So much for keeping up with the blog....starting over!

So the first 5 months of 2011 have gone by in a blur. A blur of sweaters, sweater dust and upcycled sweater creations! Here's a very, very small sampling of what I've been up to:

A few weeks ago I finally pulled the plug on the sweater machine, in order to work on a few lighter weight, spring/summer creations. Since then I've been making skirts, vacuuming sweater dust and scheming new ideas and possibilities.

I've also been restocking all the neglected shops that have so graciously carried my handmade clothing for the past 18 months. So far, I've stocked/restocked Glitter Workshop, Wholly Craft and a new shop, D.I.Y. Studio & Gifts. Coming shortly will be stock for Anthology, and two additional new shops, Weathered Goods and Modern Mercantile. I added links (if available) to these cool shopping destinations in the sidebar to the right.

Other shop updates include the sad news that Jack 'N Jill in Helena, Montana is closing at the end of May because the owner's spouse has taken a job out of state, and recently Dainty Daisies in Oshkosh, Wisconsin has downsized to a smaller studio and is only taking consignment on a very limited basis. You will be able to find The Painted Daisy products there the month of October - I will be the guest gallery artist for that month!

Let's see...other news....2011 SHOW SCHEDULE!

July 9 - Contructor Fair, NW Chicago Suburbs (Fitzgeralds, Berwyn, IL 10-6)
http://www.constructorcraftfair.com/

July 24th - Summer Craftacular, Madison, WI (East Side Club 10-5)
www.glitterworkshop.com/craftacular

T.B.A. September - Annual Trunk Show, Lexington KY

October 1st - Gallery Walk, Dainty Daisies, Oshkosh, WI (6-9pm)
http://www.daintydaisies.com/

and hopefully...

November 19th - Handmade for the Holidays, Oshkosh, WI
www.daintydaisies.com/handmadefortheholidays.html

December 3rd - Holiday Craftacular, Madison, WI

Keep an eye on my blog for updates about my upcoming shows, new products, tidbits and non-sensical trivia about my sewing, family and life in-general!

Latest Special Projects - Week 4 2011 (a little late)

So I'm still not caught up on posts yet, but I'm still only one week behind...so that's good, right?

Anyway...I've been very busy with special projects, in between getting ready for a great little Valentine Trunk Show (www.glitterworkshop.com/craftacular) on February 6. For all you Madison-area fans you can hit the show early (starts at 10:00am) and still have plenty of time to get your party on for the Packers later that day!

A lovely Holiday Craftacular customer placed a special order for a long, twirly, Katwise-esque sweater coat. She was gracious enough to wait until after the new year. We recently met a few times to measure, exchange ideas and she even provided a lot of the materials! Here are some pictures of the fabulous, decadent, wonderfully rich and unique results! (As always, I apologize in advance for my poor photography skills!)

I'm wrapping up a few more special projects this week, so more coming soon!

Special Project Fun! Week 2 2011

Well, week 2 of 2011 ended on Saturday...and its now Monday, so I'm 2 days behind already! I think I'll have to get working on the post for this week (3) right away so this year doesn't get away from me!

Week 2 was spent working on several projects. I narrowed down my ideas for spring and summer skirts, created patterns and began sewing prototypes. I thought I would have them done by now and ready to photograph and solicit feedback. But....it wasn't meant to be. I got sidelined by several special requests for custom sweaters. Here are some glimpses of a few that I turned out last week.

The first is a super colorful compilation of aqua/teal, red, orange and some crazy color argyle with black. This was created for a new artists friend, Kim Geiser. I highly recommend you check out her blog at http://www.persimmonsgal54220.blogspot.com/ as well as her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/persimmonsgal . She wanted a bright, colorful, long, wrap cardigan...it goes out in the mail tomorrow. I hope she loves it!

The next two lovelies were created for a high school friend I recently got reaquainted with, via the products I sell at a great shop in Madison, WI http://anthology.typepad.com/. Alyssa wanted to "remake" a few of the sweaters she already owned, and these are the results! The Cowl Tunic on the left was a much plainer turtleneck sweater in its former life... I added the flow-y brown and multicolor bands at the neck for the cowl and spliced in some color at the midsection. The other is a great "katwise-esque" sweater coat made from two sweater dusters my friend already owned + some scraps of multi-color sweater knit I had leftover from another project. I left the neckline and sleeve cuffs alone because the fraggle trim was already super cool.

The last project was a custom creation for a repeat customer who is also a patron of an eclectic clothing/vintage/handmade shop in Appleton, WI http://www.daintydaisies.blogspot.com/. Kelly wanted a super colorful, bright, crazy color combo, long tie front cardigan. After emailing a palette of sweaters/scraps we came up with this rambunctious combination of bright orange bodice with splashes of yellow, kelly green, red, lavender, fuschia, black and that awesome argyle made its first appearance in this sweater. Kelly received her sweater last week and I'm hoping to receive some fan pics soon!

I'm working on several more special orders over the next few weeks and will keep posting the results. I love to collaborate with customers to create something unique and "just right" for them.

Happy snow storm to everyone in the upper midwest today. Kids were off school anyway for MLK Day and I'm going to head out and snowblow...then back to the sewing machine.

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!