Fabric Heaven & My Studio Helper

 Once again it’s quilt show season, with a parade of beautiful quilts and fabulous fabrics from around the world, all on display for the avid quilter and seamstress.  Because I am both a quilter and a seamstress, my studio assistant and I will be attending this weekend’s Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California.  This show hosts over 800 quilts, wearable textiles and 300 vendors featuring all kinds of patterns, fabrics, notions and so much more. I can’t wait to go!

Since I am a totally addicted to beautiful fabrics and patterns I will be like a kid in a candy store surrounded by all my favorite goodies wondering what to buy first.  I will have to set a budget and have my assistant hold me back from buying excesses of the fabrics I fall in love with (let’s hope my assistant has been working out, she will need super human strength to drag me away).

 Everyone in the studio has been excitedly planning out our one day trip (it takes several days to see it all), with the exception of my little studio helper, Honey.  She begged and pleaded to go and was told no, due to the fact she is so small, size was a good excuse and the fact she is a cat. (Shh...) Don’t tell her, she will be in a real mood; she doesn’t know she’s a cat.  It’s already bad enough she is giving me the cold shoulder and exhibiting some bad behavior, where did my sweet little studio helper go?

Frankly someone had to stay behind, do the inspections and manage the studio, besides she drew the short straw.

Honey is pouting because she has to stay in the studio while we go to the quilt show.

 “What do you mean you want me to fill orders while you are gone?” “I don’t think so… I am calling in sick the minute you leave.”  Just another day in the life of my much pampered studio helper, looks like I created a little fur diva, what’s a gal to do?

We are really looking forward to going to the show this weekend then coming back to tell you all about the fantastic goodies we found, hopefully we will have lots of pictures to share with you as well.  I am not sure if we are allowed to take photos but we are going to try.  I am looking forward to sharing all our adventures with you next week, be sure to look for them.

In the meantime I have more projects and bling to share with you.  See you soon.

Pacific International Quilt Festival –Santa Clara, CA

Managed by Mancuso Show Management 

www.quiltfest.com

Side note:  I am finally working on my new laptop, a bit slow going trying to get use to the programs, Windows 7 and a new key board.  My retrieved data and photos were safely loaded on to the new computer and are ready to go.  I am one lucky woman.

A big THANK YOU!! To Jolene and Steven for all their patience, time and talent, I would be totally lost without you!  Love you both.

Data and photo retrieval by:

Rx-TEK, Hollister, CA

831-636-9400

Buttons, Bows & Bling #1

Buttons, Bows & Bling, what more could a girl want you ask?  Not much I say, which led me to the name of my blog and my business.  I love all things girly, lovely, and warm and inviting so I try to bring all of those things to my everyday life both in fashion, in my home and to others.  I do all this through the creative ventures in my studio as a seamstress and artist.  My passion is sewing but I’m an all around creative gal;  I am a pattern designer, jewelry designer, quilter, textile artist, I paint and re-purpose old furniture, garden, decorate my home and others, create paper crafts, mixed media and so much more. 

You probably wonder how I can do all of that, I began sewing and crafting as a little girl, taught by my Mother who was a master seamstress and crafter. Then as a young stay at home Mom I became a sewing instructor, made everything from dolls to wedding gowns, then moved into professional craft and gift shows and had a wholesale gift business showcasing my handcrafted items, which I pursued until both my children left for College.  

With the passing of the years and no longer a career woman; I have the time to explore and perfect anything creative which catches my eye.  Since I said that you probably think I must be a very mature (old) lady but I assure you I am neither old in age or in spirit, but I must confess to being a very young grandmother of two.  I love to sew and create beautiful, colorful outfits, toys and room decor for both of my lovely little granddaughters.  Sewing and crafting for them led me to starting a new business for children’s clothing, toys, and decor and a blog so I could share my projects and my adventures as I set up my first on line business.

This blog isn’t just about the things I make for children, you will see all kinds of projects I am working on including; baking, gardening, book reviews, decorating, travel, painting projects, crafts of all kinds, holiday decorating and party planning, favorite fabric and craft stores, project tutorials and so much more.  I can’t wait to get started sharing my creative ventures with you. See you soon.

This is the bulletin board I re-purposed and put in the toy room my granddaughters play in.

This picture is a fabric panel mounted on canvas framed in printed ribbon also a decoration in the toy room.

The toy room closet doors were just big and white, boring for a kids play room so they got decorated with removable vinyl stickers and two dimensional decals.

I hope you enjoyed my first post and the kind of fun projects I like to create.  If you like what you saw be sure to follow me as a member or through e-mail alerts, I look forward to seeing you soon.


Where I found my favorite bling used to create my projects:
Fabrics for pictures & bulletin boards:  Homespun Harbor a Quilt Shop -     http://www.homespunharbor.com/
Canvas, ribbons, jewels:  Michael's crafts  -  http://www.michaels.com/
Vinyl stickers:  Home Goods.
Two dimensional butterfly stickers:  Target