Monday, March 30, 2009

It's just another MANIC Monday....

Good Evening Everyone!

I hope your day went well. This has been a busy week for my family and me.

Today was supposed to be smooth sailing...I was going to take dear son to the Aquarium on our weekly visit. On the way there, I was hoping to ship some packages to customers. Then on the way home, do the weekly grocery shopping. And casually make a beautiful dinner for the fam.



So much for supposed to be. And so much for those plans.

This is how it all really went down.

Wake up - late. Dear husband's alarm went off one hour later than usual. So, this messed up our morning routine a little. Then after he leaves, I head to the office to package orders and realize that ONE pattern is completely missing. Causing me not to be able to fill a few orders as promptly as I normally do. Gee whiz. I did not notice that I only received part of my inventory. Call supplier and let them know...they are sending a new package. Thank goodness I will be able to get everything out the door by Wednesday. I am still completely feeling dumb.

By this time, I look at the time and realize that I need to go to the grocery store. And suddenly remember I don't have a vehicle to go to the store. Well, I do. But, as usual it was supposed to go to the shop last night and we forgot to drop it off. Gee whiz again. Call hubby real quick. "Hey meet me at the shop on your lunch break so you can give us a ride home...so sorry".

Our family is not whole unless we have one vehicle in the shop at all times. It has become a Sunday night ritual to drop a car off at the shop. Not only did I not drop the car off, I forgot to buy coupons! Holy cow! What am I thinking. No Sunday coupons. So, I guess this madness started yesterday?

Then I get home and start to do laundry and realize the knob to the dryer is busted. Completely. So, I call the dryer's maker and request a replacement. $42.00!!! For one plastic knob. That I have to have and they know it. FINE. Put that on the credit card...along with everything else.



Oh well. At least I have been able to find a solution to everything that happened. It could always be worse.

Sunday was GREAT. We were able to take dear son to an Easter Egg Hunt on the base. He had a blast. That is something we have not been able to do much of due to hubby's frequent deployments. It is nice to have him home for holiday celebrations.
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As for the fabric shop, we are SUPER excited. Our newest fabrics will be arriving any day now. We will be receiving several bolts from Robert Kaufman's Mod Quilting Line called "Hot Blossom".

This is all 100 percent Kona Cotton fabric and will be so awesome in a quilt. I cannot wait to see what I can create with all of this colorful fabric. It seems very "retro". Here are two of my favorites...I will add more later.


Or you can view the entire line here...

http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/hot_blossom/?fabrics&quilting_collections


Friday, March 27, 2009

Yeah! It's Finally Friday!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

This has been a very great week! I cannot believe how fast it has flown by.


Dear hubby turned 27 on Thursday. It was nice. He actually was HOME for a birthday and not out to sea. I can only think of one birthday out of the last six that he was home...and the result of that birthday was dear son.





So, last night was uneventful. Hubby said "No more 18 year presents"...



The store has been busy, busy, busy. It is very exciting to talk with so many customers. They seem just as excited as I am about the new Anna Maria patterns that were released this week. I cannot decide which is my favorite. But, based on the feedback I have receceived, I can see which one you like the most!




I have ordered a second batch, so don't you worry, I won't run out.


Also, I have come across some wonderful blogs. These blogs are so much more interesting than mine. Partly because they seem to have much more exciting things to blog about-you should check them out. I have added them to my list.


My current favorite it this one here:



There are some wonderful ideas on her blog.


I would post pictures, but I don't want to get into trouble...so just click on over there and check out what this woman does with what most of us throw away when we are sewing and quilting!


She is very resourceful and environmentally friendly....speaking of which, I came across another Etsy seller who has the coolest stuff in her shop. I am going to give you a link to that too, because well I think she is a smart cookie! If I had the money, I would buy every item in that store. Too cool.



I believe that next week will be awesome too...this will be our first real opportunity to go on an Easter egg hunt with dear son. Chris has never been home to really do that, or Andrew was never cooperative enough to try to venture out on my own to something like that. We have one that the homeschool group will be sponsoring, which I am super excited to go to. I will get to meet other moms in my area and make some new friends. There is one that the Navy base will be sponsoring. That one will be nice because Chris can go with us. The admission is great-we have to donated canned goods in order to participate. I think that is a great way to support a local charity.

So, until next week! Have a great weekend.

Monday, March 23, 2009

New Fabric Added!


Anna Maria Horner Good Folks Line is HERE!


I have started to receive my fabric shipments and I am listing them in the store today. I have been informed that some of the bolts that I ordered will not be arriving this week, as they are backordered. So, if you do not see a fabric that you were interested in, please let me know and I will get it for you as soon as possible.



I will also be listing Anna's newest sewing patterns by the end of this week. I spoke with Anna last week while setting up my account and ordering some patterns. She told me that our order should be out shortly (hopefully this week). Yeah!




Here is a link to Anna's blog. She has the most awesome quilt patterns and other great ideas there! You have to check it out. I just love her fabrics and know that you will too!








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I have decided that I will offer a rewards program for my customers. For every $250 spent in the store (regardless of what you purchase), you will receive $30 in free fabric or notions!




If you would like to be notified of specials or new arrivals, please let me know and I can add you to the customer mailing list.

I hope to hear from you soon and HAPPY HAPPY Quilting!


Here is my current project (well it is actually a year in the works, my dear neighbor Julia might recognize this). It is a breast cancer awareness quilt by Sew Unique Creations . The proceeds from all purchases of the pattern benefit breast cancer research.



You can order the pattern as well from: http://www.sewuniquecreations.com/






NOT AGAIN!


Okay. Well. I do not know where to begin today. It has already been one of those weeks and it is not even lunch time on Monday.

Dear son. I love him SO much. He is so smart and creative and always busy. I thought today, since it was just my darling kiddo and me, that we might go to the aquarium.

We go to the Aquarium several times a week. We have a year-long membership and we try to get our money out of it. It is great for burning off dear son's excess energy. Maybe, I should have gotten him out the door earlier and we could have avoided this.....

So. Instead of going to the Aquarium to see cute fish and dolphins, we are off to Wally World to get a new vaccum filter. Again. To replace the one I just clogged cleaning up this powder you see on the floor. Again.



You see this is not the first time I have gone through this. I should have learned, but what can I say. Any brains I had, shot out of me on the day this kid was born.



The bottle he is holding is one that I just bought last week to replace the bottle he dumped all over his bedroom TWO weeks ago.



So, if you see a red headed kid running around grabbing his rashy butt....you can assume he is mine. Because, I won't be buying him any more powder. EVER.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Finally Found Homeschoolers!



My husband and I have been considering homeschooling our son for a few years now. Now, that he is getting closer to school age, I have been looking for a local homeschool group.


It seems like it has been the topic of alot of conversations I have had with other moms lately. I know that because of Chris' career and the fact we will continue to move frequently.


Andy will always be ahead or behind. He will also always be "the new kid". I know what that feels like. It is such a lonely place to be and I don' t ever want him to feel that.


It seems like the teachers only teach what the kids need to know to pass whatever fad test they are handing out that year and not actual life skills kids will need to function on their own in the big world.


There are too many kids and not enough teachers to give the attention kids really need. Too much busy work and not enough hands on experiences.


I also see that Andrew has such a short attention span that it won't be long before some teacher wants me to give him medication so he will "pay attention". I don't think that is the answer.


So, in order to avoid ALL of that, we will be homeschooling him.



So onto how I found my local group. I decided I needed to organize my office. I posted some office supplies on http://www.freecycle.org/ ( a great website to find new owners for the stuff you don't want or become an owner of someone else's stff and keep it out of the landfill). That day I got a response that someone wanted my stuff and it was a homeschool mom who lives right down the street from me. How awesome!

She gave me lots of information of the local group and the activities that they do. I am super excited! YEAH! Can you see me clapping?



So, hopefully soon Andy will be making new friends and I will too!


Friday, March 13, 2009

Introducing Anna Maria Horner Patterns!

Good Friday Everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be offering new patterns in my store!

http://www.cuttergurlcreations.etsy.com/


I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new patterns from Anna Maria Horner. She is a very talented designer from Tennessee who has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Quilter's Companian, Coutry Living and MORE.




I am very excited to be able to sell her products and I know you will LOVE using them.
Check out her website, if you would like a preview!
http://www.annamariahorner.com/productsewing.html

Starting in April, I will have a monthly drawing. Each customer's name for that month will be put into the drawing. At the end of the month, Two lucky customers will receive one pattern of THEIR choice for FREE!!! HOW ABOUT THAT?!

We are a bunch of busy little bees over here at CutterGurl Creations. I am in the process of choosing fabrics that will soon be added to the store.
So, if you would like to buy coordinating fabrics to go with your new patterns, just let me know!

If you have any ideas, suggestions, or something that YOU would like to see added to the store, let me know!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

No MORE COUPONS!?

I have been the Coupon Queen for several years now. It is pretty much a necessity with my husband's military check. Coupons help to stretch the check. So, today as I am surfing the net, I came across a very shocking article that I have not heard any major news stations cover in these tough economic times.

http://industry.bnet.com/advertising/10001018/valassis-plan-to-end-newspaper-coupons-outrages-middle-america/

But, you better believe they are going to tell you what the First Lady wore today...or what some Rockstar ran his car into last night...like we care.

I read that Valassis (a major source of coupons in your Sunday paper) has decided that it will discontinue printing coupons in the paper. You will have the option to have the inserts mailed to you, but only one set. I often buy multiple sets, as do many other families that I know who use coupons.

Some people will not use coupons. They think it is a waste of time. It doesn't make a difference. Whatever. But, we use them. When I chose not to "coupon" for a few months before our last transfer, my husband went crazy when he found out what our groceries were costing us.

Without the coupons in the paper, I don't buy the paper. I have no need for it when I have the internet and television that gives me more than enough phony news for a lifetime. All I want is the coupons. I want to be able to save my $0.50 here and $0.75 there....it all adds up.

With coupons, I was able to trim our grocery budget from $400 a month to somewhere around $250 a month. The savings allows me to buy other groceries and goodies I would not normally be able to afford or put extra money towards bills.

I am pretty sure this decision is not going to go over well for the bottom line of most newspapers in this country, or the consumers who buy these papers for the coupons.

I hope that they change their minds...I guess I will see tomorrow morning when I make my weekly trip to get my paper.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Borrower is Servant to the Lender

So, I have finally advanced myself to the new century! I have been hearing so much about blogs. But, I have resisted them. Who really wants to read about every detail of my life?

Whenever I was talking with other people who own shops through the same websites that I do, they have all agreed blogs are it. They help your customers feel more of a connection to you. They are the new way to network and get your name out there. This sounds great to me. As a stay at home mom who doesn't remember what a social life is, what could be better? I might actually meet people like ME!

So, I have decided to give it a try. After all, I enjoy some of the blogs I read. Especially those blogs owned by mothers, military spouses, and women in general. I feel relieved when I read about their day and see that mine compared equally to theirs. Their children are here to drive them crazy, just as mine is here to drive me crazy. Our husbands are still hard to figure out, but we love them anyway. Our once pristine vehicles are covered in french fry grease and slurpee syrup. And we have all had to clean bubblegum or vaseline out of our child's hair.

You might be wondering what my title has to do with any of this.

Well...I was initially introduced to the idea of a blog through my store. I started quilting several years ago. I also started teaching quilting to neighbors and friends as my confidence grew. Because of my husband's career in the military and our frequent moves, my career is constantly starting over. I have always thought it would be great to own my own business. But, never had any idea what that business would be in. Until I married my husband 6 years ago, I didn't even really have a hobby. All I knew was work. Now, I have many hobbies and several things I am passionate about. The biggest one being my love of fabric and quilts. I love the idea of a piece of fabric being cut up and sew back together in cool designs.

While this personal discovery is going on, my husband is deployed on and off for the last six years. We bought a house. Sold a house. Bought another house. It still has not sold after more than a year and a half...life happens when he is out to sea. The car breaks, the fridge breaks, the basement floods, bills and more bills. So, with only one income, I am realizing something has to change. But, it is not as easy as it was when I was single to just get any job. Now I have to consider childcare costs. Extra food costs for the nights I won't be home to cook. Uniforms or suits that will have to be bought, since I can't go to work in a mommy sweatsuit. Though if I could, I would be set. It all adds up.

I did not go through the trouble of having a child to have someone else raise him. But, I see that we need to get this money situation under control if we want to be able to take this child anywhere.


So, Dave Ramsey (the world's most awesome financial counselor) opened my eyes to the possibility of being free from debt. He taught me (along with my Bible) that the borrower is servant to the lender. And that I am. So is my husband. So is my son, and while I am at it...my little dog too. We are slaves to the junk we bought that we did not need. And the junk we bought that we did not have a choice. And we are stuck. So, what do we do?

Dear Hubby (or DH) as he will be known from now on...got a second job delivering pizzas. He actually loves it. It is a nice change from his normal job which at times has been non-stop 18-20 hour days for months at a time. He makes pretty good money for the little amount of time he works. I have picked up odd jobs here and there babysitting or creating custom quilts or bedroom decor. When I am not doing that, I am sewing as fast as I can. I make quilts to sell in my stores and at the local trade days. I have been VERY slow lately. I have been working on the same quilt for a month. Not because it was hard, but just finding the time.

Learning all this new technology is TIME consuming. But, now that I am almost set up, I can get into a good routine.

So, from this point on, I hope that I can check in at least three times a week and give a quick update about what my crazy kiddo has done so everyone can see why my head spins and maybe host a few giveaways for the stores.

I hope that you will join me! I would love to hear about your blogs too.