What (Tries) to Hinder You?

I warn you, I am about to get very real here. Not gross real, just real real.

As my business begins to really grow, I have a little something that tries to hinder me. It tries to steal my comfort, my energy, my drive, my peace, my joy. It makes me want to curl up in a little ball and bawl.

I can't let it, obviously. I have three little ones who need me to be a good mommy. I have a husband who needs me to be his partner in all things. I have a house that needs...well, some serious help. I have customers who need cute shoes. And I have an innate need in myself to create with my hands.

Nevertheless, it is relentless in its pursuit of me. Its name is pain. I have struggled for years with FMS. Periodically, pain will steal over my whole body and remain for the day. It's not as severe as it is for some people I know, and for that I am thankful. And I did have some years of reprieve for which I am incredibly grateful. It all but went away after my first child, did not return after my second. But after my third, it decided the time had come.

So here I am. Fighting to bring life to my dreams. Working to prove to my children that it is never too late to do what you love. Trying to be all that I must to the people I who are my life. And I will not let the reason stealing comfort thief known as pain be anything more than an inconvenience.

How about you? Is there anything in your life that would try to keep you from realizing your dreams?

The Sweetness of Purple

This has truly been quite a few weeks for Good Little Things. So many new opportunities and experiences have come my way, that I am truly overwhelmed by it all. In a good way, of course.

Along with it all I have gained some new customers. Yay! My first new customer is Laura. I introduce you to her because she too has a beautiful shop on Etsy that you need to check out here. She too, is a member of the wonderful Artisan Group, so you can be assured that her work is top rate. I mean, just have a peek at what she offers.

Only a couple of days after I joined the Artisan Group, Laura commissioned me to make a pair of shoes for her niece's 3rd birthday. The party just happens to be on my birthday. How could I resist that? The little lovie's favorite color is purple, so we ran with it.

I have fallen for them. They're so girly, but not overly sweet.

They're playful and fresh and modern.

I hope that she loves them, and as always that they make her feel so very special when she wears them, knowing they were designed and made just for her!

The Three Best Things I Have Ever Made

It has been quite a week for my little business. And I haven't even really made anything. I finished up my largest order ever for my best customer, Kelly. Three pairs of shoes and a bracelet.

I also did my first ever guest post this week. If you missed it you can find it here.

And I had quite a week on Martha Stewart's Dreamers Into Doers site. Have you seen that site? It's a wonderful site for those who have started small businesses or who are dreaming of starting one to, meet each other, inspire and encourage each other. I joined a couple of weeks ago and this week I had both a featured photo on the home page and (somehow or other) found myself on the top of the most popular list for that site. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of a glitch caused that to happen.

And, on that site I heard about this group called The Artisan Group. It's a collection of artists who  provide their products in swag bags at celebrity events. I thought, why would I have need to be in a group like that? But, then, members mentioned that being in this group was life changing and I thought I would ask what made it so? I was told that this group was incredibly supportive and led by strong business women and if I joined it would help take my business to the next level.  Okay, I could definitely use something like that. So I applied and I was accepted. And I have to say having been a member for a whopping couple of days, WOW. This really is the most informative, the most helpful, the most supportive group I have been a part of. I have been welcomed, well advised, tweeted, FB-ed and I've even gotten two orders! I am so excited to be a part of this group!

But, even with all of this excitement, I have spent time this week trying to make certain that I do not forget, even the tiniest littlest bit, about my three greatest projects in the works.

My oldest, Isaac. Who taught himself to read at two and to this day has an insatiable love of learning. With this incredible mind of his comes a myriad of challenges I never expected when dreaming of having children. But, I would not change him for the world. He is the world's absolute best big brother. Honestly. He is patient and generous and forgiving with his little brother and that makes me more proud of him than anything.

My intrepid Jonas. The child I fasted and prayed for for three years. He was an absolute gift from God and on a daily basis he reminds me that he is, with every hug and every kiss and every silly smile and crazy antic. He is the antithesis of his brother in so many beautiful ways. He's my silly Monkey Boy and I treasure him.

My sweet Emeline. A mere 19 months younger than Jo, she was a surprise in more than one way. Out of the six children between my sister's family and mine she is the only girl. She has the sweetest temperament. She's such an easy going baby (well except for the whole refusing a bottle or pacifier thing). She is a gift I didn't know that I wanted. She has ignited my creativity with her very presence. I love her so.

No matter what happens with my little business, my fourth child. These three will always be number one on my priority list. And with that, I am off to engage!

I shared this whimsical little bracelet when the weather was just starting to turn warm and lovely. I had requests at the time to do a tutorial, and here it is finally.  Let's take a look at what we're going for.

Have you ever had a butterfly land on you? It's a magical moment when something so beautiful and fragile trusts you like that.  Kinda like a newborn baby sleeping in your arms. Shall we get started?

First, you'll want to take a measurement of your wrist and add one and a half inches to that measurement for overlap. Then you'll want to cut out a piece of vinyl that is a rectangle that long by however wide you want your cuff to be. So if your wrist measures 6 inches and you want a 2 inch cuff, your rectangle should be 7 1/2 inches long by 2 inches wide. As you will see I have done this bracelet in a few different widths and I think they all work. You'll also need to cut out a matching rectangle of pretty fabric if you want it lined with fabric, or you can double up the vinyl if that's your wish. I have done it both ways, and I find that the fabric backing makes your arm sweat less. Ha! Just a helpful little tip from me.

Cut away.

When you have your rectangles, you're going to want to cut out another swatch of vinyl in a contrasting color and another matching piece of pretty material to back it with. This will be for the butterfly. When you have all of that taken care of, it's time to adhere the two together. You could use glue, but I recommend a fusible web, like Wonder Under. That stuff is awesome. Just saying.

Prepping the fabric

When all is dry, what you want to do is get you butterfly all cut out and ready. I traced mine from photos, but you are more than welcome to free hand it, if you have that kind of talent. Trace your butterfly onto your extra fabric backed swatch as seen here:

Pretty...

and carefully cut it out.

That's a lot of butterflies. You may only need one. I tend to get carried away.

Now, let's find the butterfly's placement on the cuff...

Hold it closed so that you know where your butterfly should "land".

I like to set it at an angle as opposed to straight on the cuff, but then again, I've always considered myself a little off center, so... if you like it straight, go for it. Now, we sew!

Look, a rainbow and frog are keeping the butterfly company. How sweet.

Sew straight down the center of the body, making sure you sew one stitch past the ends on both sides, and reverse all the way up the body once or twice to make sure all is secure. When you're done give it a good pinch to get those wings fluttering a bit.

See?

We're getting there.

All that's left to do is attach your closures. This is totally up to you. I have used snaps, a large button, even velcro for the ones I made for the three year olds attending my daughter's birthday party. I will say, if you fabric backed your vinyl and you plan to use snaps, I recommend reinforcing the ends with small vinyl rectangles. Like so:

And you're done. Let's see how they came out, shall we?

Bold and graphic.

From the back.

And there you have it, whimsical elegance.

Because we really shouldn't take life or accessorizing too seriously.

Happy sewing!

My First Guest Post!

You can find me over at sarahndipities today, doing my first ever guest post and my second ever tutorial. So head on over there and I will show you how to make this little lovely.

Have a great day!

Summer Leaves

I have an incredibly sweet friend who requested a favor of me. She had a leaf necklace that another talented friend of ours had made her for her birthday. But, within hours of putting it on, two of her very young children had managed to break it twice. Isn't that always the way? So she asked if I could make a version to replace it.

Here is her pendant. Simple and I hope elegant. Green linen on a suede backing.

But, this got me to thinking of other, more elaborate designs. And the next thing I knew this had come into being:

Definitely not your busy mom everyday wear, but pretty. So pretty. And versatile too. Wait for it.

Not just a lovely statement piece for around your neck. Thanks to the silk ribbon, you can also wear it:

In your hair! I am a firm believer in accessories that do double duty.

Speaking of which I am just finishing up another version on my versatile flower bracelet. I'll show you soon.

In the meantime have a wonderful weekend and hug the dads you know and love extra tight.

Jeepers, Peepers

Peep toe shoes take a good deal of extra handwork. They are adorable and totally worth it, especially when they are being made for sisters. Can't you just imagine two sweet little girls, playing together with their feet perfectly matched in these?

And this time when they get their shoes little brother won't feel left out!

For The Boys

I am so excited (and really, really nervous) to show you these. I know the handmade shoe market is girl heavy. And I know that I am guilty of it too. I have two sons and not even they could inspire me to actually sit down at the machine and come up with a boy design.

But, I have a wonderful customer who ordered shoes for herself and her two girls, and her poor son felt very left out. So she asked me would I please consider coming up with something for him? How could I resist a mother's plea like that?

Part of the trouble is, not only is there a shortage of cute shoes for boys, there is also a shortage of cute boy shoe patterns. I was going to have to get creative here.

So without any further ado, here is "the boy" shoe.

I am really happy with them. I love the color scheme. And I think they're pretty modern and not overly cutesy.

And the one thing I know about Sage is that he loves trucks, especially trucks with really big tires. So, I had to use the circle fabric. It just screamed tires to me without being too literal.

So there you have it. I can't wait to try this in different combinations of prints and solids.

A Thoughtful Gift

A while ago, you may remember, I made these shoes for Emeline when Katy at No Big Dill was doing her Once Upon a Thread series.

Well, my sister in law (who is partially at fault for this whole shoe business in the first place) ordered some to give to her new niece for birthday/welcome to the family party later this month. And I don't think she could have picked a better design for such an event.

You see, sweet little Elise Nadia was adopted. She's two and her whole world has changed.

So what could be more meaningful than shoes inspired by a book in which a little lost bird looks for and finds his mother?

I hope she loves them. I hope they make her feel as special as she is. And I pray that she will feel safe and secure and loved all the way down to her red polka dotted toes.