Thanksgiving weekend I entered a tree in a contest at an art fair at the Kane Co. Fairgrounds. I needed to figure out a way to decorate that would tell observers what my business was all about and not cost me much money. Four strings of “thread spool lights” from Moda, 5 yards of white rick-rack, 2 dozen cheapo ornaments with more rick-rack hot glued around, handmade cardboard and fabric scrap “fabric bolt ornaments”, and a eleventy billion and one various sized fabric yo-yos stitched together for a cool garland, and I had a tree!

  
The weekend before the craft show I had it set up in the back room and almost all decorated when I remembered that it still needed a topper. I swore I had seen plain paper mache dressmaker’s dummies at Joann’s or Hobby Lobby. But after a futile search I gave up. I looked online, no luck. Then I found a fabric pincushion dummy at Joann’s and decided to paint it to mimic my logo. Awesome.

Have I ever mentioned that I have a secret love of tacky things? You probably will never see me wearing a Bedazzled cowboy hat with rainbow feathers but I have a secret appreciation for that type of thing anyway. (I am such a fashion icon that there is a blog dedicated to watching what I wear. What’s that you say? Oh! That Mrs. O! Never mind.)

But vintage tacky I really can’t resist. Back in November I attended my church Women’s Retreat. Our Saturday evening entertainment was a White Elephant Gift exchange. I got stuck with won a “frog environment”. For some reason none of the other women tried to steal that fabulous prize. But at the end of the night I found myself coveting someone else’s gift.
 
Lo and behold, when I shared my admiration with its new owner she was more than happy to regift it to me on the spot (no need to even trade my lovely amphibian abode). This beauty is an approximately 11×14″ red velvet and paste rhinestone extravaganza of holiday bling!
  
Too bad it is the only one of its kind in existence huh?

Well, aren’t I the bad business blogger? I’ve been running around here like a chicken with my head cut off all week preparing for my Open House today. But I failed to mention it here on my blog! Duh.

So anyway. If you are in the area today stop in for cookies, apple cider, and wine. Plus I have in store specials and product demos planned for this afternoon.

 
Another quick project that is perfect for gift giving. This tutorial will guide you through adding a six inch fabric hem to cotton toweling. The toweling is 16″ wide and is available by the yard. It is pre-hemmed on the long edges. (All photos in the following tutorial can be clicked on to make bigger.)

Materials for One Towel

1/2 yd. hemmed cotton toweling

1/2 yd. cotton fabric (enough for 3 finished towels) or a fabric remnant at least 18 x 14 inches

coordinating all-purpose thread

Step One:

Cut two (2) 7″x18″ strips from the cotton print fabric.

Step Two:

 
 
Place toweling and fabric right sides together (RST) matching raw edges. The print fabric should be approximately 1 inch wider on each end.
Sew RST using 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step Three:

 
Press seam allowance toward print fabric.
Press 1/2″ along unfinished edge of print fabric.
 
Fold print fabric RST matching folded edge to seam.
Pin short ends.

Step Four:

Sew short ends using edge of toweling as seam guide.
 
Trim seam allowances and corners to reduce bulk.
Turn right side out and press.

Step Five:

 
Carefully topstitch 1/4″ from seam line from the right side being sure to keep underside flat and straight.
Press and trim threads.