Start at the beginning

So I guess the best place to start is the beginning.

The biggest thing I usually get (in giggles and laughs) from people who visit me for a crafting date is: "where do you put all your stuff you craft with?" Then the giggles... because I show them... 

In truth, I squirrel it away in four major places in my house:

My AWESOME Scrapbox! (scrapboxstore.com) IT IS AMAZING and folds up into a cabinet just like it is a piece of decorative furniture in the house. I have my whole scrapbooking and crafting room from my other house before we moves all in this cabinet!  (ignore the mess, I am working on the last two Hallowe'en costumes right now)

In my kitchen under the center island. I do a lot of crafting with the kids, or need a larger surface than the scrapbox desk allows sometimes, so I have some of those materials in these two cabinets under the island where I work when I need more desk space. 

My basement storage area. Here is where I hang all my wreaths and decorations for all the seasons.  I also have these two large totes that hold all my big pieces that I haven't used for florals etc. The totes are all filled with CLEARANCE post season stuff that I pick up after the seasons for MUCHO discount, then use the following year. These totes hold those treasures that I get to open the following year to see what I found! :)   

And my garage. This stuff is all finished product that I sell at crafts sales. I  haven't done one in a while, but should.

the title

So I am calling this blog "My Calico Crafts".

I chose that because I think that my crafting and creating is a bunch of different stuff. I like to sew and make full costumes.  But I also like to create things with a little imagination and transformation and glue. I also like to do floral arranging and would love to get a job at a Micheal's or JoAnn Fabrics (hint hint Micheal's and JoAnn's, you can hire me any day now! lol). I like to paint, photograph, frame and mat, bead work, melt stuff (haha!) and so much more.

So I was trying to find a good word that described how I craft. Patchwork was the first thing that came to mind, but ironically, quilting is probably one of the only crafts I don't really have a huge interest in.

Then one of my cats walked by. She isn't black, she isn't brown, she isn't white... she is ... (yeah, you guessed it) calico. A mix of everything without a really clear specific single color. That is kinda like my crafting interests. A mix of everything.

So welcome to My Calico Crafts! below are some of my most recent adventures into crafting and sewing!

My first puppy costume!

EEK and BOO apothecary jars made from candle holders and old jars!

My Children's Hallowe'en costumes. 

To match the puppy costume. I don't  have a dog, by the way, these were an ebay purchase that I sent out to one lucky bidder! :)

The kids and I went on a nature alphabet hunt. We made words from it!

With some teamwork, my Women of Today chapter and I made this for an upcoming silent auction. 

This one was heading out to an etsy customer. 

Some of the wings I hand make

I'm doing it!!

Okay, so I am gonna do this! I want to start posting a blog! :) Yeah, "I" have had blogs before, still have one for the pageant I direct, but I enjoy showing my crafts, sewing and stuff that I think I want to start my own personal blog. I hope everyone enjoys what I have to share!

I worry that my husband is going to say this is a lot like other social media or internet sites where really it is just about ego. I think that he often takes a want to share with others a sign of narcissism. I think, though, that as the world begins to get smaller and smaller, but we all get further and further apart (we don't visit as much anymore with neighbors, we don't phone or hand-write a letter.) that this is a way for people to connect and get to know one another. I like to share. I like to give out that part of me and I hope others enjoy and share some of my ideas too!

BIG BREATH!! So here goes! :)

Wish me luck!