My Monogram to do list-CHECKED OFF

I stopped taking sewing and monogramming orders at the end of November so that I would have time to do the regular Christmas stuff that I haven't been able to enjoy the last two years.    Well,  I still had some last minute orders that I agreed to take but overall I was able to get some things finished for my kids and some gifts.

My 9 year old is sooooo over monogrammed anything - that is, before we moved to NC.   Now that we live in the "south" (It takes leaving Florida to realize that We Weren't the south) my daughter is all about bows and some monogrammed items (which makes me elated!!!!)  The other day we were at the mall and she saw a cute little blond twenty something wearing monogrammed jeans.  So she requested them for Christmas.  Here they are.  I love them.  I considered making myself a pair but I am thinking that perhaps i should start exercising again before I draw unwanted attention to my derriere. (the monogram is off center -It was 5am, hopefully my daughter won't notice)

My family tradition for many years now is to open 1 gift on Christmas Eve.  When my children were born we continued the tradition.  Its sounds great but the kids always know what they are getting on Christmas Eve.  We give them pajamas.  I figure this ensures that the pajamas they wear to bed and debut on Christmas morning (for all the pictures) are presentable.    Well,  I have been wanting to make my kids pj's for the last 2 years and I always run out of time and have no choice but to purchase some.  Since I stopped taking orders at the end of November this year I was actually able to accomplish a variety of my desires.  One of them being Pj's.  Here is my son's Christmas PJ's.  I will post the others tomorrow.

Reindeer Flannel from Joann fabric

rectangle patch and tipsy topsy font is from Applique Frenzy

I still need to applique the shirt for my oldest daughter (i will post that picture later)

Last year I bought some cute polka dot PJ's for $3 at walmart after the season.  I put a monogram oh those and decided to make my her everyday PJ's.  She is my singer and dancer (she is only 5 so I am not sure what that really means, but she enjoys the karaoke machine greatly).  she began ballet lessons this year so I decided to make her ballerina themed pj's so she doesn't feel left out when the other 2 open their homemade PJ's on Christmas eve.

ballerina flannel is from Joann fabric

ballet shoes applique from Embroidery Boutique and the Digger font is from Applique Frenzy

These monogrammed market totes are fabulous.  My kids gave these as gifts to all of their teachers this year. I ordered an extra one for myself.  I can wait to monogram and use it:)

 Pillowcases are always a fun gift.  My husband is a football coach but he enjoys coaching basketball as well.  Over the last several years he has coached high school boys, the last two years he coached high school girls.  When we moved from Florida his intention was only to coach FB but the need arose for a middle school girls Basketball coach at the school, so my husband accepted the position.  In comparison to FB its fun and light hearted.  Of course its my job to figure out what we will give the girls for Christmas.  I had planned on using an applique number and layering the name over it but I didn't feel like I had enough time  and really didn't want to stress out.  This is what I did instead.  I am so Glad i chose to only embroider it only took a couple of hours to monogram 12 cases.

A pillow for my 5 year old duaghter's little friend. 

And finally, My for my Alabama loving (born and raised) friend that lives in Florida.  A monogrammed hounds tooth umbrella.

AND I EVEN MADE SOME TOFFEE TODAY.  YUM, CAN'T WAIT TO EAT IT.  WHO AM I KIDDING, I HAVE BEEN PICKING AT IT FOR THE LAST 3 HOURS.

Shine Your Light and let the Whole World See!!!!

Mathew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works

and glorify the Father which is in heaven.

My new design is a tribute to mathew 5:16. 

Click on the picture to purchase these designs.

check out this link to one of my favorite songs.  "Might to Save" by Hillsong.

From Blah to INSPIRED- sewing rooms and painted furniture

After 6 days of  having no motivation to do anything (no sewing, no digitizing, no cleaning and barely any cooking),  I have finally gotten myself partially together.  I addressed our Christmas card envelopes today and am hoping to get to the Post office tomorrow to buy stamps (who still uses stamp? I sure don't, so i don't have any). My hubby and I watched a movie and then I spend a good portion of the day on the computer visiting many favorite blogs. 
I love embroidery and my other passion is decorating.  I don't love painting furniture or anything else for that matter but i have to say that i am INSPIRED.  My house is full of furniture and really can't hold another piece but I do want to find a chair that i can paint turquoise and cover with fun fabric for my daughter's room.  I also need a piece of furniture for my guest bathroom.  I am starting the hunt  for these two things in thrift stores, curb side or craigslist.  I will let you know when i find it and show you the before and after.

My inspiration began to blossom yesterday after i visited a fabulous local store called The Eclectic Furniture Garden.  They have so many cool furniture pieces that they have painted and revamped.   They also have great Christmas items and gifts many of which I fell in love with.   I can't copy the pics because they are copyrighted but check out these mesh ribbon wreaths.  I love them, they are $99 so I think I will have to pass.
Mesh Christmas Wreath
More Mesh Christmas Wreaths

The room in real need of inspiration is my sewing room.  I have wanted to redo it for the last 6 months but haven't tackled the project yet.  I think i have postponed it because i am not sure how to organize it so it is efficient and functional yet stylish.  6 months ago i wanted to use hot pink, lime green and black- now I am not sure.  I may stick with that color theme but I am not completely sold.  Do i want the funky diva sewing room or the shabby chic light hearted sewing room?  We will see but in the meanwhile i have found some definite inspiration.  Check this sewing room out.  She has such great ideas for organization.  I am definitely using some of her storage ideas. 



Is this amazing or what?  check out her blog for details on the re purposed bookshelves and hutch. Sew Many Ways.  She took those cheap bookshelves that you can pick up at Walmart added bead board, crown molding and painted them black.  FABULOUS!!!!!!

Here are some other great sewing rooms.
Angela Mae Designs has a simple organized space, check it out.

Coupon Code in memory of my sweet grandmother.

Those that knew my grandmother knew that she was special.  She loved her family very much but sweet is probably not the adjective most used to describe her.  She was feisty, determined, opinionated and set in her ways (even when she was young).   
She left her country and  as she looked out of the airplane window probably never realized that she would never step foot  on Cuban soil again.  She left anticipating that the socialist rebel that was taking over would not be there for long.  She was wrong.  she came to this country in the early 1960's and with her she brought my mother.  Her mother and one of her 3 siblings would stay behind never be reunited again.  My mother  (her daughter) only 13 at the time would part ways with her father and only have the opportunity to return back to Cuba 15 years later for her 1st and last visit with him since they had departed from Cuba.
 As described earlier my grandmother was an independent woman who did what she felt she had to do for her daughter.   They left a comfortable life where everything they had everything they could ever want.  And tried to begin a life from scratch.  I can't imagine--- a single mom,  no job, no house, and only the clothes in their suitcase.  Once the money they brought with them ran out they had better have a plan.  Not sure if my grandmother rally did but she was savvy.  The next 50 years would be a tough road but her determination and love for her family would keep her going.    she went form a lavish lifestyle to working her fingers to the bone.  She worked in factories in NYC and as  an embroiderer in Miami  (back then it was an art- no computerized 3mbroidery machines and no software- everything was manual.).  She embroidered all the logos on the back of the uniforms for the city of Miami fire department and Miami police department.

she was instrumental in my life as she helped raise me along side my parents.  She bought me my first car and was always theere to su port my every whimsy.  She followed me to college  in Pensacola moving 7 hours from her home just to make sure I was OK.  She moved to Tallahassee with me when i got my first teaching job.  She moved with me to clearwater when  my husband and i moved our family from Miami to Clearwater.  She hadn't lived with us for 2  years when we convinced her to move  to clearwater and spend time with me and her great grandchildren (she loved them dearly).  During this time with she marveled at how my 6  needle machine did all the work and i just watched.  She then motivated me to learn to digitize and with her support and sideline cheering I did.  then came the news that God was calling our family to move to NC.  She refused to move to NC this summer when we moved but in retrospect i believe she knew her time left on this temporal earth was coming to an end and she wanted to be home (Miami).

we moved her back to Miami and with in 2 moths we  moved to NC.  Within a week of our move my Mom called to tell me that the doctors had only given her 3-6 months to  live (she was sick but we didn't expect her to die for many more years.).  our family loaded the car and drove from NC to south Florida.  WE were able to spend a couple of weeks enjoying her company and seeing her laugh and play with my kids.  of course we had to return home and about 4 weeks later I received the call that she was going into hospice.  I immediately flew down and was able to spend a couple  days with her.  I don't think she knew I was there but I was able to hold her hand and talk to her.  i AM SO THANKFUL THAT GOD GAVE ME THOSE LAST FEW DAYS.  I was right there holding her hand when she took her last breath.    It pains me that I wont see her here on earth again but I know she made a profession of Faith and i will rejoice with her in heaven one day soon. 
God used her to birth Applique Frenzy .  Without her prompting me I would never have pursued this biz.  The biz allows me to stay home with my children and fulfill the calling i believe that the Lord has ordained during this season of my life. 

Any sewing and  crafting ability that I have comes from Her.  My mother doesn't have a single creative bone in her body.  thank you Mima for all you did  and always loving me..  To sum it up my grandmother may have been strong willed and feisty but she was MY sweet grandmother. 
she was born on November 3, 1927 and went to be with the Lord on August 6, 2010.

In her honor and memory and with great thankfulness for her involvement in  beginning Applique Frenzy  I am offering  60%  off of your entire order for 24 hours.  coupon will expire on November 4th at 11.59 pm
coupon code MIMA  (that's what i called her)

Today's Techonology- Is it helping or making me crazy?

Ok, so i love facebook but since i have no idea what i am doing i have created a mess.  i had a 2 personal accounts a biz page and group for my monogramming biz.  I had an applique frenzy account and then 2 pages.  not to mention 5 email accounts (personal and biz).  2 blogs. ugh.... I can't keep up.

i am going to simplify and keep just the personal account and 2 biz pages (one for AF and one for monogramming biz).

I had a VERY knowledgeable customer help me last night while i tried to sort this all out.  She gave me some links that as a biz owner you may also find very helpful.
here they are:
Every possible tutorial on creating FB Pages here (if you can code):
http://www.facebook.com/thenerdherd?v=app_10442206389

Kari's Website-you can see some links to great FB resources

and Kari's favorite two for business owners are:
http://mashable.com/guidebook/facebook/

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/facebook-101-business-guide/

GIRLS ONLY

Sealife Designs

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Animal Designs