Merry Christmas!

Hope all is merry and bright.....!!

New Christmas Skirt....Great for twirling!

My very talented Mother Olive whipped up these awesome Christmas skirts in red plaid taffeta.  I think the plaid is "Royal Stewart"??  Circle skirts really float out when twirling around, and what young girl doesn't spin when in a big skirt?  Decided to keep these simple so girls can wear it more casual to school or more dressed up for Christmas Eve church or Christmas Day dinner.  We make in custom sizes.  If no girl in the family?  We can make a plaid Christmas tie for the boys!  Not out of the taffeta, but from another smaller red plaid. 

Cousin Olive is modeling....and Little Olive is already wanting to wear hers.  :-)

 "You spin me right round baby, right round like a record baby, right round, round, round......" Can you name the band?

 Bottom hem is added from a separate piece of material - a nice way to finish the skirt:

October 30: Outdoor Craft Show & New Items

Our little town of Long Beach has a few arts organizations that got together to do Sunday "Arts in the Plaza".  I've exhibited 4 times since May - I intended to do 4 other shows, but the weather worked against us twice, the event was cancelled by City Hall on 9/11, and another time I was just too tired form working a garage sale the day before.  So with that in mind, I set out to exhibit on the last Sunday.  Now, Old Man Winter stepped in yesterday and threw the Northeast a nasty snow storm.  The temps didn't get above the mid 40s today.  I lasted 4 hours and was done.  BUT I did sell a onesie set and a chenille quilt.  :-)

Since I called Mr. Olive to come get me at 2pm, I then spent the afternoon battling pictures and new listings.  I managed to get 4 new new posted - two new corduroy skirts and two new vintage chenille quilts.  I have one other skirt to post along with the two jumpers....What do you think?

 

Friday Night Sew-In: RESULTS

So while I didn't get any pictures posted of my results from the FNSI, I thought I'd give a pictureless update so at least when I look back, I know I did something!  I completed 4 beach totes and one adorable elephant baby blanket.  I sold one of the totes at the Craft Fair yesterday and was so happy I finished something that then sold!  I also worked on a little zipper pouch based on "Handmade by Heidi" tutorial and for a first attempt at a zipper, it didn't come out half-bad.....but that also means not half-good.  So I know the tweaks that need to be made, but am psyched that I now know I can "zipper"!  Pictures will follow.....

Friday Night Sew-In: Sept. 16th

Yay! It's FNSI time again - and I have a craft fair on Sunday so I can surely finish up projects that I can bring with me to sell.  Here is the link if you too want to join!

http://handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com/2011/09/sign-up-for-september-16th-friday-night.html

Cheers!

9/11/11: The 10-Year Anniversary

As I've posted before about listening to the first plane fly over my apartment building that fateful morning...I'm remembering this day with the mindset of tranquility and serenity.....

I hope all of you have a wonderful, safe day.

From the Mouth of Little Olive...

As we were walking up to the beach to see what Tropical Storm Irene left us:

Little Olive: Mommy, I love you...

Me: I love you too

Little Olive: Daddy said when I'm 13, I won't love you or him any more.....but I know I'll still love you

One of those moments I'll remember - and sure;y remind her of when she is 13!  :-)

More time to post later.....Happy August 31st.  Year is flying by.

July 2011: Beach with Cousins!

What is better than Fire Island days with your cousins?

Hope you're all having a wonderful July!

FNSI: Results!

I did get alot done last night.  I had many projects in-process and can now check them off the list.  The sanddollar blanket was a start-to-finish....

For a gift shop in Florida that is now carrying our light blanket gift sets:

I am finishing up an order for a bridal party - four reversible totes.  I finished the two SEASIDE last night and did the linings for the BERMUDA, the outsides of which are already done:

I also made some cell phone sleeves - you can see my HTC Inspire in the pink bubble one.  I also finished a little pink and green pouch bag that needed handles and putting together:

Finished my last JESTER tote since no more fabric.  I love the reverse in the damask:

And last but surely not least, I finished a new chenille quilt in the log-cabin style.  I added an extra row to the top and bottom to make it rectangular instead of square:

Here is the ETSY pics ofthe quilt, which will be posted soon!

 Whew! How was your Friday Night?

Friday Nights Sew In: June 17th

Yay for Friday Night Sew-In and even better that I am all set for it.....my projects are picked out and although I won't be starting anything new, I'll be finishing alot this Friday night.  I'll have to pass on the glass of wine if I want the results to turn out ok. :-)

If you want to sign up, please go over to "Crafty Vegas Mom" blog and register.

Check back tomorrow for the pictures of the results!

Two New Totes and a Handbag....Summer 2011

I found these fabrics and fell in love - my problem? I see fabric and I buy it.  Sometimes I use it, but other times I 'save' it.  Well, nothing good can come of a saved piece - the better option is to make something with it.  So here are my two new totes....

BEACH WAVES:

 MIAMI BEACH:

I also made a little hangbag in the SEASIDE fabric since I had extra.....

I have the best model!!  :-)  Happy Weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend: 2011

I cannot believe it has been so long since my last post - life is moving too fast for me.  Hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day weekend.  We're out on relaxing Fire Island with friends and their two daughters.  Little Olive is playing "big sister" to the two girls.  Here she is modeling a new dress - for the Memorial Day occasion....and then July 4th, and Flag Day, and Labor Day..... :-)  It will get alot of use.  She picked out the fabric herself!  She's getting so big.....

Sunday Surprise: Our Poor Tree...

When the snow melted and I assessed our backyard, I noticed our flowering pear tree had a "break" in its trunk from the fork of a main 'trunk'? 'branch'?  I thought that when Spring arrived, I'd likely have to get something to 'seal' the fissure.  This was 2 weeks ago.

Yesterday, we had a crazy storm - nothing to the extent of the tornadoes that hit Oklahoma / Arkansas earlier this week, or North Carolina earlier on Saturday.  We had pelting rain and then the winds started.  We've had worse winds though.  This morning - all was good.  but, sometime between 2:30-4pm, when Mr. Olive was out with little Olive at the park and I was upstairs, that limb cracked off the trunk.  Little Olive and I were readying the Easter egg coloring when I looked out the window and saw the hunk on the ground. 

We planted this tree when we first moved in - it was a sapling.  As you can see, after 9 years, it has grown into a beautiful tree. Now, two-thirds sit on the lawn.  I'm so sad. 

Orchid Show: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square PA

I love plants - always have, always will.  Growing up I had a room full of houseplants, but funny, no flowering plants.  I started getting into orchids about two years ago and have posted several times about the orchids Mr. Olive has given me and others I've bought.  I'm a total beginner and need to hone my skills in caring for them so I can get flowers.  My little collection makes me happy, but seeing the Orchid Show at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is a huge treat for me.  I'm lucky to have a college-friend live in that town so twice now, we've packed up the car and headed to the Orchid Show and tie in a great visit-weekend.  The show is put on with different orchid societies putting together its display and then the orchids are judged.  I wanted to share some pictures of the gorgeous flowers.

 Catleya:

 Vanda:

 Vanda

 Several different orchids:

 Phaleanopsis:

 Catleya (I think):

 ???

 Dendrobium:

 Phaleanopsis injected with blue dye:

 Paphiopedlium (I think):

 Vanda (I loved these!):

 Oncidium:

 Militonis (pansy orchid):

Now, next set of pictures will be of my plants - the ones I've managed to get to flower.   Enjoy!