Something New

I tried something new today.  Well, I started last night, but the big deal part of it was today.  The sewing part.

I have seen the cathedral windows technique all over Flickr and blog lands and just loved how it looked.  It's almost like cheater quilting in my mind because you get something so ornate looking mostly by using your iron.  I spent more time at the iron than at my sewing machine.

I don't like my iron.  It burns me with steam.

But I do like how this turned out!

On the ironing board.

On the cutting mat for a trim.

 

I used a nameless gray material and and Alexander Henry print.  I also relied most on the tutorial found on the blog alamode.  Love how her pillow turned out.

The finished item is unavailable for a photo yet, but I promise one tomorrow.

Does it at least look promising?

Mail Day

From a previous post, you know that I participated in the Goodie Bag Swap on Flickr. I sent my partner's bag off last week and now this week I have received my own!

The postman brought it right to my door.  That never happens!  I usually have to go to the post office at the drug store to pick up parcels.  When I opened my door and saw that he had a box for me, I had to put effort in not to get too excited in front of him.

I did.  I kept my cool

It only lasted until I closed the door and ran to the kitchen for the scissors to open the box!

When I did open the box, this is what I saw.  -Can you believe I remembered to take a picture?-

My swap partner, Sew.whitney, made me a wonderful gray and yellow bag and packed along some pretty strip scraps and even a yard of Moda fabric!

What a great swap partner to stalk my photostream and see that I usually make clothes so yardage would be appreciated.  I love when partners take the time to have a look and see what I like and then add the personal touch by sending something specific to me.  Love it.

Since only my 19month old is home in the day, I could not model the bag.  I had to hang it on a chair, but you get the idea.  Good strap length.  Sturdy bag.  Love the colours.

Thanks Whitney.

Online

I have decided to list some dresses in my Etsy shop, Little D and Me. 

Come and check it out!  

A Sample

I was asked to put up some pictures of the dresses I have for sale.  So here they are... at least most of them.  

I also have a few denim jackets and a couple more skirts.  The dresses range in size from 0-3months to 4T.

 

Market Failure

I went to a craft market last Saturday hoping to sell some things, enough to make my table fee and fabric costs back.
I had hoped to have an excited and upbeat post about the market..

 

...but it wasn't to be. I sold three items. Enough to cover table costs. It was a cold day and there was hardly any customers at the market. Really, I think maybe 150 people came through all day. It was horribly boring and a terribly long day.

 

Also fairly disappointing since I had hoped to sell more than three items. I have two or maybe three markets lined up yet, so we'll see how it all pans out.

Nosey Parker Post

 Here is my Nosey Parker post! So for anyone curious about where I live, this is the post for you.  

If you want to play along as well, just head on over to Kat's blog and join the party!

Here goes...

1) Tell us about your home:

I live in small town Westlock, Alberta, Canada. 

Westlock is home of the Canadian Tractor Museum.  I have lived in Westlock for almost 3 years, and in the area nearly all my life, and I have never been there. 

One of the exhibits.

It's the prairies.  The ocean is far away, the mountains are at least 5 hours away, the US border is at least 8 hours away.  But my family is only a hop, skip, and a jump away.  I like that.

On the Rotary Trail

Westlock was founded in 1913, so it's not even really that old.  It is built around the railroad that has been hauling grain out of our town since, well, since it became a town.  Even now, the railway is pretty big here in town.

2)What are the houses like in your area.

Most places around here are detached houses, and there are not so many apartments.  I think I could count on one hand the amount of apartment buildings around here.  And even those are no more than 5 stories high.  Yup, small town.  There is an old part of town and a new part.  We live in the middle part.  The old houses are almost doll sized and the new houses can be quite large.  Our own house has three bedrooms, an office, kitchen, living room, dining room (or our living area), and one and half baths.  Don't know if that is average around here or not.


3) What are some of your favourite places to visit or favourite things to do in & about your town/city.

One of our fave summer things to do here is bike the Rotary Trail.  It is a paved trail that winds through town, sometimes on the residential streets, but mostly a separate paved path.

Part of the Trail leading to the Storm Pond

We also live near to so many other beautiful places to visit.  

We have the Klondike Ferry up past Vega,

Beautiful beaches, 3 within an hours drive,

And Edmonton is less than an hours drive away,

And of course our own yard is the funnest sometimes.

4)  How do most people travel around your town/city? E.g. subway, bus, bike, what are the most popular styles of car.

Most people travel by car, bike, or walking.  We don't have a bus system here, except for the seniors.  Pickup trucks and SUVs are most popular here.  It's farming country and lots of people travel on the gravel roads, and in the winter, you don't want to get stuck in the drifts on those roads.

 My hubby did that once.  He always wore shorts to work under coveralls.  When he got stuck, he had no coveralls and had to walk/run to the neighbour in his shorts.  After that, he always carried coveralls, toque, mitts, and extra boots in the car.

The snow on our deck last January.

Vans are also fairly common for families.  We've got ourselves a van.

Sometimes, we even clean it!

5) Is there a type of food that would be quintessential to where you live?
No quintessential food here.  At least not in Westlock... Unless it's fresh produce from the Hutterites in the summer.
However, we, that is my family, have Dutch heritage and so we have some things in my home community of Neerlandia that are essentials.

Hagelslag.

Sunday Soup... not always pea soup, but Honig packs are best.

Pepermunts... and droppjes, but we don't like those personally.

There are lots of Dutch foods that we see as essential.  I mean, what would we do without hagelslaag for our bread?  Or pepermunts for eating in church? 

A little picture heavy, but hey, those are always the most interesting, no?

I hope you enjoyed this post and that you'll join the nosey party.

Busy Busy Busy

Wow, have I been busy.

That's my excuse for neglecting my blog.  Hehe...

Anyway. Market is this week Saturday for me and I am almost ready.  Why is it that I'm always getting things done last minute.  I have so far about 25 dresses made and a few other little things ready to go - pot holders, key chains, some wallets, and if my sister is in on it, I will also have some denim totes to sell.  Yay!

I also got my handy hubby to make me a ladder display stand for the dresses.  He had made before a clothing rack, but then the dresses were kind of hidden as you had to sort through the rack to find what you liked.  I am hoping that when everything is in plain sight, I'll have more lookers and maybe more customers.  I stained the ladder a dark brown and I think it looks pretty spiffy.

I found out today that my table is across from the face paining area.  That could be a good thing, either drawing waiting moms in, or a bad thing, crowding the area so people don't even notice me. 

Can you tell I am a little nervous about this?  Yeah, just a little.

Okay, a lot nervous.  What have I done?!?!?!?!

There is one thing I did not get done last minute.  This is the week to mail my Goodie Bag Swap bag!  Yay!  Can't wait to send it off to my partner and then I sure hope she likes it!  I know she will like the fabric I chose, but the bag is another. I think I read my partner pretty good.  I also included some extra goodies besides the bag of scraps. 

Sure hope it doesn't take as long to reach it's destination as my Pretty Little Pouch swap.  That one still has not reached my partner and I mailed it over 3 weeks ago!  I hope it doesn't get lost in mail land.  That would really suck.  Really.

I'm still here!

I've joined the hexie band wagon!  I think these will become pretty potholders.  Yes?

I am also busy sewing up a storm here for the market that is... two weeks away!  So I may be a little MIA.