This is My World

Isn’t August a little early to be thinking about Halloween?  I usually think so.  This year’s different. 

I made a Jack-O-Lantern quilt for my Etsy store.  To make certain that a potential buyer would receive it in time to display it during the Halloween season, I needed to list it now.  See Etsy listings stay up for 4 weeks.  A listing now would end in September, just a few weeks before most Halloween decorations are displayed.

This Jack-o-Lantern can be re-created easily and I plan to as soon as this one sells.  I’m actually thinking about making one for myself because it is so cute.

It’s August, and I finally found a job I actually like.  I can take a break whenever I want.  If I want, I can even take a nap in the middle of my work day.  I don’t miss anything on television, and I can work in my pajamas.  So, what’s this new job that I love?

Quilting.  It’s always been a very relaxing activity for me.  For over a year I’ve been thinking, “If only I could get paid for this, life would be great.”

Well, last month, I opened my quilt store on Etsy.  It’s called Becky Morton Creations.   Right now, I have six items for sale with two on the way as soon as I finish them.  Last week, I receive my first custom order.  I’ll be starting work on that within the next couple days.  So, life is good.  It’ll get better when I get more customers, but like building blog traffic, finding customers takes time.

Recently, I have started designing quilts before I make them.  I had been just putting squares together and building a quilt from there.  The first one I designed was this large flower.  I intended for it to be different colors, but that’s not what I had on hand.  Once I started cutting fabric, it took me about three weeks to complete.  At 45″ inches by 63 inches, it’s just perfect for a lap quilt.  It’s called “Spring Flower in Bloom.  I think it would make a great wall hanging as well.  The picture doesn’t really do it justice, as I am a better quilter than I am photographer.

I finally finished putting the binding on it today.  It’s listed in my Etsy store, Becky Morton Creations.  There’s a link to my store in my left side bar.  If you go there, be sure you come back to Today.com to check out more blogs.

Remember that quilt I was talking about when I was explaining what the finish on a needle is for?  The one that is a large flower on a yellow background? I’m done quilting it.  As soon as I get binding on it I will be posting a picture of it.  I actually stepped back from it today.  It’s gorgeous. 

So, in case I didn’t mention it, I’ve been sewing quite a bit lately.  As a matter of fact, I’e been making quilts to sell on Etsy.  If you are familiar with Etsy, my store is called Becky Morton Creations. 

Anyway, back to quilt making.  I’ve been working on a quilt that is a large flower pieced together in squares.  The green I used for the stem is a little thicker cotton than I’m used to.  I was using my grandma’s sewing needles that I’ve had since 2005.  I noticed they had gotten a little darker, but they were getting the job done.

So, I was quilting with this green fabric.  I had also used the same fabric on the back.  My arms were wearing out pretty quick, and I was getting frustrated.  A couple of days ago my dad brought over my step-mom’s fabric scraps and tools.  I found a place for everything and didn’t think anymore of it.

Yesterday, I was sewing on the stem of this flower, two layers or this green and the polyester batting.  My right arm started cramping up.  Then, it hit me.  Why don’t I try a new needle?

So, I pulled out one of my step-mom’s needles that hadn’t been out of the package yet.  I noticed that it was really shiny.  So, I tried it.   That new needle went through that fabric like a hot knife through butter.  Then, it hit me.  The finish on a needle truly does have a purpose.  It makes it easier to get the needle though the fabric. 

That was one of those, “Well, Duh” moments that I felt an obligation to share with the rest of the world.  So, if you’re like me and a concept like that is too simple to grasp, I hope this story makes your sewing a little easier.

My whole life I’ve heard people say, “When life hands you scraps, make quilts.” I didn’t understand it when I was growing up.  Now, however, I do. 

As many of my readers already know I haven’t actually “worked” since February.  I’ve been scratching every corner of the internet I can find for just a dollar or two here and there.  I’ve sat on the computer for a couple hours then lay down for a half an hour.  I’m not laying down to be lazy either.  That actually relieves some of the pressure on my back and lowers my pain level. 

This blog so far is the least successful of my ventures, but that’s okay.  With the 30 or 40 visitors everyday, someone is reading what I really think.  That’s what’s important. 

Anyway, I’ve been busy lately.  I’ve listed stuff on eBay that I wasn’t really ready to part with yet, but really needed the money and the memories are in my head.  

Tomorrow, I’m gonna clean up a Gibsonette Tremelo GA-8T to list on eBay.  The original owner bought it to play at sock hops when he was in high school.  After I called Gibson customer service to get more information on the amplifier, I realized it had to be purchased between 1958 and 1962.  The customer service representative said that’s when they made the GA-8T. 

I would have had it listed already, but I was finishing two quilts to put in my new Etsy store.  I call it Becky Morton Creations.  So far I have 3 quilts listed.

“When life gives you scraps, make quilts.”  I can’t sit up long enough to hold a regular job.  I’ve hired a lawyer to deal with Social Security.  In the meantime, God gave me this gift to make quilts.  I’m trying to use that gift to work around my disability. 

Lately, I have been working very hard trying to get quilts ready to sell.  My goal is to be able to sell baby quilts online.  After studying the idea, I have decided that making some ahead of time would be beneficial for me.  It would be like getting a head start.  I have settled on Craft Mall as a venue to sell my quilts.  However, I have yet to create a store.  My goal is to open up by August 1st.  This means I’ll probably have to average about a quilt a day until then. 

I’m fine with one quilt a day though.  Making small quilts is something I enjoy.  Also, not being confined to knowing who it is for, has added the benefit of creativity.  I can now make what I want and they have actually turned out better.  I’ve got a lot of tops made, I’m waiting on a shipment of batting to actually quilt them.

If you are interested in what I’m doing, keep reading, and I’ll keep posting about it.

                                   -Becky

My plan for today was to take a picture of my rose bush and share it with you.  However, mid-western weather is highly unpredictable.  Today, a thundershower decided to roll through.  Of course, my camera is not waterproof.  Never fear, I will write a something to post today!

The only other thing on my mind is an idea I had.  Just because I’m a nice person, I make quilts for people when they’re about to have new babies.  The closer the parent is to me, the more detail will be in the quilt.  I’ve noticed that there are some baby quilts that I have managed to make two in one day or more.  So, my idea is to try selling a few. 

I did a google search and found www.craftmall.com.  It’s similar to Ebay except that it specializes in crafts and there’s no bidding, just a price.  Rather than charging per listing they charge per month based on how many items you sell.  I was hoping maybe a few of my readers may have some information on this site or may be able to direct me to similar sites.  If you do, please leave a comment. 

Thank you and have a good day.

When I was in school my best friend lived next door to me.  Her name was Tina.  One day we were walking to her house admiring the flowers on the side of the road. Of all the complicated flowers there on the bank, we were admiring the daisies the most.  They were simple and elegant.  After some thought, Tina said,

“Simplicity is Beautiful.” 

She explained that she had just come up with that and one day wanted to be recognized as the first person to have said it.  So, today I am recognizing Tina (Esarey) Harpenau as being the first person to say “Simplicity is Beautiful.”

I have made a quilt for her first daughter.  Since I will be giving it to Tina before her daughter is born, I have named the quilt “Simplicity is Beautiful” because it is simple and beautiful.

Quilting has been a hobby of mine for a couple of years now.  So, I thought I would use my blog to show off a couple of quilts that I’ve made.  If I could make money quilting, I would probably try.  However, I can’t really find a market for baby quilts. 

The top quilt here is actually made for a twin size bed.  came up with the design myself and gave it to my neice for christmas last year. 

The bottom quilt was actually made for a benefit dance where my dad played music.  I embroidered “Faith, Hope, and Love” in the purple squares.  The “H” has an embroidered pick ribbon hanging from it because the benefit was for a lady with stage 3 breast cancer.  I donated it in the memory of my late step-mom, Rita Morton.  The quilt was auctioned off and my dad actually paid $25 for it.  That $25 went to the lady with breast cancer.