Top Eight Things That Inspire Me to Craft(Step One)

Before we can even begin to put a piece of fabric under our sewing machine...What are you going to make? If you are anything like me, you are easily influenced, and the slightest video/picture/post will have you running to your craft room. There are hundreds of things that could inspire anyone to craft, but here are of my favorite leads to inspiration:

1)Magazines- I don't have a TON, but I have a healthy collection of quilting/sewing magazines. My first sewing magazine, came from a going out of business bookstore. A few after that, came from my mother in-law when I was sick, or she was just finished with it. Out of my collection, I have four that I turn to most often. Three of them came from 2013 when Jenny Doan featured in a few Fon's and Porter's magazines. The first magazine she mailed out, I received with an autograph from her on it! The second magazine came a few months following, just in time for Summer. Finally, after waiting a few more months, the last Fall Issue arrived in my mailbox.

The fourth magazine I turn to surprised me, It didn't seem like a magazine I would like, but i find I turn to it for inspiration quiet often! It is simply just a magazine that has 100 blocks to make. No tutorials, or turn-by-turn instructions, just 100 patterns for quilt block ideas.


2)Pinterest- I know. I know. You got me. I'm not ashamed! It's a great community of people just like me, who just want to share what they know with the world. It's may be a trend right now, and some may even be obsessed with it, but don't let that intimidate you. Pinterest is a very inspiring world.

3)Fabric- Have you ever seen a piece of Fabric and just wanted to do something with it?? No ideas, no need for anything, but that beautiful piece of fabric NEEDS to be on something! I know it happens to me often. I have a rainbow trolly like thing, that has ten drawers on it. In some of my drawers I have fabric grouped up that I plan to do something with. Sometimes they sit for a long time while I finish another project or rake in the over time at work.

 Sometimes I just sit in my floor and rummage through it and see which project I had intended to do next.

 I can even put a UFO (Unfinished project-UFO is also a term used in sewing for abandoned objects/projects that we mean to get back to, someday, eventually.) neatly folded in a drawer to return to another time.

4)Youtube- As an avid Youtube watcher, there is rarely a video I have yet to see. From, gaming, cooking, knife skills, cartoons, music and every craft imaginable, I watch it. That being said, my 'Recommended For You' is always full of new unwatched sewing/crazy videos for me to indulge into. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started: MSQC , The Crafty Gemini , Crafty Amy , Debbie Shore , Ina Pattydoo

5)Facebook- I know it doesn't seem very inspirational all of the time, but it can be! If you are subscribed to the right people that is! Be sure to add both business and friends of craft-alike! Even something as liking Jo-Ann's facebook page can get you ideas, and even coupons! Look through photos of friends that sew, or just search through and find what inspires you.

6)Gifts- This can be taken two ways: The first, is being given something like a handmade gift. Or even being given the supplies you need to get started as a birthday/Christmas present. (Fabric is ALWAYS  acceptable as a gift to me. I promise to never tire of it). The second interpretation: Needing to give someone something. Maybe you have some fabric collecting dust? Needing to make a handmade gift for someone will boost your spirit! Babies are the easiest to make for as the things they need require much less fabric, as usually simple and and quick to throw together. A good chance to use that fabric you got, JUST because it was on sale too.

7)Artwork- Art is everywhere, and in even more places if you have an abstract eye. From a painting, to a quilt already made, You can mimic/change it into anything you want. A friend of mine saw a picture of a necklace, an adorable owl, and she asked if we could turn it into a purse or something. Though, we probably could have sat down and spent a few hours appliqueing ( appliqueing explained another time, another day), but for a beginner I told her it was best if we just chose fabric close to it. But yet, a great example of being inspired, I also keep a binder of grid paper handy. Quilts are made of lines and blocks, so grid paper if perfect for ideas and inspiration.

8)Rulers- I know this one seems a bit unorthodox to some. Extra rulers are not %100 necessary,(Though you really do need ONE) but %100 worth every penny you spend on them. Rulers come in all shapes of all sizes, making completely different shapes and blocks. I find rulers to be very inspirational. It's a chance to try something new, to see what a tool can really do.

I hope these have given you somewhere to start! Feel inspired to sew/quilt and I will post next week what to do with your inspiration! (Step Two on 'How to Quilt Almost Anything' next week)  Feel free to leave a comment! I'd love to hear what you think!

Ten Easy Steps, To Quilt Almost Anything

My Quilting Story:

Even though I have only been quilting for a little over 3 years now, it is a hobby very dear to my heart. For most of my life I only knew how to hand sew, and was often made fun of my large collection of pillows (The only real project I knew how to finish). After I moved in with my fiance, my will to sew grew, but my tolerance for sewing slowly by hand had lessened. We soon budgeted and invested in what is now my most favorite tangible object, my beloved sewing machine. Every time I look at it, I see happiness awaiting me.(Corny, but true) It's nothing special, and only has very few settings (NOT even a see-through case, so you can see the bobbin from the top!) I had no idea where to start. So, I went to Youtube and typed in "How to sew" The top search result at that time was Jenny Doan, from Missuri Star Quit Company's-'Tube Tutorial-How To Quilt'. I had completely forgotten about quilts. I grabbed two different colors of fabric and hand cut them with scissors into... a-hem...errm..."Squares". But by golly I was PROUD of those O.o Shapes sewn together! I was addicted! I subscribed to MSQC (And you should too !) and once a month  I would upgrade things. A cutting mat. A rotary cutter. A ruler. After one year, I felt like a professional! As it turned out, both of my Grandmothers quilted :) I knew my Mom's mom sewed, but I didn't know my biological father's mom did too!

    

 (My beautiful sewing machine!)

No details in this list?

     Over the years that I have been machine sewing, I have learned quite a bit! Most things I have learned... The hard way. That means ripping out hundreds of stitches, and having a pile of projects that will never be spoken of or seen again. I would love to teach you what I know. But there is a small problem : I want you to know EVERYTHING I know about sewing, and I know quiet a bit! I do NOT know everything. I know enough to teach you confidently.  I could simply do a  picture tutorial on making a quilt, or quilted oven mitts (A MUST for a beginner quilter) but I would like to do TEN blogs. Yes, TEN. Over time, I will update this blog and replace the titles below with links to their corresponding blogs. I will be making a set of Oven mitts for a quick demonstration to follow along with. I plan to do one Tutorial for those, and then keep referring back to them in the ten blogs in bigger details. So that is a total of 11, that's ELEVEN upcoming blogs :) I will be busy this month... but that's the plan :) This is a big project I have had in my head and heart for about a month now, so I REALLY hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment below, I would LOVE to know what you think! Are you excited? Which step are you looking forward to the most?

What you really came here for:

1) Get Inspired (Uploaded July 17th)

2) Combine Pattern + Fabric  (Uploaded July 24th)

3) Iron All Fabric  (Uploaded August 2nd)

4) Cut Fabric (Uploaded August 6th)

5) Sew And Rearrange Pieces

6) Sew In Rows

7) Frame and Border

8) Batting

9) Quilting

10) Binding

Top 10 Stay at Home Jobs-Direct Sales

Our first List Blog will be dedicated to the hard working men and women who make their money by being their own boss. Though, these are 'Stay at home' jobs, you really have to put yourself out there to make these jobs successful. Have you ever thought about making your own money, on your own terms? Do you have sharp people skills? Do you network easily? Could you sell fish to a dolphin? Then this list is for you! When first researching the five brands that I knew, I came across the term 'Direct Sales' that refers to these type of jobs. Google overloaded me with results after I learned that! I will give you my top 10 most popular, familiar and reliable for this list. At the end I threw in a few extras in case you were curious. Direct Sales jobs have become a trend in our times due to the hardships in different places, so even though I am listing a few, there are hundreds of these, just like them :)
In no particular order.. Let's get started :)

1)Scentsy- I came across this brand on Facebook. A friend of mine was looking for extra cash, and someone posted on her status that she LOVED selling this product. A boring, but true, story. The main product they sell are Warmers and Wax melt scents. They have near a hundred scents and tons of warmers to chose from. Here is my favorite Scentsy video a distributor made comparing their products to Wal*mart, I like this video because she also shows the many other products Scentsy sells.

2)It-Works- I have 4 different friends on my Facebook that sell this product. They all once worked with me at Cracker Barrel, but no longer do, because they are now successful independent distributors. Their chain of command is quiet interesting! Depending on how many people you have working for you and how many products you sell, you could be ranked as a Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Double, Triple, Presidential, and Ambassador! The main product they are successful for are their wraps,and not even the edible kind :/ Quiet the opposite. You place a formulated wrap around your torso, and where it for 45 minutes. Results are very fast! They also sell creams, gels and other products that assist the process. Curious about the wrap? Read this for more information! Here is a video of a non-distributor trying on some of the products, so you can see for yourself! (For more questions contact me, and I will introduce you to a close friend of mine that is a successful distributor)

3)Stampin' Up!- A very personal favorite of mine! A few years ago, (maybe 4-5 years?) I subscribed to a Youtuber by the name of Angie. Her Youtube Channel Chic N' Scratch, to me, was just a lady making videos of arts and crafts. I was addicted! She used stamps, beautiful paper, different types of tape, and tons of punches to make homemade cards. IT wasn't up until this year, when I subscribed to Sam from Pootles Papercraft , did I realize that this was a Direct Sales job (>_> no shame) I could talk for hours about this company, and the supplies... and my love for paper, and making boxes. But this post isn't about me...today. No video for this company, because I just can't chose ONE to post for them :) Click on the Youtube names above for direct links to their channels, and then YOU may spend hours upon hours watching those two ladies craft :)

4)South Hill Designs- I was first introduced to this company in a newsletter from Pootles Papercraft (See #3 above) The idea originated from a  lady in Arkansas. The product is simple: Make your own locket. In this concept, there is no direct 'selling' You host a party with friends, relatives, acquaintances, and they bring people along too. Next, everyone creates their own personal locket, you drink, eat, laugh, and have a good time, all while making the lockets. At the end of the party your guests pay for their lockets. It's that simple. They can buy extra pieces to change out their lockets, or just make one that is special to them. The company provides everything for you, from the charms and necklaces, to an easy way for your guests to pay.

5)Lyft- Okay, so this one is a little unorthodox. Do you like to drive? Do you know your town like the back of your hand? In the south, Taxis aren't really something you see on the daily. From a customer perspective: You download the Lyft app on your phone, enter your payment information (There are no charges until the end of your ride), they will then match you up with a local Lyft driver, and the driver will take you where you need to go. You can even sit in the front seat!At the end of the ride, the payment will be automatically deducted from the information you gave it, no need to carry cash! From a driver point of view: They provide extra insurance coverage! You decide when you are On or Off duty! Just download the app on your phone and turn the 'Driver toggle' on or off. Your phone will message you when someone needs a lift. You use your own car, and decide on your own hours!

6) Avon- Like many others my age, Avon, was a well known Sales brand, and still is today! They are growing, and selling even more! Growing up, my mom was an Avon Representative. Since her full time job was working my my Pawpaw's grocery store, she was very successful with her clients. Like many of these Direct Sales jobs, you really need to know a lot of people to be able to make your career take off. Though, with the next few name brands, you probably wont need a lot of help because they are so well known. In most cases like Avon, people already have regular things they order from, and just need a representative to get what they need.

7)Thirty-One-  Anyone who lives a few hundred miles away from their hometown, or college dorm, can probably relate to my story: I live almost 200 hundred miles from my family, and I can not tell how many 'Thirty One Party' requests I get, that I sadly cannot reply, or go to. and boy am I missing out! Their product may seem like just hand bags , totes, and home organizing but there is much more! The colors and styles are always in trend, and you can personalize them! Your name, initials, team logo, you name it! This company started in Tennessee, on the vision of empowering women through faith. Here is a video from the creator:

8)Pure Romance-  A few years back, I was living with my mom, and it was time for a haircut. One of my mom's best friends had her own hair salon, so we always went there. "I called and made us an appointment, and Diane said she had a belated birthday present for you." We arrived at the appointment, and there she was holding a tiny, pink bag, grinning ear to ear. I opened the bag, and inside was a tiny 'bullet', and not the kind that belongs with a gun. My mom, Diane and myself, laughed and laughed. After the redness in my face had gone down, Diane explained to me that she sold many products just like that. Including: perfumes, toys, lotions, lubricants and many more health and beauty products.  Keeping romance and fun in your life is very important, at any age, and if you are a firm believer in that, then this is the direct sales for you!

9)Mary Kay- If you haven't heard of Mary Kay by now, your best friend is probably a sponge who lives in a pineapple. (Spongebob's best friend Patrick Star lives under a rock ;)  ) In short: Much like its reputation of being a well known beauty and cosmetic seller, they have regular customers always lined up and waiting for a new representative to sell them what they want. New products are always being released, and they have a strong reputation for beauty and health for women. A few products that make up their business: Make-up, perfumes, skin care, gifts for men and special seasonal offers.

10)The Pampered Chef- When I was in culinary school, knowing someone who sold this product was a very easy find! It just made sense, they were already in culinary school to learn about Food business, why not pay off some of the interest in loans while they were at it? The Pampered Chef sells a wide variety of kitchen products, everything from utensils, spices, recipes, aprons, oven-mitts, and much more! Host a cooking party with your friends and family to show off the different products. How fun would that be?! Here is a link to their Youtube channel. Here they show off their products and showcase when their new and innovative kitchen equipment comes out. The Pampered Chef's Youtube Channel

There is my top Ten, but those are just the tip of the iceberg. Didn't like any of these? Know a few more? Post in the comments! I would love to see what other Direct Sales companies are out there. But before you do! Here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Tupperware
Shaklee
Lulu Avenue
Discovery Toys
Ahni & Zoe (By Creative Memories)