All the right tools and supplies

One might argue, I like to collect things. One might also argue, I like to compartmentalize my things. I've even been known to spend hours organizing and reorganizing my things until they are both functional and pleasing to the eye.

Having said that, I thought I would share a few of my favorite tools and collections in the studio.

For starters, I love my June Taylor quilting press which all my supplies are currently staged on. Having grown up one of six kids, scissors were something never to be found in our house. And using Mom's sewing scissors on paper was grounds for disownment!

Yes, it may appear to be too many scissors, but, if you sew, I'm sure you'll completely agree you need different scissors for different projects. I started using a rotary cutter 15 years ago. I LOVE cutting out all of my sewing projects with the rotary cutter. Almost feels foreign using scissors to cut-out a fabric project with scissors. If you haven't noticed, they are very sharp and I'm surprised most of the rotary cutters available today, do not have a guide to protect your hands.

On a side note, while cutting out a quilt many years ago, I sliced off part of my left pointer finger. This was when the show "ER" was very popular. I was living alone at the time. I felt very faint. I called a taxi cab to take me to the emergency room. I brought the corner of my finger, which still had part of my finger nail attached, with me to the ER, in a baggie on ice. They were very polite not to laugh at me when I showed them my iced finger chunk, however, I'm sure it made for great dinner table discussion that night! Needless to say my finger healed just fine. Back to the point of this post....

I think you'll also agree you never have too much thread. I love my chest of embroidery thread.

All the colors of the rainbow....

Even with all the neatness of the embroidery thread chest 0f drawers & the Gutermann rack, I still can't part with a basket full of thread. I love digging to the bottom of the basket to find a new spool to wind up my bobbins.

Sitting on my workstation, I also keep a basket of my patterns. These aren't very photogenic since they are my own patterns made with muslin and my chicken scratch notes all over them.

Just look at all those D rings for the aprons, wristlets & diaper caddy's. Grommets for the backpacks, and silver shank buttons waiting to be dressed.

Based on the above picture, would you believe me if I told you I had to go to the fabric store the other night because I needed a zipper. Unbelievable. My kids inventoried the zippers for me after the new year. 100's of zippers and I didn't have the right color for an LBs purse!

I would love to hear about your favorite sewing tools, garden tools, or kitchen gadgets.

Happy Sewing!

Lazy Day Sunday

Before having kids, I dreamt about "Lazy Day Sundays" both as a wife and as a Mother. Although these daydreams were a vivid part of my imagination, they were influenced by my surroundings. At the time, I was living in New England, on the 6th floor of a sky-rise apartment in the city. I enjoyed all the amenities of living in the city, as a single woman, just a few short miles from the office. Albeit, the weekends were MINE to do as I pleased, something was always missing.

Looking back now, I was probably the envy of my friends with young families. I recall a friend of mine telling me she and her husband set aside 'time' to talk since their lives were consumed with the activities of their children. I just couldn't imagine!

A dozen or so years later, I am living 800 miles away from the sky-rise apartment, no longer putting on a suit each day to go to the office, and no longer worrying 'how' I would spend my weekends.

Today, was was the epitome of a "Lazy Day Sunday"

We canceled our plans and commitments since both kids are feeling under the weather.

The kids hung out with me in the studio, for hours...and hours...and hours.

They read......

They slept.....

Daddy took care of Brunch for Lunch, with a smile!

By the end of the day, I was feeling refreshed, but, the kids were ready to crash. Little Man's fever spiked so we took out a favorite book.

Sick Day, by Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrations by Jane Dyer

This is a wonderful children's book. When we picked up this book at the UConn Book Fair many moons ago, I didn't realize the author was Patricia MacLachlan. This was her first book, originally published in 1979. She went on o write two of my favorites, Sarah Plain and Tall and Skylark.

The kids then enjoyed our "Sick Day" favorite supper - Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup.

While Mommy had a spinach salad with chicken & cranberries...

I confess, I had to keep the vase of flowers on the table so I wouldn't see Daddy's delicious open-faced chicken sandwich he prepared!

Now, the kids are fast asleep. Hubby is watching his beloved Celtics and I am getting ready to package my orders to ship tomorrow. This weekend, I made a dozen tote bags with crayon rolls and 3 wristlets for this weeks' orders. A few new fabric styles this week, kept it interesting!

But, the best part of it all was having my peeps hang out with me for hours of endless chatter.

Gotta LOVE Lazy Day Sundays!

Tomorrow, I'm afraid the mailman will not be happy with me. I recently discovered "Click-n-Ship" with the United States postal service. With a few quick clicks, I can have shipping boxes delivered to my door, for FREE. With a few more clicks, the mailman will pick-up my precious goods and deliver to the lucky recipients within 3-4 days. No more weekly trips to the post office!



Yes, it was a busy weekend in the studio. Ohhh what fun I had filling orders. Here are a few of my favorites, being shipped in the morning.



These personalized totes include a crayon roll with 24 crayons and a coloring book. By far this is my best seller on-line. Aren't they darling!



Also shipping a few aprons. I never tire of making aprons! I would like one for everyday of the week, please!


If you look closely, you'll see "Freckled Hen's" apron in the picture above. This is one of the FIRST aprons I made when I started my business. Yes, Freckled Hen is my darling sister. She is a fabulous seamstress. You can tell her she needs to come for a visit to pick-up her apron.