Almost Ready!

Well, it's getting down to the last minute rush before I head out for the beginning of Pieceful Designs Fall Tour!  I'm a big list maker...I get such satisfaction seeing those "to dos" crossed off.  Only thing this time around is that the "to dos" are adding on instead of getting checked off!  I go for weeks with trying to think up new ideas for patterns, booth display, etc. and then they all hit me when I'm in rush mode.  So, we'll just have to prioritize and see what shows up.  What you will see at the next shows is a bigger booth!  We've outgrown our 10 X 10 booth so we're moving up!  And the increase of space will fill very quickly with new patterns and kits.  Because of the new space I had to order more pipe and make new drapes...that couples up with fireproofing.  I learned yesterday NOT to fireproof on a windy day!  Not only did I get the drape covered but my clothes, hair, face, well you get the picture, covered as well.  The picture hardly shows the procedure, but suffice it to say it's a bit messy spraying and saturating fireproofing onto the fabric.
Today it's off to finishing new pattern samples and organizing boxes of kits...

Behind the Scenes

Here's a look one of the not so fun parts of this business...washing the booth floor squares on the back lawn.  I'm busy getting all of the supplies, booth props etc. cleaned and packed in preparation for the next 7 shows I have upcoming.  A "Fall" cleaning of sorts!

Looks Like Something New is Brewing

Here's a tease...the next new pattern in the works!  Just need to finalize a few things and finish up the sample.  I'm using Soft and Stable instead of batting and I can tell you that it's a dream to work with and might possibly be my newest "favorite thing".  Stay tuned!

My Labor Day Weekend was spent "laboring".  My daughter, Laura, came to help me put together kits, price items and wind bobbins to use in making our exclusive Just Bobbin Along Necklaces.  What an angel she is, although maybe not one that uses the best judgement sometimes!

Most of my friends tell me I should write a book about my experiences that I have both here and on the road.  Last year I logged 35,000 miles of travel to 20 different states.  I've experienced almost every natural disaster you an think of, have had some "interesting" confrontations on the road, and what I cherish the most...experiences so funny that if I told you you'd fall off your chairs laughing!  And then, there are the not so funny things that happen.  Of course, we never do anything in an easy normal manner...So started this weekend with my daughter helping me out.  She showed up at my door limping and with only one shoe on.  The shoeless foot had a big bandage wrapped around her big toe.  First thing she did was unwrap it and ask me if she should go see a doctor.  Now, I won't describe what the toe looked like in order to spare those of you who are faint at heart...just suffice it to say that I didn't hesitate to tell her YES!  So, we started our work day at Urgent Care.  Now, as I mentioned, we have the not so funny and the funny experiences.  This little story contains both.  Laura did quite a number on her toe, but it will heal.  How she did it is rather funny...Seems that she was camping with friends and brought her dog along.  It was dark and the dog kept running off so in order to keep track of her, Laura put a head lamp on the dog's head.  (Really Laura???  Have you heard of a thing called a leash?) Laura's plan kind of backfired.  When the dog moved her head the light shone this way and that and freaked her out so she went running and Laura went running after her...without a headlight on cause the dog was wearing it!  You can see where this is heading.  Laura tripped on a log and smashed her toe up and Gwen the dog came running to see what was wrong with her master.  The doctor said that this story made her day.
As for our day...we got a late start but I had a great helper for the rest of the day, Laura had a sore toe, Gwen won't be wearing a headlamp again and I have another story for my book. 

Here's a "Tip"

What a beautiful day today...and I'm inside sewing away!  And...as I'm sewing I thought, I wonder how many people know about this tip.  For years now I've been cleaning my iron by running it across a dryer sheet.  It does a great job removing anything gooey or gunky.

The majority of my applique patterns use the raw edge fusible machine applique technique.  My favorite fusible web to use is Steam a Seam Lite 2.  Unfortunately one of the downfalls of this product is that it causes built up of the fusible on the sewing machine needle.  One day as I was sewing along, I thought, "Hmmm I wonder if dryer sheets clean off my iron, if they'd be good for cleaning off my needles."  So, I gave it a try.  I simply wrapped the dryer sheet around the needle and ran it up and down a few times.  Not only did it easily remove all of the sticky residue, but it put a little coating on the needle that appears to prevent the sticky build up from accumulating as quickly as it usually does.

So there you have it...now off to more sewing.  Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!