Cool Tricks

Cool Tricks is a wonderful Etsy shop that features potholders, quilts, ornaments and much more! Toni uses some amazing fabrics! She has had her shop on Etsy since August. She also has a wonderful blog:
One Minute's Worth. I actually found Toni through her blog and a give away she did for some amazing potholders that are now in my kitchen! LOL (yes - I won) I love them and they are made so well, the fabric is gorgeous, and the are the perfect size and thickness!


How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
This is not my first shop on Etsy, it's actually my fourth functioning one. I change my mind a lot when it comes to names. I am Cool Tricks because of my granddaughter Emma. She is almost 2 and once in a while she will say, "Cool tricks, cool tricks!" in her little baby voice while trying to do somersaults and cartwheels. I just thought it was adorable. Then I learned it comes from some popular kid show. That almost ruined it for me as I do not like that sort of T.V. as a rule.

When did you start sewing? Who taught you?
I started sewing when I was about 7 I think. My mom would let me play with her sewing machine, an old Singer she got when she and my dad were married. I wouldn't use the foot pedal, just turned the wheel manually and sewed little squares of fabric and stuffed them. Of course the fabrics in the mid 60's were not very cool by today's standards. She also taught me to embroider which I did for years, decorating my clothes in High School and beyond.

Where do you sew? Do you have a picture? If not, what does it look like?
I share a sewing space with my back porch/laundry room. It connects to the garage as well and is the runway for my dog to get to his yard. It is a busy place to say the least. I do have grand plans for a larger space when all my kids move out. Maybe I will reclaim the upstairs and have the spare bedroom in the back porch instead.

What would you love to add to your sewing space?
I would love to add an ironing board that folds up to the wall. Mine is in the way all the time. Also a table that doesn't have to be in the corner. That way both my Pfaff and Juki would be accessible for those moments when I need to switch off.

Do you have a day job?
I have a sort of day job, I watch one little girl, the daughter of a friend of my daughter. She is three, the same age as my other granddaughter Kate.

What's your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you can't pass up?
My supply addiction is cute fabric. Sometimes I can't pass by something ridiculously expensive because I love it too much. For example I got some Out Of Print Gnome fabric for way to much but am not begrudging it at all as it is just too charming.

Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
I enjoyed making the Popsicles quilt. It is bright and lovely and has so many memories tied up in it. I was going through the grieving process after my mom died and it helped me think of good memories of Mom.

Amazing Quilted Give Away!!

I had told myself I wasn't going to post today - have to get ready for the Open House that starts tomorrow. But my friend Jeanette left a comment on one of my posts letting me know about her new give away. I went to check it out. WELL!!! I just have to tell you about it!! IT'S AMAZING!!! Jeanette is Giving Away this amazing Christmas quilted Throw/wall hanging (50 x 60 inches) PLUS a wonderful Tote Bag! You can win BOTH!!! It's easy as pie to enter. Please head on over - You Just Might WIN!!

GO HERE to enter!! PLEASE!

Amazing Quilts

If you love Quilts and all things quilted then Quilt Sew Pieceful is the shop for you! Gail has the most amazing quilts, table runners, tree skirts and more. The fabrics she uses are beautiful and so is the finished project. Gail opened her Etsy shop in January, and is from Arizona.


How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
My shop name, like many things in my life, just happened. I had heard of Etsy, and looked on line a little. It was very intriguing, but I didn’t sign up. One of the things that I read on Etsy was that you can’t change your Shop Name, so think carefully about it. Every once in a while I would try to make up a clever name, but clever words just aren’t my thing. I knew I wanted the name to start with “Quilt”. One day it just popped into my head! QuiltSewPieceful! Quilter’s sew and they piece. I had a name! In this shop I sell quilts, original quilt patterns and some fabric from my stash.

Several months later, I decided to open a second shop. I’m not as crazy about that name, but I know that because they are similar, customers are more likely to link them and remember me. My second shop is QuiltSewCover, and in it I have mainly paperback book covers and checkbook covers, some embroidered Christmas ornaments and much more to come (in my spare time!).

I originally started my business because I had many quilts already made that I was hoping I could sell. I have many many quilts in my house. All stored, waiting for a good home. You see, I taught quilting at The Quilters’ Ranch in Tempe, Arizona for about 6 or 7 years. Every time that a great new pattern or book came out there was something that I wanted to make in it. So I kept making the things that I loved, even if I personally didn’t have a place to use it. Etsy seemed like the perfect place to find good homes for my quilts. And quite a few have found good homes.

When did you start quilting? Who taught you?
I started quilting quite by accident, or fate really, because it has changed my life.
One day in 1991 my husband and I walked into the Quilters’ Ranch. I thought it was a place to buy finished quilts! I remember that day so clearly. I was totally blown away, to find out that I would actually be able to make the wonderful things in that shop, if I just took a few lessons. So I did! I walked out signed up for the beginner’s class and with all the tools to get started.

That first class was once a week for 6 weeks, and I make a KING SIZE log cabin quilt! I really had no idea what I was getting myself into! But I finished it, and we still occasionally use it on our king size bed. That class was taught by one of the owner’s of Quilters’ Ranch.

Where do I sew/quilt?
Quilting has taken over my life and my house! I told my husband one day that I needed a sewing house. I think he believes that I already have one. My Gammill Classic Long Arm is in the room that we used to call the living room. I have a Bernina 730 and a Bernina 450 set up in one of the bedrooms, and my books, patterns and fabric stash fill another bedroom. So I have taken over 3 rooms of our house!

What would I love to add to my sewing space?
NOT ONE THING! I need to destash! I have more UFO’s than I can count, several sewing and embroidery machines, more fabric that I can use in a lifetime, and on and on and on.

What did I enjoy making the most?
Wow, that’s hard, because my current work in progress is usually my favorite, soon to be replace by another. But I do love Christmas! So I think that the “All Wrapped Up” Christmas lap quilt is my favorite.

Favorite pattern?
I create many of my own patterns, and I have 3 original patterns for sale in my etsy shop. I have a Christmas Tree Skirt pattern (sorry, not for sale on my site yet) that is my very favorite. Maybe someday I will get it reworked to look more professional, and put the pattern in my shop.

My Home Town Part 1

Altona, Manitoba Canada - my home town. This last weekend was our "Sunflower Festival". For those of you who didn't know - Altona is the Sunflower Capital of Canada!! WOOHOO!! We used to have the largest sunflower oil processing plant, but because of diseases in the sunflowers about 10 years ago, they switched the plant to canola oil. But sunflowers are coming back! Would love to show you a picture of a sunflower fields in bloom, but they just aren't blooming yet.

When you drive into town from the north, this is the first thing you will see. The "sunflower" is about 20 ft across. Would love one in my yard!

Altona also has the worlds largest Van Gogh Sunflower painting. (not my favorite)


Sat. morning we had the parade. Can't show you the whole parade, so I'll just show you a few pictures that I took. They always lead the parade with flags on horseback. There is the Canadian flag, Manitoba flag, American Flag (we are only 13 miles from the ND border), and the Australian flag.



Why do we have the Australian flag you ask? Apparently Emerald is the Sunflower capital of Australia. They have their festival in April. Every year our "Sunflower Queen" wins a trip to Emerald for their festival and their Sunflower Queen comes to Altona for our festival. Isn't that cool?

Brad and I like heavy horses. So I always take pictures of a few.


I had to take a picture of a Combine that Logan has worked on. We were hoping the town had their new Fire Truck in the parade so I could take a picture of that too, seeing as how Luke worked on that one.


Every year the local Quilting Club has a big quilt show in one of the local churches. I love looking at quilts, and I'm determined to quilt one day. Here are a few that I really liked.





On Sunday there is a big car show in the park. We always check out the cars. The yellow one belongs to a friend of ours. The other car was done by a friend of Logan's . The guy did this when he was 17! I wish I had before and after pictures of this car so you could see what an amazing job he did!



That's it for now. Come back Saturday for Part 2.

Fantastic Finds!!

Another installment of Friday's Fantastic Finds. I love these shops! Every week when I pick 6 shops from the list of followers I'm amazed at the talent out there. This week there is quite a variety of shops to choose from. They are all wonderful and worth a look see!! Please check each one out.

Also you will notice on the right sidebar that the mini's are from different Steampunk shops I have found on Etsy. I had decided to do themes each week with the mini's. After talking to my oldest son on the weekend, Steampunk became this weeks theme. Luke thinks that steampunk is the greatest art form out there and is amazed at what people can make. He's right - some of the items are truely amazing! If you have any ideas on themes for future weeks of mini's please make a suggestion in the comments. I change the mini's every weekend.
Now - without further ado - Friday's Finds:

Ashlawn Farms is a wonderful shop with rag quilts, bags and patterns. I bought one of her patterns to make raggedy bags! Ashlawn Farms is having a sale on rag quilt patterns until the 20th.



Creative Spirit Too is an amazing bead shop. They have polymer beads, handmade raw canes, jewelry, and supplies.



Hollyz Hobby has the most beautiful handmade quilts. They are also quilted the old fashioned way - by hand.



Lady Jane's Emporium has a variety of wonderful chic, whim, vintage, and prim items. These are my favorites.



Polka Dot Candle is a lovely smelling shop!! (I can imagine - can't I?) This shops carries, candles, and home frangrance sprays in wide range of scents.



Soft Pencil is a shop full of original art, prints, printable designs and more. Amazing talent.

This Gal is Sew Crazy

This Gal is Sew Crazy is a wonderful shop with bags! This shop is brought to us by Theresa who lives in Whitehorse, Canada.

#1. How did you decide on your shop name?

My shop name for Etsy, thisgalissewcrazy, came about because I am 'crazy about sewing'! I do have another name which came about after, HBT Designs. HBT means 'handcrafted by Theresa'.

#2. When did you start crafting?

Oh my ... I can't really remember! I've always loved doing crafts, creating things. My mom wasn't very crafty, but my Grandma was. My first 'real' recollection is when I was about 7 or 8, my grandma taught me how to knit and crochet and I haven't stopped creating since. I remember the initial excitement while I was learning ... and you know, I feel that way to this day about anything I make! I'm continually trying new things. My first venture into marketing my crafts and the goodies I made was about 12 years ago. I sold baby clothes, blankets, ornaments, etc. at a local craft fair. When I couldn't find a nice smelling candle, I learned to make candles which eventually expanded into bath and body products. I made this into an on-line business, Making Scents by Theresa. While this business was successful and I loved doing it, it got to be a little too much. I couldn't 'walk' away from it when I needed to as I made everything from scratch ... or more appropriately put, when my kids needed me as they were all fairly young. I eventually sold this business (my recipes and stock). I've always sewed but became more serious about it about 7 years ago. I started out making quilts and eventually ended up to where I am now. I love it ... and the best part, it allows me the flexibility of being there for my kids.

#3. What or who inspires you?

My kids and husband inspire me. Everyday I look at them and marvel at the fact that I am doing what I love most ... being a wife and mom to them firstly and then, secondly, sewing. My little Etsy business allows me to do both! I have a 'silent' satisfaction knowing that I'm helping my husband out a little financially. While my business doesn't pay for 'everything' it does help with those little extras that come about ... this is also an inspiration for me.

#4. Do you have a day job?

Yes. Being a mom and crafter. I stay at home with our kids (we have 5 kids, ages 6 to 14) so during the day, I sew for my shop. During the evening and weekends, I'm a mom. I also volunteer! I'm usually at my kid's school 2-3 times a week helping teachers. I'm also the treasurer for my son's hockey team, on school council, help out with the high school yearbook, as well as anything that crops up that needs volunteers.

#5. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

I LOVE to make pouches and mainly sell those. It give me the satisfaction of working with a variety of beautiful fabric and making an item that is used in our daily lives constantly, by both kids and adults. I do enjoy making tote bags though and hope to add more of those into the shop soon.

Audrey's Accolades:

Another amazing shop with bags!! Would love to know where Theresa finds this amazing fabric. This shop has a wonderful selection of bags, different types of pouches & much more. Spring has been on my mind quite a bit lately - so I have picked this bag as my favorite. Love the flowers on black.

The Selena Tote is fully interfaced for durability and lined with a coordinating black twill. Nice sized pocket inside. Coordinating cotton webbing straps in black (21" end to end with a 8.25" drop). A sweet Japanese fabric depicting beautiful flowers in soft pink, blue, yellow and green. Inside, I coordinated with a black twill and a cotton pink fabric for a small credit card sized pocket for the perfect touch. Strong magnetic closure.

New items

It's been a long week - the first 5 day school week in probably 1.5 months. We've had 6 days of cancellations since Christmas, plus holidays, and PD days. Oh well - only one more week till Spring Break!!

I did manage to get some sewing done this week and made 2 raggedy bags and some coasters. They are so much fun to sew, once all the cutting and assembly of squares is done.

Brad had a meeting in the city yesterday. Got to spend time at Michaels while he was at his meeting. It was so nice being able to be there for 1.5 hours without someone asking me if I was done yet, or saying "do you really need that"? "How much more do you need?" Then - "I'll go wait in the truck - take your time." But you know the "take your time" part isn't what he really means. This is some of the stuff I bought.

The wool I'm going to bring to my Grandma and see if she can knit me a scarf. She is 93 years old and still knitting. Thought it would be a good idea to get a scarf now. She isn't getting any younger. Oh- Grandma is also blind (not from birth).

UPDATE:
This is the creek this morning - have picks of it on tues. post. It's on the lowest part of the yard now. The shed in the one pic is on the neighbors yard. I pick up the neighbors children on my bus run. Now I have to drive 8 extra miles to get to their house. Crazy!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend so far!

Friday's Fantastic Finds

Have decided to do something different with my Friday posts. I'm still going to show you awesome shops that are on the net (not necessarily all on etsy). But instead of choosing shops I find during the week - I've decided to feature the blogs and shops of the people who are following my blog! So I wrote down each one on a piece of paper, put them all in a box and will pick 6 new ones each week. Here are the first 6 in the order they were picked:


Monkey Baby Creations. This shop has something for everyone. Jewelry, buttons, shoes, purses, glassware and lots of vintage items.


Bag Ladee is a shop full of wonderful bags, pouches, brush holders, and brooches using amazing fabric!!

PJ Turner is an amazing shop with hand turned wine stoppers, pens, key rings and more. I love wood!! Who knew you could make it so many colors, or get it to look like this!!


RDG Designs has the most awesome glass pieces. Hubby won't buy me flowers because they die - will have to show him this one!!


Whimsy Wire and Wool has been on etsy since Christmas Eve! Welcome!! She is having a Grand Opening Special right now!!


Kid'n Around Creations is a wonderful shop. She sells handmade products for children and the young at heart. In this shop you will find everything from bibs, burp cloths, stuffed toys and quilts.

Please go and check out all the shops to see all their wonderful items!! Have a great weekend everyone!