March Catch Up!!

It has been awhile since I've posted.  Time is getting away from me.  I turned around and it's March 13th.  February was a great month mad-money-wise until Borders filed for BK and the store on lower Broadway was one slated to close.  I spent my whole $100 there.  To further my reading goals (and taking a back step on my decluttering, but rationalized since 'classics'), I bought book two more of the Asian Saga written by James Clavell: Gai-Jin and Tai-Pan.  If you haven't read it, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend "Shogun" - book one.  It is a daunting 1,200 pages, but I have to say, as I neared the end, I stalled finishing bc I wished there were 300 more.  It is also my father's and Mr. Olive's favorite book.  My other resolution to read 11 books - I'm on book 2 and I chose "New Moon", which I'm liking much better than "Twilight".

For Valentine's Day, I 'suggested' that Mr. Olive head to Victoria's Secret for my gift...and NO not for the lingerie.  I was buying the neighbor a gift certificate in January and while on line, I happened to smell "Love Spell".  I tried the tester bottle of lotion and all day kept smelling my hands!  I like fruity scents and this is ultra-fruity with cherry blossom, white peach, and jasmine.  I wanted the lotion, but he did surprise me with the eau de toilette and the spray.  Heaven!

On the sewing front, we had some good sales this year - I'm hoping to get a sale a month, and March is at nada as of now.  Maybe someone will like my new little pink and green wave bag? 

I guess I do have a March sale as the bridal party bags are done and ready to ship.  These are navy with a silk-shantung outside; all the bridesmaid's have navy lining, but the bride's lining is pale yellow. Silvermist was nice enough to pose for me.

I also went to the fabric store and bought some great fabrics - well, I think they are great!  :-)  I've already cut the teal, yellow, and grey waves for totes - there was only enough fabric for two.  I like the sunny yellow lining, which of course, can be the outside since it will be reversible. 

This fabric is quilted - I had to buy a yard.  I'm hoping I can make some nice medium-size bags from it.

AND last but not least, it was a beautiful day in Long Beach, so we took Little Olive for a boardwalk ride on her new bike Santa brought her.  A nice day for the park too.

What's been going on with you??  Do you also think time is flying by?

January: Resolution Results

January is behind us, and that means closer to Spring.  I am one who actually likes the snow, but I could do without the sleet, freezing rain, unless I'm planning a day indoors.  Then I do not mind.  But, January is O-V-E-R....and as far as the resolutions are concerned, for my $100 "mad-money", I ended up not spending it all.  I treated my daughter to $18 of Zhu-Zhu pets, spent $15 on preferred-parking when we went skiing (it is so worth to not be stuck at the far-reaches of the parking lot when temps hover 12-degrees), and $53 at Jones New York for some casual work clothes.  Oh, I also plunked-down $5 for a Mega Millions quick pick.  Total: $91.  Mr. Olive has one-itemized listing on his envelope: $3 Taco Bell.  But, he has no money in it and I found the envelope behind the keyboard on the computer desk.  I'm not sure I think he should get February's funds since he isn't playing by the rules....what are your thoughts??

Book 1: COMMUTERS.  Our library has 10-day books that are new releases (the hot authors new releases are on 7-day Express and no renewal).  I browse the section to see if I recognize anything or think the jacket synopsis looks interesing.  I thought "Commuters" could be a good bet, but after the 342 pages, I wondered, 'Why do I waste my time?'  This story is told from the view of three generations of married-into family members.  I thought it had no great character development, or family development, no real "action", and tons of loose ends.  I've decided there are too many well-known books that I have on my to-read list to waste more time in this section of the library.  While I'm going to tackle "New Moon" next so I can return it to my SIL, its rightful owner, I'm going to turn my attention to those I've been saying 'I've always wanted to read that'.

New Quilts!

New chenille quilts will be coming to the shop soon!!  Well, they are 'new' to us, but most are of vintage chenille.  Only the mint green and pastel blue is of new chenille.  What do you think? I love the bright blue and the purple vintages, but also the softness of the vintage pale blues.  Since there is snow all over up here in New York, the pictures are indoor shots - not our ideal, but when we can, outdoor pictures will replace.  What do you think?  Which is the favorite of the bunch?

Vintage Bright Blues:

 Vinatge Purples:

 Vintage Pale Blues:

 Pastel Blue & Mint Green - with different mint green inner borders:

Friday Night Sew-In: January Results

Last night was the FNSI that two ladies run through their blogs.  Handmade by Heidi and Crafty Vegas Mom pick one Friday night a month and then recruit those who sew to sign-up.  It doesn't matter what the registrants do, but it is to get in front of the machine.  I'm usually very tired on Friday night by the time I've worked all day, commuted home, played with Little Olive, put her to bed, and ate dinner.  Last night was no exception.  While I didn't get a whole lot finished, I did make progress on my tote bags and a bridal party bag order.  I must have sewn 30 Olive Street Studio labels, pinned a stack of various bag parts (pictured on the right in one shot), cut the linings for the bridal party order (she wants navy in and out, but pale yellow lining for the bride), sewed 10 pockets, side seems for five tote bags, and then all the side seems for the bridal order.  More to come bc I think I'll be able to get the bridal linings completed and the outsides cut and side seems sewn by Sunday night.  We'll see! 

These are some other bridal bags I've made for past customers.  The back is a black quilted satin fabric and the front is regular satin with the diamond design woven into the fabric.  I haven't made these in a few years, so I had to measure and write down.  I need to get all my bag measurements in one place so I don't forget!

By the way - it is 19 degrees here in Long Beach.  Our high today is 20.  Brrrrrrr.  I so wish we had a fireplace bc I'd have a fire going already.

2011: Resolutions!

I've never been a fan of New Year's Eve out-on-the-town, but I do love celebrating with close friends and family.  This year we went to my sister's house with my brother and his family.  Since all 7 children would not be awake to ring in 2011, it was a casual fun night.  We then had a Wii Bowling tournament - the 100-pin game.  Very fun!  I'd never played Wii before.  Unfortunate for Mr. Olive, I only made it until 11:45pm.  I intended to 'rest my eyes' for a few minutes and then, it was New Year's Day.

I love New Year's Day because I get to 'start fresh' each year.  Did I stick to my 2010 Resolutions?  Some more than others....but the best part of 1-1-11 is that I get to try again. :-)

1) Pare Down. A recycled resolution, but still applies.  While I did a 'fair' job of clearing out, I'm committed to keeping this up.  My new twist - If I buy something new (like a sweater), I have to donate or toss another.  With this is mind, I should at least not be adding to the problem.  And my question to self from last year, "Do I really need 8 white shirts?" the answer is YES - a white shirt goes with everything and a definite work-staple.   We did shop-in-our-own-pantry and medicine-chest so happy to report that this was successful.  Also successful to find mustard with an expiration date of 2003....

2) Monthly Mad Money. So while I'm not the best at keeping up with a budget, we started off 2010 allotting Mr. Olive and I $100 cash a month to be spent however we choose. How it works:  We put the cash into an envelope and at the end of the month, before we get our new $100, we see where we spent the former month's money. This worked through May, but then the summer came and I didn't keep up.  So we're trying again in 2011.  Last year I felt the money like a vice-grip in that envelope since I was used to buying what I wanted, when I wanted.  This year, I feel no such pressure.....I think it just took time to get used to waiting and really knowing if something was worth pulling out the cash. 

3) Promote the Sewing Business. 2010 was a great year for us - we had the most sales that we've ever had without doing more craft shows.  It was also the year we finally fulfilled the goal of hiring a graphics designer and had our website professionally done (she also did the blog design - Thanks Sunee!).  Here is the link to the new personal website if you'd like to check it out:  www.olivestreetstudio.com.  2011 will be about promoting the site, new goodies, and I'm hoping I can get us into a few little shops.

4) Read more books! Continuing with my resolution of three past years, and since I hit my goal of reading 7 books in 2010, I'm going to make a real jump and go to 10 for 2011.  Or maybe I should just go to 11 in honor of the year?  11 it is....

5) Exercise.  So I didn't reach the "Run a 5K" goal I set in 2010, but will try again this year.  I have a co-worker that runs, so I've asked him for the race schedule for the 2011 season.  As my parents have noted as they try to start regularly walking, 'sign up for a race and the deadline will be there'. So that's what I'm going to do.  I also have a gym membership at work so I'm hoping to use the treadmill and start Yoga classes.  My longer-term goal is still to run a 1/2 marathon by the time I'm 45...we'll see.

6) Enjoy life more!!  I'm someone who is always 'doing something' and trying to get items crossed off the list so I can 'relax', but the relaxing-part rarely seems to come.  This year I'm going to read the newspaper, do the Sodoku, read more to Little Olive...heck, life only comes around once.  :-)

What is in store for you this fine first day of a new decade??

This is Mr. Olive with the youngest niece, 6.5 month old Barbara.....



A T-Shirt Quilt Repair Project

A woman saw us at the Ocean Beach fair and startred talking about the custom t-shirt quilts.  Her best friend had passed away at an early age leaving her college-age daughter behind.  This woman is close with the daughter and when the daughter wanted a quilt of her mom's t-shirts with which to wrap herself for comfort, the woman went out to get one made.  The result was a disaster (I'm not going to post the before pictures) and in despair, she brought it to us to see what we could do to fix it for the daughter.  My mom is a master-fixer and the result has made the daughter very happy.  This is a large quilt and we got in most of the pieces we salvaged.  Have a project for us?  Let us know!  :-)

Thanksgiving Recipe: Cranberry Relish

While the big feast is only a day away and I'm late to the game to post this recipe.  We've been on vacation and came back to big catch-up at my full-time job (no, it isn't the sewing! although how I wish it were).  In case there are a few out there looking for a new cranberry sauce to accompany the bird, this is a recipe from the now-defunct Gourmet magazine that is super easy and has to be the best I've had.....I've had it made with 1/2 cranberry sauce and 1/2 cranberries.  Enjoy!!  And have a Happy Thanksgiving to anyone out there who still reads my blog - I have promised myself to be more blog-attentive. :-)

Cranberry Orange Relish

Gourmet
November 2009
by Ian Knauer

2 oranges
2 (12-ounces) bags cranberries (thawed if frozen)
2 Gala, Fuji, or Red Delicious apples, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 to 2/3 cup sugar

Cut peel and white pith from oranges and cut segments free from membranes. Coarsely chop, discarding any seeds.

Pulse fruit with allspice and 1/2 cup sugar in batches in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and stir in sugar to taste.

Cooks' note:
Relish improves in flavor if made 1 day (and up to 3 days) ahead and chilled.