Raige Creations

So I got a new filing cabinet. I am bizarrely excited about this. Like, butterflies in my stomach excited about this. Why?  First of all, it has been more than 7 years since I have had a filing cabinet in my home. When we made the  last BIG move , I left the $3 filing cabinet I scored while in WNY. (I LOVED that filing cabinet too - who gets a metal 2-drawer filing cabinet for $3?? Awe.Some) Second, I had fallen in to the terrible habit of piling up papers that needed to be sorted and filed. I had bins I was keeping files in. Bins that are meant for blankets in the living room that you can put your feet on as an ottoman or sit on. These bins are not meant for filing. So, it was awkward trying to file in them. Instead I just piled up the papers and threw them on top of the few files I DID have in there.  Third, in addition to the above, I had a bankers box full of papers filed somewhat haphazardly, as this box is from when I left my last job (more than 2 years ago). I was...

Yup, this was the converstaion I had with my youngest after I got back from the store yesterday. You see, we had the wonderfully aweful vertical blinds in every room of the place we have now. The ceiling fans blow the strips so they make noise, they stick so you can't open them without a fight, and well they are just plain ugly. And they let light in. A 17 year old doesn't like this fact in his bedroom. So I went to the store, got these great curtains, on sale. Was waiting for the sale..... They are light blocking. What the boy wanted. A normal 17 year old request, yes, but also because there is a light right outside his window that shines right in his room everynight.  Easy Peasy, hang and ready to go. Except they were WAY too long. So some alteration was needed. But then we discussed options, and he just wanted one piece of fabric going across the full window. He wouldn't be opening them - ever - and didn't need the bulk of two. Wanted a clean no fuss thin...

My dear friend, Frauke, is the featured artisan today. She has THE BEST little mice , and unique Stethoscope Socks/Covers . She is always expanding her lines as well, so stop by and she the vast array of fuzzy, and not so fuzzy, items she creates with loving hands. Share the Love, Blogger's Unite Featured Artisan - Frauke Avent -  Handmade Fuzzy This week's Featured Artist is Frauke Avent of Handmade Fuzzy! A wonderful artisan and Lady! At Handmade Fuzzy you will find Unique handmade Gifts for everyone. She makes wondeful, personalized Stethoscopes and her Mice are just way too cute! All of her items are truly works of art and made with Love! Knit, Crochet, Felt... you will find something for everyone! Her one-of-a-kind items are ready to ship from my smoke-free home. Find Handmade Fuzzy On:      Zibbet     Facebook     Blog       google+ You can grab the code for your blog HERE

I have limited sewing abilities. I have made pillows, sewn buttons on, patched jeans, and can even make a decent tied quilt. But alterations to existing garments are a bit out of my comfort zone. Why did I need to make alterations? My daughter needs a long, white, flowing skirt to complete her costume for the upcoming school musical. Our quest for a long, white, flowing skirt was a difficult one, especially since we procrastinated beginning the search, and it is January. (not exactly white skirt season). And the play is in one week. I managed to find the perfect skirt though. Couldn't believe it! And it was on sale to boot! Only $7! One problem though: It was a size 1XL - She is a size 5.   Out of the selection the store had, this was the smallest size white skirt they had. (They had sizes of the same skirt up to 3XL!)   But since the play is about a week away, we needed to get something, and this one actually had nice applique work on it.  I thought, 'it's a...

Opportunities arise when you least expect them. And sometimes they involve things you never thought you would  try. The key is to let go of your limits, to step outside the box. Sometimes it is finding your way through a coffee bag. An opportunity presented itself at the beginning of this month that Raige never thought of. A coffee grinder had some coffee bags they wanted to see turned in to other things. They didn't want to just sell the bags, they wanted to give them to someone to inspire them to create, and then they wanted to showcase those creations in their coffee shop.  Coffee bags. Burlap. This is a medium Raige had not explored before.  The question to Raige was: "So, are you a seamstress?"  Raige: "What??? Um, NO. I would certainly not call myself a seamstress. But I CAN sew a bit."   Thank goodness Laura was as willing to take that leap of faith as Raige was. She gave me a bag, and thus began the journey through a coffee bag. As with any ...