Writer's Block, Dementia & Back to School Open House

I haven't been able to blog  in a long time due to some writer's block caused by a lot of  stress that I have had recently.  I had to move my Dad to another Assisted Living facility.  It took over a month to finally get him moved, no thanks to the director where he was living who said, " he has to go, I can't take care of him any longer."   Unfortunately, she  did everything she could to cut her own throat to keep him from getting moved, because she wanted to do things her way, the easy way & didn't follow protocol , and  didn't do what was needed to get him moved even up until the very last day!  I will spare the details, but it was very stressful for me, a nightmare to say the least, and in the end I had to get an advocate. She was very helpful, and she was not at all happy with her.  The good news is he is in a much better place.  It's an assisted living place that specializes in dementia. My Dad's dementia isn't too bad right now.  He thinks his one and only daughter is a movie star!  He says, " I see you on TV all the time".  LOL!  The first day, they took him there, fed him lunch, and then he played Bingo, followed by a singalong (my Dad loves to sing & used to sing solos in church).  Then, they had a pastor to speak, and my Dad led in prayer, since he is a retired minister.  I missed most of it, because I was unpacking his things in his room, but I could tell he was already much happier!

 Daddy leaving for his new home! 

I have still been busy with vendor events this summer, going to Purcellville Town Market, and will be going to Berkeley Springs on Saturday, July 26 to set up in front of Lion's Lair. My schedule so far:

Purcellville Town Market  on August 9, Sept 6, and Oct. 4.
 Patsy Cline Block Party. Music, craft & food vendors - August 30
 Berryville Yard Sale Sept. 13,
 Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs October 11-12 set up in front of Lion's Lair.

July 19 at Purcellville Town Market.

 On August 2, I am having an Open House in celebration of my new shop/work area, and it is also a Back to School Sale.  I will have tote bags, lightweight backpacks, pencil pouches, laundry bags, laptop bags, small tablet holders, wallets, small pouches, drawstring bags,  handbags, infinity scarves, pillows & aprons- adult, child & toddler.  I will also be taking orders on these items & have fabric to choose from.  I know I may not get enough made before then.  So come and check it out.  See Details below:


Becky’s Pillow Shop Open House
Back to School Sale
9am-6pm , Saturday, August 2, 2014
612 Albert St, Martinsburg, WV
Back to School items- Totes, lightweight backpacks, laptop bags, pencil pouches, handbags, shoulder bags, drawstring bags, laundry bags, infinity scarves, pillows & aprons. Specials Spend $20 and get ½ off 1 item of equal or less value. I will be taking special orders on some items.

My   Etsy Shop go to :  https://etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop

My Web Site:  www.beckyspillowshop.com

My Newest Brand, Hired Help & my Etsy Sale!

  Do you struggle with "clutter" at your house as much as I do?  I get so overwhelmed sometimes with all my clutter, and don't know what to do with it all.  I also get overwhelmed with all that there is to do to take care of my home, and unfortunately there is no one to help. It's been almost 5 years since my husband's accident, and death, and we didn't have children so there's just me.  I am responsible for everything, including making sure grass is mowed, gardening, house is clean and everything else that comes with owning a home.   I have had "several" handy men in the last 5 years, doing lots of odd jobs, and none of them worked out for one reason or another. Finally, for the summer,  I have hired a " handy woman". My best friend's daughter is home from college, and needed a job, so I have hired her to work 8-10 hours a week. She has done a lot in  in just 3 short days, she has cleaned and organized half of my basement - a HUGE job, did spring cleaning in the kitchen, weeded my flower garden, planted some herbs, edited & taken pictures for my business, and more. She will be helping me with other various jobs as they come along this summer. My goal was to clean the basement this past winter, but it was just too COLD down there.  Anyway, I am excited about getting some things done around here, she is also good at organizing, and good with a hammer & nail, so she will be very such a blessing to have around.

You might notice the picture at the top, this is my new line of drawstring  "backpacks."  Although, this one has lightweight webbing, not cord, and it has a heavyweight orange lining.  I'm going to be making more of these and also more messenger bags of different fabrics.  There are a few new items pictured also, the denim tote with the German boy & girl on the side,

and butterfly handbag.

 Planning to make some beach bags, so if you need one and have a special request let me know.  I will be doing tote style, and drawstring style like the tropical fish bag pictured.  Note : this one is small but would be great for a kid's bag.  All these items will be on Etsy or my web site soon!

 I am having a SALE on Etsy.  Get $3 off any $15 purchase!  Use coupon code:  LATESPRINGSALE3  at checkout to get discount.  https://etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop  If you have any questions, please do no hesitate to send me a message through Etsy or to my e-mail address or "Contact Me on my web site!

beckyspillowshop@gmail.com    www.beckyspillowshop.com

I almost forgot!  I had a giveaway to celebrate 200 Facebook likes.  The winner was Gina Painter -she will receive a $20 gift card!

$20 Gift Card Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To celebrate my 200 likes on Facebook, I am giving away a $20 gift certificate for Becky's Pillow Shop.  This will run for a week through next Sunday.  You need to answer the question to enter, then you can enter up to 4 more times for more entries!   Click on the the link to enter.  Rafflecopter will pick a random winner!

To see a lot of my items : https://etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop  There are several other items not listed on Etsy, as well, but will be adding more as the week goes on!   

My Un-happy Birthday, & A Very Cool Vendor Event

Last week was my birthday.  A friend took me out a couple days early to eat and I had a wonderful meal, but it was a type of fish I had never eaten before.  I'm still not sure if it was the fish  or the chocolate lava cake,  but something  made me violently sick and I was up all night Monday night.  My birthday was on Wednesday & I had planned to go to Berkeley Springs, one of my favorite places, and have lunch with a friend who just moved there.   Unfortunately, I was stuck on the couch all week, and couldn't eat much of anything much less birthday cake!   I felt like horrible and  by the end of the week my legs felt like jello I was so weak. I didn't want to do " anything."  I couldn't read, sew, design  and  I had to force myself to get on my computer to see all my Facebook birthday wishes.   Thank you if you wished me a Happy Birthday!  I finally settled for watching TV  and fortunately, I just upgraded my cable, and I found some great Hallmark movies! I finally went to the doctor on Friday, and he said to treat like food poisoning with Pepto Bismol.  Yum Yum!  Ugh!

   On Saturday, I finally felt half way human again and started preparing for my vendor event for May 10.  I am really excited about this event and am honored that I was asked and "approved" by the Board.  I will be a visiting craft vendor at the "Purcellville Town Market" on Saturday, May 10.  I've been working very hard this week making lots of Mother's Day gifts, including shopping bags, handbags, pillows, aprons, and more. I have lots of new items that haven't been listed in my Etsy store yet.  The Purcellville Town Market is a farmer's market with lots of unique vendors, which not only includes produce, but also has bakeries, florists, organic meat, and more. For more information you can go to : http://www.purcellvillecommunitymarket.com

There is even a short video showing the vendors and what they make.   The Market is from 9am -1pm and the address is 130 E. Main St., Purcellville, VA.  Hope to see you there! 

 Pictured above  is a display of my shop, and below are some of my new items for this event.  

 
 


 Also this week I am having a 10% off  $10 or more Sale in my Etsy shop, but it only lasts until midnight tomorrow. May 9.  Use coupon code: MOMSDAYSPECIAL10
  https://etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop

Skull Bags, Repurposed skirts, & Earth Day Celebration

This Saturday, I am very excited about the Earth Day Celebration Event.  This is from 12pm-9pm at Morgon Grove Park in Shepherdstown, WV.  I have been very busy working making some brand new items. See the laptop messenger Skull bag and tote pictured here. I have especially been concentrating on Recycled/Repurposed items!  I have been having fun making bags, and pillows from skirts, pillow cases, table cloths, & place mats.  I have aprons made from men's shirts & blue jeans, &  a skirt.  Check out the pictures below.

Upcycled Skirts, Black purse, Denim shoulder bag, tote, & half apron. (The 2 denim bags are from the same skirt. :) ) 

Pastel bag- great for crafts, knitting (upcycled placemat) Reversible bag ( upcycled table cloth & scrap fabric) 

Upcycled pillow cases & shams-  Red/green produce bag,  pink laundry bag, &  blue/purple handbag. 

Aprons upcycled from men's shirts 

Pillow made  from a denim skirt

Upcycled blue jeans- girls shoulder bag, tote, & bandana toddler apron

Hope to see you there on Saturday. It should be a lot of fun!  To see more of my items go to : https://etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop

For more information and details about the Earth Day celebration go to: http://pedc.earthvibeproductions.com/about.htm

Spring Events, New Logo &  Bags of Fortune 

I am proud to present to you my new banner and logo.  I originally had a small banner made for my Etsy shop and it was much smaller and just had Becky's pillow shop written on it.  Then I decided I liked it so much I wanted a new sign/banner to hand up at events so this is what it will look like when it arrives!  I was a volunteer missionary in Togo, West Africa for over a year so I love the African theme items and especially the Safari animals!   This pattern was taken from the fabric I used to make  some beautiful place mats for Lion's Lair.  

 I have been busy sewing some new bags and aprons for spring. I am getting ready for the Earth Day Celebration in Shepherdstown on April 26, and possibly the Berryville Main Street Yard Sale on April 12. Also I was asked by someone on the " board" of the Purcellville Town Farmer's Market to be a vendor at  this summer, which is exciting.  Whoo-Hoo! I think he liked my wares, and even gave me ideas of what to concentrate on making .  Apparently, you have to be approved by the board to participate!   I met him at a vendor event I participated at recently in Charles Town, WV.   My Aunt Shirley was visiting from North Carolina that weekend.  She recycles sweaters and makes beautiful handbags from them, all different & very unique, so she went with me to the event and took her bags.  They are called " Bags of Fortune".  "Unfortunately" no pun intended-  they don't come with great fortune, but  with lots of love from Shirley Fortune.  My Uncle Mac, her brother, jokes and says she has had lots of "mis-fortune" which is actually pretty true.  Check out some pictures of the bags below. They are only $25 each. They are all lined with pockets inside and magnet closure (magnets are under lining) . There are a few that aren't made from sweaters, but I posted pictures of a few of the spring/summer bags.   I kept them and am going to try and sell them for her, so if you are interested please e-mail me  and I can give more details and send more pictures.

beckyspillowshop@gmail.com

 

I have lots of new spring items on my Etsy store, and adding things daily .  I am trying to get 100 items listed so check out my new items. 

https://etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop

Becky's "NEW" Pillow Shop

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I am so excited to have a new "Shop" in my home.  This room is large enough for me to display most of my items, have a large work table, a sewing area, storage of all my fabric & supplies, and office with my computer, printer & filing cabinet!!  Check out the photos below. My friends are moving the furniture.  

 

I have an L-Shaped desk for sewing and storing supplies. 

I have a large banquet table used as a work space, for cutting fabric, and taking pictures.

I have my office area with my computer, printer & filing cabinet.

 My dining room hutch makes a great display area and storage in the bottom part.

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I have some shelves for pillows, coat tree for bags, and manikin for aprons & scarves.

I  am also using the large closet and linen closet for fabric, and other supplies. I love my new room and am so happy I gave up my large bedroom.  I hope to have an Open House in the spring, if it ever arrives!  


www.etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop
 I am having 20% off  everything through March 20.  Just use coupon code  WINTERCLEARANCE2014 at checkout!