i have to say...

we have a guest!: amber @ one shabby chick!

We have a guest!  

Amber is back with part 2 of her craft fair guest-post and this time her focus is on what sells and display ideas.  This is great information because Amber is quite familiar with the craft fair world and I know her advice is from lots of experience!  

Here is what she has to say:

OK so now you’ve signed up for the craft fair – what do you make?

  I try to take a variety of items with me and it also depends on how much space you will have (the fairs I attend usually have a 10’ x 10’ space)

 Here’s a list of items I usually have at craft fairs and that sell pretty good:

• covered button ponytail holders
• coin purses
• small quilts (although these normally don’t sell well because they are a big ticket item but you can get custom orders if you have some quilts available to look at – and you never know, you might sell some too!)
• tote bags
• oilcloth box bags
• zip pouches/pencil cases
• iPad covers
• camera straps
• little skirts/dresses
• crayon wallets
• pillow covers
• baby items – bibs, receiving blankets, burp cloths
• any other items you’ve been wanting to try!!

 You want to make things that you enjoy making – if you make 10 of one item by the 4th or 5th (or sometimes 2nd) you start feeling a little burnt out! Just plan ahead, make a list and then work towards making an inventory.

 There are a number of GREAT patterns on Etsy and the web that let you purchase their patterns and sell the finished product in small quantities. Always check tutorials and patterns to make sure they allow you to sell items made from their pattern – you want to make sure you have their permission.

 A few pattern sites I use are:

 Keyka Lou – amazing bag patterns

 Spoonful of Sugar – their tutorials are so cute!

 JCasa – bib pattern, list taker pattern, coloring wallet pattern

 My own tutorials! Lol!

 I usually make about 10 of each item - unless it something big like a tote bag, an apron or a quilt - then I just take a few of those. It’s nice to have a variety of items in different price ranges too.

 I price all my items the week day before the craft fair – that makes everything look cohesive and you can make price tags that have your email or shop address on there in case people need to contact you and have lost your business card.

 I won’t go in to pricing here – there are lots of different opinions on the subject but I follow this philosophy – price your items so that you pay for your materials and pay yourself for your time plus a little more.

 And don’t be discouraged if the craft fair doesn’t go as well as you had planned – it happens! Weather, conflicting fairs, economy – all these things come in to play. But think on the bright side – you’ll have lots of items to add to an online store or for your next craft fair.

OK now let’s talk about display ideas. I use props from around my house as they are free (yeah) and pretty easy to pack.

 A bench makes a great shelf on top of a table – or a cute display for pillows or blankets.

 We have a great shoe rack that folds up flat that I take to every craft fair. I stand it on top of a table and have instant shelving.

I’ve also repurposed a crib I bought on Craigslist. I use the bottom wire support for a display on one side of the tent (I use zip ties - a crafters best friend!! – to secure it to the tent) and the side rail is used as a quilt display rack on the other side of the tent.

I also use a coat rack to hold and display tote bags. A dowel with holes on each end is a great way to hang skirts or dresses.

 I have three folding tables that I take as the main part of my display. Two I use to put items on and the third I use as a cashier station. I keep a few items on this table but mostly it’s used for my business cards and to wrap and package sold items.

 Chairs are also important since you don’t want to be standing all day – this last craft fair I took a bench we keep outside, threw a quilt over it, and we had a cute little sitting area.

 Most of all – have fun and talk to people!

 OK – I hope I’ve given you some great ideas and some motivation to try a craft fair! Thanks for having me Randi!!

Thank you so much, Amber!

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS FOR AMBER HERE IN THIS POST

You can find Amber on her blog, on Etsy, on Flickr, onFacebook and on Twitter.

***All photographs are Amber's and are used with her permission.

 

 

 

we have a guest!: amber @ one shabby chick!

Today we have Amber @ One Shabby Chick with us, and I am so happy about that!  

Amber is a lovely, talented gal who loves her family, her sewing machine and the beach (try not to be jealous, but she lives in Hawaii!).  Amber's love of sewing and fabric really spills over into her wonderful fabric combinations and unique machine-quilting designs. I always look forward to seeing what she is making!

One thing that Amber has lots of experience in is craft fairs.  She participates in a number of them throughout the year, and she is sharing her knowledge with us today.

Let's see what Amber has to say:

Hi, my name is Amber and I blog over at One Shabby Chick. Randi asked me to share some craft fair tips here with all of you.

 I participate in local craft fairs every year. They are a great way to meet new customers and get the word out about your business and it’s really fun – I think of it as a little pop-up shop I get to have for a day!

 I subscribe to a local craft fair bulletin online that shows most of the local craft fairs available and gives you contact information for each one. It’s only $10 a year and is so worth it! You can look online or ask around to other crafters and see if there is something similar in your area. You need to sign up for most craft fairs months in advance so filling out applications and getting them in on time is very important or you could miss out!

 I also choose craft fairs that do not have a high booth fee (right now the most expensive one I do is $95). And when you first start out you might want to try one that is even cheaper. This way you don’t have too much risk should it be the wrong crowd/area/time of year. There are always hits and misses – you will find you do really well at one craft fair and then at another you may only sell one thing. You just have to find where your market is and participate in craft fairs in that same type of area.

 I live in Hawaii so most of the craft fairs here are outside. This requires that I supply my own tent, tables and any other display items that I need. It varies at each craft fair – there are some craft fairs where you just pay for a table in a cafeteria or banquet hall. I prefer a larger area since I normally make way too much stuff for each fair – ha ha!

 I usually pack my car up the day before a craft fair as most require you to have your booth set up pretty early and you want to make sure you are ready that morning. I have done it enough times now that I have a system for loading up the car and know which props I need from my house – I usually take a bench or two and a shoe rack that I use as shelves – just look around your house and I’m sure you will find a couple unique items you can use for your display.

 I always make sure I have plenty of change the day before too. It will depend on how big the craft fair is but you will probably need between $100-$200 in 10’s, 5’s and 1’s. Now that I have a Square (which I HIGHLY recommend – it has made a huge difference in sales – and it’s free to sign-up) I don’t need as much change but there are still lots of people that come to craft fairs with cash.

 Plan to take a small cooler with drinks and snacks (and even lunch). That way you aren’t spending any of your earnings on food and you will be prepared if there are no food vendors or if they sell out of food (or if it just isn’t good!). And chairs – unless they supply them with your booth…cause you don’t want to be standing all day!

I take a buddy with me too – my mom and sister have both helped me, as have various friends. It helps the day pass quickly and if you get swamped, they are able to help wrap things up and take sales.

 Business cards are important as well – you want to have plenty so you can pass them out to everyone.  And don’t panic if you don’t have any sales right at first or have sloooow patches. It happens – a lot! Just remember some craft fairs are more of a learning opportunity and you might get a regular customer from one of those business cards you passed out!

 Next time I’ll share about what sells (and doesn’t) and good display ideas!

Thank you so much, Amber!

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS FOR AMBER HERE IN THIS POST

You can find Amber on her blog, on Etsy, on Flickr, on Facebook and on Twitter.

***All photographs are Amber's and are used with her permission.

 

we have a guest!: adrianne @ little bluebell

Hi, Friends!

I am happy to introduce our guest today: Adrianne @ Little Bluebell.

I started following Adrianne's blog a number of months ago after I saw her Habitat quilt for the MQG challenge.  Her interpretation of that fabric line within her quilt has just amazing, since the fabric line itself was quite unique in style and color. I thought her quilt was great!

Since then I have been inspired by Adrianne's unique color combinations.  She really has an eye for what belongs together in a quilt!

Adrianne is the member of 3, and the president of 1 MQG, soshe  has a few things to say about being a part of a quilt guild or sewing group in your area.  Here's Adrianne:

I was very excited when Randi asked me to be a guest.  While we’ve never met in person, we’ve bonded through our blogs over fabric and making pretty things.  I bump into her a lot online where we find so many of the same things to love… kindred spirits.  : )

My name is Adrianne and I have a confession.  I’m a member of three local modern quilt guilds.  Yes, three!  And I love them all!  Let me share with you my journey from quilting enthusiast to active modern quilt guild participant.

It all began two years ago when I decided to check out my local modern guild. After already being an active member of the online community I was curious about meeting local quilters. I remember nervously clutching a quilt to share and speed talking through my introduction, holding my breath and waiting for their reaction.  I was met with smiles, a friendly welcome and encouragement to share my quilt. We spent the afternoon in a sunny room, laughing, sharing and talking excitedly about fabric, thread and quilting. It was wonderful! After visiting the other guilds in the area I couldn’t stop going to meetings.

Fast forward a couple of years; I am now the President of the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild and members of both the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild and the South Bay Modern Quilt Guild.  If it weren’t for the two hour drive on a weeknight, I’d happily be a member of the new North Bay Modern Quilt Guild too. 

“Why join three guilds?” you’re asking yourself. The short answer is my friends are there. The longer answer is I LOVE these quilters and I love getting a chance to see them in person. While each guild is slightly different there is a common thread of excitement and inspiration surrounding modern quilting. Every single member brings something different to the conversation.  And to my surprise, there are a lot of modern quilters who don’t have blogs and don’t join Flickr discussions! 

If you aren’t already a member of a guild, I highly recommend it! Visit the main Modern Quilt Guild page for a complete list of current guilds.  If there isn’t already a guild in your area, start one!  Maybe I will come and visit!!  ; )

Thanks so much, Adrianne!  

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE COMMENTS FOR ADRIANNE IN THIS POST.

You can visit Adrianne on her blog, on Flickr, on Twitter and on Pinterest.

Have a lovely day!

***All photographs are Adrianne's and are used with her permisson.

 

 

we have a guest!: brooke @ apriltwoeighty

Hello!

We have a guest today!

I am pleased to have Brooke @ AprilTwoEighty here on my blog today.

Brooke's blog is full of inspiration and color!  I do love her modern take on quilting, as it pulls from quilting's traditional roots.  Many of her projects are classic layouts, updated with amazing fabric choices.   A few of Brooke's photos are used here with permission, but I definitely encourage you to head over to her blog and spend a bit of time there. You won't be disappointed!

May I say that another thing I like about Brooke is her style.  She isn't shy with haircolor and she recently got an amazing tattoo.  What a girl!

Randi: What inspires your work?  Your "look" is so unique.

Brooke: I'm inspired by so much around me - I gather a lot of inspiration from music and arts.  I'm very visual, so a lot of times when inspiration hits me for a quilt project, its because of a photo or video or place that I've seen. I'm often trying to turn those things into quilt blocks based on fabrics or colors or designs that I think "fit". I did that with my Caribbean inspired quilt (which I still need to work on!),  and my Lady-like Hayley inspired quilt!

Sometimes I'm just inspired by the fabrics themselves - there are so many incredible designers out there making unique fabrics - I love a mix of modern with some vintage to keep it eclectic. I love Anna Maria Horner, I think her style is my favorite - I love the colors, prints, designs, the way the fabrics in her collections fit together. And she is one crafty lady!

I'm also constantly inspired by the amazing community of online quilters that I've been lucky to get to know via flickr, Pinterest, their blogs, and my blog! 

 Lastly, I'm super inspired by my friends and family who are constantly supporting my efforts and endeavors (like our latest venture is a local sewing lounge that a friend and I are opening next month! We'll be teaching classes, and selling fabrics & notions!). I am very lucky and blessed to have such a great support system near and far who are always pushing for me to create! Its always inspiring and a big self-esteem booster to hear them praise my jobs well done!

Randi: How do you find the time to sew/quilt/craft?

Haha, good question! I'm finding less and less time to sew/quilt/craft these days, although the to-do list is growing! Since I work a dayjob 9-5 Monday through Friday every week, have a busy home life taking care of our cats, and balancing my blog and housework; I tend to save my sewing projects for the weekends (with the occasional craft night during the week sometimes). I make a list every week of what I'd like to accomplish (errands, chores, and sewing!). I know that most times I won't be able to sit down and work on a project start to finish, so I just do a little bit at a time. I'm often easily distracted by, well, pretty much everything.. ;)

Randi: Tell us a little about setting goals to acheive your dreams.

I have to admit, I'm always setting goals for myself that are hard for me to keep up with, either from lack of time, funds, supplies, or motivation. But lately I've been trying to set goals seasonally. So far, this winter I've failed miserably at the goals for projects I wanted to finish this winter! I think its more reasonable for me to set smaller goals for myself, weekly or monthly, project by project. Its important for me to see the project as a whole, and remember that not everything has be finished quickly - sometimes not even at all! - Quilting for me is a process, and not to be rushed! Some of the time I'm working on projects for the fun of it, and not for the profit of it, so I'm not on a strict timeline.

As far as achieving my dreams - its all about hard work and determination. I think setting reasonable goals and realizing that not everything works out as planned is important. I have been very fortunate to fall upon our sewing lounge/shop in its beginning stages, as a partner, and while it isn't my own shop (I share it!), I realize it is an amazing step towards my larger dream. Its all about learning along the way and keeping your eye on the (future) prize!

Randi: When it comes to teaching others to sew--any advice?

 Brooke: Teaching others to sew is such a wonderful thing - I was taught by my mother at a fairly young age. It is such a valuable skill to have and be able to pass along. The important thing to remember when teaching is that you have to know what you're talking about! Make sure you've practiced and made each project before you try to show someone else how to do it. Remember that there may be a learning curve amongst students, and be patient - not everyone catches on as quickly as others! Everyone learns differently, and everyone is creatively different, so its important to cater to each student. The absolute most basic thing to remember when teaching, though, is to have fun with it! Crafting and creating is a fun process!!

Thank you, Brooke!

Please feel free to leave comments for Brooke here in this post.

Have a great day!

 

we have a guest!: ellen @ hurrayic!

Hello!  I am very pleased to have a guest blogger today: Ellen @ Hurrayic! 

Ellen has a lovely blog and she posts about life, crafting, food and family.  The thing I always notice about her blog are the lovely photographs, and I am especially drawn to her food photographs.  Ellen can take the simplest food and make it look lovely and delightful, and let me say that I  know that is a talent.  Food can be hard to photograph!

Here's Ellen:

When Randi asked me to guest post on her blog, I was at first flattered.  Then she asked me to give some photo tips on how I take photos of all the food I post about.  The flattery soon turned to panic on my end.  Really?  I'm not a professional photographer.  Randi, it's only a hobby for me.  But she insisted, and since I like her so much, I agreed.  (smile) So today, I'm sharing some things I do when taking photos of that bowl of soup or that plate of cookies or terrific veggie salad that you have to share.  For this example, I'm using a cup of Coconut Red Lentil soup that I recently made.  My 'tips' are broken into three categories:  Before, During and After.

BEFORE
1. Dress up the soup itself.  So you made a bowl of soup and know it tastes lovely, but somehow the color of it is not that eye-appealing. Think about adding in color by using a spice sprinkled on top or some grated cheese or perhaps a little bit of sliced scallions. For the red lentil soup, I stirred in a bit of turmeric for a more warm yellow color. 

 

2. Pick a pretty bowl or cup or container to put it in.  Be creative.  I like to visit the thrift store for interesting pieces. Or choose a plain bowl.  I used to have a set of dishes with a big floral pattern.  The food got lost on it.  Now I have a solid stone-colored set of dishes which showcases the food much better.

3. Pick out props for your 'photo shoot'.  I don't always do this because my family is waiting for me just to snap a picture so they can eat the soup.  But when I cook during the day and have more leisure, I like to choose a napkin or placemat or other object to place the bowl of soup on/near.  I've placed the bowl of soup on a pile of books for a more artful photo.  Flowers are a great prop to use or a lit candle is nice too.  (although lit candles are basically for nighttime use)

4. Walk around your house and observe the lighting.  Where is the best natural light in your house?  Which window(s)?  I try not to take photos with flash.  I really hate using flash.  It's too strong and sharp, usually.  So if taking a food shot (or any shot) inside the house, do so near the window. 

The school books, chip bag and tractor covered with a tarp outside that window
are definitely no-nos for this photo.

Okay, the background is not distracting here, but the photo is cluttered
with unnecessary items. Remove them!

5. Check for distracting items.  Once you've picked your area and set up your shot, look at the background through your viewfinder.  Is the stack of messy papers showing? What is distracting my eye from the bowl of soup?  Can I remove it or do I need to change my position and viewpoint? 

DURING
1. Lighting - half the equation to a good photo.  Read your camera's manual and experiment.  I'm still learning new things about my camera.  The best lighting i.m.o. is natural light.  Take the soup outdoors or set it up near a window if you can't go outside.  Try to take photos of the soup during the daylight hours (early morning and late afternoon is the best lighting!!!!) So soft and beautiful.  If that's impossible or impractical, take them at night and use a tripod.  I confess, I don't use a tripod.  My daughter and my son both have a tripod; I'm deprived! (smile)  A tripod will help a whole lot with camera shake and lighting possibilities.  (You can take a photo of that bowl of soup with only a candle lighting it and still have it come out beatifully if you're using a tripod and a timer or shutter release.)  When I take a photo of the soup at night (and not using the tripod) I'm at the mercy of the lightbulb in the lamp.  But...

 

Notice the different casts of light - some cool, some warm,
some yellowish...all these are particular white balance settings
and their effects on a natural lighting daylight shot.

2. Change the lighting.  You can help change the lighting by changing the white balance setting of your camera. Also, you can improve the lighting by changing how quickly your camera absorbs light (ISO).  Of course, shutter speed and aperture play a part too, but for now just use the wb and iso settings.  For both of these, read your manual or play around with your camera like I did.  If I'm taking the photo of the soup bowl at night, I'll change my ISO to 1600.  This will make the photo have a grainier image, but it will allow you to hold the camera with less camera shake (and no tripod).  You will adjust the amount of lighting to compensate.  Oh and by the way, I usually like to shoot in manual setting with manual focus so I can control all 4 of the items mentioned.  But you can use a mode or pre-set setting on your camera and just play with the wb or iso.  If none of this is what your camera can do, then choose one of the automatic modes that is on your camera and see its effects. 

3. Take lots of photos of that soup.  Don't just take one or two.  You may be sorry after you upload your photos to the computer and find out that the lighting and sharpness of the photo was really awful and now the soup has been eaten...

4. Vary your shot.  Walk around the soup and shoot it from different positions: above it, next to it on the left or right, from far away, close up, shoot at eye-level or from below.  Only photograph a part of the bowl of soup instead of the entire bowl.  Eat part of the soup and show an empty bowl.  Pick up the soup spoon and try to one-handedly take a photo of it.  (hard!)  Better yet, get someone else to hold the bowl or the spoon for you.  Have them eat it, and you take a photo of them.  (if you're shooting cake for example, show it whole, sliced, crumbs on empty plate with a dirty fork, etc).  Use your imagination.  Try to mimic what you see in a magazine.

The camera is much too close to the subject and the entire
photo is blurred.  Not a good photo.

The focus in this photo is definitely a problem. 
We want to accent the soup.  Not the napkin!

5. Get in close and vary your focus.  I like to use the macro setting on my lens.  This gives a nice short depth of field which means only a little bit is in focus while other things (or parts of the bowl) are blurred (either in front or behind).  Experiment.  Vary your focus: make the bowl's edge closest to you in focus and all else out of focus or try to focus on the spoon and part of the food in the bowl.  But watch out!  Try not to focus on the wrong thing.  Even if your camera doesn't have a macro setting, you can still get in close to the soup bowl.  But don't get in too close.  Know your camera's limitations.  Remember you don't want a blurry picture (unless it's intentional).

6. Remember the Rule of Thirds.  Rule of Thirds applies to the general layout of the image.  Imagine a tic-tac-toe board on your viewfinder.  If the soup bowl lies on a point where two lines of the tic-tac-toe board criss cross, that will produce a better looking photo.  Try not to place the bowl directly in the middle of the photograph.  That's typically a no-no.  However, sometimes a very symmetrical photo of a soup bowl smack dab in the middle can be pleasing.  Truly it's up to your intent.

7. Remember the Rule of Odds.  This simply means that it's more pleasing to take a photograph of a single soup bowl than 2 soup bowls.  Or shoot 3 soup bowls, but not four.  Typically, a photo is more pleasing to look at when there are an odd number of items in the photo.  A soup bowl and a napkin and a spoon resting on the table might be good.  Of course, once again...rules can be broken.

AFTER
1. A little touch-up can help.  Ideally, it would be great if I never had to 'touch-up' my photos.  But I do.  Not all of them; just some.  And for some that I touch up, I try to only use the simple brightening or darkening of the image.  Or the sharpness if I didn't get it in focus quite right.  Cropping is another handy feature.  I mainly use the software that came with my camera, but I also like to use Picasa (a free photo editing software you can download on your computer).  I'm sure there's other programs out there.  My daughter likes to use Photoshop Elements for adding interest to her photos.  You can do some pretty wild things using a photo editing program, but when it comes to that bowl of soup, I try to keep it natural-looking.  Who would want to eat a neon blue bowl of soup anyway?  

ADDITIONAL TIPS:
1. Look at blogs, magazine or cookbook photos for inspiration.  What catches your eye?  What colors are used? What bowl and utensil is used?  How is the shot set up?  Are there a variety of viewpoints when looking at the soup?  Does it tell a 'story' ?  Start to become more aware of food styling.  I love looking at the three categories mentioned.  Some food photos will set a mood or use a filter to change the look of the photo.  I'm sure there's lots of tweaking going on in those photos too.  Yes, there are plenty of tricks the professional food stylists use (I've heard of using white glue instead of milk), but the food I take a photo of is the food my family actually eats.  (unless you're talking about my picky 11 yo)

2. Shhhh!  Sometimes I take a photo of that bowl of soup the NEXT day.  If I make a big pot of soup and it's nighttime and the lighting stinks, then I might use leftovers from which to shoot my photos.  Just sprinkle on a few fresh slices of scallions or dashes of paprika to liven up the look of the soup.  Or let's say, I make the soup (ahead of time) at night for next night's dinner?  I'll photograph it during the following day and eat it that night.  Know your recipe though. For example, some salads like this quinoa salad I made, looks best the day it's made.  This method of photographing it the next day of course is better for that batch of chocolate chip cookies (after you've sampled a few!) or a recipe that will hold its own in the looks department.

Keep cooking and baking and eating.  Critique the recipes you make.  If you like them, photograph them and share with the rest of us bloggers.  Or share them even if it the recipes bombed.  That can be a fun post too.

By the way, the Coconut Red Lentil Soup recipe is from here.  (her photos look better!)

Thanks, Randi, for letting me share the way I'm learning to take photos.

***Thanks so much, Ellen, for putting together this infomative post! 

Be sure to check out Ellens blog, Hurrayic.  You might want to spend some time browsing her baking and food sections.  There are lots of great recipes to choose from, including yesterday's post, Cinnamon-Sugar Pull Apart Bread.  All I can say is "yum" to that one!

Please feel free to leave comments for Ellen here in this post.

Have a great day!

we have a guest!: corey @ little miss shabby!

We have a guest!  Thank you so much to Corey of Little Miss Shabby for guest-posting here today.  Corey's blog is one of my "go-to" blogs to find great block design and color combinatons.  This gal knows how to arrange fabric into eye-catching patterns, for sure!  She also loves to applique and she is sharing a little bit about that today.  Thank you, Corey!

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS FOR COREY IN THIS POST.

I am so excited to be blogging over here today!--Thank you so much Randi for inviting me. =) My name is Corey & you will normally find me blogging over at Little Miss Shabby where I love sharing the little projects that I have going on. =)

"Stitchy/Sketchy Appliqued Pillow":

Today, I am going to be talking a little bit about applique. It is a definite passion of mine--in fact, the first quilt that I ever pieced, about 10 years ago, was a coin quilt that featured hand appliqued stems & petals.

I also had an applique business making and selling appliqued childrens clothing for several years as it is something I really enjoy. I just made the little top below for my niece's birthday this past week.

"Blanket Stitch Applique combined with Stitchy/Sketchy Applique":

While I have used different methods to applique in the past, these days I most often use a "raw edge" method and finish the edges using a blanket stitch, straight stitch, satin stitch, or a sketchy type of stitch using my sewing machine. My go to fusible is heat n bond lite--I have tried several other fusibles and this one is my fave.

"Cathedral Window Pillow with Sketchy Birdie Applique":

I really enjoy the whimsy applique adds to a traditional pattern like the cathedral window pillow above. The birdies are an example of stitchy/sketchy applique.

"Straight Stitch Appliqued Journal Cover":

Above is an appliqued journal cover that I made. For this, instead of using Heat n Bond lite, I cut my little pieces of fabric and used a temporary spray adhesive to adhere the fabric bits to my white background fabric. Then, I finished off the edges with a straight stitch & quilted the cover with free motion pebble quilting. Easy Peasy! =)

"Appliqued Hexagons":

Or, how about adding applique to those hexagons you are working on?--I know hexagons are all the rage right now and look how cute they are with just a smidge of applique. I used heat n bond lite for these--finishing the sprouts with the sketchy stitch and the mushroom with a little bit of hand stitching.

"Appliqued Pincushion"

Pincushions are a perfect way to try out just a little bit of applique to see how it goes and get a little bit of practice under your belt. Raw edge applique is certainly not difficult but it does require a bit of practice to perfect your stitches.

"Joseph's Coat Appliqued Pincushion":

Another example of an appliqued pillow.

"Appliqued Pillow using Blanket Stitch":

The traditional Joseph's Coat pattern is made using hand applique. However, that was not something that I wanted to tackle when I wanted a quickie pillow to add to the other pillows on my couch. By using applique, this pillow became a fun, quick project.

 

"Appliqued Joseph's Coat pillow":

A pillow I just finished a couple weeks ago.

"Appliqued Umbrella Pillow":

As you can see, I am definitely an applique junkie! =p I encourage you to give it a try as well! If you ever have any applique questions, I would be glad to help you out--just pop on over to my blog & shoot me a message! =)

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on applique, Corey!  You inspire me with your one-of-a-kind creations!

we have a guest: tracy @ back to basics!

I want to introduce you to my friend Tracy who blogs over at Back to Basics.  Tracy is one of the sweetest gals I know in the blogosphere, and her recipes, thoughts on God and family, and daily ponderings are always on my list of places to stop.

One thing about Tracy is that she can cook.  Seriously, I want to have dinner at her house!  Today she is going to show us how to make pie crust and fill it to make a lucious quiche.  Her  post is called Easy as Pie!

Please leave comments for Tracy here in the comments section.

Hi everyone! My name is Tracy, and I blog at Back to Basics. I'm thrilled that Randi asked me to guest-post at her place today. We're going to talk pie crust, and because I try to live a locavore lifestyle as much as possible and use what I have on hand, I made a quiche for you.

 

Homemade pie crust isn't near as difficult as you might think, and practice does make perfect. Let's get started!

 

 

In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, 1 1/4 cups shortening, and 1 tsp. salt. I like to use a shortening that contains both vegetable shortening and lard, but you can use straight vegetable shortening, or even butter if you prefer. 

 

 

Cut the shortening into the flour with a pastry blender or fork until you have pea-sized crumbs. Don't use a mixer or a food processor. The secret to a flaky crust is very minimal handling. The more you handle the crust, the tougher it will be. 

 

 

In a separate small bowl, combine an egg, 1 tsp. vinegar, and 6 Tbsp. very cold water. Mix well, and add to the dry ingredients all at once. I like to stir this with a big rubber spatula until everything is incorporated, and then I use my hand. Don't worry if the dough is still crumbly at this point. 

 

 

 

At this point you can wrap your dough into plastic wrap and chill it for an hour, or you can use it straight away. 

 

 

 

Sprinkle a tablespoon of flour over the bottom of the pie plate to keep the dough from sticking, and set the plate aside. 

 

Flour the counter well, and form half of the dough into a round disk. Sprinkle the top of the dough with more flour. Make sure you flour your rolling pin, too. 

 

 

Gently roll your dough, working it in all directions until it's about 1/8 inch thick and big enough to cover your pie plate. Thick dough will taste tough. If you've floured your surface properly, you won't have to worry about the dough sticking. 

 

 

Place the rolling pin on top of the dough, far away from you. Gently pick the far edge of the dough up, and bring it over the rolling pin, back toward yourself. Roll the dough onto the rolling pin, loosely. Bring the pie plate back to your work station, setting it just beyond the rolling pin. 

 

 

Now, working in a forward motion, gently let the dough unroll over the pie plate. 

 

 

Trim the dough so that only about 3/4 inch overhangs the plate. 

 

 

Fold the overhang under at the top, creating a thicker edge to the crust. 

 

 

Flute the edges of your dough. There are many ways to do this, and the more you practice, the prettier your pie crust edges will be. If you feel intimidated, you can simply use the tines of a fork to crimp the edge. 

If you're making a one crust pie, and the pie will be baked, it's ready to fill. If you're making something with a filling that doesn't get baked, like a strawberry pie, now is the time to bake it. Let's cover that for a minute. 

If you bake an unfilled  pie shell, it will tend to fall in on itself, or puff up on the bottom. To prevent that, preheat your oven to 350 F. 

Prick the crust all over with a fork to let the steam escape. 

Place a square of foil inside the crust, 

and fill it with about 2 cups of clean, dry pinto beans or pie weights. Bake the crust like this for about 18 minutes. 

Remove the crust from the oven, lift the foil and beans out, and bake for 5 more minutes. Cool the crust and it's ready to use. 

If, however, you're filling your crust with something that needs baked, the above steps aren't necessary. 

Today I made Ham, Potato, and Spinach Quiche. First, I placed about 7 ounces of lean ham on the bottom of the crust. 

Next, I added about one cup of parboiled potatoes. 

I sprinkled about 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the potatoes. 

 

 

I rough-chopped about 2 cups of fresh spinach and sprinkled that over the cheese. 

 

 

Finally, I combined 6 beaten eggs, one can cream of celery soup, and 1/2 c. milk. I mixed it all very well, and poured it over everything else. My oven was preheated to 375 F, and I baked the quiche for an hour until the center was set. 

 

 

Such a hearty dish, and a great way to use our fresh eggs and spinach from the spring garden! Leftovers are great for breakfast, too!

 

And for dessert? 

 

 

Lemon meringue pie. Yum!

Tracy, thank you so much for this how-to!  This quiche is on my menu for this week.  :)

You can visit Tracy here on her blog, Back to Basics.

we have a guest: jennifer @ that girl, that quilt

I am so happy to welcome Jennifer from That Girl, That Quilt to my blog today!  Through blogging I have gotten to know her as a sweet, kind, creative quilter who inspires me regularly.  Todays' post is called Minding Your P{oints} & Q{uilts} and I must say I LOVE that title.  So creative! 

I will hand things over to Jennifer now:

I'm so happy to be here today!  When Randi asked me to guest blog I was super excited because I love to write almost as much as I love to quilt.  And then I read that she wanted me to share a little more about quilting manners {gulp}.  Now I'm not one to shy away from my own opinions but do remember that they are just that... my opinions.

  When I blogged about the exclusivity that happens within quilting groups a month ago, I received twice as many emails than comments about the subject.  Many were supportive emails but many more were heartbreaking personal experiences that quilters have had when attempting to share, gift and even donate their work.  With each story I grew more and more sad for those who love a craft but then that love is damaged by others who take it upon themselves to police a hobby.

Now I'm passionate about quilting but I am even more passionate about including anyone who wants to quilt.  We are all different and we all have different strengths and weaknesses.  We ALL have weaknesses.  So when I hear someone worried about participating in a swap or a quilting bee because they aren't sure if their work is up to standard, I have to wonder just who is setting this standard. 

 The simple answer is that we are.

 How is that, you ask?  It's the little things... churning out "perfect" quilt after "perfect" quilt on a blog... taking pictures that show the most flattering aspects of a quilt... discussing colors that are "in" versus those that are "out".  No big deal, right?

But then we digress into picking apart a style.  Modern vs. traditional... wonky vs. straight... Civil War reproductions vs. modern solids... hand quilting vs. machine quilting... dumbing down quilting.  Can you see where I'm going?  Yeah...  and it's still probably no big deal until it gets personal. 

 Personal as in being flip about receiving a bee block that isn't "quality"... 

 Personal as in being ungrateful about a swap you received... 

 Personal as in being picky about quilts being donated to charity... 

 Personal as in terming someone's hard work as "dumbed down"...

 All of these things happen and it's terribly sad. Especially when it happens to a newer quilter {or any quilter for that matter} and it destroys their passion for the art of quilting because they are too afraid to branch out again.

 There is just no room for exclusivity or outright meanness when it comes to quilting.  Why should there be an "in crowd", a group of superstar bloggers, a charity group that is better than another, an exclusive swap group?  Yes, each group has their right to exist but that doesn't make it right.  Can you imagine that there are actually quilters intimidated when participating in a swap?  It happens.  Or afraid to sign up for a bee?  That happens too.

 Now is every swap item or bee block perfect?  Nope.  Is every quilt you see blogged about without flaw?  Do we fall in love with every quilt we look at?  Nope and nope.  But sometimes we forget who made the items.

 A busy mom with little ones underfoot... a working mom with limited time between her job, family and friends... a mom up half the night with a sick kid... someone frazzled and weary that uses quilting as a therapeutic escape from their everyday stresses.  These are the kind of people who make quilts. 

 So before we judge, we would be wise to remember that there is a feeling person standing behind their work hoping that it's good enough to withstand the critique of a guild, a blogger, or a fellow quilter. 

  And don't you remember when you were a beginner?  I sure do and it wasn't pretty!  But I would have never improved if I hadn't tried new things and failed.  I also would have never improved if I hadn't had some encouragement along the way.  My very first quilt along was here with Randi.  And guess who taught me how to free motion quilt?  Randi. :) 

 It's bloggers like her that make me proud to be a part of such a vibrant community of crafters.  And if you have happened to run into a quilting meanie; try not to let it get to you too much.  We can never be all things to all people even when it comes to a hobby.  So keep doing your thing that makes you happy, associate yourself with kind quilters who will help you grow, and don't succumb to the pressure to be anything that you are not. 

 Thanks for having me here to share today, Randi!

 Jennifer :)

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your thoughts here on my blog!

And, as always, please leave comments for Jennifer here in this post.

***Since this month's guest post is late I will be skipping May's post.  The next guest post will be in June.

we have a guest: rachel @ stiched in color!

Rachel is my guest today on the blog and she is talking about goals and dreams: how can we get there?   She has explored this topic lately on her blog and I am so glad she is sharing with us here today.  There is much to glean from her words.  Please leave comments for Rachel in the comments section of this post.

When Randi asked me to guest post on "Goals/Dreams/Making them happen" at first I was stumped.  And then I got to thinking about it one night and I found I had waaaaay too much to say.  So, forgive me in advance if this gets long!

 Because a post like this can be all too vague, I'm going to share my thoughts in the context of one of my dreams and goals - that of writing a book.  And that very statement, brings me to...

 Dream

The first step in getting anywhere is to decide on somewhere you want to go.  Maybe this comes naturally to you, and you (like me) think about where you'd like to be in life 1 year from now, 5 years from now, and even next month, without even trying.  Or maybe you live in the moment, which is a gift in itself!  At some point you have to stop and evaluate where you are and where you want to be.  If you have a family, start there.  Because aren't they truly most important?  Let your picture of your ideal family life be the anchor around which you cast your dreams.  And I mean "ideal" - dream big!  You'll never reach something you didn't reach out for.

At the center of my ideal home life is the choice to really be with my family.  I personally feel called to homeschool my littles, which is a big challenge for us as we are a two-income family, living rather simply as it is.  So I'm searching for a way to earn an income from home.  Something flexible and something that brings me additional joy and fulfillment, rather than stress (because I don't think homeschooling is going to be all that easy).  Enter Stitched in Color.  More than a journal, I dream that my blog can be a springboard for a creative business.  I have all sorts of ideas on how that can work, but one of them is to become a writer of books.  I'm always embarrassed to admit to this dream.  Because it's BIG and seems too wonderful for little old me.  But dream I do.

 Learn

Once I admitted to myself (out loud and everything) that I wanted to write a book, the next step was to get out there and learn.   I don't really mean book learning.  In fact, I have yet to read a book on "how to get published," though I probably should.  Usually, the best way to learn is from a real person.  Find someone who is doing or has done what you want to do and study them.  Or, in blogging terms, follow them.  Who are they?  From what stems their success?  And, is it success?  Really?

 

I realized I had one personal relationship with a published blogger, so I took it upon myself to ask for some advice.  She graciously gave it, and oh-my-goodness did it help!  I asked and learned about how she had managed to get where she's at, but I also asked how she liked being there.  Was it worth it monetarily?  What about emotionally?  Would she write a book again?  And here's where I paused to reevaluate.  Does my dream to write a book really support my ultimate goals?  I decided that a book would probably be worth it.  There is a significant chance that the effort will interfere with my ability to blog at this level and another chance that it could sap my energy for homeschooling.  But, I've decided that I'll never know until I try.  And, really, this is the best time to try.

 Make Plans

 A lot of us get stuck at this point.  Once you learn about how much work is required to make your dreams reality, it's all to easy for the excitement to die.  Here's where making plans is key.  Break down the steps you must take into small, reachable goals.  As my Dad always says, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.  Focus on identifying each bite.  And then get started, now.

 My first step was to zero in on 1 book concept.  Then I started brainstorming project ideas.  So far, so good.  My next step is to create the sample project that I'll show publishers.  Then, write an outline and prepare a book proposal.  That's as far as I've thought through. Sometimes I think ahead to worrying that I won't be able to meet the publisher's deadlines or that I'm working on this stage of the book at the wrong time of year (since my book concept might be considered seasonal).  But I need to focus on clearing those worries away and doing what I know I need to do now in order to move forward.  As in, stick to the plan, Rachel!

 Take Risks 

Of course, you're really taking risks the whole way. Dreaming is an emotional risk for sure.  And yet, for me anyways, it's those risks that others can see that are the hardest to take.  When you start taking action, you're putting yourself out there.  It can be scary.  It has to be done.

 When I admitted to you all that I wanted to write a book, I imagined all kinds of cynical reactions.  The blogosphere's a nice place, so I didn't really think you'd say anything, but you know....  And then I had to start trying things.  When I first posted a tutorial, it was a big risk!  I had no idea if I was doing it "right".  For this book, I'm working with original ideas, of course, and just hoping that the publishers will think they're worthy.  Bottom line though, I've decided to be OK with rejection.  And that's essential.  Sometimes, to make myself feel better, I think of the other uses for my efforts should the book idea be turned down.  Because good ideas are turned down all the time.  One has to just get back on the horse and take those risks again.  Good thing there are lots of publishers (wink). 

 DO.

I'm a big believer in not standing still.  To reach your goals and dreams be sure to keep moving.  Do what it takes to keep yourself motivated, inspired.  Set before your eyes the ultimate goals, keep evaluating your dreams for a "good fit" and keep moving forward.  Take the time to shape your days.  Really decide how to spend the time you've been given.  Because you can do it, but you've got to actually choose to do it on a daily basis.

 I've told myself that this March is my month for making that first book project.  I'm confident that I'll do at least that, and I'm hoping for even more! 

 Whatever your goals and dreams, I hope that you keep that fire alive.  You've got to pursue what's important to you!  There will be bumps along the way for sure. But few things worth your time are ever easy.  And in the end, even if you don't get "there", the experience itself is always valuable. 

Rachel

You can find Rachel on her blog Stitched in Color.  Be sure to take a look at her Do. Good Stitches project.  It's one of the many reasons I think she is wonderful!

Thank you, Rachel!

we have a guest!: rita @ red pepper quilts!

I am so happy to introduce today's guest blogger: Rita from Red Pepper Quilts. Rita's quilting style is just beautiful and her choice of fabric and color is always inspiring.  Today she is sharing how she uses color and where that inspiration comes from.  Please leave comments for Rita in the comments section of this post.

I was really excited to have been asked to be a guest blogger here, and when Randi suggested that I write a little something about how I go about working with color it really made me stop and think about how I use color and how I make my color choices for my quilts.

Image from Flickr

My initial thoughts were that I could go into depth here about the theory of color and how quilters can use the Color Wheel to help guide them in their choice of colors, and explain a little something about the relationship between colors.  However, my professional background is far removed from anything artistic or creative (certainly not color theory!) and to now write a knowledgeable article about  color theory I would have to go and do some serious research.   So, no I don't have a color wheel beside me as I set out to make quilts.

I was "awakened" to color several years ago when I attended a lecture in Melbourne by Kaffe Fassett on color.  The message that I took home from Kaffe's lecture is to look to the world around me for color and shape inspiration.

Image from Flickr

Train your eyes to see this never ending source of creativity.  Color (and shape) is everywhere, every day!  We just have to stop and really absorb the color in our surroundings.  Get excited about the brick walls,  flowers as they appear in nature, the fruit bowl, a box of buttons ~ I even become mesmerized by the colors of the products in the grocery store aisle. Make a concerted effort to notice color everyday, and it will become habitual ~ you'll soon find that once you start noticing color you'll also start to see shape.

If you are familiar with my work you already know that I love intense colors. Color preferences are highly individual and I have learned to appreciate those colors that challenge me ~ like purple and lilac and lavender ~ and embrace those that I love working with.  In addition to using a spectrum of colors in my quilts I bring contrast, clarity and sparkle by using white solid fabric.

Working with color should be fun and despite many misconception there aren't any rules about color.  Sure, there are theories and guidelines and accepted color combinations, and although color theory is important in understanding the relationship between colors, don't allow yourself to get too caught up in these concepts.  Instead, I hope you too will take from Kaffe's message to be open to the colors and shapes in your  every day surroundings.  

 Noticing Color ~ Instore @ Antropologie NYC Dec 2010

I further encourage you experiment with color, trust your eyes and your instincts, but most of all enjoy working with color!

With thanks to Randi for asking me to write on her blog!

Rita 

-- You can find Rita here on her blog (check her sidebar for links to her finished quilts) and well as at her Etsy shop.

Thank you so much, Rita!