An Update on the Gift Cupboard

A quick update on our new venture!



With both our cars packed to the hilt...

...my sister Nancy and I loaded up

all our goodies and headed off this past Wednesday

to set up our little booth in our favorite

antique mall, The Corner Nest in Elizabethan, Tennessee.

A shabby chic buffet I had purchased from another vendor

was in place and waiting for us when we arrived.

This would be our central display piece.

We topped it with an old bookcase,

pulled (and repainted) from the garden shed.

This is known as "making do with what you have!"

The booth is very tiny, but fine for the things

we hope to be selling.

Nancy is the crafter and origami is her passion, so

we have lots of birds.

We'll also have some new items, some vintage

and whatever else sparks our interest.

Can you see the blue table runner from my

previous post?

Finally, all set up and ready for business!

Fabric Inspirations

Karen, a member of my knitting group is in the process of redecorating.

Recently, before coming to knit, she stopped by a furniture store

to check out their couches.

In casual conversation with the store's owner,

he said he had some fabric swatches he no longer wanted.

Bonanza!

Karen took them off his hands and our group has been

divvying them up.

Now, I'm not talking about a few dozen different fabric swatches.

I'm talking hundreds...

...and hundreds.

We're talking paisleys (many all silk),

florals,

and geometrics, as well as lots of solids.

What to do with all these little pieces of fabric?

A little creative challenge was proclaimed and here

is a bit of what has been made.

Katherine, a wonderful quilter has started a ...

pieced pillow top, still in process.

Here's one of several "catch-all" message boards

created by my sister Nancy.

Each different fabric is a deep pocket for

organizing papers, receipts, etc.

This cute little case by Karen

will hold cell phone,

camera or an I Pod.

How about a fabric basket, another Karen creation?

Guess who made the sheep???

I made some accessory bags. 

They're great for knitting tools, jewelry, make up, etc.

I've also been making "Pillow Vests,"

(more about those at a later date),

and table runners.

Remember those blue swatches at the beginning of this post?

Here's what they became.

This week I'm joining the Wow Us Wednesday Party

at Savvy Southern Style.

"Summer" Sheep



What do sheep do in the Spring and Summer?

When the weather becomes warmer?

Why, they pack away their woolies,

and put on their white quilted, summer jackets

and become "Summer" sheep!

Working Diligently...

...to get ready for our booth set up on Wednesday!



We've been organizing, pricing and packing

for the past week.

Just about ready now for our opening of

The Gift Cupboard at Buttermilk Cottage!

(Located in the Corner Nest, Elizabethan, TN.)

New Fabric

I've just added this fun fabric to my Etsy Shop.

It's from Robert Allen Home.

I'm going to be making needle cases

and lining bags with it.

I'll bet you could make something

pretty with it!

Easter!

Google Image

Wishing you a joyful Easter!

Doing the "Happy Dance"...or the Check is in the Mail!





Google Image

I'm a happy woman this morning!

Finally...my income tax return is done

and the checks (state and federal)

are in the mail!

This is a yearly ordeal for me.

Although I pay someone to do the return for me,

I still have to locate and organize all

the paperwork needed to do it.

Every year I promise myself

I'm going to find a better method

(i.e. better than just throwing everything

into a file in my desk)

in which to keep track of everything.

Here it is April and I've yet to do anything

to make next year's job easier.

But...I'm done for this year!

And, although it's painful to write those checks,

I remind myself,

the very fact that I have to write them

means I had income this year.

And that, is always a good thing!

New Endeavor, New Fun!

A few years ago my sister Nancy, and I shared a booth

at a local antique mall.

It was loads of fun for us,

but we got involved with other things

and gave it up after a while.

We've been talking about doing it again for ages.

That time has come!

Later this month we will be opening a small booth at

our favorite haunt for treasure hunting,

The Corner Nest.

We're experiencing a renaissance of creativity here.

You can read more about that at Nancy's blog,

Nanniepannies

The artwork above will be our new logo.

It was designed for me by Fifi Flowers,

who does the most whimsical paintings

you can imagine.

Please visit her blog and shop.

Wish us luck!

Tulip Time in Tennessee!

They've been gorgeous this year!



Have a beautiful day!

New Bags!



How was your weekend?

I spent mine sewing.

I recently acquired some new fabrics

and was itching to make something.

This is The Katherine Tote.

(Can you guess who it's named for?)

The fabric is an abstract stripe named "Rishikesh."

It's a heavy poly/cotton upholstery in colors of

gold, yellow, brown, blue, green and a deep rose.

It's lined with an elegant print by

Lydia Irwin Designs for P/Kaufmann Fabrics,

which has a soil & stain repellent finish.

I also made a Small Tote.

This bag is favored by sock knitters.

It's a small bag, think fabric basket,

and is ideal for those small knitting projects.

I lined this bag with a pretty screen print fabric from

Mill Creek Fabrics.

Can you tell I have a serious fabric addiction?

You can see these and all my bags at

my Etsy shop, ButtermilkCottage.

Come visit!