More Sewing ... Getting Serious About Etsy.

I am loving some of my new sewing projects! And frankly, my sewing skills are greatly improving almost daily. I have even begun to impress my husband (who tends to look over every finished project as though he was my home-ec teacher).

So, I have decided that I need to get serious about posting my goods on Etsy. I mean, I have a PILE of finished goodies just collecting dust on my kitchen counter (yes, my sewing has taken over the kitchen ... at least until my sewing room is completed) ... and I am sure that there must be homes for these lovely things somewhere out there.

I am also hoping to make room for a new 'line' of library tote bags that I have been working on. Here is an example of one:

I have made several already and will continue to make more because they are just so darn cute! They are fully lined and come with an inside pocket for keeping your library card. I am posting them for just $20, though I have seen similar ones sell for $35 on Etsy.

Isaac willing, I will make a few more of these tomorrow. And God willing, I will take better photographs of them! My crafts always look SO much sweeter in person than in my photos.

Love,

Jodi

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The Golden flower...

MBL040


This is another oldie but goodie design I made last year. The gold flower was a fun experiment I did with corrugated paper...each petal cut individually and painted gold...even the stem is dotted with gold colour to match it. It comes with a beige handmade envelope and has a beige paper insert on the inside of the card for writing on personal wishes. The card is suitable for any occasion and is left blank on the inside. It's a clean cut neat design I would say. Love it very much :)

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Good Gracious, He's Adorable!

It is hard to believe that any creature could be THIS adorable. However, with Jack as his Daddy, he was bound to be a "looker".

So, all is well here. Father & Son are getting along just fine ... though Jack did try to kill (or at least maim) the puppy last night. It actually looked like we were going to have to find the pup another home ... Jack was so angry. But by some miracle, Jack figured out that Chase was not a threat - but rather, a puppy. And that it would be quite fun to play with him. So, Jack is now thoroughly enjoying Chase and has begun herding him and protecting him from the ornery cats and the often obnoxious chickens.

I think we will all get along just fine. We are all so excited to have Chase here ... and I can't wait for Meg to meet him :) I imagine I will be be posting endless pics of this litte guy onto Flickr.

Love,

Jodi

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With love.....

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V00b

I made these designs months ago...something old in my collection but is still loved always :). Layering coloured papers is another way of presenting my creativity on paper and is also very therapeutic in trying to find what colours to match one another. :) It is made with love and should be given with love :). For V015, it comes with a matching yellow handmade envelope and for V016, it comes with a matching soft pink envelope. Both cards are left blank on the inside for writing on personal wishes.

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Welcome Home, Chase.

Today we brought our new puppy home. As you can see, he was quite taken with Isaac and chose to stay on his lap for the hour ride home. Isaac was so pleased. Every time the puppy would whimper, Isaac would kiss him and rub him tenderly. It made Daddy and I beam with pride.

After several weeks, and many great suggestions, we finally decided on a name ... Chase. It came to us as Mark (the man who housed the litter) called out to his son, Chase. I looked at Halis and said, "That's it!". And frankly, it was the first name Halis and I could agree on. I suggested: Anakin, Wesley, and Severus (Snape is my favorite Potter character). But Halis turned them all down. Maybe next time :)

Love,

Jodi

P.S. Yes, Chase has one blue eye and one brown. He got his one blue eye from his Daddy (our Jack) and one brown from his Mommy (Mark's Sydney).

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Bookmark cards

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These were designed a few months back....I wanted to make a card with 3 layers of colored papers and bind them with a ribbon. A simple design with a touch of a simple flower formed by bringing 3 layered heart shapes together and a long stem made with dotted silver and gold lines. The receiver of the card will be able to use this card as a bookmark later on....Both cards comes with a matching handmade envelope and is left blank on the inside for writing on personal wishes.

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There's No Place Like Home.

Vacationing at the beach was wonderful. Seeing old friends was lovely. And as always, Ferry Beach helped me to discover new and interesting things about myself, Isaac and Meg.

But, I must say, There is No Place Like Home! And I am so glad to be back. I missed my husband, my house, my bed, my dog and my sewing machine. And Isaac missed his Daddy so very much. Meaghan, however, would have liked to stay another month or so :)

As for this blog, I will continue my regular posting schedule beginning Monday. I will also upload all our vacation photos to Flickr.

Also, I received several tote bag and wallet orders while at Ferry Beach (I made sure to sport all my favorite bags at the beach - in hopes that folks would inquire about them - and they did). So, I will be busy sewing some goodies - being sure to post them here as I do.

Love,
Jodi

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We're Here. And Lovin' It!

We have only been here for two full days and it already feels like a week... there is just so much going on! It is wonderful. I am headed off to do some Karaoke but wanted to say "Hello" and to leave you with a few photos. I have uploaded some to Flickr as well.

Please note: YES, Meaghan is with me. But No, you will barely see her in any photos as she has found a new friend here and subsequently has no use for Isaac and I. Though I wish she were around more, I am very happy that she is enoying herself.

So, here is mostly Isaac:

Love,

Us

P.S. Daddy, We Miss You SO Much!

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As pink as they can be...

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This maybe the last "dancing flowers" design for this year, hehehe.....but then again, maybe not hehehe.......well, that's me..when I like a design so much, I always tend to do it again and again and again, probably not with the same flowers but the idea is the same....To me, they are like miniature flowers that I find in my dreams...very small and sparkling...in a beautiful garden filled with colourful flowers, so very pretty... :)

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Carved roses..

MBL023 (SOLD OUT)

MBL022 (SOLD OUT)

I first attempted carving out patterns on paper with this particular design a few years ago. I remembered how the leaves looked like the first time I carved them...my aunt said that they looked like parsley :D! So I kept on improving the way I carved them and soon fixed on this particular pattern....very simple and with no rough edges on the leaves :). I have made new designs with carved rose on them that I embellish with laces, which you can find and view in this blog.

I plan on posting some more of my old designs soon for some people to see here, as there are more out there who haven't seen them before. Although there will be new ones as well coming out soon......so, do drop by once in a while to see something old and something new :).

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The petals swirl again...

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MBL055 (NOT AVAILABLE)

I made these two cards for a friend of mine who wanted simple thank you cards....very simple touch with the swirling petals on the flowers that she loved so much :). Each card comes with a matching handmade envelope and are left blank inside for writing on personal wishes.

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Blue I'm blue....

Closer details of the flower sequins and beads that is sewn on the paper

MBL059 (SOLD OUT)

Oh dear! There I was stuck with the "dancing flowers" arrangement again! I just don't know why I do it but they seem to keep wanting to be that way again and again in my head...and so it applies on paper. Only this time the flowers are a bit different than the ones I've used before...it's totally flat and the other one is just a round shaped tiny sequin that I applied dots around it to form a flower. The edges of the card is different too. I'm also currently working on another 2 more designs. One is similar to this one but the sequins are a bit different, but still the flowers are dancing :D. I was listening to Julio Iglesias as I was making them hehehehe...Amor....amor....amor.....la lalalaaa..:D The card comes with a matching handmade peach coloured envelope and is left blank on the inside for writing on personal wishes. :)

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Last Minute Vacation Sewing!

It is always important to have some handmade goodies with you while you roam the beach (add that to my growing list of personal mottos). So, since I am all packed and ready to go, I took the day to make some "must-have" beach items.

And to make the day even more exciting, I have sewn my first piece of clothing! Isaac can be seen below sporting a TURKISH TUNIC ... or at least my version of one. It is made with hand-dyed fabric that I purchased years ago. He looks more like a Hippie than he does a Turk. But Daddy was happy for the effort. I think I will make Isaac several more... with at least one of them looking more traditionally Turkish (with embroidery around the collar and sleeves). This first one he can wear at the beach.

Oh, and Isaac would only "pose" for me while jumping on the bed:

Then I had to embellish a shirt to match Isaac's seashell collecting bag:

And finally, since we are going to be missing Daddy all week, I had to make myself a tote bag/purse with his picture on it. This was my favorite project. I also started a matching wallet but it is not yet completed.

I am crazy for this material. It is canvas-like upholstery fabric. And it is so luxurious in person. I may re-do my whole world in this stuff!

Well, now that I have been in a frenzied state of sewing for the day, I really don't want to leave my sewing machine behind because I have all sorts of new & exciting sewing ideas banging around in my head. But I will be bringing lots of embroidery for a new quilting project. Oh yeah, and my Harry Potter book!!!

Leaving Tomorrow,

Jodi

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Packed For Fun & Relaxation.

We are ready for vacation! Yes, "WE", as in Me, Isaac & Meg. She decided to come after all and I am so looking forward to spending quality time with her. We are off to Ferry Beach, and as always ... though I feel as though I only packed the essentials, our luggage looks entirely too much for one week. But in our defense we have to bring our own linens and fan ... along with diapers and toys, etc.

And of course, we had to pack all our reading materials. There will be plenty of quality time spent on the beach. So, here is about half of the reading materials we put together:

I love that I am bringing the Shark book! What better book is there to browse through before taking a dip in the sea? Truth be told, I am *wild* for sharks. Ever since I was a little girl I have collected books on sharks. They fascinate me to no end.

Meaghan will be reading: The View From Saturday, Walk Two Moons, and Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist.

I will be reading: Fortune's Rocks (I am 1/4 way through it already), The Secret Life of Bees, and The Color of Water. I will also be reading the NEW Harry Potter which should arrive in my mailbox the day that I leave for the beach! I am so anxious for it. Halis thinks it will be read in a day.

And Isaac will be 'reading': Good Night Maine, I Love You Sun - I Love You Moon, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? , In the Sea, and Summer.

But also as important to me as the books I am reading, is the bookmark that goes with them. Did you know that I collect bookmarks? Well, here is my favorite one - made by me:

I will stay in touch while we are away ... even if only to keep Daddy posted on what we are up to and how much we miss him :)

Love,

Jodi

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Owls in Corinna.

Thanks to the Corinna Library and the Chewonki Foundation, Meaghan, Isaac and I have learned more about owls than we ever could have imagined. And we got to see some live ones too!

I never gave owls much thought before, but now I find them absolutely fascinating. I want to head out into the woods to photograph them. I never knew that Maine had such a diversity of them. To see more photos from the "Owls in Maine" presentation, please check out my Flickr stream (to the right).

What kind of fascinating animals do you have in your area? Or maybe, like me, you have yet to discover them all :)

Love,

Jodi

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Decision Made! On to Another One...

Okay, so we made this decision quite a while ago and I just forgot to tell you ... oops. Anyway, we have chosen puppy #1 ! He's the gentler, more submissive puppy who loves to eat and sleep.

Now we just need a name. The folks who are raising him call him "Pork Chop" and "Tubby"... most undignified of course ... but true. We tend to pick more 'human' names around here. We currently have Jenny, Jack and Tasha. Only cats get undignified names because they are such ridiculous creatures (okay, I don't mean to offend all you cat lovers, I just can't stand cats although I have two - Boo Kitty and Dukie). So, I am hoping to find this little man his own dignified name. But I really haven't a clue.

Meaghan thinks we should have another 'J' name. Halis thinks we should call him something that refers to his rather chubby frame. His current owner thinks an Australian name would be a good idea. And I - again - have no clue. So, I am hoping for some ideas from some of you :)

Love,
Jodi

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PACKING FOR FERRY BEACH.

Time to pack for another week of fun, relaxation, and spiritual growth at Ferry Beach! Every year, for the past several years, our family heads to Saco, Maine for a week long "Friends and Family" conference at the Unitarian-Universalist Conference Center - Ferry Beach. I lovingly call it church camp :)

As always, I am looking forward to it. But this year, unless I can convince Meaghan otherwise (and I am trying), Isaac and I will be the only ones attending.... though Halis will make a couple of appearances. Last year, Isaac wasn't walking. So, this year should be so fun for him (and less of a back-breaker for me)!

Now it is time to pack. These trips require lots of careful packing ... and this may take me a few days. Not to mention that I need to spend the next few days convincing Meaghan that she REALLY wants to go (she has had another vacation offer). And Daddy is starting to get some anxiety over not seeing his boy for a while ... so they are needing some special Daddy-and-Me time. All sorts of prep for just 7 days away!

I will be back here tomorrow - till then, I leave you with some pics from last year's conference. The rest I will post on Flickr within a day or two. Enjoy!


Love,

Jodi

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Inheritance.

Isn't she absolutely gorgeous? Halis inherited her. She was his Dad's for many years. And now she hangs on our stairwell. Halis and his siblings recently split up all the furnishings from his Mom's estate, carefully and fairly taking turns to pick out the items that they wanted. Halis picked her on his first "pick". You might chuckle and assume that "of course a man would pick a half-naked lady picture over choosing a pineapple-spindle bedroom set". You might assume that I thought he was nuts. And you would be so wrong. It was ME who begged Halis to make sure that he not only brought home this sexy lady ... but that he also choose the marble statues of scantily clad ladies that were hanging out by the pool :) And he did.

When he first brought the above picture to our home, he handed it to me and said, "Look babe, it's you. That's why I love it too." Wow. Okay. This woman looks nothing like me (for one thing, I am a plus-size woman with very fair skin). But my husband has a wonderful imagination and a total appreciation for his wife. So, I will accept the compliment.

I now wonder what Isaac will think about growing up with this picture. I am sure he will be happy to stare at it when he reaches puberty. And then someday he too will inherit it. I just hope he marries a woman who won't banish it to the garage! Maybe he will tell her that it is important to keep this picture up in their stairwell as well, because it is a portrait of his Mom :)

Love,

Jodi

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Toddler Treasure Bags Now Available on Etsy!

Upcoming young model Isaac, also known as "The Haitian Sensation" is seen here sporting the latest tote bag from the fashionable, "This Handmade Life" collection. These bags are all the rage of the hip toddler crowd. They come in handy for collecting seashells, pinecones, matchbox cars and other treasures. And they look good, too!

These bags come fully lined. They are made of 100% cotton and are machine-washable. Each one sports a sweet vintage button in the center of a faux quilted pinwheel. And all for only $8, including shipping!

Get yours today by visitng http://www.thishandmadelife.etsy.com/ or by clicking on the photos above.

Yours Truly,
Jodi

P.S. To see more photos of the "Haitian Sensation" and his "man purse", click on the Flickr link to the right.

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My "Haitian Sensation's" First Modeling Gig.

Thanks to my Awesome Cousin Nicole, my gorgeous son has broken into the modeling world. But we promise not to let it go to his head. And we will still encourage him to go to college :)

My cousin Nic works as a graphic designer for First Orlando Baptist Church. She is incredibly talented and is called upon to do all sorts of fun and interesting projects for the church. Nic can set me straight, but I am fairly certain that she is responsible for their well-designed, fully interactive website (at least in part). Recently she called upon me to submit some of my photos of Isaac for possible use in a postcard project she was working on. I submitted several that I thought would work for her, and some that I didn't think she could use but wanted to send anyway ... just in case. Well, she chose to use a photo that I was sure she wouldn't be interested in (isn't that how it always goes). And we both couldn't be happier about it. As you can see, they turned out lovely.

Thank you Cousin.

Love,

Jodi

P.S. Please check out Nicole's website. She and her wonderful husband Murry are in the process of adopting a child. They have created a blog to chronicle their journey. We are so happy (and anxious) for them. Take a look :)

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Meaghan's Black and White Still Life Photography.

I handed the camera over to Meaghan today, gave her a short lesson on still life photography, and set her free in the yard. Here is what she came up with:

I was impressed. It was especially interesting to see our yard through her eyes. She deleted a few and then edited one ... and I appreciated her choices. I think I will hand the camera to her more often. I was especially appreciative of the photo that she chose as her favorite:

She says that it makes her feel peaceful. Hmmm... that is certainly a welcome feeling. So, this is the one that we will frame for her room. I will surely keep you updated on her future photographs.
Love,
Jodi

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