and not working. My grandfather had purchased this for her in 1952.

I have been hauling that broken cuckoo clock around for 13 years! It has lived in his box in Madison, Dayton, Ohio and 2 houses in Stoughton. Dave dug it out and took it in to a clock restorer to be refurbished! Unfortunately it was not done in time for me to have the working clock on Christmas morning, but I got a few of repaired pieces in my present, with the rest to be done in the near future.

Now, the big question....where will I hang this heirloom...and will I torture my family with the hourly "cuckoo" noise that I love? Hmmmm, I'll report on that after it is hung and working :)

Best wishes in 2011 to all my followers. I appreciate each and every one of you!

Happy New Year!

Jenny

Summer Recap & Other Interesting Stuff

So...I can't believe I haven't posted on my blog since June! The past month I've been thinking about it, procrastinating, thinking more, putting it off, but now it's time.

Summer Recap

It was a CRAZY summer in my world! Lots of traveling, Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Wisconsin, Indiana, etc. Kids were involved in sports and other activities...but mostly *around* all the time which is great...but definitely cuts into my productive time. They make it very difficult for me to focus when it is 90 degrees outside and the pool or beach is calling their names! The flower beds were beautiful due to early heat and lots of rain and and my vegetable garden produced lots and lots of tomatoes, squash, lettuces, spinach, carrots and kohlrabi (Sofia's fav).

The Painted Daisy

Well, the above paragraph says a lot. I tried to keep up with shop inventory and my Etsy site...it was tough. Working on better planning for next summer! I am definitely scaling back on show participation as time moves forward. Being a one woman sweat shop only allows for so much production! The Summer Craftacular sponsored by Glitterworkshop was my only big summer show..and totally worth it! Great time, great shoppers and excellent venue. The Holiday Craftacular will also be held at the East Side Club, so watch for future posts with details.

Jenny, the Upholstery Seamstress

I realized recently that I rarely, if ever, talk about my other sewing *self*. I have been working at an upholstery shop (Depot Hill Furnishings) for more than 3 years! I sew lots and lots of pillows and cushions, as well as help with the cut and sewn parts of furniture re-uphostery or custom made pieces. My next post will focus on a great project we just completed at the shop, plus lots of fun pictures of me, my workspace and my posse!

Moving into Fall

I just returned from a great show in Kentucky the third weekend in September. My wonderful sister Janelle opened up her home once again to all her friends (and strangers that were garage sale-ing in the neighborhood) so I could have a very successful trunk show.

I will be participating in several shows this fall/holiday season:

Holiday Craftacular - December 11
www.glitterworkshop.com/craftacular

Handmade for the Holidays - November 20
www.daintydaisies.com/handmadefortheholidays

Holiday Open House - November 20
324 N. Monroe St, Stoughton, WI
9:00 - 4:00 pm
(I will not be there, but my wares will!)

AND I have pledged to keep my Etsy shop & stores that carry my products, stocked and selling through the busy holiday season. The many shows I attended last season kept me too busy and I really missed out!

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall weather~!

Fan Pictures!

Here a couple pics I recently received from a few of my favorite "little" fans! Aren't they all just the cutest?

Summer's here...Daisy Girl is busy!!

I've been sewing up a storm the past few weeks. Lots of custom orders and trying to refill inventory in the wonderful shops that carry my designs.

Here are some pics of the skirts I shipped off to Michelle at Dainty Daisies today. Lots of 4 Panel skirts for little girls and a few for women too!

Thanks to all the Awesome Crafters...

Thanks so much to everyone that participated and assisted with the wonderful Syttende Mai Trunk Show I hosted May 15th. Here's an (overdue) recap:

The morning dawned sunny and pleasant with a dew-soaked lawn! The crafters started rolling in around 8:00am and we were all set up and ready to go for our first shoppers at 9:00am. Business was fairly steady, with a few busier spurts and despite the slight humidity and overcast skies that rolled in later, most of the artists were pleased with their sales.

It was wonderful to welcome new and repeat customers! I especially appreciate all the positive comments on my home. It is still very much a work in progress, but has come a LONG way from the dumpy, decrepit, eye sore two flat with 2800+ beer cans stored in the cellar!

I had one major lapse in hostess duties...I forgot to snap photos! Luckily, several of the artists were on top of that duty...so here are some photos I have *borrowed* to share with your here... (I won't ever make that mistake again!)

Whimsy House

Glitter Workshop

May 15th Spring Open House *Arts & Crafts* All the Information is HERE!

Visit historic Stoughton, WI during their famous Syttende Mai festivities, including this amazing showcase of handmade fine arts and crafts. More than a dozen different local artists will be represented!

Many other activities are happening in Stoughton (bring the family and stay for the day)...here's the link with the scoop: http://www.stoughtonwi.com/syttendemai.shtml

Unique, locally-made and eco-friendly items will include:
Jewelry
Metal Art
Bags/Totes
Clothing
Soaps
Geekery
Paintings
Fiber, Wood & Paper Art
Flower Planters...and MUCH MORE!

Artists:
Doghair Productions
Wisconsin Cowgirl
Leland Anderson Wood Products
Alyssa Henry Cigar Box Art
The Painted Daisy www.thepainteddaisy.etsy.com
Prettifications. by Cynthia www.prettifications.etsy.com
Whimsy House www.whimsyhouse.etsy.com
Space Oddities www.spaceoddities.etsy.com
Little Dandelion Studios www.littledande.etsy.com
The Glitter Workshop www.glitterworkshop.com
Storyline Design www.storylinedesign.etsy.com
The Little Red Ribbon www.thelittleredribbon.etsy.com
Inges Accents www.ingesaccents.etsy.com

Address & Map:

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/2-NuVGtNCrgFzLz2ps

702 Jackson Street-NW Corner of Jackson & Johnson Streets

We will have sandwich boards & signs directing you from Main Street!

Craftacular was great!

Had a great time at the Spring Fling Craftacular yesterday. Naomi of Glitter Workshop put on a fabulous show. I sold a bunch of adorable skirts for girls and an assortment of handbags. Big thanks to all the shoppers and other vendors that were also shoppers!

Met lots of new and super nice peeps. Sent skirts off to Oshkosh to be showcased at Dainty Daisies, owned by Michelle. (http://www.daintydaisies.com) I'll add her link - and a couple others to my sidebar.

Hope the rain this weekend leads to more flowers blooming next week!

Cheers :)

Spring Fling Craftacular in ONE WEEK!!

Yes, you see that correctly...The Painted Daisy is proud to be a sponsor of this very cool indie craft even!

Also, check out one of the other sponsors: Dainty Daisies...they will be the next fabulous shop to carry The Painted Daisy products. http://www.daintydaisies.com/

Lovely Lunch Sacks turned out.....well.....Lovely!

I'm so pleased with how these special-order lunch sacks turned out! Much bigger than the prototype, ha ha! Lined in PUL (a washable, coated fabric that is water resistant and flexible) with a velcro top closure and sassy little handle...it's more like carrying a little purse than a lunch sack!

My daughter is begging for one and I tried to bribe my son to carry one (not that I thought he would, but it was fun to try, he he) and I want one too! Maybe this will have to be come a regular Painted Daisy item in the future?

Lovely link to share :)

Anthology has a wonderful article about their new spring-y merchandise and feature another picture of my little skirts in their front window display!

Lovely store, lovely owners, lovely new items to inspire spring.

Check it out! Better yet, head downtown Madison to see the wonderfully whimsical store in person!

http://anthology.typepad.com/anthology/2010/04/the-flowers-that-bloom-in-the-spring.html

Spring Fling!

The Painted Daisy is a proud sponsor of the Spring Fling Craftacular!

Lunch Sack Preview

I've had a request for custom lunch sacks and finally had a chance to give it a go. Here's a little preview of the first prototype. It's tiny!! Will definitely be increasing the size (like double) for the next try. Overall I love the style and design. First time sewing with PUL (waterproof lining) and it didn't require a teflon foot, which was great!

I'll work on the larger, final version later today-it's always fun refining a new design!

77 Zippers!

I LOVE thrift stores...even when you go with an idea of what you are looking for, some other treasure may present itself!

Today I delivered some handmade lovelies to the newest store that is carrying my work (Anthology-a wonderful paper goods and gift shop on State Street in Madison, WI. I have a link to their wonderful website over on my sidebar.) There are some pics at the top of this post. If you would like to see more, check out my photo album on my Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/thepainteddaisy72 Oh, and if you fan me you are eligible for a one time 25% off any purchase in my Etsy shop!

Back to the post... after my drop off I stopped at a few places and hit the jackpot! I got 77 zippers at one shop...I think the total bill was only $30!!! It was a score I just had to share!!!

Another Featured Favorite Seller

I've been lax in keeping up with my featured seller posts! Here are some delightful ear decorations from a lovely woman named Cynthia. She is the creative force behind her Etsy shop www.prettifications.etsy.com. Her gorgeous earrings are deceptively light. I was wary about the large ones (named Jemma); but she was right, they are light as air!

Take a peak at her shop-she's working toward that elusive 100 sales mark!

Enjoy :)

Sneak Peak!

Here's a sneak peak at what's going to be posted tonight! www.thepainteddaisy.etsy.com

Bags made from upcycled vintage table linens, aprons, men's sportcoats and there might even be some new textiles thrown in too!

The Creepy Crawlies are Out...Spring is Here!

Spring is here...Sofia has started her bug quest. I'm not the biggest fan of creepy-crawlies, but I embrace the naturalist in her (must be that Batha blood). Yesterday she recruited her friend Mara to assist in the hunt. I think all they found were some odd looking beetle larvae, a few little red wormies and some roly polies.

I made the front page of Etsy TWICE this month...and didn't even know it

Thanks so much to my friend Jess (www.littledande.etsy.com) , I am now aware that I made the front page of Etsy twice earlier this month! I knew I was in the treasuries...but not that they made the front page...

There is this wonderful site called *Craftcult* (http://www.craftcult.com/) That hosts an archive of all the treasury lists that have made the front page. You can also use the *Heartomatic* to see how many item hearts you have.

Here are screenshots of my brief moments of fame!

Recap...Cupcakes & Crafts

Sending out a great big THANKS to everyone that attended Cupcakes & Crafts last evening at The Daisy Cafe on Atwood Ave in Madison, WI. A nice time was had by all...was too busy to grab a cupcake, but they looked delicious! I am planning a trip back during spring break with the kids.

Check out links to some of the other great crafters that were showcased at this event:

www.helenmarybeck.etsy.com
www.littledande.etsy.com
www.storylinedesign.com
www.prettifications.com
www.whimsyhouse.com
www.baretree.etsy.com
www.glitterworkshop.etsy.com
www.kimscraftyapple.etsy.com
www.theapple.etsy.com
www.madiesmommy.etsy.com
www.berniesgirl.etsy.com
www.haleyworkshop.com

The windows were open today and the fresh air felt great! Has spring sprung? I hope so!

Pinkalicious...YUM

The Painted Daisy arm warmers are featured in this pinkalicious blog posting by Pink-That Crafty Bitch! Check it out!

http://www.pink-thatcraftybitch.blogspot.com/

I'm gonna have to keep an eye on this blog...very cool postings!

Lovely Spring Skirts for Girls...in my Etsy Shop NOW

Special thanks to all my lovely models: Anna, Lydia, Natalie and Sofia!

Upcycled Sweaters for little girls

I gave a *howdy* to Kat O'Sullivan of KATWISE last week...and gained blessing to replicate her awesome style of reconstructed sweaters--but for little girls! She doesn't do anything for kids, so I'm gonna fill that little niche (and give her credit!)

Here's one I whipped up Saturday for my little Sofia. She loves being the guinea pig for all my little girl styles. I made a Sweater Coat too...just haven't had a chance to take a pic yet.

The Life Cycle of a Sweater

I love all the sweater creations I've come up with during the past 4 months. Most have been accidental inspiration, or morphed from something I've seen. The Mix Up Sweater started it all...then came the Sweater Flower Brooch (that no one on Etsy loved, but it was a hit at the fall/winter shows), followed closely by the Sweater Pillow...then I decided to give arm warmers/fingerless gloves a try because I knew my mom would love having a pair for cold evenings in the winter.

However one day a few weeks ago a nice customer that purchased several pairs of arm warmers asked for leg warmers...so I added leg warmers to my repetoire! Jill (the customer) was nice enough to share some pix of her wearing a pair of the legwarmers-along with her dogs Scooby and Hunter, who seem to love the camera! Take a peek:

Thanks for sharing Jill!

Come browse my newest products and spring previews at Crafts & Cupcakes on March 14th. There will be cupcakes and other treats for sale in the Cafe and lots of local artists!

Time for another featured friend

I think I missed doing my featured Etsy friend last week! I've been waiting for my friend Jess to finish adding items to her shop so I can brag about her awesome stuff...

Jess is a very talented crocheter. I love the hat she made my daughter (it's featured in an earlier post) and she recently made Sofia a matching scarf and she made me the loveliest cowl type scarf that is wide enough for me to pull up on my head as a hood. I love it!!! I will have to get some pics so everyone can see.

Anyway, her latest and greatest are these handy and beautiful little pretty clips on a line.

I also adore these cards and Easter baskets. She does the Sweet Tweet cards for every season, but the springs ones make me happiest. I think I'll be using them for all my Easter cards this year :)

When I met Jess, the first item I saw at her table (we had met via Etsy, then I got to shake her hand in person at a craft show) was The Snug Bug. Boy, do I wish I had found one of these when my kids were little babies. My son in particular would have LOVED it! The best I get to do now is buy them for friends that are having babies...and not too many of my friends are still having babies...guess I'm getting old :(

Candy, Oh Candy, Why do I love you so?

That's not a famous quote from Shakespeare, or anyone else....just me :)

I'm not vegan, but I love the treats made by Sweet V Confections, which can be found at this etsy link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetVConfectionsom/shop/SweetVConfections (I'll add it to my links on the sidebar too!)

These yummy goodies are awesome! All natural, vegan (if that is important to you) and delicious! Goodies arrive packaged so sweetly, ready for gift giving, or as a special gift to yourself if that's what you need...wink wink!

Here are a few of my (and my kids') fav's:

Fudge Filled and Peppermint Patties (you get a bunch!)

Taxes Suck!

Taxes are a necessary in life...but today I just feel like saying:

Taxes SUCK!!!

There, I said it.

To be or not to be, that is the question

Today the famous opening phrase of act three, scene one of Shakespeare's famous Hamlet plagued me. I'm not saying I was considering "being" or "not being" literally...just that the opening phrase could be applied to many life scenarios.

To be an HR Manager or to be a Seamstress. That was an interesting question I was faced with a few years ago...luckily I chose to follow my crafty passion and become a full-time seamstress.

How many people choose "not to be" rather than "to be" and live to regret it? An interesting question.

Here's the soliloquy in it's entirety:

To be or not to be – that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And, by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep
No more – and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to – ‘tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep
To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th’ oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th’ unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.—Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered.

Oh, and I got two more orders from stores this week! One is a new shop, The Bradley Gallery here in Stoughton. I am going to be sewing like a mad woman the next few weeks! (Don't I always say that? LOL)

Rub a Dub Dub-get clean in the Tub!!

I'm going to be featuring a great Etsy artist on my blog once a week or so. I'd like to focus on my fellow Wisconsin etsians, but there will be others thrown in here and there.

This week I'd like to share my love for the soaps, lip balms and laundry soaps created by Heather Rai of Beautiful Soaps (www.beautifulsoaps.etsy.com). I LOVE her soaps, especially during this long, long, dry winter! They last much longer than other handmade soaps I've tried and the earthy, yet light and natural scents are a delight to my sniffer! My husband even likes them too (but what guy wouldn't like soap made from his favorite Wisconsin - or other - beer!)

I ordered a sample pack of her laundry detergent last fall and fell in love with it! I love the scent, which Heather said wouldn't last through the dryer, but I think it does! If you have an HE washer and only need a few tablespoons of detergent for each load you should try this great, natural laundry soap!

I've never tried the candles or shampoo bars, but they are on my list to try!

If you want to know more about Heather Rai and her products, follow her on FB! Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulSoaps#!/pages/Appleton-WI/Beautiful-Soaps/250124056652?ref=ts

Clean is good-get clean with Beautiful Soaps!