I've been thinking of these little guys for a few years now. I couldn't find the right medium to get the look that I had envisioned in my head. Finally though, through working with felt for my tooth pillows I have found the medium that started to bring my vision to life. Then the wording wasn't right. I couldn't just use the same writing as my custom cuddlies. It didn't transfer well. So to Pinterest I went and an idea from a friend to still use embroidery, I am learning new embroidery skills. Finally the Inspirestars jumped from paper to something tangible and oh so cuddly. They are small enough to stand on a shelf or on a desk and carry around in a bag pocket for that extra encouragement.
Why Inspirestars? I find that we live in a society where we get more attention for the negative. That individuality really isn't that celebrated anymore. In our quest for trying to find even ground, I think we've let go of the truth that life isn't fair or even and our children really need to know that. Know that failing is okay, that it teaches us things. You need to fail to grow. That we aren't the same and that this is the way it is supposed to be. That our differences are most times are our strengths. We should use these differences/strengths to change the world, not in a quest to make it more mundane, but in a quest to make it better. We need to find our "Courage", we need to "Inspire" ourselves and others, to "Uplift" those around us. There are so many more positive words that are great for ourselves in our moments of need of comfort, but we can also pass these on through ourselves to others just by learning to have these qualities. Once we love ourselves, our egos stay out of it and we can be the "Strength" and inspiration for others and never know, but never need to know. That's was my thoughts behind these guys. To bring positivity and inspiration to those who need it, whether they know it or not. By L.A.C.E
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It was a labour of love. It had to be. This much loved masterpiece was slaved over for a good year from conception to last stitch. I had no idea where I'd start. So I looked online and found what a thought was a good picture. My six-year-old son liked it but changed his mind a week later. He wanted Steve in gold armour because he looked "like butter". Don't ask. I have no clue what goes on in the mind of an six-year-old. I just enjoy it as it's much easier than dissecting it and realizing how old you are. After I got the new picture I drew it out on graph paper. I went to my blogger friend and sewing guru Wendi Gratz over at Shiny Happy World, my sewing facebook group, as well as links to sites on starting quilts and making 5-bit quilts for help. Once I had finished the drawing it was time to cut a lot of 2.5" squares. How many? I ended up cutting over 2,000 squares. I do have some left, so if I want I could make a pillow case. (not happening anytime soon) I wasn't sure how many I need and I knew I'd make a least a few hundred mistakes, so having the extra proved a good decision after all. The countdown to my son's eighth birthday was on. I was close, but very unprepared for the prep work and what came after the front of this quilt was done. I needed material for the back. I was not doing more tiny squares. I also required cotton batting for the middle. How was I going to do all this in two weeks? I wasn't. I thought I'd finish it over the Summer break. Instead I picked up as many shifts for my part time job as I could. That Summer taught me that money wasn't everything and time with family was priceless. I was burnt out. I didn't spend any time with my family and Summer came and went. My garden suffered and the finished quilt was just a dream. It remained so until this January. I was not going to let another birthday go by without my son receiving his quilt. I had come so far. To give up now would be failing, not how long it took to get there. So back to the facebook group, strangers at Fabricland with advice, my grams and myself I went. All the help in the world means nothing if you don't face your own fears. Fear number 1: basting and quilting the quilt. I worked so hard. I didn't want to ruin it. (Thank you youtube and countless people who uploaded tutorials.) Fear number 2: Binding. I had to make my own bias tape and put it on. Again back to youtube and some friends on ideas for what I'd do for my binding, colours, ect. What is squaring off corners? How do you do that? How much do I trim down? Finally, it's done. No more waiting and no more fear. Some adjustments, not perfect, but for an ecstatic seven-year-old, just right. It was all finished one month and one week before his eighth birthday. Here is my first quilt. Our giveaway was a success! If you've been on FB, you knew that. I appologize to those who don't have FB. I haven't kept up to date on here. Brittany Y was our winner and loves her sock monkey. Hopefully, pictures will arrive soon.
Now on to what's new: This Summer has come and gone, leaving me questioning where exactly it got to. I still have not finished my son's Minecraft quilt, much to my dismay and his disappointment. I did manage to get in and out a couple of projects. One was a diaper cake for a very special baby due any day now. And a customer order for the very special mommy from a most wonderful man. When he asked me if I could do the customer order, he said he wanted it, "because everytime she (his wife) saw the donut it made her happy." Yeah, like I was not even going to attempt that. Well here are the pics. Now to get back to that quilt so I can start on my daughters and maybe get that one done before her birthday. lol Here's "Ron". Our newest Cuddly is Ron Rhino. I just love how he turned out. I have to thank my children for this. I was having a bit of trouble designing him. Do you know what an emanciated, two-legged rhino looks like? Well, I do. I guarantee you it's not cute. My 7-year-old, not so gently pointed out that rhino's have four legs. Oh, this silly mommy. And guess what, that was precisely the problem in the first place. I was trying to make this rhino with only two legs.
Cheers. By L.A.C.E. Thanks for supporting a small business. Thanks for supporting local. p.s. Don't forget about the giveaway going on for my lovely, faithful followers on Facebook. Also, I'm closed for producing anymore orders until the end of the month. Keep watch for the reason for my hiatus. Hello Everyone. I'd like to thank all of you who came out to the craft and vender show on May 4th. You all helped make the day a success.
Was it a roaring success? No, but much better than my first show. There was a lot more traffic, which equals more exposure. I got some more experience, got some requests and will be adding something more for the teen to older crowd in the future. I also made enough to pay for my table this time. A success if you ask me. I also got two orders come in just before I left for my show in the am. I mean really, I cannot complain. They say it takes about 5 years of hard work before a business can consider themselves successful. I think not too shabby for my beginner self who still has to spend quite a bit of time raising my small family. I was quite pleased with the turnout and to say thank you to my current followers on Facebook I have opened a giveaway going on. So, if you have already liked my page and you want in, go to Facebook and comment on the post about our giveaway with your first name and last initial. Don't worry if you are just new, there will be another give away sometime this summer. Right now I wanted to give something to the amazing people who have stuck with me so far. Cheers By L.A.C.E. Thanks for supporting a small business. Thanks for supporting local. Welcome to my new home! I like that it's cleaner looking and accessible than where I was. It was a good beginning, but this is more where I what I was trying to achieve. I hope you like it as well. Now on to the most current news... Come on down and bring a friend or five. Can't wait to see you there!
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AuthorCreating makes me feel alive. Whether it's sewing, crochet, crafting, or writing. Archives
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