Fabric

As you know I use mostly remnant fabrics and organic fabrics for my creations. In my stock I have a few panels of ballerina fabric that were curtains for a little girls room. The background is pink and the image is purple and pink ballet slippers and purple music.
As usual, I did not know what to do with this exact fabric so I left it until inspiration struck. I have decided to take make them into snack mates, snack pouches and a little backpack. There must be a few little girls, and maybe boys, out there who would like to take their dance shoes to school in ballet think bag.
I am planning on using a pink nylon for the interior of the snack mate and pouch, if I can find it with white velcro that wraps the interior for the pouch. I am off in search of a cute cording or something for the ballet bag straps, although I could make cording with the same fabric..hmm. I think I will try it an see how it comes out.
I have big plans but for know they are still just plans. My paper is due, three more assignments and an exam are still in my future. I am looking at next week as a beginning to these projects along with three specialty orders and creating more Daisy snack pouches to raise money for the Trace Elementary Fire Fund.
I do not plan on taking a summer course ever again...I am too old, too busy and and too grumpy for summer school work.

A New Magazine on style and its green!!!!

I am loving this new online eco magazine!
Pure Green Living Magazine

Daisy Snack Pouch for a cause

I said I wanted to do something for the Trace Elementary School teachers who lost all of their things in a fire a few weeks ago. Now, with my class ending I can focus on sewing for a cause. I have decided to make these snack pouches made from a Daisy pattern and the net proceeds will go to their fire fund.
Check it out and help them out!
Daisy Snack Pouch for a cause

Ads gone wrong

Grr! A new ad is coming out in Bay Area Parent next month but I just doesn't look right to me. I am getting frustrated because I am not correctly expressing what I want in the ad. Eek!

Tired

On and on: Tired from trying to take a class everyday and still be a good mommy. I don't know how this is easy for some mommies. I now a summer class was a bad idea now, but I am more than half way through. Just the 10 page research paper looming. I have learned things to help my business look and act like a bigger, small business. But, I am too tired to get them effectively into place. Forget about actually working on projects for the business. I cannot wait for August 1st when this class will be over and I can put some of my learning into action.

On the lighter side my next ad is coming out, not exactly what I had intended for it to be but right now that is all the energy I can extend.

On the block for sewing: snack mate and snack bags in a pink ballerina pattern and a silver background space theme. Plus, 2 gorgeous bags-purses really (at least in my mind) using both laminate and conveniently cotton material. I generally make new items with left over pieces and cheap fabrics but this is a special case. I can't wait to begin!!!

On the discovery: I need more than 2 sets of snack mates and snack bags in my household. I set for each child and a back up set for when I accidently leave them in the swim bag with yesterdays lunch leftover;( I need to sell them as a set and individually.

On the community info: Two things have happenend recently that I feel I need to react to and aid in some way. 1- a horrible fire that burnt down a local schools library, and 1-2 grade classrooms. I can't imagine begin told my classroom is gone and all of my materials with it in such a bad economy. I want to have some sort of fundraiser for the lost classrooms/library. Trace elementary is located in downtonw San Jose in the San Jose Unified School District. 2- a tragic accident that ended the life of a 4 year old boy and injured his father. I have afour year old, I often drive that part of the highway, I just can't imagine. They were doing nothing wrong, when their broken truck (on the shoulder of the highway) was hit by a drunk driver in the early evening, in daylight. My heart goes out to his family and want to do something to help them - not ease thier emotional pain, I know I cannot do that, but maybe my store can help raise awareness or funds for them. I cry just thinking of their agony. This accident occured on 101 S. near Bailey in San Jose. Usually, a pretty calm part of the freeway.

Melissa and Doug Closeout on www.lizzysbusybaby.com

We are closing out of our Melissa and Doug toys and products. Even though I like their products I no longer desire to sell them. I want to try harder to get more toys in that are domestically made and enjoy working with a small business. So now through July 24th our puzzles, stamps, and grasping toys are $6.99 each and our deluxe stamps are $8.99 a set and the rest of our toys are $13. We have a limited supply and when they are gone that is it. After July 24th the rest of our M&D items will be taken off of our site and sold.

Survived!

I survived my first week of business class. Thank goodness it is online or I would never get the opportunity right now to try it.
I have learned that 1 class a semester is all I can handle and that summer classes may not be the right idea.
I was able to get some work done thanks to a friend, Shout out to Philly! She let me borrow her sewing machine while mine was in the shop. I am sad to see her wonderful machine go but, mine looks so sad sitting on the floor waiting for its turn to sew again. Luckily, I have one job and a few projects to start.
I got in some work making this month a lot better than the last few but still nothing to write home about. but, having work to do makes me feel useful, like when I was teaching. I know my little ones need me but there is something completely different about working on a project or order that makes me feel like I am contributing to my family as well as the daily care. In actuality I am not contributing to the family but throwing it back to my business but I ignore that mostly ignore that part.
I am hoping to have another good month- even better then June. I am stating it off with a clearance sale.
I have decided to stop using one of my vendors. So, I am liquidating their items from my store. I will begin advertising it tomorrow. I don't feel that they are an honest company when it comes down to selling their products to small businesses. I refuse to be forced into debt so they can make a few bucks. Said company likes to ship and charge me for extra items I do not want, do not sell do to age appropriateness of my store, or just don't have room for. I am not a dump! They even sent me stuff this last order I specifically said no to. I called in for 2 items, no more and they sent me 6- a variety of things I didn't want. They have even done this with written order forms.
Last time they did this and every time I have ordered from them they say it will take months to be able to ship it back. What?! So I am selling them, at a large discount. I want them gone- I am discontinuing them in my store. From there I will begin purchasing items to feel the void from other suppliers. Plus, in October I will be heading back to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas and hopefully will find some vendors willing to do business with a me and not try to take advantage, plus my other eco friendly rules- above all.
I think that should start off July with a bang! That and what the neighbor just shot off- yikes! Good-bye June hello July 1st.