All Hallow's Eve

 

 

Halloween is always fun.  This year Chris and I went as Hagrid and Hermione from Harry Potter. You'll have to forgive the blurriness as they were taken without a tripod and we wanted to get to our costume party.

We even tried our hand at "pumpkin art".

No matter how you spent it this year I hope you had fun.

  

 

I still don't think I'm ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I like Fall too much.

Retiring the Tank

Anyone whose ever owned a good, solid sewing machine knows the sadness that comes from your machine breaking down in the middle of a project.  My Pfaff 1475 has been a real trooper over the last 5 years that we've owned it.  It was first my husband's and then it was passed on to me.  Now it's going back to the hub's because the mother board is going out on it.  To fix it will cost around $300, but Chris is convinced he can fix it himself in house.  Despite his offer (and best intentions) I think it's time to move on for me. I'm getting a newer "used" classroom model from our local quilt shop. The Pfaff Expression 2.0.  We're also getting one for his mom which I secretly hope she doesn't ruin within the year.  She's got a bit of a "bad touch" when it comes to anything computerized.  He's hoping that since both her and I will have the same models that I can help her if she gets stuck....(insert laughing sigh here).

They don't actually make this model any more and the design itself is barely a few years old, but it's a beauty.  I'm not very keen on computers in sewing machines, but since that seems to be the "wave of the future" I've been forced to go with the flow.  This machine sews like silk.  It has a super wide throat (which means we may have to modify my beautiful sewing table, eep!) to accomodate bulkier projects.  Even the computerized display will tell you what foot you need to attach and a suggested tension for your thread.  It's like sewing has become too easy nowadays.

I remember learning to wind bobbins and thread the machine on my mom's old Singer.  It wasn't easy, but it was a work horse.  Many Barbie's were well clothed when I was at the machine.  Still I can't help but give the ole' 1475 a good salute for a job well done.  It's not down and out yet, so I hope I can keep it around for a bit longer.

A Doodle with Tea

I received a second custom order request last week from a wonderful girl in NY.  She'd already purchase a custom Bulldog ornament the week before and asked if I could design an ornament for her Labradoodle, Lani.  I'd never done a 'Doodle before so I set to work researching the breed a bit, looking over Lani's picture and sketching out possible patterns.  New dog breeds are always a challenge to scale down properly.  The original drawing was extremely huge compared to my other ornaments, but it turned out really lovely once the size was adjusted.

The ornament could not have been timed better because the rain had just set in for the week.  It also allowed me to break in my new Totoro teacup I'd brought back from Japan, Epcot while on vacation.  I love how dainty it is.  If I'd had the money and wasn't afraid they'd break on the trip back I would've bought the other 3 designs they had in the display.

Sipping tea from this cup makes me feel very girlish and happy ^_^

Arrrre Yooooou Reaaaaady?!

Wrestling announcements aside, raise you're hand if you're ready for the Holiday Rumble? To help you keep it in perspective today is exactly the 2 month mark before Christmas.

That's right....2 months or 69 days away.  

The fact dawned on me during the most normal of routines while baking an apple pie.  I'll bet you can guess what prompted the sudden realization from the picture below.

Once the pie was in the oven I made sure to get all my shipping and packing supplies ordered by the end of the day.  It's good to get reminders even if they are subliminal.

Battle Wounds

This weekend we did 2 mountain bike rides.  John Bryan on Saturday and Caesar's Creek on Sunday.

JB is now officially "cake".  Caesar's Creek however, will be spoken of in hushed tones of fear and loathing.  It kicked our butt's to next week and back.  I seriously thought my heart was going to explode! How do people BIKE up half those hills?! I'll never know.  Sure it's possible because anything is possible, but oh.my.god.

Poor Chris got mauled by his peddle ramming into his shin, the bruise is about 6 inches long.  I slid down a ridiculous hill sideways while walking my bike down.  My crank/gear area nailed me right above my ankle and it's swollen to the size of a walnut.  There were 4 of us and we were muddy, exhausted and banged up, but we rode those trails anyways and we did some crazy stuff that seemed ridiculous.

You might say, Rebekah, you're crazy to keep riding trails like that! I say, why not? Just because I get so hurt I cry and get pissed off at how hard it is I still managed to ride on and tough it out.

But let me just tell you it will be a long while before I haul myself back out to that trail.

Respect yo.

Hushed

I know I've been very quiet this week and it's all because I've been working, working, working. Here's a new limited edition ornament that'll be popping into the shop tomorrow.  This little guy will be my FIRST ready to ship ornament and of course he's only here for this Holiday season!

I've been working on orders and prepping for the Holiday season, but the most exciting work is getting ready for an appointment with a local shop to discuss selling wholesale to them.  

This has me unbelievably psyched up mostly because I've been dragging my feet for two years about asking this shop in particular.  But I did it and I'm totally going to nail it, I know I am.  Even if I don't get the business I'm incredibly proud of myself that I actually asked, presented my work, set up the meeting and am following thru.

Some times it just takes bullying thru the doldrums to get where you need and want to be.

Reflect

(taken on a hike at John Bryan State Park)

I don't know why Fall makes us all look back on the year that's nearly past us, but I think it's a good thing.  Just remember to wear your mud boots when tromping thru the forest.

John Bryan

If you don't mind driving there are several State Parks around my area. One of my local favorites is John Bryan.  It's situated right beside another park/nature preserve, Glen Helen, and both are beside the hippie/indie/artsy town of Yellow Springs (which also has my favorite farmers market and honey), but that's another post.  We've taken up biking in hard earnest this year.  Both trail/mountain biking and paved biking on the local pathways.  The mt. biking has me hooked though and it's so much fun even if I'm slow.

Last month I brought my camera on one such trip out to JB and captured some amazing pictures of all kinds of fungi.  

 

Of course this meant having to stop every mile or so to snap a quick shot and then hop back on my bike.  I don't know if it annoyed the others or not, but they all loved the pictures once they saw them.  They even stopped and waited for me to catch up by a "field" of giant Puffballs.

Now the mushrooms have all gone and dried up and we're in a streak of amazing weather for the first week of October, but I'm okay with that.

Of Crafty Thangs & Business Pangs

Earlier in the year you may remember the Log Cabin quilt I made for my niece Abby

and then came along Project 14 for Craft for Hope: Christmas in Dixie

I forced myself to work from my stash when making those stockings and they were the first I've ever made, but I caught the sewing fever again.  This means two things. 1) That what I was hoping to do with Pinpinn as it closes down from selling pincushions feels even more right.  2) I have an excuse to buy more fabric.  Seriously though it's exciting.

I've noticed that as this year draws to a close the changes that Etsy has launched has really made the whole site feel much like a closed loop or a very confined circle.  It's becoming harder to push people towards my shops for various reasons and it's discouraging.  There are a few personal factors hanging around with my decision about Pinpinn and also the urge to really become a business and meet potential customers.  In other words I'd like to start selling at craft shows, just a few.  Etsy has me feeling very stuck and the longer I'm there the more claustrophobic I feel.  Because Tumus is set up on a "made to order" basis I can't really sell at shows, but I've reached out to a few local places to advertise at this year.  

The idea I have for Pinpinn though has potential, the kind that makes my tummy kind of flip and my brain go into overload when I try to sleep. It's funny when you have those kinds of ideas.  I don't know how well it will go or what kind of reaction I'll get or even if it's something people will want, but it feels good and I know my area and what people buy around here so it's very possible.  So possible it's scary.