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Designer Caleb Gray has done it again with this boy collection, Robot Factory.
Fun organic cotton prints a boy can grow into.
I've had a fondness for robots
ever since
grandson Jake dressed up as a robot for Halloween two years ago!
I loves me some robots!
Encourage one another,
Four years ago Bill and I introduced my store manager Amanda to family friend Lang Ortman.
Three years ago when they were married we joking said they could name their first born after one of us.
Monday they did!
Introducing Katherine Suzanne Ortman.
8 pounds 2 ounces
20 1/2 inches
Born September 26, 2011
When Grandma June told us the babies name I cried. What a huge honor! My granddaughter has my name and now this beautiful baby girl. Wow. Life doesn't get any better than this!
Encourage one another,
Suzanne
This post is about as disorganized and random as my life right now...
Do you remember this from my Market photos back in May?
It's Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket. Lots of you wanted me to let you know when it arrived.
Consider yourselves notified.
I love the vintage numbers, ornate medallions and typewriter keys and the slightly time worn colors.
As I type this I'm thinking Sweetwater's, Down Home Tote
would be fun in Circa 1934.
There is so much going on here that I've hardly had a moment to blog lately. We've been super busy unpacking and selling gorgeous fabric and lots of sewing machines. I'm busy but I'm definitely not complaining! No siree. = )
I've been wanting a new camera forever and finally just bit the bullet and ordered one. When it arrived everything was different from what I was just beginning to get comfortable with in my old camera. What was I thinking? Now I'm going to have to start all over again. Sheez... Sometimes I do wonder about myself!
Sunday morning Bill and I fly off to Vegas for a textile show. We have attended and supported this show for many years and we are looking forward to seeing some old friends and new trends. You can be sure I'll be sharing my finds with you here.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go pack my suitcase.
Encourage one another,
I've been spending a lot of time lately looking for photography props.
My manager, Amanda is just days away from having her baby and we've been throwing around ideas for a newborn photography session.
While going through adorable photos like these on Etsy
I realized that if we were going to use cute hat props I'd need to purchase them since I don't knit or crochet...
...until I came across this one.
It got me thinking about the inexpensive crocheted hats we sell here at Strawberry Patches
and I wondered if I could transform them into pumpkins and apples.
So I pulled out a scrap of wool felt and got to work.
I cut a piece 2" x 5" for the stem.
Then applied a bit of glue stick to hold it temporarily while I rolled it nice and tight.
With matching thread I stitched the edge to hold everything in place.
From a five inch square of felt I cut out the leaves (pattern included above)
then cut a 1/2 inch X in the center as indicated on the pattern
for the stem to be inserted through.
Working from the underneath side I stitched the leaves to the stem.
Next I clipped between each leaf almost up to the stem.
Then I gathered each leaf before stitching them down to the hat.
Next I centered the leaves and stem and hand sewed them in place.
For the apple I used just two leaves and added a little crocheted flower (also available at Strawberry Patches).
I think these would be fun for toddlers to wear to the pumpkin patch or apple picking. Our hats come in two sizes 0-12 months and 1-4T. They are just $6.50 each and come in lots of different colors.
Okay Amanda. We've got the hats, now the rest is up to you.
Encourage one another,
This weekend was just about perfect. I did a whole lot of nothing and it was wonderful.
Oh, I walked on the beach and soaked up the last long rays of summer
and shopped farmers market where apples and root vegetables took front and center over plums and watermelon.
I even worked on an upcoming Tutorial Tuesday post which will feature pumpkins and apples (of all things) while I sipped my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season.
But most of all, I just chilled.
How was your weekend?
I've been on a roasted veggie kick lately so my Nikon and I went off to Farmers Market Saturday morning to fetch some groceries.
As Bill helped me unload the three huge bags of produce from the car I admitted that I may have gotten just a wee bit carried away.
Encourage one another,
The Ruby precuts arrived today.
You know. The 10" squares called Layer Cakes, 5" squares called Charm Squares
and the 2 1/2" strips called Jelly Rolls.
I squealed when Kara pulled them out of the box.
Then customers came running to see what all the excitement was about.
Then said customers started snatching up those puppies so fast it would make your head spin!
The bolts are coming in October, but these surely won't last that long.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
Remember this photo from Market?
That's Camille Roskelley standing in front of her Swoon quilt and it's made with the Ruby collection. We'll be kitting Swoon with Ruby just as soon as the bolts arrive so let us know if you want one.
Have a terrific weekend everyone!
Encourage one another,
Delighted came from Riley Blake today.
It's by The Quilted Fish.
I'm delighted.
I think you will be delighted too.
For your sewing pleasure, here's the free down loadable pattern called Celebrate.
I have to tell you about a funny thing that happened while I was scanning these fabrics today.
For some reason I kept thinking about my little bread table and the Betty Crocker Cookbook I brought from home this morning to display with my antique baking tools.
I started thinking about how the 30's green in the main print kind of reminded me of this
and how the reds and yellows reminded me of the colors of my old stained cookbook.
Wait for it...
There.
I wonder if Amanda from The Quilted Fish was inspired by her Betty Crocker Cookbook?
I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely loving this little collection with its vintage inspired colors!
Encourage one another,
I got a call from my bank first thing Monday morning. Seems Esther Douglas somehow acquired my checking account and routing numbers and whipped herself up some checks, funded with my money.
Esther's little shopping trip to Home Depot courtesy of Strawberry Patches was just the first of many. Fortunately for me my bank noticed the duplicates in check numbers and gave me a call. Aside from two hours of my time and a couple of hundred dollars for checks and stamps I'm cool.
But for Esther? You're busted sweetheart. I hope those nuts and bolts were worth it for ya.
What I don't understand is why creative people like Esther don't use their talent to make stuff like quilts instead of wasting their time trying to swindle honest, hard working people like me.
One thing I have noticed is that as I get older, I become less and less tolerant of people who just take what they want at any cost.
Steal from me beatch and I'm calling the police.
Plain and simple.
I feel better now.
Good night!
We're getting ready for the holidays.
How about you?
Encourage one another,
