and we're live!

The etsy shop has launched with 8 unique pillows for sale!

launch day

I can't believe that it's already October.  This past week was uncharacteristically busy, so I finished sewing the final pillow this morning.  I was hoping to take photographs outside, but the weather is not cooperating and has been raining since last night.  Despite the clouds, I managed to time it just right to get enough natural light in my living room.  Stay tuned for updates on listings in the shop!

halfway there!

I am halfway to my goal of 8 pillows for my October 1st shop launch with 9 days left.  Not bad, not bad.  I have some unexpected time off this week, so I'm hoping to get a good amount of sewing done in these next few days while I try not to go too stir crazy.  I haven't taken too many pictures of the process - part of me wants to just show them all at once.  Here's a very unglamorous webcam photo of me hard at work on my couch (next to a large stack of library books - typical):

I'm getting faster and faster at stitching and it kind of amazes me how quickly I took to all of this.  Getting disinterested quickly and abandoning projects is pretty much my M.O.  Just recently I gave up on knitting before I even started once I realized how much math was involved.  Ick.

I went this weekend and indulged in some unnecessary but helpful sewing goods.  I decided it would be a good idea to purchase a pin cushion, so I could stop sticking the needles in my couch while I sewed.  I also picked up a thimble so I could stop sticking them in my finger.  Does anyone know why pin cushions are so often in the shape of a tomato?

While home from work today (after hours of lying in bed reading magazines and eating English muffins) I pulled out my gear, sat in a warm patch of sunlight and finished a new style.  The varied nature the vintage doilies means that I can mix and match styles on the current size offering of pillow (16x16").  I decided to get a little adventurous and try two different sizes and colors on one.  I liked how it turned out, and it looks a lot different than the other pillows.

Hello!  I am not very good at these introductory posts, but I suppose I can tell you a little about myself.  My name is Kelly Burgess, I am 25, and live in Arlington, Massachusetts.  I moved to a one bedroom apartment this summer after living in a studio for a year and now actually have room to decorate and put furniture.  I decided to start making pillows one day because I couldn't find any online that were my style and that would go with my new couch.  I don't find myself to be particularly crafty (most of my endeavors into the craft world get abandoned before they even get off the ground) but I always wish that I did something with my hands.  I would categorize myself as a photographer first and foremost, but I also make forays into web design, book making, and make feeble attempts at cooking.

I've been working hard this month trying to get everything ready.  I'm hoping to launch by the end of this month if everything goes according to plan.  I have a domain, set up the shop, and have the blog in place.  Supplies have been purchased and I'm on my way.

So here's a finished product and what you can expect once I get the shop up and running:

The first step was to clean the vintage doilies.  I let them soak for a while in my kitchen sink and now they are clean and don't smell like grandmas.

I've even started making tags to attach to the pillows for when I send them out.  I don't have a dedicated craft area yet, so I've been working at my coffee table.  I'm very excited to get this off the ground, so stay tuned for more updates.