Living. Sewing, Studying. Rest. Repeat.

Here's the post about our progress with our Dubai Covers!

Well, after a fabulous start with a sweet friend, we got to work on

the cutting and sewing of the other fabrics when our dear machine

decided it wouldn't cooperate!

So, as you can't sew on an out of service machine,

we went back to the craft room of our sweet friend and had a wonderfully

productive sewing day!

(As evidenced by the first four of our covers that you see!)

Thank you very much for having us, Mrs. Julie,

and for being so flexible!

It's no small offer to have two young women work

in your craft room during a school day

and we're so grateful for the opportunity to

visit, sew, and experience life in your home.

So,

Merci. Gracias. Danke. Grazie.

I hope you enjoyed this quick preview of our progress.

{heads up}

To make things a bit easier on our end,

we'll be selling our covers through this blog and not on my etsy shop,

but more on those details later!

Due to life and a wee bit of sickness in our home,

(Not to fear! Your covers will come "germ-free"!)

we'll get details and pricing up soon;

thanks for your patience. :)

Now back to living, sewing, studying, and-hopefully-rest.

Repeat.

{Dubai Covers}

{Wooden German box-estate sale find}

As I type this, there are yards and yards of fabric around,

all washed, pressed, cut, and ready to be sewn!

In posts past you've read me go on about a new project that is pretty large-scale.

Well, today and yesterday, the idea became a stack of fabric and

the inspiration was worked out with a rotary cutter and hot iron in the craft

room of a sweet friend.

So, to give you a wee history, we have these dear friends named, the Neal's:

{the Neal Children (except for Mr. and Mrs. and Little Joy)

with Mica and Caro, taken last year}

We haven't known them terribly long but they hold a dear place in our hearts.

What strikes me the most about this family is their love and passion for Christ;

it's infectious each time we are with them.

I so appreciate the loving yet firm way they are raising their family

and the way they are training them in the fear of the Lord.

I could write for a long while about the funny things they've said and

brilliant ideas about the direction for bedtime stories.

We all love spending time with this dear family and

miss them a great deal since they moved to

DUBAI

Yes, way over in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. N is a pilot and it's his work that has taken them across the pond.

They may be on the other end of the world but be assured that they

have continued to share their love for the Lord wherever they go.

I love hearing their stories of gospel centered conversations and

people they have been able to build relationships with.

Since they left around two years ago, Mica and I have hoped to be

able to scrap our small savings together for the plane fare and traveling

expense of visiting them. Well, this year we got serious and our parents

are willing to pay for half if we come up with the other half of the expenses.

At once we began scribbling out ideas for raising the money we need.

Mica and I are very excited about the prospect of

seeing the work they are doing and

spending sweet fellowship with believers

from that part of the world.

Here, I present you with one of the ideas on the list.

DUBAI COVERS

Also known as nursing aprons, breastfeeding covers,

or hooter hiders (take your pick);

with everything ready to go, we are stitching up our very own

"Dubai Covers" to sell as a way to raise money.

We sew 'em, you buy'em, and we tuck the proceeds away for our plane ticket!

I'm sure you know someone (or perhaps this would be for yourself)

who could use a good nursing cover. They're fabulous for breastfeeding mothers

who like to be more portable with their babies, and it definitely

beats throwing a blanket over yourself while your hungry little

one is protesting. A great baby shower gift idea or maybe even for that

"someday" when you hope to have babies of your own.

Plus we've chosen some pretty cute summer

prints, so in a sense they're also practical fashion accessory.

And with each cover you purchase,

the profits go towards our part

of the material cost for going to Dubai.

You get a cover and we are able to get one step closer to flying to the U.A.E.

Easy. Peasy.

I'll be back here with the specifics on prices, colors,

and where you can purchase these "Dubai Covers" but for now,

it's sewing time.

{Pleasant Beginnings}

{Sorry, source is unknown!}

I hope your Friday/weekend is off to a fabulous start.

This morning we made our way to an estate sale bright and early; I was expecting a bit more treasures but I'm now the happy owner of a German wooden box (like the Dutch tin, I'm not quite sure what I'll use it for--yet) and ten wee juice glasses. You can't complain really.

Yesterday I finished all three of my top secret projects and one item for the shop! Today and tomorrow will be for tying up the loose ends, taking pictures, and posting.

I can't wait to share them with you :)

Today I was browsing inspiration blogs and I rediscovered the Purl Bee--which I just love!

So, attention all knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, and crafters! This is a great resource, which has two fabulous stores in New York (just so you know).

Here is a great idea for an empty wall (or party decoration) and another lovely fabric pattern.

Next time we visit our dear friends, I hope to make it over to Brooklyn and visit the perfectly color coordinated yarn racks (ah, yes).

Also, check Rachel's new blog, Lavender and Honey, there are already quite a few cute posts and ideas; plus we're featured on her St. Patrick's Day post!

One last note, keep your eyes out for new spring items in the store!

We'll also be featuring a special new line of products--but more on that later :)

Have a pleasant weekend.

Turning Business Into {pleasure}

"Customers. You can't have a business without them...

We all know the cornerstone for any good relationship,

personal or business,

is communication."

-Kari Chapin, The Handmade Marketplace

Shipping days are always happy ones for me.

Today I realized the vast importance of turning a business transaction into a pleasurable one;

going the extra mile to make opening the package an exciting experience for the customer.

I know from experience how boring it can be to open a plain jane package with my items simply put in a plain jane box, accompanied with a plain jane receipt.

On the other hand, I recently received a pocket calender from Oh, Hello Friend.

Pretty cute packaging, let me tell you.

The wee calender arrived in a small envelope with the address information stamped and my address written in a cherry red ink. She even included a fun handmade sticker to boot.

So, whether it's creatively stamping your packages, wrapping each item in fun tissue paper (even though it may not need gift wrapping--admit it, unwrapping something always brings a smile.), or hand writing a customer appreciation thank-you note,

special touches are important.

Do you have any wrapping inspirations/stories to share?

Meet the Green-Eyed Sticky

{The first-born of my sister's offspring, Sophia--or Sophie as her Tia's call her}

This is Sophia (The Green-Eyed Sticky).
She is small and very funny.
Yep, those green eyes are very real and very captivating.
I think she does a fabulous job sporting the newest birthday crown, made for a special little someone.
Want to order one? No prob, just head on over to the shop and let me know--I'd love to recreate something in the shop or perhaps you already have an idea in mind? I'd love to work with you!

There are lots of things being checked off my "To-Knit" list, good thing too because there are things being added!
Check out the {on the needles} page to see what I've done and what is still in the works.

What projects are you working on?
In this season of my life there are many wee ones to make things for.

Recently I've had a flurry of ideas for my sisters baby-to-be

and today a larger scale project has been brewing in the back of my mind,

here are the keywords:

Planes. Mica. Fabric. Sweet Friends.

Stay tuned.

{A packaged good for a customer ready to be shipped!}

p.s. I came across these adorable, comfy looking shoes;

it's never too early for birthdays you know ;)

Colors {Yellow}

{Design*Sponge}

I've posted this photo before, but I wanted to show you again the inspiring

virtues of this cheerful color.

Today I wanted to point you to this post from SouleMama--

my very favorite is the first photo of the yarns!

It reminds me of an antique shelf that I saw in New York...that's a purchase that "got away"

(my own fault really); it would have been great to display some special yarns on it,

ce la vie.

Also this post from Design*Sponge--a great idea! Unfortunately this isn't something I can really try out right now but it certainly has been stored for future uses.

I could also see this painted on a lonely wall, perhaps in a small nook of a bathroom or hallway...

Look for more pictures to be added in the {on the needles} page;

I have a few new projects that just need pictures!

Magpie Ideas

{Design*Sponge}

So, on one of my study breaks (yes, I do take study breaks), I was perusing various design blogs for ideas and I came across so many that I had to share with you!

Enjoy.

First of all, I was thinking of the lack of fun, spring pillows on my sister's sofa, then I saw a DIY for this cute floral one with a HUGE poppy in the middle: I love this pillow.

Also, I remembered how much I love sweaters and saw a pattern for this sweater

which I just love! Can so picture fixing an early cup of tea in this...hmm...

Then, I remembered my sewing project and came across this adorable pattern;

possible tea towels anyone? They make great hostess gifts!

After finding out that my sister is have a GIRL, I've gone a bit batty in my knitting ideas for the newest Webb offspring, I present to you this sweet sweater.

Yes, the baby will-Lord willing-be born in July,

but this could be for the off chance that she will be chilly.

But wait, there's more!

Here is a patter for a baby sweater with some pretty cute button patterns.

Most of these ideas came from Magpie Patterns, check it out,

there's some pretty fun ideas that will fill your work basket!