~My Song Words for Wednesday~

I love a song where the lyrics really speak to my heart. This is one of my favorites of all time.

The Rose
Music and Lyrics by Amanda McBroom

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.

Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.

Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.

I say love, it is a flower, and You its only seed.

It's the heart, afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.

It's the dream, afraid of waking, that never takes a chance.

It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give.

And the soul, afraid of dyin', that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,

And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,

Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,

Lies the seed, that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes

The Rose.

Enjoy the video!

~~Happy Easter~~

~Pay it forward~ with the Blockhead Radio Charity Sampler Box

These are trying times. I have always said that no matter what you are going through or what struggles you have there is always someone that is going through worse. Sometimes I pinch myself that I am blessed in many ways. Yes, I have had many a challenge over the years, but I have always had the strength to persevere. I heard somewhere that “everyone has a story, don’t judge until you have heard it.”

Giving back or the newer phrase “paying it forward” is something that many of us strive to do. Whether it’s helping your local community or going more global, every dollar combined with more dollars can add up quickly.

As an artist, I am thrilled to be able to pay it forward with the new BHR charity sampler box. This gives me the chance to give back to artists that are less fortunate than I am. It’s a simple thing, really. I have a wonderful stash of fabric that I have been fortunate enough to collect over a few years. It sits there and begs to be made into something lovely. All it requires is a little bit of thought and time on my part to come up with something that will work for the BHR sampler box. I encourage all of you to read more about this awesome cause and then decide what you, as a crafter, could put together for this wonderful cause. Even if you can only submit one or two items….remember…. it all adds up.

I decided to make drink coasters in sets of 4 for the sampler box. They were made with lots of love and from the heart. Here are my first 6 sets going out in the mail to our BHR charity sampler box co-coordinator, the awesome Lily Wrey (whom I lovingly call sweetlips) aka, TulipsTreasureBox.

Please remember that one day it may be you (God forbid), that has a tragedy and may need a little bit of help. As Blockhead Radio’s biggest fan, I thank you in advance. I am sew proud to be a member of this artisan community. A community that is bigger than any corporation and where love is widespread.

Visit the Blockhead Radio Charity Sampler Box's website.

Many Hugs,
Cindy
aka SewHappyDesigns

The pitfalls of multi-tasking~~

Ok, sew I like to taut myself as a multi-tasker….sometimes even multi-tasker to the 5^th power. Currently, I am on vacation from multi-tasking.

I have learned in doing a small amount of research that experts are finding that multitasking can put us under a great deal of stress and actually make us less efficient. I am beginning to see multi-tasking as an annoyance.

As of late, I have lost all patience with those multi-taskers who walk and text at the same time. I have invented a phrase I like to call “text bumping”…..which comes from that mindless person who is texting on his or her mobile device and not paying attention to the universe…(as in the universe that does not revolve solely around the text bumper) I am the one who “gets the bump” as I am minding my own business. If you get the bump while enjoying that wonderful cup of Dunkin Donuts, all hell can break loose. Words can be exchanged that are less than friendly. Text bumpers beware.

And…you cannot simultaneously e-mail and successfully have a phone conversation. I think we’re all familiar with “e-mail voice,” when someone you’re talking with on the phone suddenly sounds confused and asks you to repeat yourself…repeatedly. This creates stress for the person who is not doing the emailing. Stress raises the blood pressure, and Lord only knows what other health issues can come of it. People, let us focus on the caller and not the email. However, if it is a really annoying family member, give yourself a pass.

Now I do believe there is a difference between multitasking and not being able to focus.

Case in point: husband who is in the background chatting while you are concentrating on dinner -- trying to make 4 items cook at the same time to hit the plate looking edible at exactly the same moment. As you are stirring gravy and putting the veggies in the microwave he says…”stocks were up today”. Your response: Yes, I already TOLD you your socks are in the dryer, now lay off. Well, sew much for a lovely dinner.

There is also a difference between not being able to focus and letting the voices in your head take over. For today I am going to find some little bit of comfort in listening to the voices. Maybe tomorrow I will consider multi-tasking.

~~Another Manic Monday~~

With just a little time to post on a Monday I'll turn to my fav Monday song! Play and enjoy, perhaps it will perk up YOUR Monday!

I SEW Love a Challenge

Be Sure to join the Blockhead Radio Artisan Challenge!!!

All you Artisans out there make a note of this date: March 23rd.

The Artisans Challenge is Back!!

Some may remember... some may be hearing about it for the first time! Come on over at Blockhead Radio to hear more about the launch of this cool weekly contest. You will find some really great music by indie artists :) there too. Formerly known as the Etsy Challenge (the name was changed to protect the innocent...) and then renamed as the Artisan's Challenge because there are soooo many great venues out there for selling handmade.... and then the whole shebang came crumbling down. It was feared that the challenge would never be heard from again.

Yes, the Artisan's Challenge is being dug up from the depths of the internet graveyard! For those who may have never heard of the Artisan's Challenge, let me tell ya what it's all about. There are 12 different categories with 60 different artisans every week (5 submissions in each category). The winner's of the categories from the previous week then face off in a weekly challenge!So head on over, read the rules and enter your submissions now! You'll be notified when it's your week in the challenge. Then its up to you to tell your friends... your family... your neighbors... the people in the checkout line at the grocery store... to go vote for you in the

Artisan's Challenge!!
What's in it for you? Besides lots of people seeing your item when they vote?? Besides FREE publicity for your shop??? Besides all the fun????It just so happens that the winner of the weekly challenge will now win a audio commercial with a banner to play the entire following week on Blockhead Radio! That's even MORE FREE publicity for your shop!Remember, it's ANY selling venue! Entries are being accepted now so hurry and get your submission in. The winner is decided by you, sew be sure you vote. I hope you will find me there a time or two with some items from SewHappyDesigns, if you do, please can I have your vote?

OH...ONE MORE THING... blog about it. I'll make it easy on ya (because I'm nice like that)... just copy and paste this blog, post it, and Let Witchy of The Copper Cauldron know you did! You'll be entered for a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to The Copper Cauldron. Visit the Copper Cauldron here!! Last date to enter will be March 22nd. Winner will be selected by a random number generator. One entry per blog.

~~I want a DO OVER~~

I want a DO OVER for setting the clocks ahead this past weekend. I believe the term is “spring forward”. Humph, below is a current picture of “spring” here in the North Country….that’s right….streets of dirty snow…crappy stuff….not even remotely pretty.

Below that is a picture of what “spring forward” is supposed to look like. I want THAT!

Mother Nature you are one cruel, sadistic woman.

She likes it, she really likes it!

I was requested (commissioned) to make a table runner for someone before Christmas. Well, the illness and death of a close relative and other life's events got a bit in the way, sew it didn't get done for Christmas. This gal had sent me a pic of a quilt pattern that she liked and told me the colors she would like as well as the length needed. I drew up a pattern, which was pretty simple and went shopping for some fabrics....my fav thing...shopping for fabrics with one of my sisters (thanks for that fun day, Becky). Then came pulling out the rest of my stash and getting the colors "melded" together in something harmonizing. Whoa, that's where the challenge of this project came into play. I had an idea that this was gonna be a what I call "down and dirty" project...easy...and done fast. Well, lemme tell ya, I made several blocks with some different looks....walked away from it...threw those out (not literally, mind you) started over a few times....and in the process deemed it the table runner from hell. I finally "got it" - the fabrics that were most appealing to me - then held my breath. Once I finally got the colors that worked, for me anyway, it was a piece of cake to finish. Sew then I sent the pictures out to the person who had requested it and again held my breath.

I got a call from her today, and she loves it!! Thank you Deb for making my day! Not only because you like it, but because as a member of the Etsy Angel team, a portion of the sales will go to our charity event for March which is Answer the Call - A NY Police and Fire Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund. Please read about the organization here. You can go here to purchase items from any of the etsy Angels. Just scroll down to members and click on any of the shop names. Their shops are awesome...everything/anything you can think of for sale. Thank you, Deb for making my first donation possible to the Answer the Call charity. You made me Sewhappy! You rock!!

This tablerunner was designed to go with Amish-style furniture with black chairs....

~~One Word Wednesday~~

Who Loves Ya Baby?? ~~Just a tip or two~~

As a quilt teacher, I tell my students that the most important thing you can do for successful sewing is to take care of your machine! Make sure you get it in for service at minimum of every 18 months, and that’s only if you aren’t having any problems with it. Your dealer takes it all apart and makes sure it is cleaned and oiled in the proper places. I don’t have a degree in sewing machine maintenance, sew I leave that to the experts.

In relation to that - clean your feed dog area – (dig out your owner’s manual because it will show you the steps) take out your bobbin case and really get in there with that little lint brush that came with your machine. I do this about every 10-12 hours of sewing. Lint from your fabric and threads builds up around the bobbin case and your machine will do all kinds of crazy things if you don’t clean this area on a regular basis. HELPFUL TIP: I also use q-tips to do this, the end of the q-tip is a natural lint magnet, plus it can get down deeper in the crevices of that area.

In addition - change your needle – put a new needle in your machine about every 10-12 hours of sewing, unless you are sewing with paper (paper-piecing). You need a good sharp needle when doing topstitching or machine quilting. I sharp needle gives you even stitching.

There you have it, just a few simple rules to follow for successful sewing! Along those lines, I am proud to show you some of my attention to detail sewing….hope you enjoy these pics…