Christmas shopping, that is. I am one of those cheesy people who loves to start celebrating the season months in advance, so I usually start shopping for gifts early. Like, real early. Like, August. This year, though, I am slacking a bit. I think I bought my first gift in October and I feel like I’m soooo behind.

Thankfully, we have this amazing thing called the Internet. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t shop from my computer. I don’t know about you all, but I seriously HATE mall shopping during the holidays.  The crowds, the overpricing, the same old boring stuff. No thanks.

I’ve done a lot of my shopping on Etsy. Shocker, I know, but it was a goal of mine to try and support home crafters and indie artists since the very beginning of the season. I have found some AMAZING things. Here’s what I’ve purchased from Etsy artisans so far:

This gorgeous family tree print for my parents:  http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.41785026.jpg The artist, Angie, is doing a custom family tree for my enormous family. (2 parents, 8 kids). I love how different it is from other family trees that I have seen. Here’s her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=21665

Earrings for my sisters: This pair is from musical kitten, who designs awesome jewelry using guitar picks. So creative! http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.32934631.jpg Be sure to check out her super cool store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6072937.  

Novelty bath/body items for my baby sis: These are awesome! Check out the shape of this soap! http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.43233189.jpg Isn’t that great! Seriously, I’m totally amazed by the creativity that I find on Etsy. I also bought some cupcake flavored lip balm from this same shop, Embrace Bath and Body. Here is their shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5528943

As much as I adore Etsy, they don’t have EVERYTHING that I’m looking for this season. I’m still trying to find some quality toys for my boys. Toys that aren’t stupid, cheaply made or overpriced. In other words, toys that aren’t from Toys R Us. But where do you go to find such gifts?

Hearth Song (hearthsong.com) is an excellent place to start.  Their toys are educational and extremely well made. I love that they sell toys that focus on a kid, well, being a kid. No skanky dress up stuff for girls, or crazy stupid video games for boys, but actual honest to goodness toys. Wooden tools, colored stacking blocks, car kits, fairy wings, wooden dollhouses and tea sets. If you’re fed up with c-r-a-p toys (I always spell that word in my home) like I am, this store will be a breath of fresh air. Here is a sampling of what they have: http://hearthsong.com/productCollections.asp?section_id=5&join_key=105&sc=1005&body_sc=1005&gc=218&clnm=GiftCenter

The one down fall to Hearth Song is their prices. They can get expensive. In my search for keeping things under budget, I found Rainbow Resource to be a great place to shop. For those of you that homeschool, you’ll probably know Rainbow Resource. And while they are a great place to get curriculum, they also have some great toys. I get a toy catalog every year around this time, and I ALWAYS mark the heck out of it. Lots of great pretend play toys, engineering toys, and art supplies at great prices. Check them out here: http://rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1226596374-437269&subject=20

Well, while I am certainly not done shopping, I have made a significant dent in my list. And while I’m sure that I will find most of my gifts via the Internet, I have this sinking feeling that I will have to make that dreaded trip to the mall…yikes.

I love making treasuries on Etsy, but I hardly ever get one. I actually lucked out yesterday morning and snagged a spot on the Treasury West. Its a bit self-serving, seeing as how the theme is my Christmas list.

Here’s hoping I find something off of this list under my tree! Here’s the link. Just click on it for a better view of these amazing pieces. http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=31465

Woohoo! I’ve never played the tag game before! I’m totally excited! Linda from Linda Loves Beads ( http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com/2008/11/tag-game-youre-it.html#links) has tagged me.

Here are the rules of tagging

1. Link to tagger and display these rules on your blog. (check)
2. Share 7 facts about yourself – some random, some WEIRD (see below)
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blog. (see below)
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Random Facts About Sarah

1.  This is my favorite item in my shop right now. I just totally dig the fabric: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16815804

2. I have a serious addiction to candy corns. The only reason that I don’t have a constant diet of them is due to their seasonal availability. Thank God…

3. One of my all time favorite movies is Casablanca. ” Of all the gin joints in all the world, she had to walk into mine…” One of the best movie lines, ever.

4. My name means ‘princess’, and I try to use that to my advantage as much as possible.

5. I’ve had oral surgery twice, but never stitches.

6. My oldest son’s formal first name is Maximillian. Poor kid.

7. My husband and I never dated. A fact both weird and completely random.

Okay, you guys. Now you know 7 completely random and useless facts about me. Tag, guys. You’re it:

http://oneblessedmommy.wordpress.com/

http://www.extremehousewifeing.blogspot.com/

http://homedeconomics.blogspot.com/

http://papergirlproductions.blogspot.com/

http://tmlf.blogspot.com/

http://backwoodsophisticate.blogspot.com/

http://www.xanga.com/ex_goat_milker

Even though it is still 90 degrees here in L.A., I can still pretend that it’s fall,right? I decorated my house, got out sugar and spice candles, and made my very first batch of Gingerbread Bars. These are one of my all time favorite fall-y recipes. They are super easy and oh-so-yummy!

Gingerbread Bars

3/4 c. shortening

2 c. flour

1 c. sugar

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 c. molasses

1 egg

2 tbs. sugar

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large saucepan, melt shortening, cool 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, except for the 2 tbs. sugar. Press in bottom of 9×13 pan. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake for 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into bars. Enjoy!

There is a first time for everything, and parents know this truth especially well. We just experienced another first in our home last week. Our first broken bone. Max, being our oldest, decided it was his responsibility to introduce his mother to the kind of stress and worry associated with broken limbs.  Here’s the story according to Max:

‘I fell right on my arm, on the ground. And the ground was very hard so, I plopped onto the ground and it hurt so bad. I was playing soccer with my teammates and I stepped on the ball. I was trying to kick it back up to the people that owned the ball. I was crying and I couldn’t get up, but some kind of mom and dad, they came and helped me up, and that’s why I’m standing right now.’

Max and his cool green cast

So there you have it. Straight from the source. After spending 2 days with different doctors trying to find out for sure if it was broken, Max got the right arm casted and it will remain so for 3 weeks. He’s pretty proud of it, especially now that it is covered with signatures (he calls them autographs) from his family and friends.  Oh, and there’s no soccer for 3 whole weeks. Bummer…

This is something that I really struggle with as a designer. I often peruse the purse/bag competition, and come away feeling like my designs are not in line with what is trendy here and now. Is this good or bad?

My Audrey clutch...trendy or no?

When I first stared making bags, I was totally overwhelmed by the diffrent styles and designs that were trendy and I felt that I needed to make those particular bags to be successful. It was difficult, because after a while, I realized I was so stressed about making the ‘right’ thing that I wasn’t having fun anymore.  My favorite colors, fabrics and designs weren’t really in line with those bags that are super popular. I was making things, and yet, not feeling very creative.

Don’t get me wrong. I think that as a designer of purses, clothes, jewelry, etc…we need to have an idea of what’s hot right now, but I think we can lose our creativity when we let ourselves become ruled by the trends. What makes me different from the masses?

My Peggy Sue design, not very trendy, but totally unique!

In conclusion, I think we need to find a balance of following what is popular and staying true to your own likes and passions. When we can find that balance, we are most likely to find success! Good luck to all of you as you find your own unique style!

Okay, so I want to thank all of you who have been waiting patiently for me to reveal my tips on working with oilcloth. It has been a crazy week of soccer, school and mayhem here at my house, but I think I found a quiet moment to type this all out. So,without further ado, my oilcloth tips!

Tip #1 – Trace your pattern on the back of the oilcloth.

This is a must when working with oilcloth. You can’t pin your pattern down to the oilcloth (I’ll cover that in a moment), and holding your pattern as you cut will just make your piece all wonky. I suggest drafting your pattern pieces (or tracing a pre-exsisting pattern) onto a lightweight cardboard, such as a cereal box. That way it won’t wrinkle or tear after a few uses.

Once you’ve made your pattern, use a ball point pen to trace your pattern on to the back of the oilcloth.

My traced pattern, on the back of the oilcloth.

 Tip #2 – Never use pins on your oilcloth.

Oilcloth is just like leather, vinyl, etc… Inserting a pin will leave a permanent hole. When you want to sew two pieces of material together, I suggest using paper clips or, my personal favorite, good ol’ clothespins. These will keep your pieces together, without moving, and they won’t leave any personal marks on your oilcloth. *NOTE* There is one time when using pins is okay. If you decide to cut out your pattern using a lot of extra room, like in the photo below, you can always pin your oilcloth together on the excess material. Make sense? Probably not, so be sure to study the photo to see what I mean.

My beloved clothespins, and the 'no pin' exception

 Tip #3 – When sewing oilcloth, lower your presser foot tension.

Whether you’re sewing on the right side or the wrong side of the oilcloth, it’s always helpful to lower your presser foot tension. I usually set mine between1.5 and 3.

Tip #4 – You may want to use a bigger sewing machine needle.

This is not a hard and fast rule. I usually switch my universal needle for something a bit more sturdy, like the leather needle (90/14), but I’ve forgotten at times, and it really doesn’t seem to matter that much. I think it helps your stitches to be a bit more consistent, but it’s not so that you would notice. This one is really up to you. Try it both ways and see what you like.

Tip #5 – When sewing on the right side of oilcloth, use a Teflon foot.

I can’t stress this tip enough. Being a natural born tightwad, I tried to scrimp and save by not purchasing this essential foot. Don’t be penny pinching here! Buy this foot! I think I paid $25 for mine, and it was worth every single penny that I paid.  It glides on your oilcloth beautifully, while your regular machine foot will stick like crazy. Then you will end up fighting your fabric by pulling and pushing it through the machine. All that will get you is sloppy stitches, a messy project and a migraine. Trust me when I say, invest in a Teflon foot. You’ll be glad you did. *NOTE* If you are sewing on the wrong side of the oilcloth, you can use your regular machine foot, but still lower your presser foot tension.

The one, the only, TEFLON FOOT!!!

The slick backside of the Teflon foot.

Well, that’s about it. Thanks for letting me share what’s worked for me. Hopefully, these little pointers can be helpful to you, too! Oilcloth can be tricky, but if you use these tips and just keep practicing, you’ll be an oilcloth pro in no time!

I’ll be showing off some of my oilcloth projects in my next and final oilcloth post. I’d love to get feedback from you guys and hear what you all are making. Have fun and be creative!

I love oilcloth. I absolutely adore it. I love the look and feel of it, and now that I’ve figured it out, I love to work with it. No need to finish seams or worry about threads unraveling. I’ll be listing the best tips for working with oilcloth in an upcomng post. Right now, I’m going to share my favorite prints and the best places to find this awesome material.

Just part of my oilcloth stash...

 So far, the place with the best selection of oilcloth at the best price is A.H. Mecantile Co. Here is the link: http://www.ahmercantile.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=10_21_132 I have ordered from them for quite a while and have been very impressed by their selection and their super speedy shipping. Shipping prices are a flat rate of $4.80 and usually arrive in about a week. Just check out some of their yummy prints available:

awesome retro goodness...

If you are looking for larger quantities of oilcloth, be sure to check out Fashion Fabrics Club.  http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/catalog_items.aspx?TypID=142&Viewby=Types&Page=1&gclid=CKXa6fLM4JUCFQkiagod51v_YQ They sell 12 yard rolls of oilcloth. Their print selection is not quite as extensive as A.H. Mercantile, but it’s a pretty good deal, about $60 for a 12 yard roll.

these are so cute, it hurts!

Mendel’s Far Out Fabrics has the same yardage prices as A.H. Mercantile, and their 12 yard rolls are actually a bit more expensive than Fashion Fabric Club, but they have some killer wood grain oilcloth. They also sell little bundles of remnants, great for small coin purse projects! http://www.mendels.com/fabrics10.shtml

that minty polka dot is my new favorite...

 So, there you have it. Those links should at least point you all in the right direction. Next post, I’ll give you some pointers in sewing with oilcloth. It can be a bit tricky, but with a few little adjustments and tools, you can work with fairly easily. Until then, have fun checking out this funky cool material!

Nope, not here!

Yesterday, Scott and I celebrated our 7th anniversary. Whoa. That sounds so weird. 7 years seems like a lifetime and a blink of an eye all in one. It feels like we were married just yesterday, and yet,I can’t imagine my life without him…I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be, huh?

Just a couple of kids...

And even though we are 7 years older, and homebound with 3 little ones, I would never go back to that first year of married life, EVER. Things may not be as spontaneous or fast paced as they used to be, but they are peaceful, and full of that unconditional love that the ‘for better or for worse’ can bring.

I received a request last week for a custom wallet. The customer wanted it for fall, and she really loved the oilcloth. After toying with a few ideas, and figuring out some measurements, this is what I came up with:

my new design, in all of its fall-y glory!

the wallet's backside

action shot!

I was pretty jazzed with how it turned out. I usually have to make at least 3 prototypes before I come up with anything that looks halfway decent. This one just flowed and everything came out exactly how it was supposed to. It will be years before I get that lucky again! Anyway, I hope the customer likes it.

So, I loved this design so much that I’m planning on putting it in my line of accessories. I have dubbed it the Katherine wallet. I’m still stuck on the pricing, though. Not quite sure yet what to charge for it. What do you all think?