Camouflage

I did sew today.

A customer order for  a CD Organizer that fits on a car sun visor.
She wanted Pink Camouflage. I received the fabrics Thursday and sewed two CD organizers and one Zippy pouch.

Aren't these cute?

I'm not much of a pink girl but hey - if it's in camo, it's awesome.

They are now  in my new etsy store. Part of my future business plan involves more sewing. My RunningWithNeedles etsy shop is filled with vintage sewing treasures. I felt like I was dumping my handmade items in there. This year,   I opened RunningWithHandmade, my second (*third) shop back in January, getting all my finance/organizational ducks in a row.

It's been slow going as I got seriously overwhelmed by not only my business plan, but the usual culprits of work, parents/family, and health issues all deciding to flare up as well.

So, I stalled.

 I'm pretty good with outlining the steps necessary to move forward.
Breaking down the big picture and organizing the flow.

This big picture is big.

I had to take a step back and wonder if it is too much. It has to do with retiring from work and how will I earn a paycheck big. Dealing with family issues that I will be more responsible for when I quit my current job.

I got depressed about, well, everything.
Which led me to getting sick with the worst spring flu ever this last week.
Which also led me to talk to someone, actually several someones.

It helped. having the downtime, getting feedback. I have a family history of depression and I think we all experience it at times. My older sister is hip-deep in it right now. She acknowledges she is depressed but can't seem to find her way out.

I'm working overtime the next couple of weeks so it preys on my mind. I can't help her right now.
I have to help myself first. Which is something my voodoo-hippie doc tries to imprint into my brain cells. If I over-extend myself, I get really sick.

So- what to do?

Ask for help. Put on hold things that don't need to be done today. Minimize your outside commitments. Ask for help.


I feel better in my head about my own situation. I know my on-going business plan is to my benefit. I know that we, as a family, will figure out how to help my sister.

Because of my auto-immune issues, I try to live my life as if I won't be able to do everything I want to do before my disease gets the better of me. Do the best I can. Every day. Try something new. Keep engaged.

 

***second etsy shop is RunningWithAirplanes which I never stocked as I've never had enough time in the day to do it all.

Sewing Gift

 I recently won a prize on Red Letter Quilts that was amazing.

A fun pencil pouch loaded with fun fabrics.
I turned some of those fabrics into this CD Holder for Heidi.

I had fun sewing with someone elses fabric selections. She likes to sew quilt, so I found several sewing themed fabrics in my stash that coordinated with hers. I hope she likes to listen to CD's when driving....well, even if she doesn't, she can throw it up on her car visor and smile every time she looks at it.

 I was going to put a Stearman Biplane patch here but Miss T.G.I.F. jumped up and said, "SEW ME". And this is on the back side - aka the side that faces the car visor. No one will ever see this patch except the recipient.

Second Polka Dot CD Holder

Two CD Holders that fit on your Car visor.
I had a custom Etsy order for one.
I sewed up two - letting customer decide. The other one will be for sale in my shop.

 The second one has a bit more polka dots to go with her inspiration pieces.

I found a fabric scrap with a rocket on it. Couldn't resist sewing it on.

Sunday's sewing also included this little scrappy thing. It's to go in a zippy pouch but the fan was not cutting it anymore. Inside the house is now 81' and outside is still above 90'.
The kind of heat that gets you all cranky.
Time to log off  'cuz Blogger is crankier than me today.

Polka Dot CD Holder For Car

A customer to my Etsy shop contacted me to make a custom CD holder for her car. 
She's got a serious addiction to polka dots going on.

She sent me the following photos to get an idea of what she wanted.

 {I was seriously tempted to add rick rack somehow 
but didn't have any of the giant white. . .}

While I still had fabrics out, I made her a pocket tissue holder too.

I might make another CD organizer - ha! you believed me when I said the fabrics were put away? using just the giant polka dot and the white with mini-black dots and a black gingham I have. Give her a choice.
I can always put  the other one in my etsy shop.

CD organizer tute is here.