For the love

For any of you who have started your own business - you know that it is 100% NOT about the money. Yes, money is great - but the costs of starting up your own business (especially when still working full-time and caring for a family) take a while to recoup.

I wish I could say while waving from my brand new car leaving my mansion in a Colorado ski resort town that I could be describing why I sew...but I'm not.

I'm sitting in my little home with my little car (with the change oil light on) sewing until my fingers go numb in the wee hours of the morning telling you that I do it because it makes people smile. Opening a one-of-a-kind gift is so special. It brings a light to peoples faces that I cannot express.

A friend of mine posted these pictures on my personal Facebook page, and I wanted to share them with you.She ordered a star busy toy with an owl. It was intended to be a Christmas gift, but she just couldn't wait. Her little son got to play with his new toy the day it arrived!

The look on his sweet little face makes these late nights worth every cup of coffee the next morning!

He decided his new owl friend needed to have a story read to it! :) So precious!!

Do you have pictures of a Wistful Stitches item being loved? Please send them on the Wistful Stitches facebook page or email them to me at wistfulstitches@gmail.com. I will only post pictures to Facebook or this blog with your permission. The greatest reward for me is to see something I create being loved! :)

It feels great when you pass the "kid" test!

Head on over to Stay At Home Babe's blog to catch her review of one of my buckle stars!!

Custom orders for Christmas...

If you are thinking about ordering custom work from Wistful Stitches for Christmas gifts this year, please see the following deadlines:

Orders for custom blankets must be received by November 20.
Orders for custom buckle toys must be received by December 5.

Of course anything in my shop is available right up until Christmas Day (depending on the amount you are willing to pay for overnight shipping). Quantities are limited, so it is possible that I could run out of items before you last minute shoppers commit to a purchase.

Do note, I don't charge anything additional for custom star buckle toys - you tell me (or find me) what color/pattern/character fleece you want, and I'll make it! :)

Send an email to wistfulstitches@gmail.com for more information about custom orders!

It's a bird...it's a plane...yeah, it's really a plane

Last week was busy. I had to get an excessive amount of work done before I could pack for three days and three nights away to visit family and celebrate my cousin's son's first birthday. I worked late nights and early mornings to get everything done. By Thursday, I was exhausted. I chose to grab a quick nap (rather than pass out) before packing. I laid down in my bed. The house was quiet, the dogs were calm. All conditions were perfect for my brain to take a quick rest.

Then it happened. I decided that the gift I had planned to give my "super" cousin was just not enough. I wanted something special just for him. Apparently, my sleep-deprived state provided the artistic inspiration to make him his own plush airplane. I had to do it now. Not after a quick nap. Not after a moment of rest. NOW.

I got up and sketched the design.

Cut a pile of colorful pieces...



I sewed.

I seam ripped.

I sewed again.

I stuffed.

I unstuffed.

I seam ripped and resewed.

To this end...

He loved it, but you'll have to take my word for it. I don't have photographic evidence because I was taking pictures with someone else's camera! :)

The theme for this week?? Buckle toys. Oodles and gobs of buckle toys.

Stay tuned!

Custom Euro Shams

The greatest reward for someone who creates is when their work is appreciated by others.

Here are the custom shams I recently made...


Amy was so eager to get them on her pillows and snap a picture you can still see the folds from shipping! Love it!!

Purchasing stock in felt, fabric and yarn

I thought about tipping you folks off so you could put your pennies into the felt, fabric and yarn markets prior to this weekend. I was concerned about insider trading, and would like to keep my similarities with Martha Stewart to remain in the sewing realm -- so I kept my mouth shut.


It was a lot of fun dressing up for the Halloween contests at a local park (we were judges and not participants). Tonight is trick-or-treating with the little one, so we can get the most bang per stitch before these costumes get hung up.

Full disclosure: while I did make both of the shirts the guys are wearing...it was years ago.

Buckle Toy in Action

Some folks have been looking at the buckle toys in my shop, but aren't quite sure what they are. I wanted to post a picture of one in action... (Thanks to this all-star buckler and his mom for showing us how it's done!) Notice his use of tongue for extreme concentration!

For starters, the little one might need help getting the buckles open. Even help lining up one or two...then they're off to the races.

We affectionately call our family buckle toy "Buckles." It goes with us in the car, but is also great when little hands tend to get into each and every thing when I'm trying to do something else. We can pull out Buckles (which is almost always greeted with cheer) to give her something constructive to do.