Pimp My Craft Space!!!

While reflecting on the 2008 year and all the changes made in our life last year, I remembered how different my life was last year at this time. I had left my HORRIBLE job in November of 2007 and began searching for a new job. We were okay financially because my husband had his job. The next thing I knew - my husband came home saying his company was letting everyone go by February 1, 2008. My life stopped and I began to FREAK. Now both of us were going to be unemployed, I was going on horrible job interviews and praying I didn't have to take another horrible job, I was thinking I may have to stop my schooling and I began to hit myself in the head for not having a better savings account.

We ended up making it!! I got hired a couple weeks later at my current company where I was just promoted. My husband went from his company - who worked for another company as vendors - to the company he used to vendor for starting February 1! Things were tight during the year and things had to be cancelled and rearranged in our lives.

During all of this, I began this little craft blog - assuming mainly my family and friends could look in and see what sorry attempts I was making at sewing. To my surprise, I was decent at sewing and suddenly I began making friends on other blogs.

I am so thankful for all of you - my friends across the world - and for your talents and inspirational stories and crafts that you do every day! I know this year and the economy is starting off difficult for many like ours did last year. My encouragement to you is to say we will make it. While none of us enjoy the economy tanking and the threats of job loss daily - the crafting community is seeing a boost in people realizing "we can make stuff and they are items I like and that fit me!".

My grandpa passed away just a couple months ago in October and it was a difficult loss for myself and my mom. The thing I remember most about him is the incredible work shed he had and how he loved to work with wood. Then after numerous heart surgeries and health complications, he had to cut back on his craft and it became non-existent toward the end of his life. I want to spend every moment this year in my craft with the same passion and fulfillment as my grandpa did with his woodworking.

I wanted to end this post with photos of my craft room when I first started sewing last January. Tomorrow - I want to post photos of my room now. Not to say - Look at all I bought - but to celebrate the difficult moments in our household last year that led me to a fabulous hobby and lifelong friends!!! Happy 2009 and may your year be a time of inspiration and enjoyment in whatever craft you may enjoy! May you surround yourself with moments that bring you joy and happiness this year! Craft on, kids!!!!

New Apron Swap

I found the first swap I will be participating in (besides my own!!!) and wanted to pass the information around. Consider joining in. I think it is going to be fun and who doesn't love Amy Butler's fabrics?????? Head over to MommyHolly's now and sign up!

A New Year, A New Look and A New Label

I decided to start off the new year with a different look on the blog. I am still working on a photo slide from Christmas. I hope to have it up by this weekend. I am also trying to wrap up a few last year projects. I am hoping to make a list of some items that I would like to sew for myself and friends in the next couple of weeks too. I want to participate in some swaps this year, but I think I want to take some time to sew for myself.

For Christmas I received several new craft books which I hope to list soon, but I want to share the best gift I received!! My husband gave me the gift of designing my own label to iron on to my projects!!! I used a wonderful designer and creator and I would recommend her to anyone. My friend introduced me to Jennifer's Jewels on etsy and I am so glad she did. You must check out her etsy shop JennifersJewels .

I wanted a pin up girl and my blog name - Itching 2 B Stitching on the label. Here is what she designed for me:

Aren't they great? I can't wait to use one. I will post about the sewing books I received for Christmas soon too. Happy New Year!!!

10 years ago this night.......

..........my husband proposed to me. How quickly the time has passed! Christmas photos are on the way - I have a lot of them, so I am trying to condense them. Here is my handsome hubby - thanks for proposing 10 years ago!

Here he is being lazy...... just kidding!

He poses for me whenever I ask

He loves me in stressful times

We always laugh and have a good time together

He makes married life fun

Happy Holidays!!

Wishing you Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas! We have no snow here and it is supposed to be in the 60s. Many of you may wish you were here, but I wish I was in a winter wonderland!!

Christmas Letter 2008- NEW POSTS BELOW

NEW POSTS FOUND BELOW!!!

I have finished our Christmas letter. It took 5 hours, but once you see the completed project - you will see why I did it last year and this year. There is music attached so - if you are at work, put the mute on and if you are at home - turn the mute off!!! The show lasts about 8 minutes, so make sure you have something to drink and some snacks. Let me know what you think!! Happy Holidays everyone!


http://www.slide.com/r/UDxmyH9Mqj91YOQ012LHJsLPdMUuaGzb?view=original

Progress

I finished my niece's barn complete with the barnyard family

I made two house ornaments for my mom's christmas tree (Pattern can be found at Pimp Stitch)

I completed all the reusable gift tags - one for each family member. There is a story behind the bah humbug and the cardinals. I will have to share once the holidays have passed!

The red background you see is a table runner I made for my mother-in-law. Now - off to finish wrapping the gifts and barely making Christmas Eve with all gifts completed. Whew!

Completed Projects Coming Tonight!

Check back later tonight for some more updates on Christmas presents. I am getting there slowly! Whew - I cut this one close this year. I have to be better next year!! See the smoke in the picture - this will be my sewing machine later tonight. Keep your fingers crossed the old girl doesn't fail me now!

Number One Fan!!!

Have you ever had a moment where you have met someone you really admire and you want to play it cool to not look like a complete div (I used that word for you Katy!!!)? Div means ridiculous or a big dummy head in the UK. I am so hip - ok not really, but Katy helps me be cool!! Anyway - back to the admiring someone so much you try to play it cool. Tonight - I was added as a friend on Facebook by someone I admire so much -

DRUM ROLL PLEASE

EllynAnne Geisel. What????? I am friends with EllynAnne. I have been so crazy about her the moment her book came out. For those of you not completely obsessed with aprons, you may recognize her book:

You can find more about this book on Amazon or Barnes Noble. I cannot recommend this book enough - even if you only like aprons a little bit ( I can't understand how not everyone is obsessed with aprons - what??)

Then - not only did she become my friend, but she WROTE on my wall. Now, on Facebook I am playing it cool, but here on my blog, I am FREAKING out. What an awesome ending to the day!

NEWSFLASH DALLAS/FORT WORTH KIDS: EllynAnne is in Dallas in the first week of April promoting her next book. Mark your calendars now!!!

The New Job

This is a picture of one of our buildings at my job. I work in another building, but I don't have a picture of it.

I was promoted a couple months ago to Activity and Volunteer Coordinator but just started my training this Tuesday due to my schooling schedule!! My trainer got sick yesterday - my first day - and was gone again today. I work at an Independent Living facility and it is a blast. I have a TON to learn, but I work with a great team and great residents. Now I just have to balance family and friends, 40 hours a week at a job and school 3 times a week!! It is creeping into my sewing time and I am feeling a bit panicked about all the sewing that is still needs completing. Keep your fingers crossed for me! How is everyone else doing sewing wise for Christmas? Everyone on schedule??

A doll for my niece

Here is the doll that I'm a ginger monkey made for my niece:



Isn't she the cutest? I can't wait for my niece to open her up. Katy is SO talented. If you haven't been by her blog - you have no idea what you are missing out on!!!

Updates to come

I have some major sewing to knock out this weekend and I have to post this awesome doll that I bought from I'm a ginger monkey. You must see how talented she is. SO - let me work on some more items today and then I will hopefully update tonight or tomorrow. I am also working on our Christmas card today and it will posted on here later. We did one last year and had such a great response, that we are going to do it again! See you all soon!

Christmas Tradition

When we first got married back in 2000 we wanted to start a tradition that we could do each year at Christmas time. I came up with the idea of decorating clear ornaments with paint on the inside and then paint a theme from the year we want to remember. We have not completed our last four years - I am a bit behind, but I hope to catch up this Christmas. We are working on our themes for the four years we are behind. The themes for the ones above are:

1. Our first year married

2. Stinky house: We moved into a townhouse that smelled like cigarettes galore and the smell didn't leave until we wiped down the walls - they went from yellow to white walls. So much for thinking the walls in the townhouse were painted.

3. The metro in the snow bank - check out my personal blog for that story line.

4. The year we got my dog!!

I hope to finish the other four years before we pack up all the Christmas stuff. If I do, I will post them on here for you to see!

This Magazine Is A Must Read

This magazine has a great promising future. I picked it up at the store the other day and I can't stop reopening it and adding more to do to my craft list (dangerous to keep adding to the list - I know, but don't we all have one!).

Check out all the awesome projects in ONE magazine. All the project directions are listed in the back of the magazine too. I know - totally spoiling us!!! Pick it up at your local bookstore or find it here!!

Surprise!!!

Here is what I was expecting in the mail today:

Not only did I get the selvages, but I also received this gift:

My dear friend Ellena made this for me. She has participated in many of the WTP swaps and is a delightful swapper to have in your group!! I can't wait to use my new little handbag! I am off to stuff it now as we speak. Ellena - thank you so much for your generosity and for making me such a happy camper tonight! This is such a beautiful gift and so MANY people will be jealous!

Thanks also to Sarah and Heather for sending me some selvages too! Did I forget anyone? If you sent me some I have neglected to thank you, please let me know so I can tell the world what I a great person you are!!