$5 granite!

Ok, now that I have your attention, I will tell you what I've done. This will be a before and after post with reference to my kitchen.

Here's what I started with. I'm not sure if you can tell, but it's white contact paper on top of 3/4" plywood. That's what makes up our bar for now.

And here's the same bar, in granite!

Here's our coffee bar before

And here's our coffee bar now!

Looks nice with the matching granite huh? Ah if only it were real granite. Ok folks, in addition to hot glue and spray paint, here's a little trick I've learned about faking it. Take 3/4 inch plywood, and cover it with contact paper. That's all. True it doesn't really feel like granite, and it's not nearly as durable, and if you look close (like in the same room) you can tell that it's not granite, but for $5 a roll, you can just replace it instead of having to re-seal it. Don't like the color anymore? Five more bucks will get you a whole new look. Now this is NOT our final solution to this. We will eventually get real counter tops and use the plwood for something else, but for now we're happy fakin' it and savin' all that money for other things, like more contact paper.

The Riddler Syndrome

In the movie Batman Forever, Edward Nigma (before he turned into "The Riddler", but after he put on the crazy helmet) states that "If knowledge is power, then a god am I". Some real life people seem to feel that was about themselves. I met one of these people last night and felt a little sad that I had paid to see her, in my opinion, make an ass of herself. I know that sounds a little harsh, but here's the scenario; The Viking Sewing Gallery was offering a seminar by a lady (Kothy, and no I did not misspell Kathy) who writes some of their software, tests their new products, and knew everything there was to know about the use of machines and their design applications. I was intrigued, and went to said seminar with high expectations of numerous "AHA!" moments as well as gathering other relevant knowledge and learning what future options are out there for me. What I got was someone who was obviously a very accomplished seamstress, and she knew it. The short version of her story, aside from the afore mentioned things, was that her grand-mother was a German bridal gown designer/maker and that Kothy was raised by her and subsequently picked up the trade at age 7 or 8 when she began sewing on buttons and installing zippers. Cute story huh? She went on to say that she was a "Master Quilter" which is apparently a real title and not one she gave herself because she's good, and several other titles that I don't remember. She also stated that she had taken several classes in super advanced sewing, and had worked for Viking for x amount of years. I was fine with all that and in fact I was happy with the thought that we would be led for the evening by someone with accredidations (a fancy word for you're good and other people agree) and not just someone who had been doing it all her life, not that I'm knocking that in any way as my thought is that you don't have to have a title to be awesome.
Anyway on with the story. She began giving her speil and we were all awed and inspired when she began pulling out things she had made. There were pillows and quilts and clothing items oh my! She showed us how to put in an invisible zipper, use a ruffler (which is an attachment/foot for your sewing machine that automatically makes and sews ruffles when you feed material through it, and I want one at some point), and how to add cording/piping/welting to a pillow. Yeeeah baby, I was getting my money's worth. Then she proceeded to tell us some other things and that's where my fascination stopped and my irritation began. To someone who has been doing this professionally most of her life, things really are that simple and let's face it, she really did write a book on it, but to what she pointed out that we all were "novices"(and some of these older ladies seemed like they knew their stuff), it isn't always that easy and doesn't always make that much sense. She started telling us how awesome she was and what all she did, and that she was always a perfectionist, and the list goes on. I tuned out most of what she said during the quilting portion mostly because I don't quilt and have little to no interest in it, but also because I was just trying to process that she had basically just called us all hacks and said that we would never be as good as her. I'm not imagining that she really said pretty much that. My "wow you know alot, that is so cool" turned into "wow you sure are full of yourself and seem to enjoy making other people feel stupid and unworthy". I don't have, don't want, and don't need a $10,000+ sewing machineand all of its attachments, and intimate knowledge of how the software works, I'm just a "novice" who wouldn't even know how/where to apply everything there ever is/was to know.
That brings us to my last gripe about this seminar, and what I thought was a pretty darned good question that she again, attempted to make me feel inferior about but I don't because she's a jerk and I'm right. I was glad to have a computer geek husband that I have picked up a tiny bit of information from. She was going into the software part and explaining some of it, I was interested again. My plan was to attempt to understand and retain enough of it to come home and discuss it with Henry and see what he thought. Now we all know that software does not stay up to date forever, and that many times it causes our computers to fail as they can not keep up with all the information being shoved at it. The same thing applies to these new sewing/embroidery machines as they operate with a computer program. Without a computer program all you have is a fancy sewing machine with alot of potential and an extra part but all you can do is sew, no embroidery, no monogramming, no appliques, nothing unless you can do the old school freehanding of all those things which IS possible and was done for a long time before these new machines cam out. You'd have to be really good to achieve the quality that the machine can do on its own, think manual transmission/stick shift vs an automatic with an inexperienced driver behind the wheel and that's a lot of bucking and jumping you can avoid. My question was this: When Windows goes to a new version that surpasses the compatability of the software that comes with the sewing machine, will there be an upgrade program sent out so that you can continue using your software and sewing machine? I'm going to try to explain this so that my mom can understand what I just said when she reads this. Computers work by using software that gets bigger and better with time, that's why your computer has to be upgraded or replaced every so often so that it will continue to work faster than cold molasses or at all. The software that comes with the machine has to work with the software on the computer, that's why old cds with games on them can't be installed on new computers, there aren't enough like components and the two programs can't talk to each other to explain/understand what to do. So if the sewing machine has to have software to work, and your computer has software "smarter" than your sewing machine software, you have nothing to tell your machine what to do, and you're back to a fancy sewing machine with extra parts you can't use. SO, if there is nothing to tell your sewing machine how to work and you want to keep embroidering, guess what? You have to get a new sewing machine that can understand smarter software that can talk to your smarter computer because it can't dumb the information down enough to make your old sewing machine work. So after I asked her this question, her answer was "no, you'd have to upgrade your sewing machine and its software. BUMMER! Since I don't anticipate always needing the biggest and best, my solution/ next question to her was; So if I don't want to upgrade my sewing machine, I'd have to keep an old computer with old software to continue using my sewing machine. (For my Mom, old computers can't use new software because they only understand part of what it says and the rest makes them shrug and say "I dunno, we just won't use this part" but that won't work and the computer just sits there like an anvil.) This lady actually said, and this isn't an exact quote I'm sure, "well I suppose you could but why would you ever do that unless you want to stay in the stoneage, you really need to keep up with the times and get the newest thing". She shook her head and made a face that was a combination of disgust (because I fear change), fear (because I pointed out a way around the latest and greatest), and surprise (because my "novice" self just slammed her with an intelligent question and a very real solution). BAM lady, take that! How's your PHP, Java Script, Http, HTML skills now? Ok, I have no clue what that last sentence said or even means, but it's a bunch of stuff I've heard Henry say when he was programming. I'm still going to upgrade my machine after the first of the year for the same reason I finally upgraded my cell phone, but it will last longer than the "average 5 years the sewing machine software stays good" because with a computer savy hubby and a sister in law who works for Microsoft, we all know that our computer and its software will stay current. In conclusion, I personally find it cheaper and more practical (despite what the evil lady said) to save my old outdated laptop with my old outdated software that works with my old outdated sewing machine and stay home. At some point I will have to upgrade my machine because they will likely cease to make parts for it, but until then I say "whatever!"

Business is boomin'

Well, it's not like I'm makin' some serious jack or anything, but I'm managing to stay kinda busy. I have several projects to do for marketing, but other than that I'm able to do things for friends and friends of friends, and family and actually get paid for it. I have several new designs to be on the lookout for and as soon as I get funding to get supplies, I'm on them! I even managed to score a bunch of coupons but I'm sure that will blow up in my face like it did last time. They usually send out great coupons when they are having a big sale, thus rendering your coupons (for a bigger discount) useless. Oh well, I will get my supplies cheaper than full price anyway. I also have a plan to hit the local WalMart and sift through their clearance stuff. They recently remodeled, cut the fabric section in at least half, and have put lots of great items in baskets at the end of isles for a fraction of the cost. Tomorrow, I'm there! Zippers haven't been .69 since the 80's. If you're looking for some custom embroidery or a gift for someone, please visit my Etsy store ClaireBearBaby

Realization and Acceptance

I've been sewing off and on for about 10+ years. I've never been what I'd consider awesome at it, but my skills are improving. The big change came after Kinsley was born and I made her this insert pad to go in her car seat. I had several people ask me about it and a few even bought one. That got me thinking about making and selling them on a larger scale than just to those who saw mine. I had some skill, a little talent, some extra time, and a strong desire to feel like I was doing something other than just cleaning the house over and over. The thought occurred to me that making things could be a source of income that could at the very least, cover the cost of my own personal projects. I heard of someone who had a site on Etsy, an online store I had never heard of that was for people like me who wanted to make and sell things. That was the target market I'd been looking for. I signed up on January 8th, 2011, and on February 11th, I had my first order. I was hooked, and I began making more infant car seat  protector pads to list for sale in my online store. I bought fabric in different patterns and different colors, and started taking requests.I upgraded my sewing machine to one that does embroidery and I've since added other things to my Etsy store besides the pads. These days I'm not doing too bad. I'm also not doing super great in that I'm not making alot of profit due to re-investment and my own projects, but it's something and it makes me feel good to know that other people who I've never met want and like my products enough to pay for them. So it's now June, and I've gotten more and more into the sewing thing. I recently made Kinsley and I matching dresses, and I've made some "promo" items for some friends as well as numerous baby gifts and other presents. I have to say that I was really impressed with the way the dresses turned out, and after finising and looking at them I realized that I'm not too shabby at this sewing thing. I've accepted that I'm not the greatest, but I certainly don't suck. In fact, I pretty consistently rock out loud on my projects.That's not meant to be cocky, but I am proud of the work that I can do and have done. I'm getting more vision, talent, and skills. I have people around to support me in my endeavors and give me help and advice. I'm thankful for friends like my wonderful husband Henry, my friends Nancy & Joy, and Cynthia, the lady at The Viking Store where I got my sewing machine. It's nice knowing that she can tell me things I didn't know I didn't know. Now I actually have questions to ask that don't sound like I just crawled from under a rock. I've come to realize what tools I need to do a proper job, and I've gotten a lot of those tools. It's an awesome feeling that my friends ask me for advice and help too. Obviously my skill level has improved to a "worthy of help" status. My friend Joy now has her own Etsy store. I'd like to think that I encouraged her to do it, but really I'm not sure. She and I are like non competing business ladies who bounce ideas and projects off each other. Sometimes we work in tandem on projects and other times we hand off prospective projects to each other. Yep, this realization and acceptance thing is pretty nice, and as I sit here listening to my latest project stitch out in the machine, I think about how far I've come and the progress I've made knowing that more of both is on the way.


Here are the dresses I made.

 

 

These were baby gifts for Henry's cousin.

 

 

These were a custom order I did for Etsy. She wanted 2 Picachu outfits.

These were custom invites for a friend.

This was a promo thing for a friend. The photo just doesn't do it justice because it was way cute!

In over my head?

Sometimes, I have to remind myself that just because I can doesn't mean that I should. I had this thought again today as I was trying to watch the kids and clean up the house and do the laundry. I had 2 Etsy orders to ship, a double custom Etsy order to construct, a pending Etsy order I haven't started, and a friend who invited me to the pool. I didn't go to the pool because the boys didn't follow directions at the post office, so instead of a day at the pool they got a nap instead. They ended up being loud at nap time, woke the cranky teething baby, and then later I saw them using the furniture inappropriately so they are now grounded from the tv for the day. While they were supposed to be napping I got a phone call from a lady at church who heads up this sewing group. I called her yesterday because the group is meeting Saturday to make dresses for girls in Honduras. After speaking with her, I find out that they aren't just any girls, they are orphans in one of the poorest areas of Honduras. She appliques and embroiders the dresses they make so that the girls have something special. I of course volunteered my embroidery/applique skills in addition to my sewing skills. The bonus is that she said she'd teach me how to use a serger so now I can start cruising Craigslist for one. :) I remembered that I was supposed to help a friend with a yardsale Saturday, but it sounds and of course feels better to say that you spent your Saturday volunteering for a worthy cause. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the fact that my house is still a wreck and I have so many projects started but not finished. I'm contemplating sending the boys to my mom's for a week so that I can catch up, but that would only lead to grand-parent detox and I don't have time for that right now. Yep, I'm pretty much in over my head. I'm treading water seemingly against the current. I'm not moving forward too much, but I'm not moving back or staying the same. I'm burning way to much energy for the little amount of progress I'm making, but at least I'm making some. I need a nap. zzzzzz

The "Amen" Pew

So we're trying out a new church. Don't be freaked out or make a big deal of it, it's just something we're doing. We're kinda diggin' it at this point, it's big enough to be interesting and to have a good youth program but the people actually know each other and speak to each other after services, something that we haven't really found at most of the other churches we've attended. It is  Church of Christ (which I was raised attending), but with a serious twist that I thought seperated us from the Baptists, they have music. I have NEVER heard of a C of C that had music in services, but I guess in this day and age and in this location, you have to compete with aaaall the non denom churches out there. They have a guitarist, a base guitarist, a percussionist (usually a bongo or box cajon which I had to look up to find out what it was) and sometimes a keyboardist. In addition, they also have a choir or sorts up on "stage" that consists of about 7 or 8 people with mics who lead the rest of the congregation in song. I'm pretty sure the song leader writes some of the songs they sing. They also sing some of the traditional church songs, which honestly are the only ones I feel compelled to sing because in my mind they are "church" songs and all the rest are just christian music. After I recovered from the shock of music in a C of C service, I  decided to embrace it not to be offended by it, and I don't feel that I have to slink down in the pew for fear of going to hell because I'm engaging in un Church of Christ behavior (my own feelings, not something I was taught). The sign says Church of Christ, so we're all in it together.
There are some other things that go on at this church that are unfamiliar for me in a Church of Christ. They have an "Amen" pew. Now this title takes me back to my childhood of listening to Ray Stevens songs and the one about the squirrel who got loose in church. Feel free to sing it if you know it, and if you don't know it, google it and give it a listen you're in the south now. I was raised in what I thought was a semi "liberal" church. I say that because we listened to music and went to prom and all sorts of other things that some "purist/conservative" C of C members don't engage in, or so I've been told. We were taught that you went to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. On Wednesday night you were allowed to participate in a group discussion type class, onSunday night it was a more casual service, but on Sunday morning  you were to go in, sit down, and shut up. There was no amening unless you seconded someone else saying it at the end of a prayer, you didn't blurt out "preach it" when the preacher was on a roll, and you certainly didn't clap or hold up your hands while you were singing because, well I'm not really sure why people do that last one, but you didn't do it "back in the day" as Henry would say. Things you were allowed to do during church were chewing gum as long as you didn't play with it, smack or stick it under the pew, color if you were a child, and ponder what restraunt you were going to eat dinner at if it wasn't already in the crock pot at home. You were also allowed to hope the preacher finished up in time for you to beat the Baptists to said restraunts, or ponder if your casserole waiting in the multi purpose room would still be hot in the event that you were having a potluck because eeeevery body knows there's only one thing Church of Christ people love more than softball and VBS, and that's a good potluck.
Given the afore mentioned "no nos", it's easy to see why this church confuses me a bit. They do all the things that I grew up not being allowed to do. Having said that, I still like the church and plan to attend there unless something really strange happens. If anyone starts speaking in tongues or floppin' around like a fish, I'm outta there! I also like that the preacher wears a mic so that you can hear him in the huge auditorium, and they have projectors and screens that show you what song to sing and also show the preacher during services in case you got there early and grabbed a back pew. That's a little C of C humor because everyone knows that the people who sit up front are either asking for prayers, or they got there late. I also like that they put a tag on your child and give you a matching tag that has to be matched up at pick up so that no one runs off with your kids. It is afterall a big church and crazies show up everywhere. In the event that you have a baby as we do, they give you a pager in case your kids starts to cry uncontrollably. That's handy too. I suppose that's really all I have on our church adventures for now, but if anything else happens I'll be sure to post about it. Oh, one more thing. They have a sewing group that is meeting on Saturday to make dresses for women in Honduras. I'm planning to attend if the lady calls me back about my RSVP.