This is a comforter cover and set of two pillow cases, along with curtains you can see on the right side. I made this set for my son but I will soon be offering custom sets for sale. I haven't worked out all the details yet about the custom order process. I might just put this set on Etsy as an example and allow people to place orders through "conversation" on Etsy. I made this set after looking around at various stores and feeling unsatisfied with the choices out there. I thought if people already had a theme, like we did, it would allow them to add a great, creative element to their child's room. I can make the sets in all cotton fabric, Organic cotton fabric, or any combination with or without minky or chenille. In addition to comforter covers, pillow cases, and curtains, I also make fabric wall hangings. Which I will post an example of soon. Please let me know if you have any feedback! Thanks! : )

What to do about nothing?

I know I haven't blogged in a while, I've been so busy trying to catch up with things in our [family] life. My list has gotten too long and needs to go away, so I've been trying for that. A few of the bigger things going on are trying to sell my car and buy a new one and contemplating moving to Napa, and the preparation involved in planning and organizing for a move like that. I have to be prepared for it, if it does happen, and it's looking more like it will.
I have a new tutorial coming in the next day or so, and a few new projects to post pictures of that will soon end up on Etsy. I've bought some great new fabric recently and found a great place to buy it online since some of my favorite fabric I can't seem to find locally.

So much to do, not enough time.

Tonight I found a tutorial on how to make my own blog buttons. Pretty cool, although I have so little time. Decorating my blog should probably not be too high on my list of priorities right now. I ironed fabric for hours tonight while I watched Sex and the City. Tomorrow I need to get caught up on designing and cutting. If I only had a room just for my sewing, that would make such a difference. I feel like I have everything all over, because I do my ironing and cutting upstairs and my sewing and photos downstairs. Someday... : ) Maybe sleeping should be a priority right now?!

Hum...

So when I google Tulips and Turnips I see there are many others, which doesn't make me too happy. Especially because I bought a URL that I am not currently using. I thought a blog would be more fun. Maybe eventually I will use the URL, I have it for another eight years minimum... However, I suppose if you are reading this than it's not an issue anyways. Here I thought I was being original : )
I sold my first "package" today. I have sold many blankets on their own and onesies on their own but not the whole package until today. So the one with the apples that is pictured below is gone to live in Virginia. It was so fast too, I posted it and just a few hours later it was sold. It was actually just a test to see how I could connect my Etsy page with my blog, it just looks like a white space if you don't have an item posted in your etsy store. I so put a few items in just messing around and sold one. What a nice surprise that I really needed, it helps keep me going to have a validation like that. It is hard starting up something like this, I've felt like quitting many times because it takes so much time and patience. I'm learning to have more of it...

 

A photo of one of my packages. There are a few more as you scroll down. This one still needs it's bib and / or burp cloth. I am thinking about making changing pads to go with each package. Tomorrow I'm going to try and finish up some of the other packages I have been working on and post some more photos. Some of my favorite ones are almost done. I hit a little lull because I had house guests and was feeling busy. I am working on getting some more color varieties of onesies to choose from, so far I have a bright pink, blue, green, and white. I will try to post some colored onesies soon. I do not wash any of the clothing but I do wash the fabric I use for everything else because I want it to be true to form once it is sewed. I always use eco-friendly, natural laundry soap. All of the clothing I use for my projects are Organic.

Today.

Most days I start the day with some sort of goals regarding what I could get done today... I think it's good to do this but be loosely attached to it because in reality it never happens. I've learned I especially shouldn't try to make a list of things I want to get done during nap time because there seems to be some strange thing about that, I've talked to many Mom's who say the same thing... never make a nap time list because it won't get done! It's like the babies know somehow and will not let you finish it. ; ) But really, I've learned I need to not take things so seriously and just do what I can, my babies are very good boys and are quite patient and play very well on their own while I work on things. But, It can be frustrating stopping a project when I've just started on it. Today I'm going to start again after my injury, and I'm hoping to be able to put some new pictures up too.

Pictures and things

I have some great things to post but ned to take pictures first. It ends up being really complicated because of lighting and the way the camera doesn't exactly get everything into the frame of the picture or it ends up being too far away looking. It's sort of frustrating. During the summer I can set up a place outside in the back of my house to take pictures to get better light, but as of now it's not the right time for that. I bought some wooden clothes pins for the pictures, that might be a good way to get things in pictures. We bought a digital video camera that takes great pictures, so I'm glad to have that for this kind of thing too. I was hoping to get some blanket packages done well before Easter but that's just not happening. Oh well I guess... They're still cute for girl babies for Spring and Summer time or anytime really.

Inspiration

I hurt my neck, shoulder, and back yesterday and so I haven't been able to do any work. I'm laying in bed looking at my pile of fabric I need to iron and cut and really want to work on it but can't. Sometimes when I get hurt, sick, or have a surgery it gives me a perspective that I need to be re-inspired to work on my projects. I am more into my work, if I could call it that at this point, than ever. I'm going to need a lot more materials soon, so I need to get to taking pictures and posting them online so I can have some turnover. I am so grateful for what I have, there are many things I think of each day when I start to get a "poor me attitude" when I'm feeling down that pulls me right out of it... things like what is going on in other parts of the world... war, disasters, famine, crime against women, etc..., not living in Big Sur anymore, having a wonderful husband and beautiful sweet babies,, etc. I am so happy to be a stay-at-home Mom, being with my children and making my own schedule, it makes it possible for me to do this kind of work, so I can put love into it and enjoy what I'm doing. : )

Thinking

I'm looking into screen printing, and so far it seems very complicated. The process of developing this little business has been challenging and a little frustrating. It's difficult to make something out of nothing and that's really what I'm doing. I've had investment offers but for some reason, or several, I don't want to accept them. One reason is it adds a pressure element that I don't want. It already takes so much time and energy and planning and setbacks... but it's going to take a while to do it myself I think.

My creations.

I started out making onesies with appliques, I posted a few here today, more to come. Now I'm working on things that Moms (and Dads) need when they are either at home or out in the world such as baby blanket/playmat (most are fairly large measuring around 30"x 33" or so), small diaper bag, onesies, and bib or burp cloth. There will be other combinations of things as well, like a diaper bag and onesie or small blanket or lovie and onesie. And maybe someday lovie stuffed animals. My goal is to have a website that I can set up so that people can choose what they want, sort of a custom creations type of thing. I try to imagine what kinds of designs and sizes of things I would find most useful, and will therefore make most items based on that. But I am hoping to be able to make things for other's specific needs as far as sizes and color preferences. I will hopefully have a link or two to online locations where my creations can be purchased... we'll see I guess : )