Crazy Town: Our Ever Changing Wonderful Life

Hello Lovlies!

   I have been away from the blog and updating pretty much everything lately, so it's time for some major catch-up! So many big changes happening in our little home! My husband began a new job mid-July, very unexpectedly, after receiving an exciting job offer! He has worked for an incredible local Aviation company for the last 10 years, and I think he expected to stay there for the rest of his life, however, he received a great opportunity to fly to the far North and work two weeks at a time on bigger aircraft, charters and move into management {yay Hubby!}.

This is Philip's sweet ride up to work and back every two weeks, as well as one of the many aircraft he inspects and services.

   Of course, this involved a lot of major changes for us, such as leaving his much loved local job along with the incredible people there, and probably the biggest change, living away from home every other two weeks. The exciting part? Great new career opportunities, exciting travel and getting to spend every other two weeks home with me :) So, the last 6 weeks have been a frenzy of new job meetings, organizing our life to arrange for Phil to live half the year 600 miles away and cramming in as many fun outings together as possible {lake time, air shows, weekend getaways and family BBQ's to name a few}.

  We are now 13 days into his first 15 days away, and I am finally getting caught up on sewing, emails, and yes, blogging! I knew it would be an adjustment having my Sweetheart gone so much when I am used to having him home so often, but I am so thankful for both our amazing families! Everyone has gone out of their way to check on me, take pity and have me over for meals, family time and offer endless Summer fun! I am truly blessed to have our amazing families live around me!

Beautiful Fond Du Lac River where Philip works!

  So, now that we are all caught up on the crazy that's been happening, guess what fabulous designs I have whipped up?! Have I confessed yet to my deep adoration for Art Gallery Fabric? I don't think I have ever saw an AGF design that I haven't fallen completely head over heels in love with! These Gleeful fabrics by Sew Caroline are no exception!

Best of all, this cheery apron was a custom order for one of my sweet sister-in-laws, so it was stitched with just a little extra love :) 

Vintage Finds + New Fabric

So, I'm back in full swing, sewing up a storm lately, and I still can't manage to keep up :) Such a busy week, but first, time to share my new fabric from my favorite quilting shop!!

Color Therapy by Vanessa Christenson

Birch Farm by Joel Dewberry 

So excited to get stitching up these new designs, but first, I need to finish all those custom orders and get them shipped :) And now for my wonderful garage sale find from last weekend...

 I have been on the hunt for a gorgeous vintage hard shell suitcase, that I can re-model into a large sewing kit/decorative piece for my shows! Practical and pretty! So, I finally found  exactly what I was looking for! Isn't this piece gorgeous?

Originally I was told it came from the early 1900's {how cool would that have been?!}, but we finally did find out that it is actually from 1940 {still pretty neat!} and it is in near perfect condition! So, this is how the case came, and I will have to post photos in the next few weeks, showcasing my suitcase remodel :)

I want to put some pockets on the inside part of the lid, as well as make some fabric dividers for organization! Can you tell I am just a little excited?! I can't wait to show you what I turn this fabulous case into! Oh, and it comes with original keys to the locks...how amazing is that?

So, last Friday, I decided it's pretty pathetic that I make all these aprons for people, and I don't own one of my own unique creations! I had bought some linen canvas earlier in the week with intentions to make an apron for myself, so Friday was the perfect day to stitch it up! Besides my little handmade business, I also cater all summer for the company my husband works for and small events throughout the year, which is the perfect place to wear my handmade designs! So, here is the apron I made, which I then posted on my Facebook business page and ended up selling :) So, I still need an apron for myself!

I did find it a little funny that I chose colors that although are very beautiful, aren't typically my style, so I think this apron was meant for someone else from the start :) However, it was so fun to design and stitch up, and I love the ruffled scoop pocket on the skirt!!

And...I FINALLY attempted my first throw pillow!! I actually used some leftover fabric from the apron I made {I am really loving that fabric!} I was quite happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to tackle a few more styles!

I really love the twisted flower on the corner, and I think a row of those running diagonally across a throw pillow would be gorgeous! So many ideas to try!  

Happy Thursday Everyone! 

Summer Livin'

Can I just say that I LOVE June?! To be honest, there isn't one month that I dislike, but June has to be one of my favorites! My husband is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and our busy season of Aerial Crop Spraying begins late June {typically} and sometimes runs until August-September, so June is the month we pack full of the summer fun {and laziness} that we typically don't get the rest of the summer. June and September are the two months we cram all of summer into, and for those reasons, I adore June! Also, the weather is usually delightful here in June and the lakes are made for living at! Just a few reasons I am silly about summer...

Now, there is this urban legend that sewing and crafting happens only in the winter {especially in our area of the country, where winter lasts forever and if the cold doesn't get ya, you will get snowed in}, but since sewing is a way of life, my machine plans to stay busy all summer long {it will just be working double time so that I can have those lake days as well}. So, let's take a look at what's been on my worktable:

So, most of the time I just wing it when sewing {I'm instilling confidence, I can tell:}, and usually I'm VERY comfortable with that, however, I was commissioned to sew an apron that is really more of a dress {I am not even joking}, so I felt the need for a pattern! You know the whole "Measure twice, cut once" saying, well in this case it was "Measure 5x, draw 3 patterns and cut once"! So, I sketched my own pattern, and let me warn you, I CANNOT draw! I have tried, I have really, really tried, but I bomb even at Pictionary - I can hardly draw a straight line to save my life! So, no, I will never be a pattern designer, but thankfully I can make it work for my own personal use :)

I am SO excited about these new labels! I designed the graphic online and found a super affordable shop in France to print them up for me! Now every item sold will have this unique {and can I say, adorable?} fabric label attached! This is the crazy dress-like apron I have been working on, more pics to come soon! 

Oh, and just for a cuteness factor before I go, check out this adorable baby MINIATURE calf that I got to play with, cuddle and feed the other night! Just when I think all the farm girl in me has disappeared, I spend a day at the farm, get to tromp around in the pastures and corrals, and I feel like I'm back home again. A move to the country might be up for discussion sometime in the next few years :) 

Ok, that's enough cuteness to melt anyone! Happy Thursday everyone! Enjoy this gorgeous June!

Charity

May Brings The Fun

I have been pretty quiet on the blog lately! It feels like summer has arrived and we've been on the road constantly!  We were so happy to be headed to the lake last weekend, and despite the cooler temperatures, as usual, we had an amazing time! My husband and I spent a few days with my parents and then the rest of the family drove up to spend a day with us all. We have our favorite spot that we always camp at and I am always amazed at how quickly I start to feel relaxed and carefree once we head to the lake. Some quality family time is always good for relaxing as well!

                                 

     

May Long Weekend usually marks the first weekend at the lake for the summer season, unless the weather is terrible. Thankfully we had several enjoyable days there, and we are already planning the next weekend we head up there {and looking forward to a few weeks there later in the Summer}.

Last week was a full week with the family! My mom and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch together at one of our favorite restaurants, and it's rare to get a quiet one-on-one chat together!  I spent a day at the farm catching up with my sister and helping my mom plan our huge family gathering we have every summer and my husband and I spent Friday night trucking with my brother as he hauled Anhydrous to the local farmers putting in their crops!

So, after all that excitement and much needed family time... it's back to work today! 

First, I wanted to share a project I wrapped up right before we left for the lake! I made two matching half aprons from vintage 70's fabric and I like to call these aprons Keepsake Aprons. The fabric came from my customers Grandmother who had passed away and they wanted to have this memorable fabric made into aprons to remember her.

Keepsake Aprons are so special to me, as we lost a very special lady in our family two years ago and after she passed away, I received some of her fabric {she was an avid quilter} and we started making aprons out of her fabric to remember her by. So I am always incredibly touched when I get to do a keepsake item for my customers - and the fabric always seems to have a special story that comes with it!

My projects for this week include a retro 60's style apron {I can not wait to finish it and get it up on the blog!}, a gorgeous Japanese-style apron and I am also working on a keepsake apron for my mom {because she's just so special that she deserves one}! Also on the worktable are a few new items I'm playing around with and hope to have up in the shop soon :)

So, hopefully I can make myself stay home and get some sewing done, and when I do get my orders done, the weather is so gorgeous, I plan to sneak off to the lake later this week !! Enjoy that sunshine! 

A Weekend Full of Learning + Fun

Happy Monday, Ya'll! I am feeling so good about this upcoming week! As I mentioned before, I have been under the weather for several weeks, as well as having some back problems, but I have a good feeling about this week and things are looking up :)

First of all, I had an amazing weekend! It was a bit of a struggle with my back, but I made it to the Artisan Entrepreneur Workshop, and the afternoon was jam-packed with loads of great information! It was a good balance of some topics I already felt comfortable with, and some great new ideas to further Bluebirds + Lemondrops Designs!

After the workshop I  met up with a couple friends and went out for a great supper and then headed to Prairie Chicks for their Magazine Release Gala! It was such a fabulous night - great food and drinks, amazing sales, a few fun games, and meeting up with a great group of women that I have gotten to know over the last year! I am so grateful for a group of women that share my passion for handmade designs and fabric!! I came away with some fabric and a few quilted goodies, so it was a successful night :)

                             I seriously can not get enough of these gorgeous colors and designs!!

Sunday was a wonderful day spent with my amazing family {all 27 of them - and we were missing a few!}. Mother's Day is always a big deal for our family, and we enjoyed a nice lunch out together and then a beautiful dessert buffet at my sisters home {she is amazing!}. And finally, Sunday evening brought some much needed down time with My Man :) I think he deserves a little shout out! He is the most supportive and encouraging husband, he pushes me to succeed and try again when I fail. He genuinely gets excited when I talk about my little handmade business and he enjoys helping me plan and dream - what more could I possibly want or ask for! 

So, this week, I am finishing some custom orders I have been working on, shopping fabric for the next big set of custom orders, and I am excitedly awaiting the arrival of a huge fabric order for the Evergreen Artisan Market in November! I have never done a show this big or that brings in this many people, so I have made a plan so I get to enjoy my summer and also get my stock built back up again :) Time for me to get busy!! 

Mother's Day Tribute

What a crazy, but wonderful week! I have been busy in the studio getting the last of the Mother's Day orders finished, packaged up real pretty and delivered! Not only have I been busy with Mother's Day orders, but I have been working on a few bridal shower orders as well, which has been loads of fun:)

Since we are heading into Mother's Day this weekend, I thought I would make a little tribute to the woman who has helped form and mold me into the person I am today.

My mom has three daughters (including me) and one son. She has lived a sacrificial life, always putting the needs of her children and husband before her own, and in the more recent years, the needs of her parents before her own. She is not a perfect person. I have watched her make mistakes and question her ability to be the mother we needed, but she is quick to right her wrongs, she is humble and hard working, and a true Christian mother who always points her children to Christ and lets the love of Jesus shine through her. And she is the perfect mother for us! I have so many fun memories and heartwarming stories I could share, but the best thing I can tell you about my mom is that she raised each one of her children to love The Lord Jesus, she taught us right from wrong, and dedicated her life to raising us to be the best versions of ourselves! She also instilled a love of learning, a love for the arts and the confidence that made us realize we can accomplish whatever we put our minds to. As each year passes, I realize what a gift and blessing my mom is in my life, and I am thankful for who is she is and for the family she and my dad have created. I believe Abraham Lincoln said it best when he stated, "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother".

So, as Mother's Day quickly approaches, I want to celebrate my mother, and celebrate my family, as I would truly have and be nothing without them! If you have someone in your life, whether it's your biological mother, a motherly figure or just a special woman in your life who has influenced and help shape your life, let them know and celebrate them this Sunday and everyday!!

So having shared a little of what's been on my heart this week, now I'd love to share what has been on my work table :)

        The fine art of embroidery is rather new to me, so I enlisted the help of my talented cousin! We spent the afternoon catching up, working on needlepoint, and yes, a lot of giggling! I so enjoyed doing the embroidery on these sweet mother/daughter aprons!

And the topping on this beautiful week, is the amazing weekend ahead! I am so excited to be attending an Artisan Entrepreneur Workshop this Saturday, and I am looking forward to meeting up with other handmade business owners, learning how we can better brand and promote our businesses and generally get more inspired to make handmade designs happen!! After the workshop, I am meeting up with a few friends and heading to one of my favorite local quilt stores for their amazing Magazine Release Gala!! I think this Gala is going to be such a fun ladies night out, and I hear the swag bags they are handing out are going to be ridiculously amazing! And of course, Sunday is going to be a family filled day, and I could not be happier about that!

Enjoy some time with your families this weekend, and remember to give thanks for your mother this weekend, after all, she is the one who gave you life! Happy Early Weekend, Ya'll!

Hello May

Well May has arrived and I have all sorts of happy going on in my life!! 

I adore May! The buds are on the trees, my yard is green, it's time for BBQ, family cookouts, late night fires, star gazing, evening bike rides and never eating inside again until September :) The list could go on and on! Also, May has already brought some excitement to our lives!

I have a new niece that arrived this morning, and she is a doll! As gorgeous as can be, and I can not wait for those precious newborn snuggles!! I also am booked with orders into June, and that is always exciting and good news for me!

However, the most exciting business news that May has brought me is being accepted by the Prince Albert Council of the Arts into the Evergreen Artisan Market this fall at the E.A. Rawlinson Center!! The market runs Friday, November 13th, 4pm-9pm and Saturday, November 14th, 10am-5pm. There will be fabulous artisans featured from all across Saskatchewan, a great selection of live music, and a delightful food Bistro! I am just so honored and excited to be a part of this event, and I encourage you all to mark it on your calendars! I will be working hard from now until then to create some of my best and most creative designs!!


Also, a fabulous event I am fully supporting and having a small part in is Bloom's NICU Gala! The Gala is May 8th, and tickets are available at http://www.obrianseventcentre.ca/ or if you can't attend, donations can be made at http://www.nicuannualfundraiser.com/. This fundraiser is near and dear to my heart and I can't think of a more worthy cause to support!

This week my projects include some hand embroidery on some sweet mother/daughter aprons, finishing all the Mother's Day orders, shipping and delivering them, and basically locking myself in the studio for the week! Hopefully I'll have some fun new designs to share in a few days :)

Happy Saturday!