Blissfest!!

Why have I not posted in over a month? Something just had to go, and it turned out to be blogland. :( Every time I sat down to think about a post I was just stumped. Seriously, my brain was too full of things and ideas and plans, etc.
I re-vamped my class schedule {which still is not updated in my Paddywacks Studio website - hopefully tomorrow :) }, then I decided to join in the Blissfest activities with only about three weeks to prepare. wow. I already had a small supply of things for sale at Blissful Living Studios, but not nearly enough to fill a booth.

So, I got my idea lists out and figured what I wanted to make with all the supplies I had {lots of shirts!}. I thought about what I like to buy at craft shows...with little money to spend. I just like a little something fun. A nic-knack! That's really what Paddywacks Studio is all about. My love of the small, sweet handmade thing that makes everyday stuff more fun and personal.

Here I am showing my niece some of the goodies. I'm glad I enjoy sewing so much! I was rather amazed that I didn't get sick of it through that last week of preparing. Then, when I saw just how much I had made all spread out in the booth, I was amazed again. And thankful - for talents and skills that I've developed over the years. I really loved making every single thing, and I'm excited to make more funky re-creations!

The picture below is of my planner covers. I love, love, love them. They have pockets inside, and, well, they just make me happy. :) I made one early this year and have enjoyed it so much! Now, I can't decide which new one I want to keep for my 2009 planner...

Vintage linens made into sachets. Not many people are "into" sachets. I, however, really love to keep them in my drawers and other places. It makes putting laundry away more fun when there is something special and pretty to nestle in my clothes. This is a home keeping ritual I embrace! I also keep vintage hankies in my purse...

Lots of scrap shirts! I made 133 shirts for the Blissfest. Amazing! Each one thoughtfully designed and carefully sewn. The really cool thing is that no two are alike! One-of-a-kind.

About these aprons, I love them - they are so fun to make! Like a little artsy collage to wear. They're not so much for protecting your clothes while cooking. Rather, they are a lifestyle tool. I live a creative lifestyle {everyone can, I believe - try it!}. These little aprons are just the perfect thing for wearing around the house. I keep many various items in the big pockets - note paper and pen, scissors, my cell phone, lip gloss, a Hershey kiss or two, gum, my boy's little action figures, my girl's bobby pins from all over the house, small prizes for my kids - you get the drift. I just feel more creative and fun when I've got my apron on.:)

More nic-knacks from Paddywacks Studio. Rosy Toes shoe stuffers. I realized after-the-fact that some people must have felt a little awkward sniffing my shoes to sample the scent of the shoe stuffers! Then there were a few folks who mused aloud that they couldn't give the Rosy Toes to a friend because their friends don't have stinky feet! Funny! I love to use the Rosy Toes to keep the fronts of my shoes in nice shape. Yes, I'm a shoe lover!! I buy shoes as souvenirs when I travel. :) I'd have shoe stuffers in all my shoes if I ever had time to make that many - ha, ha, ha. I'm going to add a neat travel pouch for shoes to go with the Rosy Toes. That way, shoes will be protected and smell sweet and fresh (like strawberry or cucumber) in the suitcase. Yum.

Tissue covers made from the shirt sleeves. I love them! And the button pin is so fun. :)

Jewelry...my button bracelets and Charming Magpie necklaces made partly from vintage and reclaimed pieces. Everything has got to have a little "past". These are another favorite of mine. I'd like to keep all of them!! Zipper coin pouches and cosmetic pouches with fun messages. The knit lining and words are from the leftover tee-shirt fabric after I've cut it up for scrap shirts.

A couple of the kids shirts for holidays. I really will take more pictures of my scrap shirts. There are so many fun words...

I just have to say that I'm really grateful for my nieces who came over and helped me with the final "push" before Blissfest. It was so much fun to work together! I also appreciate my parents who helped with the little boys all the week before so I'd have extra time to sew. My Dad helped so much getting the tent set up and hauling stuff around. What a wonderful, generous family I have!

I think about Stephanie and Christian Neilson a lot. Their tragic accident has put life into perspective for many people, I'm sure. We try to be more aware of the things in life that bring us real joy - and be grateful every day for them. That is real bliss.

My littlest cutie at the Blissfest.

More later - I won't wait a whole month to post. Check back soon! :)

Nesting

I'm just crazy for birds. Love 'em. Owls are especially sweet... These little mama birds are so cute...

I'm busy in my studio (ha, ha - kitchen table) making goodies for Paddywacks.

Mini composition books - more designs on the way...

Vintage tie -on necklaces.

"Charming Nest"
I've been busy collecting chain and beads from vintage and new pieces, then putting them together - just like birds collecting bits for their nests!

They really are so fun, I think. I can't decide which one I like the best.:) I'm preparing things to sell at the "Blissfest" event in October at Domestic Bliss and Blissful Living Studio. One of these already has a home to go to...it's in the mail tomorrow... :)

Speaking of studios, they're painting the inside of our home addition today. Well, starting it...it'll take a few days I'm sure. Our addition is big - as big as our existing house, so this whole process has taken a long time. My boys are "living" in the hallway, the baby sleeps in Daddy's closet, and my art/craft studio is spread all over and around the pool table in the front room!! It's crazy...but well worth the hassle for our dream home. I can't wait to start all of the "nesting" when it's finished! I still need some studio design ideas...

Soon I'll take more pictures of all that.

But now, I've got to figure out why my photos are turning out so blurry...

Have a charming day!

Blissful Day

I've been a sewing bee lately making these "adorable aprons" (that's what I call 'em). I use men's dress shirts and trims and ribbon - so much fun!

A little fabric collage to wear...with pockets! :)

I'm went a little crazy with all of my buttons as I prepared for the button bracelet class. I couldn't stop sorting them! It was weird. I stayed up really late just looking at them and musing about what clothing all of my vintage buttons used to hold together... This is but a portion of my (sorted) button collection. How would it be to dive into a big tub of them? This is one of the weird thoughts I had in the middle of the night - just me and the buttons.

There was a reason for my button passion - I was getting ready to teach my bracelet class at Blissful Living Studio!

Here are the pictures. Yahoo for me remembering to get my camera out this time - it's the only class of the summer that I have some decent photos of! I must improve...

Everyone got to choose button packets and add them to a kit that I made - which I just realized that I don't have a picture of. -sigh- :)

...the kit turned out pretty cute...



Here's the table and workspace. Isn't the studio charming - well, what you can see of it?
It's such a great place for classes.

Bracelets!!

I don't claim the design for these bracelets - I saw it in the American Girl magazine a couple of years ago. I did make some modifications (eliminating an awkward closure), and the style (vintage-modern) is completely different from the "little girl" look in the magazine.

There you have it. :)

Happy ladies having fun...

My darling nieces, Molly and Katie, joined the class. Sorry for the blurrr...This is a sample for my August class - the Adorable Apron!

What a great matching top! That I didn't make...

I've been waiting (not sure why) to announce that my handmade items are now for sale at Domestic Bliss. Paddywacks Studio is in business!Vintage tea towel sachet...yummy.

Here's the beginning of my "Paddywacks Studio handmade re-creations" display in the store.

Scrap Shirts! I found a great line of blank shirts - so soft and a really nice fit. Love them.

They say family, bloom, love, sweet, and relax.

Aprons and backside bags...

Here's the apron looking adorable in this corner display.

I must say that I'm so excited about creating items to sell. I've wanted to play store my whole life! When I was a little girl I did play store all the time. I'd make gift bags for Mother's Day filled with little nic-knacks and have my brothers and Dad come into my store (my bedroom), and they'd each buy one to give my Mom. She'd open each one (four exactly alike) and be so happy ;)...lol. And occasionally I overtook a wide section of the hallway and set up a store with shelves and bins of my stuff. My cousins loved to shop in my store because I had nifty things that weren't worn out at all...those were the days. I was not successful at selling candy bars for the band fundraiser, however. Unfortunately, I ended up eating all of my stock.

Remind me not to start selling baked goods!

Dashing out the door

Just a quickie to talk about my fun class today at Blissful Living Studios. I'll be teaching the button bracelet class this morning. I'm armed with kits and ideas and fun! I'll take more pictures of everything at the Studio.

Button, button who's got the button?!

Happy Day!

Back on the Blog!

Happy 4th of July weekend!!

My internet has been down (up and down - very sporadic) for all this time since camp hideaway! Needless to say, I've been very frustrated by the whole inconvenience. Now, I'm a bit deflated about all my fun projects, but I'll catch up anyway {for the two -or -so people who read my blog - love ya both :)}.

Camp Hideaway was fun, fun, fun.

A different year - a transition year for my girls who are now becoming teenagers. The whole schedule was more laid back, with later nights and mornings, so we didn't do as many projects as I had planned for. It was just fine - I wanted to go with the flow (nice Mom, not Nazi Mom!). The little gnomes were our camp mascots. We set them around all over the place - hopefully they brought us good luck!

These are the camp kits for this year. It's a place mat that I made into a folded packet to be used for cards, journal, pens, anything. I called it the gratitude pack. I gave the girls a notebook for a gratitude journal, and a variety of note cards. We wrote thank you notes to parents and family, and I mailed them from Camp Hideaway. The girls got to choose fun pens and pencils to put in their packet, and we made little name tag charms to put on the front of them. We also made a neat music mix CD for each girl with songs about being happy and lucky and friends...

I bought scrubs (bottoms only) at the thrift for each girl and they wrote all over them.

Scrubs are so comfy!

Kitchen Duty - Emmalyn (on the left) and friends

Kitchen Duty - Colette (on the right) and friends

A few of our "wish" boxes. Every girl made a really cute box with a stamped message inside.

And these are some of the girl's "lucky catch" bracelets.

This year our dinner parties were all holiday themed. First, it was St. Patty's day (potato soup and corned beef sandwiches) hosted by the "grown-ups". Here they're getting ready for the 4th of July dinner party. Colette's group hosted - they decorated and prepared an all-American salad bar dinner. Emmalyn's group - wearing the Santa hats - hosted the Christmas dinner party. Honey baked ham, potato casserole and more yummies were on the menu.

After dinner we had our gift exchange. Each girl brought a small favor for all the other girls. It really was like Christmas! We had a small (cheap) tree that my little boys and Grandma were in charge of decorating. It was really fun for them to make ornaments and decorate the tree. Yes, those are Easter Peeps bunnies that you see adorning the tree. Creativity abounds! :)

I made a stocking for each girl out of thrifted jeans. I really liked them, and plan to develop that idea a little more for the holiday season! Fun...

Even really little guys can make wonderful art! Paint and glitter...arrg! Where is his smock?! This is the project that we didn't have time to make. An embellished photo hanger.

A project for a future class or party I suppose - I've got all the stuff!!

Here are all of the beautiful Camp Hideaway girls. They were all so great! It's a real joy for me to have this fun with my girls. I'm a lucky Mom.

Wow. I can't believe I don't have a picture of Chelsea, my niece who came along to help me out!!

She is the unseen hero behind the scenes for this year. I loved having Chelsea along. She is an amazing lady, and I loved getting to know her better! Thanks, Chelsea.. I heart U...

******

Now, for a quick current update, we just got back from a great weekend at our cabin. The little town of Heber, AZ puts on an amazing fireworks show that we got to see, and feel, right above our heads. The explosions echoed off the canyon walls and the ashes fell in our eyes. It was awesome! Big thanks to my sweet niece, Molly, for showing us how to get the good seats. :)

I really hope to be back to normal on the internet. I do enjoy blogging!

Thanks for stopping by... after all this time...