Pat Winter's Gatherings Magazine

Just a quick note to let you know that Pat's Crazy Quilt Winter 2013 magazine is now available:

You can purchase it here at Magcloud.

I'm working on my little Pink Cat Dolls and will have an update over the weekend.  They're just too cute!

Genuine Handmade

It's no secret that I have an Etsy shop.  And it's no secret that mom and I make things constantly for our shop.  Like everyone else, we need an income and we need to contribute something of value to society.  Everyone needs a purpose.  And it's no secret that I self promote constantly and if someone or anyone doesn't like it, I don't care.  Quite honestly, I've beat my head against the wall trying to make my shop work.  Short of standing on my head and singing The Star Spangled Banner upside down, I've pretty much had my fill of playing all the online marketing games, social networking and SEO nonsense and trying to stand out through the unbelievable amount of online competition these days. 

I no longer have the energy for a traditional job.  I've done my time with that.  I put up with a lot of BS over the years and that includes when I was working night and day designing counted cross stitch.  From here on in, I do things my way and in my time.

Now, Etsy, in it's infinite greed wisdom, is allowing it's shop owners to mass manufacture goods.  REALLY?!  This has always been a huge no-no with Etsy!  Shops could only carry handmade items, vintage items and craft supplies. 

Honestly, do those of us who work our butts off to make quality, genuine handmade items need the extra challenge of trying to break through that kind of competition?  And I don't want to hear that "if my items are good quality, they'll sell".  My items ARE good quality!  My mother and I are expert needleworkers and seamstresses.  But for some reason, it's damned hard to get consistent sales despite the quality of our work.  Despite my good photos, excellent descriptions and customer service which is second to none!  Despite my online reputation and despite everything I've done to make at decent living at this.

It's almost as if Etsy is deliberately trying to weed out the little guy who can only produce so much work so fast.  Quality takes time.  And as far as I'm concerned, if someone wants mass produced junk, then go down to the Walmart!  Etsy has always been about handmade.  I guess they've gotten too big for their britches and lost the mentality that handmade comes from the heart. 

But mom and I haven't lost that mentality.  Our handmade items ARE quality, they ARE genuine handmade and they DO come from our hearts!

So with all that said, and Etsy, I hope you're listening to this Handmade shop owners opinion, I will share our latest quality genuine handmade items.

My mom has made 2 more pretty Handmade Hanging Hearts:

And here is my latest stitched cat doll:

And I'll be starting on this one as soon as I get off my soap box:

Okay, I do believe I'm done venting now.  I hope I didn't offend anyone but I just can't think of anywhere better to post my opinions than right here on my own blog where I absolutely intend to say what I want to say (without being offensive to my sweet blog friends). 

 

Little Pink Kitties

It's been awhile since I made some of my signature cat dolls.  When my friend Michelle suggested that I make some pink kitties, I thought it was a fun idea.  Of course ya'll know, I love pink!  So no one had to twist my arm for these!  LOL!!!!

I have 1 completely stitched:

And I started on this one earlier today:

I pieced 4 pink cats all together.  These will go in my Etsy store.

In other news, be sure to stop back on Thanksgiving Day.  I'll be broadcasting something special through out the month of December and plan to explain further in my Thanksgiving Day post.  It's something that's very dear to me, from my childhood.  I know everyone will enjoy it!

Gingerbread Advent Calendar

Well thankfully, the cold I had passed rather quickly.  I pretty much feel normal today.  Well, normal for me!  Ha, ha, ha! 

We just had some bad storms go through our area but I think those are done now too.  Strong winds and lots of rain but like I always say, better rain than snow!

I wanted to share something my mom made for a friend.  This labor of love is the most gorgeous Advent Calendar I've ever seen:

Isn't this amazing!  The gingerbread men and the little trees are made out of felt.  The little faux candies came from Hobby Lobby.  Real mini candy canes go in the little pockets.  Mom and I spend a few hours just playing and arranging the candies to make sure it all looked good.  I'm going to see if I can get mom to make one for the shop next year.  I just think this is too cute!

I'll leave you for this evening with a rare photo of Lucy, Wrigley and Cotton all sleeping on the sofa together:

I hope this means that Lucy is starting to warm up more to the babies.  But until I see this happen a few more times, I won't hold my breath!

Little Heart Ornaments

I'm a bit under the weather today.  Bubba had a cold last week and apparently, he gave it to me.  He can take it back!  I don't want it!  But I'm stuck with it until it passes.

I do have some finishes to share today.  I put these together yesterday and just finished photographing them.  These are my Little Heart Ornaments that I made over the weekend:

I hand dyed some cheesecloth to use around the outside instead of lace.  I thought that would give these a soft, cottage style look.  I used vintage crinkled seam binding for the hangers.  I think they came out pretty.  I might make some more.

And here's a new picture of my two little partners in crime:

These 2 little monkeys steal everything they can find!  They don't chew anything up.  But they take my pens, my pony tail holders, my Beanie Babies, crumpled up paper, ribbons, lace....you name it.  They're little thieves!  But they're too cute and so sweet!  Still, Lucy isn't exactly amused with either of them but she is getting more tolerant of Wrigley.

Well, I'm spent.  I'm going to make Bubba something for dinner, put his lunch together, take a shower and go lay on my bed with my cats and IPhone and look around on Etsy.

Have a good night everyone!