Love and stuff

Hello friends!
I have been pretty productive lately and it excites me! I made two new clutches, only one of which will be featured in my shop. The other is a blackhawks clutch which I made for myself for the upcoming season! I want to get about five other clutches done by Monday.... ummmm not sure if that will happen.
See Monday my clutches will be featured in the showcase and I would love to have a larger line rather than the three I have now. I have all of them cut out, they just need to be sewn and photographed and uploaded. But I have a TON of homework that I need to get ahead with all the way until the end of October... yikes!
I am featuring a new line in my shop.... memory boxes!!! The wedding one is already up in my shop and I will soon have pet ones available, sports, personal, vacation, etc. I am very excited to be featuring these products!! I love to make them and they look great!!!
Quick entry today, just wanted to give you all a hello and lots of love!! I will keep you updated when I can!
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

dmb AND mraz?!

I have two tickets for sale for the Dave Matthews Band concert tomorrow at Wrigley! The opening act is Jason Mraz (my favorite!) and I know it's gonna be an amazing time, I am so disappointed I can't go. :( Whoever gets these tickets will for sure have a good time! They are general admission in the floor section, so get there early enough and you can have front row! $250 for the pair! Dirt cheap for these tickets on the floor!



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260665609734&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_720wt_930

Fresh factor

Ah! I have finally caught up with myself (almost). I have been updating my facebook, I just updated my Etsy page with new featured items and a new shop announcement, posted to twitter a few times (I really do have to get better with the tweets), I FINALLY uploaded my pictures to flickr and ..... am I ambitious enough to update MYSPACE tonight as well???!
I am trying to give my shop a facelift. It is in much need of one. I want it to be fresh and I am debating changing my name. It would be so much work to change my name tho. On facebook, etsy, twitter, blogger, flickr, business cards, labels, etc etc! So we will see on that.
I am trying to promote my shop as much as possible because all profits I make from my Etsy shop, now until October 4, 2010 (one month!) I will be donating to my local humane society. I am already a member of the humane society of the US and now I am trying to support my local shelter because I have been visiting there frequently and they really are amazing people and it is a beautiful place for animals to stay until they find their forever home. Of course, I appreciate the fact that it is a no kill animals shelter as well. :)
I am participating in a walk to promote the shelter and therefore all money I make through my Etsy shop will be given to them, because they really deserve it.
If you would like to support me in my walk you can do so by visiting my fundraising page: http://www.firstgiving.com/jessicakarlsson
I would LOVE to be able to raise $250 for them by the time of my walk which is October 17, 2010. So please treat your pet (or yourself) to something in my shop and be treating other animals as well! It doesn't go unnoticed!!
Thanks for reading and I hope you all have an amazing labor day weekend! Relax! You're working too hard ;)
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

School! 9 months and counting....

It has been a busy month or so! I started school a week ago today and it is a definite roller coaster ride! There is a TON on my plate. It is only 15 credit hours but they are ALL upper level courses and degree dependent. With my goal to get all A's this semester, my next few months will only get busier. I should, in fact, be writing a small paper right now and I will get to that right after I am done with this. I also have tomorrow morning/early afternoon to work on it, and it is a small paper.
Bad teacher's never help either. I'm sorry but the materials needed for class should be posted 24 hours before that class time. I got to my night class today to discover notes that were supposed to be brought to class were posted an hour before class..... I am busy all the way up until my class!! I do not have time to check online every hour for notes to bring to class!! And she is organized.... but now I'm just complaining.... ;)
I finished two sets of curtains (DEEP BREATH) and so glad that is something off my shoulders and mind. I am really disappointed because I don't see much time in my future for making tid bits to add to Etsy. :( And that is my favorite sewing to do! Not only do I enjoy doing that, but Etsy is my only source of income while I'm in school.
Next semester though I start my wedding planning program and I am PUMPED!!!! As of May, I will be starting my own personal business and CAREER!!! Hopefully an apartment in my sweet home Chicago as well!
I will maybe post pictures tomorrow of the curtains and clutches that I have here and there. I made a custom purse, contacted the girl who told me she didn't have the money and she would contact me in a week and I still haven't heard from her two weeks later. I might be posting that on Etsy....
Have a good night loves! I am too tired to think of what else to write :)
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Celebration

Hello all!
Well my busyness has slowed down and that's good. I'd like to finish my week of summer with dog walks, dates and sox games. And maybe some bonfires, marshmellows and rum runners.
All I have left to do by the 22 is hem a dress (bing bang boom... easy peasy) and curtains. Which, curtains take awhile, but when it's my only project going on, it's alright. I have a ton of clutches waiting for snaps and they will be put up in my shop! I would like to finish the lunch bag and put that up before school begins anddd finish up some dog collars. All of which though, do not NEED to be done by the 22nd.
I discovered "treasury lists" on Etsy. So I made one and wanted to talk about it. I call my list the "Inspiration Station"
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c6451c2ed3e8eefb6c59b7c/inspiration-station
Things to celebrate and/or love about life and/or yourself!
1- Small bee hotel: Celebrate bees. They are a declining population which is crucial to our earth. Imagine life without flowers... and lots more! Bees are the bees knees!
2- You are Free to fly: love this about yourself. No matter who you are... i don't care WHO... you are free to fly. Change your life, go where you want to go and do what you want to do. You are in complete control and that's definitely something to love and celebrate
3- Kissing Booth- Celebrate LOVE! ;) Love is the shit. 'Nuff said!
4- Celebrate curiosity- where would ANY of us be or what would ANY of us have if someone back in the day wasn't curious about something.... Imagine if you were never curious, how would your life change? celebrate curiosity!!
5- Good Eats- celebrate good eats. Not only are some people not blessed with food while some of us have plenty. but no one can say a good meal doesn't make them feel good! Celebrate good eats!
6- Love is Freedom - "The worst prison would be a closed heart" Celebrate love... again, but this time, the love we have for everyone. The love we have for humans, trees, animals and water alike. Celebrate simple love. This kind of love is the shit too!
7- you are like no other: celebrate YOURSELF! you are simply badass! NO ONE on this planet can be replaced by another. Every single human on earth is different and you need to love your unique self!
8- Plush microbe: celebrate microbes! we don't think about them often but they help us constantly! celebrate every form of life, big and small. Every life matters.
9- I'm grumpy - celebrate your grumpy self! It takes some old to make it young and it takes some cold to know the sun it takes the one to have the other! without our grumpy moods, there would be no good moods! embrace your grumpy
10- French friends necklace: celebrate your friends. love your friends. Sometimes friends turn into family and much more
11- Transparent purple butterflies - celebrate beauty! we overlook it a lot in our day to day lives but it is everywhere and it should no longer be overlooked!
12- crafty paper cutting box: celebrate giving! Not only is the little guy making a string of hearts for you, but this would be the perfect gift box to celebrate that someone special...
13- little gentlemen onsie- celebrate kids. Seriously, kids are the shit. They are so awesome. The most innocent, curious, amazing little crazy things on earth.
14- big lebowski print set: celebrate laughter. This movie makes me roar with it!
15- little golden air balloon locket: celebrate secrets. I have a locket and I love having pictures that are dear to me close to my heart, with no one knowing what I carry inside! It's my little personal treasure!
16- celebrate organization: I love organization. I do. I'm a fanatic about it! I bought this in-touch clutch and it definitely helped me. Organization is amazing!

So again you can check out this list at:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c6451c2ed3e8eefb6c59b7c/inspiration-station

I would love to hear about some of my fellow etsy-ers and their treasuries! Have a great day guys and don't forget to celebrate life!
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

in case you wanted to know what I'm busy with!

Bonjour mes amis!!
Je suis tres tres fatigue!
I cannot believe how exhausted I am right now, and with so much still left to do! I have to complete two sets of curtains, make a bag, do some hemming, make a clutch, a lunch bag and hopefully some little things to add to my shop. All of this needs to be done by August 21 and time keeps ticking!
On top of all my sewing I have decided I'm going to start adding homemade dog treats into my shop so I have been making dog treats galore and passing them out to get some ratings. :) I have been baking baking baking and sewing sewing sewing.
And on top of THAT I am making a scrapbook gift that ALSO has to be done by August 21! Whew, just thinking about it makes me tired!
I am finishing up summer school this week and then will be dog sitting for two weeks, so this is all going to be one hell of a time!
I am very very excited though, I bought some fabric yesterday and I cannot WAIT until it's shipped and in my hands!! Who knows if I'll have time to do something with it soon, but eventually that time will come to make adorable trinkets to feature in my shop!
I did put ONE new trinket up yesterday in my shop. It's a wine bottle holder with coasters. It's make out of cork fabric and I love it! I made my wine-loving mother one for her birthday as well (though for hers I still have to finish the coasters).
I'm hoping a little later today, after a LOT of sewing, I will be able to put the pictures up on flickr and that way they will pop up here, in my slide show. Until then you can visit my facebook site www.facebook.com/stitchesandspools and check out all my new products!
I should get to making a huge pot of coffee and start my sewing!! It's so strange because yesterday I started sewing but it was SO HOT! I couldn't continue because of how uncomfortably hot it was in my house (but it was nice outside?) So today it feels nice in this home (and it's gorgeous outside!) So I am going to try finish the one set of curtains, do the hemming and make the bag today. Wish me luck lovelies!!
Love, Jessica of stitches and spools

Adoring my Peers

So I figured every time I'm lacking in the blogger world I will post about a store I "heart" on Etsy. I love celebrating others creativity and talent, especially when it's well deserved. Meaning, they have gone above and beyond my expectations of a great seller. Today I will be talking about Lucky Kaeru Fabric and Supplies.
This shop can be found here: www.luckykaerufabric.etsy.com
This is great for all you fellow sewers out there! This store has featured the cutest fabric I've seen! They never fail to grab my attention and then for me to grab my card... and buy away! I have bought from this store twelve different times, which is why I am confident in recommending this seller to any fabric buyers who are interested. One time was a custom order in which I requested more yardage then what was being sold. It was posted very quickly.
Almost all of the fabrics I've purchased I've made items with. MOST (not all.. yet) of the items are posted on my flickr page. You can see them featured there.
The fabrics really put a personality to my products which is why I adore them!
And never.... have I EVER waited more than 3 days for my fabric to arrive. I ALWAYS get my fabrics before I expect them. Who doesn't love fast shipping??!
Some of the fabrics that are for sale right now that I just ADORE are
"Metro Cafe" Collection by Monaluna for Robert Kaufman (the toaster fabric especially!)
"Animal Party" Collection by Amy Schimler for Robert Kaufman (I've purchased a couple yards of this collection! Featured in my doggie toy bag on flickr)
"Lightning Bugs and Other Mysteries" Collection by Heather Ross from Free Spirit (I ADORE this one! It's a little pricey because it's out of print but it didn't stop me from purchasing both the swimming goldfish and the bagged goldfish! I might even buy some more. That is how much I love it!)
"Frolic" Collection by Wendy Slotboom (I bought the Treasure Map fabric and love it!)
"The Very Series" Collection by Eric Carle for Andover (bought the Very Hungry Caterpillar)
...............and more and more!!!
Visit Lucky Kaeru Shop for all your fabric needs! 56 pages of unique fabrics sure to tickle your fancy!
Again, the URL is www.luckykaerufabric.etsy.com
I love this store and this seller! I will continue to buy confidently with this shop!
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Pet love

Hello friends,

Well my little pooch got neutered yesterday and I felt SO BAD! I did not want to do this at all, but I was told it's good for everyone but him. Poor guy. He was really sleepy yesterday but he seems even worse today. He's SO SLEEPY and he wouldn't eat any of his dry food so I spoiled him and got him canned food. He glupped it right up like he always does. I put his pain medicine in there after breaking it in two with no avail. He managed to eat every drop except for the two halfs of his pain medicine. So I had to do what he hates and throw the medicine in his mouth. I wish there was a better way to do this? I've seen those pill pocket treats before but to be honest, I don't think that would work! If he skips them in his food, why wouldn't he skip them in his treats? And they are SO expensive.

I bought him new bowls today for my parent's house. At my place I have stainless steel, really nice bowls but at my parents I just bought him some cheap plastic ones. The vet told me that he had a skin infection under his chin and that it happens a lot because of plastic bowls. Dang. Then he said that if the dog chews on the bowls or have ever chewed on the bowls, it's even more susceptible to holding bacteria. Double dang. So I tossed them and got some stainless steel ones for my parents house as well. So now he's on pain medicine AND antibiotics. Hopefully he feels much better by tomorrow!!

I don't know if I mentioned but my little ferret, Paulie (Charlie's absolute BEST friend) was given 6 to 12 months to live. He's has pancreatic cancer which I treat pretty much just like a diabetes case until it will eventually take him. :( I am SO SAD. I don't know how I'm going to get through another ferret passing. :( He's been my little buddy for so so so long now. At college he used to sleep in my bed with me and scurry throughout the place. So when I bought Charlie the bowls I got Paulie a new little sleeping sack. It's a pirate ship that hangs from the top of his cage like his hammock does. I love the little guy, and I want to change the subject.

Sso there is a movie coming out I'm dying to see. Dinner for Smucks. I haven't officially read this, but it HAS to be based off this French movie that I adore, Le Diner de Cons (The Dinner Party). I just officially looked it up and yes, it is. I'm pretty stoked to see it.

Oh and I started watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy this week for the first time ever. My dentist asked me today if I got into the Twilight movies at all and I responded with "No, I'm just starting to get into LOTR, ask me in 10 years and I'll probably be into it." Then she proceeded to tell me that it doesn't even compare to the books. Meaning, the books were way better.

Speaking of books as movies there is also Eat Pray Love coming out in movie form and I'm just as excited to see that as well. The book changed my life. Julia Roberts was a good choice, but I still don't know if it will do the book justice. Especially considering I love the book enough to say it changed my life. I still have to read Elizabeth Gilbert's new book "Committed" which may convince me to change some of my mind set ways.

More on movies, I'm watching Ghostbusters right now, and I pretty much love this movie.

I have been sewing whether you believe it or not. Not ALL my time is spent watching/thinking about movies. I sewed a little clutch for myself and I love love love it. I will put pictures up on my flickr soon which will then end up showing on this blog. I have been too lazy (probably more like forgetful) to charge the battery for my camera. Which I will do today because I can't wait to take pictures of Paulie in his pirate ship.

Alright loves, I'm a little sleepy, my mouth is numb and I have to get ready to meet my mom and my aunt at the promenade. I hope you all have a wonderful evening!

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Business and Life

Ah, life!
I contemplated making a personal blog along with this "professional" blog. When I began to think though, I don't have that much to say about both combined let alone by themselves. Also, I think the person I am represents my business, and vice versa. To know me is to know both of my little crazy worlds.
Life has been good. Really good. Lots of enlightenment. Periods of grey but the sun always shines through!! I decided I'm going to start a journal. A simple notebook with a divider will do. In the front half, I will write goals I wish to accomplish and in the second half, I will write the things I love about life. Each time I make an entry in the first (goals), I MUST write something in the second (now). But not the other way around. I think this is because it is very VERY important to be happy in the now. It's something I've been working on now for awhile and nothing I've attempted to do as ever has this great of outcomes. As great as it is to have goals, it is even better to be happy with where you are currently at. So that is my current project idea since the 365 project is on pause. I didn't start it when I said I would, so I will either start it on my first day of fall classes, or I will contemplate a different college-esque photo project.
As far as my sewing business goes, I finally made my first sale in my Etsy store!! I couldn't be more excited! I've recieved projects from all the advertising I've done but I've never sold something waiting in stock before. So I'm very excited!
I bought a bunch of new patterns including dog collars, two pairs of baby shoes and several from Jo-Ann's since they were having a sale. I came up with a GREAT idea on my own and I'm SO SO SO excited to make my first one!! I am waiting for lobster swivel clips to come in the mail and I am on my way to starting my first one! Yay! I will definitely post pictures up and I'm sure dedicate a whole entry to it! I still have pictures to take of some projects I recently completed, like a car bag, clothespin apron and custom dog bone. I'm always procrastinate on taking pictures of projects I made for myself.
I am off to bed, loves. I will post again soon and let you know how life, and the business is going!
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Round Up! and success!!

Thanks for sticking with me here, friends and strangers.
My life got hectic for awhile and they are slowly on their way back to normal when I realized I haven't blogged in forever! My life got hectic, and my sewing kept up! I've made drapes, aprons, clutches, bandanas, toys, and much more since my last post!
I hope I will soon have the smarts to start tutorials on here and share them with my sewing lovers! I made a couple fortune cookies today for the first time. It took me awhile to figure out how to fold them and everything, some look better than the others. ;)
I would really hope all my readers are keeping up with facebook and my flickr account (the links can be found on this blog). Those are the sites I keep up with the most! Blogging being a second place holder and twitter being next..... myspace being absolute last :\ I don't log on too much and I find when I do log on, I'm on a guest computer and don't have my pictures available to upload.
ALSO! Got some exciting news, check out etsy.com on July 2, 2010 to see my products featured in the pet showcase!! It will be my first time being featured in a showcase and I am very excited! Hopefully it will not be the last!
With the July 4th weekend coming up I wish you all a safe and fun holiday! I'll be BBQing but taking it easy though. No parties this year for me!! Enjoy yourselfs!
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

PS: Let's hear it for the whale ban staying in tact!!!!! The week long meeting in Morocco is finally over and the whale ban hasn't been touched. For those of you who voiced your opinion to help the whales, thank you! I did it as well, but one person is nothing compared to millions. (I believe I talked about this in my last post). So obviously I don't feel personally responsible but I am glad that we could come together as conservationists and help keep this ban in tact.
Don't let anyone fool you. Japan claimed to want to lift the ban in efforts to "conserve" the whales. Here's the thing, Japan, Norway and Iceland are the three countries that continue to participate in whaling through-out the 24 year ban. It has been argued that lifting the ban will allow for stricter regulations for whaling. That does not seem to make sense to me. If Japan is concerned about the conservation of whales, why do they need someone to regulate it? If they are so concerned, can't they regulate it themselves? Hmmmm....
The New York Times reported that failure to lift the ban will "leave management of whale populations in the hands of hunters. A compromise plan...would have allowed the three countries to resume commercial whaling but at significantly lower levels and under tight monitoring."
Why does Japan, Norway and Iceland want this? They are big countries... they can monitor themselves. They are the three countries that continue to hunt for whales regardless of the world's opinion. Their whaling includes endangered whales by the way. I thought hunting endarged animals was a criminal offense?
What the eyes of the uninformed reader fail to see are scientific findings that whale populations are too low to continue commercial whaling. The lifting of the ban would simply give those three countries the legitimacy they desire in light of declining whale populations.
Since the ban has been in tact, whaling catches fell to well below ten thousand a year by 1985 from a high of 70,000 a year in the 1960's.
Without mentioning that little fact, several pro-whaling blinded reports mentioned that 33,000 whales have been killed since the ban took effect in 1986. Wow, 33,000 in 24 years?! That means an average of 1375 whaling captures a year!!!!! But no, no improvement at all since the ban. 1375 captured whales a year? Or 70,0000 captured whales a year? Hmmm....
A repealing on the ban would have led to a tremendous increase in whaling. Not a "controlled" or reduction in hunting. Norways "quotas" of whale hunters went from zero in 1990 to to nearly one thousand in 2010. Obviously they had no intention of using the repeal to "conserve."
Anyway, that was my final rant on the subject. It has been passed and it is reason to celebrate!!! If this happens to ever be brought up again you can count on me to be there to defend it. I just hope everyone who never thought of this topic before now has both sides of the story in mind if it is ever brought up again.

Rants, Raves and Revolutions

Hello friends,

I am ready for a revolution.

I've been inspired this way and that way and every way lately. This world is not it was supposed to be. Look into your heart and you'll find love. You will. Everyone will. It's our God-intended right to be loved (which is tattooed on my back!)

Anyway, this BP oil spill is something else. Do we know how many lives are being ruined? How OUR lives our being ruined? How many animals are dying from this spill that just continues to spew. I knew it was bad news from day one. Day ONE I was unhappy with the spill. It is only getting worse. Please do not take the out of sight out of mind mentality like so many others do. Someday it will be in sight AND in mind, and what do we do then? When everyone else is having this same out of sight out of mind mentality?

There are things we can do. I registered to volunteer and I can't wait for a phone call. You can donate soap and hair (yes, hair... it soaks up the oil I was told!) You simply have to contact your barber or your salon or your pup pup's salon. They don't need it, but their earth does, so really..... they do.

As if the oil spill wasn't enough, another oceanic nightmare is brewing. On June 20, the International Whaling Commission is meeting in Morocco to vote on a proposal to lift the international whaling ban that has been in tact for 24 years. The ban would be lifted for Japan, Norway and Iceland -- the three countries that have hated the ban from.

The rest of this comes from PETA's blog, where I retrieved a lot of my information:

"Anyone who knows anything about the history of the ban—which has slashed the killing from somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 whales a year to between 1,200 and 1,700—is outraged that the president is going back on his election pledge to strengthen a ban and instead throwing the country's might behind lifting it.

We know some fascinating things about whales: Humpbacks create "bubble-netting" by blowing a stream of bubbles to surround their prey, and females form long-lasting friendships with each other. Many people know that sperm whales have the biggest brains of any living being, but did you know that they're able to dive more than a mile? Or that they communicate by clicking? Or that some scientists believe that sperm whales "are so self-aware that they might have begun to evolve a concept of religion."

We also know that if the whaling ban is lifted, whale families will be torn apart as more are slaughtered. Act now to help animals: Politely tell President Obama that you oppose the cruel slaughter of sentient beings." -Karin Bennett

As my dedicated readers and best of friends already know, whales are my absolute favorite animals in the whole world. They are fascinating, majestic, graceful and simply amazing. I constantly stare out into the ocean, thinking about it's vastness and how many whales are actually out there. The oil spill threatens them (as well as the world) enough. We don't need the deliberate slaughtering of them. Most importantly, it is simply inhumane. We as humans have to protect the vulnerable; as we do with our children or our pets. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace" -Jimi Hendrix

I want a revolution. I want a peaceful revolution. Another Woodstock would be amazing. I sign petitions left and right online but what's more powerful-- A million signatures or a million bodies standing for peace?

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Bonjour! Oui! Oui!

Hi blog family!

That daily affirmation video came at the perfect time for me! I'm so glad I saw it! I feel like I'm taking a stumble in my personal life and that is always frusterating. I won't get into it, because personal problems don't make for a happy blog, a happy Jessica or a happy reader. :)

I finished making my toy bin and it looks adorable!! I'm just having a little trouble with my snap fasteners! I like the metal ones but they are so much work and now they aren't even clipping for me! :( Maybe I will start to use the sew-on snaps. I feel like they don't look as nice but at least they will work and therefore be worth my time! Anyway, once I get the snap fasteners working, I will take pictures and post!

I loved the toy bin SO MUCH that I'm making another one for my Charlie. The first one I made I will put in my Etsy shop and it's aimed more at kids. My mom actually gave me the idea to make toy bins for dogs! And Charlie desperately needs one.

Wow I don't remember the last time I posted so I'll tell you I finished my lunch box, ring bearer pillow and small diaper carrier as well. The only pictures I have so far are for the lunch box and ring bearer pillow.

I have to start on drapes soon, I am making kitchen chair covers, doing a lot of hemming jobs and I need to finish Charlie's toy box. :) I am busy but that is perfect, keep me distracted from everything else!

I though, am taking a weekend vacation! I leave tomorrow for camping with friends and cousins and loves and I could not be more excited!! Too bad we're not roughing it, I love roughing it, but it's not up to me. Since we're not roughing it I can't bring Charlie :( but he is in good hands for the weekend.

Next weekend my best friend Brian comes home from backpacking through Europe!! I am excited to not only see him but to hear all his stories!

French class is amazing! I love speaking French and learning about France!! I speak French only to myself now. And I have a lot of French homework to catch up on before camping.

Au revoir, loves!

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

I am effing amazing.

Bahhhh!!!!! Hello lovers!!!

It's been awhile since a blog but really, check out the Chicagoland area weather... AMAZING! I've been running and walking and playing with Charlie and doing laundry and hanging clothes on my clothes line. Sewing things, making money, jamming tunes and most importantly, hula-hooping.

I have learned that one hour hula-hooping is the equivalent of running for one hour. I am a lover of the running, but only in short spurts when I feel the surge of energy and power to do so. Hula-hooping on the other hand..... I mean come on! Need I say more? Hula-hooping? I used to be quite the champion at it actually. In sixth grade we took a family vacation to Disney World. After hours on our resort they would have Caribbean themed parties. At one of these parties there was a hula-hooping contest and I won! I could hula-hoop like a mad girl! There was once a time when I could hula-hoop until someone told me to stop. I am going to become that girl again. (I also won the limbo contest that year. I credit a lot of these accomplishments to my dancing back round).

Anyway, I am happy. And I am awesome.

Why is it easier to affirm “something’s wrong” than to say “everything’s great?”

Isn’t it strange for us to say, “I’m lazy. I’m fat. I’m no good,” thereby creating our life experience to be one that is late, tired, and worthless. Leave it to our egos to keep us in that small game and hold us back. If you haven’t started yet, I invite you take on affirmations that brighten your day. Create a bigger life for yourself simple by saying things like, “I am tireless, perfect being. I have access to everything and I am complete.”

Check out Jessica’s Daily Affirmation. She’s got it all figured out.

Go shout everything you love about you.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am whole. I am stoked. I love this day. I love my major. I love my brothers. I love my dog. I love my ferret. I love my city. I love my state. I love my business. I love my iPod. I love my wavy hair. I love my funky natural part line. I love that this is what my life looks like. I love you!

Jessica

Quick Update

I finished my lunch bag in one night! I hope to get the other one done for my Etsy shop in a night this week.

The buyer of the blanket picked it up today and loved it as much as I did!

I posted new pictures of the blanket, fabric, etc, (not the lunch bag) on my facebook page www.facebook.com/stitchesandspools and on my flickr page www.flickr.com/stitchesandspools

So, it was definitely a productive day and I always feel nice after a productive day. I am so very tired though.

I babysat all day yesterday (which was SO much fun!!) and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that.... you get it :) I am not complaining because I love it.

I start my French summer class tomorrow... I'm burnt out. So I hope you all have a wonderful night!!! Nitey!

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

My Quick Goodnite

Helloooo world!

I went to the fabric store today and brought grandma with. That was fun. I always enjoy spending time with grams. :) She also made me some pasta to bring home for dinner which was wonderful!

Before going to the fabric store I brought Charlie (my pup pup) to see our friends playing baseball. They usually get together at a field once a week just for fun. Oh my gosh, did Charlie have a blast! It was so cute watching him chase after the balls. And oh my gosh (again) he runs like a gazelle!!! He's sooooo fast! All my friends love Charlie too, so everyone was happy about our arrival.

I came home to start making a toy bag (I know, I know, I am supposed to be making the ring bearer pillow.... whoops! Tomorrow and Sunday for sure!) and I was almost done with it, I was at the final step when I realized I bought single fold bias tape instead of double fold. Errrrrrg that was aggravating!!! I'm so excited to make my lunch bags, too!! And, can't wait to post pictures for my bloggy blog.

I redesigned my blog, by the way. I mentioned how pictures and videos weren't coming up correctly. Since I redesigned my Etsy shop, twitter, etc, I decided I might as well make my blog match my monster theme. After all my work, the pictures still don't come up right. That is okay though! I really like the new design!

I am so tired I am about to collaspe. My busy summer is surely catching up to me. Tomorrow I have to watch three chillens again all day too. But I will be getting my tattoo on Monday and still have some cash to spare! Awesome.

Anyway, quick entry, so tired........ more tomorrow................ Hawks game on Sunday.......... can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Goodnight blogger family. Goodnight moon.

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

PS: I would like to eventually rename my business. My dad's original suggestion was to make my name something that people could understand what my business entails, right away. It is a good idea but I feel like it's not quirky enough for me. I have a couple names in mind...... I will post a blog about that at a later date. Sleep well!

T-Ball and World Peace

Today was, so much fun!

Such a joy especially since I was so discouraged the other day. I am SO BUSY with sewing. Today I was like, how in the heck was I not confident in the business?? I'm worrying about getting things done in time! I am grateful that my life is full.

Today I took Kate to her T-Ball game and oh my gosh.... CUTEST THING EVER!!! I loved it, I was definitely the "mom cheerleader" in the stands. Her first at bat was a homerun, and it didn't even make it to the pitcher! :) So fun! A girl ran in during an inning because she had to go potty. Kate started crying and there was a time out because she got sand in her eye. And, Kate's batting stance.... hilarious!!!! I wish I knew the words to describe it! It was so cute!! Kate was running home from third (her dugout being on the first base side) and instead of running to tag home plate she just ran straight to her dugout from third base. I could go on, but I think my point is clear. It was adorable. I wish I could make it to all of her games!

I finished the baby blanket today (the Sox patch FINALLY came in!). I have to say, it is one of my proudest works. I love it! I can't wait to someday make one for my baby! And then to take that same baby to T-Ball! Anyway, really cute. I am really proud of myself and I feel great!

I'm going shopping tomorrow to get fabric for curtains to be made, and I have a ring bearer pillow I have to get done ASAP! I will probably do that before I get started on the curtains actually.

After looking at and following other blogs, I realize how boring mine may be. Everyone has fantastic pictures to display with each post. I tried posting a picture but I don't think my page is aligned correctly? The picture was big and instead of shrinking it, my blog decided to show about 1/4th of the picture. I will figure it out, promise!!!

I start summer school and my photography project on MONDAY as well as a regular workout session before/after class, depending on the day.

I hope you all had a wonderful day like I did!!! (I think the sun definitely played a part as well). And a wonderful FRIDAY tomorrow!!!

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

PS: This video really spoke to me. If I could wish on a star tonight, I would wish that everyone in the world to see this video and get MOTIVATED!!! I do think the world can be changed. I do believe world peace can happen. It starts with you and me and your neighbor and your wife and your sister and your son. If I know two people who do not get along, world peace will not happen. Think about THAT next time you want to dislike someone. No one wants to be the reason world peace is not happening!

negative thinking only leads you down a one way road.

I have come to the part of starting my own business that I knew would come and I would dread. I am losing my confidence. So much work goes into this and when I don't get the outcomes I expected, I am getting very discouraged. It's not good, it's not healthy and I know I shouldn't be thinking like this. I am a perfectionist and expect a lot from myself. I put a lot of responsibility on myself and I need to lessen the burden. Instead of focusing on my own expectations, I need to focus on reality only, leaving expections COMPLETELY out of the picture. If I do that, I've come a long way! Maybe I haven't sold much in my Etsy shop, but I have gotten A LOT of custom orders from it. My name has been spread around. I've come to make friends on Etsy, find old friends on Etsy and learned a lot of important information along the way. And, lets face it, I only have two different things offered in my Etsy shop BECAUSE I am so busy with custom orders. I do not have enough time to make odds and ends things to feature.

I think I just had a bad day in general. And I KNOW I didn't get a good night sleep! Whew! I am tired and I still have to watch three kids today. (But, God do I love them!) So I am exhausted and I'm ready to watch the Hawks game tonight!

I finally brought my jump drive home from school and put all my files onto it so I finally feel organized.

Positive thinking!! I am amazed at the wonders it does.

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Excitement and Themes

Hello blogger family,

I was studying for my very last final tomorrow when my cat decided to get comfortable upon my books and notebooks. (I took it as a good excuse to start dinner and take a little break).

So I am really bummed about my senior year coming up. It's definitely a bitter sweet feeling. At the beginning of summer I was like "YESSSS!! ONLY ONE MORE YEAR!!!" But now, it's hitting me that I am almost done with college. :( I will hopefully move onto graduate school and yada yada yada but my last year of undergraduate school is coming up on me! I really feel sad when thinking back and reminiscing on the years past. I had many fun times while all the while all I did was complain and not want to be where I was. Granted, I did have some awful roommates along the way but I am lucky and glad that I remember the good times over the bad. My last year is upon me. This year I did WAYYYYY less partying than I've ever done in college and now my last year is here and hopefully I'll fit some fun parties in with my studies. What do I do to capture the moments? To really remember and love my last year of partying and studying fun? I'm going to start a photography journal.

My College Senior Year 2010-2011. 365 pictures to encompass all that college life is to me. I didn't need four years to capture it, hopefully this one year will do. I will not be in every 365 photos, but I will be in a lot of them. I'm sure Charlie my pup pup will make an appearance as well as my boyfriend and my sewing projects and a few parties and camping... It will be a nice touch. Hopefully the album will end with my graduation!!

Then there was a debate as to when to start it of course. At the first day of school in the fall? No no no... that means the 365 days will include the summer after I graduate which let's face it, won't be too exciting. On Monday I start a summer school course that will count for my senior year. So I will start my 365 college days pictures on Monday. The course is French and hopefully you'll be able to tell in the pictures. I will probably only post the pictures in a flickr album I'll create and maybe a select one or five in my blog only. A couple might make their appearance on my facebook but not in a photojournaling sense. I welcome you all to join the journey with me starting Monday with my French course :)

Maybe if this project is successful, next summer I will do my 100 strangers photo journal I've been dying to do. I'll keep you updated!

As far as my sewing goes, I completed the dog hoodie and am about to start the baby blanket. I got an order for a purse that I will be starting and I still have some curtains to make. I really hope I can get to the small projects I want to feature in my Etsy shop.

Speaking for my Etsy shop, I gave my business a whole new theme, MONSTERS! Check it out, it's cute and much more fun (and "me") than my whole birdy theme. (Not that I don't LOVE birds, it just was very vintage-like and classic.) Monsters are just fun. I think it suits my products better which is why I made the switch. I'm not selling elegant dresses and coats and purses, etc, etc. I make fun things, purses, bandanas, etc etc. So I think it fits well. I would LOVE if you checked out it. (Really, it would make my day!)

I am going to get back to my vegan cheese, wine and spaghetti I have brewing! I wish you all a wonderful night! Thanks for sharing my excitement with me!

Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Did I tell you I was exhausted enough??

Hello world,
Whew. It has been one of those days. I didn't sleep late enough (I never do with my Charlie pup pup!) and have been running running running ALL DAY! I made an appointment for my tattoo and I am excited about that, but after this day... I am exhausted.
I mended my LITTLE brother's California King size mattress cover (I've never slept on anything larger than a full). And I'm pretty sure he either sleeps with chainsaws or machetes. That thing was torn to SHREDS. The cute little bugger wanted to give me the business though instead of buying a new one... what a sweet. He somehow lost the part of the zipper that zips and I had to find the longest zippers of my life.
Tomorrow I am supposed to run to the fabric store to help pick out material for drapes that I will be making for my grandma. Although after today I would love nothing more than to lay in bed watching South Park reruns all day.
A lot of business is coming my way though and I'm excited. Two custom dog hoodies sold, custom baby blanket sold then I got the California King mattress pad done and I got a drape job to do. Andddd I'm still trying to fit in time to work on things to put in my Etsy shop!! I am very fortunate to be this busy with business though. Before all these orders came in I was trying to get a job back at Starbucks which was such a great job when I had it. It's nice that I don't have time to apply for jobs because I'm busy with the job I love doing most... SEWING!
I still promise pictures of the cute fabrics I have lined up and hopefully I'll snap some photos of the dog hoodies and baby blanket.
I am ready to lay in bed, cuddle with my pup pup and watch the Pixar shorts over a bowl of popcorn. I need to relax. :)
I hope you all day a wonderful day and I wish you a greater tomorrow.
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools

I lied. Sorry.

Sorry loves,
I do not have the pictures ready for posting. I realized I left my camera at my apartment and I'm at my parents house for the weekend. I have four new fabrics I can't wait to take pictures of and show you all! They are the cutest and I'm so excited to make things with them! I bought a retro zoo fabric that I'm making a toy bag with for a kid's playroom or room. I bought a pink fabric with French words that I am making (for myself) a clothespin apron with (this way I don't have to bring a big ole bucket out when I hang my clothes to dry). Happy Vegetable fabric I am making a lunch bag with. Andd cute yellow lion fabric I am making a small diaper bag with.
Before I make any of those though, this week I am making another doggie hoodie and then a baby blanket. I will be sure to take pictures along the way.
I have a wedding to attend to today and I must go out and buy some leggings. It is an outdoor wedding and I'm always cold!
LOVE! Jessica of Stitches and Spools

Welcome friends

Welcome to all of my friends and followers,
All of my dedicated friends will know that this is the second attempt at my sewing blog. I promise I will be better this time. I will show you projects I'm working on, how to do some of the projects I've done, my favorite fabrics, and I will share my favorite Etsy shops with you! Like this crazy fabric store that I am in LOVE with.
Click on my links, get aquainted with me and I promise I'll have some stuff up tomorrow. I'm about to go take pictures so I have something to put up tomorrow. :)
I'm a goof, I'm crazy and fun. I love love. (But just wait until the entry when I introduce my DOG!) So have fun with me and love!
Love, Jessica of Stitches and Spools