Lots to Share.

I hope this post finds you all in the midst of some awesome Christmas celebration preparation!  Miss Moose has been very busy moving and trying to get things in order at the new place but I am starting to settle in.  That means I can get back to what I love and start creating again.  There are a few exciting things in the works.  Some are really exciting!

The first is that I have two new button sections coming to the shop in the next two weeks.  I have been working on these for a while trying to figure out the best way to make them sturdy and appropriate for everyday use.   I think I have the final prototypes and will be making a few for your viewing pleasure in the next few days.

There is one bit of news that makes me want to jump up and down but I am going to have to sit on it for a few weeks.  If you guys are good I might drop and hint here and there…but for now…just know that there is something on the horizon!

Lastly, I am super excited to be hosting a big giveaway with a good friend, Kristen, to celebrate our birthdays.  It will be in early January and I will share the details to enter when they are all finalized.  Until then I will just let you guys know what I will be giving away to whet your appetite :)  I am going to be giving up a vintage button collage brooch similar to this one that I just sold last week.  It will be a little different…but you get the idea.

Winner.

So the winner has been notified and received their gift.  Congrats Mom.  Isn’t it funny how those things happen!  I am going to have to exclude those darn family members next time!

Things here are good.  We just did another craft show this week and are looking for a few more to crash :)

I will keep you updated on new happenings and products as best I can through the holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Step right up!

I am in the process of preparing for another show coming up and to celebrate (read: promote) one of my new items I thought I would do a little give away.

Here is the really cool thing about this giveaway…everyone knows someone who could use one of these things!  That is a little rare when you think about it.  ”What could that possibly be?!?,” you ask.  It’s a name badge holder!  Teachers use them, nurses use them, office workers use them…even if you wouldn’t use it you absolutely know someone this would make an awesome Christmas gift for.  So step right up and enter to win.

Here’s how:
1.) Leave your name and a way I can contact you.
2.) Tell me your favorite thing about work.
3.) Tell me which name badge holder from my shop you would like to win.
Contest ends Friday at midnight.  Winner will be selected at random.

Really…it’s that easy :)  Hope you guys are having a happy Monday!

Glorious…just glorious!

Our Booth.

Quilts on Display.

Jewelry on Display.

Earrings on Display.

And another week begins…

This past weekend was glorious and I must admit that I was sad to see it end.  The craft fair was a blast and the Indian Summer was the perfect backdrop for crafters to unite!  There was a good bit of interest in the t-shirt quilts and I am looking forward to hearing from some of these guys.  The stories that go into a memory quilt are so amazing.  I love hearing about people’s lives and getting the opportunity to work with them to create something that their family can cherish for years and years to come.  It is such a blessing to touch another family in such a real way.  I can’t wait to get my hands on some new materials!

That being said…I have started a small sorority throw.  I am cutting and interfacing and piecing right now so you probably won’t get a glimpse for another week or so but rest assured it is going to be fun!  I love Greek shirts because they are all so different and colorful and every single one holds a thousand individual memories.  I can’t wait to see it on the frame.

My goal is to have it finished so I can display it at my next “get out of the house” event.  If you are local and would like to come visit me I will be selling some of my wares at St. Mary’s hospital on Tuesday December 1st.  I will have a smattering of button jewelry as well as some quilts on display for ordering purposes.

Hope you guys have a wonderful week!

 

Moving right along….

I know I mentioned that I was getting ready for a craft show coming up.  I am hoping to have over 100 pieces of button jewelry to take.  I should have pendants, rings, name badge holders, earrings, hair clips, brooches, and pins!  Getting that stuff together has been more than enough to keep me on my toes and yet I have started something else.  What is wrong with me?!?

Before I tell you about my latest venture let me bring you up to date on a recently finished project.  I had mentioned previously that I was working on a Harley Davidson memory quilt.  Well…after switching quilting frames twice and a few other issues I finally bound it and handed it over to its rightful owners.  I was excited to deliver it and my Mom and Dad were super excited to get it.  I must admit that in my excitement I totally forgot to photograph it!  It had 20 hand quilted t-shirt squares varying in size from 12″x 12″ to 14″x14″.  It was backed and bound in black with hand quilted flames running down the sides.  If you would like to see it in person I will have it on display at the Festival the weekend of Nov 7th.

When I finished that quilt I started to get itchy for something to keep me busy (read:busier).  Then it occurred to me…I had the perfect next project!  My Granny White used to quilt and when she heard that I had picked up the habit she brought me all of her old quilting gear.  Hubs was less than excited to see more crafting stuff take over the downstairs (oh hubs :) ) but I was pleased!  In the mixture of stuff was an old quilt top ready to be made into a wonderful child’s quilt.  Not just any child’s quilt….a child’s quilt with a very unique and wonderful history!

You see…Granny White lives in a tiny town named Ellabell in south Georgia.  Granny has lived there in the same house forever.  Yes, forever.  She knows everyone.  Yes, everyone.  This is the kind of place where people stare at you in the only convenience store ’cause they don’t know you.  Yes, it’s true.

Granny bought some of the squares from an estate sale in a lot of quilting stuff.  The former postmaster of Ellabell had pieced them before her death.  They are just a simple star pattern.  Granny took those squares and turned them into a quilt top.  Now I have the top and am starting to bring the whole long project to a close.  For now I’ll show you some of the original squares that appear to be some type of sack cloth and various fabrics…I will share the final product with you all ASAP!

Quilt square.

Quilt square.

Quilt block

A little of everything.

Button Ring.

Shesh!  I have soo much to share!!!

♦I have been so busy recently trying to get ready for an upcoming craft show I am doing with some friends, Kristen and Jenny, that I totally forgot to even mention it here!  Sooo, in the spirit of keeping you guys informed I will share!  November 7th you can come out and see my smiling face in person in downtown Loganville for the Autumn Heritage Festival!  There are expected to be 5000 people in attendance and I am going to have lots of fun button stuff.  In addition I will have a few quilts on display for folks who may be considering placing an order.  I am very excited to get to see some folks face to face and get some general feedback on my stuff…I am only hoping that it will be positive!

♦If you haven’t stopped by the shop lately or don’t follow my tweets you might not know that I have some fun new stuff!  I know I showed you guys the basic name badge holder but, I also have the retractable types now as well.  These are so awesome for ids that double as scan/key cards.

Name Badge Holder.

♦The wholesale purchasing information is going out in the mail Monday!  I am hoping that goes well!  I would love to send out 25 packets and get 25 responses!  That would be a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

♦I have no idea why I had not yet purchased the bails to make pendants…but I finally did!  I only have one up in the shop right now but I am hoping to have many more there by the end of next week.  I have lots already laid out…I just have to complete the actual construction.

Button Pendant.

♦My goal for my shop now is to have 100 pieces listed by November for the Christmas season.  I am going to have to work a little extra to get that done but with my most recent quilting adventure finished up I am hoping I can make that happen.  If you would like to see more of something specific please let me know!

♦Finally…My new business cards came in and I am soo excited to say that they matching my branding perfectly!  It took me forever to get them formatted and just right but it was worth all the extra work.  Now to get them into other people’s pockets….

Business Cards.

Some new going-ons.

Coming little by little I am going to be adding a new product line to my Etsy shop.  I am super excited about it!  I am going to be making a line of id badge holders for the workplace.  Most name badge holders are so boring and lame…but these are going to be fun and classy!  I will have some of the more basic metal clasps and in addition I will be adding the retractable reel type for id badges that double as scan cards.  For now, I have one up so stop by and see it!

name badge holder.

I am also pretty excited about some new promotional items that I have ordered and being printed as I type.  For starters, Miss Moose Designs is going to be offering our line wholesale to local shops and boutiques.   If you would like the logistics of price points and ordering minimums let me know…otherwise, I’ll just share the cover of the “informational packet” :)

Cover photo.

And finally…drumroll please….I did it.  I broke down and did it.  I ordered business cards that actually match my packaging and branding.  I had been putting it off and was trying to wait on the old stuff to run out…but I could wait no longer!  I figured I would share the file for now and then upload some actual photos of them when they arrive at my door.   Talk to you guys again soon!

Business Card.

Go Navy!

I recently sold a piece of jewelry and as always I e-mailed the buyer quickly to let her know when it would be shipping, etc.  She also was asking for a little history on the button she had purchased.  Through a few convos on Etsy I learned that she was purchasing this as a special gift for her husband.

Sidenote: The reason I started making button jewelry was for my Granny.  She loves brooches and can never be found without one.  A while ago I started purchasing her one piece of vintage button jewelry from a vendor at a local craft fair.  That was her Christmas gift every year.  It was a special, one of a kind, gift I could give her to treasure.  It was our special thing.  Eventually I thought…what if I could make her the same thing.  Wouldn’t that be even more special?!?

So…this lady begins to tell me about her family.  Her husband is a Navy officer and is currently on shore duty in Virgina working at the Pentagon.  Aside from his work in the navy, they both loved sailing and hoped one day to own their own sailboat.  This nautical tie tack was a little special gift for him.  I was really touched and moved.  Such a thoughtful purchase for a man who gives so much of himself to protect this country.  I refunded her a portion of the cost and told her that I was thankful for her family’s sacrifice.

It was neat to know that something I made could be such a special gift for someone I admire.  The men and women who protect our country are such special people and the families that support them give so much.  I am so grateful for them and feel kinda privileged that I could brighten their day.

Nautical Tie Tack.

Fresh, new, hotness.

Button Ring.

Button Bracelet.

Some time in the last week I was doing one of my very favorite things in the whole wide world and was tempted.  I wasn’t tempted by a new sewing machine or a fabulous new knitting pattern book…I was, instead, tempted by a small bag of new buttons.  ”New?!?”, you say.  I know it is shocking.  Their bright colors and funky quality got me.  I gave in and checked out.  I can be so weak sometimes!  You will be seeing a few of these new things here and there in my shop so keep your eyes peeled!

How exciting!

Craft Nouveau

Just a little heads up…you can find a feature interview with me here!