NEW BLOG SITE

Hi everyone! I've started blogging again about my business, crafting, and family life over at www.dreamingofdandelions.com I hope you all will join me over there! xo Sarah

Guess Who's Back

Well surprise surprise, I never kept up with my once a month blogging that I planned on doing. It was just sooo much easier posting on facebook . But I've decided to come back, let's see how I do in keeping up with posts. Here are a couple of my favorite items I've made since I've been away...
Personal:






Dreaming of Dandelions:

Blogging Break

Well, I must admit it...I am over blogging(for now at least). It has slowly fallen further and further down in importance of my to-do list. I plan on keeping up with a monthly post of what I've been up too and any important updates because I'm really excited about the cool stuff on my to-do list for my home and for upcoming DofD products...but that's about it as far as blogging is concerned.
I still owe you my Ramblings of a Craftoholic January post so stay tuned...
If you come here to check on my progress with Dreaming of Dandelions you can follow me on Facebook here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dreaming-of-Dandelions/110984308956756
I hope you are enjoying your New Year!

Cases Anyone?

I was shopping for felt the other day for a custom order and decided to grab a few extra sheets while I was there. I randomly decided to make these iPod/iPhone cases and I love them!





Then I made a iPad sleeve too...

These can all be customized in your favorite color or made in different sizes to fit your phone, Nook, or Kindle.
Then today I wanted to make some camera cases so I put a little twist on the normal cases I've made before by sewing a pattern on the linen. I love how they turned out...I think I might do this to my next clutches too!


Everything pictured here can be found at my etsy shop www.dreamingofdandelions.etsy.com

Homemade Gifts

I know, I said I wasn't going to post about my Christmas gifts until after Christmas but I don't think these little recipients frequent my blog so it will be ok...
So, these are for a very cute teeny tiny one your old. Have you ever heard of BabyLegs? A company that makes baby leg warmers that I think are absolutely adorable so I decided to make my own!

And this is for a very imaginative two year old. I've seen so many variations of these types of things...so here is my version...



Hopefully this inspires you to get started on your own homemade gifts!

Holiday Update

Hello! It sure has been awhile. I have just been working away getting my presents made and custom orders done :)
I've been busy putting new items on etsy...still not much luck on there. Facebook continues to be my main source of customers which is just fine by me! Although I haven't gotten much attention on etsy I did manage to catch the attention of the creative editor of Simply Handmade Magazine. She sent me a product request asking that I submit some items for their summer issue. I feel like I'm jinxing it just talking about it but since there is no guarantee that I'll make it in the issue I might as well celebrate this now :)So woo hoo!
I thought I would share two new holiday crafts I did this year.
Advent Calendar
I was inspired by this amazing advent tree from Sunset magazine

I wish mine turned out that great...I decided to only use what I had on hand. I got out my trusty Cricut and cut out my tags and numbers. I decided to write a bible verse on the back of each tag that we could look up together as a family each night. Then I made little "ornaments" for my son to hang up in place of the tag we take down each night. The ornaments are simply asterisk's cut from felt. I wish I would have gotten a picture because they actually are pretty cute.
I had a vase and twigs leftover from these adorable decorations we made for my grandma's 90th birthday last month...

so I just hung the tags all over that...I looks a lot more crowded and messy then Sunset magazine's version..oh well my 4 year loves it just the same :)


I also made an upcycled wreath...the form is from a wreath I made previously, the yarn is leftover from a project, and the ruffles are made from old tshirts...

M.I.A.

I may seem to be MIA for a little while. It's officially Christmas time and I need to get started on all my gifts (which I won't be blogging about until AFTER Christmas for obvious reasons). I already finished one and I'm really excited about it! I'm still working on uploading all my items to Etsy and I have a few more things I want to add that I haven't quite finished yet. I have five pages in my sketch book full of new items that I can't wait to make but probably won't be able to until after Christmas...so that's something to look forward too :) I pulled my beads out of the box yesterday to work on my jewelry a little bit...hopefully I have something in that area to share with you soon! Well, that's my little update for now. Hope everybody had an awesome Thanksgiving because I know I did!

First Boutique

I did my first boutique last Friday and I would say it was a success. I learned A LOT. Mostly about myself. I was so hard on myself for not getting everything done that I wanted but I was just being crazy...if I had done anymore it wouldn't have even fit on my table!
The boutique was a lot of fun. It was exciting to get instant face to face feedback about my items. It was great to meet other like-minded people and network and it was awesome to talk with more experienced vendors and get some advice.
I was not too happy with my displays..they were fine but not amazing. I was planning on doing that the day before but I was sick on the couch instead. Oh well..there is always next time.
Having never done any boutiques or craft fairs before, I did not know what to expect and I think it was a great day. I went into it thinking if I made my money back and got my name out there I was going to be happy but I ended up with way more sales then I expected and my stack of business cards were almost gone so I would call that a success.

Crazy for Pinwheels

In preparing for the Holiday Boutique I did last Friday I made a few more of those embroidery hoops that I shared with you awhile ago.
This one I did was my absolute favorite. I was actually a little sad when it sold.

There is just something about pinwheels that I love. So cute and simple...and you don't see a ton of them around these days. After staring at it for awhile I realized they would make cute hair clips too so I made some last minute and they turned out to be a hit so I made some more to sell on etsy.
Ok, I got a little carried away with how many I made because they really are fun...

So look for these soon on etsy...

That's Life.

Ugh. Tired and feeling frustrated. My days have not been as productive as planned. I had a busy week last week getting ready for my Grandma's 90th birthday party (which was a lot of fun) and had some family in town. Now, Jack has been sick since Saturday (like 104 degree fever, er visit, strep throat, wants to cuddle on mama all day sick) and I've been sick too. So needless to say Dreaming of Dandelions has been on the bottom of the list and I haven't gotten anywhere near what I planned on having done at this point. With the Holidays coming up I really planned on having a ton of things ready but that's life I guess. I'm trying my hardest to be happy about the things I do have done, rather then focusing on all the other things I also wanted to accomplish. I have to remind myself over and over that I always planned on doing this in what little spare time I have and to stop being so freaking hard on myself...one of these days, right.
Ok, now that my venting is done it's time to get some rest :)

New Clips/Brooches

I know it's a bad cell phone picture but you get the idea. I'll have these plus a few more colors available at the St John's Boutique on Friday and on Etsy next week.

Yah for Cuteness!

D of D Jewelry!

I've wanted to do this for so long...

This was my first time using dye and I'm so happy with the colors! I'm excited about finally giving jewelry a try!
I have a busy few days coming up so I'm hoping I can get some done in time for the St John's Holiday Boutique on the 19th!

I've Been Busy

I've made a few new fabric flower pins. Available in Olive, Marigold, & Teal





The flowers on these four are removable and can be worn as a pin...

I also have three totes in the natural linen fabric done, they are just waiting for their embellishments. Oh, it feel good to finally get things done.

Happy Day After Halloween :)

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! I woke up this morning feeling in the Holiday Spirit already! Thanksgiving and Christmas are my absolute favorites!
Well, I should have some clutches to share tomorrow or the next day because I'm planning on some sewing tonight!

Other Things That Have Been Keeping Me Busy

My youngest niece turned one and her party was last weekend. I made her a cute little tutu for her party and then this little fleece beanie for the upcoming cold months...


Once I was done I realized how much it looked like Hello Kitty so let's just pretend that I meant to do that all along, ok?
I also made treat bags for my little Batman and his Batgirl...


So glad I have obscene amounts of felt on hand at all times because these were pretty last minute :)

New Totes!!!

My favorite color combo lately...
Think this

Plus this

transformed into a tote bag...
The Pin-Up


and The Ringmaster



For the life of me I could not take a good picture today, but you get the idea. I really want to keep one of these for myself :)

These two will be available at the St. John's Holiday Boutique on November 19th. All of my unsold items will be added to etsy after the boutique.