More new stuff!

What else can you do with oilcloth, you wonder?
How about reusable sandwich/snack bags?



Here is what my listing says:
This idea was kicking around my head for a while and then a customer asked if I could make them for her and here they are. I wanted to wait until we used them for a while before putting them up for sale and they seem to work just great. I tested them with sandwiches (the bread stayed soft), cracker-type snacks (stayed crisp), and even grapes (stayed grapey). My customer had this to say:

“I was waiting to leave feedback until I had used them enough...but honestly...I LOVE THEM! They make life so easy, are so adorable and everyone who sees them, loves them! Thanks so much, I am over the moon about a snack bag.”
Caring for the bags is simple: wash in your sink with warm soapy water and hang to dry. The sewn seam is on the outside to prevent any bits of food from getting stuck anywhere.
They have a nice, strong Velcro closure and double stitching. These bags will last a long time.
No need to limit their use for food; these bags are useful for so many things!
Appr. 7” square, just like a plastic ziptop sandwich baggie.

the ever-evolving lunchbag

A year ago, I bought my Singer Futura for the sole purpose of doing monogrammed things. What a pain! First of all, I don't have a laptop so it involves dragging my sewing machine and all of its parts into the living room atop a shakey card table. Second of all...well, that's it but it's a huge pain. Everytime I tried it out, I ended up SO frustrated that the Futura almost went out the window so I didn't try again until recently. Now, I have the hang of it and it's kinda fun! I still wish I had a laptop but at least I have it working.
I am now offering monogramming on my oilcloth items, check out these custom bags that are also insulated-



Thanks for all of the nice comments about Julia's Halloween costume! She even got a mention on Craftzine.com blog
woohoo!

I love Halloween!

How cute is this? I'm not sure how exactly we came up with the idea but we always get a good one in mid-summer. So, how come if we get the idea in the summer, I am sewing the darn thing as we are walking out the door to a party?? I didn't actually sew much; a simple skirt, half apron, rickrack on a t-shirt and lace on socks. The bonnet was a purchase from a wonderful seamstress at GrandmasGirl on Etsy. I could have never made it even half as nice as Julianne did...this woman can sew!
I tied some fake grapes in a basket and we threw in some raisins just in case no one could figure out who she was supposed to be. As if!

We already have next year's costume planned but it's a secret.

overheard conversation

15 year old daughter sitting on porch waiting for her ride, her grandmother (my mom) sitting on the porch knitting.

Grandma- "Sam, how long before your ride gets here?"
Sam-"I don't know, they are running a little late"
Grandma-"Do you want to learn to knit?"
Sam- "why????"
Grandma-"Maybe someday when you have a boyfriend you can knit him a nice sweater"
Sam- silent and texting
Grandma-"what are you doing?"
Sam- "Asking Rachael to please hurry because my grandmother is threatening to teach me to knit"

free time?

Ok, so when you lose your job you'd imagine that you'd have all sorts of free time, right? Hmmmm, not happening.
I'm done being sad for now (I think) and I'm not yet panic-stricken. I've been busy with oilcloth, doctor, dentist, etc. David actually loves having me home, there's a nice dinner every night, we aren't scrambling for clean clothes at 5:00 am, and I am just more relaxed. If only that paid as well as my old job.
I can't post without a picture so check out this manly lunch bag

And check out this etsy shop, I don't know what my fascination with nuns is but this stuff is great:
www.nunofakind.etsy.com
If you are on my Christmas list, you may be getting a sister!

So...

I lost my job yesterday.
Me an 3 others.
It sucks.
I'm sad.
The economy sucks.
George Bush is an asshole, pardon my french.
Not sure what I am going to do now.
It's been said that you have to hit rock bottom before things get better.
It was pretty low already.
I'm not in the mood to string full sentences together and make them flow.
My job paid for 3 tuitions.
Public schools in my city are a joke.
The thought of sending my girls there makes me ill.
Cops with guns, metal detectors, drugs, violence. no thank you.
I'm not going to worry until Monday, then I will go into full panic.
Until then, I'll sew, clean my house and bake cookies.