Grey Day Finds

It's Monday, I didn't win the lotto this weekend, the work day has been a disappointment, and yes it's a heavy, dull, cold, grey outside my window. Ho hum...

To help combat the unhappy feeling that a day such as this presents I have decided to go on an Etsy scavenger hunt. The objective is to remind myself that beauty and elegance can be found in grey. You need only the will to look for the good, the happy and the inspiration all about you, often hidden in the grey areas. Enjoy.

1. Vintage Grey Mohair Mahara Hat
2. Sweet Bunny – Digital art print
3. Smoke and Ice Rhinestone Stickpin or Hat Pin

4. Grey Ruffle Tank

5. Sporty Messenger Bag in Leaves in Grey Printed
6. Romantic Wrap Top with Short Ruffled Sleeves

Sick Days

They just can't be avoided when you have a small child in daycare it seems.  The little germ factory hit us all pretty hard over the weekend but with a little time off and rest the whole family is back on track for recovery now and it's back to work!

Over the weekend and with much excitement I sold 3 aprons from my Etsy shop bringing my sales total up over the 20 mark!  I am so excited :)  

With my wealth of sales this weekend it brought my apron inventory way down  (only 1 left) and come to think about it Christmas wiped me out of all my travel bag inventory.  

So I have been hard at work drafting new ideas for aprons.  I already have 5 aprons started and they are all so cute!  (in my humble opinion)  I am working on finishing them as far as I can until the new fabric labels I ordered from Jennifer's Jewels come in the mail.

I also have a fun idea for some totally decked out over the top fancy aprons that would be great for entertaining.  Coming up with sketches now, figuring out fabrics how to do the construction.  I am so excited I cant wait to get started!

Once I get the apron stardust out of my eyes I am going to start on the bags again.  I love the travel bag and I received some new sewing books at Christmas that had some great bag designs I want to try.  

Great Finds, Projects, and Inspiration

We had a great time on Saturday at the Farmington Founder's Day Festival and the Royal Oak Antique and Garage Sale.  My in-laws, husband, baby and I all went on this day long adventure together.

I picked up for myself this super cute vintage apron.  I really love the shape and flow of this apron, it is a little bit different from the apron's currently in my shop.  I think I am going to use this apron as a pattern for the next set of aprons that I do.

We also found this great antique sewing cabinet.  It was so beautiful I couldn't help but drool.  My Mother and Father-in-law were so kind and bought it for us.  I have it up in my guest room right now.  It looks so nice, thank you guys so much!!!

Well I have been working hard but not getting to much done lately on my projects.  My Mom however has been busting out the birdhouses.  She brought out 2 more today that I just posted on Etsy, and they are beautiful.  

For my part I have been knitting in my spare crafting time this week, and I am just not very fast.  Currently I am working on a cozy for my work coffee cup.  We have a coffee system called Flavia and that machine pumps out the hottest liquid ever.  You practically singe your fingers trying to get the cup back to your desk :)

I have also been spending a lot of time lately looking out at my neighbors garden.  It's so pretty and she has this one pink Phlox that captures my eye every time I look out.  It really inspires me to want to work on my yard more this summer!

I do have one really pretty white phlox bush that I just love.  It has a very nice light fragrance.

Back to Work

Well I am back to work now after a great vacation spent with my husband and son.  We relaxed took the baby to the zoo, Lake Huron and let him hang out on Grandma and Grandpa's boat for the first time.  It was a wonderful relaxing time and now I am ready to get back to business at both my full time advertising job and my crafting.

I posted two great aprons on etsy today, and I am ready to start on another one.  Here is the fabric I am going to use, how great are those roosters.  I can not wait to start.  

Over vacation my mother-in-law invited me to raid both her fabric stock pile and button tin.  I found some really great materials both new and vintage and am having fun thinking up ideas how to use it all!  

I also made a side-trip to the fabric store with husband and baby in tow.  It was the day after the holiday and they were running a sale on the Christmas fabric.  I couldn't resist and picked up some great fabrics for both Christmas and Halloween.  So be on the lookout for some new holiday treats coming soon.  A big thanks to my husband for some great ideas for Christmas projects too :)

Meanwhile in my "spare" time I have been sketching up some ideas for some fresh little pillows with summer fruit and yummy confectionary treats as my inspiration. Yumm, they look so cute already just on paper.  I am thinking about painting them too but I'm not sure if I want to go with watercolor or acrylic, hmm.  

Now that I am devoting more time and energy to crafting  it seems like inspiration is everywhere and I have more ideas than I can keep up with.  The flood gates are open so I am trying to be really good with my ever-handy sketchbook to capture them all for later.

So I want to know what inspires you? 

Till next time