Betsy Etsy

Being in Charleston with my parents was such a great week.  It was bittersweet to have to come home- bitter because I only get to see them a few times a year, but so sweet to see my husband again.  I missed him so much!  If you'd like to see pictures of the trip, they are on my facebook.

Everyday I wake up, I thank God for making me me.  I don't want that to come out wrong- I'm not the type of person who thinks I'm "all that".  Believe me, there are so many things I just hate about myself, the way I act, things I can't control.  There are days when I wake up and wish I was someone else.  But, in all, I think, Ya know, I like me.  If I weren't me, my husband wouldn't have fallen in love with me and made the the happiest wife alive.  If I weren't me, my life wouldn't be what it is- and, even with it's ups and downs, blessed can't even begin to describe it.  I read somewhere that hating yourself is hating what God decided he wanted you to be and made to love.  SO, considering that, I'm not going to question Him about me.  There are so many more important things going on in the world!  I love Jesus, my Momma and Daddy, whole family, and friends- knowing them made me me, and they are great!

Anyways, I say it all the time, but I am so thankful that God blessed me with the skill to sew, be creative, and making a living doing it.  Don't get me wrong- I AM LOVING SUMMER OFF, but it is so fun to go to work and feel like it's play.  I love teaching kids how to be creative, sew, and made great stuff.  Seeing them design something on their own is one of the greatest feelings!  I posted before that I had 2 Etsy sells last weekend- so cool!  Groceries on Etsy this week =).  I am so thankful God provided for that.  I mean, extra sewing cash is great and I can feel good knowing I'm buying more material with money I earned from sewing something, but it feels good knowing someone I don't know would like to buy something I made.  I never thought that would happen!
So, here is a picture of my first sale:  2 binkie clips

I packaged it up pretty and printed these little cards about getting free shipping on another order.  Wrapped it up in crisp tissue paper and off it went in the mail yesterday!  Hope this baby enjoys them =)
I made these flower headbands yesterday as well and posted them last night:

I am obsessed with making them now!  So cute.  I named them "Christine Headbands" after my sister.  She is one of the most beautiful people I know- just like these =)
Then, today, I made a nursing cover- or Hooter Hider (Sorry, I know it's on the edge of vulgarity, but I thought that name was hilarious!  I call them Hootie Hiders to make them more ear-muff friendly)- and I want. to. keep. it!

It has boning on the top so Mom can see baby feeding and terry cloth in both bottom corners to clean up baby after feeding.  So cute!  Check out my Etsy shop for more specs and details.  Do you see more Christine flowers?  Yes- see, obsessed.  I think I'm going to make them my "thing" and put them on all of the things I sew.
A few posts ago I mentioned I wanted my own tags to sew into the things I sew.  I thought for a minute and thought, well, tags are expensive.  I like simplicity and balance and the fabrics I usually choose are, well, not that simple (My mother-in-law is probably shocked that I have sewn things in prints and color!), so why not balance it with simplicity?  I found some striped seersucker (which always reminds me of my Mom- she always feels it when we are in the fabric store and talks about how cute baby clothes are that are made with it!) and made tags with that.  I just made a loop!  So- my stuff all has this in it now:

Me likey!  I love having a hobby that I love.  I love that my mom taught me how to do it and I think of her whenever I sew.  I love that my husband approves of my hobby... as long as I clean up when I am done.

Which I need to do now before he gets home.
Skat!

 

Katie See Katie Sew

In the last year, I think I have sewn enough window treatments to outfit the white house and enough throw pillows to build a rather successful floatation device.

I've been building a "Oh... I have to make this" list of fashion items for me, but I haven't gotten to it until now.  Yay!  Thursday was "Sewing Thursday" with my Momma and it was a. great. day.

We woke up early and went walking across the Arthur Ravenel Suspension Bridge around sunrise, mainly because my dad wanted to see the cruise ship in port.

Look at my dad's hand in his picture!  I told him to point up- it looks like he's saying "Hey, I'm just in the picture for the boat!".  Haha! Thursday was their 27th wedding anniversary.  Crazy.  Daniel and I are blessed to have great parents who are still married.  Sad that it's considered rare to fall into that category.
We went to the Club for breakfast and then walking around downtown.  Spending time alone with my parents reminds me of when we lived in Europe and the 3 of us would hang out all the time.  It was great!
We came back home and starting sewing.  and sewing.  and sewing.  I think it was 5 hours straight!  My mom and I had a wonderful time doing something we both love.  She was the one who taught me how to sew when I was a freshman in college, which was what threw me into being a FACS teacher.  She is who I have to thank for showing me the greatest skill I could ask for.  Thanks Momma!
Here was the pattern I chose:

Don't you love it?!?  My mom constantly tells me I "was always a ruffles girl".  Love it!  Here is the view I chose:

Why did I choose this pattern?

1. It's by Cynthia Rowley.  I love her designs and patterns.
2. It's a dress.  with ruffles.
3. It can either be long or short.

Anyshways, it was a great pattern- very easy to follow, easy to alter (which is important- for some reason, trying to get a pattern to actually fit it apparently rocket science.  It's still a little big in the bust, but we can handle it!), and did not have a lining.  You can use so many different fabrics with it as well.  I used a linen-like fabric (I think I'll make it again in something stiffer, but I like it a lot in this fabric!).  Here is how it turned out!

Don't you love long dresses?  Shhhhhyyyea!  So comfy, can't tell I'm poochin'.  Perfect!  

On a side note, 2 Etsy sales!  Woot!  I didn't really think anyone would buy anything- it was mostly just fun for me. Sweet!  Sewin' Cash! 

 

Welcome to the South

I'm in Charleston, SC visiting my parents and sis- they moved here a few years ago from Kansas.  It's hard being so far away from them, but it's great to get to visit the East coast to see them every so often.
So far, we've gone to Savannah, took a few historic carriage rides, gone shopping, and made fun of each other- a lot!

My sister is a reallly bad driver- don't tell her I said that.  She once called me and said she was driving, texting, and peeling an orange at the same time.  We had a come-ta-Jesus talk and she's turned her toosh around.  Haha- but still....here is her parking job:

Really?!?!?!  She is so funny.  Love her.
My Dad and I went trash picking on our bikes this morning and found this beauty on the curb!  WOW!  I wish I could take it home on the plane with me!

She just need a little glue on the side and a wipe-down.  free.  It doesn't get any better than this- and that is all iron on the sides!  Jealous.

We went to Savannah on Sunday and my Grandma, Mom, Dad, and I fell in love with this little quilt shop- they had some vintage aprons outside.  My grandma said, "Well, we could make these!"  Now you know where I get it!

Apparently Savannah is Paula Dean country- they had her crap everywhere.  Her restaurant has a waiting list a mile long and it is a buffet on Sundays.  Ya'll who know me know I don't like buffets anyway.  I don't even like the way she cooks.  But, I did enjoy seeing her everywhere and shopping in her little store =)

 

I know, I'm inappropriate.  I thought it was funny, though. =)

We went a-walkin and even went antique shopping and look what I found!

TROOOOOOLLLLLLLZZZZ!

Did you have these?  We did.  So funny!  This antique mall was so ridiculous, though.  They had pure junk and most of it wasn't even "antique".  Made me so mad!  At least I know what I'm lookin at!

We visited Hilton Head Island, SC and on the way home found...

Me town!

We have been having so much fun this week and I don't have to leave until Sunday morning.  What a blessing! I will update this week again sometime. Friday morning is sewing morning with Momma.  Can't wait!  We will be having lots more fun and many adventures.
I realize none of you care about my trip, but this is mostly for Daniel.  I miss my husband!
Off to grill some dinner and make scones.  Yum!

AND check out my Etsy!  I updated it with lots of things and many more to come!  The link is at the top right hand side of the blog, or you can visit it here.
See ya later!