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.

Where I've Been...

I'm rounding the bend on having an Etsy shop open for an entire month. If you've been paying much attention, you've noticed that I haven't posted any new items in my shop since the October 1st opening.

What the heck have I been up to??

First and foremost, I was resting. I had toe surgery the last week of September, and that slowed me down more than I had originally planned. Also, I sewed every free moment leading up to the Wistful Stitches shop opening...and that left me a little burned out.

Last week, I jumped back in the sewing saddle out of necessity. Halloween (our family's favorite holiday) was quickly approaching, and I had four costumes to make. We're all going as a garden gnomes this year, so the work was fun - but intense. Especially since I managed to volunteer myself to make my daughter's and my dresses from scratch...and also managed to NOT obtain any sort of a pattern. Her dress/apron is pictured to the right. I have a few odds and ends to tie up, but this will all be done before the gnomes head out of our house on Saturday.

I was also working on a pair of colorful Euro shams (26" x 26") for a custom order customer (pictured left). I can't wait to see a follow-up picture of these babies with their pillows!