End of Boutique - Success!

I am happy to report that my quilt sold. My friend, B, bought it to put on her mother's bed in the nursing home. It isn't a bed-size quilt, but it will be an extra layer for warmth, and it can also be a lap quilt for her mom. I am honored that she wanted to buy it for her mother.

The bigger of the two pillows I made also sold. Someone kept looking at it, coming back, debating with herself, leaving, coming back. Finally she bought it. Yay! The boutique took in a little over $500. I think that's on the high-average end of our usual take. I'm not sure. As usual, I'm tired but happy after a successful boutique.

More Than I Remembered

We have a church boutique once a year; this year's will be on Wednesday of this week (tomorrow). It takes place during a big turkey dinner. The boutique is a small, add-on affair that provides a bit of fun in addition to the dinner. It's not a big event that requires a huge inventory, but I never seem to finish all my ideas, mostly because I wait until the last minute to make them. However, when I took an inventory of what I've made, I have more than I remembered! I'm happy. I'll be even happier if the things sell.

Fabric-covered journals; I only made three. Wish I'd had time to make more. On the other hand, who knows if they will sell?

two pillows; the embroidery work was done by the mother from a family our church "adopted" last year for Christmas. She gave us several embroidered pieces as thank-yous. I still have more. If I start now, maybe I can get all of them made into something useable for next year.

a small table or dresser topper

Here is a knitted hat and scarf set that I made with yarn I was able to buy at a super-bargain price (that always makes me happy):

Bookmarks:

I even will attempt to sell a quilt! Selling a quilt at the boutique is doubtful, because most people are looking for small, inexpensive items. But one never knows. (To my surprise, I did sell a quilt at the boutique a couple years ago!) This is a good toddler/young kid size quilt. This photo was taken before it was quilted. If it doesn't sell, I have plenty of other possible destinations for this quilt.

I have a few other odds and ends which I won't photograph (home-made note cards and knitted dish cloths). Hopefully these will make a good addition to the inventory and will help make it a successful boutique again this year.

P.S. Here's a photo of that quilt, completed. I forgot I had photographed it.

A Pot, a Pan, a Spoon, a Hat

edit: I found out it is supposed to be A Pot, a Pan, a Broom, a Hat.. but I figured this was close enough, and everyone who guessed got it right, except Mr. S who thought I was going to give away a million dollars... haha! I wish I could! It is from Fiddler on the Roof. My well-educated readers weren't even stumped.

Anyone know where my title is from? If you guess it right, I might send you a prize. I just said that and typed it without any sort of giveaway plan or what I might do or send. So take your chances. But send me your guesses.

I’ve been trying to do some sewing when I’m not working, too tired, away from home, taking a nap, doing church activities, watching television, attending a meeting and/or staring into space. I have gotten a little bit done.

A pillow for the boutique at church.



*Finally* got binding on this quilt. It will be sent to NYC for a program that helps people newly in housing after being homeless.



Made my September Lotto blocks for Sunshine. I meant to make more, but my motivation was low. (Small block is for Tammy to keep.)



My new job has been interesting so far. There is so much to learn! I’m still in training. There is an amazing amount of stuff to learn. Have I said that enough times? There sure is a lot to learn!!! It’ll be a while before I feel like a pro in this new job. All the learning is exhausting my brain. I’ve been really tired.

Have to go to another meeting tonight. I’m tired and don’t want to!! Waahhhh! I’m an irritable child tonight. Goodbye!

Interrupting for a Pillow

Attention! We interrupt this April A-Z challenge for a message from your sponsor: Giraffe Dreams completed a pillow and entered it in the Bloggers' Pillow Party contest.

I know it won't win, but I just like to add to the fun. Hate to feel left out, you know! The contest inspired me to get off my duff and MAKE this thing. These were leftover HSTs from a few zillion projects. I finally sewed them together and made this pillow just for fun. It's a travel pillow, about 14" x 20", good for reading in bed, taking a nap, or just cuddling with while day dreaming.



the back, with simple overlaps; easy to remove for washing



Check out the FABULOUS pillows on display here: Bloggers Pillow Party
Wear safety glasses, though, because your eyes might pop out of your head from the beauty and creativity.

I Sleep On Edge

a close-up so you can see my name, Carol

Here's a pillow that I am entering in a contest. Some of you have seen it before, but this post is my official entry in the contest, so you get to see it again. Contest is at Stitched in Color, by Rachel.

The pillow is made from fabric selvage edges. I've had it in the works for a while, but I finally pulled it out and finished it recently, so Rachel says it counts as a current project. I finished it in time to display in our current guild's quilt show. Here's a picture of it displayed at the show.



It's so new in my possession as a finished product, that I'm not sure where it is going to live. Probably in our guest room would be the best place.

Want to make a pillow and join in the fun? Be sure to check out the pictures at Stitched in Color and at the Flickr site, here, to see them all.

God's Money, God's Work

A couple weeks ago at church we were all given an envelope which contained $5. We were told it was "God's money." Our assignment was to pray about it, think about how to multiply or add to it, and to use it in some way that would help do some good in whatever way we felt directed.

After pondering for a while, I was drawn to a program I heard about. It's called Hats for the Homeless and is a program in Minneapolis. They collect knitted and crocheted hats and distribute the hats to homeless people in the Twin Cities area. I decided I had just enough time to make a couple of hats in time for their 2010 due date.

At about that same time a former co-worker asked me if I could make a couple of pillows for her. I envisioned a quick, easy task sewing a few seams for a couple square pillows: zip zip zip... done! Sure, I told her. I asked if she would pay me $5 per pillow, and she agreed. I decided I would add that $10 sewing fee to the $5 God's money I already had, and would buy some yarn to make hats for homeless people.

It gets COLD in Minnesota, and I felt it was a worthwhile undertaking, to help keep someone's ears and head warm in our frigid winters. Appropriate for God's money, I felt.

After a couple of days I opened the bag containing the pillow-making materials, and I gasped. One pillow form was round (I'd never made a round pillow before), and both pillows had ropey-braid stuff to add (another thing I'd never done). I was instantly nervous and worried about how these pillows were going to turn out.

I was kicking myself for taking on the project. But.... I had planned ahead and already purchased the yarn and started knitting hats. So I knew I had to attempt these pillows no matter what.



This is a picture of the finished pillows. They're not perfect, but they turned out better than I anticipated. I won't tell you how many h.o.u.r.s. I spent on these pillows. Way more than $5 worth on each, but that was what I quoted, and I was the one who failed to ask any questions. So it goes.

I figure the pillows were part of my service to humanity, along with the hats that I'm in the process of making.

No one said that doing God's work or spending God's money was supposed to be easy. These pillows were not easy. And truthfully, neither are the hats (although they are much more enjoyable to me than fussing with these pillows). I think it's appropriate that I'm getting a brain and hand and patience work-out while working on God's projects. It gives me time to think more carefully about who will use these items and what thoughts I am pouring into them.

May these items keep ears and heads warm, heads and bodies rested, and bring a modicum of warmth and peace to the recipients.