Long overdue post!

I have many excuses for not frequently posting, but the migraines have been the most common reason. I am absolutely down for the count when they come on. Hopefully today will be pain free. The sun is shining, and the snow is almost melted completely, so spring must be coming!

The stitchette above is my final embroidery for Sophia's quilt. It is coming together great, and I am excited to post the result when it is finished. I am now wondering what I was thinking doing embroidery on fabric that I had limited quantity of, on my first full-sized quilt. Any mistakes and I am #$*!@#$. But it is almost finished and I will be happy for that. I will be sending it out however for machine quilting. Just cannot take the chance on messing it up.

I feel compelled to direct you here since I am a huge fan and I have much to say on the subject.

Since I used the Stitchettes and purchased every one of them and have used them not for resale as stated on the package insert. When someone is as talented as Hilary Lang and has a nice little business going on, I think supporting her is great. Can I get "more" embroidery patterns than 4 for $12? Yes I can, could I draw a figure of a kid myself? Probably. But my view on this blogging-crafter-artisan-for profit-for fun-for hobby is this:

The bloggers who include a business within the blog or at the very least promote their creations deserve some serious respect. These folks put an extraordinary amount of time and effort to create, produce and market their great products. I get some fabulous ideas from some blogs promoting ideas just as I do from magazines or websites or tv or whatever. But I do give credit where it is due. If it truly is my own idea...well then I will toot my horn.

What has obviously happened to Hillary Lang is just horrible and I credit her for not outsourcing her stitchettes and wee make-a-long kits. What I value is that I can buy from a credible source, hand made for me. I've been to China...some of the manufacturing issues aren't pretty, and it isn't just China. Support whenever possible handmade and of course the small business, it will not only be supporting someone else (personally), but make you feel like you are contributing to something "good."

This could happen to anyone. I think it was an incredible injustice and it makes me want to support the small business all the more. And I hope you will join me too!

Publish Post

Quilt in progress...

So, this is the beginning of the quilt I hope to finish for Sophia. I have embroidered the stitchettes from Wee Wonderfuls. I am having issues with the corner fabrics though. I really need to find something with pink, as that was the initial plan, and I am going back to it. Large patterns do not work with the embroideries, and some small prints are just not right, you know how it is?

Anyway, just wanted to show the progress, still do not have a camera...pretty sad when I have to use my 5-year old's camera. But with our busy schedules these past weeks and the snow...arghhhh, it is hard to get out with two little children.

So much to write about tonight! You've got to see what Hilary Lang at Wee Wonderfuls is doing now. I get so much inspiration from that woman and I do not even know her. In fact The elf Stitchette design on Sophia's stocking is from one of her freebie downloads. It turned out pretty great I must say. I am trying to decide what to do with the fall collection I purchased from her. Maybe some sort of quilt. I am also feeling in need of a large project. I want to work on something big. I have a few ideas, but nothing stable yet, stay tuned!
Now I am finishing up some Christmas orders and gifts, most are close to completion...yeah! I will enjoy Christmas, and then hopefully travel to get Sophia. No word on travel yet...blah blah blah, I sound like a broken record. I am having a great time with Jurnee this week though. She is so fun to hang with!
Thursday I am planning to do something especially unusual, spend time alone with Rusty! We will be shopping and it will be fun, Rusty loves to shop. I love to shop alone - hee hee - but he is really excited about Christmas, so he can have his fun and I will set limits, it will be grand! Plus he will buy dinner, and he will probably go wherever I want, Italian no doubt. Oh the simple life, only I wish it was that simple. I do have a few Christmas surprises in store this year. And like I said, then it will be all business, going to China and coming home with an almost toddler! She will be 11 months old tomorrow! Probably we will celebrate her birthday with her though, we were able to spend Jurnee's 1st birthday with her also. Ta Ta~~