I have made two mistakes recently that we are going to get through and learn from but I want to be upfront about them.  While running a Living Social deal.  I know that posting this could be the kiss of death, but I am who I am and can NOT post it.

First, I hired a group of sewers from a guild that met in a church meeting hall.  I thought I was brilliant.  A group of lady sewers who love to sew raising funds – woo hoo!  WRONG.  The sample they did was perfect.  I met, I demonstrated, I left diagrams.  90% of the quilts were perfect.  10% we spent hours {actually days but whose counting?} picking stitches and redoing.  Apparently there were some older members that in the words of the leader “needed their eyes checked”.  If I missed one – let us know.  We stand behind our workmanship and I will fix it til it is right.

Second, we have a huge snafu in shipping.  

You might have seen this on Facebook last week.  You see, about 3 shipping cycles ago we had a couple of quilts go to the wrong people.  I did that last summer with two quilts and since that time we are really, really strict about how we ship.  One quilt at a time, double check it matches the invoice and address, etc.  We could not figure it out.  I was certain I had done it because we had two names that were very close together and I thought I had a senior moment and got confused.  But then there were two more.  And they weren’t matching up to the other persons -

We were panicked.  You see, we have the right head count of quilts {how many invoiced and waiting to pay vs. how many on the shelf}. NO QUILTS ARE MISSING.  Sorry to type in all caps, but someone will email me that they are certain we have lost their quilt.  And yell and threaten.  So I will repeat NO QUILTS ARE MISSING.

When I sent out the last shipping notice we asked for a brief description of the quilt so we could triple check.  Most were nice. Some totally ignored the request.  And then there are those that have been rude since before we got their tees and will be rude until the day we ship them out the door and still didn’t describe the tees.  One person even told us it was the tees they sent us

We have been staying late sorting it out, racking our brains.  Then last night a boy who belongs to me but who for his safety will remain nameless confessed.  By Sunday afternoons I need a nap.  Usually it is short lived but a nap nevertheless.  He and his deviant siblings decided they would play a joke on me and switch order forms with quilts.  They thought I knew who was who because they hear us talking about the quilts and different ones we love.

They didn’t do it once.  They did it twice.  To their credit, they skipped a week in between.

They are all going to military school tomorrow.

Please know I am not joking {well, about military school I am}.  We are a small business that has always been between our dining room table and the shop.  Sometimes the only way I see my children and get things out on time is to work from the dining room.

I know that this is inexcusable.  I know that there will be someone or three or four who emails and tells me what a horrible person I am.

What I am asking is that one you be patient with us – if we ask you for a description it is because we are trying to make sure we ship you the right quilt the first time.  If you by chance get the wrong quilt, email us so we can arrange to ship it back and clear it up.  We have over 200 quilts on the shelf that are waiting on people to pay or pick up {sadly, some sitting since October} and we have to sort through them to determine if they were before the prank or after.

As in all other things in life, this will get sorted through.  It may take time and tears and frustration.  But we will get it right and do it as quickly as we can.

Your very weary mom-in-chief,

Bev

We started with an 8” x 8” canvas from Hobby Lobby – normally $8.99 but used a 40% off coupon. 

We used a great tee with a vintage Mighty Mouse image.

I used my cutting grid, but you could easily use a ruler and a Sharpie to mark where you want to cut.

After cutting, flip your tee upside down and center your canvas.  You might want to lift and check that your image is where you want it.

Start wrapping the tee around the edges and stapling along one edge.

Then do the opposite side leaving space at the corner.  Make sure to pull tight without distorting your picture.

Corners can be tricky.  Pull up to make a 45 degree angle and fold over to make a clean corner. Sometimes you have to keep working with it to get it smooth.

Flip it over and enjoy! 

Take good care,

Bev

This is easily the most funky, fun and fresh quilt I have ever made.  To say that I loved every second of this quilt would be an understatement.  Knowing how blessed we have been with the growth of our little company makes it hard for me to complain, but the thing I miss the most is the freedom to tinker with quilts and fabric all day long.  So when I get an opportunity like this, it literally recharges my batteries.

This quilt came to us as a box of roughly 84 – 6” squares that the owner had been saving for 20 years.  She had cut out directly on the graphic areas of the tees that she loved.  I cleaned the squares up and started playing.

I laid them all out and then left them.  Walked by and moved one or two.  Jaime would walk by and move one or two.  Finally after a few hours I knew I was happy.  I sewed the top together just like a patchwork quilt ~ rows and rows of a patchwork quilt.

I had contacted the buyer and told her I had seen a tutorial post and wanted to finish her quilt the same way.  So I used one of our great bamboo bowls off the display shelf to round my edges.

My hands look freakishly large in these pictures and yes, I know how bad my nails look.  You will breathe a sigh of relief to know that all the girls got mani/pedi’s for Princess Fiona’s birthday.

We backed the quilt is white jersey (tee fabric) and serged the edges.  This was my first serging project and I am hooked!

We will be adding this to the offerings on the new site and I cannot wait…okay, one more because I can!

Take good care,

Bev

Converstation this week between me and my 4th grader:

Chasie: Mom, can Sidney come over to play?

Me: I have to talk to his mom.  Is he in your class?  New friend?

Chasie: Yes, he is super cool.  He asked me if my dad yelled at black kids.

Me: {I almost didn’t have words} What did you say?

Chasie: No, I told him dad only yells when we don’t pick up the Xbox controllers.

I went into the bathroom and wept.  For this little boy who has to ask friends this question in today’s world.  For his parents who have to keep him safe and sheltered.  For my little boy who didn’t understand the magnitude of the question.  That this even exists.

Please go hug your children or someone you love.

XO,

Bev

Tomorrow are parent – teacher conferences.

I am always scared.

Will Boo be caught picking his nose?  Will he spend this year on yellow a ‘la first grade?  Does Racie read enough and  is he bossy instead of a leader?  Are they on target?  ADD and I am in denial?

Oh, the questions.

So, I thought since I missed giving the teachers a back to school gift {little thing like opening the new studio had me sidetracked} I thought I should butter them up a little.

I grabbed the awesome Snack Squares in the shop and got to work!  I used a dark brown tissue to match and then filled them with graham crackers, flat marshamallows and Hershey’s bars.

Then I ate the leftover Hershey bar {or two}.

I added a monogram for each teacher and a fun printable that I made using PicMonkey.  Miss Jaime came up with the cute phrase.

 I hope they love them!

Love,

Bev

PS Snack Squares come in lots of colors – brights, ginghams and seersucker.  They run $12 and $8 to monogram.  Slightly smaller than a lunch box and insulated, they are perfect for snacks and many other fun things.

1.  My oldest is obsessed with How to Train Your Dragon {there is now a series}…I wish he could parlay that into training his younger brothers into finding the laundry hamper.

2.  When Princess Fiona’s preschool teacher from last year became available {i.e. not working at said school}, we quickly convinced her that life at 221 Crazy St. was the place to be.  Miss Jaime has made my life 100 times easier {and more fun – she loves Pinterest as much as I do}.

3.  Please don’t feel it is necessary to apologize for bothering me because I am busy.  I’m busy, you’re busy, Oprah is busy.  I just happen to tell you about it.  Having 500 quilts to get made makes life interesting.  Next week I may do a joke post that I am home eating chocolate in my yoga pants to make you feel better.

4.  Best thing about Grapefest – it is a wine festival.  So, while I did enjoy me a turkey leg {meanwhile, where do they find those prehistoric turkeys…my Thanksgiving turkey does not have legs like that} – there is an abundance of grown up food….

5.  I still hate WordPress…I have so many projects to share, but it makes me want to lose my mind this WordPress.  Everyone thinks I am nuts that loves it – I am the opposite of a techie.  If I went back to Blogger I would probably post everyday, but then I’d get labeled a loser with a capital L.

6.  I just changed by spelling of capital 5 times trying to decide if I used the right spelling.

7.  Some are upset that I am offering other products and showing them on Facebook.  Well, there are two points to this.  One, we are not going to run quilt specials back to back like in the past making room for new products.  Two, there are 12 ladies making quilts at all times of the day and some sew at night. I am doing 80% of the specialty quilts and plan on getting one per day done until they are caught up.  Three, I am a capitalist.  Four, there were only supposed to be 2 points.

8.  Speaking of the store – we are rearranging!  I only put one work table there.  We are hauling the big daddy table from the home studio up there.  That way I can have a table for drop offs and consultations and have a table with a quilt on it at all times.  Solves the not being able to sew at the store.

9.  Working on some site changes.  Many have sent emails telling me the newsletter signup at the bottom is annoying.  It is coming down  Working on an online store.  Until then, email me a list of what you want and I can send you a PayPal invoice.

10.  I love chocolate.

11.  Yesterday I opened a box at the store and the cutest Dansko shoes were in the box.  I didn’t order them.  I know Katie sent them to me {they are just like hers}.  She denies it.  Katie is a bad liar.  Love you Katie and the shoes.

12.  Speaking of Jaime {see number 2} – I gave her my debit card because I really have very few clothes.  I hate to shop.  I hate to shop. I hate – oh, I said that.  She looked at my style boards on Pinterest and delivered home runs.  From Target no less.  Yep, match made in heaven.

13.  I love soccer.  It upsets Mr. BP that we will be a house divided between baseball and soccer, but my Boo loves soccer.  I never thought it would be, but coaching his team has been fun.  A father on the team has stepped up as assistant coach and several other dads pitch in at every practice.  I have learned a LOT and absolutely look forward to seeing my guys.

14.  One little boy on the team came aboard late and struggles a little.  He looked at me on Wednesday and said “best day ever, coach”.  Yeah, I know.

15.  I still miss our dog Cassie from Florida.  I can’t bear to change my About page.  Her new owner is beyond fabulous and she traveled the country this summer in an RV, but she was the sweetest girl ever and I still miss her.

16.  Stocking retail is like playing roulette.  You never know what people will like.

17.  We were scheduled to get Miss Mustard Seed’s paint on Friday.  Our stockist’s daughter went into labor instead.  I hope I get to see baby pics when she brings the paint.  Oh, how I love me a baby.

18.  Mr. BP said no more babies.  Not from me, not from China, not from anywhere.  Mr. BP is mean.

19.  One of our quilter’s husbands builds furniture.  We have several pieces in the store and they are beyond beautiful.

20.  Soccer didn’t get rained out so I have to go take a shower.

21.  One of our cutters told me about a barcode scanning system for our quilts.  It might make life super easy.

22.  The list was supposed to be 25 things, but I can no longer focus.  There is glitter over there, oh, and there are brownies.  Wait, I need a shower…

Love ya!

Bev

One of the things I love to do is paint.  There is something totally zen about it.

So, when we were planning on the store opening I knew I wanted to carry paint.

But not any paint.  I was on a mission to carry chalk paint and Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint {more on that next week}.

So, I looked and looked and called and emailed.

 CeCe Caldwell’s Paints – Chalk and Clay Paint.

100% VOC Free.  No odor.  Beautiful Colors.

Ever since we got them in {Donna from Doozie’s Corner is our in-house stockist}, I have been itching to get my hands on a project.

So today I grabbed a frame from the store room that we had planned to use for display and some paint and brought it home with me.

 I had already taken out the picture ~ thrift store frame in a dated gold and ivory finish.

 Here she is after her second coat.  The paint goes on super smooth and dries fast.

 Here you can see how it is drying to a pinker color ~ almost coral.

Next, I used the dark wax to age it.  All my paint stirrers had been *stolen* to make fishing poles ~ don’t judge!

 Jaime, our babysitter and my Pinterest partner was helping me get wax in the grooves by pushing it around with a kids toothbrush.

The kids thought we were nuts. So did Mr. BP.

 I took some burlap and wrapped the cardboard inset from the frame. Since this was for store use, I wasn’t too concerned about the backside and just grabbed some Duck Tape {at least I color coordinated} and wrapped it around.

Popped everything back in the frame and called it awesome!

 I literally painted it before dinner, waxed it after dinner and by the time I wrapped the inset it was dry enough to assemble. I did do a final round of buffing after this final picture.

 Love,

Bev

PS ~ to all of you sweeties who have asked how to buy products, we are working on a shopping area of the site and hope to have it done by the end of the week.  If you want something before then, just email me with what you would like and I can send you a PayPal invoice and get it to you.