Priddy Creations Custom Designs

2010-11-26T22:22:00.004-06:00

NEW POST!!! ALL MINE!!
Priddy Creations has MOVED! Please be patient as the page re-directs.

What a GREAT Holiday Gift!

2010-11-15T10:19:00.000-06:00

How awesome is this? I think I will be doing this for mine and Troy's Godchildren.

You can find out more about them here.

I Soooooo Want to Make This...

2010-11-14T12:11:00.000-06:00

You can find the tutorial on TaterTots and Jello here.

Takin' A Breather....

2010-11-09T18:21:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note to let you know that my website is currently down for maintenance and an inventory re-stock.

While I am working on this, I plan on taking a little breather from the bulk of my custom orders. I will only be adding a small amount of custom orders for the time being as well as ready to ship items.

I will also be cleaning out my work room and clearing out tons of fabric, patterns and other "stuff." I am hoping this little breather and good housecleaning will get some fresh inspiration going for some new products. My plan is to bring things back to basics and offer more ready to ship items. Stay tuned......

Be sure and sign up for my mailing list or subscribe to my blog for updates and the lastest info!

The Concert - Part 1

2010-11-08T19:50:00.000-06:00

Welp, we had the best time at the Justin Bieber concert in Houston. It was Baylee's first concert and it was really fun to watch her and her BFF enjoy it! I will not go so far as to say that I am a fan of Justin Bieber's music, but I will say that he can make a bunch of girls scream and do crazy things.

We did a full day of shopping with the girls to get ready for the concert and spent the night in a hotel. Nothing like a hotel bathroom to make you want new bathroom furniture.

I took lots of pictures and I will share those later this week. Here is one of all of us standing in line for a JB shirt before the concert began. Can you believe concert shirts started at $35?

I will post all the details later in the week!

BIG, BIG Weekend Plans!!

2010-11-04T21:45:00.000-05:00

Please pray for me. Baylee (my 11 year old) and I are joining her BFF and her mom for a weekend of shopping, girls' day out and wait for it..............a JUSTIN BIEBER concert! Heaven help me! It has been Bieber Fever around here ALL WEEK as the concert gets closer!

This will be Baylee's first ever concert and she is sooooo excited. Really......I am too! Not necessarily because I like Justin Bieber, but because it is just going to be fun to have a girls' weekend with good friends and the girls are really and truly pumped up.

I will share all the details next week!!

Another CSN Stores Reivew - Slipcovers

2010-11-03T20:00:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of doing another review for CSN Stores. This company has a little bit of everything. Lately I have really had the bug to buy new furniture. However, it really just isn't in the budget right now with the holidays coming up. So while I was surfing the CSN Stores website, I came across these. A lightbulb just EXPLODED in my head! A slipcover would be THE perfect solution. I could get a whole new look without breaking the bank. Once I decided that was what I was going to do, I scoured their pages looking for the perfect one. This is the one I decided on:

I loved it! It had great texture, would brighten the room and fit my style. I was so stinkin' excited to get it in the mail and put in on these 13+ year old couches (yep, I ended up getting the sofa and loveseat slipcovers):

I wanted something a little more neutral and simple. Mostly wanted something that would fit our family and comfy pretty much sums us up. This is what it looked like after I put it on:

Let me tell you people.....it was the EASIEST slipcover I have ever put on. I tried one YEARS ago and did not enjoy the experience at all! I think slipcovers have come a really long way since the last time I tried them. This particular one fit my couch and loveseat extremely well.

But I needed a little color. I tend to lean towards jewel tones and warm colors for accents so I picked up a few pillows from Target to warm it up.

What do you think?? I think I did pretty good.

I highly recommend you check out CSN Stores. They have products to fit every room and style. And the prices cannot be beat. Shipping is generally free and shipping turnaround is really quick. Not to mention their great customer service.

Hmmmmm, what do I want to do next?? Stay tuned!!

Website Update!

2010-11-02T21:25:00.000-05:00

Whew. I am happy to say that the switch has been made to my new host/website software. It was a little challenging at times but it all worked out. A HUGE thank you to Callie of Easy Boutique Builder and Robin of Boutique Mama for all of their help and responses to my cry for help when I needed it! Amy of Simply Creative has also been a godsend in helping in the transferring process. So if anyone is looking to open your own website, these ladies get TWO thumbs up from me!

Even with that done, there is still a lot of work to be done. I am in the process of moving products from my old site to my new one. Looking at them, you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. Callie really did a great job of re-creating my original site Amy designed and incorporating it into my new site. And since you can't really tell the difference......here are the deets:

Old Site Address: http://www.priddycreations.com/boutique

You will find most of my product still there.

New Site Address: http://www.priddycreations.com

I am slowly moving product to this site. Both sites will stay open until I get it all switched over. Clear as mud? :) I promise I am hurrying! I want to make things as easy as possible. But it will take me some time to get it all done so please hang in there!

New items will not be re-stocked on my old site once they sell. All new listings will go on my new site.

Any questions? Email me.

Now.....how was everyone's Halloween weekend? We had a good one. Celebrated my oldest's birthday and stocked up on LOTS of candy. Promise to share lots of those pics very soon!

Under Construction

2010-10-19T22:10:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! Just a quick note to let you know that my website is down. I am in the process of switching hosting and changing to a new shopping cart. So that means you will not be able to place any orders until that is all up and going. So when you visit www.priddycreations.com, this is what you will see for now:

I am working on getting it all up and going but things will be "out of order" for now. My blog will look a little wonky too as things get moved over. I will eventually be switching to a Word Press blog (comes with my new website) so your patience is greatly appreciated! If you have any questions, you can email me directly at amy.priddy@att.net or leave me a comment here.

Houston.....We Have a Problem!

2010-10-04T22:06:00.000-05:00

Just a quick little note to let yall know that I am having issues with my website. Orders are going through as usual and all inquiries are going through (from what I can see). However, I am not able to log in to update order statuses nor can I update or add inventory. I am working on getting that corrected as soon as possible. Please email me directly at amy.priddy@att.net if you have emailed me through my website and have not received a response.

Thanks for your patience! I promise it will get corrected soon!

On My "Want" List

2010-10-01T20:29:00.001-05:00

Whew. TGIF everyone! So happy for the weekend. It will be jam packed but oh so fun. Soccer and softball. Baylee is in a local tournament that will probably be one of the best tournaments for the Fall. We are really looking forward to it. Mollee and Ethan will be soccer kickin' fools. And all of this goodness starts bright and early at 7:15 a.m. tomorrow morning! WOOO HOO......NOT! Don't get me wrong.....super pumped about the games. Just not quite so pumped about when it is all supposed to start.

I also thought I would share two things on my "WANT" list:

Don't you love it?? They are from Vera Bradley.

Any plans for the weekend?

If Only.....

2010-09-29T21:39:00.001-05:00

......there were more time in the day!

Have you missed me? I have been getting myself adjusted to my new job. The work itself is easy but getting used to being away from home for 9 straight hours is taking some getting used to. Not to mention turning in my t-shirts, athletic shorts and tennis shoes for heels and dress clothes. I really am a casual kind of girl.

I am also trying to figure out how to squeeze everything into my newly crazy days. Could there just be a few more hours in the day to get it all done please?

Home decorating has been on my mind lately and I have lots of ideas. I started browsing one of the CSNstores and came across a great bookcase headboard that really makes me want to do a little bedroom re-do for the girls. How great are these?? A product review in the near future? You will have to wait to find out!

Lastly.....today I am celebrating my birthday and am blessed to have such great family and friends in my life to celebrate with. They are keeping me sane as I get adjusted. I am hoping to be blogging more regularly soon. I miss it. Just need a few more hours in the day.....

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Big, BIG NEWS!!

2010-09-13T19:15:00.000-05:00

This is something that has been in the works for a little while. Took some time to find just the right spot for me. And today it is official. I am heading back to work full-time in the legal field. I always knew it would happen once the kids got older. And now that Ethan is in 1st grade, it is time! I am excited and nervous! It has been 5 years since I quit my last legal job to stay at home with the kids, work from home with Troy and pursue Priddy Creations on a more full-time basis. Although with 3 kids, working with my husband and all the other mom duties, it never really did take on the full-time gig I had hoped. But regardless, I am BLESSED and THANKFUL that I was able to do it at all!

What does that mean for Priddy Creations? Well.....there will be some changes......effective pretty much immediately. I will STILL be sewing. Priddy Creations will still be a huge part of my life. But some things will have to change. First thing.....I will not be taking on any custom work over the next few weeks on my bigger items. I need a few weeks to get myself settled in the new job and incorporate all the "mom" stuff along with going back to work full-time. And I am hoping to do this as stress-free as possible.

So, what will you see? More ready to ship stuff especially with regard to my camera bags. That is probably the most drastic thing that will change right now. Once things settle down, I will add them back to my inventory as I can squeeze them in. As for the rest of my products....those won't change. My turnaround time might increase though. Probably from a few days to possibly a week for certain items. The reason being is that most of my sewing will be on the weekends with very little done during the week. Unfortunately, I can only do so much without something, somewhere, suffering.

Another thing that will change.....my response to emails will be done at night and on the weekends. Not really a huge deal but just giving you a heads' up.

So here is my request from you.....if there is something that you would love to see as a ready to ship item, please let me know!!! Since I will not be taking customs, this could be a good chance to work in what you want. :) You can email those requests to me at amy.priddy@att.net.

I have mixed feelings about returning to work but am excited at this new adventure! Wish me luck!! And if you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email!

Featured on Where Women Create's Fabulous Friday & A Giveaway!

2010-09-10T08:21:00.000-05:00

I am honored to be featured on the Where Women Create blog! Lots of great inspiration and creativity on this blog! You really need to check it out if you are not a regular reader.

And if you check it out now, you will see that I have been featured for their Fabulous Friday. Lots of details as to how I got to where I am today. PLUS.....you could win a $25 gift certificate to my shop. :) Check out the feature and enter to win here!

Cell Phone Inserts the DIY Way

2010-09-07T06:58:00.000-05:00

Are you completely obsessed with all of the cool cell phone cases/covers out there? I know that I am. I just change them out to fit my mood or needs (funky with bright colors, one that has a clip, etc...).

I currently have 8 (yep, 8) that I have purchased over the past 2 years. I can't help myself.....I just love changing things up. But I will admit, that gets pricey if you are paying full retail price for them (I personally like overstock.com and ebay.com for cheaper ones). The Paul Frank monkey one is what is on my phone right now. $5.00 on eBay. That is probably the best deal I have found on one I have liked. They generally retail for $20+.

Well, if you are obsessed like me, I have the DIY tutorial for you. I came across this tutorial via Twitter and thought that this lady was brilliant! Why the heck did I not think of this already? It seriously would have saved me a good chunk of money.

What are they? Cell phone case inserts. How genius (and EASY!) is this??? All you need is a clear cell phone cover and some scrapbook paper or fabric!

You can find her tutorial here.

{photo credit: Oops! I craft my pants}

I plan on making at least 12 to start. :D I already have TONS of scrapbooking paper (and FABRIC) to choose from!

Anyone else going to admit that this tute made you do a little jig because you have a cell phone case/cover addiction??? Fess up peeps! I can't be the only one!

Labor Day Sale - One Day ONLY!!

2010-09-06T09:55:00.001-05:00

Monday, August 6, 2010

For today only, receive 10% off your entire order plus FREE shipping (U.S. orders ONLY) on all orders over $75.00. Discount will be refunded via PayPal once order is placed. This sale is good through midnight tonight (Central Standard Time).

I have restocked lots of camera straps and camera bags (including custom medium and large camera bags). I also added a new laptop sleeve bag to my inventory. And the best thing...it is custom with lots of options.

So head on over to my website and get to shopping!! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! I will share my crazy weekend with you later in the week.

Turtle with a Death Wish

2010-09-01T20:10:00.002-05:00

So this morning I am in the middle of a substitute meeting when I get this picture emailed to me......

Somehow this little turtle got in our backyard and was driving the dogs BONKERS! Sorry for the blurriness. Troy said Daisy was just coming off of a poke with her nose and dodge. LOL! Troy rescued the turtle and moved it safely out of the backyard. But not before the turtle clamped down on Daisy's nose one time.

When the kids got home, they put the turtle in our front yard ditch.

Not long after the rescue, I hear this scratching noise at my front door. We have two kittens that sometimes scratch at the front door. So I open it up to get them a little rub down only to find that our turtle friend was the one scratching. Huh?? This little turtle could boogy. It was as snappy little turtle so I let it be until Troy came home.

Not 20 minutes later I hear the dogs freaking out. The crazy turtle with a death wish had made its way around to the side of the house where the gate that leads to my backyard is. Right by where the dogs are.

And I swear this turtle is an instigator. See that gap above the turtle where the fence doesn't quite close? Well guess who was there trying to snap and bite at the turtle? Yep, the dogs. And the funniest thing...the turtle was snapping right back. By the time we left for soccer practice, the dumb turtle had wedged itself under the fence right by the dogs. Thankfully Troy came to the rescue and he and the kids ended up relocating the turtle to the bayou not far from our house.

We do not need any more pets. Talk about an interesting day!! I did try and move the turtle one time and the little sucker snapped at me. Of course I jumped and maybe screamed a little and the kids thought that was the funniest thing ever. HAHAHAHAHA! NOT!

Just thought I would share? How was your Wednesday?

Before I go.....a little new product sneak peek that will hopefully end up in my shop over the weekend.

Have a great rest of the week!!

Back to School

2010-08-31T08:22:00.000-05:00

The kids are all officially back to school. We survived our first week (barely). I think Troy and I have had a harder time adjusting than the kids.

Here are the girls sporting their "First Day of School" duds.

Yep, they picked the same outfit. The only reason Baylee didn't pitch a fit is because Mollee is at a different school.

And the boy. He is not one for dressing up.

Baylee decided she wanted a messenger bag this year so I made her one....

She wanted a pleated ruffle on the front.

Two big pockets (complete with pencil/pen slots) on the inside and a divided pocket on the exterior front. Strap is adjustable so she can use it as she grows.

I also made this messenger bag for a friend's 1st grader. She picked out the fabrics and I girly'd it up with a pleated ruffle as well. I love how it turned out!

She loved it!

Hope everyone has a great week!!

Watch Deals

2010-08-26T15:07:00.000-05:00

So, my Ann Klein watch went ca-put. I have been seeing these new silicone watches that I love. The first one I saw was this Fossil one:

I LOVED it immediately. Only problem was that it was $95. OUCH! I just can't make myself pay that much no matter how much I want it. When I saw how much it was, I pouted. I really wanted it.

Then a few days later at one of Baylee's softball practices I noticed one of the moms with a similar watch....only in gray. It wasn't exactly like the Fossil watch but pretty dang close. It was from Sam Moon.

And the best part......it was $9.95. YEP! You heard that right. I ended up getting the black one and a white one and still saved myself $75. How great is that? So that is my deal of the week! Thought I would share!

20% Off All Ready to Ship Items!!!

2010-08-23T07:59:00.000-05:00

School is back in session and I am on a major Spring cleaning binge. What that means for you all is that I have offering a 20% discount for ALL ready to ship items!

Yep, anything in my "Ready to Ship" section on my website is 20% off until Monday, August 30. Discounts will be refunded via PayPal once payment is made.

That includes this fabulous laptop bag:

Or what about these two small camera bags:

Amy Buter Lotus

or the Funky Zebra & Floral bag....

Plus this great Stella bag....

One of a kind laptop sleeve.....

And LOTS of great camera straps like this one....

So hop on over and take a look! Email me with any questions!

New in the Shop!

2010-08-17T12:09:00.000-05:00

Finally got a chance to list this ready to ship, small camera bag in the shop. Will ship the next business day!

Mollee.....

2010-08-12T07:45:00.000-05:00

Sometimes kids can be so easy to please.......

All she wanted was a Starbucks Caramel Frap. It didn't hurt that neither her sister nor her brother were with us to get one too. :) Sometimes it is nice not to share.

Sharing a Few Customs

2010-08-10T21:42:00.000-05:00

Thought I would share a few customs that I have made for some wonderful customers. I really hope that they are enjoying their new Priddy Creations goodies!

One of my large camera bags. I always love creating using Heather Bailey's Pop Garden fabrics.

An additional option....back, divided pocket.

Another additional option....side pocket.

Inside includes two, removable dividers and a cinch strap.

This pretty blue and brown damask medium camera bag will more than likely end up on my website. I have enough left to make one more.

Speaking of my website, I have LOTS of great stuff already listed. Take a peek here. A lot of them are ready to ship!

Happy Hump Day! Hope everyone is having a fabulous week! Back to work for me!

CSN Stores - Luxe Product Review

2010-08-09T08:05:00.000-05:00

I was excited to be contacted by CSN Stores to review a product from one of their MANY fabulous stores. I have done a review for one of their furniture/bedding stores in the past and have found them to be an easy company to deal with. That was the case with this particular store as well.

This time around, I had the pleasure of reviewing a product from Luxe by CSN. They specialize in women's and mens shoes, handbags, wallets and accessories. I reviewed one of their MANY fabulous handbags. Since I make handbags and also have a handbag addiction, this was COMPLETELY up my alley!

The bag I reviewed was the Kathy Van Zeeland Nappa Belt Shopper in black.

{NOTE: Below are not stock photos. Photos are of the bag actually in my possession for review. What you see is what I actually received to review. You can click on each image to see a larger view.}

Front of Bag:

Side:

Back:

Inside:

Storage/Organization Inside:

I am pretty picky about my bags. Both the ones I make and the ones I purchase. When I got this in the mail over the weekend, I was thrilled. Not only did I love the style even more in person than I did from the picture, but I was very happy with the quality of the construction of the bag and materials. No loose stitching that looked like it might unravel. Butter soft leather with a fun mix of patent leather. Jewel-tone mustard color durable material on the inside. And it had great storage. One inside zipper and several pockets. Not to mention the easy access pockets and zipper on the outside of the bag. FANTASTIC! And the price was extremely reasonable.

What really drew me to this bag was the cinched top. I loved the design! And the icing on the cake......it matched my Coach wallet!! :)

Moving on the website itself....another satisfying experience. The website is extremely user-friendly with a wide variety of options for narrowing down your search. Pictures are clear and have zoom capabilities so you can really get a good look at what you are ordering. This site also includes information like how many items are in stock. Navigation was easy breezy. Overall, I would give the experience of shopping on the site TWO thumbs up and recommend that you check out their variety of stores.

Below are just a few of their fabulous stores:

www.cookware.com

This spice rack would match my kitchen perfectly!

www.toysandgamesonline.com

This vintage, red kitchen really makes me wish my kids were little enough to play with it.

www.allmodern.com

And I HAVE to have this tape dispenser for my office.

So check 'em out! I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

eBay SCORE!!

2010-08-07T22:18:00.001-05:00

It has been a VERY long time since I have utilized eBay's auction listings. I have purchased some things with the "Buy It Now" auction but no "live" auctions. Today, that changed. I forgot how fun it is to wait until the last few seconds to place your bid and hold your breath to see if you won. Thankfully the breath holding paid off and my trigger finger for live auctions still worked. I scored a great wallet to go with this great backpack!

I recently purchased one of Vera Bradley's Lylas laminated backpacks in this print:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! This is my softball bag and it goes with me to every single tournament. You can just wipe it off if it gets dirty.

Well, I decided that I wanted a laminated wallet to go with it. The imperial toile Frill collection must be being discontinued because I could not find a wallet in this print/collection that didn't cost a small fortune. However, I did find something in a similar colorway. I did not want to pay $40 (with shipping) to get it.

This is what I found:

{photo credit: Amazon}

The color scheme for the wallet does not match my bag perfectly, but it will work. And the best thing...I scored this brand new wallet for $23.00 which included shipping. A savings of $17.00. So now, I am ready for Fall softball!

Anyone score anything good lately?

Back to School & Lunch Sack Tutorial Share

2010-08-06T22:07:00.000-05:00

I really cannot believe that it is almost time to send the kids back to school. Where did Summer go? It really seemed to blow by this year. More so than any others. I guess that happens when you have kids who keep you on the run. I seriously have not had a chance to catch my breath.

We received our school district flyer in the mail. It has all the school supply lists, dates/times for orientations and teacher postings. It is really nice because it includes ALL grades. So I don't have to keep up with three different packets. That makes my life easier.

Today we did all of our school supply shopping. I did something different this year though. I actually pulled out all of their supplies they came home with in May and decided to re-use supplies still in good condition. I think it ended up saving me probably at least $25. And when you are buying for 3 kids, that is pretty dang good.

I ain't gonna lie though....I love school supply shopping just as much as the kids. I loved it when I was growing up. There is nothing more fun than freshly sharpened, brand new pencils and a backpack and binder full of new supplies. I big fuzzy <3 it!

It is always a tad stressful if you wait too late to do it because supplies start running out. We hit three different stores to get it all but I am happy to report that it is DONE and I will not have to make several trips to get everything. One day. That is a record for us. One thing that threw me though.....Mollee needed 4 DOZEN pencils? Why? How can one kid possibly go through 4 DOZEN pencils? She better come home with LOTS left over once school is out.

The only thing left I need to do is make Baylee's messenger bag. I am making one like Mollee's.....only with a different fabric.

Mollee's:

Baylee's will also be made using a corduroy with various animal prints. I will share when I am done.

And since we are on the topic of back to school and handmade things for it, how about this great tutorial for a lunch sack?

{photo courtesy of: A Lemon Squeezy Home}

I might have to give it a try even though I ordered some super fun Goodbyn lunch boxes for the kids. Aren't these adorable??

The kids LOVED them!

Now we will move on to school clothes shopping. This is not quite as fun Baylee is between sizes and has to try on EVERYTHING. Wish me luck! Hoping to do it and still have some sanity left once all is said and done.

Are you ready for Back to School?

Happy Wednesday!

2010-08-04T12:12:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! Did you see that Priddy Creations was featured in a nationally published magazine? If not, check it out here!

Busy day around here. What are you up to? I will be or have already done the following:

Calling mom and wishing her a Happy Birthday!;
Packaging up orders;
House cleaning;
Blogging;
Fixing my hair instead of putting it up in a ponytail or clip;
Sewing;
Photographing new product;
Adding new items to my website (some ready to ship);
Placing an order for something for ME;
Allstar Swimming Party;
Reading;
Watching Big Brother.

Here is a sneak of a ready to ship small camera bag that will be listed today! I will update this post with the link once it is up.

What is on your list today? Anything fun?

Professional Photography Magazine August Issue - Priddy Creations Featured

2010-08-02T08:23:00.001-05:00

The fabulous Robyn L. Pollman, a freelance writer for the nationally published magazine, Professional Photography Magazine and also the lady behind Paperie Boutique and Buttons and Bows Photography contacted me weeks ago about doing a feature on my camera straps for an upcoming article in Professional Photography Magazine. I was so excited and flattered that she liked my camera straps and wanted to include them in her article. The August 2010 issue has just been released and I am so excited to finally share this fantastic news!

Please click on the pictures to enlarge.

Cover of the August Issue:

Page 1 of the article (where you will find my feature as well as other talented designers/companies):

Do you see me? Left page on the top right?

Page 2 of the article:

Not only was the article fantastically written but the photography is gorgeous! She did a really great job of capturing each product she was writing about.

I will be ordering my hard copy of the magazine today!!

Thanks Robyn for the fabulous write up, review and photography of my products!! It was a pleasure working with you and look forward to your future articles.

Upcoming CSN Stores Giveaway or Review??

2010-08-01T20:29:00.000-05:00

That is the question.....will I be giving away or reviewing something like this coffee maker? Or will it be another item from one of their MANY fabulous online stores? Stay tuned!!

The Creative Connection Feature - In Your Words

2010-07-30T09:31:00.000-05:00

I was extremely flattered to be asked to write an "In Your Words" blog post for The Creative Connection blog. Lots of creative ladies behind this fabulous blog. Check it out.

Check out my feature here!!! TGIF everyone! Hope you have a fabulous weekend. I will give you one guess what our weekend will consist of. :)

In A Funk - But the Show Must Go On

2010-07-28T18:48:00.000-05:00

Ever have one of those days where you just want to shut yourself in your room and be left all alone?? That is how I have felt for the past two days. Completely anti-social. I just want to decompress and keep to myself. Of course, that can't really happen because of life, family, work, etc... But I have holed up as much as I can. I think it is just my body and brain's way of dealing with our crazy, busy life lately. Don't get me wrong, I love it and am truly blessed. But even so, sometimes you just need a break. Even the love I have of sewing hasn't pepped me up like it usually does. And I have been busy on that front. I am hoping to snap out of it soon. School supplies and clothes shopping will need to be done soon. And that also means having the kids try on all their clothes and shoes from last year is a necessity (insert a MAJOR groan here...from me AND the kids). It is always a battle! They hate it and so do it.

But enough of the gloom. I know I promised pics from our vacation, but I just haven't wanted to spend too much time on the computer editing pics. But I do have some new products to share!

You already saw my new laptop/camera bag combo which has been listed here.

How about a new camera strap - Bohemian Floral? Brand new fabric!

And this fun patchwork camera strap.

Classic damask with a lens cap pocket that is ready to ship.....

I found enough fabric to make one more of these....also ready to ship.

And a funky mix of polkadots & carnival bloom for an eReader sleeve.....

Speaking of Carnival Bloom....one of my best selling fabric combinations is about to be retired. Why? Because I am almost out of pink passion damask. So if you love this bag and HAVE to have one....

Get it while you can. I only have enough for 1 or 2 more of this fabric combination. You can find the listing here. Once it is gone, it is gone. I can't find any more of the pink passion damask.

NEW PRODUCT!! Laptop/Camera Bag Combo!

2010-07-26T10:58:00.001-05:00

****UPDATE**** The laptop/camera bag has been listed in my shop. You can find it here. It is ONE OF A KIND and READY TO SHIP!!

I have had this product on my "to do" list for a VERY long time. I am so happy that I have finally had a little time to make my sketching and ideas come to fruition. And to make it even more special, I teamed up with Tessa Ann of The Button Shop for some custom made buttons for her Creative Team Challenge.

And FINALLY.......my laptop/camera bag combo:

I wanted to make something classic but also love the modern mix of colors with a pop of whimsy. The front boasts a whimsical red polkadot ruffle, one of Tessa Ann's custom buttons that says "Capturing Life's Memories" and a fabulous double poppy pin made by Lindsey of The Pleated Poppy. I also added another custom button that says "Smile."

Three more of Tessa Ann's custom buttons add a little pop of color on the back pocket. Shoulder strap is adjustable.

Back, exterior pocket with velcro closure.

Front, exterior pocket under flat gives you more room for storage of cables, cords, batteries, cell phone, etc..... Flap of bag closes with a large velcro closure.

Inside has a thick, padded divider for your laptop and keeps your camera equipment (or whatever else you are toting) separate from your laptop. The bag will fit your laptop, camera body with lens attached plus about 2-3 more lenses and/or other camera equipment.

The fabulous details that make this bag one of a kind......

Did I mention the posy pin is removable and can be put anywhere on the bag??

I will be listing this ONE OF A KIND bag on my website this week. It will just take me a day or two. If you don't want to wait that long and are interested in the bag, please email me directly at amy.priddy@att.net and I can get you size of bag and price. The laptop pictured is a 13 inch MacBook.

"To Do" List - Tin Can Pin Cushion Tutorial

2010-07-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

You all know how I love pin cushions and collect them. When I saw this tutorial, I did a little jig. I think I will make at least 5 of these.

Tin Can Pin Cushion Tutorial

courtesy of Living with Punks

Feel free to make a few and send some to me for my collection!! ;) Happy creating!!

We're BAAACCCKKKKKK!!!

2010-07-18T12:29:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone!! Did you miss me? We are back from our week long vacation in Panama City Beach. It was a whirlwind of a trip that seems like it went by REALLY fast. We got home around midnight this morning.

Baylee played with her select team in the USFA World Series and did really well. The final tallies haven't come out yet but we are pretty sure they tied for 13th place out of 70ish teams. Not bad for their first trip.

Baylee catching during our first bracket game.

The teams had trading pins and Baylee had fun trying to get as many different pins as she could. What a fabulous keepsake for her to remember the trip.

She even lost a tooth.

We did manage to get some relaxing done. The beaches were gorgeous! Only a day or two of yucky seaweed. This is the view from our balcony.

(NOTE: All pics shares are unedited from my iPhone. I will download and share pics later).

One of the Calypso pools. Sorry for the weird angle. I am too tired to adjust the orientation of it. You forgive me right?

Got to visit with one of my bestest friends, Mandy, who lives in Tennessee. Her and her family came down the same time we did.

We hit the beach, the pool, did some shopping and relaxed when we weren't playing softball. The kids even say Despicable Me. We had lunch at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. YUM! The ritas and food were good but I have to say that Pineapple Willy's have the best margaritas.

We are tired but happy. Looking forward to just chilling and unpacking today. As much as we love the time away, it is always good to be back home.

And one of the funniest things that happened.....we were mooned while driving through Baton Rouge. Thank goodness the kids didn't see but Troy and I cracked up! It has been a while since I have seen that kind of moon.

Back to the grind tomorrow. My machines received their TLC so I will be picking those up tomorrow. And I am extremely happy and blessed that many people did not wait for my return to place orders. I will be happily starting lots of orders placed while we were spending some much needed family time. Thanks everyone!!!

I promise.....more pics to come. Just gotta get back into the groove of things after being gone a week. Hope everyone had a great week!

Fabric Stash Challenge - Week 3

2010-07-09T11:25:00.000-05:00

It is that time of the week....time to share with you the finished projects for Week 3 of the Fabric Stash Challenge.

First up....Jennifer!!

The lovely scraps:

And how sweet is this? Makes me wish that I had a baby to dress them in!

Next up......Shannon.

Her scraps:

And her sweet baby items.... SOOO cute!

The scraps I used for my project were these....

This is another favorite line of mine that is discontinued. The project was an iPad case/sleeve for a friend. I hope she loves it as much as I do.

I think I will make and list another one when I get back from vacation. I just love these fabrics. My scraps are even dwindling and it kind of makes me sad.

"To Do" List - Casserole Carrier Tutorial

2010-07-05T10:14:00.000-05:00

Seriously? How freakin' fabulous is this? I don't even like to cook but I am thinking that I might want to make some sort of casserole and get invited to take it somewhere just so I can make this to bring it in.

Jenny Garland is the creator of this great tutorial!! Details can be found at Moda's Bake Shop.

Website Announcement, Order Info & New Items

2010-07-04T22:09:00.000-05:00

NOTE: This is a "Post It Note" and will remain at the top of the page.
Please scroll down for new posts.

Just a quick note to let you all know that it is that time of year again. I head off for vacation and my sewing machines get some much needed TLC. Yep, that is right. The machines will be retired to the shop while I am on vacation to get cleaned up and serviced. And the timing couldn't be more perfect. My bobbin winder dropped a pin and hasn't been working. A little function that I totally take for granted. Can't sew without bobbins. Thankfully, my mom has the same machine and I have been able to use hers so that I can keep on working.

What does this hiatus mean for customers and orders? All orders placed between Wednesday, July 7, 2010 through Sunday, July 18, 2010 will not be started until the week of July 18th. If you placed an order prior to those dates, I will be diligently working to get all outstanding orders shipped before I leave.

If you have any questions about a particular order and estimated ship time, please feel free to email me.

I have also re-stocked some favorites and added some new, READY TO SHIP products:

Take a peek if you get a chance!!

Stella Pattern Giveaway Winners & Happy 4th of July!!!

2010-07-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

And the winners of the two patterns are:

No email addresses were left for me to contact directly so please email me at amy.priddy@att.net. Winners must claim their prize no later than Wednesday, July 7. If they are not claimed, new winners will be picked.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July!! Ours is nice and wet but oh so relaxing as we are staying home this year.

Weekly Fabric Stash Challenge - Week 2

2010-07-02T12:05:00.001-05:00

I am totally loving doing this challenge. Not sure about the rest of the girls, but it has been nice cleaning out some of my stash!

Here are week two projects.....

I decided to go with these...one of my favorite set of damask prints that have been discontinued.

I did two projects. Both of which will be on my website this weekend.

First one...patchwork camera strap. Love how this turned out!

Second...coordinating CF/Business card wallet.

Next up....Jennifer's project. Love the colors in these fabrics.

How cute is this?

And now Miss Carol's project. Another great choice of fabrics.

And the finished project.....

LOTS of hand stitching done with this one. And it turned out great!

Great job ladies! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next week.

You can also check out all of the projects in our Flickr Group.

"To Do" List - Peek-A-Boo Toy Sack Tutorial

2010-07-02T07:00:00.004-05:00

Another fabulous tutorial that is on my "to do" list. Wish I would have seen these sooner as they would have been really cute goody bags for Ethan's party. But since I missed the boat for that, I am seriously considering making one big enough for Legos and one for some books.

Toni over at Make It Perfect has the tutorial on her blog here.

It's A Birthday Party!!

2010-07-01T07:00:00.003-05:00

Oh my sweet baby boy is growing up too fast! He turned 7 on June 7th and I cannot believe how fast time flies. He wanted a swimming party at Maw-Maw's house so that is how we celebrated!

Isn't he handsome?

He wanted a particular theme....

Yep, Sponge Bob it was. Wal-Mart had the coolest Sponge Bob cake. HUGE hit although it was so dang hot that the icing was start to melt so we had to snap pics and sing happy birthday quickly.

Blowing out the candles.

Opening presents...the pilllow pet was a HUGE hit!

The kiddos waiting for the cake to be cut.

Some of the Prioux clan (my cousins).

And the newest member.....Sweet baby Grace.

The kids had fun! It was hot as can be but they didn't seem to mind. I still can't believe how fast the years have flown. It seems like just yesterday I was trying to track Troy down at work to tell him my water broke. The phones were down at work and his cell didn't get good reception! Thank goodness for email!! My sweet boy weighed in at a whopping 9lbs 15.6 oz when he was born. He is tall and lean now. You would never guess that he was born so dang big!

Looking forward to watching him grow!! He will always be my baby though. Sniff, sniff.

Patty Young Stella Bag Pattern Giveaway

2010-06-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

COMMENTS CLOSED!! Winners will be announced this weekend. Good luck and thanks for entering!

Before I get to the giveaway stuff, let me digress a little......

Everyone knows who Patty Young is right?? I have admired and followed Patty for many years. I first met Patty through eBay boutique years ago when she sold handmade, children's boutique clothing. I loved her style then and have really enjoyed watching her business grow over the last few years. Not only can the lady sew a fabulous finished product, but she has also expanded her business to include multiple fabric lines (including a new knit collection) and her own line of sewing patterns. Yep, that is right folks....now you can create beautiful things using her fabric lines and fabric. Not to mention she is a genuinely nice person.

So when I heard that Patty was going to be in a "Where Women Create" magazine featuring creative work spaces, I had to check it out! I love checking out where people create. Not only is it just fun to look at, but it also inspires me to spruce up my own creative space.

So I picked up the magazine and immediately found Patty's spread (click on pics to make them larger).

I am only going to give you a sneak because you really should pick up the magazine and see the whole article and many pictures for yourself. I am in love with Patty's space! Who wouldn't want to spend all day in this space?

As I was checking out all the pictures, I got an unexpected surprise......right behind Patty (over her shoulder on the right) on one of her bookshelves was the camera bag I made for her! :) I know that this photoshoot and article is all about Patty and her gorgeous space, but the first moment I saw the pictures I did a little dance at the fact that my camera bag was in the picture (and magazine!). I know it is silly but it was a very happy moment for me!

Do you see it?? :) I also love the cute little jars displaying her colorful buttons.

You really should pick up your own copy. The article was great and I enjoyed looking at ALL of the creative spaces in this issue. Definitely lots of creativity and inspiration.

Now on to more good stuff.......the giveaway!

I have two of these patterns to give away to two lucky winners. Yep, that is right....I will be picking TWO winners.

Who doesn't want to make one of these gorgeous bags?

I made one....

All you have to do to enter is let me know what fabrics you would use for this bag. Easy breezy??? Oh and pretty please leave your email address in the post so that I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway will run through Friday night (midnight CST). Winner will be announced over the weekend.

Good luck!!

Super Fab Pillow - DIY

2010-06-29T07:00:00.002-05:00

I came across this fabulous pillow and the best thing....you can make it yourself.

{photo courtesy of: Just Another Hang Up}

You can find the complete tutorial on Just Another Hang Up. This one is on my "to do" list! Have fun creating!

Tools Holder Tutorial

2010-06-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

Re-Use, Recyle, Re-Style!

Turn an old Crystal Light container into a fun and fabulous tools storage container.

Supplies:

Crystal Light container;

Mod Podge;

Buttons of your choice (I used Tessa Ann's "Fashion Designer" buttons found here;

Coordinating thread (optional);

Craft glue;

9 inch x 7 inch piece of fabric, scrapbook paper or wrapping paper;

9 inch long piece of ribbon (any width);

Scissors;

Iron (if using fabric);

Foam Brush

Taking your 9x7 piece of fabric, fold one side of the longest edge 1/4 of an inch under (wrong sides facing) and iron. If using scrapbook paper or wrapping paper, just fold over and press good with your fingers to cause a crease.

Line up the folded edge of your paper or fabric to the bottom of the container and use your finger at the top of the container to measure where to do the top fold.

Fold the fabric or paper over and iron or finger press. If you are using fabric, you can top-stitch the folded edges for a more finished look. Once that is done, fold one of the shortest edges under 1/4 of an inch (wrong sides facing) and press. Three of the four sides should be folded over now.

Remove plastic Crystal Light label from the plastic container. Once label is removed, using your foam brush, brush the Mod Podge directly on to the Crystal Light plastic container. Make sure you get it good from top to bottom. Once the Mod Podge is on, line up the unfolded edge of the fabric or paper with the center of one side of the container. Gently stretch the paper/fabric around the container pulling tight so there are no wrinkles all the way around until you get to where you started. The folded edge should overlap the raw edge a little. Add a little Mod Podge to the end of the fabric (the folded seam) and press with your finger in place.

{OPTIONAL:} You can use Mod Podge to seal the fabric or paper once it is on the container. If using paper, I recommend putting another coat on top of the paper. It is optional with fabric as the Mod Podge will make the fabric stiff.

Once that is done, take your ribbon and seal or treat the ends of the ribbon. You can use either Fray Check or heat sealing it using a lighter. This will prevent the ribbon from fraying. Once that is done, brushMod Podge on the backside of the ribbon. Repeat the lining up process you did for the fabric/paper until the ribbon overlaps like the fabric did. You can place the ribbon anywhere you want on the container. I chose the top portion of the container. Set aside to dry.

{OPTIONAL:}

While that is drying, take your coordinating thread and feed through your button as many times as it takes to get the desired look. Make sure you cut enough thread to leave tails long enough to tie in knots (at least one inch extra for each end). I wound mine around about 4 times for a thicker threaded look. Once you get the look you are going for, tie at the back 2 or 3 times and snip close to knots. Repeat for however many buttons you want to use.

Once the fabric/paper is dry, using your craft glue (I used E-6000), put a small bead on the back of the button and adhere to the ribbon. Repeat for the remainder of the buttons. Once that dries, you are all set! A new storage holder to keep tools handy. Perfect for pens, scissors, rulers, etc.....

First Fabric Stash Challenge!!

2010-06-25T10:02:00.000-05:00

TGIF everyone!! Happy to be kicking off our first Fabric Scrap Challenge! It has been a lot of fun and lots of good stuff was made using fabric scraps.

Jennifer, decided to use these scraps......

And this fabulous pin cushion was the result... Isn't it great? I want it for my pin cushion collection!

Great job Jennifer!

Jennifer's flickr; and

Jennifer's Etsy Shop.

Next we have Kashoan. She chose to work with the gorgeous scraps.

And what a FABULOUS way to use scraps. I am putting these fantastic cards on my "to do" list!

You can find out more about Kashoan's project on her blog.

And you can also check out Kashoan's Etsy Shop for more goodies.

I chose Tula Pink's Flutterby. One of my all time favorite fabric collections.

I am happy to report that I used about 3/4 of my scraps in this fabric line scrap bag making this one of a kind 13 inch patchwork Laptop Sleeve.

You can actually purchase this laptop sleeve here on my website.

Front

Back

Carol of Maple Creek decided to use these.....

And check out these super cute pouches she made with them. FABULOUS!

You can find Carol's blog here and her online shop here.

Front

Back

Thanks ladies for participating! I loved seeing what you all turned those fabric scraps into!! Looking forward to seeing what you do next week!

It isn't too late to join in the fun! We will be doing this all Summer and each month I will randomly choose a participant to receive a stash of some of my personal fabric scraps.

For more info and to sign up, please check out this post.

Blossom Bowl Winner!!

2010-06-23T17:57:00.000-05:00

And the winner of the Blossom gift certificate goes to.....

A HUGE thank you to Kristi for the fabulous gift certificate!

Jessica, please email me at amy.priddy@att.net with your contact info so that I can pass on the info to Kristi to claim your prize. Happy shopping Jessica!!

Birdhouse Crafts

2010-06-21T12:26:00.000-05:00

My kids are used to being on the go all the time. Where I am super happy about having some down time and NOT being on the go all the time, they are missing it. We headed to Joann's for some supplies for me and ended up raiding their $1 bins. Got lots of good stuff to get us started for some Summer crafts.

First on the list.....painting birdhouses.

The kids each picked out the birdhouse they wanted to paint and we bought painting supplies including bins to store it all.

Ethan...

So thankful I made them cover the ENTIRE table with paper. Paint was EVERYWHERE!

Baylee......

Mollee.......

The project took them about 30 minutes and they really had fun!!

Here are the finished houses.....

(front left to right):

Mollee's, Ethan's, Baylee's

How is your Summer going? What kind of crafts are your kids doing? Next on our list is some ribbon flip-flops.

Happy Monday everyone! VBS and swim lessons start today. It will be a busy week. And Baylee's Allstar softball team has their first District game tonight. Wish us luck!!

Shop Feature & A Giveaway - Blossom: Hand Created Designs

2010-06-15T08:18:00.002-05:00

COMMENTS CLOSED! Winner to be announced in a separate post.

I came across this wonderful shop through a Twitter friend. Fabric bowls (I instantly fell in the love with the gorgeous fabric combos and the fact that these gorgeous creations were also functional. Nothing makes me happier than unique and creative storage solutions. She makes two different sizes to meet all your needs.

This one is my favorite.

But this one is a close second.....

Meet Kristi.....the lady behind these gorgeous creations!

My name is Kristi and I love to sew. After sewing little projects here and there, mostly baby quilts as my own children kept coming into the world, I finally took a job sewing for money. A friend needed help sewing appliqued tea towels for a very large order and I jumped in to help. I enjoyed seeing her life and how she juggled a small business. I watched and asked lots of questions all the while looking for something unique to offer to people. I landed upon fabric bowls and I discovered that I really loved to sew them. I could put together endless design combinations, sew them relatively quickly, and experiment with shapes and sizes, and that was the start.

While starting my business, I was also homeschooling my kindergartener and chasing around a four and a two-year-old. By the end of the day, I craved the solitude of my sewing machine. It seemed as if I was almost living a double life; mom by day and creator girl by night. I loved it. The business name came naturally: BLOSSOM. I felt like I was having a chance to do just that!

As for distributing the bowls (or some people prefer to call them baskets,) I rent space at local art and craft shows, they are in a local art gallery and several boutiques, AND I just opened my new online shop!!

My thought is that everyone has a need for a bright splash of color somewhere in their house for cell phones and keys, hair bows, candy, legos, change, thread, notions, fruit, coffee pods, sugar packets, pens and pencils, receipts, mail, or even just sitting empty as a piece of decor. I love to work with customers to design with fabrics that match a specific niche in their home.

My blog, though in its infancy, says, "I am a much better mom and wife when I have time for my creative outlets." I am thinking about adding on to that sentence, "and time to spend with other creative people!" I love to chat fabric, projects, sewing, techniques and ideas. Please come visit and chat, let's share!

Kristi has graciously offered up a $30 store credit to her shop for one lucky Priddy Creations reader! All you have to do to enter is visit her shop, come back here and leave me a comment letting me which one is your favorite!

For those that would like more chances to win, you can earn additional OPTIONAL entries by leaving a comment for EACH of the below items. Also, please leave your email on at least one comment so I can contact you if you win.

Follow Kristi's blog via Google Friend Connect;
Follow Kristi on Twitter;
Blog about this giveaway (leave a link to the post);
Tweet about this giveaway (be sure and @priddycreations so that I can see the tweet); and
Post on Facebook about this giveaway (leave a link to the post).

This giveaway will run until Monday, June 21. I will announce the winner sometime on Tuesday, June 22.

And the winner is....

2010-06-10T10:08:00.000-05:00

The winner of this lovely strap...

is......

Congratulations Brittany!! Email me at amy.priddy@att.net with your mailing address and I will get this in the mail to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered!!

Birthday Breakfast

2010-06-08T20:05:00.000-05:00

Monday, June 7th were my two favorite boys' birthdays. Both my husband and my son share the same birthday. My girls decided that they wanted to make Daddy breakfast and surprise him in bed. Only one little glitch....Daddy got up first. Baylee still wanted to make him breakfast (Mollee was still sleeping) and picked a cheese omelette as the birthday breakfast.

She cracked and beat the eggs.... (please ignore the crazy hair...cheese omelettes taste much better when made with bedhead).

Now it is time to pour the eggs in the pan.

Coming along nicely....

Time to add the cheese.

ALMOST ready.

YUM!! All done.

It must have been good because Dad ate all of it.

We had a mini-celebration later in the day but I have not had time to edit the pics. Will share those soon.

Happy Birthday boys!!

River Weekend and a Bittersweet Day

2010-06-06T13:43:00.037-05:00

We had a whirlwind of a weekend. My little bitty godchild (who isn't so little now) graduated from high school this week. It was bittersweet for me because I remember well the day he was born and when he was little. It seems like the past 18 years has just flown by and I missed it all. And now he is a man.

We drove up to Wimberly (not far from Austin) to celebrate with Kaiman and his family this major accomplishment. It isn't every day that you receive your high school diploma. I am extremely proud of him and wish we lived closer to see what kind of adult he turns out to be. I know he will do great things! I will see him occasionally and get updates from his mama, but it isn't the same thing as having them close by. Sniff, sniff. Sarah and I have been friends since Middle School and she is one of those friends that knows all of my secrets. Really more like family....both of them. I love them both.

Ok, enough mushy stuff. Otherwise I might cry. I took lots of pictures. The house Sarah rented for the celebration was AMAZING! I apologize in advance for the picture overload. I really did try and narrow it down.

{click on the pictures to make them larger}

To start it off....

Proud mama and the graduate.

Just so you understand how big our little boy is, I am 5'8 and Troy and Sarah are about 5'11. Isn't he handsome?

One of him and I. Dang sun was BRIGHT!

Two of my favorite boys.....

And now on to the house.....I almost felt like I was in a modern day castle. It has lots of natural wood beams and built ins, tons of stone and even a turret styled tower for the Great Room. GORGEOUS!!

Isn't the "tower" cool?

Double entrances.

The ceiling of the Great Room. How freakin' cool is that? It forms a peak.

The really cool chandelier. Not really my personal style but it fit right in the design of this house.

One of the back porches. The stairs go up to an upstairs balcony overlooking the river.

Another view.

Another view of the front of the house.

The HUGE back porch. I love all the windows. You can see the river from pretty much everywhere in the house.

Par-tay on the river! I actually did not get in. I saw a snake swimming and that did it for me. I hate snakes! In fact, Troy just killed a water moccasin in our backyard last week. YUCK!! But I did walk down, dip my feet in (a toe I think??) and enjoyed the view. This view is from the back deck.

The view from the back deck looking directly out.

I want to move in. Who wants to help me pay the mortgage?

Children - Friday Funny

2010-06-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

{DISCLAIMER - I copied and pasted this from an email so please forgive the inconsistent formatting and varied fonts}

GOD CREATED CHILDREN

(AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)

To those of us who have children in our lives,
whether they are our own, grandchildren,nieces,
nephews, or students...
here is something to make you chuckle.

Whenever your children are out of control,
you can take comfort from the thought that
even God's omnipotence did not extend
to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth,
God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was
" DON'T !"
"Don't what ? "
Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit."
God said.

"Forbidden fruit ?
We have forbidden fruit ?
Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit ! "

" No Way ! "
"Yes way ! "

"Do NOT eat the fruit ! "
said God.

"Why ? "
"Because I am your Father and I said so ! "
God replied,
wondering why He hadn't stopped
creation after making the elephants

A few minutes later,
God saw His children having an apple break
and He was ticked !
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit ? "
God asked.
"Uh huh,"
Adam replied.

"Then why did you ? "
said the Father.

"I don't know,"
said Eve.
"She started it ! "
Adam said.

"Did not ! "
"Did too ! "
"DID NOT ! "

Having had it with the two of them,
God's punishment was that Adam and Eve
should have children of their own.
Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom
and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.

If God had trouble raising children,
what makes you think it would be
a piece of cake for you ?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!

1. You spend the first two years of their life
teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend
the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Grandchildren are God's reward
for not killing your own children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why
some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you.
In fact,
they usually repeat word for word
what you shouldn't have said

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties
is to remind yourself that there are children
more awful than your own

6. We child proofed our homes,
but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY:

Be nice to your kids.
They will choose your
nursing home one day

AND FINALLY:

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION
AND YOU GET A HEADACHE,
DO WHAT IT SAYS
ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:

"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN" AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"!!!!!

Thanks Erin for the cute email!

Doesn't This Make You......

2010-06-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

.......ready for Summer??

Baylee and a few pals the last day of school. Luau (did I spell that right??) party. I have lots more pics to share.

A Summer Kick-Off Giveaway!

2010-06-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

COMMENTS CLOSED! Thanks for entering!!

I recently came across a site that was making these SUPER cute organza and satin flower camera straps. They weren't the slipcovers like mine are, but actual camera straps. I loved them so much that I tried to make something similar in a slipcover. And WA-LA! This was the end result.

Satin flowers on a lace ribbon. They are super soft and oh so pretty.

I will not be adding these to my inventory. It was more of a "I wanna see if I can make that" kind of deal. And I was extremely happy with the result. I have some organza flowers that I will try next. They are larger and might be a bit more tricky. But I am determined to try them.

With that said.....I am giving away this lovely camera strap slipcover to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter is tell me what your plans are for the Summer.

And for those that like as many chances as possible, here are some OPTIONAL ways to earn extra entries. Just please remember to put your email in one of the posts so I can contact you if you win.

Head over to my website and take a look around. Head back here and tell what is on your wish list;
Follow my blog (top left column via Google Friend Connect);
Follow me on Twitter;
Tweet about this giveaway (be sure and @priddycreations with the retweet);
Blog about this giveaway (leave link);
Post about giveaway on Facebook (leave link);
Join my mailing list;
Like my fan page on Facebook; and
Add my blog button to your blog (left column you can find the code). Just make sure you put the link in the comments section showing me where you put the button.

Make sure and leave a comment for each thing that you do for it to count. And remember, all of these are OPTIONAL! The only thing you HAVE to do to enter is tell me what your Summer plans are.

This giveaway will last for one week and the winner will be announced on Thursday, June 13.

Good luck!!

Fabric Scrap Addition - Scrap Stash Challenge!!

2010-06-01T08:07:00.000-05:00

This is a "Post-It Note" and will remain at the top of my blog for the next two weeks. Please scroll down for new blog posts.

UPDATE: I will push the start of this challenge back one week. I need to have pictures of the scraps you are using to me no later than Thursday, June 17. Finished pictures need to be sent to me no later than Thursday, June 24 and all projects will be posted on my blog, Friday, June 25.

I am pretty sure that I am not the only person that has a hard time throwing anything away? Right? I really do have plans to make stuff with all of my scraps. Really. And I do use them quite a bit. Not as much as I would like but I DO use them. All of my scraps are sorted in two different large recyle bins. Prints in one and solids in the other.

Then I spread them all out on my cutting table and sort by designer/fabric line first then by theme (i.e., polkadots, stripes, floral....you get the picture).

Once they are sorted, they are then put in ziploc bags for later use.

I seriously have these boxes and bins ALL over my sewing room.

Then I also have my basket of scraps that I use when my serger or sewing machine is acting up. Just to make sure that I don't ruin any fabric or project. This is also the bin that my kids like to dig in when they are hoping to sneak scraps.

So my question to you......are you in the same boat? If so, do you wanna do something about it? Turn those scraps into finished items? How about a weekly challenge?

Here is how to play:

Sign up to participate on this blog post including email address;
To be considered a "scrap," the piece needs to be no bigger than 20x20 inches;
Every Wednesday you will need to email me (amy.priddy@att.net) a picture of the scraps you will be using for that week's challenge. You do not need to let me know specifically what you will be making. Once the first challenge has officially started, you will then need to include pictures of the finished project plus pictures of the scraps you will be using for the following week's challenge. Please include the link to your blog or website that you want your project to link to;
I will then post pictures on my blog every Friday of the finished product with a link to your blog or website;
Each month I will randomly choose a product/person to win a baggie of my scraps.
A Flickr group will be opened to share the finished scrap projects (coming soon).

The first challenge will start Friday, June 18. You will need to send your picture of the scraps you will be using to me no later than Thursday, June 10. Finished pictures plus the following week's scrap pictures will need to be sent to me no later than Thursday, June 17. We will continue the challenge for as long as people are interested or at the very least, throughout the Summer.

Feel free to submit more than one project if you are feeling super motivated! Each submission will earn you one entry into the scrap bag hat.

Maybe one week we can do a scrap swap?? We will see how things go and how much interest there is in the challenge.

I will also be participating but obviously will not be put in the hat for the free scrap bags. I just thought this would be a fun way to use all those gorgeous scraps we cannot seem to throw away and make some great finished projects. Feel free to pass this on! The more the merrier.

Feel free to post any questions here or email me with questions. This blog post will stay at the top of my blog until the challenge officially starts. Then I will put a link on my sidebar so that latecomers can still join in the fun if they want!

So lets get "scrappin"!!

School's Out for SUMMER!!!!

2010-05-31T08:55:00.001-05:00

It is done. No more. OVER. Yep. School that is. We are officially out for Summer break and Mama is super happy! Now I am sure this will only last for about a week before the fighting starts and the "I'm bored!" starts. But I will at least enjoy this first blissful week.

The teacher gifts were a HUGE hit. Remember these?

All three teachers loved them!! It always cracks me up at how surprised people are to knnow that I sew. Seriously, I generally show up at parties half the time in t-shirts, track pants or athletic clothes and a ponytail. Not to mention sport stuff I see them at. I have never really been a girly girl. So I think they are surprised to see what I make. Even a non-girly girl can love pretty fabrics. LOL!

I also managed to finished the hot pads. The tutorial was super easy to follow. But let me just say I am not a fan of binding and it is definitely not my strongest skill. Thank goodness the gift recipients aren't perfectionists like me. Cause they were far from perfect. They loved them and that is all I can ask for!

Each got a pair.

The teacher who got these fell in LOVE with Patty's Hummingbird fabric. Her room is done in lime/black so she wanted info on where she could buy more to decorate her room for next year. When I walked into the room the hot pads were hanging on the wall. She told me they were too pretty to use and she was going to frame them for her room. I almost blushed. And anyone who knows me knows that I don't embarass easy. So all in all, the teacher gifts were a big hit!

I have TONS of pictures from the kids' last week activities and hope to get them edited and posted very soon. It was a lot of fun but one that ran me ragged. On the very last day I hit three schools all before 9:00 a.m. Yep. I am SUPER MOM! :D

Hope everyone is enjoying their Summer break so far!

May's Creative Team Project & A SALE!!!!

2010-05-24T08:58:00.001-05:00

It is that time again......some fabulous inspiration from Tessa Ann of the Button Shop!! This month's inspiration consisted of these fabulous buttons:

I have recently added iPad cases/sleeves to my inventory and I decided that these gorgeous buttons were the perfect "accessory" to really give them a little something extra.

They coordinate with the fabric PERFECTLY! And of course the button are extremely well made and perfect for finishing up a project.

This iPad cover will be listedin my shop this week!! And be sure and check out Tessa Ann's blog for my Creative Team feature. Also, check out her Esty shop to purchase your own set of buttons. She has TONS of gorgeous buttons. I guarantee that you will not be able to just decide on one set!

I can give you a hint and tell you that next month's Creative Team inspiration will also include a giveaway! So definitely stay tuned!

I also wanted to share some sale info with all of you! If you are a mailing list subscriber, you had a chance to get the newsletter and shop early and get first chance to purchase.

Today I am offering up the same discount to all of you as well! From today until Wednesday, May 26, take 15% off ALL ready to ship items! And if you spend $100 or more, receive FREE shipping (U.S. orders only). Just enter PCSPRINGNEWS into the comments section when ordering and your discount will be refunded via PayPal after purchase. No coupon needed for the free shipping. Feel free to pass it on!

Happy Shopping!!

All Cuddly and Soft

2010-05-20T08:31:00.000-05:00

Cuddly Kitten Update.....I promise I won't bore you to tears about them. I mainly wanted to share these cute pics. I am only missing Easter. He didn't feel like getting his picture taken. They are now 6 weeks old and ALL OVER THE PLACE! You really have to be careful walking around them. Nosy little boogers.

Meet Storm. She is the lazy little girl. She likes to play but really just wants to lounge. And she is the fattest of the four. I am in love with her.

This is Charlotte (aka TROUBLE). This little turkey will get into ANY and EVERYTHING. She is the most playful of the bunch.

And this is mellow Tigger. He is pretty laid back. Likes to play but is perfectly happy lounging and letting you rub him. He is the most social one (him and Miss Trouble). The others still don't really like to be held.

Aren't they sweet?

Now moving on to other "soft and cuddly" things.....some new products!!

I have just added a few new ruched knit camera straps. Fashionable and easy on the neck. Can't beat that combo.

You can find the black/white damask and hot pink ruched strap here. I am taking customs so if you would like another color paired up with the damask, just shoot me an email.

The Chez Moi Posh and chocolate ruched strap can be found here. Love this fabric line!

I will also be having a SALE on my website next week. Kicker is that it is ONLY available to mailing list subscribers. Is there something on your wish list you have been waiting for the right moment to purchase? Sign up for my mailing list and get the details!! You can sign up here.

I am still editing kid pictures. Hopefully I will be sharing those soon!

And the Sewing Machine Hums.....

2010-05-19T07:44:00.004-05:00

We had an unexpected free weekend this past weekend thanks to some nasty thunderstorms canceling Baylee's softball tournament. I love softball (yall all know that) but I am not gonna lie......I was THRILLED. Our schedule has been so crazy over the last few months that we ALL welcomed the break. The competitor in me was a little bummed at first. But it only lasted like 5 minutes. :)

I took advantage and caught up on some personal sewing. Troy was fantastic and pretty much let me hole up in my sewing room while he took care of everything else. And by everything I mean laundry, kids, food and everything in between. He isn't perfect (and I guess I should grudgingly admit that I am not either) but he was pretty dang close this weekend! Thanks babe.

What did I sew? Well between the three kids we have 6 teachers. I made these for the kids' homeroom teachers.

I finished up matching key fobs yesterday to go with the bags. I really do hope they like them.

Now what to do for Baylee's other 3 teachers......

I sent out a tweet on Twitter asking for some inspiration. I *try* to do handmade gifts every chance I get. My good friend, Tracy, said she did hot pads for her kids' teachers and they were a huge hit. She even supplied me with a link to a fabulous tutorial (thanks Tracy!!!). So I picked up all the supplies I needed and these are on my list for this week. I am not sure which fabrics yet. What are you favorites right now??

{picture credit: Sew4Home}

I also managed to finally get my sister-in-law's birthday present made (uhhhhh, her birthday was in February.....).

It includes a new option....the cinch strap.

I know, I know! What a SLACKER I am. I am sorry Jenn! I really hope it was worth the wait?

I have updated my Flickr Photostream with recent products. Whew. That took me a long time. I really need to be better about updating that on a regular basis. For those not familiar with Flickr...it is kind of a journal or gallery of pictures. So any time you want to see different products of mine (or personal pictures), you can check there. Most of my Flickr photostream consists of work stuff though and personal projects.

After that was all done, I re-stocked my website with new products, added new options to existing inventory for more personal customization and re-listed some faves.

A very busy, but oh so productive and relaxing weekend for me. I need more of those.

To come....lots of pictures from the kids' end of the year parties and activities. I always take a ton of pictures so it will take me a little while to get those all edited and up on the blog. I also have some CAYUTE pics of the kittens. Are yall tired of seeing them yet? They are now 6 weeks old.

Til next time....enjoy your week!

eReader Winner!! Drumroll please.....

2010-05-14T21:36:00.000-05:00

And the winner of the Carnival Bloom eReader case is.....

Who said.......

Congratulations Betsy!!! Email me at amy.priddy@att.net so that I can get your info!

Thanks to everyone who entered!!

Chuckle of the Day! TGIF!!

2010-05-14T07:03:00.000-05:00

Click to make larger.

TGIF everyone! Hope you have a GREAT weekend! We will be playing softball. Any fun plans?

Patty Young's Upcoming Bag Pattern - Stella

2010-05-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

You all know I love bags. LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Especially the handmade variety! So when Patty Young asked me to test a pattern for an upcoming bag design she was releasing, I was thrilled! TOTALLY up my alley. And since it was Patty, I knew it would be fantastic! And she did not disappoint.

Patty's soon to be released pattern, STELLA will be available this month at Quilt Market. You can pre-order it from her website if you want to make sure you get it as soon as it is released.

Most of the bags that I make are my very own patterns, so working from a pattern again was a little nerve-wracking at first. But thanks to Patty's great instructions, it was like riding a bike. Easy breezy. The bag even has a zipper. Zippers intimidate me. I generally stay away from them. But this one was so simple that I can guarantee I will do it again.

Lots of options with this pattern:

I chose the vertical stripwork design for my bag. And picked the fabulous teal/red combo from Patty's Flora & Fauna line.

Doesn't that zipper look great? And the best part....I got it right the very FIRST time! Yep. Not so intimidated by zippers any longer.

The bag is a GREAT size and was really easy to put together. I give it two thumbs up Patty!!

Check out Patty's blog to learn more background on how STELLA came about. And be sure and pre-order/order yours to try yourself! I plan on making another one in the smoke/grey Flora & Fauna colorway. And for those who don't want to make one and like the one above, be sure and check my website because this one will go in my shop at the end of the month.

Priddy Creations eReader Giveaway!!

2010-05-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

COMMENTS CLOSED!! Winner announced in a separate post. Thanks for entering!!

Remember a few weeks ago I said that I was working on a custom laptop sleeve and was off about 1/2 inch on the measurements? Adding that extra padding can throw you off sometimes. Well, I was able to rip apart the "mess up" and turn it into 2 eReader cases.

And the best thing....I am giving it away to one lucky winner!! YEP! You read that right!

This eReader case is fashioned after my new iPad sleeve/cover that I talked about here.

In the pictures below, I used my Kindle as a reference. The Kindle measures 8" x 5.3" x 0.36"

This eReader case should fit the Kindle, Nook and Sony eReaders. Be sure and check your eReader measurements to make sure! Keep it for yourself or give it as a gift!

Below is the first one I made with my lovely "mess ups."

Elastic gathered band keeps the flap closed. No velcro necessary.

The back sports my Priddy Creations label.

When I list these on my website, an exterior back pocket option will be available/offered.

Multi-layers of fleece for added protection.

Quilted interior detailing for that added style and softness. Overall, a spiffy way to carry around your eReader AND keep it protected.

So how do you win it?? Easy peasy.......head on over to my website, take and look around and then head back here and let me know what is on your Wish List.

That's it!! You do not have to follow me on Twitter OR follow my blog (although that would be great if you did!). One entry per person. Please make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

I will close this giveaway around noonish on Friday and announce the winner some time Friday evening. So only 2.5 days to enter!! Random Number Generator will determine the lucky winner!

Also, please feel free to tweet, blog, BlogFrog or Facebook about the giveaway if you want. :) Share the love!

(NOTE: Blogger is not cooperating and not letting me approve comments. As soon as that is fixed, you will see your entries.)

Extremely Blessed - Mother's Day Continued

2010-05-11T08:22:00.000-05:00

I am extremely blessed. And my kids and hubby went out of their way to make Mother's Day very special for me this year.

Ethan broke out the hat he just bought for a solo part in their music program this week. Yep, we wore it to lunch. Baylee loves hats!

A few traditions that I look forward to every year......breakfast in bed and handmade goodies from the kids.

The kids started off the day with breakfast in bed that consisted of scrambled eggs with cheese and toast. Mollee also decided that I needed something sweet to go with it and added a rice crispy treat (YUM!). But before I could eat, they had to give me some goodies. The kids surprised me earlier in the week with a new iPad. Most of you know that it was on my wish list!

But Mother's Day morning they also gave me some handmade cards, coupons for little chores and things (to make the bed, pick up their room, for a massage.....LOL!) and some roses. Sweet, sweet babes!! My kids have very generous hearts and love buying gifts for others. Just this weekend Mollee spent some of her money on a sprinkler that all three of them could enjoy. Not just something she could enjoy. All of my kids are like that. I really am blessed.

You see what is #1? "I love my Mom because she works so hard at sewing." LOL! You can click on the pics to make them larger.

This one really cracked me up! I have a t-shirt that says exactly that with yellow softballs exactly where she has them. And she even gave me highlights and lowlights just like my real hair. How is that for details??

The coupons were a fun little surprise. Notice that she put on there "1 time coupon"? LMAO! She wants to make sure I don't keep using the same one over and over. I wonder if she will do like they do at Joanns when you use one of their coupons and tear it up? I will keep you posted.

After breakfast, I finished reading a book that has taken me forever to read. It was worth the time but I am glad to move on to my long list of books.

We headed to lunch with my sister, my parents and friends of the family. My sister gave me a gorgeous silver angel figurine! I was eyeing them a while back.

Me and my sister.

Got home from lunch and put my jammies back on. Yep. Total bum. Troy kept the kids busy while I relaxed and caught up on some shows. HEAVEN! It was so nice to take a whole day off.

Ethan's Mother's Day Tea

2010-05-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day and enjoyed time with their loved ones. We had a great weekend! I am plan on breaking it up into two posts so that I don't bombard you too much with pics. I actually remembered to take my camera to ALL the celebrations.

Friday kicked us off with a Mother's Day Tea at Ethan's school. I just want to say that Ethan's teacher is the best!! He is one of 9 boys in his class (only 2 girls) and they can be a handfull (especially all together). His teacher has more patience than anyone I have ever met! She really went out of her way to make this Mother's Day Tea as special for the kids as it was for the Moms.

Isn't my sweet boy handsome?

They started out with a little song (two classes participated in this). It was so cute watching them sing their individual parts in the song.

Ethan's part consisted of him putting on a clown hat and his part was something like "My mom will put on a clown hat when I am sad to cheer me up." Sorry peeps, that is the gist of what I remember. It was so cute! Ethan had a hard time getting his hat on so that caused the boys to get to giggling.

I digress a little...while listening to the kids sing, I look down and see this:

How can a pair of shoes we just got at Christmas be SO worn out already?? Are your kids as rough on their shoes as mine are?

After the song, we walk into the classroom to enjoy a Tea Party. On each kids' desk is a little form they filled out about their Mom. When my Mom and I read it, we literally laughed out loud (my Mom cackled). Before I show it to you, a little confession....

I don't like to cook. I CAN cook, but I just don't like to. My poor Mom has tried many times to get me to like it. She just doesn't understand how I can not like to cook when she cooks all the time and did while I was growing up. Just never have. Now baking....whole other story!

Check out what Ethan put in one of his sections:

Can you read it? It says "My Mom can do many things! I think she's best at COOKING." LMAO!! We cracked up at that. My lack of cooking has been a family joke forever!! Then my mom asked him what I cook for him and he answered "Brownies!" Atta boy! Who the heck needs food when you can get brownies?

After we got a good laugh, the kids served us sweet tea and muffins. I am not a tea person but I did sip it slowly and make "mmmmmm...." sounds. He was so proud of his little party!

Maw-Maw got to enjoy this tea party with us. He loves his Maw-Maw!

They finished up the party with one last gift for us Mom's......

It was a fun day!! I will share the rest of our weekend later in the week. Hope you all had a great weekend as well!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

2010-05-08T16:01:00.000-05:00

Sharing this with all of you wonderful mothers, grandmothers, aunts and godmothers!! We rock!

Hope you enjoy lots of hugs, kisses and quality time with loved ones on this special day. I know that I am extremely blessed and grateful for all of the special ladies in my life! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Turnaround Time for Custom Items - What is Reasonable?

2010-05-05T07:00:00.015-05:00

Ok fellow peeps, I need some input. I have seen lots of discussion (mostly complaining) out there recently about reasonable turnaround time for custom items. I would really love to hear from you as to what you consider reasonable/unreasonable. We will use my products and turnaround times as a jumping off point.

Custom Camera Straps: 5-7 business days;

Custom Lens Cozies: 5-7 business days;

Everything else (custom camera bags, laptop cases, eReader cases, custom totes, etc....): 10-14 business days.

Ready to ship items ship within 3 business days.

My giveaway items fall under the same shipping turnaround times. I work them in as if they were a custom order and do them by date and in order of receipt. Is that how other sellers work their giveaway prizes? Or does giveaway winnings fall into a whole different category with regard to turnaround time?

Is that reasonable? I want to make sure that you are getting your custom item as quickly as possible but have to factor in family, kids and work stuff as well when setting my turnaround time. I have always thought that my turnaround time was reasonable and after reading and hearing what others have said recently, I am thinking I am doing pretty good! LOL! Am I off base? What do you consider reasonable for different items?

BUSINESS OWNERS - A Question for You:

What is your turnaround time for your custom items? I would love to compare and see what kind of feedback you have received regarding your turnaround time. It seems that turnaround time varies from one end of the spectrum to the other. For example.... I saw where one seller was taking 4 weeks for a camera strap to be made (WHAT?) and another ships within 24 hours (maybe those were ready to ship??). Is there a happy median?

Another quick question.....I generally limit the number of custom orders I take on (especially with my more time consuming products like camera bags) because I do not want to extend or make my turnaround time longer. Does that matter? Would you rather me take on more custom orders even though you might have to wait longer to get your item?? When is it too long to wait? Would it be ok with you to have to wait 4 weeks to get a custom camera strap or lens cozy? Or how about 6-8 weeks to get a custom bag? Things that make me go hmmmmmm......... Really, this input would help me figure out what I will do with custom orders during the Summer months when my ~~heathens~~ sweet babies are home for Summer break.

Please don't be shy and jump in on this discussion. I am sure that I am not the only one who would benefit from all the feedback. And thanks in advance for any feedback you can share!!

Customs, New Product and What Else??

2010-05-04T07:00:00.003-05:00

Well, this has been one CRAZY week. Troy was really busy last week with home inspections so that meant LOTS of report typing for me. My custom orders have been steady and have also been keeping me busy. The biggest pain in the *$&#($& was some computer issues that we have been having. The kids surprised me early for Mother's Day with an iPad. YAY!! Welp, we had the hardest time getting it to connect to our modem. I spent HOURS (and I do mean hours) with Apple support trying to get it all worked out. We got that all straightened but doing that caused issues with my Mac and PC. UGH!! I really loathe computer issues (more so than the laundry I always complain about). We ended up getting everything working again but I did lose emails in the process. Can you say frustrated? I really feel like a few hours of my week just wasted away.

We did have a little breather from softball/sports practices thanks to the TAKS test. That we enjoyed!

BUT, we made up for it Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Between those 4 days, we played 10 (yep, TEN) softball games.

I am just not starting off my week together at all. One hour before we are supposed to be at the ballpark for our game last night and I remember that Baylee's uniform still needs to be dried. Way to be on top of things mom. It is ok if she plays in a damp uniform right? It was in the 90s that day with about a million percent humidity. So maybe that damp was just what she needed? No really, it did end of drying completely but I had to scramble to pull it all together. Happy Monday!! Here's hoping that today goes much smoother.

This cool poster was taken at the weekend before tournament in Houston. Isn't it cool? They did them randomly for all teams that played. We ordered 2 more prints of Baylee. Thank goodness the tournament this past weekend was local. Unfortunately, that didn't mean we got to sleep in. The girls played ok, but were having an "off" weekend. We ended up 4th which was not as good as we should have done. But, it happens.

I was also busy with some custom orders. Here is one that I will be adding to my inventory... small camera bag lined in minky. When? Hopefully this week. Gotta get a few more customs out the door first. So keep your eyes out. It will be a custom listing.

Another quick peek at another custom order. I have done small camera bags made with this fabric line before. But the placement and mix of fabrics is a little different than previous orders.

And lastly, a little something I made for me!! A case for my iPad! This design has been running around in my head for my eReader cases and laptop cases but I just haven't had the time to make it. I finally took the time this weekend though and am happy with the results. Thank goodness it turned out how I wanted the first time! A few minor tweaks will be made for listed cases, but overall the pattern and design looks like I pictured in my head. YAY! Love when that happens! It will go on my website as a custom order since I do not have any other samples to share for individual listings. Hopefully I can squeeze in a ready to ship one this week.

Gathered band keeps the flap securely in place.

Back

Exterior pocket under flap helps you stay organized.

Lined in flannel for a added protection.

What do yall think? You like?

How was everyone else's weekends?

And the Wish List Grows

2010-04-29T07:00:00.002-05:00

I love Vera Bradley products. Have for years. I haven't really looked at any of their products in a while though because any time I see a bag I like, hubs always says....you could make that. LOL! Yep, I could. But sometimes it is nice to let someone else make something for you instead. Right?

I was shopping for Mollee's First Communion present at a local boutique called Bando's. Not only did it have lots of great First Communion stuff, but it recently became a distributor of Vera Bradley products. I will admit...I did get distracted from what I was shopping for for a little while and REALLY enjoyed checking out the Vera Bradley selection they had.

Here are just a few of what I would love to have as my own. This is the first thing that caught my eye. I am kicking myself for not buying it.

Then I saw this:

Totally loving the flowers and the fact that I can just wipe this baby off if it gets dirty. Wouldn't it be perfect at the ballpark??

This Frill line is especially appealing. It just screams Spring!

My absolute FAVE:

I want it, need it.....GOTTA have it!

And then I hopped on their website and saw this brand spankin' new addition to their collection:

Totally digging the knot accessory.

And then lastly, this bag:

Aren't they all gorgeous? They have these designs in lots of different prints. My wish list is long. But that is ok right? Isn't that what "Wish Lists" are for?

Additional Options & Sharing A Custom Order

2010-04-27T07:00:00.003-05:00

I know I have said this before...but I will say it again....I LOVE custom orders. Especially when you get to work with some REALLY great customers. Miss Tara wanted a custom set of coordinating photography accessories in this great Pillow & Maxwell fabric. Her wish list consisted of:

1 large camera bag with LOTS of pockets & adjustable, removable dividers;
1 patchwork camera strap;
1 CF/business card wallet; and
1 coordinating key fob

Her wish is my command. :) She was great to work with and I really hope she enjoys her goodies (they are in the mail and on the way to her now).

With her order sprang some additional camera bag options.

Here is her camera bag:

One additional option....exterior front and/or back pockets:

And my second option.....removable AND adjustable padded dividers. My previous bags have optional removable dividers, but they were not adjustable. With this new option, you can move them anywhere in the bag to custom fit your accessories. It is something that has been on my "to do" list for a while now but have not had the time to make. Did I mention I love custom orders? Miss Tara was the one to push me to finally do it!

A current option......side, exterior pockets.

Her CF/business card wallet:

And lastly (I didn't take a picture of the key fob), her patchwork strap. I love how it turned out. And I have enough fabric to make one more of these and possibly another CF/business card wallet.

So if you are looking for a completely customizable camera bag, you will see these additional options in my camera bag listings along with the existing options.

Thanks Tara for being such a great customer! I hope you enjoy all of your new goodies!

Our Weekend Plans

2010-04-24T08:15:00.000-05:00

The Story of Our Life.....Good thing we love it!

Our weekend will consist of this...

If the weather holds out.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend!!

We Have a Winner!

2010-04-23T09:21:00.000-05:00

And the winner of the camera strap is.....

Who said......

Congratulations Candy!!!

Email me your address and I will get it shipped out to you!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!! We will be playing softball if the weather holds out.

Some New Lovely Business Supplies

2010-04-22T08:37:00.001-05:00

For the camera strap giveaway, scroll down to yesterday's post.....

Notice anything different about my blog today?? There are a few changes that were made. Give up? No more Etsy links! I have officially switched over ALL of my inventory to my website. YAY! Now I will just be spending time stocking it with new stuff. I will be leaving my Etsy shop open for a little while so people will have time to get the new website link. But I am officially doing business on my website only now! It feels great!

And the timing couldn't be more perfect! I just got some new business supplies that I excited to be using!!

Perideau Creations is a fabulous shop with lots of great business supplies and personal stationary. Bridgett is FABULOUS to work with and her finished product is fantastic!! Even her packaging is eye candy.

I got some of these fabulous notecards with my logo and contact info.

And these fabulous product tags with a thank you note and website info. These are for my bags and larger items.

Here are a few other goodies from her shop:

I will definitely be shopping with her again!! So head on over to her shop and tell her I sent ya!!

Priddy Creations Giveaway Right Here!!

2010-04-21T07:00:00.005-05:00

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED!! Thanks for entering!! Winner to be announced Friday, April 23.

It seems that every single giveaway I do for one of my own products is always done elsewhere. Well, not today!! Nope.....I am giving away something of mine right here on my very own blog. :) A little background about this giveaway...this camera strap was a custom order for a customer who wanted a reversible, patchwork strap with a lens cap pocket. When I make my camera straps with the pockets, I have to make them a little wider so that the cap fits snugly but you are still able to take them in and out. With the padding and lining in all of my straps, the added width is necessary for the perfect fit.

NOTE TO ALL SEAMSTRESSES: DO NOT cut fabric while talking on the phone.

Why you ask? Because you are likely to mess up your cuts. Yep. I speak from experience. This giveaway is the result of that experience. It is still a perfectly good strap. But instead of putting your lens cap in the pocket, you will have to use it for business/MOO cards...or extra battery....or extra CF card. Yep. I didn't cut it wide enough. I did the measurements for my regular reversible straps. So there ya go! My mess up will now be someone else's new, fun strap with a bonus!

So what does this mess up look like?

See? Perfectly good strap. You just can't fit a lens cap in that pocket! Nobody is perfect right? :D

So this is what you have to do to enter...head on over to my website where I am stocking stuff daily, come back here and let me know what your favorite item is or what is on your wish list.

For additional OPTIONAL entries:

Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (upper left hand column);
Tweet about this giveaway (be sure and @priddycreations when tweeting);
Follow me on Twitter;
Fan/like me on Facebook; and
Become a follower/member of my new Blog Frog Community.

Be sure and leave a comment for EACH extra entry and include your email address in one of those comments.

I will announce the winner on Friday, April 23.

Kitten Update & A Personal Project Share

2010-04-20T14:48:00.000-05:00

The kittens are officially 16 days old today. They are growing by leaps and bounds and Mama Bear (aka Oreo) is still taking great care of them.

All of their eyes are opened now and they have started to hiss a little when you get close to them. It is the funniest thing I have ever seen. They don't hiss as much at me as they do everyone else but when they do, it really makes me laugh!

They are learning to walk on shaky legs and starting to play with each other. I have never been a cat person but this whole process has turned me around. I love watching Mama Bear take such good care of her babies and watching the babies grow. And I am happy that my kids are young enough to really enjoy the experience too! They are now double their length and growing every day.

I will keep you posted on how they are doing. Their little personalities are starting to come through and they make us smile every day!!

Another quick share....a personal project that has been on my "to do" list for MONTHS. I am finally getting around to doing it and I seriously have no idea why I waited so long to do it since it only took me 30 minutes from cutting to finished. My new table runner.

I kept it simple...no lining or binding. Very minimal cuts for the pieces and then just serged the edges, turned them in and topstitched. Easy breezy!! Next I will be making a coordinating mixer cover.