I missed it

How did I? How could I? I missed my 1st blogger-versery. So happy one year and 5 days to me and my blog! I love you June!

Here are some stats just for fun, I say not bad for my first year!

282 posts
7 drafts 6 of which need to be deleted
478 comments

Since April I have had 13,858 page loads and 10,081 unique visitors! Now if you can make me understand what that means that please do! Even after reading the "Blogging for Dummies" book I still don't get what that means, LOL.

But what I do know for sure is that I love my little blog. I have never kept a journal for more that a week, ever. This is a great way for me to see all the cool things we do around here.

Some of my favorite posts one from each month of the year:

Cure for the common cold!

I love that photo of the cardinal.

Look what I found today!

I need to do these more often!

Blurb and Beautiful new "Diner Apron Collection"

my first write up and my first apron line!

The Craft Mafia's Spring Bada Bing

My first big indie craft show

Harry Potters new pad

This one is also from April, I could not resist!

The start of a great love

Two great subjects my Grr and my oilcloth.

Homeschool pinky swear

oh yeah, I forgot about that promise. Oops!

Angry, Bitter and Tired

July had A LOT of great post but this one really was the best! Hanging with my girls! I true member of the Richmond Craft Mafia and loving it, well most of it!

cupcake crazy & cupcakes galore! & LA Ink

It stated around August and lasted through December, Cupcake craze. I have nothing but scrape left of these fabrics. I have just a few aprons left, all children's sizes. I have to get with it and come up with CUPCAKE COLLECTION V2. ASAP!

shipping and handling

This one rocked! Well the project rocked and still does I love my shipping cabinet. love love love it

E is for EVERYTHING

You'll aren't going to hold me to this one are you?

All Hallows Eve

That was fun!

A little something new

Best damn apron I ever made! A sell out, I will try hard to get more of this fabric for round two. Check it out I posted 43 times in November. Noblopomo was I

My crazy trees

crazy crazy crazy! crazy trees, crazy life, crazy job, crazy kids, crazy husband, crazy good! It's all crazy good!


Thanks for coming along for the crazy ride! Happy New Year! By the way that is cider that I am drinking there. I, at the age on 39 and 10 months was not able to get a stupid drink tonight cuz I had no ID. Priceless!

Christmas 2007

What a crazy Christmas! Let's start off back before Thanksgiving... I have never ever been that swamped with work since my days on the movie sets doing wardrobe. Yikes, 12 hour days 7 days a week. I estimate that I constructed at least 89 aprons in less that 25 days. Man oh man, can you say burn out? But I am not complaining just amazed and tired still.


Just after I sent my last Modern June packages out in the mail, finally got the house completely decorated for the holidays and made my very first real family meal in weeks I received the call that my Grandma, My Grr, had passed away. Even though I knew this day was coming I still was overwhelmed with grief. I was not at all prepared for this. The woman that way always there for me and my family was gone. But trust me she still make us laugh. She was a very happy woman always smiling and laughing.

Friday before Christmas I hopped on a plane and made my way home to Missouri. But what a time to go. I would miss my dear sweet Maddies 10th birthday, going to see Santa and Christmas Eve.

Maddie and I were lucky to have 3 wonderful people to take part in making sure that Maddies birthday was in good hands. Janet posted a Happy 10th Birthday sign on our front window. And Don took good care of the the kids even though they were all having melt downs that day. That he was still sane is all I could ask for! But Christi was the best ever! Christi gave my birthday girl a wonderful dinner and play date. What a wonderful distraction for Maddie, Aidan and Don. Janet and Christi I can't thank you both enough! I owe ya big time : )


Meanwhile in Missouri I was thankful to be busy helping out with all the preparations for the services. My wonderful Aunt Peggy had things so well planned. I can't imagine all the things that she learned that week. All the little details that go into making such a wonderfully special memorial. She had the most wonderful idea of making memorial boards, photos of all the people that surrounded my Grr with love. I was to put my crafty-ness to work. I was just glad to have a hand in making sure everyone could see what a great life we were given thanks to Mary Moylan Lewis, my Grr.



I arrived back safe and sound in-spite terrible turbulence and icy runways. My plane got me home just before Santa arrived. I think I was home before 1:00 a.m. Desperately I tried to go to the grocery store and Walmart to try and get a Christmas dinner. I had not thought of this until I was changing planes in some very cold city up north. No Christmas ham for us!

When I arrived home Don and I stayed up and did all the wrapping, well I was not much help really. But I tried anyway. I did fret over all the little traditions that did not happen they way they should, about the nice dinner that we would not have. I went to bed all upset that this would not be the best Christmas ever.



Boy was I wrong, we had the most wonderful time. In our jammies all day long, napping or cuddled up reading and playing all day. And thanks to my m.i.l. I was able to make a diner version of a turkey dinner, Open face turkey dinner. Yummy! So all and all, as long as we have each other we can't go wrong!

Merry Late Christmas everyone.

3 neat things and some life stuff

1. Angry Chicken has a very cool freebie, very cool gift tags for you to download and print out. too fun! By the way I have an extra Bend the Rules Sewing if any one would like to have it let me know. I ended up with two somehow. What a great book! I want to make the gnome hat some day.

2. Handmade 2.0, The New York Times Magazine has a great article about our crafty lives, our crafty buy handmade movement. The buy handmade challenge list is at 10406. That is so great! Have you taken the challenge?

3. For those of you that are pattern makers I recently found these size charts over at About.com (i end up there a lot). They have made life much easier in the last day or two. I have needed to make several of my apron patterns in plus sizes. I can't tell you how these charts made it so much easier.

Yes I am still working a way, Sunday was not the last day of mad sewing and Monday was not filled with loving family time. I am getting there. Those last 7 items needed new patterns and none of it was cut out. That slows a girl down.

Yesterday I sent out 15 packages. WOW! that is incredible! I just can't believe my good fortune. You all rock! Three aprons left! I am off to sew. And then decorate that tree, it came on Friday and I just sitting there needing love!

By the way my grandmother is being kept comfortable and is in the loving hands of her family and great care. She is truly blessed! I always said that I had to merry a man just has wonderful as my grandfather. He has been nothing but loving and kind.

on a lighter note

Here is a fun email from my sweet buddy Maria, I had to share.


PARENT - Job Description

This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,
I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

• The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
• Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
  
• Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets, and stuck zippers.
• Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
  
• Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
  
• Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
• Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
• Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
• Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
  

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Too cute and shockingly correct! LOL

my grr

This weekend I was told that my dear grandma, my Grr was entering hospice. I am not going to get really chatty but I would like to say that she wore the most wonderful aqua blue gingham apron with white cross-stitch. I have missed her for so long due to Alzheimer's but I had no idea how much till now.

Tonight I will finish up the last 7 items of Modern June's Holiday 2007 orders, and tomorrow after I leave the post office I am going to love on my babies, make my Grr's chocolate oatmeal cookies and play Yahtzee. Just like she did with me.

need to get your craft one?

Here is a nifty little project my crafty friend Dawn I working on! It is a Google Map of all things crafty in Richmond! If you have any thing to add give her a shout at Larkstudioart.com

cherrylicious

cherrylicious, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

I get loads of wisdom from my wee ones.

Like...

"Your studio was better arranged the old way." said Aidan in the car one day. He was so right, I rearranged the room the next day.

And "You should just go down and sew because the faster you get to work the faster you will be done." said Maddie when I was sick earlier this week

But the best one so far was last night when all I wanted was to go to bed instead of cutting out my remaining cherrylicious apron orders....

"You know what you should do Mommy? You should design a totally new apron, ( I LOL) no really with new fabric and a new shape. You should do that now."

Oh my! that cracked me up. And the funny thing is he was right again, that was exactly what I do to keep it fresh. When I have a hard time getting something completed I often need to make some thing totally out of the blue instead of finishing the order. This way I can actually go back and do the order really well, I am all refreshed and back to my crafty goodness. It is like my version of writers block I guess. Well I did not take his advise this time but I am taking Maddies! Cherry aprons are on the way!

FYI I am making an extra diner apron so if you want one for Christmas tell that man of yours to go and grab it quick!

Order Up!

Pink Shel for me!

My creation, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

I have finally gotten one of the fabulous pink shel collages! And ain't it truly cool! Check out Pinkshel.etsy.com for one of your own. I suggest a custom made cowgirl collage! I need one of these badly!

photo curtesy pink shel.

la dolca vita

I can tell you have thankful I am for such a wonderful bunch of clients, friends and crafty peeps in my life! Everyday I am hearing some of the most wonderful things about my work, here is just one comment that made my day..."Know that you are a-bustle this time of year. Your stuff will make for many a classic smile when the gift wrap falls away."

I tell you all this not to gloat but to say that I am truly honored to be your apron maker, your friend and your blog buddy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am glad you are here with me on this crazy wonderful ride called the good life!

Love, Kelly!

look what I just bought!

Buying hand made! Love this! Love it lots! It has an apron on it! This fab calendar is made by Smack of Jellyfish over at ETSY. I can't wait for the year to be over so I can take Sarah's advice and use the images as kitchen art! Wow can you picture how cool that would be! Maybe I need to buy two so I can do that now. hmmmm.

But wait what is so endlessly cool is the fact that she lives on a boat in the ocean in Alaska. WOW that blows my mind! What an adventure that must be.

She also carries some cool greeting cards and totes. Check her out! now I tell you now! ( i think i got a little too much sleep thanks to "the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, best sleep you ever got with a cold… medicine")

My crazy trees!

My crazy trees!, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

Them are some cRRRaZy trees.

It was in the 70's yesterday and I was having a moment of health so Aidan and I went outside to share some green tea soda on the front step. The light were all out on the porch waiting and I just had to go for it. Cold or no cold this kind of Militia/Gorilla christmas light decoration is so fun and easy it's a no brainer. And since I have had recognizable brain since Friday night I was able to do something constructive.

I know you are asking... Kelly how in the world do I get my self some of those crazy a$$ trees in my yard? Well sit back and listen! Here is the secret that not even Janet knew, you plug you lights in and toss them in the tree that is it! I really mean it toss those lights up there and leave them be! How easy is that? Its a no brainer-cuz you have a really bad cold easy! I have found crape myrtle seem to work best because of their shape.

I went out late last night to make my third Mail drop of the day and WOW they look so good from down the street. I am lucky to have Janet's winter wonderland next door.

alright have fun and peace out!

OH FYI...3.5 shopping days left at Modern June! And if you are waiting on a package I apologize for my slow down of late. This cold is kicking my bohonkaus. Trust me no decorating today. Just starring at my to do list while I blow my nose and cough my head off. I just took a long nap that had red christmas tree skirts plaguing my dreams. YIKES! No dinner till that thing is done! love ya'll!

I am day six!

Check it out!!! I am indie delights holiday gift guides pick for day six! Megan of Disquieting Designs and The Pittsburgh Craft Mafia has put together an incredible indie gift guide for your holiday shopping. ooh la la what fun, I love what they said about my shop name "may or may not actually be named Shop of Awesomeness". Man how sweet it that!


They featured my Green Cupcake Apron. I am glad that she picked that one, I have sold out of several aprons completely. I mean "no more fabric" kind of sold out. I am currently sewing a lot of the orders as they come in. STRESS, but I love it. I am NOT complaining. I could not have wished for better business it is beyond my wildest dreams.

So for Christmas I could really use any of the following products from the dear sweet Disquieting Design collection of Bath and Beauty products! All are on my holiday wish list! Oh I love the girl!

whirlwind weekend!

Man what a weekend! Two shows, interview for TV and very weak attempt at Christmas decorating. And now I am sick with a cold.

The show on Friday was really lovely! I wish that I had some photos but I have not one. I was too stressed out. (I am hoping to swipe someone's photo and post them up soon) Here is one now! Crystal J. Silk! Please go check out here awesome loot! I want a robot mouse pad and silk scarf.

Virginia Currents was on hand filming the Richmond Craft Mafia. And no I was not able to meet May-Lily Lee. (I have been asked that several times already). Maybe someday!!! But those that were there were really great people, so kind and helpful. Sharon the producer is even one of my customers. She bought a vintage apron form me last year at the 17th street market. How cool is that?

Well it was my turn to be interviewed and do a little sewing for the camera. What could possibly go wrong right? The DAMN sewing machine refused to even turn on! Yes the sewing machine that has been seen by the bernina store 3 times. The one that they say there is nothing wrong with. OH but there is and I have it on film! I sure hope they edit a lot of that non-sense. But it ended up being a lot of fun. I like to talk, a lot. We shall see how silly I look and act in January.

The Handmade Holiday was so beautiful and we had quite a crowd. A steady stream of wonderful peeps! Thank you all for coming. I was so glad to finally do a show at the Yoga Studio 4025 Yoga. I just felt that it would be a great setting.

Then the next morning I was up and running again! I was silly enough to offer my services to coordinate the vendors for our neighborhood street fair, Christmas on MacArthur. It sounded like a great idea in October! I had no earthly idea that Modern June would be doing so well and I would be so busy.


We had great time. The weather held out. And occasionally the sun warmed us up! I love this show because I get to see all my wonder friends in the hood! It is like a party. It is a party. There was Santa, toys for tots, Hunky Marines, Richmond's finest policeman and firefighters, sexy bagpipers, and band rocking the Samis Grotto. And 28 local crafters.

Yesterday I thought that I could take off and decorate for the holiday. I love this act more than any other homey chore. I like my house at christmas so much, but I had the hardest time. I was so unproductive. I went out looking for my dream tree, Home Depot had this wonderful Aluminum tensile tree. I finally went out for it and of course it was GONE. I then went teary eyed to the next Home Depot out in BFE oops I mean Short Pump! no luck. Again teary eyed I go to Target and just stand there staring at the white pre lit tree. Yes, teary eyed. why I am I teary eyed cuz I am due a serious stress relieving cry, and this is the object of my letting it flow. I finally did Eeny, meeny, miny, moe to decide to stick with the tree at home that I hate or to buy the white tree that I don't really love. The white tree was "and you are not it." I know that is silly but I was really tired and unknowingly on the verge of a massive cold.

So I got home and while talking to Jill, my neighbor, Don came out to get our new tree and when he did not find it waiting in the van he lovingly found it online for 50% off and with free shipping! So my dream tree is on the way! Yahoo!

photos

In my studio this morning.

Hi all, I only have time to share a few photos with you all! Modern June is going great guns. I never ever could have imagined so much support. I will stop accepting orders on December 14th and things are going fast. I am close to a sell out. So if you want any thing I suggest to buy now.

Remember come see me at my shows if you can. Tonight at the Richmond Craft Mafia's Handmade Holiday and then tomorrow at Christmas on MacArthur.

You know they are always this sweet with one another, ALWAYS! LOL

We had a bit of snow this week and I mean a bitty bit but that made the kids day.
I say more snow!!!

Maddie took this one. I love her photos.
This winter she will take her first photography class, she is so excited.

Etsy front page!

Etsy front page!, originally uploaded by larkstudio.

"Thanks to Tasha, some great Richmond crafters were on the front page of Etsy! Sorry I couldn't get the bottom folks. You can check out all of us from this Storque article." Dawn of Lark Studio.

when I have the time...

I will start making some of these oh so wonderful Stacking Fabric Christmas Trees that The small object has done a tutorial for. These will make nice teacher and grandparent presents they kids and I will have blast whipping these up!

Then I will make some hand warmers like Refashion: Fleece gloves to handwarmers just for me and some for Maddie too. While your there check out Sommer Designs new photographs. She is the real deal when it comes to Apron makers. I want to be like her when I grow up.

For our annual ornament making I think we HAVE to make these junk food ornaments that Hello My name is Heather had posted up on to the kiddley site.

But for now I am working my tush off getting ready for our big show. Come and see me!!! This show is going to Rock!

I have some new items and free gifts for those that buy any child aprons!

Jane Goodall Institute's Holiday Auction

The kids have been involved in Roots and Shoots for 3 years now. For us it is like scouts. They can learn how to be kind, watchful and helpful to people, nature and the environment. In support of this great Institution I pass this on to you all.

The Jane Goodall Institute's Holiday Auction Is Officially Open!


So what are you waiting for?...Bid Now!

Place Your Bid.
Whether you're looking for something unique for yourself or searching for a gift for a special someone, you're sure to find something in our auction catalog. Every bid helps support our cause.

Tell Your Friends.
The success of this online auction depends on spreading the word to as many people as possible. We need your help. Please Refer a Friend and encourage them to participate so they don't miss a single moment of the fun and excitement.

Check out www.janegoodall.org to learn about the work that our online auction helps to support.

View All Auction Items

A super show!

the whole thing, originally uploaded by ModernJune.


My last show was a wonderful show. We were not busy by any means but the people that came to sell and to shop were so wonderful. In the middle of the show we had some time to just chill out. All the artists and myself (the lone crafter) gathered round to snack on hors d'oeuvres and sip wine. How lovely! I loved the break in my routine. It was like a day off with PAY! I love my boss.

I could so work here! I need this warehouse in north side!

Vino and Holiday shopping!

Come and join us for a glass of wine and some
no stress holiday shopping!

Located at the Architecto Studios the Expansion Joint is all set to host another Trunk show. This is a wonderful group of artists and crafters. Please come and join us as we make a toast to December and the Holiday Season.

Now that Harry Potter is all grown up, is a father and husband not to mention that we have listened to all 7 audio books more than a few times we have been forced to find new material to keep us company. And boy have we found it!


Here is what Barnes and Noble has to say about the book; Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle -- aka the Wee Free Men -- a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together, they battle though an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds -- black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors -- before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler of a world in which reality intertwines with nightmare. And in the final showdown, Tiffany must face her cruel power alone ...

You can read the entire Wee Free Men E-book here! I had no idea that this was a possibility entire books online, who knew?

local shop holds classes

A Modern June Breakfast

How to make a healthy breakfast
By Modern June


Step 1: Sleep late (7:45 -- OK not really late for some, but late for me!). Get lucky enough to have your husband gone off to work early, and to have your children sleep way too late! Spend an hour updating Etsy site (where, by the way there are several new cute things to see) while styling a fabulous vintage apron, of course.

Step 2: Realize that if those kids don't get up soon, your husband will be so tired and angry at bedtime that this private time really wasn't worth it.


Step 3: Get out all your ingredients, realize this a great blog post, and take photos.


Step 4: Realize that you have no eggs, and run to the neighbors house for shameless begging of food supplies. Bonus, receive two great magazines to enjoy in my down time -- in January.

Step 5: Listen to kids be very sweet and cute while they play nicely together, while you blog, take silly pictures and try to actually cook the breakfast without burning anything.


Step 6: Realize that you have no place to serve this "yummy display of housewifery and motherly love" because no one (you) cleaned up the table after last nights art time.


Step 7: How to handle the unexpected guest: imaginary plush food of course.


Step 8: Push the mess aside and proceed with eating. It certainly isn't Martha. It's just me, Modern June, and my typical day. I'mm sure that June Cleaver is turning over in her make believe coffin!

Step 9: Enjoy the bliss.

As seen on TV

I have to say it is a big news week her at Modern June! I have orders pouring in, wahoo. I have a give-away at apronistas. And this morning my girls Beth and Dawn were TV craft goddesses! Check out the crafty goodness here on the WTVR website. They were awesome, and they got the hosts of the show to were Modern June aprons! I love it. So as seen on TV....

The Apronistas are giving it away!

I am so excited to announce that you can enter to win a Modern June Mommy and Me set by clicking over to the fabulous Arponinsta blog! TOO fun! While you are there wander around and read the great apron stories that they have collected! The site is run by two wondrous woman the Domestic Chicky and Vintage Chica. These two apron junkies are helping rule the world with the homey goodness of the good old fashion apron!

Thanks Deanna and Eren for including me in all the fun, you both rock!