Are you still following this old thing?
I'm hosting a giveaway this week on my new website: PeetSwea.com
Make your way over there for your chance to win up to $50 worth of books and bags! And make sure that you update your RSS Feed to where the magic happens.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Just a reminder
The PeetSwea blog has moved to http://www.peetswea.com
I hope that you'll stop by for a visit.
Feed Reader link: PeetSwea
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PeetSwea
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/peetswea
Sunday, January 29, 2012
PeetSwea Site Update
I am excited to announce that the new PeetSwea site is up and running! I will be redirecting all traffic from my blogspot site to peetswea.com.
For those of you who currently access PeetSwea blog posts via a feed reader, please update your feed settings to this link.
Thank you for following me to peetswea.com!
For those of you who currently access PeetSwea blog posts via a feed reader, please update your feed settings to this link.
Thank you for following me to peetswea.com!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Week in Review: Sewing, Books, Cooking, Home and Family
Happy Friday!
Since I have transitioned into sharing more about my sewing crafts, I thought that it was appropriate to include Sewing as one of my Week in Review focus areas. You'll see that as a regular feature going forward.
I am also in the process of transitioning my site to be self-hosted at peetswea.com - get ready to change your feed readers! I am very excited about this change and the learning process that I am going through.
Sewing
Books
I currently have two books running simultaneously on my Kindle: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon which is the fourth book in the Outlander Series and MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche
. The first is long and epic and finds the characters in Colonial America, the second is light and funny and explores the author's search to find new friends after moving to a new place. I'm enjoying both very much.
I recently finished The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and OnLine
and hope to post a review soon. It was an excellent reference for individuals who are entering into the world of selling handmade crafts online.
Cooking
OK, so have you tried Martha Stewart's homemade macaroni and cheese? If not, please rush to this site and print the recipe and proceed to the nearest grocery store for supplies. It was divine! I divided the recipe in half and it was more than enough for the three of us to eat. One caveat: I was told (since I didn't have the privilege of enjoying myself -{cough} husband {cough}) that the leftovers were not as great as they were straight from the oven - still good, but not divine. That will probably keep me from making the full-sized batch unless I have company over.
Still, VERY yummy recipe!
Home
I can hardly believe it, but it has been a year and half since we moved to Virginia from Florida. I don't feel that I can genuinely offer the "we just moved here" line when breaking the ice with new friends. We signed a two-year lease on our home, so we are beginning to discuss what will come next. We like the house that we are in now, and may opt for another year, but there is something to be said about owning your own home. Luckily, we have few months to figure out our options.
Family
We are busy! I am beginning to think that our approach to involving J in activities was a tad too exuberant. We're now doing Tae Kwon Do, gymnastics, religious education and Daisy Scouts. I can't exactly call myself a soccer mom, but my SUV certainly feels like a taxi these days.
I'm also very excited that we recently found two babysitters, which should help to spice up the adult social life around here. Since moving to Virginia, also known as no-more-local-grandparent-ville, we have been using a sitting service. This was expensive and unfortunately we never had the same sitter twice. We'll be lining up our new sitters soon. I'm thinking a day in DC doing all the adult tourist things we have enjoyed yet: segway tour, Holocaust Museum, Capitol tour...
Any Northern Virginia, Maryland, DC locals, or fans of the area, that want to share a fun date activity that we should try?
Hope that everyone has a great week!
Since I have transitioned into sharing more about my sewing crafts, I thought that it was appropriate to include Sewing as one of my Week in Review focus areas. You'll see that as a regular feature going forward.
I am also in the process of transitioning my site to be self-hosted at peetswea.com - get ready to change your feed readers! I am very excited about this change and the learning process that I am going through.
I mentioned in an earlier post that the PeetSwea shop had it's third sale this week. It is exciting to see this little business of mine grow.
On Wednesday, I fired up my serger, which has been neglected for many years. I am excited that it will allow me to expand into more items that required a finished edge.
Last week, I organized all of my available fabrics. Spending time with fabric seems to spawn many of my creative juices. For those of you who know me for my love of books, you will know how serious it is to hear that fabric stores are becoming even more dangerous these days than bookstores!
Books
I currently have two books running simultaneously on my Kindle: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon which is the fourth book in the Outlander Series and MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche
. The first is long and epic and finds the characters in Colonial America, the second is light and funny and explores the author's search to find new friends after moving to a new place. I'm enjoying both very much.I recently finished The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and OnLine
and hope to post a review soon. It was an excellent reference for individuals who are entering into the world of selling handmade crafts online.Cooking
OK, so have you tried Martha Stewart's homemade macaroni and cheese? If not, please rush to this site and print the recipe and proceed to the nearest grocery store for supplies. It was divine! I divided the recipe in half and it was more than enough for the three of us to eat. One caveat: I was told (since I didn't have the privilege of enjoying myself -{cough} husband {cough}) that the leftovers were not as great as they were straight from the oven - still good, but not divine. That will probably keep me from making the full-sized batch unless I have company over.Still, VERY yummy recipe!
Home
I can hardly believe it, but it has been a year and half since we moved to Virginia from Florida. I don't feel that I can genuinely offer the "we just moved here" line when breaking the ice with new friends. We signed a two-year lease on our home, so we are beginning to discuss what will come next. We like the house that we are in now, and may opt for another year, but there is something to be said about owning your own home. Luckily, we have few months to figure out our options.
Family
We are busy! I am beginning to think that our approach to involving J in activities was a tad too exuberant. We're now doing Tae Kwon Do, gymnastics, religious education and Daisy Scouts. I can't exactly call myself a soccer mom, but my SUV certainly feels like a taxi these days.
I'm also very excited that we recently found two babysitters, which should help to spice up the adult social life around here. Since moving to Virginia, also known as no-more-local-grandparent-ville, we have been using a sitting service. This was expensive and unfortunately we never had the same sitter twice. We'll be lining up our new sitters soon. I'm thinking a day in DC doing all the adult tourist things we have enjoyed yet: segway tour, Holocaust Museum, Capitol tour...
Any Northern Virginia, Maryland, DC locals, or fans of the area, that want to share a fun date activity that we should try?
Hope that everyone has a great week!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Treasury Thursday: Paper in an Online World
A Twitter friend asked a question yesterday about how to keep track of multiple unrelated projects at the same time. I responded with my current approach: a three-ring binder with multiple tabs and action item lists. It's actually an almost-attempt at the Getting Things Done method. Of course, these days, I realize that paper can be seen as an antiquated approach to keeping a to-do list. But I still love it. I'm particularly drawn to notebooks and journals, which are just waiting for you fill them. Private thoughts, Christmas lists, future sewing projects, blog post ideas, anything.
While browsing around, I found lots of lovely journals and collected a few below to share with you. Tell me, are you still a paper person like I am?
A collection of journals and notebooks in sage green - ready to collect all of your thoughts and sketches.
While browsing around, I found lots of lovely journals and collected a few below to share with you. Tell me, are you still a paper person like I am?
'Thoughts in Green' by PeetSwea
A collection of journals and notebooks in sage green - ready to collect all of your thoughts and sketches.
 Fabric faux suede journ... $20.00 |  Green and Aqua Damask C... $20.00 |  Handmade Refillable Mos... $48.00 |  Coptic stitch Celery Ma... $35.00 |
 Composition Notebook Jo... $20.00 |  Moss Green Leather Jour... $49.00 |  sage green branch noteb... $26.00 |  Olive Green Small Sketc... $8.50 |
 Handbound hardcover jou... $10.00 |  Metallic Green Leather ... $9.00 |  Quilted Journal Cover -... $36.00 |  Filigree Embossed Sage ... $60.00 |
 Fabric Notebook Cover a... $26.00 |  Fabric Covered Blank Jo... $38.00 |  Brag Book Photo Album .... $16.50 |  journal, notebook - gre... $12.00 |
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sewing: Inspiration
Last week, I posted about my need for a new clock in my sewing room. After oogling over my options, I decided on this lovely:
My sewing room is a very neutral light blue color with white trim. At first, I thought that I would want something funky, but the clock that I picked made by Making Time TC called to me. I think that it will be perfect - I can't wait for it to arrive! I'll be sure to post pictures of it in action.
I am still having a wonderful time sewing and working on items for my Etsy shop, and spent a few evening hours last week working away. My clutches appear to be the most popular on Etsy and Pinterest, so I have made a few more to add to my shop soon. I also had my third sale today, which is very exciting and inspiring!
I have also been doing a bit of research and development on new products, and am on the lookout for new fabrics. The following from the Ty Pennington Fabrics Collection are screaming to be mine.
My sewing room is a very neutral light blue color with white trim. At first, I thought that I would want something funky, but the clock that I picked made by Making Time TC called to me. I think that it will be perfect - I can't wait for it to arrive! I'll be sure to post pictures of it in action.
I am still having a wonderful time sewing and working on items for my Etsy shop, and spent a few evening hours last week working away. My clutches appear to be the most popular on Etsy and Pinterest, so I have made a few more to add to my shop soon. I also had my third sale today, which is very exciting and inspiring!
I have also been doing a bit of research and development on new products, and am on the lookout for new fabrics. The following from the Ty Pennington Fabrics Collection are screaming to be mine.
What sites do you recommend for craft inspiration?
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tick Tock
I have this clock in my sewing room, which I purchased at Target for about three bucks. When I took a lunch break from my day job and spent a bit of time sewing or cutting out my next project, I needed something to tell me when it was time to head back to reality. The problem is: it's loud. Really LOUD. The ticking can be heard down the hall. I guess you get what you pay for.
So I set out in search of a new clock that both tells time (duh!) and would give me a bit of handmade inspiration. I found more beautiful clocks than I could have ever imagined, so many that I haven't yet decided which one would be best for my space.
I compiled the following Etsy Treasury with a few of my favorites - tell me which one you like best, so that I can decide!
So I set out in search of a new clock that both tells time (duh!) and would give me a bit of handmade inspiration. I found more beautiful clocks than I could have ever imagined, so many that I haven't yet decided which one would be best for my space.
I compiled the following Etsy Treasury with a few of my favorites - tell me which one you like best, so that I can decide!
'Tick Tock' by PeetSwea
 Turquoise Crackle Stone... $35.00 |  Wall Clock in Cream Bro... $35.00 |  Melting Wall Clock, Mad... $55.00 |  Brown Cuckoo Clock on W... $99.00 |
 POP Clock in Orange, La... $235.00 |  SALE - large retro doil... $36.00 |  Wall Clock Autumn Strip... $35.00 |  Blue Moon Sprocket Cloc... $85.00 |
 Chickadee in a Coral Tr... $75.00 |  Deep dad - Clocks in co... $23.00 |  Les Poissons Bruns Chro... $90.00 |  Guitr Pick Clock - Blue... $35.00 |
 Small Aqua Clock $85.00 |  tiny scallop clock in v... $34.00 |  Simon Says clock - STA... $98.00 |  White Floral Clock - La... $75.00 |
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Hobby No More
Today, I have 13 items for sale on my shop, and only two sales, but I am finding endless excitement in learning about what it takes to build a shop and build a following. I should have known that sewing bags and clutches would be the easy part - after all, I already knew how to do that. Learning how to take pictures was an early goal and I spent more hours than I could count coming up with an approach to photographing my items.
All I can say is, I'm loving the ride so far!
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