♥ Back again! ♥

I really don't know where the time goes! All I know is that now it seems like all I get done is working. I enjoyed reading back over the last 10 years of my blog and realized so many things have changed since I last posted here. I once had a job that allowed me stay home safe when we had bad snow storms. That changed about 5 years ago when our department at the university "merged" with another and suddenly "emergency personnel" took on a new meaning--mainly they didn't care how bad a blizzard we were having, I was required to drive to work anyhow. They did not care that I was risking my life (literally!) driving over two mountain ranges because someone forgot their work email password and the university was closed due to inclement weather. It took a while, but about two years ago I changed departments and I am no longer required to come in during closings. NICE!

I still have my Etsy shop, but I'm getting ready to close it at the end of the year. I cannot compete with the mass -produced "crap" they now allow on Etsy. And don't get me started on all the fees! They now charge ME for another fee on the shipping fees, even though I don't make a dime off shipping. Ridiculous! I loved Etsy when it first started and it was all about handmade but it started going down hill a few years ago when I noticed people were selling mass-produced, not handmade (and they didn't even bother to change the photos--they used the stock photos they bought it from!) WOW. Nope, time to go.

I am still creating, but will be selling on my own website. Details coming soon! :)

So what new items have I been adding to my shop? Glad you asked....

tea cozies!

crochet-edge pillow cases!

key rings!

more diabetic medical alert bracelets!

bookmarks!

embroidered tea towels!

bangle charm bracelets!

more tea infusers!

letter openers!

Alright, let's see if I can keep up the blogging again!

Keep on crafting!

Sheri

Handmade Decorative Tea Towels

This weekend I decided to "play" and made a set of decorative tea towels for our other house. We've been moving "forever" (sigh) and hopefully next spring will be the winner! It was my grandmother's house and we've been doing a bit of changing and remodeling/upgrading for the last 3 years. Anyhow, above her kitchen sink, she had a wooden paper towel holder (at least I think that's what it was supposed to be), but when you try to unroll it, it would always get stuck or fall down (you get the picture!) So she used it to hang a set of decorative tea towels.

I have had this eyelet fabric & Donna Dewberry roses fabric for awhile so I thought I'd just make up a set just for that purpose. Kind of cute!

Pink Saturday

Hello blogland friends!

It's another pink Saturday with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound! I hope you're having a wonderful weekend so far. I've been looking at some Valentine Day fabric lately and thought I'd share those this weekend.
ENJOY!
Sheri

Roses! My favorite!
Wouldn't this be adorable for a little girls room?
Or maybe this one? How sweet! And...How can you go wrong with cupcakes? :)

YES! I just had to include this! Check this out! For you little "princess!" :))

Tea Cozy Swap

Hello all!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

There's a tea cozy swap going on at Mary Jane's Farm right now. Click HERE to find out more! Need some inspiration? How about some pictures (posted directly from Flickr)...

Keep on Crafting!
SHERI

Please click on photos to be taken to owner's page on Flickr for more info! Thanks! 

Lemon Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by colonial stitcher

Fiber Trends Tea Cozy w/ Flowers
Originally uploaded by Pink Dandelion

embroidered linen tea cozy
Originally uploaded by homespun living

Snowman Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by crazydaisy60

Sombrero Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by plainsight

Teapot cozy
Originally uploaded by Queen Conch

Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by Dacia Ray

Tea Cozy Featuring Vintage Hand Embroidered Doily
Originally uploaded by Sheeps Clothing

I love new items made from vintage tablecloths

Hello friends in blogland,

I hope you are having a fabulous Saturday! I was browsing etsy and just had to share some pics. I love when vintage tablecloths and hankies are "re-cycled" into some new items. And these are some lovely pillows and ornaments in the Christmas style. Hop on over to Leslie Janson's shop and see what I mean...HER ETSY SHOP.

Enjoy!

Sassy Cat

Calling all Cat lovers...This is a cute pattern from Doe C Doe! This inspires me to make a pillow just like this! Or wouldn't it make a cute quilt in different-colored cat blocks?

Sew some Apron Ornaments

Oh how adorable!! I have to have this pattern. Wouldn't little aprons be cute on a tree? If you're like me and have a little tree in your kitchen (I guess mine's about 18" tall), wouldn't aprons be adorable?

SIMPLICITY # 2748

The Trend of Thrifting



fabric.com

Is thrifting ending? Sadly, I was just thinking this today as I came from two local thrift shops. I've noticed the prices are up and the nice vintage items are down. I to love to buy clothing for the fabric to use in craft items AND it's reusing/recycling (love to do that!) and cheaper than buying fabric in fabric shops. I did find a vintage apron today that I just couldn't resist for $1. Guess it's back to the yard sales & church rummage sales (love those!) My grandmother and I used to go to all the local church sales all the time and we got great items for giveaway prices. (Besides, churches around here love to do the "all the clothing you can stuff in a wal-mart bag for $1"). Great place to get fabric!

My mother-in-law has to be the Queen of Yard Sales though if there ever was one! I mean this is the woman who bought an almost brand-new car at a yard sale! It's a little hard to beat something like that.

Thrift stores are great places to find items to paint on too. I have found old chargers before that weren't very nice-looking for using at your dinner table BUT made great surfaces to do decorative painting on. There's something that makes me feel good about giving new life to an old item...maybe it makes me feel like it's my part of being "green". lol, even if it's just a small thing.

How to: Elegant Party Napkins

Project and photo courtesy of
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores

Skill Level 2: Some sewing experience needed

Approximate Crafting Time: 1 1⁄2 hours for four





SUPPLIES & TOOLS:• Cotton fabric – 1/2 yd. makes two napkins
• Basic sewing supplies
• Rotary cutter, ruler & mat
• Sewing machine with 1 spool of matching thread
• Fray Check
• Iron
• Flowers of choice
• Trims or Ribbon of choice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut fabric into 18" squares.

2. Using sewing machine: Turn edges under 1/8" then another 1/8" and sew with a straight stitch.

3. Place a drop of Fray Check at each corner and allow to dry.

4. Trim corners.

5. Fold napkins in different styles: Fold accordion style and tie at bottom, fold with a pocket to tuck in flowers or stems, gather in center and tie. Get creative!