4 new designs coming ASAP!

Here are 4 new Applique Cafe designs to be added sometime tonight! We have the ART files back. Jeff took B hunting so we'll get them uploaded later tonight and you can enjoy the 30% off savings on NEW designs! I've been getting GREAT suggestions as to new designs for 2010! Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to e-mail me! Some of them are already out there (on other sites), but some are ideas we'll definitely get to work on! Thanks again!

I love this new fabric! Shown here w/ a bow...

BTW, I got Eclipse for Christmas so while I'm bored to death with no work to do, I've been reading! I hear the last Twilight book is the best, and I'll have to wait til Summer for this movie, but it's fun to have time to read! For some reason the werewolf stuff kind of bores me (sorry Jacob fans) but it's a good read - I'm already halfway through. I'm definitely Team Edward all the way!!

Good vs Bad

Here is a new Applique Cafe design we're working on, and the perfect opportunity to show you good stabilizing versus bad stabilizing! Can you tell which one is which? The LEFT (yellow on top) is definitely BAD!! I realized last night when I went to test it that I was out of my Sulky Medium Cutaway stabilizer, which is ALL I USE on shirts, samples and anything else where I can use cutaway! So, I tried a thinner version of cutaway (still Sulky) and you see what happens!! The fabric bubbles and looks pretty bad! I even used my Heat N Bond Lite and tried to iron over it, but the fabric is just too loose - the thin cutaway just isn't enough support for the fabric and stitches! We also tweaked the cherry a bit, so I redid the ICE CREAM CONE just now after a trip to Hancocks to buy a pack of stabilizer! No sale and no coupon, so it hurt to pay full price, but definitely worth it until I can hit the next sale and stock up! As you can see on the RIGHT (blue gingham on top), good stabilizer makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE in the world!! It is flat and neat as can be!

I hoop all shirts, and just about everything that I can! It's just the way I've taught myself and it just works best for me! I hear of people who use sticky and don't hoop anything, but I have to stick with what works for me! Medium Cutaway is my favorite (Sulky Cut-Away Plus - Cut-Away Permanent Stabilizer Medium weight). I also can't live without Sulky KK2000 Spray Adhesive. "They" say not to use it, but I cannot function without a can of it! They DID have it in stock at Hancocks today (haven't had any in MONTHS), but I had a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby so I can get a can for about $10 there. I hope to catch a good Hancocks Sulky or Notions sale SOON so I can stock up until JoAnn opens (YEAH!!). I get e-mail coupons like every day and it pains me that our store isn't open yet!! 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! We certainly did, and have lots of projects til the first of the year! Jeff is off work until the New Year, so we hope to work on LOTS of new designs!! I posted a note on the website asking for ideas, so if you have any, send them my way!! We'd love to do some stuff that people are actually looking for!

Merry Christmas!!

Tomorrow is CHRISTMAS EVE,

and I hope everyone has a wonderful blessed Christmas 2009!!

I had to take a pic of my "bins"! As you can see, I have NO WORK left!! I've got a few shirts I may do for Garrison, only because the 74 in his closet simply aren't enough!! My camera stays in a bin and then I have one bin of a few shirts that people have given me with no instructions til after Christmas. That's IT!! What shall I do???? Tonight we're wrapping presents, because as of yet we have not wrapped the FIRST ONE!! Nothing planned for tomorrow except for the Christmas Eve service at church and chili afterwards with Jeff's family! I hope everyone has a great Christmas!

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:10-11

New fabrics

I spent this past weekend in Enterprise celebrating Christmas with my family, so of course I had Jeff swing me by the Singer Sewing Center on our way in to town Friday! They have great fabric so I always go by when I'm in town! The left 2 are Jenean Morrison fabrics - never heard of her that I know of but very pretty!

I loved these too! And I found the polka dot cord fabric I used for the alligator last week so I bought the rest of the bolt (like 3/4 yards). The 3rd on the right is a Michael Miller fabric. Not sure about the rest?

I've got both machines going right now with last minute orders. I really didn't have much to do this week and have had a few "last minute" calls so I'm trying to work on those! The lady who cleans my house came today, so we spent part of the morning at the Mall. W-O-W! It was packed - quality people watching. We rode the train & carousel, but the line for Santa was halfway around the skating rink so we skipped that and ate at Chick Fil A. Of course we get all settled, food out and ready to eat, and G insists he is about to wet his pants! Of course! I put him off as long as I could and then had to ask the nice old man sitting beside us to watch all our stuff while I hauled the 3 kids to the bathroom! We didn't make it out of there w/out a stinky diaper either!! Always fun times with 3 youngins.

All designs are 30% off at Applique Cafe! Jeff is off for a week in between Christmas and the New Year, so hopefully we can work on lots of new stuff! Our kids are also going to Granmommies for a few days next week, so hopefully we can get some stuff done! Project #1 is our garage, which is n-a-s-t-y!!

I've just done the AC simple dog in camo - cute!! Name underneath in orange!! Back to work...

Christmas is a week away! WOW!

Yesterday Browder's Kindergarten class took a field trip to Friendship Mission in Montgomery and then had their Christmas party at Chuck E. Cheese! So, Tuesday night Jeff was dropping me off at Target and Kohls after dinner hunting a blank shirt I could do for B since the dress was "Christmas play clothes". I went with Peace on Earth! It was a sweet field trip! Browder's school has been collecting supplies and money for Friendship Mission for the past month or so, and the Kind. class went yesterday to sing for the men who are currently staying there! So behind where the kids stood and sang songs were mattresses where these men slept the night before!!!! FM is a church/ministry where they serve several meals a day and where homeless men can sleep! The catch is that if they want to eat, they have to listen! So, in exchange for food they are able to hear the Gospel and are hopefully "Saved" (in more ways than one). After hearing about what they do and after hearing about the man in the wheelchair who was found on the side of the river and who has been at FM for the past 4 months, I realized how lucky I am and as Jeff reminded me, I should not complain about having to "work" in my dining room with computer cords strung everywhere while I listen to music, check Facebook and e-mail and talk on my Iphone!! Count your blessings people!!

Yesterday I started on a project for January ~ http://www.rosemarygulledgeseasonal.blogspot.com/. I'm in the process of adding photos of all of my seasonal designs to the 2nd blog and will then link it in to this one. That way I don't have to delete and add Holiday photos b/c my blog is too full! I got all of the AC designs up and started on others (EB, etc.) but it's going to require going through CD's of pics and I'll hopefully have it "together" sometime after the new year! I need one more thing to keep up with!!

Countdown to Christmas!! This time next week it'll be CHRISTMAS EVE!! YIKES!

A few things I did today...

Here are a few things I did today! This is a brown & aqua cord houndstooth fabric (not mine) trimmed in aqua and this is a BIG letter! This is EB's chunky applique alphabet "M" in the 6 inch size!!

Here is a cute alligator also done in a polka dot cord material (also not mine). I love working with corduroy! It's just easy to work with - lays flat, etc! I did the name underneath in orange and it's a cute shirt!

And lastly the AC wreath done for a friend in a fat lime gingham with a hot pink w/ lime dots bow!

Browder was OK today but didn't go to school, so I got quite a bit of work done staying home with him while the other kids were at school! More rain today (ugh) and no school tomorrow! Not sure what we'll do? Haircuts perhaps! Exciting Tuesday!

I did get a postcard today announcing that the sewing store in West Point, GA FINALLY opened! I think it was several months ago when I met Steve over there and he fixed both my machine in TWO DAYS (and I had thought they were opening shortly after that)!! Their hours are Mon-Sat 11am-3pm (EST). I'll have to make a trip over there soon to check out the store! They are the closest (I think) authorized Brother service center for my area! The website is http://www.sewingmachine.com/! I'm still loyal to Kens (http://www.kenssewingcenter.com/) but Muscle Shoals is too far to drive for a quick machine service! Oh, the address is:

Southeast Sewing
Steve Tramell (steve@sewingmachine.com)
814 East Third Avenue
West Point, GA
800-426-2246

p.s. Montgomery's JoAnn store is opening the beginning of February 2010! SO excited!! I want to say the sign says 2/6 or something? Will check next time I ride by! I'm counting on them selling Sulky stabilizers and having lots of sales as I see advertised!!

4 new designs coming ASAP!

I FINALLY sampled our new Applique Cafe designs and they have been sent off to be converted to ART! Once we get them back (hopefully in the next day or two) I will get them listed on the website! #1 is mittens of course, which is great for Winter in general and can be done in girl or boy colors. If you click on the pic it will enlarge it (I think) so you can see the zig zags in the cuff!
#2 is a special request duck! I did this on a sweatshirt for Browder and it's cute! This is a good one for the older boys I think. It would be cute also with some green cord and a coordinating bottom fabric!

And thinking ahead to Valentine's Day (which will be here in the blink of an eye)...this is a simple heart square patch with zig zag trim!

And another heart design and I used a layer of white flannel underneath!

We had a rainy weekend here full of Christmas parties! We had such a great time both nights (and stayed out way too late)! Jeff put me on a schedule this week - 27 items so 5 a day and I should finish up by Thursday. I've done a few tonight so I may even be ahead of schedule! I won't be able to do anything this weekend and next week is getting in to Christmas, so I may actually be about done!? I have had a few people ask if they could bring stuff this week so I've counted those in my 27! I hope everyone has a great week and I hope to get these designs listed in the next day or two! Browder has a stomach virus so say a prayer it doesn't make the rounds at my house!! He told me earlier tonight his tummy hurt and next thing we know he has puked ALL OVER himself and our couch! He's not keeping Gatorade down either a couple of hours later! :( PRAYING seriously that no one else gets sick! We quarantined him to his room until Mallory went to bed and have Lysol-ed all the germs!! Fun times!!!

A few things from my stash...

I still have these few things in my stash (as well as white burp cloths, bibs, Rabbit Skins l/s white tees, etc. etc. etc.) This is a Rabbit Skins longall romper in size 18 MO in mint green. These are great and very comfortable!
I have 2 size 4 Monag pink frill bottom tees in light pink! These shirts are super cute and hard to come by! I tried to get white too, but they were backordered.

And I have this 3 Marthas bib that would be great with a name added! This is a large bib - the face of it is about 11" x 12"! This would be a great baby gift or great for the 1-2 yr old girl. Mallory will be 2 in February and she still wears bibs!

Just cleaning out and came across these cute items! E-mail me with any questions! I monogrammed my last Stephen Joseph backpack last night! I also have 1 white Rabbit Skins sweatshirt in size 7!

A few pictures from this morning!

Here is Sis in her JOY shirt I made for Rachel at Embroidery Boutique (for her photo)! Cute Cute!! It also had green ric rac across the top but I never got my sewing machine out to sew it down!
This was Sis pitching a fit about something? She has a temper!!!!!!! Girlfriend can scream and hit (the chair) if she gets mad enough!!

Sadly, Mal has on what used to be Garrison's pajamas, and G has on what used to be Browder's pajamas!! :( My babies are all growing up (and we don't mind recycling some clothes)!! Mallory doesn't seem to mind boy pajamas!

These were all taken after B went to school so he's not around! If you can't tell, sister loves some paci!!

I got all of my teacher gifts done today! YEAH! Now I need to finish working and get Christmas cards out. Neverending... I'm getting an Iphone today too so we've got company coming over to set it all up and eat dinner! Back to work...

Is Christmas really December 25th?

Every year it sneaks up on me! Someone said 2 weeks from Friday? Seriously? Next week is the last week of school, so with programs and a field trip I have just a hand full of hours left with no kids! I haven't bought the first teacher gift (I've got 6 on my list)! My Christmas cards are sitting on my sewing table with only my return address labels on them! They are stuffed and sealed, but I haven't bought stamps and haven't done the address labels! I guess I do work best under pressure?
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We have 3 new designs to add to Applique Cafe that I've been asked to sample tomorrow! Hopefully I can get them done, converted to ART and listed in the next few days! One is actually for Valentine's Day, another a customer request and the other, a "winter" design! It'll be time for spring before we know it! Target DOES have swimsuits on the racks already!!
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I'm still trying to get Christmas orders done! That includes a few Christmas shirts that kids need to be wearing NOW! I'm going to try to finish those tomorrow! Thursday I have a Christmas brunch, 3 boys coming over to play and then we're taking the kids to Bass Pro Shop to see Santa and shop/eat in Prattville! We have parties Fri and Sat night! Gotta love Christmastime! I know everyone reading this is just as busy! If you're not, why and how??
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I've been slacking on posting and pictures! I get a traffic report every week or two and my traffic is down! :( I'll try to do better in 2010!! I know after the new year things will be dead and I'll have time to catch up on projects! My goal is to create another blog to link in strictly for Seasonal design photos. I have seen a blog out there who did it and it's great! I can get rid of the slideshows and will have room for ALL of my photos! I have SO MANY DESIGNS that aren't even shown!
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I'd better go make sure "Elfie" gets to where he needs to be for in the morning and hit the sack! Tomorrow is a full day! Why didn't I invent Elf on the Shelf? He is annoying, but the boys love him. This morning G asked "where is that red guy"? You know the feeling... you are laying in bed and remember "Rut Roh, the elf hasn't moved!??!!"

December 1st, seriously!!

Here are a couple of new designs we'll be listing on AC when we get ART format back. A special request teapot and another cross design. I didn't realize when sampling them I made them to color coordinate!! The teapot would be cute with an initial, initials or even a name inside!

And... I was thrilled to see my name in the Embroidery Boutique newsletter a week or so ago! Rachel had asked me to do the ornament letters on this shirt, and also the present with the ribbon bow! She also sent me the cute Christmas tree for my stash so I have it as well!

I rented Twilight and watched it late last night curled up on the couch with a blanket and headphones on! It was like the book, but then again a lot of the book was missing I thought. But, I guess you can't fit an entire book in to an hour and a half. I loved putting faces with names and joked today that I was thinking of adding an Edward poster to my Christmas list!! As soon as I can get to a bookstore I'll get New Moon and read it, then hopefully catch the movie while it's still in theaters! I hear it is better than the Twilight movie!?

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As you can see above I'm already at a 35 count which makes me pretty busy for the next week or two. I've only done 3 things today! This time of year is stressful enough, so I'll only be taking limited orders from now until Christmas! I finally took my scarecrow off the front porch today and our "job" for the evening is to drag everything out from the attic and decorate for Christmas hopefully tomorrow night! I can't believe it's December 1st!!!!!!!!!!