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.

1000 Customers on Etsy And Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to my awesome customers on etsy.
I looked at my etsy stats last fall and was quietly surprised that I was so close to 1000 sales since I  opened the sh0p in 2009. I put a concerted effort into realizing my #1000 goal and reached it January 20th.

My customer was ecstatic that I had the vintage pattern she had been searching for and replied, "OMG! Jupiter luck again! That's amazing and I'm so glad I am your 1000th order! Thank you for making this order free! And, thanks to you having this pattern, I can unleash my creative potential. May you have many more thousands of sales! :)"

Jupiter Luck!

Jupiter Luck received everything here FREE for being my 1000th customer.

Missy Jupiter Luck ordered a pattern bundle and I enclosed some sewing goodies as well as some Hawaiian zipper pulls & notepad. I made the zippy bag on right a couple months ago with some japanese silk kimono scraps and put everything inside. On the left-hand side of the photo below a pattern,  I made a quick pocket tissue cover with some fabric I bought in Oahu at Fabricmart.

I was thinking about stopping at the dollar store to see if they had any bells and whistles to put inside the package, but I'm afraid I am still on Hawaiian time and it's all buttoned up and sent now.


I have some of the best customers on Etsy. I've sold online for many years - since before ebay started. Etsy customers truly appreciate hand made and love vintage.
*****************************************************

While in Hawaii, I did a giveaway. "How much is a simple 5" x 7" zippy pouch?

It was lined, it did have a strap. Whoever guessed closest to how much that puppy was going for would win something.

I had guesses of $22.00, $19.95, $28, $35 & $39.95.



A no-special-fabric zippy pouch with strap
is $45.00
in Haleiwa, Oahu.



**** And our winner is  ****

$39.95 - I'll take the Macadamia nuts! LOL! You lucky person! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

I'll be sending Teresa some Macadamia Nuts tomorrow.

Thank you for playing my pricing game!

Fair Premiums

 Another successful fair year here in Canbyland.
This foxy pieced pillow earned Class Champion. Woot!

 I made this Monopoly table topper many years ago and decided it was time to move it on. You can buy it here in my etsy shop. This was my successful effort at making a square from obviously printed off-grain and off-kilter fabric from Joann's. I had to do some strange manipulations to get the three fabrics to behave. I also made the tassels on the four corners.

 This airplane tote won a blue ribbon

 As did this Bella Wallet

 My chickie hotpad won second in the potholder class.

 All seven of the items I entered.
I won ribbons on five.

 So much fun. They are all listed in my etsy shop, RunningWithNeedles. When I sell these handmade items, I include the fair ribbon.  A little touch of fun-ness.


So - work stuff: Getting my time off - thanks to the union. Supervisor is still wanting to argue it, but seriously - so not my problem.

We are probably not going to Madras this weekend. Not only do we have forest fires (smoke) to contend with but there is another long-range forecast for rain - which may or may not happen. {{no rain in over four months except for piddly drops here and there that evaporated before they hit the ground}

I'm fine with this. I got to go flying last week and it really lightened my load. I am so zen in my head right now.

Oh - yes! I won $16 in fair premiums this year. Double WOOT!

Sewing Hooky

 I get easily distracted.  

I am supposed to be sewing some work shorts and a top that was personally fitted to my body. Instead, I am playing sewing hooky.
aka *avoidance* and *procrastination*
.

 My inspiration was an airplane tote on Etsy.

At this shop.

Man - I have this fabric!

Her tote has external pockets, mine has internal pockets.

My airplane tote is going into the etsy shop. I am overwhelmed at her pricing. $38 for a tote.
I have the most difficult time finding the magic price point. Some things I make are above and beyond and pretty spectacular.  I don't struggle as much pricing those items.

I'm very aware of how much time I spend sewing as well as my material cost.
What I struggle with are the okay (basic to me)  items - $38 for a tote bag???

Would you pay $38 for a tote?

It does have a pretty nifty single welt pocket....

 I watched a Peggy Sager's video on Saturday - a Silhouette Patterns webinar on sewing pants. She went over a single welt pocket and I had to have a go at one.

It's almost like putting a zipper pocket in, but not quite.

Here's the inside double pocket on the other side. I love this stripe lining.
I left the selvedge edge at the bottom (No hemming - lazy me)

 I settled down today and started sewing the work shorts. Three sets of pockets and lots and lots of top-stitching. A butt-load of top-stitching!   Before I ran out of bobbin thread,  I finished the fronts and started on the side pockets. 

The side pockets have flaps with a buttonhole. That's where I'm at. I need to re-thread the bobbin and get back into the sewing room. I have the fan going because we are back up at 100 degrees (with a tiny respite earlier this week --- teaser rain and mid-seventies).

I am bribing myself with one chocolate chip per top-stitched seam. Seams (ha!) to be working.

Cleaning Out My Etsy Shop

End of Year 2014 SALE.
If you ever wondered what I sell on Etsy, here's a fantastic chance to buy at 40% off.

I'm cleaning out the old stuff (haha - vintage) and making room for new, old items.
Still vintage sewing supplies & patterns. Some of these items have been in the store for a while. I've got boxes and boxes of vintage goodies just waiting their turn to star on RunningWithNeedles.etsy.com
 
Back when notions were made to last. A lot of the items I sell are 100 years or older!
Please take a peek and see if you can help me make room in my shop for new items.
Or, let your friends know.

Use the code CLEANOUT2014 to get your 40% off.

 Here are some examples of what I have for sale:
***just click on the description to go that item***

  Greist RUFFLER foot sewing foot 2593519

 3 inch wide fine knitted edging. Scalloped edge

 Grab Bag of Christmas/Holiday Quilt Fabrics. Strips/Squares of Red/Green/Browns/Rickrack

 Sewing HAM, Dritz pressing aid

Batik style fabric almost 4 yards. striped with blue, green, orange, purple

Fur Collar Embellishment. Vintage fashion statement.