It's Blooming Bookmarks! Hallelujah!

It's blooming bookmarks in my Etsy shop. So how did these bookmarks come about you ask?

As many of you have probably noticed, I waste no fabric.  I have baggies with scrap fabric left over from other sewing projects.  I didn't know what I was going to do with them, just knew I couldn't throw them out.

I am an avid reader, I was enjoying the collection of Twilight books when I lost my favorite bookmark.

Now no way was I about to go buy a new one, ooooohh no, so.... The birth of Blooming Bookmarks happened!

I love, love, love creating them.

The blooms are incredibly fun to make and putting them together is even better.  I can just let my imagination go.  

The best part?  I get to enjoy the bookmark every time I pick up a book to read. 

Can't get any better than that! 

Now, I am off to enjoy a good book...

Fall and the Holiday Season...

WOW, where did the summer go?!?  Mid-September already, fall is upon us next week and ghoulish Halloween will be here before we know it!

Then it's Thanksgiving and and and, then it's Christmas. 

Anyone else feeling like our days are just speeding by?

On Monday I paid a visit to Michaels for much needed supplies and what greeted me at the door?  Not Halloween or Fall items, but Christmas decorations.  YIKES!

But, I must admit that Fall is my "favorite" time of the year.  Not that Arizona experiences it, at least here in the Valley we don't. 

I always tease that we go from brown to brown.  I am so envious of those who have the awesome beauty of fall colors bestowed upon them.  I can only imagine how gorgeous the trees must be in their flaming red and orange colors.

Do you have photos that show off the spectacular colors of the Fall season?  I would love to see them!  Drop me a comment with a link so that I can ooh and ahh.  :)

Have a super day!

Friday's ArtFire Collection...

Ending the week with Featuring my latest ArtFire Collection... Enjoy!

Fire and Ice...

Curated By: StitchnTyme

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

Have an awesome weekend!

ArtFire and Collections...

I am a Maven on ArtFire.  Just what is a Maven?  Mavens test out new features for the site before they are released to the community.  We try really hard to break them.  HA!  When we can't break them anymore the feature is then released to the ArtFire community.

So, what are we testing now?  Collections!  They are similar to Etsy Treasuries.  ArtFire released the testing in the last 24 hours.  So of course I am having too much fun playing with them.  I have now created two Collections.   Without further ado, here they are *drum* roll....

Summer Welcomes Fall

Strawberry Delight

To view these awesome ArtFire Artisan studios, click on either Collection.   Enjoy!

Have a great day!

Christmas in July...

It is so HOT outside, think COOL.  Now that you are cool, how about thinking Christmas, as in Christmas shopping?  Better yet, how about a...

Stitch*n*Tyme is offering "FREE" Shipping on selected items throughout the shop for USA & Canadian buyers, all other International buyers pay only $2 shipping for the first item and only $1 for each additional item. 

Click on the Christmas in July Sale photo above to be transported to my Etsy shop.  Did you find a goody or two to purchase?  As an added bonus, mention "Blog Follower" in Message to Seller at checkout to receive an additional 10% off the total purchase, refunded via PayPal.

Now tell me, how sweet a deal is this?  :)

*offer is Valid July 15th - July 25th*

Have a totally awesome day!

Summer Flower Garden...

OK, I confess I have been holding out on all of you.  I accept any and all punishment.  *smile*  Now you scratch your head and ask yourself... "What is she holding out on?" hmmmmmm....

I promised after the craft fair that I would share with you my newest creations that  my customers at the fair saw before my online readers and customers.  So without further ado here they are!  My mini Fabric Flower Post Earrings.

Are these just too fun?

I have been wearing a different pair everyday and I can't tell you how many times I have been asked "Where did you get those?".

What makes them extra special is that I can't reproduce another identical pair.  So doesn't that make them One of a Kind?  Yuppers.  :)

Now you just know you want to see more of these little darlings.  All were created using "fun", "whimsical" and "dramatic" fabrics. 

I have made it easy for you to see them, click on the photo and you will be transported without pain, I promise, to my online shop.

See you there!

Nothing Shabby Here...

It's been a very quiet and slow Friday, so I took advantage of it and created a new Treasury in Treasury East.

I hope you have a few minutes to stop by and say Hi to the Featured Artisans. To view the Treasury click on the photo. I promise, you won't regret it. *smile*

Have an awesome weekend everyone!
Carly

Romance and Brides...

I just realized that we are at the end of April and probably one of the most romantic times of the year is fast approaching.  June romance and lovely brides.  What a gorgeous combination! 

Throughout the years I have offered several items catering to brides, but my favorites are my corset pouches, these pouches can be done with the brides colors, whether her dress or her bridesmaid's, or I can even use a swatch of fabric from the dresses.

This corset pouch I created using a lovely white brocade and trimmed in white satin.

This lovely was made using the brides colors.  Her gown was a gorgeous navy blue and white. 

Another variation on the brides dress.  Her dress was a wonderful ivory satin.

The combinations are endless!

After the wedding she can fill the corset pouch bag with potpourri and hang it from a dresser drawer, keep her delicate jewelry in the pouch and so many other wonderful uses.

And for the wedding, bookmark favors for the guest. These delicate beauties always receive oohs and ahhs...

These beauties are done in snow white, but again they are gorgeous in any color.

Below I created them in mauve, aren't they just as gorgeous?

Well, I hope I have gotten you all in a romantic mood.  Did it work?  :)




Leave me a comment and let me know....

Have a wonderful day!
Carly

Butterflies and the Season...

Spring has always been one my favorite times of the year, not sure why since living in Arizona I know that HOT weather is soon to follow, maybe it's the knowing that makes me appreciate the cool weather so much more.

We also see an influx of butterflies during this time of the year, so I can't help but be motivated to fill my shop with the wonderful, graceful creatures.   Such as the pair below...

I love the royal blue in these beauties with just a hint of red.  I can imagine them fluttering past and the amazement they bring.

Imagine wearing these lovelies on Fourth of July.  Don't they speak of patriotic?

But then anyone, anywhere can wear these with their vibrant color and receive ooh's and aah's.

When I created these I wanted to make hair clips that made a statement.  Did I do it?

The majestic black with the various shades of green with a hint of yellow is so striking!

Hope you have enjoyed my mini preview of the collection of lace butterfly hair clips, with many more to come in my Etsy shop in celebration of Spring.

Have a wonderful week!
Carly

Hippity Hop Wednesday...

(photo courtesy of Google Images)

Hmmmm... what could this little guy be thinking about?
Such a serious look!

OK, so here is what I am thinking (which by the way could be dangerous when I think, HA!), Wednesday will be post a cutie day of animals found throughout the world.

And since Easter is approaching, how could I not post a bunny?

If you have a cutie living with you and you want to share, please don't hesitate to post in the comments. I would love to see your babies. :)

Have an awesome day everyone!

Bridal Lovelies...

June is fast approaching and we all know that Brides love the month of June. The bride would look absolutely fabulous at her wedding wearing this gorgeous hair flower French barrette. White satin and lace, I can't imagine anything more beautiful adorning a bride's hair on her special day.

Maybe the bride needs a lovely small bag to carry her essentials, you know, girlie things like lipstick, blush or possibly a handmade handkerchief. Could this little corset pouch be it?

Both are perfect accessories or as a great gift for the bride, bridesmaid or the flower girls. You can see these lovelies up close and personal by clicking on the photos.

In the coming months I will be posting other lovely Bridal accessories from various Etsy shops. So if you know a bride to be, or "You" are a bride to be, be sure to check back often.

Take care,
Carly

Using YouTube for Advertising...

Being a HUGE fan of YouTube I just knew that some day I would have to try creating a video for my online business.

And guess what? It was so easy, I couldn't believe it took me three years to get around to it.

Now you ask, how did I do it? See that's where we have a problem, it's "top secret" info, so if I told you, I would have to kill you. NOT! :)

I first visited Microsoft and downloaded their "FREE" program Photo Story 3 for Windows. The rest was easy. The program has a wizard and walks you through step by step. I had my video done and ready for YouTube in less than 30 minutes. The program even has music you can select from to enhance your video.

It was Easy, Peazy... and you don't have to be a computer nerd to create your own video.

And with a drum roll, I present my video: Stitch*n*Tyme

Have fun creating your own video, if you do, please be sure to post a link to it in my comments. I would love to view it. :)

Have an awesome day!
Carly

Spring is a Coming...

Living in Arizona has it's challenges, one being the HOT weather. Cool days are few and far between. Spring, Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons, even though we don't experience change of seasons. We simply go from brown to brown, but oh those cool days are glorious.

I fill my life with color through fabric and creations made from them. Recently I
have taken on the challenge of creating fabric flower button hair clips. I am having so much fun making them. The combinations are endless!

I ooh and ahh after each new hair clip, thinking to myself, this one is prettier than the last one. Of course it isn't, because they are all PRETTY! :)

If you asked me to pick just one, I couldn't do it. Nope, I sure couldn't.

I hope you have enjoyed a sneak peek of what I have been up to this week.




Now I am off to create more lovelies.

Have an awesome day!
Carly

Oh that Light Box...

In my adventures to getting better pictures of the items I make and list on Etsy, the best thing I have done is make a light box. Some people are addicted to chocolate or Coke, but not me, don't even think about taking my light box away from me, you would only be asking for trouble. HA!

I recently looked at one of my first sold items and quickly decided the buyer bought the item out of sympathy. Oh the GLARE! That's when I began searching the net for ideas to better photograph my items, and repeatedly I read that having a light box was an essential tool for product photography.

I could have bought one, but being the crafty person I am, I decided to take on the challenge of making it myself. Which turned out to be extremely easy and cheap! Total cost was $1.50, yes, you read that correctly. Box was "Free", a trip to the dollar store netted the tissue paper and poster board. Then it was home to make the box.

Below is the finished light box. If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will be happy to reply.

And here is the actual photo taken using the light box...

If you are serious about taking better product photography, you can't go wrong with the following four items:

1) Light Box (homemade or bought)

2) Tripod

3) Clamp lights/Natural Light/Overhead light (Flash is a No-No)

4) Camera with a Macro Setting (for close ups)

Have fun and don't come looking for me when you find yourself addicted to product photography. :)

Carly

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