Happy Mother's Day! and Giveaway Winner Announced

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms, Grandmoms, Great-Grandmoms, Moms-to-be, second Mothers, and those we love just like a Mom. I know my greatest joys in life have come from being a mother; I hope each of you is blessed to feel that level of love at least once in your lifetime. 

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."
~ Victor Hugo

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day and New Wallets

It's here! It's here! The Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day has arrived! 
Yes, I'm actually that excited.
This twice a year event, which actually lasts a full work week, is spectacular. "Meet" some new bloggers, have billion chances at winning a lil' somethin' for yourself, and feel the generosity of those who participate in spades. Awesomeness.
And I'm just as excited that Gypsy Thread will be participating in all that generosity this time around.

For those of you unfamiliar with my sewing adventures, please feel free to click around on those purple, social networking, circle icons to the right. I'm post to Facebook MUCH more often than I post anything to this blog. You can also find more about me, Carey, here. If you're wondering where the name "Gypsy Thread" originated, perhaps you'll find this entertaining. Click, browse, what have you. I'll be here when you're done.

One of the most loved and versatile items in my Etsy store are these great "Tea Wallets". While they're sized to carry your individual tea bags, they're also great to hold all sorts of cards - business, ID, credit, gift, loyalty, etc. For a really fun gift I've had a few customers slip in a gift certificate to their friend's favorite coffee or tea shop before gifting them. Great idea, huh? My friends and customers are so lovely!

Craft Show Prep

Moving from New England to sunny, perpetually warm Florida has opened many doors for me physically, which in turn has expanded the amount of time and energy I'm able to invest in Gypsy Thread. Having more treasures in my shop is a fabulous feeling. And although I miss my mill-based fabric shops and other raw material outlets with my whole heart, I am now able to share my creations with a new crowd of people via outdoor craft shows and art fairs, something available seasonally at best in New England. 

One of my many goals for 2013 is to take advantage of these year round opportunities. Building a better display, one that can be altered from a full booth to a table top only version has been a bit of a challenge. Not only am I an incredibly picky person, but my wares are not small and cute and compact. I need large display pieces for long scarves and handbags, props for wallets and clutches, room for signage and business cards. In short, I've created a very difficult set of inventory for me to display according to my own tastes and preferences, that is also appealing to a consumer or even admirer. Thank goodness for the internet and sites like Pinterest. 

Participate in the SMS Giveaway Day? You Bet I Will!

Twice a year it happens. Twice a year I enter a bazillion contests for cool stuff. Twice a year I get sucked into reading and discovering more awesome blogs than I though could ever exist. Twice a year I find myself wondering if my blog will participate next time. Well, guess what? This time I'm in.

Monday, May 6th, 2013 the epic, the anticipated, the most fantabulous Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day is going to take place! If you've never heard of this event, go ahead and schedule a few half day sessions for yourself to stare at the computer screen uninterrupted right now then come back and finish reading. Seriously. Go write or type it into your calendar. I can wait.

Earth Day 2013: Info and Ideas

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~ Native American Proverb

via Vintage Printable

Today we celebrate the Earth, this lil' ol' orb that sustains our lives. Today we are reminded to upcycle, recycle, reduce, reuse, and maintain an awareness of how our actions impact the planet. Today we look for ways to inspire awareness and appreciation among others, as well as seek out new ideas on how we may live in a more eco-friendly manner. This is an area I personally know I can improve upon. I recycle, try to conserve energy, buy local, and do my best to rescue fabric and other notions that have been discarded or neglected in my creations. However, there is so much more I could be doing with such minimal effort. Today, for me, is a reminder that I need to pay closer attention to my own actions and expect a higher level of participation from myself.

So, whether you only pay attention to this cause once a year, or just on recycling/garbage days, or you try to incorporate a little awareness into your lives year round, here are a collection links to sites that make it their mission to inspire us all to live greener.

New Aprons are Looking Great, Thanks to Minh and Natasha!

If you've paid attention to Gypsy Thread trends at all, then you're well aware of the fact that I am NOT a photographer. If I never had to take photos of my creations I'd be a super happy camper. Alas, the internet and web-based sales demand pictures. All those silly customers who actually want to see what they're purchasing are messin' with my game. ;-)

How blessed am I to have created new friendships locally in Florida with both a fabulous photographer and someone whom I can coerce into being a model? Actually, the model coerced the photographer to play along, but I digress. Without further delay here are a few images of the magnificent Natasha, owner of Everything So Pretty, modeling a couple of my aprons for the fantabulous Minh Insixiangmy, minhphoto.com.

Gypsy Thread Tutorial: Sew Simple Fabric Envelopes

On Saturday, April 6th I participated in a fabulously fun event, the Demolicious Birthday Bash, celebrating the combined anniversaries of Tampa Upcycle and the Tampa Bay Etsy Crew. A dozen or so artisans and crafters in the Tampa Bay, FL area gathered together to offer hands on demos to the general public. I was so honored to be part of this gathering. For my demonstration I offered a quick learn-to-sew project suitable for all ages and sewing skill levels which I'd love to share with you now.

Sew Simple: Fabric Envelope Tutorial

Materials:

~ Fabric scraps of any kind, at least 8" long and 3" wide
~ Buttons, 1/2" wide or larger are easiest to work with
~ Thread, in a coordinating or contrasting color
~ Pinking Shears (those zig-zag, alligator-teeth scissors)
~ Straight Pins
~ Hand Sewing Needle

Demolicious Birthday Bash - Tampa FL

Today is going to be awesome!

From noon to 5pm in Ybor City, FL I will not only be attending the insanely fun Demolicious Birthday Bash, celebrating the combined anniversaries of Tampa Upcycle and the Tampa Bay Etsy Crew (TBEC), but I'll also be hosting mini-sewing lessons of my own. 

Check back on Monday for a full tutorial of this project!

Covert Robin Mystery Gift Exchange

All gifts have been sent and received. The day is finally here when I'm allowed to share my Covert Robin Mystery Gift Exchange goodies with you!

Last month I announced that I would be participating in a new-to-me Handmade Gift Exchange being hosted by ten successful bloggers. 
During the summer of 2011 I participated in the Craftaholics Anonymous Handmade Gift Exchange and had a lovely time making an apron from vintage fabrics for my exchange buddy in CA. For that exchange we swapped gifts in pairs, each of us making a gift for the person whom would be creating something for us in return. (confusing statement.) I had a lot of fun trying to find out as much info as possible about that person in secret while she did the same for me. Since then I've wanted to participate in another exchange, but always seemed to run out of time. 

I stumbled across the Covert Robin exchange in February via imagine gnats, a crafty blog with lots of sewing happenings. The Covert Robin exchange worked a little differently than the other. This time I received a handmade gift from Holly in NY and separately sent my own presents to Amy in WI. Both swap versions were equally as fun, and I highly recommend you find one to join ASAP.

Happy Easter!

Just a quick post to wish you all a very blessed and happy Easter!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him." John 3:16-17

Monday Morning WIP's - iPad Cases

Happy Monday!
Does that phrase deserve an exclamation point? God bless the ability to schedule posts for future times when an adequate amount of caffeine has not yet entered the blood stream. With any luck I may even be asleep when this blog entry manifests on internet.
*fingers crossed*

Over the past several days I've been assembling a few new items, iPad sleeves. A few friends have been bugging me to create some utility or gadget pouches. This first round will feature padded, zippered cases fitting all iPad versions to date. Here are a few images of the initial outer fabrics and trims I matched up.

 





I have to say, the finished items look even better. Now to find someone with an iPad for me to borrow for official pictures. Anyone nearby who can part with their device for a few hours? Or better yet, anyone want to take pictures for me?


Also high on the project to-do list, aprons! I have a few cut out and two finished. Now taking bets on whether I'll get them posted before Mother's Day.

Hope you have a great week,

Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend!

Happy St. Patrick's Day weekend my friends!

While browsing images earlier this month on The Graphics Fairy, I found this photo of a beautiful, antique greeting card from the early 1900's that I just had to share. The card reads:

via The Graphics Fairy

"Let Erin's Harp awake this day,

And sound the glad St. Patrick's Lay."

The illustration is lovely, and the woman embroidering her golden harp is such a classic Victorian image.

If I were back in New England with family right now I know my mother, not one stitch Irish, would be getting ready to cook corned beef and cabbage for the family. Perhaps I should run out to the store and grab some corned beef and the like... now that my mouth is watering thinking about that meal. Are there any traditions you try to adhere to on this day of luck and all things green, whether you're Irish or not?

Demos and Fabrics and Supply Shops, oh my!

Soon after moving to lovely, sunny Florida I stumbled upon a great group of local Etsy shop owners. This group, Tampa Bay Etsy Crew (TBEC), has not only provided me with tons of business knowledge and support, but also lots of new growing friendships. Super awesomeness! One of the great parts about TBEC is their willingness to share info and provide tips on just about anything related to being an artist, growing a business, crafting randomness, and community building. In fact, they're so awesome that they've teamed up with a local brick and mortar business, Tampa Upcycle, to host a combined Birthday Bash celebrating the anniversary of both organizations next month.

March Happenings...

Hello March, Boy do I have lots of plans for you!

Top on my to-do list is giving my pitiful website, www.gypsythread.com, the attention it deserves. Having a site and dedicated URL is fantastic... as long as you actually use it. Over a year later and I'm finally getting things together with help from the wonderful Morgan, owner of Tampa Upcycle.

What do you think of this new logo?

I can't wait! It's going to be fantabulous! Now if I could just make some color commitments already...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just a quick note to tell you all

Happy Valentine's Day!

Because I love you all so, I decided to share the love with a special:

Simply use the code "LOVEYOU" at checkout and receive 

20% off your entire Valentine's Day order.

 

www.gypsythread.etsy.com

 

Sweet, right?

 

Vintage Fabric - From the UK with Love

Saturday I received a lovely package in the mail filled with goodies I treasure so very much, pieces of vintage fabric! This was no ordinary, vintage fabric filled package, as so few could ever be labeled. No, this was in fact an extraordinary package having met several criteria, not least of which was its origination from a new-to-me source across the pond AND I won this package by simply entering a Facebook contest hosted by Donna Flower Vintage Fabrics. How very sweet is that? Here's what I found when I opened the pretty pink package:

Sweet Paper Packages

My prize from Donna Flower

250 Facebook Fan Winner Announcement

We have a winner!

Thank you so much to each of you who participated in pushing the Gypsy Thread Facebook page over the 250 "like" mark and participated in the resulting giveaway.

 

Chosen by Rafflecopter/Random.org. I have too many favorite people to trust myself with such a decision.

Monique, you have an email waiting for you. I'm dying to know which of the 7 new clutches you've chosen.

The remaining six clutches will be posted to the Etsy shop this week along with a few new scarves. This new year looks like it will be a great one!

 


 

Happy 2013! Let's Have a Giveaway!

Happy New Year! Welcome 2013!

This year is going to be awesome, don't you think?

(I didn't create this pic, but would love to give credit to whomever did.)