{Quit My Day Job}

So I wish this was a "I Quit My Day Job" post like I've been reading about on Etsy for the past 5 years, but instead, its really a "My Day Job Quit Me" post.  Yep I was laid off last week.  I've always wanted to be self employed someday....doing what I love, in the way I love to do it, but this wasn't my timing. My title at my day job is Remote Controller. Surprises don't always come easy to control freaks who crunch numbers for a living.  This wasn't part of my plan.

When you get a "I Quit My Day Job" post written up about you on Etsy, you are successful, handsome and happy.  Or was that a line from Evan Almighty???  Anyway, I've always found those posts inspiring and hoped I'd one day be able to write one myself, but never actually thought I'd do it until retirement or something equally as far off.  Fringe and Fettle, a swank little pottery shop out of Minneapolis, MN, is a quitter.

I love this oil and vinegar dipping dish, I'll go grab the bread and wine!

  
Lauren Alison  says, "Passion is just as much of a tool as our inks or fabric. It’s woven into each thing we make."  She says to put what you're passionate about before $ signs. Don't make what you think will sell, make what you're passionate about. Great advice, but hard for this number crunching fool to put into practice.  

She makes originally designed silk screened printed bags, pillows and towels. And she is a quitter.

Then there is Poor Pitiful Pearl who has turned upcyling an art in itself. And yes, I would absolutely wear any of her creations. I used to sew like this in junior high.  No boundaries! And you guessed it, she's a quitter too.

So I read the book Quitter: Closing The Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job,  by Jon Acuff. Not that I'm an expert or anything but it wasn't quitting time.  That doesn't mean I'm not still here, looking at all my obligations and wondering what I should do first. Clean the house?  Cause if I'm not working I should have plenty of time to do that, right?  Job search?  Schedule a play date for my kids?  Networking?  Finish that pile of clothes that needs a button, a hem or a patch?  Shop for groceries with lots of coupons? Get another certification?

Did I mention that we are in the middle of a HUMONGOUS remodeling project?  Yep my kitchen is ripped apart, not to mention other places in the house (all the flooring is getting replace by my #DIYguy, he's amazing by-the-way).  I have to wear shoes in half the house so I don't get slivers.  The other half has new flooring so its a "shoes off" zone.  It can be confusing sometimes.  If I end up wearing my shoes in the shower some morning, I'll just roll with it.

So, do the passionate thing?  Do what makes sense and scramble to find something else just to pay the bills?  Or apply my gifts and talents right where I am?  I attended church on Sunday only to get hit between the eyes with a message on faithfulness. Being Faithful in a Faithless World. The second half of the sermon really stuck out to me. Here are the points...

1. God uses little things to test my integrity. Luke 16:10
2. God uses my talents to test my unselfishness. 1 Peter 4:10
3. God uses tough times to test my persistence. 2 Cor 4:16-18
4. God uses shortages to test my generosity. Luke 16:9-14

Well that gives me a lot to think on this week.  God's got a plan and I'm all in.  Here's to being a quitter, whatever way you want to slice it.  The next book I'm reading is Start by Jon Acuff.  It tells me to punch fear in the face, escape average and do work that matters.   And that is just what it says on the cover.  Sounds like a good idea to me.  Are you with me?

Self Employed in Madison Lake

{Published!} Sew Special Book + Fabric Giveaway

I'm so excited to share this!  Last summer I was approached by an author of a sewing book publishing company, Annie's, to submit some pattern designs for their upcoming baby book.  Well one of my designs was accepted and TA-DA!  I got published and crossed a goal off my list.  The books is called Sew Special Baby Gifts.  My pattern is the Sleepy Giraffe Softie.  The book was designed to have patterns in it for beginners or for those who wanted to sew something up in an hour or less as gifts.  This definitely fits the specs.  You can make several of these sweet things in an hour!

There are some other very talented designers that are also in this book.  Check out this adorable diaper bag! I love the fabric choice, simple design and the sleek look.  I look forward to trying this one out myself for some upcoming gifts.

Here is an adorable fleece hat. Now seriously what baby wouldn't be adorable in this and I bet you can use your scraps up on something this small.  This needs to go on my pinboard for projects that use up scraps, cause my scrap pile is always a little {ahem!} untamed.

Last I want to show you this little handmade block. This toy is perfect for any diaper bag and you could put a rattle inside and add a layer of something crinkly for ultimate baby appeal. My favorite crinkly under-layment beneath one of these cute fabrics is a chip bag.  Wash it out and upcycle it, plus that was free!  As you can see there is also a cute little ribbon tag on this.  This is another scrap-buster and a quick instant gratification project that will sew up fast.

In honor of my first pattern being published I am offering a FREE copy of this book to one lucky reader along with a yard of fabric {your choice!} from my shop.  Take a look at the book and tell me which pattern you want to try!

To be eligible for this giveaway you must:

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Please leave one post for each entry. Can't wait to hear from you! Entries accepted until Wednesday at midnight. Winner drawn Thursday. Open to US and Canada.

{What I Worked on Wednesday} Pictures Galore

I just restocked the shop will all kinds of fabulous print chevrons and dots in flannels and cottons.  I just love these basic bright prints with a white contrast.  

In other news, I invested in some new photography equipment and have been experimenting with the best spot in the studio to set this up and take pictures from.  Here is a shot of one of my latest swaddlers with my new photography equipment. Controlling your source of light is so important, or so I am learning!  Just in case you are interested, here is the kit I got. Love having these lights especially in the winter when natural light can be hard to find!

  I won't go pro yet, but sure do love having some decent lighting to work with now.  It makes me look good, even though I'm just pointing and shooting.  ;) Having the right equipment to do the job, puts the fun back into taking pictures and making listings of all the new stuff for the shop.  How do you like these apples?  {a quote from a great movie} Well, that's it for now, hope you are having a great Wednesday doing something you love!

{What I Worked on Wednesday} Quilts

Its been a typical January in the studio.  Lots of clean up and organizing after the holiday rush, and also lots of finishing projects.  I made this quilt as a wedding gift for my in-laws, now nobody bring up how long they've been married--I know, this is sooooo late! I made this snuggle quilt out of vintage prints and the red hearts are made out of velvet from the bridesmaids dresses that I made for this wedding.  

The velvet hearts are my favorite part of it, such great texture and a great memory to have it in this "quilt of love".  The royal blue print is a corduroy, and I'm tickled pink at how this all came together! Hopefully this brings out the romance in their lives by being taken to the beach for sunning, the fireworks for some sparks and in front of the fireplace for a movie night.  Its just the perfect size for being close, not too big and not too little.  

Next is a rag quilt out of Heather Bailey prints.  This was a custom order and I just love how it turned out.  These prints are so vibrant and pretty.  The fraying effect adds such a snuggly texture to it, I just want to hit the couch with a book when I see a quilt like this.  I'm sure this will be making a statement wherever it gets used, don't you think?!

I hope to take pictures of my clean studio to share with you soon.  If that ever happens. Secretly I kind of like my beautiful mess.  Shhhh!  Don't tell huz.  What are you working on this fine Wednesday?

{Fabulous Fabric Friday} Chevron #Giveaway

With the month of love L-U-V approaching I thought it fitting to put a red chevron in the mix for our Fabulous Fabric Friday.  This is a basic print from Riley Blake Designs. Chevrons are bouncy prints with a playful look, yet simple in design.

This fabric would make a great pillow cover, 

{photo credit}

some soft blocks

{photo credit}

or a piece in a yummy quilt.

{photo credit}

How would you use this fabric if you won a yard? Can't wait to hear your ideas!

To be eligible for this giveaway you must:

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For extra entries you can:

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Please leave one post for each entry. Can't wait to hear all your ideas!   Entries accepted until Tuesday at midnight.  Winner drawn Wednesday. Open to US and Canada.

To Shrug or NOT To Shrug {What I Worked on Wednesday}

Do you ever have fashion debates with your husband?  Well mine is very opinionated when it comes to the subject of fashion, in fact sometimes, he thinks he has better taste than me. *gasp* The horror of it, I know! 

{date night photo of us}

I live in MN where it is terribly chilly for a good portion of the year.  I either freeze in the winter or freeze in the air conditioning of the summer.  So because of this I am an expert at layering my clothes.  I typically have 2-3 shirts on in varying sleeve lengths so I can bundle up when I need to and take a layer off when I need to.  I have been particularly fond of "shrugs" or anything that will give me a layer of warmth when I'm chilly.  The nice thing about them is you don't have to put them over your head and ruin a perfectly good hair day.  Putting them on and taking them off is a breeze and you can do it while you are running out of an air conditioned building in your heels and not trip in the parking lot!  {note this is an extremely important feature + benefit} Don't you love this charcoal one below?

{photo credit}

Well....Huz says absolutely NOT to shrugs.  According to him they are for old ladies. Now I have seen some super cute shrugs and I don't agree they are old lady-ish. {Though I'm sure there are some ugly ones out there, right?}  But, I don't want him to lump me into the "old lady" category so what a complicated situation I find myself in!  *sigh* This black one below is another little gem for a formal occasion, don't you think?

{photo credit}

I was a girl on a mission.  What I needed was a solution that was modern, warm and easily removable.  Insert cute patterned socks + a little cutting + a little sewing and voila',  Slox™ are born! {Sleeves + Sox = Slox™} I wore these for the first time in April to see what my opinionated huz would say.  I got this picture and post on facebook in response:

Ahmelie is trying to tell me she sewed a new pair of socks to fit her arms. I'm not stupid!

After his initial disbelief that I literally sewed socks into sleeves for my arms, he LOVED them!  2 points for the sewista {who does the victory dance.} Yes, a sewista is she who sews wonderfully, thanks for asking.  Now that I have his fashion endorsement,  I keep a spare in my handbag so I'm always prepared for a chilly meeting room or MN weather. I'm also ready to go for a brisk walk thru some crunchy fallen leaves to celebrate this season, how about you?

So when you get chilly, do you shrug, Slox™ or both?  And are shrugs old lady-ish?  I'd love to hear your vote on this fine Wednesday!  Let me know below for your chance to win a free pair of Slox™.

To be eligible for this giveaway you must:

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For extra entries you can:

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Please leave one post for each entry. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!   Entries accepted until Monday at midnight.  Winner drawn Tuesday. Open to US and Canada.

{Fabulous Fabric Friday} Greenhouse Apple Chevron Fabric #Giveaway

So happy its Friday, how about you?  This week I was in a fabric store getting my usual fabric "fix" and little O found some fleece he just had to have some pajama's out of.  I have to admit, it looks pretty cozy and the cute little monsters aren't bad either.  He convinced me that we needed to get it.  Hard sell, I know! 

This adorable apple chevron by Erin McMorris is a cuddly fabric that you can make your own jammies out of or some for another little person on your holiday shopping list.  PJ's make a great gift and my nieces and nephews love the ones I make them.  They let me know when they've grown out of them.  Hint, hint.  Love it!  

I'm all about celebrating what makes you unique.   It can be your PJ fabric choices, your food must-haves, or your sense of modern day fashion among many other things. I hit the polls on Tuesday wearing my over sized sunglasses and blaze orange sweatshirt (its hunting season in MN peeps!).  Between my name and my glasses I left our small town voting location a little shocked, according to Huz.  But hey, somebody's gotta rock it in southern MN, right?  Huz and I had fun making a little out-of-the-norm-splash in Madison Lake!

Back to more important things, like the fabric giveaway.  So in honor of official PJ weather having arrived, and you celebrating your own uniqueness, I'm giving away a yard of this delicious Greenhouse Apple Chevron flannel.  What will you make with it?

To be eligible for this giveaway you must:

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For extra entries you can:

Share this giveaway on Facebook 

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Pin this giveaway or your fav fabric from my shop on Pinterest

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Please leave one post for each entry. Can't wait to hear all your ideas!   Entries accepted until Tuesday at midnight.  Winner drawn Wednesday. Open to US and Canada.