Pack-n-Go Placemats!

You all know how much I love my cupcakes! The Modern June Cupcake is going OILCLOTH!


This Pack-n-Go Placemat is just like the original Modern June placemats in size, shape and quality. But we have added chalk cloth to the reverse, a loop for chalk and a tie for easy travel.


Now taking orders! This will make a great for Christmas or birthday gift. Every mom with a toddler needs on of these! FYI bibs are next! Cuteness!


Suzanne, (my assistant) you asked for it! This one if for you! Surprise! I know little Joseph will love it!

The Brocante Home

Recently, I had a meeting with my lawyer and at the end of our meeting she told me about a community of UK women that are living the vintage life right here and now. She said I just had to check it out, "that it was so Modern June." Well, today I think I might have finally found these ladies!

Quite by accident I found this, Aprons For A Bachelor Girl, at The Brocante Home. What I loved about this poem the most was that "She's coloured the walls an eggshell blue" (so very chic right now, especially in my bedroom) and that she has "put the oilcloth down." Now how Modern June is that? LOVE IT.

At craft shows I often find myself describing what oilcloth is, and it's history. For many older women it is a treasured flashback. A flood of memories, their childhoods, their Grandmothers or a sorely missed Aunt. What they see is the kitchen table laid with a freshly cut oilcloth tablecloth. I am so lucky I get a chance share in these most happy memories and perchance a great story or two.

Here at Modern June this is what we strive for each and everyday, to help families and the bachelor girl create new and special memories! I just love my job!

Etsy Luv

JUST FOR FUN! October 26th

You know what the best part of having two Etsy shops is? Logging out! What I mean is I have to log out of Modern June in order to get to OILCLOTH ADDICT, when I log out I get to see the gorgeous front page of Etsy. I never used to check the front page so frequently, it is a pleasure--Etsy Front Page is a treasure trove of beauty. This morning's took my breath away! Beautiful blues! Did you know that there are flickr groups that archives them all!

ENJOY! Shop Etsy!

Happy B-day

So Saturday was my cute hubby's birthday, and we had such a low key and peaceful day. The day started out with making these fun oilcloth letters (check out the 411 at the OCA blog). They are not the best looking letters, but hey I was working under the gun, trying to get them cut before everyone woke up. Every birthday guy needs a sign!


Once the kids were up, they created a table-card using our Scribble and Splat Mat! How fun is this? I still want to get around to making chalk cloth tablecloths. All in good time!


After we all were done being crafty, we got cooking. The kids made their daddy heart shaped pancakes. YUM!

After a few hours of lazing around the house we ventured out to the Cheesecake Factory for some really yummy stuff! I can't show you the silly pics from this outing because all three of them would kill me! Let's just say we had a lot of fun.

Finally we settled down for a great Miyazaki film, Howl's Moving Castle.

The perfect family day!

Look what I found...pet stuff

I was honored with some bloggy luv the other day, by O'Danny's Girl. She featured a bunch of great pet products and included my oilcloth placemat for Doggies. I love these bone-shaped puppy mats. Last spring I started making them in two sizes when a neighbor got a large breed puppy. (crazy puppy, crazy) I have one for our cat bowls and it really helps keep things tidy and easy to clean.


But what makes me so excited is the Cuddle Muffin Cat Beds that were also featured!!! Oh I wish I could get two of these made for my girls. Every year I make them bed out of an old towel or some stray fleece that I stuff with fluff, but they look horrible and don't last long. BUT the Woobiekins beds, they look so great! Fun and sturdy, hmmmm note to self... "you need to save up some cash , your kitties are cold!!!"

O'Danny's Girl is the home of the The Dining Out Travel Bib, check that out too! Thanks for the shout out!

Announcing the OILCLOTH ADDICT BLOG!

OCA Sewing tips: Needles, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

You all know that I recently opened up a second Etsy shop, OILCLOTH ADDICT, well to support the ongoing popularity of oilcloth I have set up the OILCLOTH ADDICT BLOG! Our mission is to teach you how to use this fantastic fabric the best you can. My team of professional stitchers will guide you through tutorial and sewing tips!

So let's get this party started!

As in all sewing you have to start with a good needle, the OCA team prefers Schmetz Needles I can find them easily at our local Joanne's fabric store or check out Erica's online sewing shop for them too, she has them for 4.30 a 5 pack.

Now lets talk needle size...for general sewing I use a size 12, I switch to a size 8 needle when I do any top stitching.

Please check back frequently for more sewing tips from OILCLOTH ADDICT!

Two new oilcloths!

Two new oilcloths!, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

Aren't they pretty? The oilcloth came in yesterday and I just had to cut into the new prints right away. Well I had a pre-order for the lime polka dot so really I had not choice but to cut into it, but I wouldn't have been able to resist anyway!

Don't they look great together? This will be the next Deluxe Splat Mat combo to be made!

Man I love color, the brighter the better!

check me out!

Cue the vocal warm up that goes...Meee-mee-meeee-me-me! Yep this one is all about me! check out my Designer Profile at the Handmade Holiday website. Keep checking this site for loads of great information and profiles!

Handmade Holiday Vendor Preview

Pretty Silly Things
(One of the Richmond Craft Mafia's newest members!)

Handmade Holiday 2008 Vendors

• April Scott Kids
• Avenue Handmade
• Bee's Knees Studio
• Claire McDermott Designs
• Crystal J Silks
• Erin Taylor Designs
• Ernst & Thistle
• Essential E Paper
• Face Metal Design
• Gabriel Craig Metalsmith
• Gwen's Garden
• Hearts & Needles
• Hershey Is My Baby
• Jackson Sage
• Jude Glass
• Keen Designs
• Lark Studio
• Maslodesigns
• Miss Pickles Press
• Missing Monsters!
• Modern Atelier
• Modern June
• Moneky & Me
• My Precious Studio
• Nicole Lee Designs
• oelle m.
• Phil Barbato
• Popidiot
• Pretty Silly Things
• Serious Whimsy
• Sew * Ono Apparel
• Shannon by Hand
• Silver Tree Art
• Solos Glass
• Tasha McKelvey
• The Cupcakery
• Twist Style
• Team 8 Press
• Amy Weiks Jewelry
  

Popidiot
Kelly and Jessie ROCK!

Silver Tree Art. By the way Suzanne is my fabulous assistant and one of my great stitchers!
I am lucky that she shares her creative time here with me three days a week!

Monkey & Me
Beth is one of my very best friends as well at the best booth buddy!

Phil Barbato
I love guys that sew! His monsters are great, Aidan will need one for sure!

Gwen's Garden
pretty-pretty!

Tasha McKelvey (This is the original poster of the post!)
Yet another fantastic RCM gal, Tasha has been the lead for this show and is kicking it!
thanks for all you hard work Tahsa

Hershey Is My Baby
OMG these are cute!

Lark Studio
Dawn is my rock, my sounding board, my business manager as well as one of my best friends!
And a kick ass RCM girrrl!

Ernst & Thistle
I can not wait to see the whole line! I heart this stuff!

Erin Taylor Designs
Erin is a kick ass RCM member! Her housewares rock!

Avenue Handmade
I need these! Don take notes!!!

This post was shamelessly swiped from the Handmade Holiday Blog and was posted by the incredible Tasha McKelvey! But I added my 2 cents too!

check it out!

You all have to go check out Artsy Mama for some Halloween goodness. She has recently added the Modern June Halloween Banners to her wonderful list of favorite banners. I am honored! Her site is full of great ideas for the spookiest holiday, so go and have some fun. I know I'm inspired--I still need to deck the halls a bit more! Don't worry I'll post pics!

Thank you Kari for the shout out!

Halloween

US 2008, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

Every year we head up to the Ashland Berry Farm for our annual hayride and pumpkin picking. This year was a bumper crop, the drought seemed to have missed their fields completely.

At the farm you can buy all the pumpkins you can carry for $20.00. Every year we go out into the fields and pick out the best pumpkins we can find. Each member of the family gets at least one big pumpkin. I found a gorgeous white pumpkin, still on the vine. Once back from the fields we pile all the pumpkins into Don's arms -- this year he got four big pumpkins, three wee ones, and and a load of gourds for the three step test. Maddie's pumpkin fell off (trying to escape), and rolled off, losing its stem in the process and ended up in a mud puddle. Maddie was left in her own puddle of tears. A staff member surprised her by getting her a similar one, making sure it had a great long stem.

I love this time of year, everything is changing and cooling off. Every year this trip is like walking through the door into the best season, for us the holiday season has just started. From now until New Years Day we will be gleeful with one holiday spirit or another!

Happy Halloween and Season's Greetings!

A new look for Swatches

1) Forever Blue
2) Forever Pink
3) Red Fruity
4) Tuscan Green
5) Yellow Poppies
6) Istanbul
7) Rosegale
8) Red Pompeii
9) Black Paradise Lace
10) Red Paradise Lace
11) Blue Paradise Lace
12) Brown Paradise Lace
13) Silver Paradise Lace
14) Walnut Faux Bois
15) Birch Faux Bois
16) Chalk Cloth
17) Brown Gingham
18) Navy Gingham
19) Turquoise Gingham
20) Lime Green Gingham
21) Yellow Gingham
22) Red Gingham
23) Powder Pink Gingham
24) Hunter Green Gingham
25) Red Polka Dot
26) Blue Polka Dot
27) Pink Polka Dot
28) Black Polka Dot
29) Lime Polka Dot
31) White Dot on Dusty Pink
30) White Dot on Red
32) White Dot on Aqu

Hooty-Woo Tote!

I am so proud of my latest bag! The Hooty-Woo! How cute is this little guy? He was inspired by the cute print that my friend Erica gave me, all four of her Tree Top Owls Digital Prints are available on Etsy at Beesknees Studio! This little family lives on my studio wall and watches over me in the wee hours of the night. When I saw Erica this week she recognized the owl right away, but don't worry I have her full permission to use her images. She was game for a trade!!! Bag for permission! Love that barter system!

On Sunday I had a ton of work to do but I not motivated to do any of it. When I get burnt out I have to make something new, totally new and original!

I always have a ton of ideas brewing but lately I have been playing with appliquéing with oilcloth. I have several such products in the works. I can't wait to show you all the other goodies!





This one is mine I have been "testing" it out! I have to say I have gotten Kudos from someone everyday this week! It is a hit. For now I am taking orders for this fab new bag!
The delivery date for the first 5 bags will be October 27th!

Field Trip---VFAM

Lately the kids and I have been studying Renaissance and we are doing a hugh unit study. Today I just had to get these kids out of this house, so we headed out to the Grand Gallery at the Virginia Fine Arts Museum for a little art history. We had such a nice time, they really get it. I was so impressed at how insightful they were about so many things. They rock!

Christmas is coming!

I have started listing Christmas items up on my Etsy shop. Check it out, so far I have re-listed all the great items that I designed last year. Like the FABULOUS RED TREE SKIRT! Oh-oh-oh I love this tree skirt. It is full lined which makes it a bear to make but worth every minute cuz it looks so good under the tree!

We are in full production mode for new 2008 line! I don't want to give any secrets away! I have learned the hard way that I need to list my goodies before I chat about them on my blog or I find them for sale elsewhere first! Isn't that horrible, I mean really!

look what I found...

I just found this great website Penelope Plans that linked to my pillow tutorial! Yah! So ladies and gentlemen, put on your thinking caps you could make a no sew pillow for every season! Think about it a Jack o Lantern pillow would be really fantastic on the couch about now!

I love my customers...

Do you remember this big ol' tablecloth? Well she is back for more and had this to say....

My extra large oval tablecloth is fantastic thank you. Our family of eight sits around it everyday and I am happy that my table is protected. Your finished product is very pretty and I appreciate that you take the time to sew well for your customers. That's why I decided to order a tablecoth for my little girl's play table. Thanks again!

She really made my week, I have had the worst few days ever!!! We found out something major about the kids health of one of our kids that shook me to my core, I had a fight with a CVS worker about Sudfed being a controlled substance, I had shop trouble the like I never thought possible and I lost my 5 week fight with the cable company to get the BRAVO channel back on my TV. (maybe that was the worst blow, being the Project Runway finale is tonight and I have no bleeping cable) ALL with in 48 hours. By the end of yesterday my head was about to split, now lie I was getting dizzy if when I looked down. OK I think that was the really big glass of wine that went with my 4 advil and all my WHINING.

Yes this is my monthly pity party. But really it was a bad few day! Poor me, all done, now I am moving on! A mom of 8 loves my work, yah me! I can blow off the silly stuff like sudfed and my lack of bravo and work out my little one! NO more DRAMA MAMA for me.

Scribble and Splat Mats

I have been fighting the urge to buy the chalk cloth from my supplier for years but now that I have oilcloth Etsy shop, OILCLOTH ADDICT, I could no longer resist! I have a much better excuse to have tons more oilcloth too. We are adding two new oilcloth next week too! Pompeii and lime polka dots!


I was so thrilled that finally have this good stuff that I cut into the chalk cloth the minute the UPS man dropped it off! I used red polka dots to trim it since this one is for us, you all know I am dotty for dots. It is harder to work with the chalk cloth than oilcloth, but I will get used to it quickly. Thank god for my industrial, I love that bad boy!


Minutes after I finished the mat our lunch dates showed up and the kids went right into product testing and reserch. They all agreed that this is the best! I really bought the stuff because I NEED to have a tablecloth made from the stuff! I think it will be fun for homeschooling too, after school we can just whip it down and have dinner. Too fun.

For now I will take custom orders for the scribble and splat mats, just pick your trim color and then in a week or two you will have one too! Let me test out the tablecloth first! It is really thick stuff so I want to make sure it drapes over the edges ok before selling it for tablecloths.

FYI: when we ran out of chalk and then they used all my tailors chalk, they had a blast with the Aqua Doodle pens. They worked great on the chalky mess.

Fall 2008 Oilcloth Swatch Collection for Modern June

Fall 2008 Oilcloth Swatch Collection for Modern June, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

I have just a few oilcloths to choose from! 32 in fact. Well 34 when you count in the Christmas Oilcloth. Don't forget you can buy all of this by the yard at my new shop, Oilcloth Addict!

new listings...

new listings..., originally uploaded by ModernJune.

I am in a listing mood! See the trouble with me is that I make a lot of stuff that never makes it up on Etsy. Shameful, I know! For example before a craft show I will stop filling orders for the regular MJ stuff and make a bunch of other things, like new cotton aprons. These would sell on Etsy to if only I had the time to take the photos, tweak the photos and list the photos.

This weekend I went through my iPhoto to see what was already photographed. I figure I will crave out Wednesdays as photo day, between school and park day I am going to take a bunch of photos, then after the park I will come home and correct them. I plan to go back to my old routine and list something new at lunch time everyday, this way it doesn't get out of hand again.

Here are a few sneak peaks at what I need to list this week!

Gift sets for baby showers

A few months ago a few people bought really cool gifts from Modern June, they purchased a tote, splat mat and baby bib. I had to agree that the three items would make a new mommy very happy! You can now buy them as a gift set and save 15%. Knowing what to get for your next
baby shower is now one click away! Available with a Deluxe Splat Mat or Scalloped Splat Mat!

deluxe splat mat gift set options, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

color options for oilcloth baby sets, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

Holiday banners by Modern June

Halloween banners by Modern June, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

Modern June is the home of the original oilcloth banners! We are excited to say we have a few halloween banners to sell on the Etsy site. We had sold out at the Crafty Bastard Show, but don't worry we squeaked out two more! Grab them while you can!

We also are announcing our Christmas Banners, now in small and large. The smaller size has been such a hit at craft shows I decided to sell them on-line as well. Here is the longer banner, look how big it is! Now that is a lot of fun!!!

New stuff, Applique Coin Purses

New stuff...Appliqued Coin Purses, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

I have some fun new stuff for you all to check out! These have long been a great Modern June Craft show product. Now you can get them on-line at modernjune.etsy.com.

CRAFT LOUNGE TONIGHT!!!

October lounge - get your crochet on!

This Monday at Fleur Fabric Boutique, we all will be learning to crochet. If you are an experienced crocheter, please come on out and help us learn! As always, if crochet is not your thing, feel free to bring along whatever craft you'd like. The event is free and gets underway at 7:00 pm. See you there!

originally posted by Dawn Anderson at Craft Lounge

Oilcloth...

I get google alerts for oilcloth aprons and oilcloth tablecloths. This let me know loads of information, basically who is doing what with oilcloth and then chatting about it. But what I love most about the oilcloth google alerts is the occasional the personal interest blog posts that pop up, like this one... Boyhood cottage on lake inspires storybook cabin that's fit for one.

It affirms my belief that what I do helps create life long memories. Just this week I made a set of four matching aprons for a local bride, she will be giving them to her bridal party. Sweet! Also this week I sent of a large order to a woman getting ahead on her Christmas shopping, she has a lot of little ones on her list that will be getting creative and messy with oilcloth splat mats, bibs and art smocks But the best gift I received this week was a photo from a mom, she said..."My daughter couldn't wait to use her smock. She loves it!" She attached a photo of a pretty child wearing a Modern June art smock, the child was completely focused on painting a masterpiece. Now that makes is all worthwhile!

Kelly, memory facilitator!

Pins and Needles.

Tonight is the big night for RCM members Erin and Ono as well as many other great local designers. Their fashion show Pins and Needles is tonight at the New York Deli in Carytown. For more information check out the blog and the great preview.