Whats going on in the world of my crafty space....new additions to the space!

What a lovely day I had with my other mum today!
I picked her up at 9am and we headed to Jim and Pattys in Portland,Oregon,
My favorite drink there is the soviet mocha-NUMM! made with sour cream-don't knock it until you've tried it ya'll! Jim and Pattys is the org. Coffee People. After the buy out of Starbucks (boo!) Coffee people no longer....was Coffee People- total bummer! I hadn't lived in Oregon for very long at the time they had released the information that they were going to be selling out and no longer be around... so sad *insert hypothetical tear here* ...................Then about a year ago..my husband was crusing the web and saw somthing about "Jim and Pattys, The Org. Coffee People" ..when I saw the photo..BINGO! it was them!!! they had a cafe! I was totally stoked- few days later we drove to get our paws on the goods....and.....its like it should be..all over again... without the drive threw-the treats are still amazing and the coffee still so delish.......... okay...so i'm done rambeling!
So, after we had left Jim & Pattys we jolted to IKEA... because..how can you not LOVE IKEA!
I had been pondering how to "cut off" my sewing/craft corner (AKA- use to be our dining room that was never used in our apartment) from the rest of the place...I needed a little space to allow my creativity to flow and our bedroom with a King Sized bed wasn't working so, I did a little research. I began to think I would buy a sound board- to block out the noise- a fake wall to bolt to the ceiling, cubical walls to add a little privacy. Then it donned on me! IKEA! they had the answer!! The key to my "issue"......
A wire "rod" that you hook to the wall or ceiling by two brackets that bend and voila! The only problem was- I wasn't sure how i'd do it. So today, I took the leap. Invested the $12 somthing on the wire rod and another $15 on the curtains to boot... a large savings over the "screen" I would have ended up with that is really..not private at all-and would become a chew toy for my house bunny. We had also browsed- I ended up with a rod and 3 hanging thingy majigs and a $10 as-is rug that matches a fellow grey rug we have from IKEA also-which i'm going to move into my craft area and put the old grey rug back into the living room- The red plays off our red couch too much-clashes!

This is one corner of my area-see the curtain peeking by? Jar full of thread spools ..and of course the cup that reminds me.... :) The new rack with pink "buckets" newly installed today-very clever...those IKEA Designers!

The print of my new curtains- Black and White- Birds sit upon the branches

Messy Yet organized..those blue boxes sitting on the floor have TONS of notion goodness-vintage and other misc. Still trying to figure out a wall for those! and of course, my mess-need to be folded bins of fabric!

A small opening for the walkway to the living room

Kind of a mess still. This is my cutting and computer desk-I working in a small space

I just whipped this up really quick tonight as the boys were watching a movie. I just measured and cut, thats how I like to do things! The linen was a vintage table cloth that had gotten ruined by company so, rather than tossing it I cut it up for a sewing machine cover! The bias tape is vintage- JC Penny & Co.. The floral fabric was a steal at Fabric Depot (Approx $3.00 a yard!) I thought it was wicked cute! The cotton lace was $.25 cents a yard!!!! I bought almost all they had!

Another part of my mess! The chair under my photo box was my Grandfathers, the table is at my aunts..im waiting to go get it once I have space, for now the chair is all I could take :) It use to have mates but age takes its toll. The set im sure is over 50 years old. All those purses hanging on my poor mani are bags ive made for either The Zakka Style SAL or for Purse Polooza :) poor Mani is getting weighed down..Those resin dolls hidden in various places of my craft area are- Berries & Co- I collect them

.............my mess..............
Anyways..just wanted to share!

Promising yet not eventful

Today was interesting.
I woke up at my normal "Day off time" of 9am and the hubby and I got out the door at about 10:15Am to run errands. I had wanted to complete a few projects today and get maybe a few things in my shop that are new. Since taking a long break from my Etsy shop SpunkyChildDesign I pondered at either shutting it down completely because it was taking up all the free time I had after working an already full time job, or just taking a long break. So in the end, the long break and a 10 day vacation from work really helped. So for the first few items I had created since my nearly 2 months from my Etsy shop I listed them and then sold 4 items within those 48 hours which was and always is, thrilling.
Today I thought I wanted to make a few clutches- I fly by the seat of my pants normally when I create things that are from my imagination and not from someone elses pattern that ive been able to recreate with there permission and all rights given to them in my Etsy listings. I decided I would just start on something for my mother for her Mothers Day gift, which I cut and got things together and then decided not to start on it yet until I had more energy.
So, 2 sugar free Rockstars later its almost Monday and...well....
this is what i've done today............

I have been accumulating a lot of scraps since I started sewing again about 6 months ago and I have been wanting to make something out of them. I had began to make a lap quilt and then stopped doing that because it was just awkward and kind of annoying. So, I first cut out 3x3 squares and sewn them togeather then cut them again in 1 1/2 inch rectangles and these little pretties were born. I even ran to the Dollar Tree to get a pretty mug :) I am now thinking with the rest of my scraps and maybe even more, I will make a few of these and put them in my Etsy shop for fun! Because...who needs a pile of these laying around? I already have one I made myself during 2nd week of the Zakka Sew Along!

Good night!

Zakka Zakka Zakka!

After beginning the Zakka Sew Along with the Zakka Style Book Compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale 24 projects stitched with ease to give,use & enjoy.... I am addicted! So many fun projects! 

 I had a lot of fun sewing this Zig Zag Tote for week 1. Week 1 came during Easter and well, many folks enjoy the holidays with there families and I was over a hundred miles away from home to completed the tote in time for the link up. I finished it the next day and this was my outcome. The zig zag doesn't have pointed peaks like they should but, I think my color variations and the fact I used a colored linen was fun!

 The house pouch to the right was really fun too! I used a (hard to see in the photo) cotton fabric that looks lacy and femanine for the roof. I followed the directions fairly close other than adding long stems and leafes to the flowers and adding a welcome wooden door sign that says "Welcome The Raichels" to make this house more personal! The interior is light blue with a white floral pattern. I used a lighter than "normal" linen for the main body of this pouch. I think I will take this lovely with me when we go on trips for my sewing goodies!

The Zakka Pincushion was week 3's project. 

I followed the directions again fairly close, adding my own flair to the project. The pin cushion on the left didn't turn out as I had wanted to. So, I made a second. The pin cushion on the right I think came out very sweet. I pieced together 1 inch squares to add a little quilt action to it, something that i've very new at still! I have not made a large quilt, I think the biggest quilt I've made was my mug rug! :)

For week 4 the above photo is of my version of the sewing kit. I used an almost duck canvas for the exterior and a summertime print for the interior. I hand stamped pink flowers on the exterior and two black flowers on the interior. This was a fun project, fairly simple to create and something i'll use on the go! I normally take sewing projects with me to work if I know my lunch time will be boring.  For week 5 i'm done I just need to perfect it a little and then i'll be posting that boogar tomarrow for the link up :)!

Now, for the rest of the day.....................

Yesterday I had been browsing threw a Craft Warehouse ad (my fav. close by store for fabric) from the paper and saw a new book.... I <3 Patchwork, 21 irresistible zakka projects to sew by Rashida Coleman-hale. It was on sale! I had to snatch one up! I phoned craft warehouse, spoke to a woman in the quilting department and found out they didn't have any! :( I was bummed! So, the lovely sweet lady, as they always are! said "we will give you a call when we find one or it comes in, it looks like we only have 2! just somewhere!" so within an hour I received a phone call... "we found you a book!" I was so excited "I said, "oh thank you so much for calling me back! I am excited, I will come get it right after work" which...I did..... 

This book is very cute! the projects just as sweet as the compiled Zakka Style book... I highly suggest it! 

Maybe there will be a sew-along for this one too??? 

Happy Sewing!

This isn't Folgers in my cup!

5 days a week I work as most folks do. I however, probably like many, Decide that getting up almost 3 hours prior to needing to be at work is a fantastic idea.
This morning I woke up with a massive migraine. Sometimes I wake up with those things and feel just awful!
So, I got up and hopped in the shower. Then began my morning routine. Hair,Makeup, Etc.
My husband makes me a fresh pot of coffee every morning. I don't drink Folgers by the way, just thought it was catchy! I drink Geravallia. Any-hoot....
I normally pick out my outfit and then move on into my studio and cruise the internet for about an hour, then get dressed and head out the door.
This morning as I began the ritual after my hair and makeup, I walked into the living room and let my house rabbit out of her kennel so she could stretch her legs, as I do every morning.
She hops out of her Timothy Hay bed (that is well kept in a large kitty litter box) and stretched, yawned and then started running around the house like she normally does.
Rather than being quit with her run she was thumping around making a lot of noise!
She ran around the living room, under our futon couch, out from under neath it, into my studio, around and down the hall, then back into the living room. I look over and say "you think you can be any quieter?????" then she began running again, then ran down the hall and oopsie! I forgot to close our bedroom door. SO then I hear her run into my bedroom, she probably jumped up onto the bed where my husband is sleeping, then off again. She has an obsession with our closet. She will go into our closet and just lay down.. like she's now a piece of the carpet.
I go in there and whisper, im sure loudly and say "GET OUT OF HERE MISSY!" she gives me a look like "I am not doing anything wrong, I don't know what your talking about, I'm quit, your the loud one!" (I make up words for her often,yes I do realize rabbits can not speak human) Then instead of hopping out quietly, she darts down the hall as if my brother is chasing her-which is a normal game between them, he thinks she loves getting chased..and i'm beginning to think she does...
I chase her now and then in a slow run and stomp my feet a little, she wiggles her butt, throws it into the air and does this head, and ear thing where is like shes throwing long waves of hair back, its really ridiculous! but so cute...
.
So, I go into the kitchen to make my lunch for my day. I made Pineapple sesame teriyaki chick breast strips in the oven, I then cool it down and put it over a 4 green salad and top it off with sesame dressing for my lunch. YUMO!
I look over the counter and oh...who's sitting there on her hind legs with her paws to her chest looking at me with her big beautiful brown eyes... Gypsee... this is her routine of "Mom, give me a Carrot NOW!"
So.. i shred off the icky outsides and hand it to her, she grabs it in her teeth and runs off which again, looks ridiculous because the carrot is partially dragging on the floor and in her mouth.Gypsee weighs 13 pounds..shes a big girl and VERY healthy at that.

So, now that I have been done making my lunch and sitting in my studio shes laying under my ironing board around the corner and when I get up to do anything, top off my coffee or see if my husband is awake yet..she's staring at me like 'excuse me sit down now!' like she's the boss....

However, she does kind of own me!
:)

She even has the red eye thing down perfectly! One of her fun things to do is rip up paper so, our recycled paper or boxes normally goes to her first... confidential documents needing to be shredded? no prob, shes got my back!

Have a great morning ya'll!