Pumpkins in Disguise

Jack o'Meow Meow
 - a pumpkin disguised as a jack o'lantern masquerading as a sassy kitty

My Etsy team, RNEST, has monthly creativity challenges centered around a theme. This week's theme is "In disguise." So inspired, I designed four pumpkins in disguise. First, they are all disguised as jack o'lanterns, but I couldn't stop there. I thought it would be really fun to play around with why and when people use disguises. The theme speaks to Halloween, which is where the jack o'lanterns came in for me. But I wanted to have even more fun with it and so I started thinking of one of my favorite things: historical romance novels and the "fancy dress balls" they are always attending. Fancy dress or masquerade balls seem so romantic and fun and I just had to incorporate that into my project. So, take a moment, close your eyes, and imagine a world of pumpkins-turned-jack o'lanterns and what they might be doing in Victorian times. They might indeed be getting all fancied up for a fancy dress ball, like my pumpkins have.

I'm still working on three of the pumpkins, but the one shown is Jack o'Meow Meow.  This jack o'lantern is masked and ready for the ball - and is ready to compete against some scary competition. Check it out here! I'd love your vote!

It's Good to Know Crafty People

This weekend my family and I went to Hearts and Crafts, an indie art and craft show here in Rochester. One of the best things about being a crafty person is knowing other crafty people. If I don't know how to or don't want to make it myself, I probably know someone who excels at making whatever it is for me.

Here's a few crafty people whose wares are now my own (or, rather, whose wares are now Zoe's):

Kira Arts: Her nubbins are a favorite of Zoe's. In fact, Zoe so loves her orange nubbin, a gift from Kira, that she's loved the heart right off.

RErooted: We picked up this very cool bottle from a new-to-us artist. We love combination of the shiny new wire work on the old, foggy bottle and imagine we'll house all the little flowers Zoe will pick for us - when she actually starts walking and can go flower picking. Ha!

Nancy Topolski: I've admired Nancy's work for some time now. Her Foundlings are just beautiful and adorable. I know Zoe will own one eventually, but yesterday I actually bought something for myself: fingerless gloves.  Now, while you are reading this blog, you can rest assured that my hands were warm while writing it!

Work of the New Studio

I'm just now getting back into the work of running my shop, but there have already been some pretty cool things created in the new studio space. And more good things to come!

"Freedom" - created for a memorial auction to celebrate
the life of a young man who like nothing more than
the freedom of riding his bike.

"Into the Sun" - Another piece for the memorial auction.
I had so much fun making both of these!

Scrappy centipedes for Zoe and some friends. My little
taskmaster and quality assurance agent makes sure
nothing leaves the studio with imperfections! I think here
she's pointing out a thread or two that needs to be clipped!

New Studio

Cutting area. I put the tables up on bed risers to provide
more storage and to make cutting easier on my back.

The new studio is finally up and running. It's a much smaller space, but I find myself more focused and more creative there. And of course there's a special space for my little sidekick. I imagine Zoe's corner turning into a little art space when she gets older, but for now it's room for her to kick and crawl around.



Fabric shelves and play space.
Organization is the key to making
my new small space work.
Well, organization and space for Zoe!

Sewing and ironing space.
Sometimes I just visit my room and
gaze at the wall of thread.
A real work of art!

New Year, New Addition, New Studio, New Everything!!

Again, sorry for the long absence! The Quilted House's new addition arrived a wee bit early, but healthy and happy as can be! We welcomed our baby girl, Zoe Lorraine, on December 7th, 2011! I'm still busily purging and organizing our home and having a blast with my little sidekick. A REALLY early labor, hospital stay, bedrest, and another preterm labor and delivery, found us rushing to get the house baby-ready. Since I was on bed rest for the month before Zoe's arrival and the studio was off-limits, every spare piece of everything got stacked about in the studio space! So now I'm tasked with a major purging and reorganizing project as we get rid of the excess and transfer the studio to another space in the house. It's so exciting to transform The Quilted House studio into a more organized, streamlined, and baby-friendly space. I hope you'll enjoy following along with the tranformation!

The online shop hasn't seen any new additions in a bit, but while I get things in order, the Clearance section still houses items that I very much loved creating and hope you love as well. You can also still use the MAKEROOM4BABY coupon code to get 20% off the entire shop, including clearance.


A sample of the items you can find in the new Clearance section!



I'm Back!!

The Quilted House at Wedgestock
with baby "on board"

So sorry for the long absence, but I've been busy growing a baby! Very excitedly we'll be welcoming a new addition to The Quilted House in early January. We've been busily purging and organizing our home to welcome our new baby. As my nesting instincts kick in, I can't help but want to do the same thing to The Quilted House studio. It's more than just organizing designs, fabric, and supplies, but also organizing my thoughts about my shop. There are so many things I'd like to try and so many things I really love creating. I already have new priorities as my pregnancy proceeds and I know they'll change even more once our baby arrives. It's fun to re-envision the types of items I want to create and provide for sale in my shop and how I'd like to run my business with my new responsibilites as a mom. It's so exciting to be on this journey and I hope you'll enjoy following along with me!

My first step is creating a Clearance section which will house items that I very much loved creating and hope you love as well. I've looked around the shop and found items that I'd like to have a new home, so my instincts to purge could be a big win for you. Get started a little early on your holiday shopping and check this section often as new items catch my eye as I organize!


A sample of the items you can find in the new Clearance section!



Hiatus

Hello lovely blog followers! I've missed you and I've missed bringing you wonderful features, insight into my process and new products, and fun tutorials. I'm currently under the weather and am going to take some more time off from the blog to get back on my feet. No worries: I promise to come back better than ever! Enjoy your spring and I'll see you soon!