Organized Clearance

Fall is almost here, and it's time to get geared up for the busiest season of the year for me.  I haven't done many vendor events this summer, so  I have many of my handmade items in  my guest room & it  is busting at the seams with pillows & bags!   I have no where to put new things!  So what to do, hmm, I think it's time for a Big Clearance Sale on pillows, & while I'm at it I will add some bags as well!  I have great prices on all  pillows - They are all from $2.00- $5.00, no pillow over $5.00!! Also  bags range from $3- $10!  Great Deals!!   To see my sale items you can go to my website at:  http://www.beckyspillowshop.com/apps/webstore/products/category/1016132?page=1 
All of the sale items are on this link.  

I also have so many new things to make by October 1st for Lion's Lair, and lots of other items for Christmas Holiday Blitz at the mall.  Recently,  I have gotten some great deals on fabric and now my fabric baskets are overflowing .   I began to realize that  my so called "organized"   sewing room was now a " chaotic" mess.      How can I even begin to concentrate on all this sewing  when my  room is in total disarray?? ( I mean who can begin to work at a desk when there are papers all over it?  Not I! )   What should I do?? I think it was time to call  for help.  So I called a professional organizer and she was a able to help and made it simple!  She made me think, "now, where would I go to look for this item?"  She gave me "Simple Solutions and we  got my entire sewing room organized in 3.5 hours! By the way, the name of her business is " Simple Solutions" and she does a great job in a short amount of  time.  If you are interested in a professional organizer, please message me  for her business information.

In the meantime, I think I am now ready to get started on lots of new items.  This week I had a mail rush order to make 2 "Dorthy " (from the Wizard of Oz) aprons for 3 year old twins. I made 2 bib aprons , light blue gingham with ribbon & gathering at the waist, similar to the jumper that Dorthy wears in the movie.    ( See the picture above.)  I think she wanted the twins to wear the aprons over their tutus  to see the new 3D Wizard of Oz movie this weekend!   I have made some " southwestern" place mats, and am making more  aprons, ( with monkeys, sock monkeys -pictured above, owls, safari)  for  toddlers, children's & adults. I am getting ready to make some  " messenger bags"  Eeek! Something totally new to me!    Anyway, please don't forget to check out my Summer End Clearance Sale   on Becky's pillow shop and remember prices have been greatly reduced!     Stay tuned for more new items this fall!

Solace in the Lion's Lair

Where did the summer go?  It's the day after Labor Day already, and unfortunately, for me it wasn't much of a relaxing summer.  It started in June right before Father's Day,  when my Dad fell and ended up in the hospital.  He is 87 years old, can't cook, and really was not able to take care of himself, so he had no business living alone, but what can you do with a very stubborn 87 year old man who needs to be in control?  He wouldn't listen to his family.  When he got to the hospital, his landlord told him he couldn't go back to his apartment.  He was taken to a nursing home a few days later, and standard procedure is to apply for medicaid even if you don't qualify. My Mom gets things mixed up, and doesn't remember things well, and I knew that it was up to me to take care of things. As it turned out the deadline for Medicaid application was the same day as the deadline for getting everything out of my Dad's apartment and having it clean! It just so happened that I had planned a Yard Sale the week before.  I had already advertised,  but I should have cancelled it anyway, because as it turned out I didn't sell much, and didn't have enough help to get everything back inside. MORE STRESS!!!  Needless to say, the next day I stayed in my pj's all day and did absolutely nothing but chill out. 

   The HIPA laws made it impossible for me to get any info. for the Medicaid app. without his permission, and getting his cooperation was like pulling teeth.  We soon found out that he was only going to be in the nursing home for rehab., and then he had nowhere to go.  MORE STRESS!!   Actually most  of the stress was not caused by the things I had to do, but the drama it created with both parents .

As stressful as this was, for about almost 6 weeks, I knew that I had to get away and go somewhere, but where??  I needed a big SPA day, somewhere near the mountains, or near the water, a full body massage, anything to help me to RELAX!  So, then I thought of the perfect place, wasn't even far away, but far enough that my phone wouldn't work where I was so NO ONE could call me!!  I went to Berkeley Springs, WV & stayed at the Cacapon Resort.  Wow, couldn't have gone to a better place- I had the mountains, the lake, and I got a Roman mineral bath and a massage at Berkeley Springs State Park.  It was great, and I thought , while I am there I should take some of my handmade items  from Becky's Pillow Shop and see if I can find any stores that might be willing to sell them. I hadn't been able to do much sewing or selling this summer and I really needed to sell some things.  Well, guess what?  I found one.  The owner of The Lion's Lair said, I really like your designs, but I need more modern, retro type fabrics. So, I got started right away, gathering fabrics I already had, and got her approval, buying new ones that she wanted & began to sew, sew, sew.  On August 22, I  sold her an order of 26 items!!    I have a couple displays in the store, a bag in the front window,  and she has sold a few items already!  I am so excited! 

Oh, yeah, and as for that Yard Sale-  Well, I am having another one this weekend. Fri- Sat. ( Sept 6-7) at my house.  612 Albert St, Martinsburg 8am - ? both days.   So come on out and check it out!!  You can check out my event page on facebook to see detailed listings, and some pics & prices!!  The link is:

https://www.facebook.com/events/202325013268908/

Becky's Pillow Shop : July 4

Becky's Pillow Shop : July 4: Americana patchwork bag - $12.99 on Etsy Fireworks pillow $8.00 (17 inch pillow)   July 4th is almost here, so what do y...

Becky's Pillow Shop : July 4

Becky's Pillow Shop : July 4: Americana patchwork bag - $12.99 on Etsy Fireworks pillow $8.00 (17 inch pillow)   July 4th is almost here, so what do y...

July 4

Americana patchwork bag - $12.99 on Etsy

Fireworks pillow $8.00 (17 inch pillow) 

 July 4th is almost here, so what do you like to do on the fourth of July?? Some plan their vacations around July 4th and others take weekend trips around July 4th.  Lots of people go to July 4th festivals, celebrations, parades, concerts, craft shows and other July 4th events.  Some plan family cookouts, family reunions, and picnics.  There is always one thing that I think of when it comes to the fourth of July, and that is "Fireworks"!  No matter whether you have a family cookout, go to the town festival, or don't do anything special, many of us will do one thing for sure and that is watch the fireworks!!   I love watching the fireworks, whether it is up close or from afar!  I live a little bit far from the park where they do the fireworks in my town and there's so much traffic afterwards, I don't like to get that close. But I can walk right around the corner from my home & they are in plain sight!! I love watching the fireworks, even from afar!!  So what are  you doing for July 4th??
Leave a comment to answer my question!

Becky's pillow shop has all " July 4th" items on sale.  Pillows, handbag, aprons, toddler aprons.  For more information:  go to  http://www.beckyspillowshop.com/ or to  http://www.etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop/ to see pictures!  Pillows go from $5-$10, aprons $10, toddler aprons, $5, and a patchwork handbag on Etsy for $12.99!  

Craft & Yard Sale

My friend and I both have small business where we make craft items. Her business is Glamorize Accessorize.  She make hair accessories, headbands, flower clips, and baby hats & also sells tutus, bloomers baby shoes.   A couple weeks ago we decided to have our own Craft/Yard Sale. I have done yard sales before , but not and combination craft & yard sale, and never realized how much more work is involved!    Also, little  did I know that I would have a family situation come up on top of it.  My Dad was hospitalized last week, and then transferred to a nursing home this week.( This was not a bad thing because it's been a long time in coming!)  He won't be going back where he was residing, so I was able to find a lot more items to sell, mainly his clothes.  Unfortunately, his home health aide hadn't done his laundry in a while, and he was getting low on clean shirts, so I started on his laundry. Nine loads of laundry later, and I haven't finished, I have counted  50+ button down shirts, and probably 15 pullovers, and that isn't counting the 20 T-shirts, and  about  15  sweaters!! So there will be lots of small size shirts 38/40 chest, 15 collar, and lots of sport jackets, & dress pants ( 34/32)  & ties for sale!

Becky's pillow shop will have:
throw pillows, - floral, zebra print, toucan, country, patchwork, Americana, ( Kids pillows- Transformers, doggy , Tooth fairy pillows, Pillow Sets, heart shaped, Ravens, & Redskins.

Also, Aprons( toddler, children, adult) , table runners, small pouches, small drawstring bags for $1, coasters, placemats, baby bibs, handbags, totes, beach bag, laundry bag, bean bags, & rice bags for $1.

Yard Sale items, include:
HP Router- like new  ( used only 3 days) - $30
Vintage wedding dress  &veil ( 80's handmade) $75
Household items, tools, toys, clothes, kids & women also, record album, lamps, decorative flags, knick knacks, tools, Thirty-one items, & much more.

So come on out to the Craft & Yard sale on Saturday- June 22, 612 Albert St. & check it out.  8am - ??

To see more items, and pictures, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/604397622917440/

Hope to see you there!!

Becky's Pillow Shop

Handmade vs. Factory Made

So you are looking for that perfect gift for Aunt Suzie, who seems to already have everything!! You don't know what to buy for her, and you are looking for something unique, that you won't find anywhere else, like a one of a kind item.  Do you :

A.  look on Ebay

B.   look for something handmade 

C.  go to a Flea Market

Chances are if you go to Ebay, or a flea market , you might find something , but you can bet there are probably several more items just like that one somewhere.  I suggest to look for something handmade.  You might say where do I look for something handmade?  Well, first of all you can look at crafts shows, and other vendor events. You can check your local paper or the internet to find out where the local craft shows are. Also, you can do a search online , but be sure to type in " Handmade" so you won't get something that isn't made by hand.  Now, when you go to these craft shows, look for the vendors that actually Hand Make  their items!  When buying from crafters whose items are handmade, you more than likely are buying something they designed or created, that you might not find somewhere else.  They may have similar designs or similar materials, but you may never find another item just like this one!  I  made some aprons out of T-towels that had bowls of soup on them. ( maybe Aunt Suzie voluteers at a soup kitchen & needs an apron). I also made  a " skirt" purse from a real skirt and  girls' handbags out of blue jean legs and sewed a Princess or Tinker Bell fabric pockets on them.   When buying from other local small businesses you are helping boost the ecomony in your area, and that helps everyone.  Also, a lot of times  people appreciate things that are hand made more .  That being said, what will you do the next time you are looking for that perfect gift for Aunt Suzie or your  granddaughter who just started losing their teeth, and you need a tooth fairy pillow     Becky's pillow shop has lots of different items to choose from, and can do special orders if requested.   To see more items  go to :  http://www.beckyspillowshop.com/   You can leave a comment or go to the Contact Me page for any questions.  Or  go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop/ You can also go to my FB  page at http://www.facebook.com/beckyspillowshop/ and be sure to click " Like" at the top of the page!