In the bag was a small piece of dark green felt. I have been wanting to start using felt to make different versions of my stuffed bears and bunnies, as well as start making new things like pillows and other various stuffed animals but haven’t yet. I made a fish shaped cat toy with that piece of felt and now I really want to start using it even more than I did before. It’s so easy to cut by hand (I am not physically able to use a rotary cutter, due to being disabled) and is pretty easy to sew and very easy to stuff. It’s so soft and holds a form really well once stuffed. I really like the way the toy came out. I like the way all of my toys come out, but there’s something about the felt that just makes it different. I’m disappointed that there was only that small piece of it in the bag and that I only had enough to make one toy out of it.

I think felt is pretty cheap to buy, but I guess I have to look into it more and find out.

If anyone reading this has any felt that they no longer need or want, I’d be more than happy to take it off of your hands as well.

I’ll post photos of the new toys and finished pot holders either tomorrow or Friday. I know I’m definitely taking photos of everything before Saturday, so I will make sure to post them here. And then I’ll take photos of my table, all set up for the craft show on Saturday and post those here too either  Saturday night or Sunday.

I have to go make dinner now, so… more another day. Take care.

Love Jessica Always.

Also I need to ask for some advise again, and I need it as soon as possible. I have been making new pot holders the past few days to sell at the aforementioned craft show next weekend, and don’t know which way I want them. When I first began making pot holders, I just tied a knot in the middle with embroidering floss instead of “quilting” them. I tried quilting a stitch around the inside of one the other day and like the way it looks. Now I’m not sure if I want to make all the new ones like that from now on, or like the ones I was making before. I sold all but three of the old version at my yard/craft sale last month, so I kind of know some people liked them the way they were, but they haven’t been selling in my etsy shop, so I don’t know if I should change them.

This is where you come in… Do you like the old one or the new one better? Please let me know.

Old One

New One (Please pay no attention to the bad stitching job, it was my very first time doing such a thing)

My messy desk, as it is today.

All of the thread and zippers that I've been wanting to sell.

My pile of almost finished pot holders.

My pile of completely unfinished pot holders.

I made my very first quilt in my tenth grade Home Economics class. By then I was more in touch with my girly side so I chose different shades of purple fabrics with varying flowery prints and made it in an Around The World pattern. I still have it to this day.

After that I kind of lost interest in quilting. I was more into hanging out with friends and chasing boys. And still not willing to learn how to do any of the crafts my mother was doing.

In 2001, after I graduated high school, and a two month hospital stay, I suddenly wanted to make another quilt. So, I did. This time choosing pink and white fabrics. After that I made a black and dark blue quilt and gave it to my brother Jason that Christmas. Then once again, I lost interest.

My mother moved to MN in 2002 and I went to live with my father. I tried college for a couple of years, but that wasn’t for me. In 2006 I met my boyfriend Corey and six months later we moved into this apartment together. About a year and half ago I started getting the creative itch again and wanted to get back into sewing to give me something to do while Corey was at work. I didn’t have a sewing machine though. I mentioned it to my grandmother and two aunts, who also sew, and one day while at my grandparents house my great Aunt surprised me by giving me her spare sewing machine. Soon after that I found a woman on Craigslist that was selling all of her fabric for a dollar a yard. I couldn’t pass that opportunity up. I explained to Corey how good a deal that was and he brought me to her house one day where we spent a couple of hours going through piles of fabric. We ended up buying sixty dollars worth.

Now all I needed was a desk to put the sewing machine on. We found one not too long after that and my craft room was finally set up. I started sewing but was quickly frustrated with the machine giving me trouble every time I tried using it. Last year, noticing my frustration, Corey bought me a brand new sewing machine of my own. Finally I was able to sit down and successfully sew a quilt. I started making baby/lap sized quilts and pot holders. Later on I started making stuffed bunnies, bears and cat toys. All of which are in my Etsy shop right now @ www.lovejessicaalways.etsy.com

Love Jessica Always