Sunday, November 16, 2008

It's been a long time coming

I am happy to announce that my business, Sew Mother Like Daughter, has a working website!  Hooray!  These past months have been filled with transition for me - leaving the professional world of speech-language pathology behind, and entering school - for the the third time.  So, although being a student again is fantastic, time for my sewing and crafting has been neglected.  With the holidays, though, I am again in full swing crafting mode - my projects will have to remain secret for now, though, because you, dear reader, just might be a recipient of a one-of-a-kind Gretch original this holiday!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Adventures in Entrepreneurship

I have had a very eventful few weeks. I started a little side "business" (aptly named "Sew Mother Like Daughter") for minor sewing fixes - hemming, mending, slight alterations, etc.. I posted my services (I feel kind of dirty saying that, but that's what they are) on my work electronic bulletin. I got a great response! I've made enough money to keep myself out of debt while I buy up more fabric and patterns.

This past weekend, my friend and I spent Saturday together hunting for crafting goods. Since her husband wouldn't part with his messenger bags (which was part of the deal), he doesn't get a custom-made High Street Messenger Bag made by Yours Truly. But, now I get to sew for my girl - we bought fabric, patterns, and notions to make her a pair of pants and a skirt, and I got two gorgeous necklaces in return. After our three hours or so at the fabric shop, we went to one of my favorite stores, Stitcher's Crossing. It seems to be the only store in the Madison area that carries Amy Butler fabric. Now, they only have a limited supply of home dec weight fabric, and I bought enough to make pillows for my living room's bay window (and enough for the Blue Sky Hat for me), but they will have more of her fabric in May - I can hardly wait!

We then hit Jimmy John's, the Bead Bin, Hancock Fabrics, St. Vinnie's, and the Antique Mall. It was quite an eventful day - the only downside to spending so much time shopping for crafts was that it left no time to MAKE the crafts.

And now, today, April 17, I came down with a yucky cold, and I was feverish and dizzy all day (I stayed home from work). I was so sick, I couldn't even sew! Now THAT's sick!! I look forward to healthier days filled with the sweet hum of my sewing machines.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Bartering for Beginners


So, my husband and I just had a lovely evening with two of our very best friends. They invited us over for dinner, and we had a great time discussing the mysteries of life, such as the correct punctuation for "e.g." and "i.e." (I happen to be the go-to grammar geek in my circle of friends). My girlfriend is a crafter, too, but rather than sewing, she beads. She makes gorgeous jewelry, and has had success with craft shows, art fairs, and small stores. I was ogling her jewelry, trying to decide between my three favorite necklaces, when she mentioned to her husband that he had to see the messenger bag I made. Well, low and behold, I just happened to have brought said messenger bag with me, and was quick to put it on display. Well. My girl's husband loved it. And, there was the usual discussion of how I should sell these things. But, said I, the time and labor that goes into one of these bags would force me to charge $100 or more for one, so I will stick with making them for my nearest and dearest (gift-giving is my love language, and sewing is a great hobby to have to express my love). But, said they, what if we traded? Hmmm....intriguing idea! So, now my friends and I have a weekend expedition planned for next week when, among other things, we will hunt for some "manly" fabric to make a messenger bag for my friend's husband. My labor of love will get me four fantabulous necklaces (which I really couldn't afford to buy), and my friend will get her husband to get rid of the rest of his messenger bags (apparently he has quite a penchant for them) and just stick with mine. So, it's a win-win-win situation - and my husband, while not directly involved in the "winning" triad, will have fun watching and overseeing all the bartering that will be taking place.

So, until next weekend, I will be biding my time tracing my new patterns (I finally broke down and bought some tracing material), washing and ironing my Amy Butler fabric that is in the mail, and planning the new outfits I will make to wear with my custom mad jewelry.

Happy bartering!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Sew...Here I Go!


Wow! A blog! This is very exciting!

This is my first and only blog, and I will be devoting it to one of my passions: sewing. I have been sewing for ten years. I grew up in a home surrounded by crafts and sewing, but never had an interest in learning. During my first spring break in college, I came to the realization that I did not want to move out of my mom's house without knowing how to sew a button back onto my clothes, fix a ripped seam, or hem a pair of pants. So, I asked her to teach me the basics, and, quite to my surprise, I fell in love! I've been an avid sewer now for almost 10 years - and it is definitely my "bliss" (or, at least one of them).

Now, I've moved out of my mom's house and live 2,000 miles away, so I can no longer go to her for help. But, living so far from my mentor has forced me to become more independent, creative, and experimental in projects I undertake. I have my own sewing machine and serger (wow! so grown up!), and we spend wonderful quality time together during my vacations and snow days (my California relations know that a blizzard in Wisconsin means that I am snuggled up in my craft room, safe and happy away from the cold - and work!). Several months after moving to Wisconsin in 2006, I realized that Nancy's Notions was headquartered in Beaver Dam, only an hour drive from my new home! Oh, what a wonderful day was my first sojourn to Nancy's! I absolutely love that store, and I have to plan my trips very carefully because I can blow through my monthly budget in one outing.

I have recently fallen in love with Amy Butler designs - how applicable that a transplanted 'Sconnie found a "Midwest Modern" style! And, for some reason, even though I've been sewing for almost a decade, I only just realized what a wonderful tool the Internet can be for my "bliss". So, tah dah! Here I am ... Sew Mother Like Daughter, ready to learn and share!

Happy sewing!