happy anniversary to the pleated poppy!

hey all! i'm back from a long weekend away at my parents' lake house. it was the perfect setting to recharge and relax before this week - its gonna be a crazy one! my oldest started first grade today and my middle is starting pre-k at home with me tomorrow, along with my first grader homeschooling tomorrow. are you confused about how we do school here? my oldest goes to a classical school 2 days a week and is home the other 3. its fantastic - check it out here. a funny sidenote: i was pumping up my middle, lily, tonight about starting pre-k tomorrow. all the kids were jumping on the beds (yes, we allow that) yelling, "PRE-K! PRE-K!" when i noticed my 2 year-old, silas, was shouting, "PRE-CAKE! PRE-CAKE!" no wonder he was so excited! he thinks we're having cake tomorrow!



also in on this busy week: my shop's 1st anniversary! i'm shocked by this in 2 ways - 1: it seems like i just started this crazy thing, but 2: it also feels like i've had this shop for years. crazy! (btw - who starts an online shop the first week of school? i'm a nut) so i think this calls for a sale! how about 20% off your entire purchase? i'll let it run through the long weekend and end it on monday night. go ahead, do a little early labor day weekend shopping. or wish me happy anniversary by filling your cart to the brim with pleated poppy goodies - headbands, posies, crayon rolls & checkbook covers. enter HAPPY as the coupon code at checkout.

just to add to the nuttiness of the week, i have vacation pics and a birthday party post in the works. keep checking back!

4 winners

i have 4 bags stuffed to the brim, waiting to travel to their new homes, where hopefully they'll be made into something lovely!

and thank you, thank you, thank you for all your great suggestions on blog post ideas! that was super helpful and i am inspired to bust some out real soon...

and now for the winners!

rainylakechick said...

I would love to see a post about your new work space!

Candice said...

I pretty much love everything you blog about, but I love your parties. Do you have any coming up, or some from the past that you never posted? thanks, what a great giveaway.

Empty Nest Full Life said...

I have a new machine, and have some great ideas for those scraps. I would probably love some quick and easy sewing ideas, got to start getting ready for christmas. Jackie

Anonymous said...

I get giddy when I see remnants/scraps of material! Oh the possibilities!

I would love to hear more about homeschooling your kids and how it works for you. I would also like to see your re-designed crafting space! I love your blog! You are so creative!

Mallory said...

OOps-I accidently made myself "anonymous" earlier. Love your blog. Can't wait to see pics of your redesigned work space!
lorylynne@hotmail.com

so ladies, contact me with your addresses so i can get these bags out of my craft room and into your hot little hands! congrats!

and for those of you that didn't win, fear not. i've got a little something for you coming in a bit.... (ooh, the anticipation!)

-linds

free fabric friday!

ok, so i think i stole that title from sew mama sew, so go visit them, too, for something fabulous.

but here, today, i'm giving away 3 or 4 gallon size ziplock bags stuffed with my studio scraps. i don't want the winners (yes, there'll be more than 1) to be disappointed when they see my scraps, but they are what they are - scraps! there are a few larger pieces of fabric that are just not my style, maybe pieces from a custom job or pieces i've been holding onto for too long.

but my work space is being redesigned and it was high time for a clean-out. i struggle throwing away any scraps larger than a quarter, so i thought i'd ease the pack rat pain and give it away.


how do you enter this fabulous giveaway, you ask? just leave a comment telling me what you'd like me to blog about soon. this girls is plum fresh out of ideas!

*****comments closed! i'll choose a winner soon!*****

-lindsey

sorry!

i have been a bad blogger for a few days now - so sorry! but i have excuses, lots. but first, please take a look at the sunset view from my porch a couple weeks ago. be.a.u.ti.ful!

-i have no properly functioning camera. i dropped mine when we went camping and it no worky. i'm borrowing a friend's old camera, but the pic quality is subpar, even for my novice skills.
-we're revving up to start school on monday, homeschool on tuesday, so once again i am nesting like i'm pregnant. this leaves little time to blog.
-i am figuring out a better way to balance work and family and house responsibilities. i'm am trying to not work at all during the day, except for processing orders and other things at naptime. all my work is getting done in the evening, so i'm back to being a night-owl (did i ever stop? i guess those 3 days were considered a break). work is slower, but i'm happier. 40-60 hour work weeks with 3 kids is just too much. for all of us.
-we're reconfiguring our playroom/office/workspace/homeschool room - maybe it should be called the multi-purpose room? no, something else. i've migrated back into the dining room, which told me i had too little work space in the playroom. we (sean and i) admitted to ourselves that i am actually working a real job and need the space to do so. i still want to be with the kids while i'm working so, even if we had the space, i'd still want to be in the playroom. so things are turned upside down and sideways in the playroom as we are adding a huge cutting table for me along with desk space along an entire wall! i can't wait to show you, but i'd need a camera for that, unless you all want to come over for a visit. the wonderful guys at onesource are installing it (ok, mostly sean, but he's still pretty wonderful).
-another thing i can't wait to show you is he room switch! we switched the girls into silas' room and he's in their's. the girls' room is almost done, only minor things to do (that will probably never get done), but silas' room is still purple. good thing he's too young to care!
-i'm already starting to come up for designs for christmas! aaaack! it feels like its in the high 90's outside and i'm thinking of christmas?!
-another thing i need to let you all know is that i'm not taking custom orders right now. i get several emails about wonderful requests, but i am just too busy to keep up with custom orders, too. but they are something i enjoy, so hopefully i'll settle into a better work rhythm and figure out a way to do them, too. thanks for being patient!
-i have a lousy little giveaway for you when i get some pictures taken. since we're redoing the playroom i have been going through all my fabric scraps - 4 locker bins full + 2 bags! i whittled them down to one locker basket and am giving away the rest. but i must give fair warning: these are my scraps or fabric pieces i will never use again, as in i'm kind of tired of them or never really liked them. but one man's trash is another man's treasure, right? i think i'll have 3-4 gallon size ziplock bags full for you to have.

ok, i guess thats it now for the excuses. if i spent any longer, i'm sure i could think of more! but it is naptime and i need to get to processing those orders!

ciao!
-linds

today

my house may not be clean.
my laundry may be piled knee (or thigh) high.
my kids may need to be bathed.
we may not be eating very healthy right now.
i may be terribly behind on work.
i may not have blogged in a few days.
my camera may be broken.
but today was a good day.
today my kids were happy.
my girls hardly fought all day.
i was able to snuggle my 2 youngest whenever they asked.
i was able to organize to my heart's desire today in the playroom.
i only had to hear whining a fraction of the amount i usually do.
although there is much to be desired of the state of my home,
today it was made clear to me

i
am
blessed.

-lindsey

guest blogger nicole: {CURREN RIGGS}

{CURREN RIGGS}

HE is big...

and beautiful...

and I am blessed and ready to be home with the rest of the family...

thanks to my lindsey...for fanning my sweaty face while i pushed...for telling me i could do it when my hubby was speechless...and for sleeping on an uncomfortable cot in my hospital room so i did not have to stay alone. i am a lucky girl today...in more ways than i can count!

coming soon...curren's birth announcement!

:)nicole (aka proud mama)


from lindsey: thank you nicole for letting me in on your birth experience! what an amazing gift that was to me! you let me do something that i likely will never get to do again in my life. you were amazing yesterday and are blessed with a beautiful sleepy boy! love you!

welcome, baby!

nicole had her baby boy tonight just before 6pm.
i was watching her kids today, so as soon as sean got home i rushed the 1/2 mile to the hospital.
by the time i got there she was at 9 1/2 and hurting - big bad contractions. she got an epidural but she progressed so quickly it didn't have time to work.
she was a tough chick and did so awesome!
get this: she let me stay in the room for the delivery!!!!
i was so honored that they let me be a part of that and witness something i was sure i'd never get to experience "from the other side".
so you ready for the name?

curren riggs stilson

weighing in at 8lbs 6oz
measuring at 18 3/4"

riggs was the name that nicole's oldest son wanted the babe to be named,
and curren was a long ago suggestion from a good friend.
he's healthy and they are both doing well.
i hope to bring back pictures tomorrow, but i gotta go now because i get to go spend the night at the hospital with them while her husband sleeps with the other kiddos.
today is my lucky day!!!

-lindsey

last day for the sale!

just wanted to remind y'all (where'd that twang come from?) about the sale at my shop:
until midnight tonight (pst) you can get 15% off your entire purchase at the pleated poppy!
hurry hurry, and enter the code JUSTBECAUSE at checkout!

-lindsey

guest blogger nicole: think rushing...gushing...

****please note: this post is by my best friend nicole - NOT ME, LINDSEY! i am not pregnant and having a baby!****

WATER!

as in my water breaking! i am a ripe 39 + weeks prego and oh! so! uncomfy! all 3 of my kids were born close to 2 weeks early so what is up? i am trying to be patient...trying not to complain...trying to enjoy my sweet family of 5...try to soak up time with my hubby...

we have spent the past few afternoons at the beach...I cannot tell you how a couple of california kids (who have been living in central oregon) miss the ocean!

i love seeing my kids discover it all for the first time....

it definitely takes my mind off this big ole' bump...who, by the way, HAS A NAME!!!!

thank you, ALL OF YOU, for your awesome suggestions. we had more fun with your list than any website out there. truly...you are the coolest group of bloggin' peeps ever. I loved all the funky ones and the classic ones too! Alas! we have a name...now we just need a baby!

i am getting desperate...my husband keeps reminding me that i do have a crochet hook...:)

:)nicole


****UPDATE: NICOLE IS BEING INDUCED AT 11:00AM TODAY!!!! pray for her and the babe. i'll be back with squishy mushy baby pictures!****

STOP GROWING!

this big girl is going to start primary in a couple weeks.
(primary is what our school calls 1st and 2nd grade combo)
anyone figured out a way to make 'em stop growing?

-lindsey

"just because" sale!

yep, you heard me - i said SALE!!!

the reason? just because!
i am super thankful to all my loyal friends, readers, and lurkers
so i figured i owed you a little sumpin' sumpin' for sticking with me for so long.
how's 15% off your entire purchase at the pleated poppy sound?
enter JUSTBECAUSE for the discount code when you checkout.

and did you know i have added sooo many new posy pins sets to the shop? along with all of my work for (in)courage i have been squeezing in a little time here and there for my one of a kind posies. i also have a pile of posy hair clips to add to the shop - hopefully by tomorrow!

this sale will run through friday at midnight. so if you've been eying something special you better snatch it up quick - i think i only have about 3 petal pushers left and all the olive sold out today!


***edited to add: i just put up some new black petal pushers and lots of new posy hair clips!****

-lindsey

gone and back

we were gone all last week camping with my husband's family.
i tricked you didn't i? with a post everyday!
i decided to take a vacation from the camera, too.
you know how sometimes you can't fully enjoy a moment because you have to get that great picture, then the kid sneezes or blinks then have to restage the scene to catch what you thought was perfect? well, i decided last week i just wanted to enjoy the now, to be in the moment. that, and i had plenty of other photographers around to capture all the moments i'd only capture in my mind. but on the last day i decided to get a few shots of our time only take take this one picture then drop my camera, rendering it broken. seriously? what is with me and technology? and how many time have i asked this in the last month?!
but that crummy moment aside, i dicovered i have much to be thankful for:
- i. love. my. husband's. family. they are wonderful people, and anyone who comes across them would agree. loving, caring, generous, hilarious - love them!
- i love my husband. no this is not a revelation to me, but just a deeper appreciation for the man that God gifted me with.
- health. 2 family memebers were hospitalized this week.
- my work. as much as i still cringe to say that i work, i do work. i have to not only accept it as a reality, but as a blessing that again God has gifted us with. i was able to get a great deal of work done while we were gone, and it was relaxing! there are certain aspects of what i do that i so enjoy, i'd rather sit and make posies than read a book any day!
- my kids. they were so content to roll in the soot filled sand, and play in piles of rocks all week. of course, having lots of older cousins doting on them helped quite a bit!
- my brother's fall. he's a photographer and was shooting a wedding and he had a seriuos fall from 6ft off the ground. you can read about his story here, and see God's goodness in it. my sister-in-law, denise, has an amazing way of finding God in everything.

there is so much more for me to list, but naptime for the kids is calling! see you soon!

-linds

the name game

ok everyone.

you know my best friend nicole?
the one who guest-blogged here for a bit (don't worry - she'll be back)?
the one who sold her dream home 700 miles away and moved just 2 miles from ME!?
well, do you also remember that she is very pregnant?
with boy number 3.
her other children's names are:
tyler (girl)
drew (boy)
hawken (boy)

but the baby remains un-named!
they have gone through every name book out there
and they just can't seem to settle on anything.
so she's getting desperate.
we are coming to you, nearly complete strangers (to her),
to help name her baby boy.
she's due any day now.
c'mon guys - let's name that baby!

-lindsey

petal pushers

2 new colors of petal pushers are in the shop:

rose and olive green

punch, white, and natural have all sold out.

grey is almost gone.

these things are going fast, so get yours while you can!

ruffle tank tutorial

i like to make you wait, apparently!

or maybe its my mission in life to teach all of you to be patient.

or maybe i've been busy.

yes, that's definitely it.

today i'm going to give you a tutorial on how to make something out of nearly nothing.

i got my tanks at old navy for 2 bucks a pop. love that!
the scraps of fabric were leftovers from the skirts nicole made for our girls (from this tutorial).


this is what the scraps looked like.
some pieces thinner, some thicker.
i needed to make 3 tanks,
so i divided up the scraps so each top had the same amount in each size.
there was no measuring involved.
(i'm realizing now this isn't going to be a very good tutorial, as i have no measurements. hmm... i'll make some guesses)

each top had 2 pieces about 2" x 20", and 1 piece about 3" x 30" (maybe shorter?).


i didn't finish any edges.
i like it frayed and scrappy.
but you could finish them with a zigzag if your kids are well-behaved and allow you all the time in the world to do stuff like that.
i just took my fabric and fed in into my machine with a straight stitch. i used the longest stitch i had and tightened my tension all the way. i've found that when i do that, the machine does a little bit of the ruffling/gathering for me. not all machines do that. mine is just special (not really - its probably some sort of error). so run it through your machine and then pukll on one string until the ruffle is the length you like.


next line up your ruffled fabric strip where you want it on the tank. i always start with the widest piece and place it in the center. i never measure, just eyeball it.

can you see in the pic above how i just folded the top edge under? do that, then run a straight stitch down the ruffle to attach it to the shirt, and fold under the bottom edge, too.
man, these instructions stink. sorry.

then add the other 2 sides after you've ruffled them.

let me know if you have any questions or need clarification.
i promise a better tutorial next time.

-lindsey

posy headbands

cutify your little babe's noggin.

get a posy headband.

or 2.

(in)couraging products - part 2

i made these posy pins exclusively for (in)courage.
each one is created with distressed layers of designer fabrics and has a couple leaves added to it,
one leaf carrying a message and verse reference.

get yours here.
*please note: the posies are as pictured here, which vary slightly from those shown on (incourage)*

or if you are looking for something one of a kind,
come check out my personal shop, the pleated poppy.
i just added over 20 fresh new sets of posy pins!

happy shopping!

-lindsey

(in)couraging products - part 1

(in)courage launches today. have you checked it out yet?

here are my tea towels that i've created for (in)courage. each one is handmade and unique, and has a verse appliqued on. i *love* how these are turning out! i still have many many many more to make, but my first batch is available for purchase here. *please note: the tea towels are as pictured here, which vary slightly from the pictures on (in)courage*

-lindsey