Thing A Day - Let us begin!

AH! Didn't think you'd hear from me so soon? Well get used to it!! Thanks to the genius concept of "Thing a Day" from Amanda at Geek Details, a fellow member of the EtsyTwitter Team, I'll be attempting to post something everyday to either my blog or my Shop. Today is Day 1! You should try it - I have a feeling it's going to help me be a better blogger. Suzanne at ThreePeats is playing along, too! I can't wait to see who else will join in the madness :)

Today I stumbled upon a new swap... Claire's Crafty Blog is hosting a Pin Cushion Swap and I signed up quicker than you can blink! Pin cushions and swapping - two things that make my heart happy! I have too many pin cushions fashioned from random things I find... Here is a highlight of a few of my favorites.




The little strawberry is my favorite. She sits on my craft table and keeps me company for most of my sewing projects. My fellow sewistas - what's your favorite pin cushion?

Let it Snow!!

Hey there, crafters! Today was a lazy, but productive day. I'm at my beloved boyfriend's house for a visit and we got snowed in! My original plan for today was to go to a job fair in Burlington County, but it was snowed out. So that's where I'll be tomorrow! 

Let's see... First we dug out my car...

My car and my hero... Bobby (boyfriend) helping me dig out my car. Then we put more air in the tires and I vac'ed all the dirt and yuck out!

I love my little junk car. You can't see it, but on the other side of the bumper, there is duct tape covering a massive hole. I DIDN'T DO IT. Haha, it was like that when I got the car. I think it adds character.

I love snow :) I know this may be the last snow of the season, but it was a good one! I would say there were about 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground. Notice my scarf? I started it forever ago and it was horrible, and then I unraveled it yesterday and started again, much better!!

Ignore the silly hat, it was the only one I could find. Haha!

Now for something completely different...

Here are a few things that are on my craft desk waiting for me to get home from my mini-vacation...

My little brother got me this candle for Christmas two years ago. I felt bad because I couldn't bring it to my dorm with me (Damn fire code rules) and my Mom told me he spent his last $9 on this gift (he was 15 and poor haha), so I always keep this right next to my sewing area and light it just before I start sewing. I love the scent! Who'd think Vanilla Lime would smell so good??

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I've been working on my photo-taking skills for my projects ever since the great feedback you all gave during my first giveaway. This little tea wallet will be up for sale on Etsy as soon as I get some acceptable photos. 

Here's my question - If you saw this photo and were in need of a tea wallet, would you buy this one based on the photo? If so - what's good about it? If not - what could I do differently?

Just another angle of the tea wallet. Cuter? Pointless? What do you think?

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And last but not least, I've made a few new tea cup pin cushions. The pink and blue one will be up for sale soon. Comments on the photo skills?? I needz your helpz!

The world is so different now!

Hey there, Crafters. I come to you today a new woman. I have seen the light!!!

And by light, I mean the little itty bitty light on my new sewing machine :D

I've never had my own, real-life, big girl sewing machine. I've had little kiddie ones and one of those compact pieces of junk. My Mom had a sewing machine years ago, but neither of us could get the bottom bobbin threaded (we're mechanically challenged). And since I've taken a liking to sewing in the recent months, I asked Santa for a sewing machine for Christmas. Ol' Saint Nick did not disappoint! This may not be the most advanced or fancy pants sewing machine, but it works just great for me! 

Since Christmas this little puppy had been sitting in its box amidst all of my other boxes from moving back home from college. Tonight, and I finally started cleaning and organizing my junk, I decided to give up with cleaning once my desk was clear and play with my machine.

First I started by playing with a bunch of 4inch square blocks I had and that turned into about a 12inch square thingy with a white backing. I thought to myself, "Self - What are you going to do with this?" I thought about making it an envelope... nope. I tried quilting it to make a doll blanket for my niece who will me spending the weekend at my house... that turned out badly. Check out all the thread I ended up yanking out of the poor thing...

Then I got an idea. I had been wanting to try to square off the bottom of a bag. That always looks so sharp! So I did! And then that turned into this...

It's a little rough and I already know a bunch of changes I'll make the next time I try to make one of these, but in the end, I love it!! I think I'll put together a tutorial for this once I get all the kinks worked out. For now, I've stuffed it full of miscellaneous sewing supplies to keep next to my new best friend. 

And now, to leave you - I'll show off my favorite pincushion.

I found the strawberry jar at an antique shop owned by a friend of my Poppy (grandfather) this past summer. I love strawberries, so I had to bring it home with me. I had no use for it until I realized that the lame little poof I had been sticking pins in fit perfectly inside! Thus, my strawberry pincushion buddy was born. 

I'll open it up to the rest of you out there - Do you have a favorite pincushion? Show it off!! Post a link in the comments and tell me its story! Best story will be featured on Frosted Treats!!

Woo!! Pin Cushion!!!

Okay, so it's official. I am a shopaholic. After school today, I went out with Andrea (roomie) to Michael's because she needed to return a frame. Of course, I wander off into the happiness that is a craft store. A basket full of clearance stuff later, my beloved Andrea uses her sick employee discount to get me all my goodies for $11! Yeaaahh!! Me living with someone who works at a craft store is like a coke-head living with a drug dealer. BAD NEWS! Hahahah!

I got lots of felt, three fat quarters, a ton of stickers, two rolls of ribbon, a few pieces of decorative paper, and a piece of fabric that is kind of velour-like for 25cents! All-in-all, it's a good haul. 

So school was good... It was just a teacher's in service, so I showed up, did my thing, met with my cooperating teacher, and then he let me go home early. Tomorrow we are setting up our classroom! Yaaay!

I finished the pin cushion for Grandma. Check it out!

Now it's time for a nap before my staff meeting. Adios!

Goodbye Summer!

Ahhh, Labor Day. The official end to summer for most of my life... This time, it's truly the end. Tomorrow I start Student Teaching. No students just yet, but meetings and what not at the school. Then the kids come. Then I am no longer a kid myself - I have to walk, talk, and act like a teacher everyday. My stomach is full of butterflies. I plan on setting out my outfit, getting the coffee pot ready, and going to be early.

For now, while I'm stuck in the RA office on duty, I'm making a pin cushion for my Grandma. Before I moved back to school, she hemmed three pairs of teacher pants for me overnight!! She's a sewing ANIMAL! In return, I plan on making her a pin cushion, maybe a little handbag, and sending candies. I love my Grandma! Here is the pin cushion pattern I am following - I'm using a nice burgundy fabric I found. That's my Grandma's favorite color.

Square Deal Pin Cushion by Heather Bailey - This is a Free Pattern that I just LOVE! I can't wait to finish up this pin cushion and send it on its way! I plan on making one for myself, too. The lame little felt poof I rigged together just isn't cutting it.

I did a bit of shopping the other day... Here are the goodies!

I have two 1/2 yards - one in black, and one in white. They have each have a really neat pattern on them... I sense a purse or two... The orange was a really cheapie remnant that I grabbed. I think it's a cute color! I got some ribbon... Some D rings... Some buttons.... A couple of clearance stamps... some jump rings and chain... Oh! And some ADORABLE mini paper bows!! I can't wait to find some random reason to put those to good use. I really need a life. Sigh.