Gearing up for Christmas

This was a very busy week for me. After the stress of last weekend's show, I took a bit of a break from sewing to clean house, and start cooking for Thanksgiving dinner which I hosted. The dinner was great and we had a good time. I also awoke Turkey day morning to a huge order from my cousin in CA which really made my day!

My house is a mess yet again due to the boxes and bins of Christmas decorations in every room! The tree is up, the outside decorated and some things are out, but I will have to finish up today. It is snowing, sleeting, and raining here so it will be a good day to get it done.

On top of it all, I have my middle daughter's 11th birthday on Tuesday so I also had to shop for that yesterday and I have to wrap today. Thankfully here in PA the girls are off from school tomorrow because of hunting season opening something or other.

I have custom orders to get done so that I can start sewing the Christmas gifts I have planned. I also have to make my oldest a dress for the Christmas dance Dec. 20th.

So, that is just a taste of what I have coming up, not to mention the school concerts, parties, and other social engagements on the calendar.

I wish you all a fun holiday season, whatever it is you celebrate and take the time to really enjoy each moment, they won't come again.

It was Great!!!

Had my open house debut yesterday and I had so much fun! I made a nice amount of money, got a bunch of custom orders and future customers and best of all, everyone was super impressed with my work!

I was nervous no one would show up but I had a nice turn out. A few didn't show up that I thought would, but life gets in the way so no bother.

I did manage to make a really cool original design bag on Saturday with a matching wallet.
It turned out great and I really like the edgy look of it.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17663335

I am off to start my plan of attack on the custom orders I got. Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving. We all have much to be thankful for if we only look around.

I have entered sewing sweat shop hell!

So I knew I had my big Debut open house this Sunday the 23rd for about two months. An organized business owner/designer/artisan would have had a plan of attack and would have worked steadily creating new items, tagging them, and pricing them all before the last few days. But not me. No, I had to procrastinate, and let life get in the way. I kept thinking I had more time, that somehow the things would get made.

I have been sewing like a fiend for the past 4 days and I still have so much to do before Sunday. I wake up at 5 each morning with a nervous pit in my stomach and my mind racing. I start sewing at 8:45, after my daily school commute and stop at 2 to pick up the kids, get homework going and start dinner. I start again at 7 and sew until 11. It's still not enough!

So, I am hoping that I will have enough to sell and showcase on Sunday. I am really hoping for this to jump start my business and get me some much needed Christmas spending money!!

With that, I will sign off to get back to work. Wish me luck, pray for me, and I will post more when this madness has ended.

Happy Crafting.

Blue beauties!

This week's fav is a little late because I absolutely loved the last ones I chose. They would make a great treasury collection on etsy.

Anyway, this week I chose the color blue, which I love as my guide. I found some gorgeous items which you can check out on the left in the fav mini.

Remember to check out my etsy shop for the latest listings and gift ideas as well as all the other talented artists there.

Happy crafting!

Quiet Sunday Mornings

I love to get up before the rest of my family and make coffee and read the paper while soft music is playing. I don't get to do it as much anymore because Brian gets up super early and so do Erin and Emma.

Today was a rare occasion and it was nice to watch the sun come up and be able to collect my thoughts.

I am finally having my open house debut on the 23rd so I have to get sewing big time. I want to make more bags,table runners, and some other things to showcase what I make. I am hoping that it will bring me some new customers and get the ball rolling to get my business off the ground.

The sun is shining, and it is nice to be able to post this entry without hearing the girls fighting or Brian yelling at them to clean their rooms!

I hope you all have a great Sunday!

Here's to a New Hope!

Yeah!!! I am so very happy this morning that our country voted for change and hope for our future. I am not so naive as to think one man can or will do everything we need, but I do believe that we now at least have some hope for a better future.

I have a busy day of sewing ahead of me. I am working on a reversible work tote, that can carry a lap top, or files or both. I also have some more scarves to make for holiday gifts.

Enjoy today, and the promises of tomorrow!

GET OUT and VOTE!

Happy Election Day! Please make sure you take the time to go and vote today. Whoever it is you support, it is important for your voice to be heard. We in this country take for granted our privileges that our forefathers fought and died for. We have grown accustomed to our freedoms and are blind to the fact that there are many places in the world that people have no rights at all.

If you have kids, then be a great example to them by voting. Children learn from example, and if you use a lame excuse like the weather, or long lines they will view voting as something that is not important at all.

Let's hope that whoever wins will make the changes we so desperately need and turn things around.

Have a great day!

New selling venue!

I just opened up a shop on Big Cartel with some of my bags. I heard about it in the etsy forums as another selling venue and thought I would see how it goes.

Check it out and tell your friends. I will add more when I see what the response is.

For now you can find me at www.bstauffdesigns.bigcartel.com

Good friends, good food, good wine...

Do you need anything more for a perfect weekend evening? Tonight we are having over one our favorite couples for dinner. I am going to make Pasta Fagioli the way my grandmother did and serve it with good Italian bread and red wine. With a fire going, it will be the perfect peasant styled meal for a cool evening in November!

We always have a great time with them and we laugh a lot which Brian and I need to do after this stressful week (OK 6 months). We deserve this little break from reality tonight!

I love to entertain and have friends over. In the past I have always felt I need to have something fancy for dinner, to make it seem special. Not anymore. Simple dishes can be even better because they are comforting, easy to prepare and make your guests feel at home. If you are trying to recreate a restaurant in your home, why not just meet at one? Your friends come over for you, not the meal. A simpler menu also lets you spend more time with them and actually enjoy the evening rather than running around the kitchen preparing different courses.

Open up a good bottle of your favorite wine, put on a pot of soup, serve it with bread and a simple salad and add some friends. You'll have a great weekend!

Have fun!


P.S. It's a new week and you know what that means...new favs on the etsy mini!!! check them out!