Time Flies

What have I been doing?  Today is already September 1st and I have not posted since mother's day.
Well here I am again.  If you haven't visited in a while I can relate to you so it's really not a big deal.

The coming of September makes me feel the summer is all over.  Many schools are already back into session and by Labor Day all the pools are closed up for another year.  That's the real deal to the end of the year's fun.

Wow! There has been so much going on for me this year.  In March my wonderful cousin suffered a stroke. In May her sister died in Jamaica but Dane-Andrew, my baby  graduated from Fordham University.

Me, Adrian (son) Dane-Andrew (son) Stephany (daughter) Ava & Asia (granddaughters)

In August my older brother who spent almost forty years in the Jamaica Defense Force was saved by God from a massive heart attack. He did however, had an open heart surgery for five bypasses.
August ended on a joyful note nonetheless, my youngest son - the baby, got engaged to his wonderful girlfriend and we had a big celebration.

Dane-Andrew & Nikki

Once again, after four and half years we are moving back to Westchester County, NY.  We could not get our home sold, but thank God we got it rented to a nice family.  We have to be out by October 1st, so how much time? ONE month from today.  The search goes on for an apartment and workspace.

We are looking to get into one of the Artist Lofts in Peekskil, NY.  I am very excited because I would be able to mix with different artists in the area.

HAPPY MAMA'S DAY

This year I celebrate 31 years of being a mother to three amazing children of whom two are now parents themselves.

Happy Mother's Day Steph.

Well as I promised, my debut Giveaway begins today!
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Set of two coordinating pillows in two different sizes

To Enter:

(one entry per reader, leave a comment for your entry)

1) Follow by clicking "Join this site." 

2) Share the giveaway on Facebook or other social media.

3) Recommend a friend to join!

Good Luck!

Giveaway will end May 18, 2012

I will choose a winner then, so please be sure to leave your e-mails address.

Have you ever heard about the Australian Tea Tree? Well on one of my favorite sites is an article about this incredible tree in Australia.  Does this tell us something AMAZING about our GOD?  Check it out.

Australian Tree Tree

Amazingly Beautiful!!

I have been out of the loop for almost a whole month.  I have been very busy catching up on my Etsy orders.

Well, since I have a Giveaway coming up this week,  I just want to put out a reminder.  This will be a fun item and will fit into any decorating scheme.

On Wednesday I will post the instructions, but one one will be to join to follow my blog in order to enter.  So if you are reading, go ahead and join in the meantime.

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Today I want to share this amazing beautiful thing going on in the life of a Blue Jay, 

right out my back deck....take a look.

Blue Jay nesting

 

Her four precious eggs

 Is this amazing or what????

I will keep your posted on her progress.

 

WHAT'S NEW

My most popular Grosgrain Ribbon Trimmed Roman Shade has taken on a new twist.

This time I crafted one for a door but instead of a Roman Shade, a Roller Clutch Shade with Grosgrain Ribbon Trim.  This is for a long door and I also did corresponding colors for the windows.

My first Ribbon Trimmed Roller Shade

White Cotton Canvas Trimmed with Buttercup Ribbon

The corresponding Roman Shades for the windows were made in Buttercup Cotton Canvas with Blackout Linings and Shade Ribs.

Buttercup Cotton Canvas with White Ribbon

Road To Slipcover

To Slipcover or Not to Slipcover

Well let be known that Drapes and Roman Shades are not the only handmade fashion I custom make to order just for you.  I also make beautiful slipcovers for furniture.  In the next couple of weeks I will be rekindling the beauty of these two pieces of furniture.  Please follow me to unveil the outcome.

This  attractive lady's chair was torn open to operate on her wobbly arms.  I am still not sure if I will take on the re upholstery portion of covering her inner parts but I will be slipping her a beautiful cover.

This is also an elegant and stately lady's chair with very wide wings and dainty feet.  I will also make her sparkle again

Popular Requested Fabrics

SUZANNI FABRICS Anyone?

I have been getting quite a number of requests for Flat Roman Shades in the Suzanni Prints.  These prints are bold and large and will make a big statement on any window.  Take a look!

Yellow/White

Black/White

Here are some more colors. 

American Red

Pink/White

Chocolate/Natural

River Rock

Storm

These are available in my Etsy Shop for your custom orders.

Catching Up

It's been several days since I last wrote a post for my blog. I have been really busy with family matters concerning a very close cousin I grew up.  She recently suffered a stroke and is unable to speak and use her right arm.  My husband John, and I drove out to Michigan to see her and she is doing well.

Since we returned from the long trip, I have been even more busy trying to catch up on my orders.
Over the Easter weekend, my wonderful best friend Bev came to visit with her son Isaiah and two of my grand daughters and Naomi.

Naomi

Ava

We had a birthday celebration for Isaiah who turned 11 years old.

Bev helped me give my studio a grand cleaning.  Now with all the work I have to do,  with a clean and fresh space to work in, makes creating more fun.

Unlined Relaxed Roman Shades

These are the window treatments in my master bedroom....casual.

The relaxed roman shades are made of medium weight linen. and flanked by stationary unlined panels.  I wanted a very easy feel to just enhance the view.

I trimmed the edges with this golden stripe.....

perfect when the sun comes up in the morning.

This set of Unlined Roman Shades  were a bit mind buggling.  Well I am filling an order for 4 shades

with Greek Key Trimmed edges.  My customer provided the fabric, a very beautiful and weighty linen and also the trim. How would I finish them in a professional way? I asked.  When I was a seamstress (making women's clothing) I preferred the look of lined garments.  It fitted better and lasted longer.  I feel the same about my window treatments.  I love the finished look and feel of lined products not to mention when interlined...luxury!

 Although I would love to share some of my secrets of the trade, I realized that selling on Etsy has become exceeding competitive with sellers underselling at ridiculous prices.  So I have to keep an edge on everyone as much as I can, trying to out run them with the quality of my products.

Well back to the shades I am making.  One thing I will share though, I always pray before I start and during my constructions.  I came up with a clever way to make these shades and they turned out beautiful, if I may say so my self.

The finished shade

I am Humbled

 Happy Friday

Ribbon Trim Roman Shade with Attached matching Valance

Well since I decided to start blogging, I realized how much of my time it will take to get my pieces out.
I am not a great reader myself, and I also realized that a lot of people do not like to read either.

My humbling moment came yesterday, when one of my customers sent a message that she had received her order and the shades are beautiful but as she could remember her order was for different colors.
My heart has been skipping beats this year again, my heart skipped several beats.  I went back to review the order and there it was she had asked for the changes in the colors.  These custom made roman shades with ribbon trim and attached matching valances are not a hop skip and a jump to make.  You see, I am so finicky about my work and want a professional finish every time.
Anyway, my generous customer said she will see what her husband have to say when he gets home.  This is what she said of her husband.

''My husband loves them.....
I need 4 more for two different rooms. let me try and figure out what I want to do.
Take care,
Blair''

Thank your BLAIR!!

I really take my work seriously and thank not only Blair for her generosity but I thank my  God for his mercy and his generosity towards me each day.

Today

Today I decided to start a small blog to promote my Window Treatment Shop and educate my customers as much as I can.  Sewing has been a long passion of mine and I am so blessed to be able to continue to do so at age 52.