newness and news!

All kinds of exciting things happening here at the Carestio household. First, I took the plunge - FINALLY! - and bought a new sewing machine. Take a looksee at my new Babylock Elizabeth - it has all the features I've been wanting and, well, it's green! At this point, anything would have been an upgrade from my old (much-loved, trusty) Singer, and it is pretty magical!



It will come in VERY handy this year...in fact, I used it to finish up this quilt top that I started in December. It's an easy peasy little baby quilt, but I'm quite in love. Who is it for, you ask? A good question.... me! Well, not me exactly, but for my little bean! Billy and I are expecting a new little Carestio in early August! We are so excited and feeling so blessed and already feeling surrounded by love and support from our family and friends. Can't wait to start this next part of our journey together.... and Violet can't wait to be an aunty! Needless to say, you'll be seeing 100% more baby projects around here in the coming months. If you know of any good baby projects online, please feel free to pass it on!

Phwew... these past few months have been an absolute blur, I tell you! Quilt Market through Christmas just tends to be that way. And I'm overdue on just about everything, including ye olde blog! This year was especially crazy - hello, holiday Big Crafty! Boy, doing a craft show during the holiday makes so much sense, but it's killed any inclination I may have had for handmade holiday gifts. Gift cards it will be! Here's a little sampling of what I made for my booth:

First, a little series of stretched canvas birdies in various adventures with umbrellas, kelpies, etc. (see more on my flickr page!) This one was my favorite - the waves, the clouds, the big dipper - and it was a little hard to let go of!



And more bird cameos. The little scarves, well, they just made me happy!


And mushroom terrariums and mushroom embroideries. It was actually a pretty good show for me - all pennies go to the new sewing machine penny jar!

I have been thinking about some goals for next year. I'm thinking a healthy dose of quilt WIPs, maybe some crochet, and some more craft/quilt experimentation. I absolutely love making stuff that people want to purchase, but I need a break from that mode for a little while. There's one more crafting project on the horizon.... big announcement headed your way soon! Until then, may your holiday preparations be merry!

Still alive! Plus exciting news!

And kicking.... despite my silence! Still waiting to get my groove back in the new crafty space, but I'm going to officially cut myself a little slack. Plus, I've got some good news. I'm so excited to announce that I've got a new book coming out next month. Stash Happy Felt features 30 projects to make from all that felt stash taking up space in your closet. The designers for this book are absolutely and fabulously talented... the projects are fun, unique, inventive, and stash-bustingly awesome! Here's a sneak peek:There are so many super fun projects in the book. We'll be sharing a few of them (and holding some felt giveaways!) over on the Lark Crafts blog later this month and in early October. In the meantime, here are a few of my projects from the book:

sorta settled...

Wowza... what a May, June, and July! That's what moving will do - that, and prepping for a craft show. I apologize for the extended silence - life was absolutely swirling and demanded all of my attentions. I'm happy to report that we're getting settled into the new place here in West Asheville, we're loving it (!), we're enjoying the park and pool across the street, and the dogs are loving their new windows. The first space in the house to get settled was the craft room... the space used to be a part of the old front porch and it came with dark teal floors!
I love this little corner especially... it's just pretty dreamy. Still waiting to be pinched, but absolutely savoring the new space. More pics to come as the decorations go up. And as the IKEA furniture is completed - fun stuff!


Next up was the Big Crafty, Asheville's rockin craft show. I participated two years ago and remember learning all kinds of things that first time around... which I'm pretty sure I promptly forgot! It was a great show - soooo many talented folks in this area! - and I sold a handful of mushrooms and stitched things, including one little terrarium to a young gal who was there spending her allowance - love that! (But I didn't sell the green-framed birdies below - score! They're now on my wall at home!)

Okay, I do love the crazy pace of life at times, but I think (hear me, universe!) I'm ready for a little quiet-tude. I think that's when the real beauty of being in this place will start to sink in. I'm ready to get back into crafty mode too (especially since I'm behind on bird-a-month!), though a little break was nice. I keep thinking it's going to start feeling like summer someday soon... anyone else having that feeling?

bird-a-month: may (and more mushrooms!)

It's May, friends! Official start of the picnic season, one of my very favoritest things about summer, and a natural pick for this month's installment. The mini patchwork blanket was fun (but don't look too closely, mkay?), but the grass stitching is probably my favorite element. It was something I added at the last minute, after I thought I was done with this one. Does that ever happen to you? At any rate, I'm glad I added it.And, of course, more mushrooms, this time a little group shot. Fingers crossed that I actually get into the show/sale I'm prepping for, though I'm sure I can think of something to do with all these cuties if not...

And good news on the house hunt front... we'll know in a matter of two weeks whether or not we'll be moving into an absolutely dreamy spot here in Asheville, complete with a dedicated (and lovely) sewing spot for yours truly (which would make me a very happy - very lucky, very blessed - gal!). I'll keep you posted. And in the meantime, we'd appreciate any finger crossing you can spare!

mugs (and more mushrooms)

So I count May as the start of summer, even if it's not official. It's hot, I start plotting my hikes, canoe voyages, and tubing trips, and, of course, I get the thrifting bug. I set out today on an important mission... but of course found some goodies that had nothing to do with that! (Wish the decanter showed up better: there's a ship on the front!) Our cups and dishes and mugs are a grand assortment, and I kind of like it that way. These bad boys below were actually what I was looking for.... mugs and mugs and mugs. (Looove the deer!)
For what, you say? You should really know me better by now (this is, after all, post numero 101!!!)... when an obsession takes hold, it really takes hold! Here's what I had in mind... and I love the look! And I'm working on my own technique for the gills... i.e. cheating with dark strands of felt!

And you'll never guess who I got to hang out with this weekend... photos coming soon!!!

mushrooms of a different kind!

I must be in a restless mood cause I am hopping around with the craftiness! That's what happens when you work on craft books... the latest bug I've caught is needle felting, inspired by the lovely Lisa Jordan over at Lil Fish Studios. Man, this lady is a crafty genius! I fell hard for her mushrooms (even bought some!) and then I had to try them for myself, which lead to an apple tree to a topiary... I'm officially hooked, even though it hurts to type because I accidentally "needle felted" my middle finger. No pain, no gain, I guess! Now what else to make in miniature...