First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza...

So excited for the Shopping Extravaganza -

Beginning on Saturday August 1st at 12:00 AM EST, the Etsy Supply Street Team is hosting another "First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza." This months event will run from Saturday, August 1st - Sunday, August 2nd, 2009.

I plan on adding to the Sale/Specials section of my shop for the First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza - be sure to check the event out on www.etsy.com and in my shop at www.fernridgefabrics.etsy.com

Shoe store fun

When I am not teaching, sewing, selling fabric, doing farm chores, or chasing after the little one I work part time at a shoe store - just a day a week during the summers. It is a dangerous place because I LOVE shoes and I get an employee discount.

The shoe store I work at sells European comfort shoes - Danskos, Romikas, and Birkenstocks are a few of my favorites. Last year a couple of students asked how many different pairs of clogs I owned. I actually don't have that many...mostly because I don't have that big of a closet.

Last week when I worked I told myself that I wouldn't buy any shoes - I should have made that same vow when I left the house today. I fell in love with a lovely Mary Jane style shoe by Romika named the Milla. It should be here in a couple weeks - can't wait.

Jumping Cow

This morning I thought I would get up and enjoy a nice iced soy mocha with a touch of almond flavor while I waited for my little one to wake up. I was just taking a glass out of the cabinet when I got a call from my husband who was on his way to work. Apparently he had just received a phone call from one of our neighbors who wanted to let us know one of our cows was out. I knew which cow it was right away - we have one that occasionally jumps the fence to see if there is anything interesting on the other side. Our hope was that as this cow grew he would no longer be able to clear the fence, I really don't know how he does it!

Since my husband commutes about 45 minutes it wasn't possible for him to turn around and come home to deal with the cow. Chasing a cow with a 2 year old isn't the best plan but lucky for me we have GREAT neighbors. They were able to send one of their farm hands to get the cow back in the field.

And the best part...my little one is still sleeping and I can enjoy my coffee!

Amy Butler's Swing Bag - finished!

The other day I blogged about the great deal I found on an Amy Butler Swing Bag Pattern. Today I made it a priority to make one. I decided to use two fabrics from Joel Dewberry's retired Manzanita Collection.

The good - pattern is very easy to follow, only a few pieces, quick to put together, doesn't take much fabric, reversible

The bad - I had a hard time making turns while sewing because of the canvas layer

Next time - Next time I think that I will use an interfacing and see how it turns out. While I like the fact that the canvas layer makes the bag more sturdy feeling, it was a bit difficult to work with (could just be my inexperience with canvas). For this bag I left off the bow but I may make one later tonight because it does add a bit of style to an otherwise simple bag.

Amy Butler Swing Bag

The other day I stopped in the local quilt store. It is a great store but doesn't carry many designer fabrics - which is part of why I opened my own fabric shop on etsy (http://www.fernridgefabrics.etsy.com/). As I was looking around I noticed a lone Amy Butler pattern sitting on the counter - and it was for sale - and for a great price! I have been wanting to purchase an Amy Butler pattern for a purse but every time I am at a quilt store I am trying to stick to a budget and there never seems to be money left for a new pattern by the time I pick out fabrics.

Now the hard part is picking which two fabrics from my stash I want to use. I took a picture of the pattern with two fabrics - a nice Joel Dewberry print from his new collection and Amy Butler's Happy Dots.

I have read through the pattern and cut out the paper pieces. It seems like a pretty simple pattern. Hope it turns out well!

New wall hanging

About a month ago I saw a great idea in a craft store. Using a canvas, wooden letters, ribbon, fabric, and vinyl saying - I created a wonderful new wall hanging. I can't believe how quickly this project went. I painted the wooden letters the night before and then glued/stapled all the pieces together in about half an hour. (Finished size is 24 in x 12 in)

Now I just need to decide where to hang it!

Cowboy Boot Fabric, hmm...

I grew up in a very rural, very small Eastern Oregon town. A town where there are still real cowboys who work on cattle ranches. Cowboy boots are nothing new to me but because I lived in town I never saw the need for them. When my husband and I moved onto our farm a few years ago I bought a pair of cowboy boots because they make sense.

My daughter turned two last week and one of her grandmothers bought her a pair of wonderful pink and brown cowboy boots - the real thing, no dress up boots in this house! She hasn't taken them off - they are the first thing she puts on in the morning and I have to pry them off at bedtime.

While I have seen cowboy boot fabric I haven't paid that close of attention to it because it just wasn't something that I thought I would need - not really my style I guess. Seeing how much my little one loves her cowboy boots I think that I need to find the perfect Western fabric so that I can make her a little purse or skirt to go with those amazing boots. Wish me luck on my searches!

New Tote - Love It!

A few weeks ago I worked with a wonderful Etsy shop, The Pink Paisley Totes at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5634183, on a custom tote. I sent some of my favorite fabric from Patricia Bravos' Feelings II Collection to have made into a tote for this next school year. The teacher in me loves totes! The tote that I used this last year has seen better days and it wasn't really cute - I actually had a student ask me if I took my tote in public!

I am so impressed with the tote that Lori created for me. The quality is amazing and her turnaround time was quick. I have had lots of great experiences purchasing from shops on Etsy but this was one of my best.

Such a busy week

I just started my blog and am already slacking. It has been a busy week - lots of fun summer activities to distract me from my goals. After the long weekend I plan to dedicate some serious time to organizing my work space, updating my books, and picking some new fabrics for my shop.

Update - I finished the skirt that I started last week with the lovely Lily fabric in red from Joel Dewberry's Manzanita Collection. I ended up giving it as a gift - isn't it great to have friends who wear the same size? I should have taken a picture before giving it away.