I'm having a moving sale!

We will be moving in about two months. While I am thrilled to be moving back home to Texas, I am a bit overwhelmed by the actual moving process. I am going to try and get rid of things to make the move a little easier. So I am having a sale in my vintage shop to try and move some things out. Every item, including the vintage wallpaper is 25% off...so stock up friends!

Broken Sewing Machine = Shop Update

Ok, I know I have not been sewing very much lately, but this weekend was going to be all about sewing. My husband's good friend was in town and they were going to be doing guys' stuff that I really didn't care about. It was going to be a good excuse to sew away to my hearts content. I had no worries, no cares. I didn't even have to worry about meals because the boys were going to take care of that. So I started to sew my first project and...snap, an important screw came loose (on my machine, guys). I tried with all my might to get it back together, but alas, it would not screw back. So I had to order the part and wait...until Nov. 2! So my sewing weekend turned out to be another kind of weekend all together. I ended up listing a bunch of new items in my vintage shop. Here's a peak at what is new.

So, it wasn't a weekend of sewing, but it was productive. I kinda had fun sitting in front of the computer all day-listening to Pandora while I edited photos. It feels good to finally have a vintage shop update. It's been a long time coming.

Sewnsunday: Quilted Handbag

I have been sewing today! Yippee! Back to sewing on Sundays again. I made my first log cabin block today and decided to feature it on one of my bags. Hope you had a bright and sunny weekend, too!

Happy Labor Day Weekend and a Front Page!

Thank you to thesacredmuse for creating a lovely "Dreaming of Fall" treasury that made the Front Page! It gave my shop a lot of hits! Yippee! I will be dreaming of fall while my hubby and I are heading out for one last beach vacation his holiday weekend. I hope your Labor Day is relaxing and fun!

Shop Update

A new collection of patchwork roses are in my shop!

African Clutch Designed by....

I have created a new listing for my shop. A simple little clutch made with fabulous fabric that the customer gets to choose. The fun part about it (besides picking your own fabric) is that I am going to take 50% of the proceeds from each bag and give it to a charity that is near and dear to my heart.

Some of you may already know that my husband has been spending a good part of his summer for the last three years, in Rwanda. It all started with research for his dissertation, but it has become more than just that. It has been life changing. I was able to join him in Rwanda the summer of '08. While we were there we made so many amazing friends. One of the special souls that we had the privilege of meeting was Pastor David. Pastor David is one of those people that really makes an impression. He is a very gentle spirit with a huge heart. He has taken on many projects to try and improve the lives of others in his community. For example, he has an after school program for children, grows a very large garden to help sustain and support his neighbors, and he runs a program that teaches widows the art of tailoring so that they can learn a skill that will allow them to be self-sufficient and care for their families. He does this with kindness and compassion without seeking anything in return.

Pastor David telling a story to his little neighbors.

Pastor David showing off his beautiful garden.

The women in Rwanda wear these stunning clothes created with African Wax-Print fabric. You see the fabric everywhere on the streets in Butare. It adds pops of color to the already beautiful landscape. While I was there I bought some fabric and my husband has also brought me back fabric from his trips. I now have a nice collection of this fabric.

Women from the tailoring class dressed in the beautiful prints.

I decided to use the fabric I have collected to raise a little money for Pastor David and his sewing school. So each time one of my custom bags sells, I will "sock away" 1/2 of it to send off to Pastor David. Here are some of the choices of fabrics that I have (I am hoping that Jason will get me a few more when he returns from his trip this year):

I am not sure how much money I will raise with this little endeavor, but I know that each penny helps. If you know someone who might like a little African bag, pass the word on. Thanks friends! :)

Rusty Gathered Wristlet

I'm trying to fill up my etsy shop with more goodies. Here is my latest wrislet. The fabric is by Laura Gunn, who inspires me greatly. I love the way her fabric collection looks like her paintings. It adds such texture and dimension to a flat piece of fabric. She inspired me to create my own painted fabric. I actually used one of my painted creations to create fabric that was printed at spoonflower. It is in the wash right now, so maybe tomorrow I'll show you?

Check our Laura's Blog. You'll like it I promise.

Hat Happy

While on vacation I was inspired to try some new hat designs. It was a bit of a challenge, not working with a pattern, but I think they turned out kinda cute. I would like to get better at the hat making process. I have dreams of being like Piper and Paisley or Sparky Jones. LOVE these two shops.

Pink Floral Kick-Pleat Cloche

It is kinda cool the way the wind started blowing when I took this picture. Do you recognize the fabric?

Country Bumpkin Kick-Pleat Cloche
Looks like a modern day bonnet in a way. Kinda silly, but I think it is fun.

They are both in my shop now.

Vintage Wallpaper Giveaway!!!

Did you know that I have a vintage shop on Etsy? At gingerscraps I sell random odds-n-ends that I find when I am out thrifting. I love hunting for discarded treasures! Garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores are a great way to spend a day. I get so excited when I find something wonderful that someone else just throws out.

One of my favorite thrifting finds was last year when I found a huge collection of vintage wallpaper. I purchased the whole lot and loaded it in my car. As I headed down the road, my mind was spinning with crafting and decorating ideas. After I had my fun with it, there was so much left that I decided to sell it by the yard on Etsy.

I would like to offer you a chance to win some of my vintage wallpaper. Just leave a comment and include a great crafting or decorating idea that uses about one yard of wallpaper. On Thursday, 5/20, I will pick a random winner. Check back on Saturday 5/22, when I will announce the winner. The winner will be able to pick 2 yards of any of the cool wallpapers from my shop. Here are some pictures of wallpapers you could win:

I have a lot more in my shop so check it out! Have fun!

Patchwork Roses

This weekend I spent time filling an order for one of my favorite customers, my sister! It is time for the "annual end-of-the-year teacher gifts." I hope my niece's and nephew's teachers like their patchwork roses!

Recycled Little Bags

Yesterday my sewing theme was "remake" and "reuse". I enjoy sewing things that involve using fabric in new ways. I absolutely love using up my scraps to make pretty little things, like in this bright and sunny scrap clutch.

I also love to take random pieces of thrifted fabric and make them fresh and new like in this little clutch I made with a vintage pillow case.

Also, I've taken a liking to painting old fabric it until it looks completely different like in this tribal orange clutch.

How do you like to recycle and renew in your creations?

Painted and Stitched

I have finally decided to add some items to my Etsy shop. Lately I have been sending all of my stitched goodies to Textures. I feel bad for letting my Etsy shop go. So no longer will I leave sewnsunday out! Sorry, dear shop, I didn't forget about you! I will try to add new things to your "shelves" on a more regular basis.

Painted and Stitched Clutch in Summer Fern

Painted and Stitched Brooch in Blue and Red

Painted and Stitched Brooch in Blue and Pink


Painted and Stitched Brooch in Red and Yellow

Strictly Business Card

Yippee! My new business card stamp arrived today! I decided to go with a simple stamp because I didn't want to rely on (or pay) some other person to create a card for me right now. I could have just printed them out on my computer, but I love the way stamps look. They look a bit worn and smudged, a bit vintage.

The logo from my stamp was sketched up by my creative husband. It is meant to subtly resemble a sun that is embroidered by a single piece of thread. A nod to my shop's name, sewnsunday. The creator of my stamp was Jessica Lynn from JLMould. She did a wonderful job! I would highly recommend you work with her on your next stamp creation.

I decided to put my stamp on some bright textured cardstock. I think it is bold and simple. Hopefully it will grab people's attention and they will stick one in their purse when they are shopping at Textures.

Painting and Sewing

I have been painting away on my fabric this weekend.

This is what I have sewn up.

Painted and Stitched with Vintage Buttons

Front

Back

Painted, Stenciled, and Stitched

Graffiti Clutch