Shop Post! What's new!

What's new and interesting in the shop? Well, right now, I've been working to get my sewing pattern de-stash up. I have a great mix of new and old patterns in the shop. Your next project could be here!

If you're looking for a coat pattern, I have that here, here, here, and here. These are vintage goodies and oldies (click on the picture for the shop link).

 

Although, after this winter, I'm sure we're all looking toward spring and summer. Here's a variety of tops, dresses, gaucho pants, and a classic short sleeved shirt.

Be sure to check out the shop! There are many more patterns available, not to mention the Book Page Gift Bags and a few denim grocery bags.

Here and now...

I have reasons for not posting! (I always do.) Mostly, I'm easily distracted and my moods change. The shop hasn't been really changing. It has been going strong and 2013 was a GREAT year, so thank you! I enjoyed repeat customers, international customers, and the ability to unload some of the patterns I've accumulated. I personally think having 130 patterns is way too much.

Thank you.

In a nutshell:

• We're adjusting to a new cat (still). We lost one and adopted another this summer. Orange Cat 2 is more like a toddler than a cat. Yes, we're spending lots of time studying Jackson Galaxy. His tricks work but some are harder (i.e. ignore him). He might be part Ocicat too...he's kinda spotted and his temperament fits.
• I've been doing a lot, and I mean a lot, of soul searching. I am almost always soul searching, but it just seems 2014 is the year I get a handle on things. There have been ups and downs, but the opportunities that have come from this are fantastic. Plus, I've been able to see things clearly and am adapting as needed.
• Oh yeah, and there was Summer Reading July into August, not to mention the come down from that and then Fall is just always crazy.

So where am I now?

• I'm trying to garden again. I've got the take-out containers set with seeds: Brandywine Tomatoes (which can be container gardened), broccoli, and lettuce. I've got herbs from last year I'm hoping didn't freeze to death in this weather (pretty sure the chocolate mint will come back. That one lasted way into December without being watered. It was in a little green house we have). So far, I'm worried they aren't getting warm enough. I am trying a different window because of the cat. If nothing sprouts by March 20, then I will find a way to keep them in the other window (the tomatoes & lettuce seeds worked last year so I know they aren't bad).
• I've got at least one denim bag cut for the shop. If all goes well, I'll have another cut tonight. Sewing happens when I have time.
• I have more book page bags for the shop. Just have some final details to work on.
• I'm getting involved in outside stuff more. First, I'm involved in PaLA and second, I'm on the PR committee for another group. Look for a post on the professional side about being involved in your community. I feel this is very important and after my meeting this week, I'm in love with the community I serve and am honored to be part of it (they started a library, fought for their school, stated an orchestra, created a great town to do stuff in, and are working toward a food co-op, what isn't there to like?).
• I've been working toward a cleaning schedule. I'm please with the results and this week is the first time we've planned two weeks worth of meals! 

Lessons learned:

• That saying about "If you put your mind to it..." Yeah. That.

Shop News!

I've been working on taking new photos of the items in my shop and I've decided when I'm reopening the shop:

Monday, August 12! I'm not going to tell you what time so keep checking back. I'll be starting to list some of the 30 some patterns I want to part with and there will be nicer photos of the gift bags.

There won't be a lot in the shop to start with, but things will be added weekly (hint: Mondays are probably when I'll list stuff).

Thank you for your support and patience!

Gardening - 2013 - July 29

My life has been hecktic. Suffice to say, my one 16 year old cat was diagnosed with cancer back in February and we lost him this month. I'm also trying to sort through stuff both literally and figuratively, which has been good. I also got myself a new computer (Hello, Steam. I missed you). Oh and Summer Reading Madness.

So the garden. Here's where I stand:

• Two mint plants from The Farm: Chocolate and Apple
• A catnip plant.
• Marigolds to attract bees, but a bit late it seems.
• Two lettuce. One should be iceberg but the other sprout seems to look NOTHING like the other. Maybe Little Caesar?
• Lemon Verbena plant barely holding on (needs potted in a bigger pot).
• Same tomatoes as before but I think I'm only getting two tomatoes in total this year. :-\ That's all that's growing. Might be getting more flowers soon. Not sure.
• A strawberry plant
• And a compost that was doing well then got screwed up (too wet) and I will turn around again because I've done so before. Although, the tub is pretty full.

Gardening is a lukewarm success this year. I'm happy to report that I got things from seed to survive, but all I can think is that in Year 3, I'll pull off what I want from my garden. Until then, it is nice to have the garden even if it isn't doing much. I'm hoping this winter I can move stuff to the greenhouse I wound up with (it's a little dinky thing) just to winter it over (i.e. the strawberry plant) as I like the herbs and am happy to have them.

The Etsy shop will be back I hope by the end of August. I just needed a break as I wasn't checking it and it needs more focus than I could dedicate. I also was just trying to see what stuff I took away I missed and surprisingly, the shop fell into that. Finding the time to craft for it though is hard.

Lessons Learned

• Need more flowering plants or bees, but I doubt I can keep bees here (township says I could but considering I'm in an apartment...)
• Need to reconsider where the tomato plants went because I can't put them all along the outer edge.

New Items in the Shop (Dec. 1)!

The last few days I've added a bunch of new stuff to the shop. Check it out! New items include:

• Book Page Gift Bags (photos will take you to the listing)

  

• Gift hang Tags

     

   

•  Denim Bags

     

If I'm lucky and this weekend proves productive, there will be new stuff added to the shop next week! I'm a bit busy with work things, health things (yeah, that again), and trying to keep the home clean. Not to mention a wedding present, our XBox 360 Star Wars Limited Edition came in last weekend. I've been a bit distracted at beating Portal 2. Overall, I love Portal 2. It will probably be one of the five or so games I actually finish. Not to mention, I want to get some baking out of the way! It is the Holiday season after all! I should be keeping home warm with lots and lots of cookies being baked. This weekend, I'm aiming to try out a sugar cookie recipe so I can test out some cookie cutters we got as wedding presents.

Did I mention I got married about a month ago? Details on what was made for our wedding will be coming up...eventually. Look for those posts.

Edit: All pictures are copyright LibraryElfDesigns and the owner. These pictures may not be edited, but may be Pinned as long as the link reverts back to this blog post.

Shop Update - New Stuff (Oct. 7)

Shop update!

For those of you who don't know, I have a little Etsy Shop called LibraryElfDesigns. It has been kind of quiet as I reevaluated my life and found some answers (and guidance and clearance and was getting over being sick), but I'm slowly adding stuff to the shop right now. I have some new ideas, but right now it's mostly destash stuff like fabric. Take a peak and make sure to check back as new stuff will be added over the coming weeks. Tell your friends too!

My primary focus will be grocery bags (and there will be more than just the ones made from an old pair of jeans hopefully soon), but other little things might appear like fabric (I really have to destash). If you need a gift idea, the denim bags are perfect for gents. My own gladly uses his bags when he goes grocery shopping and loves that they hold so much! Heck, one we had even held a 30 lb bag of cat litter! That's an impressive bag.

Help a librarian out. Check out the shop and tell your friends.