2015 November

Sewing to Soap...
11/24/2015

I always have mixed emotions when I come home from a Florida trip. I love to be there spending time with the kids and Murphy, and there is the fact that we always have a fun and different project to tackle... and I don't freeze when you walk outside!, but I also know that when I get back into the Studio there are lots of fun projects waiting for me!

When my mom was here a few weeks ago she brought a bag of family heirloom linens to me. Most of them were a little stained and were no longer fit to put on a table. I washed them all and while looking through them I decided make a vintage apron using the better pieces and parts.


On this apron I used doilies as flowers, an old dresser scarf as the bib and napkins for the skirt, pockets and side parts. It's fun to look at and think about whose linens they were and the dinner stories they could tell if they talked!!


Dig out your old linens and repurpose a family heirloom for someone you love. Feel free to come by the Studio and I'll be glad to give you guidance on putting your own linens together if you are unsure of to where to start.

Here's another pair of sweater slippers. These have a shabby chic look, and I love the bow on the back. 


Do you know how hard it is to find 100% wool sweaters in thrift stores in Florida?? Believe me, the choices are slim. This sweater was a nice Woolrich sweater but it wasn't all wool. The shabby chic look comes from the white fibers in the chevron pattern that weren't wool and didn't felt in quite as well. A different look from the previous pair I made, but also very cute.

I've been working like crazy at night after my day of work to get draperies ready for my "Kentucky Kids". 


They've been working so hard to get the painting and remodeling of the new house done, and it is like icing on the cake to finally get the new drapes hung. 


The Taupe and Lime floral drapes also have touches of the wall color in them that doesn't show up very well in this picture.

​I'm about half done with the house now... maybe two or three more rooms. I get so excited when they go up and everyone is happy with them! Looks like Jim is enjoying the new plaid drapes too!!

I had the most pleasant surprise last week. One of the ladies who attended our annual Mitten Mania event volunteered to take some unfinished mittens to a group of ladies from her church, Centenary United Methodist Church in Shelbyville.

They came back with 20 more pair to add to our totals.  Thanks to Linda and her group of ladies there will be that many more warm hands this winter!! 

We appreciate the help... 
​        Kind hearts for warm hands!

I have a project that I'm going to play with tomorrow.  I have never felted soap bars before, but I'm going to give it a try.  Watch next weeks blog and I'll share just how to do this. They would make great stocking stuffers if it works! I'll let you know.

2 Comments
Jayn Lando - Felted soap ... that sounds fun and different. Will watch for those directions~
Leslie - Thanks Jayn!! Let's talk with Brenda and figure out when would be a good time for you all to come play in the studio!!



A Little Florida Fishing...
11/17/2015

Our quick trip to Florida was quite uneventful. I knew Jeff was ready to get to Florida, but I didn't know how much. We were going to leave after work on Wednesday, and that changed to 10am in the morning.... and he said  we were in no rush to get going the next morning. But when the next morning came it was 4 am!... REALLY? ... yes! 4 am!  He was ready to be there. Uneventful? YES... Ready for a nap?  YES!

We stopped and had lunch at a Mexican restaurant after we picked up Brent and I loved some of the fun bumper stickers that they had posted on the front of the check out counter. I can totally relate to both of these! I think they resonated after just having celebrated the last birthday before I enter a new decade. I feel like I'm still a kid and, at heart, I still am, but the body is saying otherwise. LOL!  Growing up is over rated.  We just keep plugging away and playing the best way we know how!

Now, you have to understand that Jeff has wanted a fishing boat all his life and a few years ago he found one on eBay. This is a 1980 boat and he got a super deal. So as you can imagine, we have spent time and money trying to get it up and running so that we could take it out on the ocean for an actual fishing trip.

Friday was to be the day for the maiden fishing voyage. What a gorgeous day it was as we took the boat out for another early morning... a cruise at 7 am. We went about 8 miles out and the guys got busy getting the lines and hooks ready while I enjoyed laying out on the deck in the 80 degree temperatures. 

I was given strict instructions to start reeling in the line if a fish hit one of the four rods that were in the water. The line that Jeff reeled in was full of sea weed and I ended up with the little guy!  Leslie: 1  Guys: nothing. 

They did catch up with me though, with much bigger and, definitely, prettier fish. I don't think I've seen Jeff so relaxed and content as I did yesterday when the fish were biting. 

The guys were getting ready to stop and bottom fish for awhile when Brent realized the boat was well past overheated. Not a good thing. Realizing that, we called the tow company. But, not to waste any time, they kept their lines in the water and fished while being towed back in.

Of course, you know we had to find a project to finish up while we were there. This is the bathroom that the kids were working on. Brent put the plexiglass piece in for the shower door and had just finished completing the cedar floor.


The plexiglass splash guard really makes the bathroom look much larger than if they had put up a shower curtain. It's amazing what they did on such a small budget. And it looks like a million dollars.

While I was dog sitting last September I had shipped some felted wool down to work on while there and never got around to doing anything with it. So I pulled it out and decided to play with making a pair of slippers.


Here they are half done. Now to get a nice sole on them so they are a little more sturdy and durable. These slippers are great for both men and women and a few embellishments should give them lots of personality.



Headed home on Tuesday.... Hope to see you at the UFO day on the 19th.  What projects are you waiting to finish? I can't wait to see!!

2 Comments
Bob S - Happy TG
Have a great winter and take time for yourself. Lol

GiGi - Leslie: Why are you doing this now after you have made the art shop your world? Is this something that you were going to do all along? I do not live in Shelbyville; however, my Sister does and both of us have been in your shop many times. It is just confusing to me without a complete explanation. Where will your art classes be held or are they over as well? I am sorry to see you close up shop; this leaves a very large hole in the art supply in Shelbyville which unfortunately won't be replaced. You will be missed.



It Can't Be That Time of Year Again!
11/10/2015

It can't be that time of year... it was just here yesterday! I definitely agree that time sure goes much faster as you get older.

We spent last week doing a little decorating for 'Light Up Shelbyville' and the big 'to do's' that the town has the first week of November. 

As a retail store in a small town, I have always followed the trend to be decorated and ready. This year I did it for fun, knowing that as a fabric store my season was winding down, not gearing up.

As I spend time trying to make my life simpler, I admire the big chain stores that aren't afraid to make a statement about Thanksgiving and to keep the order of holidays in perspective. I'm also spending more time concentrating on a fun Thanksgiving meal with family. Even if I don't like to cook!!

​The week that we spend getting ready for the Open House is always my birthday week and I look forward to the fact that I usually get beautiful flowers from my kids, my husband or my friends. I LOVE flowers. They're one of the things that just makes me smile!


I want to shout out to Flowers By Sharon. For years they have arranged all the beautiful flowers that I have given to my employees for their birthdays. I just call, tell them a little something about each person and, voila.... a very unique arrangement personalized just for them!! 

Small towns are great!

And then there were the birthday goodies, compliments of the ladies at the shop!! Ice cream of many flavors and of course, the cookies. 

Now, it didn't matter that I'd already had my Dr. Pepper and cookies for breakfast, this still made a great end to lunch!!

Sunday was the first day in a LONG time that I had nothing scheduled. You know how long it has been since I started painting the house... a long time. And ​I have had two sets of company while my house was in disarray and we just walked around the mess.

My curtains have been made for months and I finally got around to getting them hung. I still have the top ropes to hang on the antique door knobs but I am making progress. 

My cat, dog and husband were not in the least bit troubled that I worked around them as they napped and watched TV.
​I just told them when to move!!


How beautiful that the sun was setting while I was taking this picture... and it matched the drapes!! 

I am headed to Florida for a few days of R&R with Jeff. Looking forward to that time together! But... when I get back I'm starting on my holiday projects and need to figure out what they'll be!

A SPECIAL INVITATION to you.... On the 19th of November I want to have a UFO Day for anyone who would like to come play in the Grand Studio and have a little fun and fellowship. Just bring the unfinished projects you want to work on. Oh it will make me feel so much better to know that I am not the only one with things that are not finished!!

The store will be open from 10 - 5. Come in the front door of the STUDIO off Washington St. Bring a lunch or order from one of our local eateries. Hope to see lots of you here and see what you are working on!!

0 Comments

Expanding My Resume...
11/3/2015

Just one more of the many varied things I have tried in life... just add it to my resume along with the hog farming, bartending, gift buyer, llama costumer and business owner!

Last week while my mom and Walt were here, we went to Georgetown to check out the new business Jeff and Jason have been working on. It's slowly getting ready to be up and running.

While we were poking around in the warehouse, I had a chance to have a crash course on the fork lift. I think I could get used to running this!

The guys are making great progress as they put the big oven together for the powder coating. They're thinking of all the industrial equipment they can powder coat and my mind is running to all the fun outdoor furniture that I can have done in bright pretty colors.



No doubt at all to me that I will have to fight a little to get what I want covered... especially since it won't fall in their standard, Red, Black and Safety Yellow colors!

We have been working like crazy to get a some new chairs ready for our Open House. Here are a few of the new designs that have just come back from the upholsterer.



I think there may be a future in these chairs that tell a story. What a fun statement as a starting point in a room. Just a quirky sense of humor to get you started in your decorating scheme.

Let's design a fun chair just for you!! Come visit us during the Open House this Friday and Saturday November 6th and 7th.

In all the years that I have been in business, Halloween weekend has always been very slow. But I think this year it was slow because Frankenstein and his bride might have scared off a few people!!

Congratulations to Delphia and Bruce on their first place costumes!!





Enjoy this fall weather! Come visit Shelbyville this weekend as we kick off the Holiday season with lots of fun Open Houses in downtown.Join us for Light Up Shelbyville at 3:00 to 8:00 on Saturday and 6:00 pm for the tree lighting!

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