"One of A Kind Designs" Debuts this Tuesday
I posted the photos that go with this journal earlier today. If you haven't seen them already, check them out now.
I've been sewing up a storm -- this time in preparation for the Womens Club of Westminster's annual holiday luncheon and silent auction. My longest friend is one of the head honchos of this organization and while I am NOT a member, she always invites me to this fun annual event. Each year I donate SOMETHING for the auction and try to do something hand-made -- sometimes a wreath, a tabletop Christmas tree or one of my Sculpey clay snowmen. But this year, since I've been sewing these doll clothes, she and I are putting a "collaborative effort" into it.
My friend bought an American Girl doll and I am adding the clothes and we are thinking this could be a very high-bid earner. All the money goes to local charities and we are really excited about it. The club would have qualified for getting a doll DONATED from American Girl, but there wasn't enough time to make the application. (They have another gig and Silent Auction in the spring; so the application has been submitted.)
The members of this club are all ages -- from 75 to 25 years of age -- and it is a local chapter of the Federation of Womens Clubs International (or something like that). So we are thinking that either a Mom, Grandmom, or even Great-Grandmom will be bidding on our entry. I told my friend that I'm going to open the bidding at $100 -- that will definitely separate the "women from the girls." I know that will quickly be outbid, but it's a reasonable place to start as the doll cost $105. Can't wait until Tuesday to see how it goes.
My friend also made up tags for all the outfits with my "One of A Kind Designs" name, my name and phone number, so who knows? I might sell out what's left of my inventory before Christmas.
Two weeks ago, I visited with a woman who is opening an on-line "one stop shopping" website for 18" dolls -- including modular dollhouses that are just amazing! Check out www.dolldigz.com -- the site isn't complete yet, but will be fully operational in February. Anyway, when I went to visit her, I took all the doll clothes that I have made in the past couple of months and she bought almost $200 worth of them. Woo hoo! I'm not doing this to make money, and most of the fabrics I have used were given to me by various friends who had them leftover from other projects (or projects that never actually got started) so my $ investment has been minimal.
Of course, Tom laughed when I went out and bought a new sewing machine...something I was going to do for the past year. The old Singer 834 is at least 30 years old and the gears and bearings are pretty worn. I wanted a new machine that can handle sewing stretch knit fabrics better than the old one. Well, I definitely got a faster and jazzier model -- it's a Husqvarna/Viking Emerald 183 "computer driven" model and it's got more bells and whistles than a new car! It has been a bit of a learning curve, but they give free instruction for the life of the machine right at the store where I purchased it. Went in on Friday and took some of those new pajamas with me so I could show them where I was having trouble. Felt like such a dummy -- I have been sewing for 50 years and come to find out, this machine is SO SMART it automatically locks the seam when you start sewing it -- no need to backstitch!
So that's about it for "real" news. The annual "Smallville Christmas" is this coming Saturday, December 15. Started doing some decorating today and have some to finish up on Monday. We are expecting about 30 people again this year and are really looking forward to the 24th ANNUAL hosting of this event.
In other news, my Fairy Godmother is doing phenomenally well just 2 months after the "brain bleed" sent her to intensive care in a Baltimore hospital. She is getting ready to move again -- after spending a month at a rehabilitative hospital and two weeks at a local nursing care facility. Her next stop is an assisted living home not too far from here. Last evening, Tom and I "busted her out" and took her to Westminster to enjoy Walt Michael & Company's annual Christmas concert. We have seen it two times and it's just a wonderful evening of traditional and folk music, some Christmas music and a few sing-a-longs. I think it was the first time that Gloria ever heard a band comprised of hammer dulcimer, fiddle, cello, mandolin and bass. She was delighted and just went on an on about what a wonderful evening it was. We were really glad she was able to go with us. She is using just a walker now and is still getting physical therapy and occupational therapy to strengthen her right hand and arm. Her grit and determination is what has made her recovery so quick -- she is 87 years old and a real fireball! So thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers for this very special person in my life.
More news as it happens...hoping to write soon that I have a firm contract on this farm. My realtor said the prospective buyers have sold their place in New York and that we should expect them to address my counter-offer sometime this week. Woo hoo! Keep your fingers crossed. I would love to know that I am getting out of here in April! xoxox
I've been sewing up a storm -- this time in preparation for the Womens Club of Westminster's annual holiday luncheon and silent auction. My longest friend is one of the head honchos of this organization and while I am NOT a member, she always invites me to this fun annual event. Each year I donate SOMETHING for the auction and try to do something hand-made -- sometimes a wreath, a tabletop Christmas tree or one of my Sculpey clay snowmen. But this year, since I've been sewing these doll clothes, she and I are putting a "collaborative effort" into it.
My friend bought an American Girl doll and I am adding the clothes and we are thinking this could be a very high-bid earner. All the money goes to local charities and we are really excited about it. The club would have qualified for getting a doll DONATED from American Girl, but there wasn't enough time to make the application. (They have another gig and Silent Auction in the spring; so the application has been submitted.)
The members of this club are all ages -- from 75 to 25 years of age -- and it is a local chapter of the Federation of Womens Clubs International (or something like that). So we are thinking that either a Mom, Grandmom, or even Great-Grandmom will be bidding on our entry. I told my friend that I'm going to open the bidding at $100 -- that will definitely separate the "women from the girls." I know that will quickly be outbid, but it's a reasonable place to start as the doll cost $105. Can't wait until Tuesday to see how it goes.
My friend also made up tags for all the outfits with my "One of A Kind Designs" name, my name and phone number, so who knows? I might sell out what's left of my inventory before Christmas.
Two weeks ago, I visited with a woman who is opening an on-line "one stop shopping" website for 18" dolls -- including modular dollhouses that are just amazing! Check out www.dolldigz.com -- the site isn't complete yet, but will be fully operational in February. Anyway, when I went to visit her, I took all the doll clothes that I have made in the past couple of months and she bought almost $200 worth of them. Woo hoo! I'm not doing this to make money, and most of the fabrics I have used were given to me by various friends who had them leftover from other projects (or projects that never actually got started) so my $ investment has been minimal.
Of course, Tom laughed when I went out and bought a new sewing machine...something I was going to do for the past year. The old Singer 834 is at least 30 years old and the gears and bearings are pretty worn. I wanted a new machine that can handle sewing stretch knit fabrics better than the old one. Well, I definitely got a faster and jazzier model -- it's a Husqvarna/Viking Emerald 183 "computer driven" model and it's got more bells and whistles than a new car! It has been a bit of a learning curve, but they give free instruction for the life of the machine right at the store where I purchased it. Went in on Friday and took some of those new pajamas with me so I could show them where I was having trouble. Felt like such a dummy -- I have been sewing for 50 years and come to find out, this machine is SO SMART it automatically locks the seam when you start sewing it -- no need to backstitch!
So that's about it for "real" news. The annual "Smallville Christmas" is this coming Saturday, December 15. Started doing some decorating today and have some to finish up on Monday. We are expecting about 30 people again this year and are really looking forward to the 24th ANNUAL hosting of this event.
In other news, my Fairy Godmother is doing phenomenally well just 2 months after the "brain bleed" sent her to intensive care in a Baltimore hospital. She is getting ready to move again -- after spending a month at a rehabilitative hospital and two weeks at a local nursing care facility. Her next stop is an assisted living home not too far from here. Last evening, Tom and I "busted her out" and took her to Westminster to enjoy Walt Michael & Company's annual Christmas concert. We have seen it two times and it's just a wonderful evening of traditional and folk music, some Christmas music and a few sing-a-longs. I think it was the first time that Gloria ever heard a band comprised of hammer dulcimer, fiddle, cello, mandolin and bass. She was delighted and just went on an on about what a wonderful evening it was. We were really glad she was able to go with us. She is using just a walker now and is still getting physical therapy and occupational therapy to strengthen her right hand and arm. Her grit and determination is what has made her recovery so quick -- she is 87 years old and a real fireball! So thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers for this very special person in my life.
More news as it happens...hoping to write soon that I have a firm contract on this farm. My realtor said the prospective buyers have sold their place in New York and that we should expect them to address my counter-offer sometime this week. Woo hoo! Keep your fingers crossed. I would love to know that I am getting out of here in April! xoxox
Replies
Wow!
And good luck with the farm
Spitfire - all of this is excellent stuff! I\'m so happy for you. I hope they accept your counter offer and you make a million on the clothes xxoo
It is so good to hear that all in your life is heading in the right direction. Wishing you and yours the Best of a Marry Christmas.
You are an amazing seamstress! I\'m sure the ladies at your event tomorrow will be very impressed with your work. I know I am! Also, I hope all of the details fall nicely into place for the sale of your farm.
have fun sewing that\'s good news about your godmother best of luck with your farm sale.
What a good time you are having. It exudes itself throughout the journal. Nice writing! It is good that so many things are going well now: your fairy godmother, the new sewing machine (I know people who have bought the one that you did and NONE have said that they would ever take it back! I think that they would rather die first! LOL!) and those lovely clothes. To me, the price should start at $150. However, I am sure that you are right that the bidding war will be a good one. Now, to leave the farm and then to go . . . . where again?
I am in a possible transition as well right now. I was selected in a grueling process as a finalist in a group of positions in China paying $2500+ per month along with food and housing, healthcare and more. It is a \"dream\" job to me, teaching only 3 people at a time, allowing me to really apply what I linguistically feel should be done to teach English. Books are so woefully in adequate and talk too much about grammar and other things. They can learn the grammar naturally by \"doing\" the language. Most have had years of grammar pounded into their little heads and, when they speak, that is all GONE! Also, in the most important testing internationally, there is not ONE question about grammar; however, this is considered in their writing and speaking modules of the test! So, in a sense, the makers of these tests agree with me. How many Americans can grammatically describe the response \"I will!\" properly? This is far more complex at this level and more than you will know what to say yourself. I challenge others to try to explain this response in clear and concise terms. It would be interesting to see what others would say! LOL!
Take care and I can see you are having a great time! Hugs and love. Neesie
Wow lots of great news!FG Mother, sale of the farm AND a new sewing machine. I would probably have a hard time remembering not to back stitch. You sound like you are having great fun. (((HUGS)))
Love my Husqvarna! Glad you made the switch... ha ha. Have not sewed in a long long time.
I am glad to hear that your farm deal is working out. I look forward to hearing about your new place and adventures once free!
When you write about your life in a journal entry like this, it makes it easy to connect with your oft quoted comment on the site that your life is \"1000 times better\" than it was before your divorce! Gives the rest of us hope to keep plugging away! Good news on your Godmother! Hope you enjoy the festivities this weekend - yikes, will it really by the 15th this Saturday? Will watch for your update on the farm and fingers crossed for you!