MOVING!

Isn't there always a lot going on for all of us.  The end of the school year always bring graduations and school programs.  Sports are starting and some are ending.  It is such a busy time of year.  I always look forward to the summer though.  I feel like I get more time to just enjoy my kids, instead of running around every where.

This year is a little different for us.  We will be moving to a new city in a couple days, and at the end of the summer we will be having a baby!  We are very excited for the change, and ready for the new challenge.

Because of so much going on with my family right now, I have decided that I will not sew any custom orders until after Christmas 2012.  Maybe by then I will find some normalcy to my life! hehe  I will continue to sell my patterns and I will still work on the patterns that are ready to go out.  But I will not be designing anything new until January 2013.

I will continue to keep in touch and post on the blog, so please stay posted.  I am truly thankful for all of my followers.

New Purse Pattern Tester

I have been needing a new purse for a while now.  My purse was looking so sad.  The handles were about to tear right in half, and the bottom was getting well worn.  So I had 2 choices, I could either go buy a purse quick and have life be simple, or I could design a new purse and sew it.  Well, I chose the harder path.  I couldn't resist the chance for a new purse.  And I have to tell you, I have been using this purse for at least a week now, and I keep getting so many compliments on it.  Everyone is so amazed that it is handmade!  So I am now looking for pattern testers!

I am needing 2 people to test this pattern for me.  If you would like to test this please leave me a comment below. If you would like an extra point in the drawing, please leave a comment on facebook or twitter and leave me the link to see it (I would appreciate your help in telling people about my shop).  Please leave me a way to contact you if you win!!!

Here's the deal. You get the pattern for free. I only ask that you are able to sew the bag within a week of me emailing it to you, and give me any comments or suggestions you may have.

Contest will last 2 weeks this time and end at midnight, on Wednesday, March 7th.

Princess Dress, Pattern Testers Needed

Time to test this gorgeous dress pattern!!  It has been a favorite in our home.  Both my daughter and my niece have one, and they don't like to take them off.  They feel like a princess.  Every time my daughter wears her dress, she has to find sparkly jewelry to wear with it.

Dress pattern comes in 2 separate patterns.  One pattern has sizes 1-4 and the other has sizes 5-8.

The top of the dress wraps over each other, with a mock sleeve.  The top pattern pieces have a slight curve to give a cute little cap over the shoulders.

Full round twirl skirt with a fun ruffle layer underneath that can add a little pop of color or not even add this if you desire a more simple dress.  Skirt has small bunching all around to make the dress feel like Princess Bell in Beauty and the Beast.

I am needing 2 people to test this pattern for me. I would love to have one for each pattern sizing.  If you would like to test this please leave me a comment below and let me know which pattern sizes you would be willing to test. If you would like an extra point in the drawing, please leave a comment on facebook or twitter and leave me the link to see it (I would appreciate your help in telling people about my shop).  Please leave me a way to contact you if you win!!!

Here's the deal. You get the pattern for free. I only ask that you are able to sew the bag within a week of me emailing it to you, and give me any comments or suggestions you may have.

Contest will end at midnight, on Tuesday, January 24th.

Don't forget about Crafty Lil Fox's deal.  Ends January 31st!

Princess Dress Just In Time For Christmas

I just finished working on my newest pattern.  I am so thrilled about this dress.  It is truly made for a princess.  The pictures I have here are not the best because I had to secretly get the picture.  I made 2 for Christmas gifts for my daughter and niece.  As soon as the beautiful models see their dresses, I will provide you with better pictures.  These pictures don't do the dress justice on how pretty they turned out.

I am not yet needing pattern testers for this dress because of the busy time of year.  I thought I would share it with you though so you can get ready.  I would love to get your opinion on a time that would be best to post the drawing to test this.  A couple days after Christmas or should I wait until after the new year.  You let me know! 

If any of you are interested in this pattern before Christmas let me know.

Some of my Christmas Favorites

I love this time of year!  Year by year we will add more traditions in our home, and last year I added all three of these recipes to that.  Merry Christmas to all of you, and I hope that your holidays are wonderful!!

Feta Salad

12 oz mixed salad greens(I used fresh)

2 fresh pears, cubed or sliced

1/2lb. fetta cheese, crumbled

1 c. craisins

1 c. camelized pecans - pour 1/3c. white sugar and 1 c. pecan pieces into sauce pan over medium heat.  Stir constantly until sugar melts and becomes sticky and light brown.  Watch Carefully!  Remove nuts immediately to a plate to cool.

Dressing -

1/2 c. red onion

1c. sugar

2 tsp. Dijon Mustard

1tsp. salt

2/3c. white vinegar

2c. veggie oil

3 Tblsp. poppy seeds

Mix 1st 6 ingredients in a blender, stir in poppy seeds at the end.

Lemon Water

1 Tbsp. lemon extract

1 Tbsp. citric acid (get at the pharmacy, sometimes they will need to order it in)

3 c. sugar

5 qts. water

lots of ice

If you can't find citric acid, "true lemon" crystalized lemon substitute, you will have to use 3 times the amount, you can also add "real lemon" concentrate.

MIX

This was fun to make, and I got the recipie from my Family Fun magazine.

Gingerbread Trifle

 click on the picture for the link to the recipe with Family Fun.

Merry Christmas to all of you.  Thank you for all the support you have given my blog.

I would love to know a tradition of yours this time of year, please leave a comment and share.

Digital Designs Giveaway

Another giveaway!!

My little sis, has just started her own Etsy shop, Digital Designs.  I am always amazed with her, she is just so talented.  Years ago, our parents had bought both of us a sewing machine for Christmas.  We were both taking lessons.  Tiffany used hers for only a little while, but she didn't enjoy it.  Tiff has always been creative, so now she takes fantastic pictures (which I think she needs to sell some on Etsy), and now digital art.  I was lucky to have her design my sewing pattern front page.

Tiffany is giving away her most popular Digital Print, Monster Madness.  My oldest son's favorite is the 1 eyed monster, and my daughters is the purple.

Make sure to stop by and check out Tiff's facebook page and website for her pictures.  They are gorgeous!

To win this addorable Clip Art  -

please leave me a way to contact you in your comment, you must be a follower of my blog.

For 1 extra point for each of these ways - 

you can follow my blog

Please support Tiff of Etsy and like her shop

Like me on facebook and twitter

And for 5 extra points if you blog or facebook about this and leave me a link to see!

Giveaway will end next Thursday night at midnight.  December 15th.

Don't forget the deal you get with Crafty Lil Fox, check out my giveaways page!

Re-purposed Block Stocking Hangers

I have been wanting some stocking hangers for a long time now.  Every year we end up putting our stocking under the tree until Christmas Eve.  Then the kids play with them, and run off and scatter them all over the house.  It drives me crazy to pick them up all the time.

I can never decide on the stocking hangers that I want.  Or the ones I fall in love with are kinda expensive.  So I thought I could re-purpose some blocks.  These blocks had some cute saying on them, but they never matched anything I had so they just sat in the closet.

I was feeling crafty!  I love those days!

Here is how I made them:

I used some blocks I already had. If you want to make these and don't have any pre-cut blocks, go buy a 4 x 4 at the local lumber store.  Then cut into squares.

I lightly sanded down my blocks so they were not rough.

I painted with craft paint the entire block.  I only used 1 coat of paint, but you may want 2.

I found a cute font on the computer at this 1001 free fonts.  I used Angelic War.

I typed the Christmas words that I wanted.  Joy, Noel, Peace, Love, Faith

Make sure the font size will fit onto a 3 1/2" square.

Print onto Christmas colored paper.

Cut out to size of block.

Mod Podge the paper onto the front of the block.

When dry, Mod Podge over top of the paper.

When dry, lightly sand the edges of the block around the paper.

Use an antiquing stamp or stain around the edges of the paper.

Screw some small hooks into the front of the block.

It was so quick and easy.  I got it all done in one day, as I was running around doing other things as well.  Since we don't have a fireplace to hang our stockings on, I thought I would hang them on our shelf that usually holds family pictures.  Now all I need to do is make some matching stockings for all of us.  If you have any cute stockings you have seen online, please let me know.  I have been looking on Pintrest and found a few.

These are not the best instructions, no pictures.  So if you want to make these and need some help, send me a note!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Don't forget about the great deal offered to you by Crafty Lil Fox.  And stay tuned I will be having another giveaway next week!

Win Win with Crafty Lil' Fox

I feel like a whole new person!!  I am sure you have noticed the new look of my blog.  I was so lucky to have found Melissa with Crafty Lil' Fox.  She has totally revamped my blog, and I think it looks amazing.  the blog now has pages to find things better.  The colors are so light and fresh, I am so excited!  I wish I could say that I helped come up with the ideas of how the blog turned out, but I can't.  I owe all the credit to Melissa for doing such a fabulous job.  She really pinned me to a T, with my style!

If you stop by the Crafty Lil' Fox blog, you will find some great tutorials, freebies, look through Melissa's portfolio, and so much more.  Don't forget to stop by and favorite her on

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

Here is a little bit about Melissa in her own words - 

I'm a craft addict, web designer, copywriter and world traveller! I started Crafty Lil Fox to share tips and hints for selling online, marketing small and home based business online, using creative blog designs and successfully building craft and handmade businesses. When I'm not creating beautiful blogs, my favourite crafts are crochet and sewing and I'm a bit obsessed with beautiful homes.

I am so excited to tell you that you can have a great blog too! Melissa is offering all of my readers $50 off any custom blog design and 25% off of any orders from her Etsy shop. You just need to mention that you saw the offer on my blog.  Everyone is a winner with this one!  This offer will last through the rest of December and all of January.

 

Winner of Made Just Wright Giveaway

We have a winner!!

Shannon Foust

Thank you for entering.  I gave your information to Andi, and she will be contacting you.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for another lucky win!!  I am guessing you have noticed the changes in my blog!  This is a hint as to what you can get tomorrow.

Made Just Wright Giveaway

You have heard me say it before, that I Love the chance to get to know other people on Etsy and other creative sites!  I am lucky to say this time though, that I have known Andi with Made Just Wright for a while now.

We were so lucky to have met when we both had moved to the desert in Arizona, to support our husbands jobs.  If you have never been to the hot part of Arizona, you are pretty lucky.  It would get pretty hot!  During the summer the temperature would get up to 130 degrees easily.  Thank heavens for pools!!!  I actually did love it there.  We met some to the best people there, and I had a tan almost year round!  Anyway, a bunch of us moms would try to get together on occasion and create!

Andi and I both had tiny baby girls that needed some extra flair.  So we made bows!!  Andi is a pro, she makes the cutest bows.  And one luck winner will get to win 2 crochet headbands, 1 large flower, and 1 bow.

 How cute HUH!!  If you want to win here is how-

To enter the drawing please leave me a way to contact you in your comment, you must be a follower of my blog.

For 1 extra point for each of these ways - 

you can follow my blog

Follow Andi's blog

Like me on facebook and twitter

And for 5 extra points if you blog or facebook about this and leave me a link to see!

Giveaway will end next Wednesday night at midnight.  November 30th.

Don't forget to check out her blog to see some of the other cute things she makes, here are a few of my favorites!

If you are in a giveaway mood, make sure to stop by Barefoot By the Sea's Blog, Jessica from Posies in My Pocket has more giveaways going on there!

Posies In My Pocket Winner!!

 

We have a winner!!! 

Waasabi!

I will give your email to Jessica and she will get with you.

Thank you everyone for your support with this giveaway, it was a ton of fun.  I will be posting another wonderful giveaway tomorrow!  So stay tuned.

Posies in My Pocket Giveaway

Another fun giveaway!!  I am so excited to do this giveaway for you.  I have loved Jessica's shops and blog for a long time now.  She definitely has one of those blogs that are worth checking in on as often as you can.  Jessica always has some fun ideas for recipes, really fun giveaways all the time, and some super cute posts about life and her kiddos.

Jessica is the proud owner of Posies In My Pocket, which is an accessory shop full of vintage inspired goodies.  She handcrafts each piece with nickel free metal.  Jessica offers headbands, hairpins, earrings, rings, statement necklaces and more.  She crafts with a variety of materials including vintage fabric, resin, wool felt and more.

If if that wasn't exciting enough is also has a sister shop, Posie Hill Farm, which has vintage inspired items for the home including cupcake stands and cake plates.

Now for the exciting giveaway!  Jessica is giving away this beautiful pair of Rosy Red Earring and a hairpin set.

Here are a couple more pictures from her shops of some of my favorite items!

Jessica is also willing to offer a 15% off coupon code to one winner when they convo her on etsy with the code 1000 SALES!!!

So you have the opportunity to win now and win in one week!!

To enter the drawing please leave me a way to contact you in your comment, you must be a follower of my blog.

For 1 extra point for each of these ways - 

you can follow my blog

Follow Jessica's blog

Like me on facebook and twitter

And for 5 extra points if you blog or facebook about this and leave me a link to see!

Giveaway will end next Monday night at midnight.  November 21st.

Winners of Pattern Package Giveaway

Hooray!!  We have the 1st winners of our celebration giveaway!

Mattsmom

MamaLusco

Andi

Congrats ladies.  I am so excited for you!  I will contact you and get your email, be thinking of the 5 patterns you want.

Come back and check the next giveaways, and win something from some fantastic shops.  I will post the next giveaway on Monday morning!

1st Giveaway

Ok, here is our first giveaway for my celebration!  I thought it would be best to start with a giveaway from my shop!  Thank you again for all of you that have been wonderful supporters of my patterns.  Thank you to all of you that have tested my patterns and those who have been willing to and haven't won yet.  I have a couple new patterns that I will bring out this month as well.  We will have another dress just in time for the holidays, overall pattern, and I am hoping to get a new purse pattern done as well.

Alright, enough chit chat!  Here is the giveaway!

3 Lucky readers will win my 5 Pattern Package.  You choose any 5 of my patterns and you get them for free!

 here is a link to my shop so you can look through the patterns and find the ones you would like.

My Taylor Made

 This is how you can gain points to win!

1. Leave me a comment saying you follow my blog with your email

2. Leave me a comment saying you following on facebook  www.facebook.com/mytaylormade

3. Leave me a comment saying you follow me on Twitter

4.  And if you would like an easy 5 points, please make a blog post about this post, facebook it, or twitter it.  When you do this tell everyone that you sent them, have them let me know who sent them to my blog and you can get even one more point in the drawing!

3 Winners!

10 Entries in the drawing are possible!

Drawing will end a week from today on Friday, November 11th at midnight. 

Come Join my Celebration

I hit

sales in my shop!

I want to celebrate with you!  I will be hosting some giveaways here on my blog over  the next month or so!!

Keep checking back throughout the month to see what you can win.

I will post my 1st giveaway in the morning.

If you are interested, or know of anyone interested in doing a giveaway please let me know.