A New Year - New Opportunities !

Happy New Year – 2021! I am feeling very positive and hopeful. A new year gives us all the opportunity to turn the page and begin a new chapter, to do better and to be better. I don’t make resolutions, per se, but I do set goals, both personally and business wise and I am looking forward to what the new year will bring.

2020 has been a very good year for my Etsy shop with my highest revenue ever! How lucky am I to actually make money doing something that I love doing? People appeared to be at home more and were clearly doing more sewing according to my sales numbers. It warms my heart to think that so many were making time to sew, a pastime that has given me so much enjoyment for most of my life.

My Top Nine photos from Instagram for 2020 was not necessarily my personal top nine, but I love looking back, even from the first day of the new year. Onward and upward!

Merry Christmas to Me!

 

Saw it, wanted it, bought it! Merry Christmas to me! I’ve never bought a pre-cut quilt kit before so this will be a first for me. Everything is packaged so beautifully! And the box is a gift in itself! I'll never get it done for this Christmas but there is always next year!  From Laundry Basket Quilts. 

Mini Maker Sew Along - 2020

I just finished my Mini Maker Case for my little Oliso travel iron! What a fun project it was. This is a free pattern download and Sew Along on the Lillyella Stitchery blog at https://lillyella.com/blog/ . There is also a fun Facebook group, Mini Maker Case Sew Along 2020, that you might want to take a look at to see how others are making theirs.

I am compelled to be all matchy-matchy and had previously made a thread catcher out of the same Lori Holt fabrics so these were an easy choice for me. I love the way that it turned out. I might be making another to go along with my Singer Featherweight out of those black and gold Singer fabrics.

Happy Days !

I've had a third request for another thread catcher from Moda fabric designer, Sherri McConnell. It is made from fabrics from the soon to be released "Happy Days" line by Sherri and Chelsi. She tells me that this one for her main cutting table.  

I just drool  when I think about having a sewing area so large that it can accommodate THREE thread catchers!  Then here's me,... stitching away in my sewing closet with barely enough room to put down my glass of iced tea. But I'm not complaining.  I'm fortunate to have a place to work and to do what I love and for that I am very grateful. But someday, I'd love to have a roomy sewing space.

The outer bag floral fabric color is called "Zest".  How perfect is that?  I can almost smell the lemon.  And the lining fabric is called "Stone".  That one little word describes the color perfectly.  

You can bet that I'll be anxiously awaiting the release of these delicious fabrics when they become available early next year.    

Three Big Surprises !

Three big surprises!!! The first was when THE Lori Holt purchased one of my Sew In Style Thread Catchers in fabrics of her own design from my Etsy shop. The second big surprise was actually seeing said thread catcher sitting right next to her sweet little green Featherweight in her recent YouTube video tour of her new sewing space. It’s tucked back beside her machine so I made sure to point it out for you with that big fat yellow pointing finger! The third surprise is that this incredibly talented woman sews on a tiny sewing table just like me! I guess I need to stop complaining about my tiny workspace.

It's a cute one, just gotta say!...

My Brush With Fame

You may or may not know that I am a bonafide MODAHOLIC!  I absolutely adore fabrics from Moda.  I am always looking ahead to future collections from my favorite designers to plan upcoming fabric purchases for the items that I create for my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow.  I have been eyeing an upcoming collection from the mother/daughter Moda design team, Sherri and Chelsi called "Balboa".  Just imagine my excitement when Sherri, that's THE Sherrie McConnell from "A Quilting Life" commissioned me to make one of my Dreamy Dresden Thread Catchers using Sherri and Chelsi fabrics.  She let me know that she was sending her fabric choices my way and I was hoping, really hoping, that they would be Balboa fabrics.  And they were!  Didn't they make up beautifully?  

We agreed that I would add my new needle minder to the pincushion and that little fussy cut flower was the perfect finish.  This little beauty will be winging it's way to Sherri tomorrow.  OK, it might be going by truck but "winging it's way" just sounds way more exciting, doesn't it?  Sherri is an absolute joy to work with and it has been my sincere pleasure to make this item for her.  

And you can bet that I will be acquiring these delicious "Balboa" fabrics to my shop as soon as they become available in September!

#coronasewing

It's a lucky thing that I am a confirmed HOMEBODY!  Now I have all the time that I want to sew and then sew some more!  I've just made up this super cute Scrappy Strips Pincushion with Needle Minder.  It's perfectly posed on "Joan Marie", the Centennial Singer Featherweight that I am holding for my 16 month old grand daughter.  She and I have big  plans for this sewing machine! 

How many Pincushions Does One Person Need?

The answer to that question is,... AS MANY AS SHE WANTS!  I have the most wonderful customers! So many of my buyers return to my shop time and again to purchase. Linda C. from Texas appears to have returned the most, 26 times to be exact! She buys pincushions, thread catchers, patterns and kits and she always leaves me glowing reviews. This shows just a portion of the items that Linda has purchased. Thank you, Linda for being such a valued buyer!

Sew Very Singer !

I do this thing.  I buy fabric and then I just look at it.  I look at it for way too long!  I've had this hard to find Singer fabric for some time and didn't quite know what to do with it.  I recently located the fabrics used in the pincushion, they coordinate perfectly, and that's when I knew that my Singer fabrics wanted to be made into thread catchers.  I'm loving the way that it turned out.  Wouldn't one like this look perfect perched next to a Singer Featherweight?  This item was just listed in my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow.  

And the pincushion looks pretty cute all by itself!

Peas and Carrots

“Little Snippets” and gray chambray go together like peas and carrots!  

Starstruck!

When the designer of the fabrics that you used to make the item in your Instagram post makes a comment!!! Uh-huh! That's Joanna Figueroa! Just call me starstruck! #my15secondsoffame

Did Someone Mention Pie?

It's November, and along with a number of other seasonal things that come to mind, I'm thinking of PIE!  My family always really looks forward to our big family Thanksgiving and especially the dessert of the day, at least three different pies.  Maybe more!

But I've been working on pie of another sort, my Sweetie Pie Pincushion and Thread Catcher.  This one, made from the brand new "Sugarcreek" fabric line from Coriander Quilts made up perfectly! Almost looks good enough to eat, doesn't it?

More Tilda Love

I have blogged previously about my undying love for TILDA fabrics.  I anxiously await the release of nearly all of her new lines and these, her newest, "Old Rose", recently arrived.  Aren't they beautiful?  I certainly think so and my buyers do as well. These Sew Sassy Thread Catchers have been flying off the shelves of my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow .

 They made up so nicely in my Sew Sassy design.

And as a lover or the color red, this one is right up my alley!

I will be making up some new thread catchers in some of the other "Old Rose" prints very soon so as they say, stay tuned!

Seasons Change

Summer appears to be over here in our corner of the Pacific Northwest.  I am always a little sad to see it go but the fall season brings on more of Oregon's famous rain. The air has that delicious aroma of damp earth, pines and just a hint of wood smoke. This beautiful rose, from a bush that has been blooming like crazy all summer long, is not quite as perky as the summer blooms were, but it doesn't seem to mind the extra moisture.  I love the way that the raindrops glisten on the rose petals and the leaves, kind of like "seasonal eye-candy"!

Pincushions Galore !

You all know that I'm crazy about PINCUSHIONS, right? I love that there are so many opportunities to use little bits of leftover fabrics, you know, the ones that are too precious to part with but are not enough to make anything big. I also love posing them on my Singer Featherweights. Don't they look cute?!? These are all presently available in my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow.

Perfectly Posed

Don’t these thread catchers just look so pretty all lined up on my old piano? These little beauties will be making their way to Florida tomorrow. It is my largest single order I have had to date in my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow and comes from one of my wonderful repeat buyers. She’s gifting them to family members at an upcoming get together at the end of this month. 

I’m imagining all of the wonderful things that will be made using these thread catchers with their detachable Sweetie Pie Pincushions!

It's Summertime, Summertime, Sum-sum Summertime !

It's the first day of summer and we're having an absolutely SPLENDID day here in our part of the Pacific Northwest!  It's warm, the birds are singing and there is just a hint of "horse" in the air.  I love that smell!

These Thread Catchers are presently listed in my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow, all in cheery warm colors and made from Moda fabrics.  I've got some really pretty pincushions listed, too.  Check them out!

Just for Fun

Who doesn't love a cute PUPPY PHOTO?!?  This is our sweet pup, Lucy.  She's five months old and as sweet as can be.  She has been fascinated by the horses in the pasture to the west of our back yard.  Here they are, nose to nose, getting to know each other.

Who Loves Tilda Fabrics?

Raise your hand if you love TILDA fabrics!  I certainly do!  Her prints and colors are,... well,...  right up my alley.  I just made this super cute pincushion using my Sweetie Pie Pincushion design and I absolutely LOVE the way that this one, made from the new "Lazy Days" fabric line turned out.  Slide on over to my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow to snag one for yourself.

Thread Catchers and Mother's Day

Mother's Day will be here before you know it and I've been working on making Thread Catchers to post in my Etsy shop, Curry Bungalow.  They make really great gifts for anyone who sews, quilts or does needlework of any kind and I get have lots of sales leading up to Mother's Day.

This particular Thread Catcher got to me just a little...  My mother loved blue and she would have loved this Thread Catcher.  Sadly, she passed 22 years ago. The woman who introduced me to sewing did not live long enough to see me succeed in my own sewing endeavors, business wise.  But I know that she was proud of the fact that I made most of my clothes as a teen, sewed for my children and made things for my home.

Each time I see this photo, I am amazed at how different we look.  She had dark hair, mine is lighter.  She had brown eyes, mine are green.  I wonder how in the world she got so much lift in her hair. And look at those eyebrows!  They're perfect!  I have never ever in my life worn red lipstick but my Mom rocked those red lips in this photo.

I think about my mother often, probably because I am sewing, OFTEN.  But I especially think about her around Mother's Day.

Love you, Mom.  I'll see you on the other side.  I hope that there are sewing machines there.

If one is cute...

If one of these sweet Dreamy Dresden Pincushions is cute, then six of them is even CUTER!  Lori Holt's new Farm Girl Vintage line is positively perfect for this design.  The tiny prints made up beautifully, didn't they?

I posted one of these pincushions on Instagram and was immediately inundated with orders and they've been selling like the proverbial hotcakes since.   It seems that others love Lori's fabrics every bit as much as I do.  That's when I started taking pre-orders since that's the only way that I could keep up. These six will be making their way to their new homes today with many more not too far behind in my production queue.     

Pincushion Crazy !

I don't know what it is about pincushions but I am completely crazy about them.  It is probably because they are a fast little project to make and as they say,... the possibilities are endless.  I recently posted a similar pincushion to this one on Instagram and received over 2000 likes in less than 24 hours.  Apparently other people love pincushions as much as I do!

This is my Scrappy Strips Pincushion.  As a result of that Instagram post I have had a number of people message me to ask if there was a pattern available.  There isn't...  at the moment... but that can change.  I have plans to produce this pattern and make it available as soon as I can get the pattern put together.  I love spreading pincushion love!

New Year, New Adventures Ahead !

What is it about the New Year that gives us all new hopes, new dreams and new inspiration?  It is an amazing thing, really!  Kind of like a cosmic King's X where all troubles and disappointments of the past year are just... in the past and new possibilities present themselves.

My 2018 has not been bad, in fact it has been very good.  Mr. T. and I have so much to be grateful for.  We are at a very comfortable point in life, we have a wonderful family that includes three fine and productive adult children that enjoy being with us as well as three grand children that we love and adore.  Who could ask for more?

On a business note, another very positive aspect of my life, this photo is my "2018 Best Nine", my most popular Instagram posts for the year.  I absolutely love what I do! Who would have thunk that I could have a killer income, doing something that brings me happiness every single day?

And the very best of 2018 is that sweet little grand-baby in the lower right photo.  She gets cuter and sweeter by the minute!

Just call me... GRATEFUL!  Here's to 2019!  And my very best wishes to everyone for a very Happy New Year!

Pin Pals

Do you love making pincushions as much as I do? If so, you will want to pick up the new book, "Pin Pals: 40 Patchwork Pinnies, Poppets, and Pincushions with Pizzazz" (say that three times fast!) by Carrie Nelson and published by That Patchwork Place. I have admired Carrie's quilt patterns published under the name of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company for many years. I pre-ordered my copy "Pin Pals" from Amazon and my copy arrived yesterday. What a fabulous little book this is! There are wonderful simple little pinnies as well as more complex designs. All are delightful! The book is available on Amazon, with PRIME!!! for quite a bit less than I paid for my pre-order. So go and get yourself a copy!

I am so very fortunate to have a number of my buyers return to my Etsy shop time and again.  One of those lovely ladies, Carol G., who lives in California, recently contacted me wanting to purchase Thread Catchers for a GIRLS GETAWAY with friends.  They are all traveling to Colorado and will be meeting up next week.  Carol purchased a Thread Catcher for all attending.  What a generous friend she is! I just had to line them all up and take a picture before sending them off.  Not the best lighting for photographs today, it's Oregon and it's raining, but they look pretty sweet, just gotta say...!

Anyone who follows T. in the Burg knows that I get very excited about new fabrics.  I look months and months ahead to see what will be released in the future and pretty much know what I am going to purchase long before the fabric lines are released.  This particular grouping of fabrics has been on my list for some time.  It's so appropriately named, "Mon Beau Jardin" and is from Ellis and Higgs, designed by Nadra Ridgeway.

I knew that these fabrics, along with a few others from Ellis and Higgs, would be perfect for my Sweetie Pie Pincushion and Thread Catcher.  The yardage has just been released so I have plenty to make this particular item to stock my Etsy shop!

Grandma in Waiting

I was in Portland last week-end to spend some time with our two daughters and our sweet DIL, Kendra, and to attend her fabulous baby shower hosted by her besties. She has such an amazing network of friends and family who love her and Ryan dearly, as was evidenced by the mountain of gifts she received. 

And I was finally able gift the baby quilt that I made over 10 years ago on a wish and a hope and a dream. It's not the perfect match for Baby G.'s beautiful nursery, but it was gratefully received. And... I'm in the process of making another baby quilt that will fit beautifully in that sweet nursery.

Pincushion Party

I recently had a buyer contact me about purchasing multiple items from my shop and she needed them FAST! Really fast! Sharon W. was going to be attending a quilting retreat in WV and worried that her order might not arrive in time. I suggested that we mail her order directly to the retreat venue and her order actually arrived at the retreat before she did. What a great photo showing seven happy quilters all sporting brand new Curry Bungalow Pincushions. Thanks, Sharon, for sharing this great photo! It looks like a PINCUSHION PARTY!

Big Sale !

I'm having a BIG PATTERN SALE!!! I'll be away from home for a few days and while I'm gone I am offering my three Curry Bungalow Thread Catcher Patterns at 30% off! SUCH A DEAL! This sale will be in effect through August 27, 2018 and applies to both digital downloads and printed copies. It does not apply to my Pattern/Supply Kit Combos. Prices are reduced at the listings.

Please note that all print copies and other physical items in my shop will not ship until Tuesday, August 28th. 

This is a great time to purchase patterns to make holiday gifts for your favorite quilter, sewer or needle worker. Or maybe you deserve a gift... just sayin'...      click here to be taken directly to Curry Bungalow.

"The Puddle Jumper"

I am totally dating myself here with this photo (not my photo, not me...) of what my very first car looked like, purchased for me by my father in 1968 for the whopping sum of $300.00.  It was a 1960 Rambler American, the sporty 2-door model in cream puff condition.  It was graphite grey with a white top and RED WHEELS!  I don't think that those red wheels were stock since I've never seen another but they did add that certain something... maybe funk-appeal!  Honestly, this was not the car that I really wanted.  My father and I set out to find me a car shortly after I graduated High School and the first one that we looked at was a used 1964 bright red Volkswagen Bug.  It had a new paint job and was ONLY $1000.00. Easy for me to say, only, since I didn't have any money to put in on my car, but Dad thought that was too expensive.  Later that day after looking at about a gozillion used cars, we found one just like the photo.  Cash exchanged hands and I had wheels.  I was a bit embarrassed to drive it especially since lots of my friends were driving Mustangs and VW's. I know. Shame on me.

My friends and I called it The Funk-Mobile but my Dad always called it The Puddle-Jumper.  My bestie Priscilla pronounced it to be, "so ugly that it's CUTE!".  It got me were I needed to go and served me well until I saved up enough money for a down payment on my dream VW Bug.  I sold the Funk-Mobile for $350.00 to a friend who drove it cross county a couple of times. It was a little champ!

I am not the same status conscious teen that I was back in 1968 and would SO drive this car today!    I would proudly drive this car and fly my FUNK FLAG!

Block of the Month Newbie

I belong to a very active quilters guild with lots of members who are super productive and prolific.  That's not been the case for me.  Honestly, I don't get that may quilts made.  I completely over-think quilt making. Will it fit into my home? Does the style complement the decor?  Do the colors match?  What I should really be asking myself is... do I want to make this quilt?

In the interest of working towards being more personally prolific, I have signed up for the "Sew In Love" Block of the Month through the Fat Quarter shop. I don't have a clue what I will do with this quilt but I was completely captivated when the first photos were published.  That's part of my problem.  My quilty friends just make the quilts that call to them.  I always think about where it will go or what I will do with it.  I need to get over that kind of thinking.

These fabrics!  Totally swoon-worthy!

I love just about anything designed by Edyta Sitar so this quilt will be right up my alley. I am a total Edyta groupie! I love the way that this quilt combines complex piecing with delicious colors. Adding to my excitement is that my dear friend, Janet C., has also signed of for this BOM.  She's a BOM veteran, having completed some absolutely fabulous BOM quilts.  I am so looking forward to beginning this quilt when the first installments roll out in August.  I will keep everyone posted on my progress.  STAY TUNED!