Where did the time go?

Mystic Unicorn Children's Chalkboard Bag

I can't believe it's been so long since my last blog post. Time seemed to slip away during the holiday rush and now it's almost March.

I kept meaning to write a blog about our wonderful Christmas, but I'm thinking it's a little too late for that. I was going to blog about my awesome new camera, but we had to send it back because the pictures turned out to be not what I would expect once I uploaded them. I did get an awesome picture of our Christmas tree, but I'll have to keep it in my files for another time.

So what have I been up to? Well, still finishing orders for which I am so thankful. I've had my best beginning-of-the-year sales yet. I'm hoping this trend will continue.

My white board is almost all white again and I'm planning new ruffle bags and kids' chalkboard bags. For spring, particularly Easter, I'm going put together made-to-order chalkboard bags in solid colors with appliqued names in fun prints. After that I will be making new ruffle bags for summer. I have so many ideas!

Fun in the Fall

Brendon, Kaden, Me and Caitrin posing on a log in the wood of Tippecanoe River State Park.

A couple of weeks ago, we took our annual trip to Tippecanoe River State Park in Winamac, IN. Every year we hiking along the trails in the woods when the leaves start turning colors. The first thing we do is climb the firetower. This year Brendon was the only one who made it to the top. During our walk we stopped to pose for photos (taken with our phones/iPod). We made full circle back the firetower and stopped to see some horses that were hitched on a post. One of the owners so graciously let Caitrin sit on one horse and the other lead Brendon around the area on the other.

Caitrin on a horse.

Kaden posing on a log.

Starting a new tradition this year, my mom took Brendon and Caitrin to a nearby nursery for a hayride into a pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. Kaden wasn't feeling well that day, so we stayed home and waited for the pumpkins to arrive. Picking pumpkins wasn't the only thing they did at the nursery. 

Brendon and Caitrin on Hensler Express at Hensler Nursery.

Trick-or-Treat!

Caitrin, the cool witch, and Kaden, the sheep, are ready to trick-or-treat.

Here they are! Caitrin is so proudly wearing the cool witch costume she designed. I'm merely the seamstress. She picked out all the fabrics. Most of them are remnants we had been gathering for about a month and I purchased the silver for the bodice. We had a witch hat but it kept falling off so she decided to go with a side ponytail and I sprayed it purple.

Kaden is a last minute Shaun the Sheep. He is also very excited. He was originally going to be a super hero, but we couldn't get the mask over his glasses. He LOVES Shaun the Sheep. He watches the episodes from 2006 to 2007 over and over on our Netflix. It cracks me up to listen to him giggle. None of the characters talk -- even the farmer mumbles -- but the expressions on these sheep's faces are priceless. If you've never heard of Shaun the Sheep, you can find episodes on YouTube.

The making of the costumes and trick-or-treating seem to the kick-off to the holiday season. It won't be long and I will be stuffing myself with turkey and all the fixins, then spending many sleepless nights listening to Christmas music and sewing Christmas presents. I can't wait!

Hooked on Treasuries

Caitrin's Costume

Fabric remnants for Caitrin's costume.

 I was sitting outside yesterday enjoying the last day of our warm weather, reminiscing about trick-or-treats gone by. I was thinking about all the Halloween costumes I've made over the years. For Elizabeth I've made a puppy, a bunny and Dorothy; for Auston I've made blue Power Ranger and Charmander (that was awesome); and for Mikaela I've made a lamb and Winnie the Pooh to name a few. Then I started thinking about the costumes I've made for Caitrin -- a few princesses, a rock star ...

The skirt.

...WAIT A MINUTE


Oh no, trick-or-treating is this Saturday!! And I hadn't even started on her costume.







I don't know how I pulled it off, but I sewed my fingers off last night and voila!

Caitrin's witch costume.

She picked out all the remnants and the pattern. I love it when I can find great remnants. It's like digging for treasure! I'm not really crazy about the silver, but she insisted.

She woke up this morning to find it all finished and she said it looks awesome! She didn't have time to try it on yet, but I will definitely be posting pictures of her with in on after trick-or-treating.

Now on to make Kaden's costume. I'm going to take that lamb costume pattern that I used for Mikaela and turn it into "Saun the Seep" (Shaun the Sheep). He's so excited. I'll be posting pictures of him too.

My Helpers

Caitrin and Kaden in a photo shoot.

Taking a second to take Kaden's picture.

These are my little helpers behind the scenes of Sew Endless.


Caitrin, 7, models my children's bags for me and she's such a natural. Kaden, 4, is my QC. Everytime I show him a bag he grabs it, checks it over and says, "Oh wow Mom. Is so purfect!"

Kaden loves the camera. When I get it out to take pictures of my bags, I have to take one of him too.

New in my Shop

Children's Chalkboard Bag in Love to Rock fabric

For the last few weeks I've been working on Children's Chalkboard Activity Bags. It took me a few tries, but I have them just the way I want them.

These bags make awesome gifts. The chalkboard surface is sewn right into the flap with pockets for four pieces of chalk and an eraser on the front. They keep kids busy in the doctor's office and restaurants or anywhere they have to wait. For small spaces like in the car, the flap flips over to the back. They are just the right size to hold coloring books, library books and there is an inside pocket for a box of crayons or other small toys.

Meeting up with a CAST friend

Kristine, me and Kaden

This is the awesome gift she brought.

It isn't everyday you get to meet one of your Etsy team members. Last Friday I had the privilege of meeting Kristine from gulickkr.

She posted on our CAST Team chat thread she was going to Wisconsin to visit her sister. She said on her way home to Michigan she could stop in Valparaiso, IN. I was so excited since I live only 40 minutes from there!

So we made our plans to meet and I suggested Steak N Shake of course since it's my son's and my favorite restaurant.

On our way there, Kristine called and said she missed her exit and the poor girl ended up in Chicago traffic. I love Chicago, but its traffic is the worst. No worries, there was a Walmart next door and where there's a Walmart there is always something to buy.

It didn't take her long to get to Steak N Shake. She walked in a few minutes after we sat down. I didn't even have time to order drinks -- perfect timing. We had an awesome visit and talked for about 2 hours. It sure didn't seem like it. She even brought me a gift. I felt terrible because I had every intention of making her something but just didn't have enough time. (That's OK, I know her address.) Kaden was perfect as usual but started to get a little antsy and we knew it was time to go.

Kristine said we would have to do lunch again on her way through to visit her sister and I can't wait!

My Photo Accessory Collection

5-Photo Ruffle Bag in black and white

After I introduced my photo ruffle bags last year, they became a big hit at Christmastime. I can't wait for the orders to come in. Not only for the revenue of course, but because I have made a lot of friends along the way. Working with people on their orders is the best part. I love seeing all of the happy family photos and baby pictures. I love how excited they get and can't wait to give them as gifts.

Photo Necktie

Photo Billfold Wallet

This year, thanks to creative custom requests, I have added a photo necktie and photo billfold wallet to the collection. These are also available in color and touched with color. Other bags in the collection include the 10-Photo Ruffle Bag in black and white, the Patchwork Photo Bag, and the 5-Photo Ruffle Bag in color. 

These are all handmade and I carefully print all images onto the photo fabric that I make myself. The photo fabric is chemically treated and the images will not bleed so each item is hand washable.

Happy Customer

I received a message from a customer a few weeks ago about a custom order. She ordered a custom bag last year for her daughter who was going into second grade. Maggie picked out the fabric and it was mailed to me to do my thing. She sent me a picture of her with her new bag on her first day of school.

This year she is ordering two custom backpacks for Maggie and her sister. This is what she had to say:

"I've got to tell you your bag was THE hit of the second grade classroom! Maggie loved it and her friends (and teacher) did too! Last week was the last day of school and that bag came home looking just as good as the day we got it - incredible! And, it took some heavy duty abuse too - heavy books, twigs, rocks and other treasures too. Thank you!"

Maggie's and her sister's new backpacks.

My Escape

Where do I go to unwind? The beach. My most favorite place to be is Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan. On a clear day, across the lake you can see Chicago. Every time I walk down the beach I think of the Footprints in the Sand poem.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I need you the most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, Is when I carried you.”

--Mary Stevenson