Crisp, Colorful, Cold

Just a few words to describe "here" lately. The weather went from summer to winter in the blink of an eye.

Last Sunday, we went with our church to enjoy the Apple Butter Festival at our church camp.

It was a beautiful day.  The last one we have had this week.

It was crisp, colorful and a bit cold.

The apple butter was delish!  The crafts were  fantastic.

I talked to a lady in her 80's who makes rag rugs.  She said it takes her 4-8 days to make a rug that was maybe  4'x3' or 5'x4', over 18 yards of fabric cut into 1 inch strips and she sells them, for $25-$35!  What a bargain, really!  They were so beautiful and I so enjoyed talking with her.

We ate apple dumplings.

We watched the process and smelled the aromas of apple butter cooking in the outdoor kettle.

We listened to the most amazing bluegrass music - talent like that is truly a gift from God.  Acoustic guitars, violins, mandolins, and more - their sounds whispered into the breeze and just made you want to hum along.

The fire inside the cabin was warm and crowded.

My girls said they were happy.  Me too.  They really enjoyed hanging out with friends from church.

And little pea - she rode in the backpack almost all day - happy as a clam.

Can you smell the apple butter in these pictures?  Hear the leaves crunching under the horses hooves?  And the bluegrass music wafting through the air and tickled laughter all around?

It was a good day.  God don't make no junk.

Our day in pictures, our joy to share.

the two peas

Happy Fall!

xoxo,

Trish  (ps  keep your eyes peeled here - I'm moving to a Typepad blog soon.  More features and room to grow - I'll let you know when I'm ready for you to visit me there! )

Two Peas Sewing Bee

Ok ladies...pull up a chair, warm up your machines, put your foot to the pedal!

Join in on the "Two Peas Sewing Bee"!  We've been having some fun and I wanted to share a little of what we have been stitching away in our Sewing Bee...

My dear friend and neighbor, Barb, has this awesome craft room in her house.  A separate entrance, loads of great lighting, plenty of space and tables - she typically teaches a stamp class there.  She's a Stampin Up sales rep.  I've been leasing her space from her to teach my sewing classes.  Most everyone in the class is a beginner, some a bit more advanced than others, and our first class we made a whole bevy of projects for beginners.

A tissue pack cover.  A lanyard.  Val Wells petal pouches.  And a little wallet, also by Val Wells.

Our second class, we tackled applique shirts and the twirl skirt by Chelsea Anderson of Pink Fig.

There is a designer in all of you!  I loved the fabrics that everyone choose.  So dang cute!

AND next, in November, I'll be offering an all day "Santa's Workshop" sewing bee.  We will be tackling 3 projects in one day!

We will be making an apron, like the one seen here on me (this one is a take on one of the aprons from my husbands grandmother - you can see this apron on "jane" up at Harvest Moon.  I gave it to her in honor of the awesome cinnamon rolls and bagels she whips up daily).

Project 2 will be a patchwork pillow.

And number 3, a quilted table runner.

All great projects for gifts at Christmas.  The pillows and table runners can be made with all kinds of manly fabrics for a boys room or a brother or Dad might like a nice throw pillow for their couch.  Or some frilly fancy fabrics for a sister.

Anyway, lunch will be provided as well as some of the materials.  I'll have more details later so if you are interested in one of the seats - let me know asap!

Happy Sewing all!

xoxo,

Trish

PS  Just added the class to our schedule.  Santa's Workshop Sewing Bee will be on November 14th - all day, 9am - 5pm.  $125 per person with a $20 discount for early birds who register by November 1st.  Just email me at twopeasinapoddesigns at gmail dot com

Bloggers Quilt Festival

So I heard a little rumor from Kaye that this quilt blog festival was going on.  They time it so that it is going on during the International Quilt Market .  The Fall market is the BIG one of the year.  There is also one in the Spring but the Fall one is where most new releases on fabric lines, etc are launched or revealed. If you've been with me for any length of time you'll remember this.

The result of that is that I am STILL working on designs.  Here's the thing.  I had 3 companies that were promising.  One who sent me an email when I got home and said they loved my stuff and they would be in touch very soon.  That sounds good, doesn't it?

Well, a month later I got a short note from them that said "they decided to go another direction".  I was ok with that because there were still 2 others in the running.  Both of those said that I needed to tweak some things, work on colorways, etc but that they really loved my designs.

Last week, after not being in touch with those companies since May, one of them emailed me again and said they were really impressed with my presentation, really loved my designs and looking forward to my resubmits.

Again, sounds promising.  Really.

Problem is, I'm not a graphic designer.  SO...I'm slowly trying to figure out what I need to be able to do this myself and I'm asking for help from some friends.  And I continue to network with others who have done this before me.  Sandi Henderson and Bari J and Lila Tueller - all very kind in offering me advice and encouraging me along.  Networking is so very helpful.

I was in such a hurry before to get "there" but now, I just put it in God's hands.  If it's meant to be, it will.  If I'm blessed enough with talent and skill that can grow into a career to help support my family - then it's God's plan and it will happen when the time is right.  I'm much more relaxed about the process now.

For months, I've been planning to take November and December off.  I just submitted an article to a magazine for publication.  I have 3 publishing companies that I'm working on book proposals for and I'm actually pulling in some all new sketches to build my collection that I have now named, designed my selvedge edges for and have a few sewing patterns to go with...and I will actually have, before Christmas, the first of those patterns for sale and ready for distribution.

In God's time.  Not mine.  If it's meant to be.  It will.  If not, then I'll keep doing what I'm doing.  Sewing for my friends and family and loving every.  single.  minute. of it.

Which brings me back to the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

You are supposed to write a post about a quilt and tell it's story.

The first quilt I ever made, I made when I was about 10 weeks pregnant with the peas, my twins.  I didn't know it at the time that there were two of them in there so I was only making one.  I actually haven't made a second one yet.  And they are now, ahem, 8 years old.  It was a nine patch with a flannel back of bears with angel wings.  Adorable.

It's been loved...to pieces.  I've told them I'll have to cut it in two for them and make them into little wall hangings or something.

And then last Christmas, I made my parents a big throw quilt.  I also put a flannel back on it because my Dad is always cold.  The front I did just giant blocks and put a cute vintage cowboy flannel on the back.

There really isn't any story to this.  Except I was so busy working filling orders that I didn't get to make this until the week of Christmas.

And I had a new baby at home.

And I stayed up into the wee hours after everyone was in bed asleep sewing.

And piecing.

And quilting.

I have alot of respect for quilters.  It's a big job.  But the results are timeless.

I say that because in the baby's room, framed is a quilt square from a quilt my great grandmother made.  It had started to fall apart and so each girl in my family got a square of it framed.

And I made Christmas stockings for my parents from it.

And I still have more left.  There will be some other sweet projects to come along, I'm sure.

xoxo,

Trish

THIS is Grace.

This is Grace.  Just a normal, fun loving, funny, kid.

I've known Grace since the day she was born.  Actually, even before that.

Grace's Mom and I work in the same office and we have been friends for over 10 years.  Grace has always kept us laughing.  Her Mom tells the funniest stories of her adventures.  Grace is animated and says the darnedest things.  Really funny.

She's mostly a good sister to Isabelle.  She loves to dance and play with her American Girl dolls.  She's a girl scout and a good friend and a sweet girl.

I was with Grace's Mom a couple of years ago when she got the news that she had been whisked away to the hospital during a routine doctors visit.  Grace's Mom and I were on a retreat with our office and Grace's Dad called me.  He couldn't reach Grace's Mom on her phone so he called me.

Turns out, they ran a test in the office and found that her sugar was off the charts high.  He took her straight to Childrens Hospital.  They told him that Grace has Type 1 diabetes.

She was there for 3 days.  The peas and I went to visit her.  They asked me, "Does Gracie have cancer?  Is she going to die?".  I guess to a kid, that's what it seems like.  I bet Grace felt that way too.  What is this thing, pricking fingers, getting shots - what happened to me?

Remember when I said here that I want to be like Oprah - and I decided to start taking proceeds from my trunk shows and donating them to Childrens Hospital?  Well, that's what I did today in a round about way.  Today I gave to Grace.  Well, actually, YOU gave to Grace.  You who came to Dotty's trunk show.  YOU gave to Grace today.

Grace participated in the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) walk this past weekend.  It was a big success.  Grace helped to raise thousands of dollars that will go towards research in finding a cure.

After the walk, that evening, Grace, Grace's Mom and her sister were all reliving the events of the day and Grace said, "Mom, I hope we don't have a walk next year".  Her mom asked why?  Thinking maybe she didn't have fun but really Grace, in her wisdom way beyond her years said, "I hope there is no walk because I hope by this time next year there is a cure for diabetes".

Grace's mom told me that one morning a few months ago, Grace had this same idea.  She woke up and said she had a dream that while at school they called her name on the loud speaker and asked her to come to the office.  Once she got there they told her that she didn't need insulin anymore and that they had found a cure.

Here's to no more walks Grace.  Ever.

This is Grace.  Just a normal, fun loving, funny kid.

xoxo,

Trish

ps Got $5 to spare this week?  You can contribute to Grace's Dream Team by visiting the JDRF website, or just click here to go directly to Grace's JDRF page Your tax deductable donation goes right to the fabulous researchers who ARE so close to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.  In Grace's lifetime, it could be VERY real that it WILL happen.  Help Grace realize her dreams.

Some days we just step over random blessings

I'm not really sure why most days, I don't take full advantage of what I've been given. I seem to just over look all these random blessings in my path. Are they really that random? I mean, God knows what He wants for us, right? I just seem to trip over them from time to time and mostly, pay no attention. I'm too busy packing lunches, making dinners, washing clothes, signing homework, responding to email, trying to pick up the house, running here, running there and I just don't see it.

Today, on my way to work, I was just daydreaming really. Staring off into the red taillights in front of me as we were stopped to get on the highway and this is what I saw reflected back.

See, I was daydreaming about the things that I sometimes move too fast to really enjoy. Like this morning.

One of the peas lost a tooth last night. This photo is actually an old one. But the tooth fairy last night dropped a load of fairy dust all over her bedside stand. And her bed pillow. And her sheets. And all over her hair and  some on her nose even.

Pea squealed with delight when she saw all of that and a pack of gum in her tooth bag.

Only it was 8am. And the bus comes at 8:20am.

And I had to get orders packaged. And I had to finish sewing 2 shirts. And I had to go to the post office. And then to work.

And I don't think I enjoyed the moment as much as I wished I had.

Random blessings. A delightful little girl losing her tooth - still delightfully believing in the tooth fairy. What a...delight. Truly.

So I was daydreaming on my way to work. Lost in those taillights. Thinking about what had transpired at home. And wishing I had a little more time to savor it.

xoxo,

Trish

T-shirts, t-shirts, t-shirts

Do you sew?  These are so cute!  And easy.  Use some stitch witchery, or steam a seam, etc and cut it out just a bit smaller than your applique.  Apply to your -shirt.  Stitch.  That's it.  With each washing, the edges will fray and create this cute vintage look.  I'm having fun designing new things all the time...here's a few that are now at Harvest Moon Coffeehouse in Canal Winchester.  Grab one while you can!

And I'm so happy to report...I know have INTERNET access!!  Yeah!  Yeah in that I have access.  Boo, in that it is expensive so please, go to my etsy site, buy a few shirts so I can keep blogging!  My dial up just wasn't doing it and it was getting really old running into town all the time to use the wifi.

And because I know have internet, I have very slowly started to get my dot.com working.  So, pop over and take a peek.  I don't have a lot going on over there but I do have some things loaded in the shop.  I hope to work on it more later, ahem, this year.

Don't forget, I'm still looking for ideas for our Frankenstein's Laboratory.  (see previous post).  I have some goodies for someone - we'll choose a random person from the comments and mail out our Halloween package to you.  Comments will close Oct 21st so bring 'em on!

Happy Hump day!

xoxo,

Trish

Mooahhhhahahah! (insert evil laugh here)

Did that spook ya?  My evil laugh and all?  It's a pretty good imitation, right?  I mean, I totally had ya thinking that like Count Dracula was right behind you didn't I?   OOooo!  I so love Halloween.  It is my FAV.OR.ITE holiday.  I just love it.  Love that it happens in the fall.  Love to think about Halloween costumes and what we'll put together.  Love the parties we have every year.  Love, LOVE, love LOVE LOVE it!!!

As a matter of fact, the day after halloween, I go out and scurry up anything that is left over in the store Plates, napkins, cute little trinkets for goodie bags and the like and I load them all up into my "Halloween Party" bin and put it back into storage.  Each year, I am all set with loads of fun stuff for our party and purchased at usually 75% off or more!  Mooahhhahahah (rubs hands together)  Love bargain shopping!

I have an entire Haunted Village.  You know how some people have Christmas Villages (ok, I confess.  I have one of those too - complete with skiers and snowboarders that move - you'll have to wait until Christmas for that post).  I have these villages that all make sound and have motion.  Well before the girls get home from school, I have those things cranked on.  And enjoy them I do - ohh!  So much fun!

And I love decorating around my antiques.  My old clock works perfect for Halloween decor don't ya think?  Complete with owl, black leaves, and rat of course!

A few years ago, I crafted some pillow covers for my couch.  I found some adorable festive fabrics.  Searched for this fringe trim in black over in the home dec section.

And then out of felt, I cut the shapes, used stitch witchery on them (because what else would you use at this time of year for applique with a name like that), and then did some decorative stitching on top.  Hello?!  Cute and so easy.  They are an envelope style.

That couldn't be easier.  Measure your pillow form size.  I add usually about an 1.5" to 2" to each side measurement.  Your front panel is one piece obviously.  Your back panel will be in two pieces.  You won't those pieces to overlap by about 3-4" so cut two pieces, accounting for seam allowances so you can create a nice clean hem on the edges, and cut them to fit for your rear panel.  Make sense.   That's all there is to it.  With right sides together, make sure your rear panel has your edges finished that will be exposed, and that they are overlapping enough, and stitch all the way around.

If you want to add trim like I did, you'll want to sandwich that inbetween your layers.  It will lay in this order, panel one, trim, and then panel two.

I know, I know.  Not really the best instructions.  Go here for a real tutorial on how to make these style covers.  They could not be easier, seriously!

Got any good ideas for our "Frankensteins Laboratory"?  We did one a few years back and the girls have requested we do it again.  I set it up on the kitchen counter and use a big black garbage bag that is shredded to hide what is behind the bags.  We did grapes for eyeballs.  Spaghetti for brains.  And a wig for hair.  But I need some new ideas this year.  Help me out!

And for helping me out...drum roll please...I'm gonna send you one of Halloween treat bags!  Just a lightweight little tote a little one could use to collect their candy in or you could put a cute Halloween gift in it for someone, like me, who loves Halloween better than their birthday.  (hint! hint! I know my husband reads this and if you are reading this right now, I sure would love that new Wacom tablet we talked about....what a lovely Halloween gift that would be for your dear sweet hard working wife who adores you - is this thing on?  hello?  Did ya catch all that?)  Sorry about that diversion...he does secretly read.  He says he doesn't ever read my blog but then he'll blurt something out that I shared and I'll say, "ahh, so you DO read my blog".

Where was I?  Oh yes, help me out with some ideas for Franks Laboratory and the two peas will pick a favorite idea and we'll send you a bag - heck, maybe a few other goodies too.  Ya never know.  We'll pick a favorite on the 21st of October and mail out your package on the 22nd so you'll have it in time for Halloween!

Can't wait to hear your ideas!

Last but not least, my September giveaway...lucky name out of the hat was Lise from inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com.  Send me your mailing address and a key fob and lanyard is headed your way.

xoxo,

Trish

Preparing (mentally) for winter...

As I write and schedule this post today, it's our last day on our vacation to the east coast.  While my parents took the big peas into town on the mainland and little pea is napping and the gardener is happily watching cable TV (because we have no cable nor internet access at home) I decided to take one last walk down to the beach and sit by myself at the waters edge.

As I sat there, I began preparing mentally for what lies ahead of us in the coming months.  The Farmers Almanac has predicted that this winter will be a particularly brutal one.  I love winter.   I love snow.  But after about 3 months of it - I'm ready for the next season and that doesn't always happen for us in the midwest.  Sometimes winter lasts more like 5 months and that quite frankly...is a bit much even for nature lover me.

So, back to me and my beach chair, and the ocean.  As I sat there, I kept taking little mental pictures.  With my eyes open, the waves crashing, the sun just dancing on top of the water, the seagulls just hanging in the air.  Then I'd close my eyes, and listen to the water on the shore, take deep breaths of delicious fresh sea air.  Open my eyes, another snapshot, the pier, my toes in the sand.  Close my eyes, another deep breath.

And I kept repeating this over and over again thinking - this is where I'll come when the snow gets too deep and the chill in the air too cold and I get tired of bundling up three kids to go outside.  I'll close my eyes, that James Taylor song, Carolina, will play in the background, and I'll be back here, in my chair, smelling the wonderful fresh warm air and digging my toes into the sand.  Ahh...winter.  Bring it on.  I'm ready.

xoxo,

Trish

Rainy days keep us busy

We had enough rain the other day that it completely flooded the street and filled a tub we had outside with 6 inches of water!  That, my friends, is a lot of rain.  Luckily, Mom is prepared for such a day and thought I'd share with you some of my latest bargain rainy day fun finds.

I found these at Walmart on clearance.  (I was in a different state recently at a different Walmart and they also had them on clearance so I bet you might find them where you are).  I got 4 different Martha Stewart kits for under $3.50 each.

They were originally around $12.00 I think but I was really impressed with everything they included in the kits.

The first ones we tried were the jewelry kits.  Each kit made 5 different items.  Similar but the two kits had a large hair barrette, a small barrette, rings, hairpins and two pins.  They consisted of felt flowers that  already had a running stitch in them and all the kids had to do was to pull and gather to create the flower and tie it off.  Then, they glued several together, added leaves and beads.  The glue was a bit tricky at first because it just soaks into the felt and we had to find a way to hold it all together with some pressure but once it dried, it held really strong.

Then we moved on to the puppets.  Each puppet animal was individually packed, everything already had stickers to it and the details...wow!   Of course, this IS a Martha Stewart product.  I have to say - I was super impressed.  The bags were kind of small and my girls hands a bit large for them but still workable.  They said they were too easy.  All you had to do was assemble but they sure turned out cute!  And the show we had afterwards that included the hermit crabs...well, we are still working out some production kinks.

Would I have paid the full $12 for these kits?  I'm not sure.  They were filled with quality materials.  I thought everything was really nice for a kit - usually kits are really crummy.  So, maybe.  But I was happy to have found these for between $2 - $3.50.  Check your local Walmart - maybe there's a few left for your rainy day crafts!

xoxo,

Trish

The best days...

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No words to express how wonderful it is to enjoy your family...watch them laugh, play, sing, splash, explore, stand in amazement, in awe, in gratitude...having the best days...

Our sweet little Olivia...used up the last of her nine lives

This is a repost from July 2008.  Our sweet little kitty, who I have had since I was 21 years old, passed away yesterday.  I know, who wants to read about that but hey, this is my blog, my place to journal my thoughts so bare with me through this one.  Let me unload a little sorrow for a moment for a dear friend.

A little background before the repost.

When I was in college, I had a job working at a store called Wild Birds Unlimited.  Olivia was the store cat.  She was a princess.  Slept most days on top of the binocular case.  Would stand next to the TV while the Buckeyes played football and bat at the screen or make wierd little chirping noises when we played videos with squirrels getting into bird feeders.  She was known by all the customers and they often brought her treats.

One day, she snuck out the front door and killed a goldfinch.  She came in that door proud as could be carrying this bird in her mouth.  Now mind you, we sold bird feeders and bird food so you could enjoy and watch the birds.  Having her walk in having just hunted down one of these pretty birds was not a very good selling point.

One day she was sitting next to the cash register and an old man came in and was petting her kind of rough.  She hissed, growled, turned her head, cocked her ears back and I said to him, "She's not happy with you.  Be careful.  She might bite" and sure enough she gave him a real quick nip.  His hand bled and he walked out saying he was suing, yadda, yadda, yadda.  He never did but Olivia was "relieved" of her mousing duties in the store that day.  That day, she came home to live with me.  Retired from the store, she lived a good life with me and was very spoiled.

When we brought the twins home, she very slinkily tiptoed on our bed and peered over into the bassinet.  So curious what was in there.  Later, she learned to be totally ignorant of the girls and I have photos of them as babies literally laying on top of her.

One day, while the girls were running to catch the school bus, Olivia ran behind them and actually jumped onto the bus with them.  They had to chase her down the aisle to catch her.  Most days, the girls had to try to outrun her because she tried that trick 3 out of 5 days a week.  Clear up to the end.  Last Friday, she almost made it to the bus and I had to run after her.

She was a good kitty as kitties go.  She loved Taco Bell, something she learned while she worked at the store.  We often had that for lunch and we would find her in the trash licking the wrappers.  It's always hard to say goodbye but it was time.  She was almost 18 years old and was down to nothing.  She quit bathing herself months ago and was losing her sight and hearing.  She really lived her life fully to the very end.

Here's the repost from last summer...a story about a blue jay who was eating the cats food for weeks before the barn cat caught him.

Here's innocent Olivia, who mostly laid on the porch within 4 feet of the bluejay while he ate for hours at a time. She's 16, just bones and fur, and could care less about anything unless of course it's on our dinner table. Turn your back for 2 seconds and she is either on the table or in the trash digging out whatever leftovers were tossed.

Trash kitty as we call her. We grilled out chickens one day and tossed the bones outside in the garbage. Late that night, thinking raccoons were getting into the garbage, my husband chased off whatever was making noise around the can. The next day, we head off for the afternoon and return around dinner time. I notice that Olivia is not doing her usual meow in the front window, go to the back, meow from the back porch, repeat every 3 minutes for an hour, nap, start over, routine. So, about 7pm, I go looking for Olivia. My instincts said, start with the trash can. I open up the lid, and inside was a bag in shreds, contents everywhere, and the greasiest, nastiest, looking gray cat you ever saw. Trash kitty...that's what we call her.

Rest in peace dear sweet Olivia.  We loved you and we will see you again someday.

xoxo,

Trish

Little Pea...meet the ocean. Ocean, this is little pea.

I was working so hard so that our family could enjoy a little R&R.

If you are also a mompreneuer like me, you know that there really are very little days off.  I work at the university 3 days a week and then 4 days a week, into the wee wee hours, I'm sewing, designing, sketching, blogging, filling orders and on and on and on...

So, I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to go to the coast for some rest and fun.  AND I didn't even bring my sewing machine with me, can you believe it?!  A true break.  So rare.  I'll share more later from our little trip

but here's some evening photos of our littlest pea meeting the ocean.

Work hard to play hard...

I'm having one of those months.  One of those months in which I am literally chained to my sewing machine.  I'm not sure I could possibly show you the shear amount of STUFF coming out of the Two Peas studio lately.  It's a lot. Like a bazillion key fobs and wristlets and bags and t-shirts.  Ohhh, t-shirts.  Which is what I really need to be doing right now.  I have 3 shows coming up AND we have some serious fun planned for this weekend.  I have GOT to have everything done and out the door so I can relax a bit.  I can not wait!  Seriously.  Can. Not. Wait.  Somebody.  Unplug.  My.  Iron.  I'm just about done!

I said I shared with you some of the other little outfits I had made for my girls for school and here's a few.

The skirt and pants pattern is Simplicity 4206, Sewing Pattern for Dummies.  And let me tell you, it is seriously extremely easy, very few instructions / steps and really quick.  I think they turned out cute.  I added the ruffle to the bottom of the pants and I added bias tape to the hem of the skirt.  But if you want an easy quick pattern, this is it!  Loved it.

Wish I had more time to share all of the other goodies going on here but I just don't!

I will leave you with a fun quick tutorial though!  I started teaching my series of sewing classes, my very own Two Peas Sewing Bee...and one of the projects we made was a lanyard.

So easy...here's what you need:  key ring and lobster claw clip to hold a key and your id badge.  I found these in the jewelery supply section of JoAnn Fabrics.

Cut one strip of fabric 2" x 32".  Now, if you want it longer - add a few inches to the length, maybe 34" or 36".  Press wrong sides together in half.  Then open it back up.  Press wrong sides together each half to the center creating your own piece of bias tape.  Again, press.  Make sense?

Sew down each side of this strip.  Then add your key ring to one end and your clip to the other end.  You want to make sure your strap is straight and then fold your ends over your hardware towards the center about 1 inch.  Bring your ends together, lining up your raw edges of each end so that they are even.  Your raw edges are now folded to the inside.  Sew, following your side seams, down each seam, across just above your raw edges so that you have sewn a square and completely encased your hardware and hidden your raw edges.  That's it!  That's all there is to making a cute little lanyard!  So easy, start to finish, 15 minutes!

OK...I SO have to get back to my machine and work on shirts!  Have fun making lanyards!

xoxo,

Trish

I want to be like Oprah

OK... it's not that I'm a big Oprah fan or anything but what I mean by that is her philanthropy.  I've often thought, selfishly so, how cool would it be to have that kind of money to give away?  She changes so many lives with her charities yet she receives so much in the pleasure of being able to do so.  The old saying, "it's better to give than to receive" - it's so true, isn't it?

I think it's that way with handmade things too.  I mean, selfishly, I love LOVE LOOVVEE to give handmade gifts and love to make things for my business because I put so much effort into the design and creation of each item.  I LOVE it when someone receives it and they are just thrilled with it.  I get so much out of giving and making for people that it is quite an addiction.  Is that selfish?  Sometimes I think it is.  Do you feel this way too about creating for others?  It feels so good - it's such a joy, isn't it?

But this morning, on my way to work, I was listening to the radio - I typically listen to our local christian station, 104.9 the river, and started thinking about this whole philanthropy thing.  As the mother of 3, my ride in to work is typically the ONLY time I am ever alone.  I enjoy these rides to and from work because it gives me a chance to just think.

For my business, I have always said I wanted to do it in such a way that my business becomes a blessing.  Now, I know, in business - it should be all about business and forget any emotion.  Donald Trump didn't build an empire thinking what "good things" he could do for the world, just how to make himself a buck.   But come on ladies, don't we all want to feel like what we do somehow makes a difference?  Touches a life?  Leaves a legacy?  How can I do that in this industry?  In my day job, it's rather simple.  I work in higher education, I work in the environmental field and I get great satisfaction out of working with students to create these amazing futures that help to build a sustainable environment for us all.  Love it.  But how do I do that in other facets of my business life?

In the past several summers, the two peas have used my scraps to cover journals and sold them at our local coffeehouse.  They got to keep $1 from each book they sold and donate the other $4 to a charity.  One year it was our local Children's Hospital, one year to a friend of theirs for her walk for JDRF and the other year it was St. Judes.  I loved these projects.  They learned so much from creating and giving and they learned how good it feels to give.

Lately, it seems like we have had our attention drawn to all kinds of kids and families who are in need.  We have a local boy, same age as the two peas, just diagnosed in August with Osteosarcoma.  I was sent a link for this little one who was shaken by his day care provider at 5 months of age.  A family from our twins club has been caring for their twins who came much too early, they have been in the hospital since their birth last November.  One of them got to come home about a month ago, the other is still in the NICU, spending almost the entire first year of life in the hospital.  Last week, I was asked to participate in a charity event for dEBra which is an organization for children with fragile skin.  I was thinking of these children as I was driving in this morning and saying prayers for them.

But for the grace of God, I have three healthy children.  I am very blessed that I do not know the heartache and rollercoasters that go along with a sick child.  Not really.  When my littlest pea was in her 22nd week during my pregnancy, I was told she had markers for Downs Syndrome.  They wanted to do more testing but I refused.  I couldn't change it, nobody could change it.  We would love her no matter what the outcome.  She was added to our church prayer list and our pastor brought over a prayer quilt someone had made for her.  This quilt was at church and each person tied a knot on the quilt and said a prayer for her.  My hubby, the gardener, laid this quilt over me while I was in labor and it brought me immense peace to know that those "prayers" were on our little girl.  As soon as she was out, I asked if she was ok.  Our doctor said, "She is perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  I don't think she has downs".  It wasn't until her 2 month checkup when I tearily asked our doctor if she was really ok that she told me, I could stop worrying.  She was really doing just great and really was perfect.  What a blessing.

And so as I'm thinking about these kids, their families, my business I felt like God was telling me that if I wanted to add philanthropy to what I do that this was it.  As our business grows, I hope to be able to do more and more, but to start, I'm so excited to tell you that 5% of each trunk show will go to our local childrens hospital.

If you host a trunk show and you have a childrens charity, I will gladly work with you to donate your show's proceeds to your charity of choice, like JDRF or others for kids.  I feel like this is the time.  Even when we have such a "tight belt" at home, I feel like even this little bit can be such a big wonderful thing.  Especially now.  I encourage you to think about what "little bit" you can do too at this time.  If we all have just $5 or $10 to spare this month, share it with a charity because right now, they are being hit so hard with losses in income.  And they do so much good for those who are hurting.  But for the grace of God, I have three healthy children.  What little bit I can do, I will do and I hope you will join me in doing so.

Of course, I wanted to also share with you some of the excitement of the past week.  Back to school and wow, we were all excited.

The two peas really love school and our littlest pea surely enjoys having some time with just Mom or Dad.  The two peas were very excited to have me make them some back to school outfits.  I had a lot of fun making them.  I was like a little fairy...made the outfits after they went to bed and hung them in their room to see when they woke up.  They were so excited which is such a good feeling for me to know that their favorite outfits are something that I made.  See, that selfishness again.  I love making things for my girls!  Just love it!  I have a couple more I'll share with you later.

Hope your back to school week went well.  Did you make anything new?  Do share!

September is a super busy month.  I have two trunk shows - including the one charity event, and branching out to a kiosk at the Tuttle Mall the last weekend of the month.  I'll be quite busy and so I might be MIA a bit from the blog this month.  Keep in touch though!

Thanks for all your comments this last month.  I promised that our August giveaway winner would get a stash of fabric for making a pillowcase (how are you all doing on those by the way?) and KimH...thanks so much, you'll be receiving that stash soon.  The two peas are getting quite accustomed to pulling names out of a hat and think its fun to do each month!

I haven't yet decided what to do for September...how about a back to school themed giveaway?  We gave our new teachers a lanyard and key fob and so I think we'll make that our giveaway this month.  Keep the comments coming in.  I love to hear from you!

Have a great week everyone!

xoxo

Trish

Oh! Oh! New Stuff! Love new stuff!

OK...just loaded some fresh stuff from the garden up on my etsy page.  Must see!

Now, I'm almost caught up on all my orders.  One left to go and then I'm on to dresses galore and stocking up for my weekend at the Tuttle Mall.  Yee Haw!

Hope you have a great weekend!

xoxo,

Trish

And now, a word from our sponsor...

Ok...just polling the masses here.  I get a fair number of hits on my blog every month.  My Dad keeps hounding me saying I could put some ads up and make some pocket change.  I don't want to offend anyone by having a few relevant crafty ads to the side for notions and the like. But, a little extra money - for a family who lives with tight belts like we all do - it's hard to pass up. SO I want to ask you all...yea or nay on the ads?  The deal is that an advertiser may ask me periodically to review a product and then I post my thoughts about it.  Strung in with the rest of the hub bub around here...is that going to be annoying?  I have to reveal that I'm being paid to review the product and I get to say whatever the heck I want to about it and I get to do as little or as much as I want.

What are your thoughts here...

Be honest...

Trish

A life well organized

My life? Well organized? I hear people comment to me all the time “I don’t know how you do it?! Work part time, run a business, make all this stuff. You must be so organized”. Far from it.

Since I was a kid, I have never, ever been “well organized”. I wish I was but I’m just not. My Mother used to take pictures of my room and the crazy get ups I’d wear (I was big into thrift store shopping as a kid – the wilder the outfit, the better!) and she would claim she was going to save them to show my children someday. Yep, that day has come and my kids think it’s a good laugh. As I get older, I think I’m better able to accept this about myself. That I’m bound to a life, well, maybe not so organized.

I mean, for years, I have emptied out closets and drawers, bought great little containers, and tried to color code and organize by size. And it works. For awhile. And then, before I know it, I have piles of stuff, just stuff, all over the place. And my kids, well, they are just like me. “Two Peas,” I say, “what IS THIS?”, pointing to a pile of bottle caps, little silk rosettes, ribbon and rubberbands. I’m usually told of the latest craft idea they have and how they need to keep all those things because they have an idea for later. Sound familiar? Holy moly! How many times have I said that one! “But I keep this ginormous bag of scraps honey because I have this great craft idea for later and I NEED them!”. Oh surrre!

I guess this “confession” stems from the sermon I heard in church this past Sunday. It was all about confession and how getting things off our chest will make us feel better and that God still loves us for who we are. So just because I can’t find the Brownie field trip permission slip, again, or maybe I’ve lost track of my work keys because I switch purses so often, again or I let the laundry pile up to the sky – hey, God loves me anyway and there’s SOME solace in that. (ok, I do have some heftier confessions than that but those are between me and the big guy). I mean really, wouldn’t all that organization just stifle my creative thinking anyway?! That’s what I keep telling myself at least. I mean, all that clean space, totally overrated, isn’t it?

Ok, another confession. I do still keep trying for organization. I say, I’ve accepted it yet, I do keep trying. In fact, last week while the two peas were off visiting Grandma, I took a break from my sewing machine and my day job and cleaned house. I mean, finally got piles of stuff put away, swept away the clutter and pretty much sanitized the main living portions of our house. To tell you how bad it had been for so long, the two peas came home and oh’d and ah’d about the clean spaces. And they’ve been home for almost a week now, and they have totally kept up with the clean space idea. They’ve been cleaning up after themselves brilliantly. They even asked me to pick up a few things because “they wanted to keep everything clean”. Ok, ok, ok. I get it. When an 8 year old tells you that, I guess I realize that the clean space helps them too. A clean organized space for them helps them to feel safe, relaxed and calm. It does the same for me. So, if you come to my house, it may not be the most organized. I may not have everything “show ready” but it will be creatively organized and a little bit cleaner than it has been. It works for me. Because let’s face it. A life well organized, well, I’ve made peace with how well I can organize.

On other news fronts, have I mentioned here before how our baby pea has a hair obsession? I mean, sees a stranger walking by with long hair and screams out for them. Of course, they stop and say, “oh, such a cute baby” and she knows she’s got them. She reaches out the arms and of course they say, “oh my! Do you want picked up? May I?”. Hook. Line. Sinker. She’s got ‘em. She’s up and instantly the girl has got her fingers twirling through this strangers long locks. It’s bad. It’s her baby crack. But, slowly she’s transitioning into a new obsession. It’s shoes. I mean, we all knew it was coming. She’s a GIRL, hello?! Of course, she no doubt would love shoes someday I just didn’t think it would happen this early. She’s not particular. Anybody’s shoes. My husbands. Mine. The two peas. Shoes found around at the pool. Flip flops. Heels. She’s not picky. She wants to put on her sun hat, put on a giant pair of shoes and suck her thumb. That’s pretty much a good day for her. A life well organized or cutie patootie days like these? I’ll take the cutie patootie days thank you very much.

A few new things heading out of the studio. Making some progress on patterns. Had a product photo shoot yesterday and more to come as I’ve narrowed down my projects to a set of three that I think you’ll enjoy. And so much more on the horizon.

New designs I’m working on to complete my color stories with my original portfolio and hope to resubmit before the end of the year. So that’s what’s new with us in a nutshell. How about you?

Xoxo,

Trish

**Bloggers Note** Oops, I did it again!  Oh yes, left for work this afternoon and forgot my work keys, again.  Shheeez!

last hurrah!

It’s been on my to-do list, honest it has. I meant to update my blog. I meant to get on here and announce the July giveaway winner. Really. I did. But, well, it’s just that school starts soon. And I know, I often hint at the fact that I can not wait for that day to come because, I’m about to lose my mind BUT…I will miss them, honest.

So, the two peas, wee one and me, we’ve been hangin’ at the pool, spent a day over at our most “awesomeness” zoo and now, the two peas are doing their rounds with my family. I heard today that they went to the waterpark and an Indian mound, tomorrow a different waterpark and a trip to the putt-putt course my niece works at…sounds like a great “last hurrah” before school starts.

While they have been gone, all of 24 hours now, I have sorted their play “nook”. Our house is really tiny so they don’t have a play room, just a corner. I gathered enough garbage out of that wee little corner to fill our entire kitchen size trash can. Tomorrow, my boss was kind enough to let me take a last minute vacation day so I could maximize on their absentness and continue with the purge – moving on to their room. Feels rather nice to finally have at least a few rooms of my house, cleaned out and well, finally actually, clean. See, when it’s summer time, our house isn’t clean. Ever. Seriously, I’m working, the hubby is working, we play as much as we can and the house, well, it kind of falls apart over these few months. So, I’m looking forward to getting some order back around here in time for school to start.

We last left off here chatting about pillowcases for our troops, right? Ah yes! So, I got some great brown flannel with white polka dots and then I thought, it’s kind of hot over there. Flannel? Maybe not so much. I’ll have to see what cottons I have in my stash. Anyway, ladies, here it is. A great little pillowcase tutorial offered up by “Little Birdie Secrets”. Super simple and looks fantastic when you’re done. I mentioned an article I read about a foundation that was collecting such things. You’ll find them here at Operation Bedding. Or maybe you have a family member or friend who is serving you’d like to send your cases off to. Make ‘em up, send ‘em out and then share your photos and a shout out to who your pillowcases went to here. In the comments section, leave your comment and a link back to your blog or site to share your completed projects. I’d love to especially see who they are going to, first names or whatever so we can remember these very special folks in our prayers and ask for their protection and safe return.

More fun things to share with you! I’m going to be offering some sewing classes! Yahoo! What fun! If you are local to Columbus Ohio – we’d love to have you. The “Two Peas Sewing Bee” is a series of beginners classes. 3 classes offered September 10th, October 8th and November 5th. The first class we will be doing a bunch of easy quick projects – projects to help you get more familiar with your machine and build your confidence. They are also great projects for you to replicate again and again for Christmas gifts (you know, Christmas is coming sooner than you think!) The second class, we will be making a cute little skirt and doing an appliqué on a t-shirt. Our third class, we will be making one of my

easy peasy little hipster bags. You can sign up for one or all three classes but you have to hurry because we only have 6 seats for this class. If you’re local and interested, email me at twopeasinapoddesigns at gmail.com for registration information.

Thanks so much to my uber Mom friend Barb, who is allowing me to offer this class in her uber cool craft studio where she hosts her “Stampin’ Up” classes. Love ya Barb! You’ll love her craft studio – I could get lost in there and craft for weeks!!! So much fun stuff – if ever I need anything on a moments notice, I call her!

And here’s the best part about “The Two Peas Sewing Bee”…Quilthome.com has been kind enough to offer a 10% discount to my registered students to get your supplies. LOVE Quilthome.com. Those ladies have THE best service ever! I swear – I place an order and from Washington state to Ohio, I get my fabrics within 2-3 days. Very fast service! They are just wonderful to deal with and when you log on to their page, always check the right hand column because they always have something on sale and a coupon code posted there. Love them! (Thanks Heidi!) I have other favorites too but I’m a big fan of theirs, for sure.

I finally, finally, am nearing the point of getting ready to release a few patterns of my own. I have a product photo shoot later this week and hopefully before the end of Fall, I will have something ready to go. Local at first, and for use in my class, but I’ll probably offer them up on etsy and my dot com later on.

And last but not least. My monthly giveaway. Crystal, my dear twins mommy blogger friend – your bags WILL come, I promise. And for July, a little mini notebook cover – goes to…drum roll please and a random drawing courtesy of whatever the wee one pulls out of the hat, “vallovesherboys”. Sweet! I’ll be sending this little book ‘o’ love your way soon. For August, a stash of fabric for you, cut and ready to cut to make your own pillowcase. Free fabric – what could be better!

So, signing off to go do some more cleaning while I can! How good it feels to purge!! And did I mention? The “homegrown” of our name – well, really enjoying it at the moment. The gardener has done well this year. I picked 30 yellow and red tomatoes today and a huge bowl of cherry and grape tomatoes. To die for, seriously! Any ideas how to preserve them? I heard I should freeze them whole to use in sauces later. Any other ideas? I could hardly hold the baby back while I picked, she was eating them so fast – all that acid, not so good on her bum. I had to block her from getting into the vines and she was getting so mad :>) Just like her sisters! The two peas eat tomatoes whole, like an apple, love ‘em! Hope you’re enjoying your harvest too!

Xoxo, Trish

143 days until Christmas!

AHHH!  Ok, so 143 days SOUNDS like it's far off but it's really not!  Especially when your days are scheduled tight already from here until then!  I have a few more trunk shows to get through and a weekend at the mall at a kiosk I'm sharing with my Bows and Blossoms friend in September and THEN a vacation, oh yes, finally!!  AND THEN, I'm done with custom orders as of October 31st.  I want to be sure to have your orders back to you by Thanksgiving and then I want to

relax with my family over the holidays and start working on my book.  (OHH, too many things going on around here - still tweaking my fabric designs - still chatting with textile company reps and hoping to pitch a book idea I've been kicking around for awhile).  Oh, did I mention?  I'm hoping to teach a class too at a new sewing studio opening in town.  More on that later...

So the jist is...that is you want a custom order, now is the time to start thinking about that and place your order soon!  I've been working on some great little skirts lately so if you're thinking "back to school"  - you gotta check out these patchwork skirts and add a cute little peace sign tee shirt to go with it.  Love it!

Later this week I'll post that pillowcase tutorial, but just sayin...check out new stuff over in my etsy shop and bookmark my new dot com because pretty soon, it will be fully loaded and ready to go.  I'll be putting less stuff in my etsy store towards October and more, ready to go items over there in the dot com store.

Catch ya later!

xoxo,

Trish

Heavens to Murgatroyd!

OK, so I'm hanging out with the wee one getting ready to put her to bed and I say to her, "Heaven's to mergatroid child!". Seriously?! Where did THAT come from? Heavens to mergatroid?! So, that got me curious, and as I do typically each night, lock myself in the bath and step into a steaming tub and catch up on blogs on my iphone (that's right, don't act like you don't do it too,risky, yes but I'm very careful not to drop it in the water : )

So I'm googling, Heavens to Murgatroyd. Turns out this is a take on Heavens to Betsy - no one is quite sure who Besty was but the pink mountain lion, Snagglepuss, on Yogi Bear coined this twist on the original phrase. Then I keep reading and it says, of all things, that the pink mountain lion on Yogi Bear was gay. What?! Gay?! I didn't know that, did you? Of course, at the age I was watching Yogi Bear I suppose I didn't even know what it meant to be gay but I was shocked. "Not that there's anything wrong with that " (remember THAT Seinfeld episode) I just didn't know. I mean, he's pink and all but he could have just been all metro sexual kind of thing but, whatever.  He's a cartoon character.   So, now ya know and when you are playing trivial pursuit or something, you'll have that little odd fact about this phrase to tuck away into your memory banks. What that has to do with anything I'm not sure...

Moving on...been super busy catching up on party orders! I do home parties,

Trunk Shows I call them. You host a party at your house and then I bring all of my purse samples, and loads of fabric swatches and you get to build your own bag, or quilt, or bib, or dress, or skirt, or whatever...I make loads of

stuff. Anyway, its a blast (and you can host an online party too if you aren't local - hey, just email me twopeasinapoddesigns at gmail dot com).

One of the ladies ordered a patchwork skirt. Well, I was dying to try out this pattern I found here by Chelsea Anderson of Pink Fig. I love her stuff because it is SO easy and the results are amazing. So, here's my first try at this skirt from the mag. LOVE IT!  Want one?  They'll be loaded on my website soon.  (ohh!  Launching my dot com soon - you'll love).  Here's one more quickie photo from the iphone of an order from Julia's party...

And on top of all the sewing I've been doing...whew! we had swim team practice, practice, practice and then

championships and then banquet followed by a super fun

pool party. Really, that was so much fun to swim after dark with the kids! One of the Dad's DJ'd and it was such fun.

And check this out!  THIS is India from our office.  First of all, isn't she beautiful?!  Well, one of our student workers, Allison, has been teaching herself how to sew.

She took a tunic from her Mothers closet, laid it out and cut a pattern and made this shirt.  Huh?!  That's a girl with a great sewing future!  Don't you love this!  Now, the seams were a bit rough inside but  at the time she didn't have a serger.  Problem resolved, I sold her my old one at the end of the school year.  I can NOT wait to see what she creates next!  I think she did such a fabulous job!

Ok, breathe, breathe...is this like too much information for one post?!  I'll stop now, mostly because the gardener is at home with three kids and I'm sure tapping his foot waiting for my arrival home.  (no internet at home - have to schmooze it elsewhere to post - blah!)

So, next post - get ready!  I have a fun little service project for us!  I was reading this story in People magazine about a soldier who had asked for bedding from home to be sent because their linens over there stink.  I thought, all of us sewing goddesses that we are, lets sew up some pillowcases to send over!  Sound good?  Next post will be a pillowcase tutorial and my giveaway for August will be some fabric so you can make one more and send off.  I'll post their contact info and all so you can mail off your little bundle of soft love for a wonderful soldier to bury their tired head into at night.

Be good everyone!  School is back in session in 28 days!  Yippee!  (oops!  That came out like a shout of joy, didn't it?  That was sorrow - I will MISS the little ones terribly and wait at the window just watching for their return each day from school - after I do my happy dance!!  Just kidding - a little.  I just want to catch up on laundry - we've been playing and working a lot - not much house cleaning going on).

Ok seriously, I'm signing off - I'm writing like I'm on crack or something - get ready for pillowcase construction, ok!  Go getcha some fabrics!

xoxox,

Trish