Sunday, January 18, 2009

Latest Creation


Who says that waiting for the cable guy has to be boring. He was due to arrive between eight a.m. and noon. What is a person to do? Well I started working on a new bag. Just for me too. Unheard of to say the least, but I did it. I started early and kept going until the cable guy arrived. This was about eleven. By this time I was about one third of the way done. While this poor soul, (Keith by name), was out in the bitter cold wiring the house from the pole with his companion cable guy, I kept going and by the time they were ready to come in and hook up the TV it was after one and I had quite a bit more done. I had it pretty much sewn and pinned together by this time and was almost ready to finish the job. When Keith finished getting the cable in and I had signed off on the job there was time for a quick bite to eat and it was off to the sewing machine because by now I was hooked and wanted it finished. I worked along for about another hour when the phone rang and it was the cable company. They needed to inspect the mornings work and review with me a few questions, but this couldn't be done over the phone they needed to ask me personally and check the hook-up to the TV. Well my hands were sore anyway and I needed a break and fifteen minutes later I was going over my experience with the cable company for 45 minutes. It is now 3:50 in the afternoon and I'm torn between finishing the bag and preparing dinner because Lisa would be home in a little more than an hour. My choice was to finish the bag and I did. I prepared dinner later.

So now let me tell you about the latest creation. Jill will recognize this fabric right away. It is an upholstery fabric. Quite thick too that has been bonded with a knit on the back. I lined it with a coordinating gabardine and included three pockets inside. I added a tab with a hook to attach my keys and this way I won't be searching for them on the bottom of the bag. I made a smaller bag with a zipper for my medications and personal care items out of the same fabric to keep order in the bag. I used a magnetic fastener to keep the flap closed and added a butterfly pin for embellishment. This pattern is the one I have used in the past with the exception of the longer strap. As I am getting older the over the shoulder bag has bothered my arm and I was getting to the point where I would feel vulnerable and feared someone pulling my bag off of my shoulder. The messenger style has freed up my hands and taken the stress off of my body. Okay I admit I am getting older, but it was such a simple solution. This was a very difficult fabric to work with because of it's thickness and turning the handle was the hardest part. My hands ached for a day.

So next time you need to wait for the cable guy and need a project why not make a new bag for yourself. I had more fun organizing myself and figuring out what to put in and take out of my purse and now I can even keep my coupons with me. This makes it all worth while.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

What's going on?









Well haven't I been away for a while? So much is happening and so much more will. Most stories to long to tell and better left untold. It's a new year and a new time and with today's economic situations what can be said. I have been taking all of the positives in life and throwing them into the Craft Zone.

Being one of those persons without a "job" isn't easy, but it's not the end either. It's another door opening and it's what I want to do any way. I am learning more about business every day and learning to get it more organized, although you'll see by the updated pictures that this doesn't look like it's happening. The organization is coming with the bookkeeping and filing and controlling the business end of the Craft Zone. I have installed new bookkeeping software and created the spreadsheets needed for 2009 and feel at least like I can perform end of month duties on time. I'll just have to stay disciplined and it will all happen.

As for the physical side of the Craft Zone, you'll see that the fabric and projects keeps rolling in and I have purchased brand new machines. Six in all, but one was given to a supporting member for her dedication to me. These are inexpensive but good machines that should stand up for a while as I take the Craft Zone to the next level. Advertising is the next step and so far I am relying on word of mouth and any where I can post an ad for free. The budget is not quite set for anything more at this time, but time will change that too.

So as all of the business and physical aspects of the Craft Zone develop there is still one part that needs work. This is the scheduling of events. I have been trying to come up with new events and I hope to add one to this years calendar. We are working on a date for the third annual swap and as soon as we can we will print the fliers for this event and give everyone time to prepare. The other event we are thinking about is the Linus project. We have been doing this on a personal level. This project creates blankets for needy children and children in hospital situations. As we all know there are many in need and we can all do some small part to help, so I'm looking forward to scheduling this sort of event maybe twice this year. There are several other ideas, but so far they are all in the planning stages.

Well enjoy the updated pictures and feel free to pass this site on to all of your friends. Who knows who will come to our next play day. See you soon. I promise