MadBags :: handmade bags & more!

Sale!!! 25% off everything in the shop!

Many things have been happening and I've been contemplating a big change.  A decision has been made to close my Madbags Etsy shop in an effort to open a new shop with a new name.  It will still be me, and I will be carrying some of the same things I have always had.  The only difference will be the name and also the addition of some new products. 

 

The desire to create products that go beyond bags has always been in my mind but I have felt very limited with the name I currently possess.  The name Madbags came about rather quickly without the foresight of expansion.  I do plan on keeping the Madbags shop open for a while so that my past customers will be able to know where to go, as I have a notice there about the new shop. 

I will be having a sale starting today to clear out all of the Madbags inventory I have that is labeled with a Madbags tag.  (Any new item that has to be created, will not be included in the sale) 

 

Everything in the shop is now 25% off!

 

I suppose I should mention the new shop!  My new name is the Figg Boutique and you can get there by going to either www.figgboutique.com or www.figgboutique.etsy.com.  It may be a little while before I list any items, depending on how quickly I sell out of my current stock.  I'm also waiting on my new labels to arrive.  If you would like to be added to the new Figg Boutique newsletter you can send a request to figgboutique@gmail.com. I will be sending out either a monthly or quarterly email with news and info about special sales and savings. 

 

 

Take a look at what's to come!

  Working on some new styles and thought I would share them with you!  These are just a few of what I'll be showcasing at my trunk show this Saturday.  It's been a while since I've been motivated to make any bags but inspiration came and now my mind is in overdrive. 

Hope to see you at the show!!! 

 

Birthday Savings

Key Fobs

I have 4 scrap boxes.  Filled to the top with fabrics that are just waiting to become something special.  I decided to start making cute little key fobs and try to clear out some of the excess.  I've posted some in my shop today and will post more soon.

I'm seeing a little light coming through...

I have been working really hard this week on goals and I've come up with quite a few. 

 

1. I have been wanting to have another Winter Sale at my home like I did last year so one of my goals last week was to set a date.  This is a pretty important one.  I set a date for November 8th! Now all I have to do is get prepare to have enough inventory for that sale and also create invitations, etc. etc. Sounds easy right?

 

2. Set a date for a Winter Sale online, and also establish what the sale will be (discounts prices, what will actual BE on sale, etc.).  I still haven't decided on this one yet but it will have to be after my trunk show.  Maybe mid-November so that items can be shipped in time for Christmas. 

 

3. A daily goal of listing 6 items per day on Etsy.  This one is a challenge but I've been able to do it, so far.

 

4. Find out when my kids elementary bizarre is and if I want to be involved.  My friend Tiffany told me the forms were in so tomorrow I plan to go check it out.

 

5. Create a monthly newsletter to be sent out the first of every month.  This is an extremely large goal for me.  I am NOT really consistent so I'm hoping this will help me with that. 

 

6. Create some shop policies.  Etsy has a new feature for this and I've yet to add mine. 

 

7. Organize a list of products that I sell for parties, shows, etc. 

 

8. UPDATE MY BLOG site!  It is in much need of updating and it's just another thing that takes up time.  BUT, it still needs to be done. 

 

9. As I was gathering my thoughts together I thought really hard about cutting my fabrics down to maybe 10-12 fabrics that would be used for one year, but I've decided to wait for the Spring for that.  I just cannot afford to buy so much at this time and I have so much fabric now that needs to be used, I decided a more realistic goal would be to use the fabric I have until its gone.  This is probably going to be the hardest one since I have a love affair with fabric.  My concentration right now is going to be working towards paying off my debts before I make any more large purchases.  So if you want to see some new fabrics from me, start buying what I've got!! 

 

That's about it.  I've got some new things in my shop that you probably haven't see before.  Go check 'em out :)  The headbands up there are new too. 

I need a plan.

Seriously.  I am so easily distracted and even when I devote a whole day to my studio, I find myself lost with where to begin and what to actually DO.  I waste so much time thinking of what I need to do, I don't accomplish very much at all.  Then there's the internet.  Email, blogging, wholesale shopping, etc, etc. I decided today I need to make a plan, and not just in my head, but a well thought out, written plan. 

So no cute pictures today or any long note for today.  I'm getting m pen/paper and doing some much needed planning.  Wish me luck.

I'm an assumer. Is that a word?

I assume things all the time.  I'm not even sure "assumer" is a word.  Now that I've written it, it kind of looks like a bad word. Not my intention I assure you.  My best friend could probably tell you alot about my assumptions.  Anyway, my last post was suppose to be a heads up kind of thing but it kind of made things complicated for some.  This post will hopefully clear a few things up.  O and it's going to be in the form of a list, cuz I like them.  It's what I do.

1. The picture in the previous post is of toy boxes I am currently working on.  My hope is that they will be completed by the end of this month. 

2. I am going to include a description of the fabrics I am using along with a name and picture so you know exactly what your options are.  What you see is what you get.  If you do not see a fabric I have used in the past, it will most likely be used in the next round of boxes.  These will not be ready until the end of August or so.  I use "or so" because honestly I have no idea when I'll be able to make more.

3.  The price for these are $34 each plus $6 for shipping/handling in the U.S. International shipping is available just ask!  If purchased locally, add 7% tax and take off the shipping if you pick it up.

4.  Also you will notice a number on each picture.  This is how many will be made in each print.  I've already had some requests for certain prints, so there's no guarantee unless you reserve yours asap.  I'll let you know if they've been snatched up or not yet.  You can always email me your top choices if you like.

5.  Email me at madbags@bellsouth.net with any questions.

I made another assumption blunder tonight. Let me backtrack a little.  Jaden asked a friend over to spend the night tonight.  They both like to play guitar hero and Jaden's friend had never played rockband.  He really enjoyed playing the drums while Jaden played the guitar.  Paul has wanted to get an extra guitar but couldn't find one but the lady at Walmart (note: its not always wise to trust the Walmart lady.  just an observation) anyway, she said we could use a guitar hero guitar for rockband.  Paul had already come home from looking before he found this out.  We had a bad storm and knocked the power out so he had had to come home.  so.  He wanted to go ahead and get one since Drew was here so I went back to the store (it's a 20 minute trip) so he wouldn't have to.  Got it came home and it wouldn't work.  He looked online for information and found out that it works with the xbox but not the ps3.  He had already opened the game up so he wanted to take it back right away so they wouldn't think we just played the game and brought it back.  He asked me for the receipt and I have it to him.  Here is where my "assumption" takes place.  I grabbed a receipt off the counter thinking it was the same one.  He drove all the way back and found out that customer service was closed and asked for a manager.  The manager had to call a bunch of people up to the front to get the ok to do it and then asked for the receipt.  Yep, wrong receipt.  He came home a little miffed.  And I felt so bad.  I would say that next time I won't make the same mistake but who knows?   Hopefully someone will remember him and let us, I mean me, take it back tomorrow.

    

Making progress....

PTBs shipped today

I finally finished all the toy boxes that were ordered on the 6th!  If you were waiting on one of these they are going out in the mail today along with any other purchases made during that time.   

Holy Moly.

Wow.  Let me say that again.  Wow.  I am completely taken back and humbled by the many, many purchases made Tuesday.  I've had a few sales in the past where maybe 5 purchases were made at most, and that was over like a couple of days.  I couldn't hardly function with all the sales that came in.  I would try to do something and then I'd hear that little chime that meant I had gotten another email.  Of course I had to check it and would be wowed again.  THANK you soooo much!  I am still working on getting everything packaged and sent out, so if you placed an order (with the exception of those waiting for toy boxes), it will most likely go out tomorrow. 

Did  I mention how totally blown away I was, and still am?  Just checking.  This little job of mine started out as something I could do to help pay for dance and things like taking the kids out to McDonalds when I felt like it.  My husband is a minister and well, ministry doesn't always make the big bucks.  We decided early on that I would stay at home with our children while they were little, and I've never regretted it.  Was it always easy?  Heck no.  In fact, there have been many times in our lives that God has provided for us at just the right time.  There have been many sacrifices made by staying home and not working but the good has always out-weighed the bad.  My most memorable God-providing-moment came when Jaden was about 4 months old.  I nursed him up until that time.  Formula was so expensive so I was so thankful he was able to do that.  I had never had a problem in that area either, in fact I usually had too much milk, so much so that I had to stand over the shower and let them empty some so he could eat without getting sprayed.  I always get a laugh thinking how that must have looked to my husband.  Not attractive I'm sure.  Ok, back to the story.  About that time, I caught a really bad cold/flu bug and my milk just dried up.  We had to buy some formula, which Jaden had no problem taking.  After about a week my milk came back in but Jaden didn't want anything to do with me.  He wanted that formula.  We were having trouble making ends meet as it was so I didn't know what we were going to do.  I tried to get help from WIC but we made $200 more than what you had to make in order to qualify.  $200 more a year people.  Anyway, so I dried up and we have no money for formula.  We lived in Florida at the time and my sister lived near us.  Florida has these places called Food Banks where you can go and buy food by the pound really cheap.  It's usually dented cans, torn boxed items but where the food is still in the plastic and contained.  Its just a place that's run by the community to help folks like us.  My sister was in charge of keeping the food pantry stocked at church.  She visited the Food Bank regularly to keep it stocked and ready when anyone needed groceries.  She frequently kept us stocked as well.  It had been a week since I was having to buy formula and wondering where we would find the money to buy more.  God was listening to our prayers for help though because Gena, my sister, called me and said "You'll never guess what just came into the food bank today."  I'm getting teary eyed right now thinking about what came next.  It just so happened that Similac was beginning a new marketing strategy and changing all their labels etc etc.  They had pulled several pallets of formula off with the old labels and donated it to the food bank.  They were giving it away free.  No limitations.  I was able to get 10 months of formula for free.  Jaden had been using Enfamil, but he didn't mind the change at all.  I had never seen formula at the food bank, and never did again while we lived there.  God is good, all the time.  Don't ever underestimate His power.  I was trying to figure out how we get more money, and instead He just provided the goods.  Anytime we struggle now, I just remember to have faith in Him to provide as I know He will give us just what we need, at just the right time.

Yesterday I was reminded that He is still at work in our lives.  During the summer I don't do a lot of business because the kids are out of school.  I was worried about how I would make my payments for what I owe on my machine during that time.  I bet He was just sitting there going "Duh, when have I ever failed you?"  Thank you God for providing once again.  And thank you to all of you again for making purchases yesterday!

Come back tomorrow and find out how to be entered in the next giveaway....

It's SUPER TUESDAY!

I was up until 4am listing items and still couldn't get them all up!  I have put some more up today-Remember to include the code SUPERTUESDAY in the notes to seller section upon purchase to receive your discount, and then wait on a revised invoice before making payment.  If you don't remember what the discounts are, take a look at the previous post.  I also want to add that the Portable Toy Boxes listed in the shop will be $25 today only. 

Let me know if you have any questions!  Now go shop. Now.

p.s. I have had NUMEROUS requests for more Portable Toy Boxes to be listed today so I am preparing to do just that. The ones that will be listed are NOT already made so it will take a week or so to fill them.   If you have already made a purchase and would like to add it to your order, I will be happy to do that for you as well, and combine shipping. Also PLEASE be patient while waiting for your revised invoice, I will get you one, I am just a little overwhelmed at the orders coming in.   

THANK YOU by the way!  This is so much fun!

Come see me at the Market Street Festival this Saturday

I hope you will be able to come out Saturday and enjoy all the activities planned at Market Street.  You can find out all about it here! This coupon will be good for Market Street only so print it out and bring it with you, and only good for madbags items. 

For all of you that will not be able to attend, plan on visting my online shop May 5 for a SUPER TUESDAY SALE! I'll post the details after Saturday.  I may even have another giveaway...

Some things you may not know about me...

1.  I like lists.  I make lists all the time.  My husband is the opposite when it comes to list-making and doesn't understand my obsession.  I make lists for what I'm going to do for the day, what I need to buy at the store, fabric lists, price lists, whatever it is, I'm gonna make a list for it.  Does it help me?  Sometimes.  I am a visual person so I need to have those reminders to help me accomplish my goals.  Most of the time though,  I don't get finished with everything I needed to accomplish and then I'm just ill about it.  Do I keep making lists, yes!  It's what I do.

2.  I like organization.  I like a clean house.  I like everything in its place.  Don't just come over unannounced though because the house will probably be a wreck.  My workroom stayed nice and pretty for about a week, maybe two.  Now, for the most part, it looks like this-

            

My fabric scrap bins stay full, well over-full really, and anytime I have a show coming up (Market Street Festival... May 3... you know you want to come see me) my studio is in complete shambles.  I don't have a lot of storage area for completed items so my dining room usually holds the overflow.  I actually cleared off the dining table last night and we had breakfast this morning.  Yummy pancakes. 

3.  I really love food.  The thought of pancakes reminded me of this fact.  I love all kinds of food.  As for sweets, I'm not so much into chocolate but I love sugar.  Hard candy is the BEST.  This is all I'm gonna say because if I don't stop, I'll have to go fix me something.

4. I'm cheap.  I mean really cheap.  It's really hard for me to make big purchases.  For the first two years of MadBags,  I used my very first sewing machine that I got when I was 9 or 10.  It's a Kenmore.  Great machine by the way.  Anyway, I also had another machine that a friend had loaned me when her mother passed away and she had no interest in sewing.  Some of you know that both of those machines died, well temporarily (I've had them fixed just recently).  I had wanted an embroidery/sewing machine for years but just couldn't stomach the price.  When both my machines quit on me, (you can read about it here) in the same week no less,  I had to bite the bullet and get a new one.  It was time.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Bernina.  I was, however, sick for a long time afterwards thinking about how much it cost.  And it's not just big stuff that makes me queasy.  I will search long and hard for the best price/quality on everything before buying. 

5. I am a Diet Dr. Pepper addict and I hate water.

6. I am non-confrontational.  I loathe public speaking.  My husband is a minister and is totally comfortable speaking to large crowds, whatever.  I am extremely content to blend in with the crowd.  Of course I'm claustrophobic so I'll probably be blending in with the edge of the crowd.  Makes my escape much easier...hee hee.  In college, I had to take Speech.  Let me just say that I was in the bathroom everyday before that class.  I really like what I do because I can work alone in my studio and make contact via the internet which is much easier for me.  Shows are a little stressful for me but it's good for business so I just grin & bear it.  If you saw the newspaper article I was in, you'll see that I had to be interviewed.  The author of the article originally contacted me through email and asked if she could interview me.  I wrote back, can we do it over email???  She said, I'd like to call and speak to you.  I said ok... I was nervous from then on.  I even asked Paul if he thought it would be ok if I asked my best friend to talk to her as me and answer the questions for me.  He was like, uh, no Sara, you have to be the one the do it.  Get over yourself and do it.  Ok he didn't say that last part but I'm sure that's what he was thinking.   So I did it.  I sweated all the way through it with my death grip on the receiver.

7.  I have been working on some new things.  Surprise, I've made a list of them...

• I have the Ginger Blossom line from Michael Miller listed in my shop
• I am now making cute boutique aprons.  I wear mine everyday in the studio.

   

• I just got in a ton of these sippy cups that you can personalize.  They are so cute!  I wish my kids were still small enough to use them.  No wait, that means diapers.. ok so maybe I don't.

• I also ordered baby bloomers and baby boxers to personalize. 

• All these things (with the exception of fabric) and more will be available at my Market Street booth! 

 

Weird Science

This year for the science fair, Jaden made a project about Fossils.  At school he placed and was asked to take his project to the State Science Fair.  Yesterday was the day!  He was really excited, especially the part about him missing a whole day of school for it.  We drove out to MSU early yesterday morning not knowing what to expect.  I will be better prepared if we ever have to go back.  We were suppose to meet his school's coordinator between 9 and 10 am to get his information packet and also to set up his table.  I didn't want to be too early but I really didn't want to cut it too close either so we got there about 9:20.  It took all of 10 minutes to set up his little table and board.  Looking at the schedule, we realized we had the next hour to do nothing since we had until 10:30 to set up and then have a general assembly.  We walked around and looked at other projects for a bit and then went outside and enjoyed the nice weather. 

Paul & Jaden walking around the older kids projects.  Jaden grades were set up all around the coliseum (in the hall).  I have to say, it was not my favorite place since I am extremely chlostrophobic.

^ Jaden & Paul outside.

v Me & Jaden outside.

Jaden standing by his project.

I didn't realize I would be staring at what you see here for 3 hours.  While the judges walked around talking to each child, parents could not stay with them.  Can you believe that?  Jaden had to sit at his table for 3 hours!  We were able to check on him from time to time but he was bored I know.  I can't even sit still for 3 hours.  It was hard enough for us, and Paul and I at least had each other to talk to.  If he goes next year, we will know to bring his psp for sure.  At our lunch break, I was able to get him a sketch pad, colored pencils, and once of those crayola pad with special markers so he did have something to do.  I told Paul he should be good though since he didn't know anyone sitting by him.  I would have been more worried if it wasn't like that.  Paul told me at one point though, when he was checking on him, (Jaden didn't see Paul) he had a look on his face like he really wanted to just make a poot noise or something.  He was fighting it with difficulty.  Can you imagine hundreds of 8-11 yr. olds sitting still for 3 hours?  Ok I think I've got my point across.

Jaden didn't place but we are so very proud of him.  He is such a smart kid!  He came home with his report card today with all A's and 1 B.  He was so distraught about the B, I had to console him.  I hate that he worries about it but I hope he continues to do well in school.   

Here is what I got in the mail yesterday (thanks to Ann from Texstyle Textures). 

^ (close up of my bag)

I officially have something to put in my Press photos!  Thanks again Ann!

PTB Giveaway!!!

I'm feeling generous today. 

For my first giveaway, yes that means there will be more down the road, I've decided to give away this Portable Toy Box-

The bear and cup are not included, unless you would like to take on the wrath of my daughter.  Who knows, I may even throw in a fabric scrap pack or something along with it... All you have to do is leave a comment here and I'll randomly pick one as the winner.  You have until midnight tonight (Saturday) so start leaving comments! I'll let you know who won on Monday, the 24th.

I have to share a funny story with you.  I was reading a blog from Sommer Designs (Carrie) and a picture she had posted triggered a memory.  Does that ever happen to you?  It's amazing to me that in a split second an image can just jump start your brain and take you back so far as if it had just happened.  Ok, enough of that, let's get to the story right?  Carrie had posted a mosaic with lots of pictures and one of them was of a sticker of "I heart San Francisco". That's what triggered the memory for me.  All the way back to 2nd grade.  We lived in Louisiana at the time and went to a private school right across the state line in Mississippi.  My teacher had been on vacation and when she came back, she was telling us all about her exciting trip to California.  San Francisco to be exact.  At the end she said she had a surprise for each of us.  Everyone got a sticker that said "I heart SF!"  Why is this so important?  My name is Sara and my maiden name is Freeman.  I didn't get the whole SF meaning San Francisco.  My wide eyes just thought everyone loved ME!  Even the boys and especially the little boy I had a crush on.  I suppose the teacher didn't have the heart to tell me the truth because she never corrected me when I shouted, "Everyone loves me!"  It was a great day indeed :)

Now leave a comment people and show me some real love.

NOW Monogramming

I've got my machine up and running!  Been doing alot of work for friends and family to figure everything out.  I am now available to anyone that needs it! 

I made a bag for my daughter (it started out as an easter basket bag, but ended up WAY too big so now it's a cute overnight bag) I still don't know what happened with my measurements...  I guess I just got carried away.  Luckily she is going to a sleepover birthday party tomorrow night and will have the cutest bag to take with her ;) I'll have to post a picture when I find what folder I stashed it in...

On a completely different note-

Throughout today, I will be posting new listings in my shop.  For those of you that were not able to attend Cooper's Closet a few weekends back, you can use this coupon:

Mention the code above in the notes section upon checking out and WAIT for a revised invoice before making payment.  I will take the best discount.

There are a few exclusions:

1. Coupon cannot be used with any monogramming listing

2. Coupon cannot be used with custom orders such as contacting me directly for one

OR purchasing a "Pick your own fabric" listing

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Also, to those of you that were asking about the tampon hide-away cases.  Hmm.  I like the sound of that... I am working on a slightly different design so that I can list it in my shop without infringing on the design by threegreenapples.  If you are interested in the one I have previously posted about, shoot me an email and I'll get one made up for you.  I'm going to sell them for $10 plus shipping.  My new design may be a little bit higher but not by much.

FABRIC!!!

I am starting a new adventure, want to come along? 

I have always wanted to have my own fabric shop and the dream is starting to look possible.  I am going to start out slow, doing it from my home and soon you will be able to order fabric from my sister etsy site- madfabrics.  What type of fabrics would you like to see?  I am partial to fabrics like Sun Drop by Dena and of course all Heather Bailey fabrics.  Right now I am starting with Free Spirit Fabrics but hope to include Amy Butler, Michael Miller, Alexander Henry, and more down the road. 

Can you feel my excitement??? 

Pictures are in! Yay!

Both Soccer pictures and Dance pictures came in this week and I'm so excited about how each turned out!  I feel so blessed to have such beautiful children- inside and out.

Something else arrived this week and I can't wait to use them!  I now officially have REAL labels to put on my products.  They are woven labels and I love the look of them.  I may have to order a bunch in different colors so I can match the prints I use.  I really like black and white though so I may just stick to these for a while.  I have an obsession with always wanting more... Gotta get over that :)

Last Week Part 2

Where were we?  Ah... I think we are now to Friday.  What an interesting day that was.  Jaden was in a play that morning so me and Mad took off to the school to see him.  All students in Merit (gifted program) have been learning about Black History and put on a neat little play about how far we have come since segregation.  Jaden was a peaceful protestor.  He and a group of other peaceful protestors walked across the stage with signs of protest.  I would have shown you a picture but it happened so fast I didn't have time to get my camera out of my purse!  He did do a great job though :)

Once I got home from the play, I remembered I had to fix a shirt for Maddie's class.

Since it was leap day, she had to have a frog and bring 29 things.  I got confused and thought it all had to be on her shirt.  It's been a long week what can I say?  I took an old blank t-shirt and printed out a clipart frog onto an iron-on printable fabric.  Cut it out, ironed it on, then took safety pins, added a purple bead to each one, then pinned 29 of them onto her shirt.  It actually turned out pretty cute for only 20 minutes of work. Of course, all she really had to wear was green.  At least the frog was green!

After that I dropped Maddie off at school and then went straight to the sale.  There were gobs of people in the store being the first day open to the public so it was very busy.  At random times there would loads of people and then it would be nobody.  Never can tell- Nothing out of the ordinary and I really just chatted with the other ladies there most of the time.  One time though I almost laughed out loud.  A customer had come up to my table and was looking at the Hot Iron Mitts and was going on and on about how cute they were to her friend.  Probably said "This is just too cute" 4 times and then looked at her friend and said, "What is it?".  I was so glad I had my back turned becuase I really almost cackled.  I was just about to get up to let her know what it was when her friend saw the sign I had up explaining what they were.  So funny. 

For dinner, my best friend Brandi and I had made plans to meet at Chili's to eat supper and then she was going to come back and sit with me to keep me company until we closed up at 9pm.  I have to explain first where we were.  In Columbus, we have 2 main streets really perpendicular to each other.  Our store was on the end of one of them, Hwy. 45.  I had to travel back towards the middle of town to get to Chili's.  When I left I had no idea anything was going on down the street.  I got about a 1/2 mile down the road and I started noticing several business had cops with lights on just sitting in the parking lots.   I first noticed them at Best Western, then a little further, they were lined up on the side street beside Walmart, then across the road they were all over a small bank, and then again down another side street near a shopping plaza.  I had visions of Walmart being evacuated the night before and wondered if there was another CODE BLUE!  I went on to Chili's and as soon as I walked in they had one of their TVs turned up loud so everyone could hear tuned into the local news.  There had been a shooting and 4 people had been shot, one being one of two suspects, the other was still at large.  I noticed a few older couples got up and left the restaurant.  Now me, I was thinking why would anyone come into Chili's?  It's on the other end of the highway so I figured we were pretty safe.  It turns out that what happened was the guy that started everything had confronted his wife and an ex-city counselman that were together of an affair and then starting shooting, first the man and then his wife.  All of this in front of a pump-n-save.  Then he started walking away, when a patrolman showed up.  The officer was also shot and then the guy took the police car to a nearby bank, left the car and on foot went near walmart (still not sure if he went in or not), then was found by the best western and shot in the head.  Everyone survived but the shooter (from what i've heard but it's only a rumor) is braindead.  Before I knew all the details, my friend and I ate our dinner then headed back to Cooper's.  After hearing all kinds of stories of what might have happened we closed up shop and headed home.

Still lots of activity going on but we couldn't resist trying to get some kind of picture of it.  The only place we could get close to was the bank.

We needed a reason to be at McDonald's to get the picture so we went through drive-thru and I got a caramel sundae.  Brandi wanted ice cream too so after we got the picture we went to Sonic and she got a fudge cake sundae.  The complete store is that there were never two suspects, just alot of confusing reports from everyone that it seemed as if there were two.  They had gotten the one suspect pretty quickly after all of it happened to begin with.

Got back home safe and sound (and I might add extremely full) and was pretty tired after all that! 

Saturday seemed pretty tame compared to the past few days.  Traffic in the store stayed steady but when the half price sale started there were lots and lots of people coming in.  I had my best show yet there and I have to say I am pleased and feel like it was well worth my time.  I left a little earlier since I was so tired.  I packed everything up and was out of there around 7:30pm, went home and crashed.

I must have slept hard because I woke up with a crick in my neck.  We went to church and then planned to come home and grill chicken for lunch.  It was such a beautiful day!  It was so breezy and nice we opened up all the windows and doors in the house and just enjoyed it.

 

Jaden went over to a friends house to play.  Maddie asked us if we had a kite and of course we don't.  BUT I came up with a great idea for one.  For Valentine's Day we got the kids heart balloons along with some goodies that still have air in them (can you believe it?).  I cut off the weight and tied a really long piece of yarn to the existing string.   It was great!  Maddie even made a paper tail for it.  It made the perfect kite since it never falls to the ground, even when the wind died down. HA.

 

Last Week Part 1

I have soooo much to share with all of you that it's gonna take more than one post to get it all in-  Let me just give you an overview of what there is to come...

1- 4 days before sale, both sewing machines break

2- 1 embroidery/sewing machine purchased

3- cooper's closet, the sale begins

4- walmart is evacuated

5- shootout in columbus, suspect at large... all in the area where i am.

6- extreme exhaustion

7- BEAUTIFUL weather!

see how i can't possibly get it all in at one sitting???

Let us begin with my trusty machines... If you are like me, even if you cram and cram and try to be prepared that is always something else that you want to add to your sale.  Or you get new ideas all at once and want to have them with you etc. etc.  On Monday I just about had a break down.  I still (in my head) had so much to make and therefore was sewing all day/night to get everything finished.  Forget about meesly needles breaking.  I have learned that that can be easily fixed.  When the lifeblood of your business becomes possessed, not so easily fixed. 

So I'm sewing and first, for starters, my machine would just randomly stop sewing.  I'd have the peddle all the way down and then it would just stop.  I would have to wait like 10 seconds, blow on it, then it would go again and then stop again.  At other times, I would take my foot OFF the peddle and it would keep going and going and going.  It would even speed up sometimes.  I know if someone would have walked in on me during either of these times they would put me away.  I would talk to the machine as if it would help or something.  Sometimes I would baby talk to it, other times I was screaming at it.  You get the point.  Funny how neither worked.  I finally resorted to using my back up which is the same machine I learned how to sew on, 20+ years ago.  I use it from time to time to make sure it keeps on ticking so I knew it SHOULD have worked.  Anyhoo, it would not pull up the bobbin thread.  Figured out the timing was off or something.  I tried everything, cleaned it really well, changed tension etc. but nothing.. nada.. zilch.  So what did I do?  I called my dad.  At this point I was a little frazzled so he came right over and tried and tried to fix both but to no avail.  When Paul got home from work he looked at them too.  He took my old one apart, fixed the timing (looked on the internet), and got it the thread the bobbin but there was still something wrong because all it did was knot all the thread up when it sewed.  I told him to give it up, since it wasn't getting any better.  I just figured I would go get a new one the next day.  I've been wanting a new one for years now so I guess it was a sign.  I drove to Tupelo the next day and got this-

Bernina Aurora 430.  I got the embroidery parts as well, even though they aren't pictured here.  My next goal is to get a laptop to use with it so I don't have to haul it into my bedroom where our home computer is when I want to monogram something.  I upgraded the software so I can digitize designs.  My friend Matt Warren (he is a graphics designer and you can contact him here), designed my new logo so I'm excited to get to monogram it onto some things.

After getting over the initial -sick to my stomach- feeling after purchasing this little item, I have now started to really get excited about what it can do.  Of course my husband is still a little sickly but he fully supported my decision to get it and he has promised to help keep me focused on getting it paid off quickly! 

Tuesday I read and read about it and tried a few things out with it, but mainly played around and didn't get anything done.  Wednesday however, I got down to business with it and I really like it! Thursday was the day we could set up our tables for Cooper's and I got to use my new fixtures!  Thank you again Dad!!!   Here it is- 

My friend Jean was across from me and she makes THE cutest hairbows ever-

My other friend Rebecca has a store downtown called A Few of my Favorite Things and she also had a table at the sale.  She has some great things too.  She gets a lot of her items from Etsy sellers like me and she makes custom signs and tiles also.  I love the tutus!

Yet another friend whom I met at Cooper's Closet is Kristen who is listed under my favorite peeps... She has her own site and can do so many things- Be sure and check out her site SincerelyKristen. I didn't get a good picture of her table but if you go to her site, you can see alot more of what she can do.

Let's see... where do I go from here?  O yeah, on Thursday night, on my way home, I stopped at walmart to pick up a clear frame for my table for a sign I forgot I wanted to put out.  I got all the way to the framing aisle when over the intercom I hear a shaky voice calling out "Attention all customers: please evacuate the building. now." As soon as I heard it I thought, did I hear that right?  And then the same person came on again with a little more voice than before, "Attention all customers and associates: Evacuate the building now.  Leave your items and go.  Associates, Code Blue, Code Blue." After that everyone left as if an ant pile had just been stepped on.  The only thing I could think of was a bomb threat maybe?  I wasn't going to stick around and find out!  I got in my nice close parking space and got out of there.  I figured if a bomb went off, I sure wasn't safe in the parking lot!  As did alot of other people, I went to Kmart down the street and get what I needed.  Not what I wanted, but it would do. 

I'll have to fill you in on the shooting and more tomorrow.  My brain is a little fried still and the day today is too beautiful not to enjoy it.