Introducing: Rice Bags!

Last night I added a brand new category of products to my Etsy shop! These are extra long rice bag heating pads- they measure approximately 7x19 and are heavy enough for a nice comforting drape across your shoulders. Each is made with a soft flannel inner bag, divided into chambers so all your rice doesn't shift to the end, and a removable, washable, slip cover. Pop it in the microwave for a few moments for soothing heat, or an hour or so in the freezer for an ice pack that won't melt all over you. There are four of them listed now, and I have some less floral ones in the works this afternoon. You can see them all here.

Hello? Is this thing on?

Sorry to be mia lately! It's been a busy couple of months at my house- if you haven't heard the news my family will be growing by one later this summer and it's hit me HARD.   I'm fast approaching the second trimester though and am hoping to pull out of it soon. I don't have my wits together for a well thought out post today, but have been pondering a few things.

• I'm hoping to really bump up promotion and production for the shop before the baby arrives. I'm hoping to turn it into a real source of income in the next year.
• To that end, I've been making list upon list of ideas of new products and refined designs. I can't WAIT to get a chance to try some out!
• I've been thinking that I really need a second sewing machine to leave in the main living area. My shop is in the basement and is set up pretty well for ironing and such, but sometimes, like for banners, I just need to be able to do a straight stitch, no ironing for long stretches. It would be GREAT to be around the family for this. I have three choices, tell me which you'd do: (And sorry, can't make blogger make this a real outline)
• Choice 1: buy a second machine. Something very inexpensive, we're talking less than $100.  And new. I do not want the iffy-ness of an ebay machine. Pro: will work out of the box. Con: would cost me money.
• Choice 2: I actually HAVE a second machine. It's fairly old (but I'm not sure how old.) It's my grandmothers old machine- an Elna Air Electric. It intimidates the hell out of me. I do have the manual so in theory I can figure it out, but it needs a tune up AND it's missing it's power cord. Pro: I already own it, sentimental value. Cons: would have to buy a cord and figure out an alien machine. Also, it is VERY HEAVY.
• Choice 3: Suck it up and sew in the basement.

I am hoping to start blogging more over here in the coming months. I'd love to do a weekly round up of fun projects or Etsy finds, and I'm going to start blogging about shop items again. In the meantime, keep me in your reader, because I will be back!

Celebrate the Boy!

I don't know if you have sons or daughters (or even if you have children) but if you have sons you may have noticed tons of cute tutorials out there for girls. Or, if not for girls for very YOUNG boys.  I just stumbled across the blog Made By Rae where she is celebrating February with an entire MONTH of tutorials for boys. Stop by both the Made by Rae blog and MADE and take a look!

Craft Hope for Haiti

Looking for a way to help with the devastation in Haiti?

I found the perfect way at Craft Hope.   I'm going to steal their words, because I couldn't say it better.

Craft Hope community, it is time to Craft Hope for Haiti. The devastation in Haiti is catastrophic and we can help. At the encouragement of many people we will be opening a Craft Hope Etsy shop to benefit Doctors Without Borders. We are growing by leaps and bounds and as needs arise we will rise up to meet them.

The Craft Hope Etsy shop will allow crafters to donate products and allow folks to purchase them. With 100% of the proceeds going to charity. Having seen, firsthand, the beautiful items you have created I know this can be one awesome charity shop. The dresses, sock monkeys, quilts, blankets, beanies, etc. that you have all created are incredible. I know many of you even have your own Etsy shop where you sell you’re items. This is a call for all things handmade. If you can make it, we will sell it to benefit Doctors Without Borders. If you have a handmade item you’d like to donate, please read the guidelines below.
Many people have asked how they can support Craft Hope and it’s charities if they can’t sew, knit, craft. Well, this is the way. You can shop in the Craft Hope Etsy shop, get a beautifully handmade item, and rest assured that the proceeds from your purchase will go to charity. It’s that simple.

I donated two of my wallets this morning (they don't appear yet) but feel free to stop by and shop the lovely items that other crafters have already donated.

If you are interested in donating an item, you can find instructions at this link.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I just read that you are looking for a few extra stockings to fill, with the help of the nice people at the Fat Quarter Shop. So I took a little look around and found a lot of things to put on my wishlist.

I really like the look of this fabric- Blush, by basicgrey and since it's be my turn in a virtual quilting bee soon, that would be a great gift to find under my tree.

I think I could also enjoy making something for a wee one out of this fairy fabric by Michael Miller as well.

And last, I've never had the chance to make anything out of a charm pack before, and this sweet pink and red Valentines fabric is awfully cute.

So there ya go Santa! I've been REALLY GOOD this year!

Love,

Lisa

PS. Do you want to win some fabric too? Click on that first link to enter the giveaway!

I- Spy in progress

I- Spy in progress, take two
Originally uploaded by lharsma

You know how I'm always asking for help? Take a look at this and tell me what you'd move. There are a few reds that I want to swap with each other, but otherwise I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'd love to hear any suggestions you have though, as it's completely possible that I have looked at it one too many times!

If you look at it on flickr, be sure to look at a small version as it looks very cool little. Plus there are some notes on certain blocks.

Thanks!

Help, please!

For Christmas I am making the Bug an I-Spy quilt. I joined an I-Spy swap so I have TONS of blocks. Each block will be 3.5 inches once sewn.

I had wanted to make it like a rainbow by pairing the ones with a red image next to a red piece of sashing,etc. Similar to this one from jarobichaux's flickr page (Only not quite as awesome as I would use solids, just ROYGBIV and B&W):



I did not want to have the solid squares as large as the I-Spy squares, was thinking maybe 1 inch sewn (1.5 inch cut).

But then I realized that it wouldn't match up if all the blocks weren't the same size. And I have SO MANY blocks it would make a HUGE quilt.

I could smoosh them all together like iris b2007 did here, but I doubt my eye for it (though the more I look at it the more I like it.)


So then I though about doing all one color sashing like this one from the Rice Family's flickr page:
Should I give up on the rainbow and do all the same color sashing? Or should I use fewer squares saving the rest for another quilt? Or do you have a third idea?