Aren't these cute?

There just aren't enough hours in the day for me to sew and produce an overflow of goodies to stock the shop, so, I called on some of my very talented friends to help me. These adorable little containers are made by my friend, Teresa, who not only sews like a whiz, but creates the prettiest things in paper.

We're calling these little gems gift card holders, and they have a bit of velcro which holds the flap in place after inserting the gift card inside. It's almost like a little purse....and you know how much I love purses! They've become so popular that Teresa has to keep resupplying the tree.

Thanks,Teresa. I believe you're a hit! Now, aren't they a lot cuter than using a plain old envelope for your gift card?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Doesn't everyone have a feather tree? Well, Pink Florida Threads does, and it has pink feather lights on it. How fun is that? And, of course, I had to make a P.F.T. style tree skirt for the tree. Batik hibiscus flowers on a background of rick-rack tropical colored fabric sounds just right to me. Tomorrow, we'll put a few more lights around the outside of the door and window. Come in and see the whimsy.

Signing off,

Santa's Florida elf

It's in the genes

I don't know about you, but for me, having my kids and grandkids over for the holidays is what makes the day. Don't get me wrong, I loooove planning the menu, cooking up new and exciting foods, and decorating the house and table "just so". But, living in our rental this year with 75% of our things in storage has cramped my style a bit. So, I scaled everything down and we still had a wonderful day. And, once again, I was reminded that life is all about our loved ones, not the "things" we possess.

This year, Jarrad and Dawn spent Thanksgiving in the hospital. Since the hospital is only 5 minutes from us, Jarrad was able to come to our house just long enough to eat with us but then he was anxious to get back to Dawn and baby Nate. Julie, Cameron and the "kiddles" came over late in the day and hung out and we ate all over again. Jeremy's girlfriend even came over and met our boisterous clan for the first time.(Hope we didn't scare her off!) I love all the chatter and giggling as we each try to get in as much sharing time as possible before everyone has to go back home.

While Julie and her family were here from Sanford this week, she and Sydney, our 7 yr. old granddaughter, came to visit me at the shop on Tuesday. As crazy as I am about sewing and anything fiber related, my daughter Julie never seemed to catch that fever, at least not to the degree that I caught it. Well, I guess it skipped a generation because little Miss Sydney is even more entranced than I was at her age by fabrics, their textures, and all the dazzling colors God has blessed us with in our world. Julie knew it was just too much for her to fondle all the materials in my "stash" and not have something to claim for herself.

So, I opened the cabinet doors and we started designing a bag for Sydney to use to carry her American Girl doll. Well, it was hilarious to watch her try and narrow down all the possibilites. She just wanted it all! Hmmmm, wonder where she gets that from?!? Ok, Ok, I'm not going there. Pretty soon, not only did she place an order for a tote for the doll, but, an adorable little purse would be nice, too, wouldn't it? By now, I believe Julie thought the child would like to sleep in the shop that night, but she managed to get her in the car and drive back to their campsite at Ft. De Soto.

Fast forward 48 hours to turkey day afternoon, and Sydney says something to the effect, "Grammy, I thought you would have my purse done." Ha! We've been busy having a baby, cooking a small feast, cleaning out the dust bunnies, and collapsing in a tired happy heap on the couch. Julie and I just giggled.....guess what I'll be sewing today? I can't stand to disappoint Sydney. Hope you enjoy the picture of Sydney oogling all the fabrics. I think the picture says it all.

Have a great weekend,
Debbie

Sweet baby Nathan

What a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving! Yesterday, our daughter-in-law, Dawn and our son, Jarrad, gave birth to our fourth grandchild, Nathan . He's adorable, sweet, soft, snuggly....I could go on and on. Today, we're grateful for a safe delivery and a happy, healthy baby boy. He weighed in at 7lbs. 15 oz. and is 20 inches long and has light brown hair, long fingers and rosy pink skin.

Thanks to all of my friends and family for covering Dawn and the baby in prayer. God is so good! And now, our family is one precious child richer. Happy Thanksgiving to you. May you have warm conversations, loving hugs, and lots of home cooking with your loved ones today.

A Very Grateful Mom,

Debbie

Confetti

How about we shake things up a bit? It's time to start posting pictures of a few of the items I've been sewing since most of the construction/decorating/rearranging phase is behind me now. After all, isn't that why I opened PFT in the first place?

Every couple of days I'll highlight something new, so even if you live far away and can't come to the shop personally, you'll still be able to see some of the fun and funky "stuff" hot off the sewing machine. Speaking of funky, how do you like this pillow? I wish I could say I came up with this idea, but ......... sigh, alas, I just mimicked one I saw. The fabrics are batik, bright, and kinda curly thanks to a tumble in the washer and dryer after being stitched down and cut in 1/2" widths. Inside is a down pillow insert, so, it's reeeeeally soft and gooooshie.

Well, after the pillow was completed, I started thinking of all kinds of things I could do with this technique. How about the top of a hot pink Christmas stocking? Wouldn't that be fun? Might just have to do that this weekend! Or, how about an entire floor cloth so it looked like an area rug? Or, the front side of a wild purse with a shoulder strap?

See what happens? One idea just leads to another. Oh, well, back to the pillow. It looks like such a riot of colors thrown together that I call this one "Confetti". Works for me!

Havin' too much fun,
Debbie

Cousins and other friends

It's a brisk, 43 degrees here in sunny Florida this morning and I'm lovin' it! As a matter of fact, it reminds me of one late afternoon last January. The kind of day where the sky is that perfect shade of cornflower blue and there are no clouds in sight. And, the air smells clean, crisp and fresh.

Late last January, my husband, Joel and I took the RV up to Astor on the St. John's River for a few days of relaxation. Astor is a little fishing village that nestles on the outer edge of the Ocala National Forest. We love going up there because it's like living in another era, a time where life passes just a little slower and sweeter.

Joel's cousin, Steve, and his wife Linda, have been our camping buddies for years now, and they have a fifth wheel camper permanently parked at Parramore's, a wonderful RV park right on the St. John's River. The folks who are "full-timers" at the RV park are the friendliest people we've met in a long time. Steve and Linda have made sure to introduce us to all these lovely people and now it's like seeing long lost friends whenever we arrive at Parramore's. So, Astor holds warm memories for us.

Well, last Christmas, Joel bought me a Nikon D80 camera and I was dying to try it out on the river. After doing some reading about the best time of day to shoot landscapes, I explained to Steve that I would need to go out on the river just before sunset. (Like I even knew what I was doing! Ha!) Good buddy, Stevie......he graciously said he'd just looooove to take me out on the river to use my camera. Linda said, "Forget it, it's too cold." Joel said, "I'm taking a nap. You guys go."

Off we went, and good grief, was it ever getting nippy out on the water. Well, Steve showed me how absolutely spectacular the St. John's is as we wound our way through little tributaries, and snaked our way past shores that looked prehistoric. I believe I shot around 350 pictures late that afternoon as Steve patiently put-putted the boat past leaning palm trees. We even rounded a corner to see wild turkeys strutting around a giant oak tree! Oh, how I love being in the middle of nature. By now, Steve and I barely had any feeling in our hands from the cold. So, we headed back in as the last bit of sun cast shadows on the water.

Now, how does that apply to Pink Florida Threads, you ask? Well, Stevie, the pics of the run down shacks falling into the water are now proudly featured on the wall of my shop and they are all thanks to you. Thanks for your patient maneuvering of the boat that day, and thanks for bearing the cold temps just so I could satisfy a long standing need to capture some of old Florida in my lens. Many people have asked about those pics since the shop has opened, and I just smile and tell them that my cousin, Stevie, my buddy and my friend, is responsible for me being able to get those shots that day. Aren't friends just the best?

Have a blessed day,
Debbie

It's Official, P.F.T. is open

Wow! What an amazing 5 week transformation, both at the shop and in my life. Opening day was Tuesday, November 4th, election day. See, now I'll never forget the date because it was a national event.....ummmm, the election, that is. In 5 short weeks, the shop has gone from a sad, dark, hot clump of rooms, to a light and bright, air conditioned open space that is very conducive to creating fun fiber art.

And, my life has changed from being a full time mom and housewife to sole proprietor of my own dream. How amazing is that? Today is the first day in over 5 weeks that I've taken a morning off, stayed in my jammies sipping my cappuccino, doing some laundry and catching my breath. Hey, everyone needs time to regroup, and I needed a morning to refocus on "what's next" at the shop now that the opening and the annual show is behind me.

Yesterday, Sunday, was the big annual show in Antique Alley with an additional 45 vendors set up all along the Alley. Thank goodness my two friends, Teresa and Susan Marie were kind enough to hang out with me all day long to lend me a hand. They were super at talking to everyone who entered the shop, showed them all around, explained the quilts, pillows, and bra purses to potential customers, and made everyone feel welcome. Thanks, girls, for an awesome job done! I could have never done it without your hard work and enthusiasm.

It's hard to know how many people attended the show, but, we had customers and well wishers in the shop all day long, and I had to finally lock the door at 4:20 to close up(the show ended at 4). My persistent sore throat had finally done me in, and I was more than ready to head home to rest up.

Now, my job is to sew for the ladies who have placed orders, and make as much new product as possible. You see, The Alley has another event coming up on December 9th called The Stroll. As explained to me, we are going to line the Alley with candle luminarias, have Christmas music playing, and hopefully have carolers, too. Each shop is decorated for Christmas and serves refreshments as folks wander from shop to shop taking in the festivities. I just looooove Christmas and can't wait for the Stroll. It also includes shops along Indian Rocks Road, too, for a few blocks in both directions. So, if you want to take in the festivities and get some shopping done, come and join us on December 9th from 6-8PM.

Well, now I must get back to work......only it doesn't feel like work, it's actually fun! There are tie pillows to make, and fabrics to be found for a client, so, I'm off to the shop. Come and see me sometime....as several customers remarked yesterday, "It's such a happy place!" How's that for a compliment?

Guess it would help if you knew the hours I'm open, wouldn't it? Mondays I expect to be there, but not truly open as that's a day for me to sew like crazy to get caught up. Tuesday, 10-5, Wednesday, 1-6(I've got Bible study in the morning), Thursday & Friday, 10-5, and Saturday 10-4.

Creating more and more,
Debbie

Had to show you...

Here's what we did today. Gina came over to the shop and painted until she had to go home due to darkness setting in. She'll finish doing the shop hours by next weekend. Don't you love what she painted? I especially like the OPEN sign, don't you?

2 days and counting....hmmm, just like McCain

I

think this one picture says it all, don't you? I spent another 13 hours at the shop yesterday, and honestly, I don't know where the time goes. It seemed like I had just gotten there and it was dinner time already. I reheated some Greek food from the refrigerator, and kept sewing. Before I knew it, it was 10 o'clock!

Now, in all honesty, this pic is from last weekend. The studio portion you are looking at doesn't look like this anymore. I just wanted you to get the flavor of the fun I've/we've been having. The desk still has to be painted today(if Joel would please finish putting on the corbels). He is just about "over" helping me with all these honey-do's. And Gina is on her way to paint the signage. I'm going to finish painting some pieces, and hang the last of the various stuff that has to be hung. Tomorrow, I'm locking the doors, scrubbing the floor, and pricing everything I currently have in stock.

THEN, Tuesday is my first official day open! There will be lots of kinks to work out, but, there just isn't any more prepping to be done, I simply need to jump right in and open. Oh, man, pray for me, please. And, next Sunday, the 9th, is the big show in Antique Alley. Should be interesting, don't you think? By the way, the phone number for the shop is going to be in the next phone directory and the yellow pages. The number is 474-3893, and the address is 596 Indian Rocks Road N., Suite A-1, Belleair Bluffs, Florida, 33770. My corrected business cards came Friday, so, now at least when I hand them out they have the right info on them.

Well, I'm off to meet Gina and have some more fun. Hope to see you all soon at the shop.

One very happy girl,

Debbie

Almost There

How could it possibly be November already? The last 4 weeks have just flown by as all the painting, decision making, lugging stuff into the shop, cleaning, arranging and rearranging of product has occured. As things stand now, I intend to open the shop Tuesday, November 4th. Yup! Election Day.

The last time I worked this hard was 25 years ago when I was working full time and in nursing school full time. This is definitely more fun....tee-hee. This weekend I plan to finish painting the desk Joel built for me last Sunday, hang the last few items on the walls, paint a table where I can eat my lunch, finish touching up the baseboard around the entire shop, and scrub the last of the grout film off of the tile floor.

I planted pots in front of the shop late last Monday, and then an unusually early cold front blew very cold air on them (we had temps in the 40's, then add wind chill) and damaged them, so, I may be replanting them tomorrow. Today and tomorrow, Gina should be at the shop painting my name outside on two walls. She has already finished my "OPEN" sign for inside the front window, and I can hardly wait to see it. Gina is my ex-husband's (transplanted from Penna.) grown daughter and is an art teacher at an elementary school near Joel's office. She's very talented and I was lucky she was available on such short notice to do my artwork. God just keeps producing solutions daily to the long list of "to-do's", so work is rolling along smoothly.

Now, if I could just get some sewing done................

By the way, this past Tuesday our local Channel 10 News came by and interviewed me for the bra purses since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Kathryn Bursch, the reporter, was so easy going and the interview was over before I knew it. When she was finished, I showed her the other items I sew and she said she'd like to interview me again for the tie pillows.

The pillows are a great way to use Dad's/husband's ties as a memory of them after they've gone to heaven. Well, she said if someone was willing to be interviewed about their loss, and what it meant to them to have a way of seeing their ties in a pillow, a tangible way they could connect with their loved one that I should call her. Wouldn't you know it, two days ago, a friend introduced me to someone who was very excited to do just that. She lost her father a few months ago, and told me what a dapper dresser he was, and how many ties he had. I'll keep you posted on how this all turns out. Meanwhile, if you'd like to view Tuesday's interview, click on the link below.

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=93056&catid=58

Well, it's time to get back to work. I'll be sure to post more pics over the next couple of days so you can view the finished product.

Paintin', cleanin', luggin', scrubbin' Debbie signing off.