Getting Down to the Wire...

I start graduate school in just three weeks, and I have a BUNCH of projects to get done before I am busy, busy, busy...at least, busier. It's already been a very busy summer, but I guess I better get used to it. In any case, I have a few things to post about.

First off, here is the giveaway project I've been working on for Jel...she wanted a pink, green and purple theme for her wall organizer...I am saving the purple part for last  because I want that to be a surprise...hehehe. Hope you like it, Jel!

The next thing I have to share is a dress and headband I made for nannying. It is bright, cheerful, and is modest enough for work...AND has pockets! 

It has the same type of back as the red dress for Hawaii. And I love the pleats on the skirt.

I had fun wearing it to the Franklin Park Zoo recently. Great photo opps.

Here's the matching headband, which I also made for a friend.

I've also been asked to make a bear and blanket for a baby shower, in the Baylor University school colors. I'm excited about that one too, although disappointed in Joann's for not having better fabric choices for those colors.

 In related news, I am putting my bears on clearance on my shop...I decided not to renew my MA stuffed toy license, since I didn't even make back the cost of the license last year, so if you've been wanting one...now is the time! I am selling them at cost...I've put a couple on clearance already, but if you want one that isn't changed yet, I'll refund you on PayPal. I'm still going to make them for friends at cost, so don't worry...I'll still be posting those cuties. And I plan to come up with some new things for my shop that don't require a yearly $300 license. Anyhoo...on to other things.

Today I learned how to change my rotary blade. It's really easy! 

Turned the position so that the blade in unlocked and remove the screw (I thought locked seemed safer, but apparently it also locks the screw).

Carefully remove the cover and blade, and put the new blade in place. Put the old blade into the plastic from the new one to save yourself from any cuts.

Replace the cover and blade on the handle and attach the screw. You're done! I couldn't believe the difference this made....yay! Anything you're wrapping up as the summer comes to a close?



And the Winner Is...

...entry number 7, Jel!

Congratulations, Jel, you have won a Quilted Wall Hanging Organizer! I can't wait to see what you come up with! :) Thanks to everyone who entered!

Only One More Day To Enter My Giveaway!

The giveaway will close tomorrow night for the Quilted Fabric Wall Hanging Organizer, custom made just for you! I hope you pass this along and can't wait to see what the winner will design!



Celebrating 101 Posts with a Giveaway!



That's right, even Slinky is getting in on the celebration! Today marks the 101st post on Silver Rose Sewing! It's been a long road so far, but I'm not stopping now! When I started this blog, I needed a creative outlet to give me something positive while in the throws of a back injury and unemployment. Since then, I've opened my Etsy shop, learned new sewing techniques, gained confidence, and after a lot of ups and down, gotten a job! Now, I've finished my newest project, a quilted fabric wall hanging organizer. I hope you enjoy it! 

I chose large pockets in a blue and white vine print, with pockets for ribbon, needles, scissors, misc. and scraps.

The pockets are fairly strong, able to hold a heavy remote and several cutting devices in each pocket.

Ribbons are placed around the edges to hang the organizer to the wall without seeing the nails.

Each pocket is embroidered with a label.

The organizer is built like a quilt, with batting in the center to give it some heft. I've hung mine above my cutting area so all my materials are at hand.

And now...it's your turn to win your own custom organizer! Size, number of pockets, orientation, color, labels...all up to you! There are several ways to enter! Leave a comment for each entry.

*Mandatory* Be a follower of the blog and tell me how you would use your organizer. (1 entry)

Be a fan on Facebook. (1 entry)

Add Silver Rose Sewing's Etsy shop as a favorite. (1 entry)

Buy an item from Silver Rose Sewing. (3 entries)

I'm so excited about this new project and I hope you like it too! Let me know what you think and any ideas you may have when you leave your entry comments. Happy 101 Posts!

New Projects, 50% Off Supplies, and A Giveaway!



Well, I stopped by Joann Fabrics while my prescriptions were being filled and everything I needed for my upcoming projects were 50%, plus I get my 15% teacher discount...I had to take advantage. So I bought my fabrics for the sewing room before the chair arrived...I think they will work. The yellow is for the window treatment, and the patterns are for pillows for the chair. The blue tie-backs are for the window as well, and the white cord is for the stripey pillow. I am so excited about the colors in this room and I can't wait to see it all put together!

Here are the fabrics for the quilted wall hanging organizer that I am adding to my sewing room, and eventually my shop. The solids are for the background, while the patterns are for the pockets and edging. 

I am going to use one of the blues with the white background.

Then there are two brown options...

...and a black option. I have other colors too, but these are the new fabrics, anyway. Ribbon ties will be placed around the edges to hang it on the wall, and the pockets will be embroidered with labels, or names. I'm thinking for the sewing room I will have pockets for scraps, scissors, measuring tape, things like that. I also thought of one for the entryway with pockets for mail, netflix to send back, and a pocket for car keys, since we tend to trade off sometimes and it can get confusing. I thought of an organizer for beside a child's bed with pockets for binkies, stuffed animals, books, and other special items that would otherwise get lost in the bed.

And since the 100th post is coming up soon (EEK!!), when I post my finished sewing room organizer, I will open up a giveaway for your own, personalized organizer for one special winner. I will announce details and ways to enter next time. Until then, what do you think of the new idea?!

And the winner Is.....

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 20

Result: 6

Karilan Designs!

#6: Tweeted about your giveaway!

Congratulations! And thank you for helping me celebrate One Month of blogging!

One Month Giveaway!

In honor of my first month of blogging, I'm having a giveaway! You can win a custom item from my shop, or I will work with you to design something else unique to you! There will be 7, count them, 7 ways to enter! Hopefully with your help, this giveaway will increase awareness for my blog, facebook page and Etsy shop, which will of course make me eternally grateful, and in turn you get a fabulous, CUSTOM prize! Are you excited?! I hope so! Here's how YOU could win!

How to Enter:

Each of these actions is counted as one entry, and you must leave a comment telling me which action you took. For example, "I tweeted your giveaway" and "I bought an item" would be two comments and two entries.

1. INITIAL ENTRY (MANDATORY): Become a public follower on this blog.

2. Visit Silver Rose Sewing and tell me what item you love!

3. Purchase any item at my Silver Rose Sewing Etsy shop.

4. Add the Silver Rose Sewing shop to your favorite sellers on Etsy

5. Grab the Silver Rose Sewing Button and display it on your blog.

6. Blog or Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link in the comments.

7. Become a fan of Silver Rose Sewing on Facebook.

 The giveaway will end in one week, Wednesday, July 21st at 11:59pm. Make sure that I have a way to contact you if you are the winner, so if you do not have your email public on your blogger profile, leave it in your comment.

So what are you waiting for??? Enter the giveaway and spread the word!

One Month!

Well, it has been a whole month since I started this blog, and just a little over a month since I started sewing. It seems like such a short period of time, and yet it also feels like the time is going by very slow. I'm still struggling to sleep at night, and subsequently sleep most of the morning away. I hate this, I feel so unproductive! I suppose a lot of it has to do with a mix up at the doctor's office with my hormone therapy....didn't refill my prescription for two weeks! This might not seem like a big deal, but when dealing with endometriosis, it makes a big impact. Needless to say, I've had a big swing in headaches and fatigue, and some pain on my right side which may or may not be a cyst. It's really slowed me down this week and gotten me in a rotten mood. I go through spurts of feeling really geared up about my sewing projects to feeling like nothing will come of it and I won't find a job come September. My back has flared a bit (again, possibly the hormones) and I'm feeling like I did before I started sewing. Just a little frustrated and disappointed and down spirited.

But again, I have to remind myself that it has only been a month! What a short time to change gears so drastically! I'm wondering what the rest of this year will have in store for me.

Since I'm sponsoring a giveaway on the Bloomin' Babies blog, it got me to thinking about doing one myself. Would any of you readers be interested in a custom order giveaway here on Silver Rose Sewing? Let me know your thoughts!

Well, that's all for now. It's really late (or should I say early!) and I'm hoping this venting will help me clear my mind and get some sleep. I have a lot of projects coming up, including making a birthday gift for a friend's son's first birthday. And I better get some sleep if I'm going to finish all the work I have planned! Good night....or morning?

I'm Sponsoring A Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I'm sponsoring a giveaway of two of my custom items over at the Bloomin' Babies blog, which follows several women trying to conceive. It is a very inspiring blog, and they are celebrating 100 followers this week with several giveaways. It will run for a week and there are many ways to enter, so please check it out and share with your friends! You can find it here:
http://bloominbabies.blogspot.com/2010/07/100-followers-giveaway-celebration-day.html

An Apron Giveaway - Go enter!

Over on Oops! I Craft my Pants, a great blog I follow, they are giving away a Flirt Apron, which are super, super cute! There are five chances to enter, so go do it now!
http://www.oopsicraftmypants.net/2010/06/flirty-apron-giveaway.html