2014 Sept/Oct
It's Back!!...
10/30/2014
It is back and in our store!! Look what you can do with an old worn out chair and a good upholsterer! Thanks to Bobby Allen the old chair has new life!! Let it never be said that the projects that I send to him are easy! He was tested to the max with this one and he passed with flying colors and only a few choice words!!
The notebooks are finished! I spent all day Monday finishing them up and it felt so good to cross that of my list. The new DIY instructional PDF, Flip Top Notepad Instructions, is now on the Funky Fibers website so that you can download and make some of your own for stocking stuffers or that little last minute gift. They really take only a short amount of time, but 24 completely different ones took a little longer!
I just want to take a minute to say thank you to the person that ripped the wooden flower box off the front porch and set it in the middle of the walk way to the store.. and, no, I am not being sarcastic. The person that did this probably saved our store from burning to the ground.
I would just like to say that putting a cigarette out in a wooden mulch filled flower box is not really a good idea.. Thanks to our good Samaritan whoever you are!! We feel very blessed.
The countdown has started! Less than a week til the store’s Holiday Open House and we still have a ton to do! I will be there early early and late late for the next week. We sure hope to see you the 5th thru the 8th of November to see what all we have been up to and join us for a little cider and cookies!
2 Comments
Gloria - Absolutely love the chair redo. What a great find. Looking forward to a trip to Shelbyville and your open house. BTW love getting your blog post on Saturday mornings!
Leslie - Thanks Gloria! We look forward to seeing you!!
Notebooks and Other Important Things...
10/24/2014
Having notebooks and journals available for sale at the Open House have been at the top of my list for the past week or two. You know, those things that you are going to get done when you get up in the morning - life happens - and so they don't get done? You know you have been as busy as you can be and so, at the end of the day, the notebooks are still at the top of that list....
I have found myself adding what I 'have' done so that I can cross it out and feel better about my progress. Do you know that feeling? And the notebooks and journals are still not done!!
Last week, with Judy's help, I was able to work up a new online project (the cute notebook to the left). It will be available for sale later this week. This will be a great stocking stuffer for the holidays and only takes a little time to make! We will let you know when the pdf is ready for purchase. Quick and Easy!! I like that kind of project.
We are hosting another padded headboard class tomorrow at the STUDIO with Bobby Allen. I am so looking forward to seeing the student's finished projects, but any class means that I have to spend time cleaning up my messes and can't get into any major projects to play until class is over.
My friend from college, Patty, who coms to 'play' once a week (but usually gets put to work), spent the day winding some of our hand dyed yarns, which was no easy task! She had it twisted all around her. The STUDIO needed to stay neat so I cleaned and she wound... I love her company and creative ideas. We all need friends who are willing to help share ideas, work, and dreams.
What a week!! The highlight was definitely the two days of classes at the Painting with Fire Studio in Florida and coming home certified to teach the Painting with Fire Torch-Fired Enamel classes. It was a quick trip down and back, but besides the creative fun, I loved the weather! I could get used to sitting on the bay and watching the boats as I enjoyed my dinners.
Below is a picture of a necklace that I made with beads that I have created. All I want to do is play, but work (and notebooks) must come first!!
Off to order supplies for the jewelry classes that are happening this coming weekend with guest artist Deb Guess. Check out her future classes at the STUDIO. They all look like so much fun.
2 Comments
Jayne Lando - This is something that I have so wanted o do for a long time!
Leslie - This is so much fun! You will have to come to the studio to play!!
Ideas Needed!
10/15/2014
Oh... where do I start on the creativity of this week? I have so many things rolling around in my head, I don't know where to begin!
When Jeff and I are really busy at this time of year we seem to take things home with us, wether it is physical work or things we are contemplating in our heads. I guess this just comes from both of us being self employed. During this time of year we don't have a lot of down time.
So, at 4:00 this morning I am having a dream about being in this wonderful pile of fabric (I wish I knew where I was because they had some amazing stuff) and trying to decide what to bring home for all of you. Jeff on the other hand, (now remember this is still 4 in the morning), decided that he wanted to share his dream and was talking in his sleep. He had the nerve to interrupt my exciting pile of trims and fabrics by asking me if the 20th was an ok delivery date! Oh the nerve of him. So now I don't know where to go find that fabric!
I recently went on my search for the chairs that I am recycling for the Open House displays and came home with this funky shaped purple one. I had purchased a wing back a month or so ago.... They don't look like much now but just wait! Come visit us for our Open House and see what evolves!
So the other things that are running through my head are teachers, teachers, teachers. We are well on our way to having some of our favorite artist instructors scheduled for next year but I would love your feedback! What artists do you have a desire to take classes from? What would you like us to offer that we are not currently bringing to the STUDIO? We are looking to fill the calendar with top notch teachers so now is your time to speak up!! Help us please....
Have a great creative week!!
Leslie
2 Comments
Jayn Lando - Maybe Jeff was asking you if the 20th was okay to deliver all that fabric :)
Janet Threet - I would like to take some classes to learn creative ways to make little girls dresses and clothes like the Matilda Jane website or creative clothing type classes.
The First One is Done!
10/9/2014
Yes!!! The first one is done!! Do you ever want to do something that is not your strong suit and you just keep putting it off? And when the first one is finally done you just want to hug all the people that have helped you and you think... "Oh.... I think I can really do this!!" That's me!!
For several years, I have been asked if I have directions for any of my projects online... and now I can say yes!! I can create projects all day long but don't make me record what I have done, measure as I go, or try and explain how to replicate what I have done. My projects just sort of happen and then it is just easier to tell people ..."you do this and this and this".
I am knee deep into planning the Holiday Open House for the store. You can tell as you come in the store because everything is upside down and backwards (especially the STUDIO!)
This Open House is truly a labor of love because almost everything that is on display or for sale in the store is designed or created by me with the assistance of my fun employees. We start in October.... like I said in the last blog, it is earlier than I would like but later than I should, and then spend the next month tied to my sewing machine, my paints and my saws. The Open House is always ready even though not everything always gets done. :)
The ornament that you see on this page is my first online project. You can download the photo illustrated instructions of the Batik Corded Christmas Ornament from our Funky Fibers website.
Hold the date for our Open House (November 5-8) and see all the one-of-a-kind creations we have to offer for Holiday Gifts!
Have a great creative week!!
Leslie
0 Comments
Montreat with the Family
10/1/2014
What a week! It started with a short family vacation in the beautiful mountains of Montreat NC. My boys and I have lots of great memories of youth conferences during their high school years and it was fun to share some of those memories with their ladies. A great time to relax before the craziness of holiday prep starts at the store.
It is a little over 5 hours travel time and I don’t sit well in the car. I spent a whole day planning and packing what I could work on during the drive, knowing that I am much happier when my hands are busy.
In retail, I start thinking of Christmas and Holiday decorating well before I want to and probably much later than I should. This is especially true because everything that we highlight at the store, starting with our Holiday Open House, is hand made, one of a kind, straight from the STUDIO. So hold the date of November 5th – 8th and join us for this festive time. More details will follow later. I usually set aside the month of October to really go gung ho and tie myself to the STUDIO. So… this is the month of October. Can you believe it?
All that being said, I decided to do some fun little 3x4 pieces of artwork that will be embellishments for something else… Quick and easy to work on in the car (except that the tiny pieces then had big bags of scraps, beads and yarns to take with me just because I might need them.) These pieces have not yet told me what they want to embellish but they did turn out pretty.
O.K. Here is the fun part… I am attaching a sneak preview of two of the little pieces I made. Come in during the Open House and find out where these little things land, let me know where you find them and have your name entered for a $25.00 gift certificate to Making Ends Meet.
Have a great creative week!!
Leslie
1 Comment
Lydia - Love all the new stuff that is happening with the store and especially the studio!
A Blog... Really?
9/25/2014
Oh.... a blog you say?? ...again and again.... O.K. so I will give it a try!
There are so many things that I want to share and I never take the time to sit down and put them on paper or on the computer... and I think it is time. I just finished 4 days of classes in the Making Ends Meet studio with Kat Allison of copperloom.com. I can't say when I have had so much fun playing with paints, fibers and textiles and the ideas of what to do with it all just keep coming! Watch the Making Ends Meet newsletter by signing up online at makingendsmeet.com for all the plans that we have concocted as they are unveiled.
So "who am I, you say"? Let me tell you. I am a creative spirit with a sense of adventure and play to throw in the mix. I am a shop owner, a wife to the most wonderful husband, and a mother to the two best sons ever. I am one who is lucky enough to be able to say that what I do for a living is the same thing that I do for relaxation. I create, I play and then work in between. How lucky can you get?
I have owned the Making Ends Meet fabric store for 25 years this year. It has drawn people from states around and we have been so lucky to meet so many wonderful people. About 10 years ago, I had the need to take care of "me" for awhile and found that art just really soothed my soul. This passion has turned into a wonderful working studio in the back of Making Ends Meet where we give classes and have lots of guest artists in to play.
I would say that I am primarily a textile and fiber "artist" with a little wood and paint thrown in for good measure. I love to create and I am willing to try anything once... well almost anything!
I hope you will join me on this blogging journey and share in the excitement of the artists that visit and the projects that we create! Enjoy the photo of my piece in progress from our 2 day loom class with Kat Allison. Watch our Making Ends Meet Facebook for more pictures from our time with Kat Allison!
2 Comments
Gaye Medbury - Leslie, where do you get all your energy? Is there anything you can't do? Can't wait to follow your blog.
Leslie - LOL Energy is not a problem! I just have too many ideas and want to try them all! I am sure you know that feeling
10/30/2014
The notebooks are finished! I spent all day Monday finishing them up and it felt so good to cross that of my list. The new DIY instructional PDF, Flip Top Notepad Instructions, is now on the Funky Fibers website so that you can download and make some of your own for stocking stuffers or that little last minute gift. They really take only a short amount of time, but 24 completely different ones took a little longer!
I would just like to say that putting a cigarette out in a wooden mulch filled flower box is not really a good idea.. Thanks to our good Samaritan whoever you are!! We feel very blessed.
The countdown has started! Less than a week til the store’s Holiday Open House and we still have a ton to do! I will be there early early and late late for the next week. We sure hope to see you the 5th thru the 8th of November to see what all we have been up to and join us for a little cider and cookies!
2 Comments
Gloria - Absolutely love the chair redo. What a great find. Looking forward to a trip to Shelbyville and your open house. BTW love getting your blog post on Saturday mornings!
Leslie - Thanks Gloria! We look forward to seeing you!!
Notebooks and Other Important Things...
10/24/2014
I have found myself adding what I 'have' done so that I can cross it out and feel better about my progress. Do you know that feeling? And the notebooks and journals are still not done!!
Last week, with Judy's help, I was able to work up a new online project (the cute notebook to the left). It will be available for sale later this week. This will be a great stocking stuffer for the holidays and only takes a little time to make! We will let you know when the pdf is ready for purchase. Quick and Easy!! I like that kind of project.
We are hosting another padded headboard class tomorrow at the STUDIO with Bobby Allen. I am so looking forward to seeing the student's finished projects, but any class means that I have to spend time cleaning up my messes and can't get into any major projects to play until class is over.
What a week!! The highlight was definitely the two days of classes at the Painting with Fire Studio in Florida and coming home certified to teach the Painting with Fire Torch-Fired Enamel classes. It was a quick trip down and back, but besides the creative fun, I loved the weather! I could get used to sitting on the bay and watching the boats as I enjoyed my dinners.
Below is a picture of a necklace that I made with beads that I have created. All I want to do is play, but work (and notebooks) must come first!!
2 Comments
Jayne Lando - This is something that I have so wanted o do for a long time!
Leslie - This is so much fun! You will have to come to the studio to play!!
Ideas Needed!
10/15/2014
Oh... where do I start on the creativity of this week? I have so many things rolling around in my head, I don't know where to begin!
When Jeff and I are really busy at this time of year we seem to take things home with us, wether it is physical work or things we are contemplating in our heads. I guess this just comes from both of us being self employed. During this time of year we don't have a lot of down time.
So, at 4:00 this morning I am having a dream about being in this wonderful pile of fabric (I wish I knew where I was because they had some amazing stuff) and trying to decide what to bring home for all of you. Jeff on the other hand, (now remember this is still 4 in the morning), decided that he wanted to share his dream and was talking in his sleep. He had the nerve to interrupt my exciting pile of trims and fabrics by asking me if the 20th was an ok delivery date! Oh the nerve of him. So now I don't know where to go find that fabric!
So the other things that are running through my head are teachers, teachers, teachers. We are well on our way to having some of our favorite artist instructors scheduled for next year but I would love your feedback! What artists do you have a desire to take classes from? What would you like us to offer that we are not currently bringing to the STUDIO? We are looking to fill the calendar with top notch teachers so now is your time to speak up!! Help us please....
Have a great creative week!!
Leslie
2 Comments
Jayn Lando - Maybe Jeff was asking you if the 20th was okay to deliver all that fabric :)
Janet Threet - I would like to take some classes to learn creative ways to make little girls dresses and clothes like the Matilda Jane website or creative clothing type classes.
The First One is Done!
10/9/2014
For several years, I have been asked if I have directions for any of my projects online... and now I can say yes!! I can create projects all day long but don't make me record what I have done, measure as I go, or try and explain how to replicate what I have done. My projects just sort of happen and then it is just easier to tell people ..."you do this and this and this".
I am knee deep into planning the Holiday Open House for the store. You can tell as you come in the store because everything is upside down and backwards (especially the STUDIO!)
This Open House is truly a labor of love because almost everything that is on display or for sale in the store is designed or created by me with the assistance of my fun employees. We start in October.... like I said in the last blog, it is earlier than I would like but later than I should, and then spend the next month tied to my sewing machine, my paints and my saws. The Open House is always ready even though not everything always gets done. :)
The ornament that you see on this page is my first online project. You can download the photo illustrated instructions of the Batik Corded Christmas Ornament from our Funky Fibers website.
Hold the date for our Open House (November 5-8) and see all the one-of-a-kind creations we have to offer for Holiday Gifts!
Have a great creative week!!
Leslie
0 Comments
Montreat with the Family
10/1/2014
What a week! It started with a short family vacation in the beautiful mountains of Montreat NC. My boys and I have lots of great memories of youth conferences during their high school years and it was fun to share some of those memories with their ladies. A great time to relax before the craziness of holiday prep starts at the store.
It is a little over 5 hours travel time and I don’t sit well in the car. I spent a whole day planning and packing what I could work on during the drive, knowing that I am much happier when my hands are busy.
In retail, I start thinking of Christmas and Holiday decorating well before I want to and probably much later than I should. This is especially true because everything that we highlight at the store, starting with our Holiday Open House, is hand made, one of a kind, straight from the STUDIO. So hold the date of November 5th – 8th and join us for this festive time. More details will follow later. I usually set aside the month of October to really go gung ho and tie myself to the STUDIO. So… this is the month of October. Can you believe it?
O.K. Here is the fun part… I am attaching a sneak preview of two of the little pieces I made. Come in during the Open House and find out where these little things land, let me know where you find them and have your name entered for a $25.00 gift certificate to Making Ends Meet.
Have a great creative week!!
Leslie
1 Comment
Lydia - Love all the new stuff that is happening with the store and especially the studio!
A Blog... Really?
9/25/2014
There are so many things that I want to share and I never take the time to sit down and put them on paper or on the computer... and I think it is time. I just finished 4 days of classes in the Making Ends Meet studio with Kat Allison of copperloom.com. I can't say when I have had so much fun playing with paints, fibers and textiles and the ideas of what to do with it all just keep coming! Watch the Making Ends Meet newsletter by signing up online at makingendsmeet.com for all the plans that we have concocted as they are unveiled.
So "who am I, you say"? Let me tell you. I am a creative spirit with a sense of adventure and play to throw in the mix. I am a shop owner, a wife to the most wonderful husband, and a mother to the two best sons ever. I am one who is lucky enough to be able to say that what I do for a living is the same thing that I do for relaxation. I create, I play and then work in between. How lucky can you get?
I would say that I am primarily a textile and fiber "artist" with a little wood and paint thrown in for good measure. I love to create and I am willing to try anything once... well almost anything!
I hope you will join me on this blogging journey and share in the excitement of the artists that visit and the projects that we create! Enjoy the photo of my piece in progress from our 2 day loom class with Kat Allison. Watch our Making Ends Meet Facebook for more pictures from our time with Kat Allison!
2 Comments
Gaye Medbury - Leslie, where do you get all your energy? Is there anything you can't do? Can't wait to follow your blog.
Leslie - LOL Energy is not a problem! I just have too many ideas and want to try them all! I am sure you know that feeling
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