Jennifer Ladd Handmade

Giveaway at Kid Independent

2011-11-24T07:48:00.002-06:00

Head over to Kid Independent for an amazing Christmas giveaway ... so many prizes, so much beauty!! Good luck!

Visa giftcard giveaway

2011-11-14T08:38:00.002-06:00

Head over to Shabby Art Boutique for a Visa gift card giveaway! How wonderful would that be at this time of the year!?! Good luck!

Great giveaways!

2011-09-27T14:56:00.002-05:00

Have you seen The Bright Side Project, yet? It's a great site with lots of lovely giveaways. Have a peek and be inspired!

Baby carrier giveaway at The Bragging Mommy

2011-09-09T14:27:00.001-05:00

Head over to the Bragging Mommy for a Britax carrier giveaway. I would LOVE this for Emmy ... she is getting so heavy, I would love a carrier to help me get through my day!!

Giveaway at Raindrops on Rosy

2011-08-18T07:36:00.001-05:00

Head on over to Raindrops on Rosy for a great giveaway from ModCloth - such a great selection, I'm sure you'd find something you love! Good luck!

1000 sales!

2011-06-20T15:09:00.003-05:00

I have had the goal of reaching 1000 sales in my Etsy shop for years, and I finally reached my goal today! It feels so great to achieve what I have been working on for so long! Yay!

When I first started selling my bags, I would see some shops with so many sales and think I would never get anywhere close. To finally be here feels great!

Now onto my next goal ... I want to finally start working on my Facebook page. If you haven't yet, I would love if you took a look and "liked" my page!

Britax car seat giveaway

2011-05-20T16:04:00.002-05:00

Head to Shop with me Mama for a Britax car seat giveaway! We would love to win this for Emmy!!

My new baby carrier - a review

2011-05-10T09:19:00.003-05:00

I got this baby carrier because I am on a quest to find one that is both cute AND functional. I had the Baby Bjorn active carrier with my first daughter and loved it, so I thought this Baby Bjorn Original carrier would be just as good, but so much cuter in the bright pink color. When it arrived, I was very happy with its appearance. It is bright, well-made, and looks great on.

After wearing the carrier for a few weeks, though, I started to miss my first (although black and boring) Baby Bjorn Active. While this Original carrier works fine, it is just not as comfortable as the Active. The back has just one adjustable spot, and although I tried over and over (and over and over) to find the sweet spot where it would be perfect for me and the baby, I just couldn't get it adjusted right with just the one adjuster (the Active carrier has several different buckles that can be adjusted). The shoulder straps are not as padded as in the Active carrier, so it is harder to wear for long periods of time. Finally, the shoulder area for the baby is tighter in this carrier than in the active, so I always felt that my baby was a little more squeezed in and not quite as comfy.

Truthfully, had I not had my previous experience with the Active carrier, I would probably be raving about this carrier. Like I said, it is cute and made to last. It does its job and keeps baby snug against me for hours. I just feel that for the price, it may be worth it to spend a little extra money to get the Active carrier that is designed to be more comfortable for longer periods of time. If you will be carrying your baby for an hour or more, it is probably a better investment. You might not look as colorful, but you'll feel better.

Dreaming of swingsets, bubbles, and Spring ....

2011-03-09T10:34:00.004-06:00

It's snowing out. :( Ugh. I know ... it's Wisconsin and I should expect snow well into April. But I'm just SO DONE with winter this year.

So instead of looking out my window, I've been looking online for signs of Spring. I've started my Easter shopping early this year just so that I can mentally feel like Spring is on its way soon! I've ordered Easter baskets, stuffed bunnies, colored bubbles (yes! colored bubbles!), jump ropes ... all things to remind me that some day we will actually be able to go outside and enjoy ourselves.

Since this is the first year that Emmy will be with us in Spring, I'm also thinking some outdoor entertainment for the girls to play together would be wonderful. I've been looking into wooden swing sets for our backyard. I think we have just enough room in our yard for a set, and I know BOTH girls would just love it! BUT, I also have the mommy fear of them getting hurt, so I'm also considering a plastic playhouse.

I'll have to ponder my decision as I head outside, now, to shovel.

New purses in my shop

2011-03-09T10:27:00.003-06:00

I am loving the new design of handbag I just listed in my shop. Large and roomy, but so easy to carry. And the leather handles are so cool!

Giveaway at Kid Independent

2011-02-23T20:50:00.001-06:00

There is a great birthday giveaway at Kid Independent - lots of darling prizes. Enter here!

Giveaway at Latina on a Mission

2011-02-13T16:43:00.002-06:00

Head over to Latina on a Mission for a great giveaway for a $100 gift certificate to the luxurious Red Envelope. Good luck!

Making Ice Cream!

2011-01-27T22:22:00.004-06:00

My daughter and I tried out the Sassafras Kids 14-Piece Ice Cream Set from CSN Stores today.

This is a great little ice cream machine! It was very easy to use, and took less time to make ice cream than I even thought it would. Best of all, the ice cream was actually delicious!

There are a few recipes included in the kit, and we tried the vanilla first. I had to do the cooking since it all involved the stove, but my daughter was able to help measure the ingredients. While the cream warmed on the stove, she was able to color in her ice cream-maker hat - a little trinket that makes a HUGE impression on the little ones! She loved it! Once the recipe was ready, we popped it in the freezer, and hours later we were eating something she was so proud of! It did take longer to freeze than the directions said, but it did note that this was a possibility since all freezers are different.

This company sure knows how to please kids, because there was also a pack of sprinkles included in the kit, and some cute ice cream bowls and spoons. Talk about a fun treat! My daughter was just in heaven with these little extras, and it made her ice cream-making day all the more special.
This little machine is definitely not as powerful or as fancy as most ice cream makers on the market. But it's also geared toward kids and other ice cream makers are not. This is her special machine, and it makes just enough for her (and her mom, of course!) to enjoy.

The machine was easy to use, easy to clean, and (yay!) is easy to store. It runs on batteries, so it doesn't need to be stored in the freezer like other machines (so it doesn't take up valuable freezer space). The directions say it can run 8 cycles before needing new batteries ... not bad.

I would definitely recommend this kit to anyone with kids. A fun treat for the whole family!

Giveaway at Bird's Party

2011-01-22T09:10:00.000-06:00

Enter to win a beautiful custom playhouse here. I did. I am really crossing my fingers!!

More redecorating ...

2011-01-12T14:23:00.007-06:00

My goal for 2011: finally finish my house! We moved in two years ago, and we've been slowly working on getting it to look like how we want it. We have made A LOT of progress: a new kitchen, two new bedrooms, my beautiful sewing room. But the dining room - the room right in the center of the house - needs some work, and it hits me in the face every time I walk in the front door. We were able to paint it right before Emmy got home - a bright red and cream instead of the rusty, dull red it was when we moved in. And we have a new red and white floral cabinet in the corner to stash all our stuff. But the table in the center is the wrong color and, most embarrassing, the chairs that go with it are broken and stained beyond recognition. I found this round chair at CSN Stores. I think this would go a long way toward making my dining room something bold and modern, something that fits my style, and something I can be proud of. Pair it with an inexpensive old table from Craigslist and I'll have a complete house!

Giveaway at WAHM Resource Site

2011-01-12T14:17:00.002-06:00

Click over here for a $75 gift certificate to CSN Stores! Good luck!

Sisters!

2011-01-12T14:13:00.003-06:00

What a great New Year is has been so far! I get to see adorable stuff like this every day ....

I love having two daughters!

Fisher Price Fun With Friends Musical Table

2010-12-15T14:03:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago, I received the Fisher Price Fun with Friends Musical Table from CSN Stores. Emmy needed something to distract her while the rest of the family got ready in the morning, and I thought this might be the perfect toy. So far, it's working great!

I have always been a fan of Fisher Price toys, and this one lives up to the others. I love that there are the different learning modes, so each part of the toy does something different in each mode. That's a lot of options ... and we're still discovering new songs on this toy! Always something to explore!

My daughter's favorite part is the telephone. She loves picking it up and pushing the buttons.

One of the modes is a Spanish mode. That one's not my favorite, and I try to keep that one off as much as possible. Instead of being purely in Spanish, it translates from English to Spanish. As a language teacher, I know that is not the way to learn a language, so it bugs me.

My other complaint is that the toy does not seem as sturdy as other Fisher Price toys. When Emmy leans on it to play, it actually moves. It's difficult for her to stay in one place and play with this. She is getting better and learning not to lean too much, but since I got this toy BECAUSE she could stand to play with it, it's sort of disappointing it isn't more stable for her.

But despite those minor flaws I do recommend this toy. It has great (catchy!) songs, lots of buttons to push (to keep baby entertained while developing dexterity), and a lot of options for long-term learning.

HOME!

2010-11-15T14:59:00.002-06:00

Emmy is home! We arrived at O'Hare 2 days ago to a very happy big sister and lots of hugs. She's doing well, although we are all beyond exhausted. Jet lag alone is terrible, but jet lag with an 8 month old still on Ethiopian time is a whole new level!

Remodeling

2010-11-15T14:57:00.002-06:00

We're slowly making our way through our new (old) house and updating each of the rooms to our liking. Next step: the bathrooms! I found a great selection of bathroom cabinets from CSN stores - now I just need to find one that fits our 30's style decor.

As I'm sure you know by now, I'm a huge fan of CSN stores. I'll be trying out another one of their products in the next few weeks - stay tuned for a review!

My new daughter!

2010-10-26T08:24:00.002-05:00

She's officially our daughter! Our first trip to Ethiopia was wonderful, and now it's less than 2 more weeks until we can go back and get her forever! Annie is REALLY looking forward to being a big sister.

Giveaway at Houghton Happenings

2010-10-26T08:21:00.000-05:00

Check out the great giveaway for CSN stores here. I just entered!

Giveaway at Raising Olives

2010-09-05T07:40:00.001-05:00

Enter to win a Moby wrap Baby Carrier here. I did! I'd love to win this for Emmy!!

LeapFrog ClickStart review

2010-08-16T19:23:00.003-05:00

Annie has been playing with her new LeapFrog ClickStart computer ever since it arrived in the mail. It's a great learning tool ... and it's fun, too! CSN Stores sent it to me to review:

The ClickStart is easy to use. Just plug it into your TV, turn it on, and it's ready to go. There are other games that you can buy, but it comes pre-loaded with 5 games that help develop keyboard and mouse skills. They are supposed to help develop some alphabet skills, too, but these are pretty easy for Annie. She's sort of above the level of the pre-loaded games. She has not spent much time with a mouse, though, and although she loves to type on my computer, she doesn't get as much access to the keyboard as she would like. Within just a few hours of her using the ClickStart, I saw huge improvements in her ability to use a mouse and her typing confidence!

The games are really fun for her. She asks to play them all the time. She hasn't gotten bored with the toy, yet, and I don't think she will for a while. There is a lot of variety in just the pre-loaded games, and if I add in some extra games, she will have a lot to choose from.

I also love that Annie can actually set up the game herself. She has learned how to plug it into the TV, turn it on, and start it. Extra bonus!

There are a few drawbacks to the system. First, the mouse pad area is quite small. She does sometimes get frustrated that the mouse is too difficult to maneuver on such a small space. Second, the game does tend to freeze up quite frequently and we need to restart it to fix it. Luckily, Annie has learned how to do that on her own so she doesn't get TOO frustrated with it, but it may be an issue if it continues to freeze.

Overall, I am very glad we own this new machine. It has all the fun of a video game, but actually teaches useful computer skills. She will be able to grow into it, as well, as we buy more advanced games for her to practice her reading and math skills.

Peach cobbler and Le Creuset

2010-07-29T08:50:00.003-05:00

Summer is my absolute favorite part of the year. The warm weather, the sun, the flip flops ... the fresh juicy peaches! Craig makes the BEST peach cobbler every year. When we remodeled our kitchen last year, though, I made the stupidest decision to give away my Le Creuset ramekins that he uses when he bakes (they weren't the right color anymore, but I wasn't thinking about how important they are to my delicious peach cobbler!). Before summer slips away (for nine long months of cold and NO FRUIT), I decided I will have to buy some more Le Creuset - CSN stores has a great selection! Then I'll have to be extra sweet to Craig so he can make me lots of peach cobbler.

CSN also has a great selection of these Dutch ovens in a wide variety of colors. We use ours daily in our house ... if you don't have one yet, you should! From the stove to the oven - so useful and cooks perfectly every time!
In a few weeks, I'll be doing a product review for the fabulous CSN Stores. Stay tuned!

Giveaway for Hearthsong!

2010-07-28T16:55:00.002-05:00

Head over to The Village of Moms for a Hearthsong gift certificate giveaway! I love that shop ... I found lots of unique Christmas presents there for Annie last year (and plan on doing more shopping for the next holidays!). Enter here.

Giveaway at Fern & Flora

2010-07-27T07:29:00.002-05:00

Enter to win a CSN stores gift certificate here! Good luck!

Little Tikes basketball set review

2010-07-08T19:14:00.006-05:00

I recently received the Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball set from CSN stores. Annie is an AMAZING athlete (especially considering she is only 3 years old), so I knew she would love it. And I was not at all wrong. Annie ADORES her new basketball set.

I'll get the negatives out of the way first. When we opened up the box, we noticed right away that it was actually missing the rim! Aagh! After quite a long cry (by Annie, and almost by me as well!!), I decided to call Little Tikes. I decided that since the box was sealed, it was probably their fault it wasn't included - not CSN Stores. Luckily, they agreed to send a new rim out, and a week later, we were ready to go.

Set-up was super easy. It only took a few minutes and Annie was ready to play.

I love that the set is adjustable - she can use it perfectly now at 3 1/2 years old and she will still be able to grow into it since we don't even have it at its highest setting. Even better, her younger sister will also be able to use it with her (once she arrives ... hopefully soon! .... from Ethiopia). I even have a great time, myself, trying to stand as far back as I can to make a baskets ... which I rarely actually make. Nevertheless, it's great for all ages.

The set is well-made and very durable. We added sand to the bottom so it will even stand up to storms and wind.

The basketball set is super fun and I highly recommend it! We will have fun all summer playing with it, and for many summers to come.

Giveaway at The Bragging Mommy

2010-06-30T16:33:00.002-05:00

There's a great giveaway at The Bragging Mommy for an outdoor play house from Step 2 - I've been wanting one for Annie for so long, and now that Emmy is on the way, I want it even more. Something perfect for them to play with together! Enter to win here.

I found another giveaway

2010-06-24T08:14:00.001-05:00

I found another giveaway for a gift certificate to CSN stores here. Good luck!

Anither giveaway ... Bird Crafts

2010-06-23T08:56:00.000-05:00

One more great giveaway for CSN stores here.

Giveaway at The Scrap Shoppe

2010-06-23T08:49:00.002-05:00

One more great giveaway for a CSN stores gift certificate: enter here!

Giveaway at The Bragging Mommy

2010-06-19T22:02:00.001-05:00

Speaking of CSN stores, enter a giveaway HERE for an $80 gift certificate! Yay!

CSN stores - product review soon!

2010-06-16T19:15:00.002-05:00

We've been living in our "new" house for about two years, but the renovations are still continuing. This week, my focus has been on the bathroom vanity ... and, as always, I turned to CSN stores for their HUGE selection of bathroom vanities. I love that so many of the choices are modern - perfect for our new/old house. This one is stunning ... but out of my price range.

Speaking of CSN stores, I've been given the opportunity to review one of their products! I'm always impressed, so I'm excited to share the review with you! Stay tuned ...

Baby Girl!

2010-06-16T08:20:00.002-05:00

We received the referral for our new baby girl from Ethiopia a few weeks ago! She is 3 months old and so, so beautiful! Annie's very excited to be the big sister. Here she is looking at her new sister's photo:

Giveaway for a Sigg water bottle

2010-06-12T08:44:00.001-05:00

Head to One Scrappy Mom for her giveaway of a Sigg water bottle. Enter here.

Giveaway at Imagine Childhood

2010-06-12T08:17:00.001-05:00

I found another great giveaway for a gift certificate for Imagine Childhood. You can enter here. Good luck!

Giveaway at Let's Give it Away

2010-06-10T09:31:00.001-05:00

I just entered to win a gift certificate to CSN stores. You can enter to win here.

Featured in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!

2010-05-02T16:04:00.003-05:00

Today I was featured in an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Click here to read the article online. It was pretty exciting to see our picture so large (it's huge in the actual paper!) and fun to get recognized a few times when we went out today!

Toy camping set review

2010-04-20T23:02:00.005-05:00

One of Annie's new favorite pastimes is camping. She's actually never been camping, but she LOVES to pretend she is camping. So a few weeks ago when I was offered the chance to review a toy camping set, I jumped at the chance - I knew Annie would have a blast! She could camp inside all she wants (and I don't actually have to sleep in a tent outside - extra bonus!!)

The set is the Learning Resources Camp Set available here from toysandgamesonline.com. I've shopped with csnstores.com a few times before, and as always, I was impressed with their huge selection and fast shipping.

The first thing I noticed about the set is that it seems to be very high quality. I am often afraid when ordering plastic toys that they will be cheap and flimsy, but this set is made with very sturdy, heavy plastic.

The set comes with a canteen, a mini stove, a pot, a lantern, a utensil set, a camp shovel, a compass, and a first aid kit. I love that so many areas of camping are included - Annie has been cooking, playing first aid, digging a fire pit, and using her compass - she is getting the full camping experience (without me actually having to go camping - yay!)

Annie's favorite piece (and mine, too) is the lantern. It actually lights up (with 2 AA batteries), and it works great! Just tonight, Annie asked us not to turn on any lights so we could use the lantern and pretend we were camping while she changed into her PJs and got ready for bed.
One of my favorite features of the set is that it truly encourages imagination. Besides the light on the lantern and camp stove, there are no loud sounds or other gimmicks to these toys. Annie needs to use her mind to create a camp site in her head and uses the toys to enhance her scene. She stills need to create an imaginary fire pit, cook with imaginary food, and use imaginary band-aids to treat her imaginary owies. She can have fun with this set and still explore on her own.

One of the only complaints I have about the set is the compass - Annie loves the idea of using a compass, and this is one of the main reasons I was excited about this set. Unfortunately, the compass doesn't actually work. The needle does move, but it doesn't point North. To me, I would think this would be a great learning tool for our kids, and I think it is a shame that details was overlooked.
Annie has been enjoying her new set for the last several days - unlike some toys that kids play with for a few minutes and then forget, this set has so many different pieces that I know it will keep her interest now, and I know she will be able to grow into it as well. I actually look forward to many more days of camping with Annie! (as long as the bugs stay away!)

Art set giveaway

2010-04-18T19:29:00.002-05:00

I just entered to win a giveaway for some awesome art sets for Annie. The sets are from Creativity for Kids (I'm a huge fan!). Enter here.

Giveaway at Sweet Sweet Home:

2010-04-08T08:18:00.004-05:00

Head over to Sweet, Sweet Home for a great giveaway - $100 in Tea Clothes. If you know me, you know I'm a huge Tea fan! Enter here.

Coming soon ...

2010-03-31T20:55:00.002-05:00

Have you checked out CSN stores, yet? They offer a HUGE selection of products in all different categories. I've been looking at their cribs all week ... baby girl #2 is going to need one!

I also look to them for a great selection of toys for Annie. Even though the amount of choice they offer can seem overwhelming, I find it's a great place to go when you don't want to shop at dozens of tiny stores - everything in one place! Coming soon ... we'll be putting one of their toys to a test and giving our review.

One more great giveaway:

2010-03-26T19:27:00.002-05:00

I need a swimsuit so I can go out to the pool with Annie this summer. I love the ones at Essential Swimwear. You can enter to win one here!

Giveaway for Anthropologie gift card!

2010-03-26T19:07:00.001-05:00

Go here for a great giveaway! Win an Anthropologie gift card worth $25. Love that store!

Great giveaway at Shopping Mama ...

2010-03-26T18:53:00.002-05:00

Be sure to head to Shopping Mama here to enter a giveaway for Tea Collection. Annie LOVES these clothes, and so do I. Most of her wardrobe, in fact, is and always has been from www.TeaCollection.com

New zipper pouches in my shop!

2009-11-03T21:20:00.004-06:00

I have been busy working on a fun new addition to my shop ... zipper pouches!

I love the mix of prints and mix of colors. I hope you do, too!

Zipper pouches available here.

It's official!

2009-09-24T08:11:00.001-05:00

As of yesterday, we are officially on the waiting list for our new baby girl from Ethiopia!

Our new tent

2009-09-18T10:39:00.006-05:00

What have I been up to, lately? Renovating my entire house (almost done, but the kitchen is still gutted), sewing (of course), and .... playing in our new tent. I was recently contacted by CSNstores.com and they sent me the Tee Pee playhouse from Pacific Play Tents. We have been loving it! Annie has so much fun with it, and I'm happy that she's so happy with it. She's been really into the idea of camping, lately, so this was perfect for her (and a great way to deflect the idea of actual camping ... yuck!!).

Here are some of its best features:
-It was super easy to put together. Maybe 5 minutes! That's a definite plus when there's a two-year-old (im)patiently waiting to play in her new tent.
-Once it's together, it's very sturdy. The poles are inset into each other so that they can't come apart easily and collapse. It has a wide base so it can't tip.
-It's a nice size to play in. Annie fits perfectly, and she has plenty of room to grow. I think the tent will be even more fun when her new sister will be able to join her in a few more years.
-Instead of the traditional one-door entry into the tent, there is main door and also a side door. Annie loves going in one and "surprising' me by coming out the other. Endless hours of entertainment.

The only drawback of the tent is that because it is so roomy, it does take up quite a bit of space. If we had a playroom, this wouldn't be an issue, of course, but we have a small, quaint house, so the tent is now the main feature of our living room. I knew this would be the case when I ordered the tent, though, and I was willing to sacrifice my floor space for Annie's enjoyment. I was happy to see how easy the tent is to assemble and un-assemble, so I can easily take it down when I need a break from it. And really, is my floor space really so important when I see how much Annie loves her own, private little nook? Take a look at this face and you'll see what the answer is!

Do you love shopping?

2009-08-27T22:52:00.002-05:00

I found out about CSNStores.com earlier this week, and now I'm hooked! It's like an entire mall online with hundreds of specialty shops. The selection at these shops is amazing, and I have found so many items I need ... and many I don't need, but just can't resist.

Need bunk beds? There's a store for that! How about a wine rack? Kids' toys and furniture? A baby car seat? Each has its own store with a wide selection of just what you are looking for. Stop by the list of stores and have some fun shopping!

Coming soon ... I'll be receiving the Tee Pee playhouse from Pacific Play Tents from the children's furniture shop, AllChildrensFurniture.com. My daughter Annie's favorite pastime is playing in her "house" (aka under my sewing table), so I know she will love this tent. It will be her own little space (without my legs constantly bumping into her as she plays and I sew). I can't wait to see her reaction! I'll be sure to let you know what she thinks!

Competition!

2009-07-07T20:44:00.002-05:00

I am in the Etsy competition again this week! Yay! Please stop by and vote for my "Handbag with Bicycles in Blue" here.

2009-06-30T09:52:00.003-05:00

I just found out that my "Summer in Marrakech" purse is in the Etsy "Colors you Beautiful" contest this week. Please stop by here and take a minute to vote! Thanks so much for your support! (I really appreciate it!)

Cute business card case tutorial

2009-03-05T13:13:00.007-06:00

I love this cute business card case, and I thought others might, too, so I wrote a tutorial for you! It's an easy-to-make, quick project and it has such a big impact when it is finished. I love how easy it is to customize to your own taste (by choosing different colors and different ribbon) so it can really represent your own business style. I use a sewing machine to make it, but it would be perfectly fine to hand-sew the case if you don't have a machine.

*Please use this for personal use, only.

Supplies needed:
-1/8 yard of wool felt
-12" of ribbon (I used two pieces of 12" ribbon in my case)
-thread
-optional: pinking shears

1. Cut four pieces of wool felt: two pieces are 5.5" by 4.25", the other two pieces 4.75" by 4.25".

2. Fold the smaller piece in half so that the folded edge is the one that is 4.25" across. Sew along the folded edge. I use the edge of my zipper foot as a guide when I sew to help make this seam straight - just line the edge of the fold up with the edge of your foot.

3. Optional: I use pinking shears to trim the seam and give the edge a more decorative look. You don't have to do this step if you would like your edge straight.

4. Repeat with the other small piece of fabric.

5. Cut your ribbon in half. Pin one piece of ribbon onto each of the shorter edges of one of your larger pieces of felt. Fold the edges under your felt before you sew so they will be caught by your stitching and held securely in place. Stitch a seam across both edges of the ribbon to hold it in place.

6. Make a sandwich with all of your pieces: first lay your felt with the ribbon face down, then the other large piece of felt. Then place one of your folded pieces at each edge (with the stitched edges toward the center). Pin all these layer together so they don't move while you sew them.

7. Stitch carefully around all the edges.

8. Optional: I use my pinking shears again to add a decorative edge to the bottom.

9. Yea! You're finished! Fold your case in half, insert business cards into each side, and enjoy!

Sew, Mama, Sew board member!

2009-01-29T20:41:00.002-06:00

I have been working on it for the last few weeks, but my first post has finally just been published. For the next few months, I am the newest board member at Sew, Mama, Sew. Coming up for February: fat quarter month. Lots of great projects, lots of great resources, and a tutorial from me in a few weeks.

Click here to read my introductory post.

And be sure to check out the Sew, Mama, Sew blog!

Save Handmade for Kids!

2009-01-28T18:10:00.002-06:00

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

*posted with permission from ChiChiboulie

Sewing hiatus

2009-01-26T00:17:00.003-06:00

"Sewing hiatus" would be the optimistic way to say it. "Sewing machine is broken" is maybe more accurate. It's actually just the light bulb that is burned out, but it makes it too hard to see where my seams are going.

So until it gets replaced, I'm using the free time to make my blog as cute as possible. I think I have tried every available theme, so far, and I know I will make hundreds more changes over the next few weeks, but I'm happy with my (meager) start, so far!

My new world!

2009-01-19T00:16:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! I'm Jennifer. Welcome to my world!

Up until a year ago, I led a completely blog-free life. I was a middle-school French teacher with a great husband and a great hobby (sewing). I started a new life, though, when we adopted our beautiful daughter from Vietnam. I quit my job to stay home with her and I decided to turn my great hobby into a lifestyle -- I opened my Etsy shop to sell my handmade bags, purses, and baby items. I was suddenly immersed in the crafting world and the words "blog", "twitter", "flickr", "facebook" all became part of my everyday conversations (much to the surprise of my husband who USED to be the techie of the family!). I now run my computer all day long so I can learn all I can from the growing craft world. I read my favorite (long list of) blogs every day, and I have now decided to take the next step and create one of my own. I hope you enjoy taking a little peek into my crafty little world!