Wednesday, April 29, 2015

It was fun while it lasted...Scrap Stash Studio 2.0

So...bittersweet news my friends.  This phase of Scrap Stash Studio will be no more.  My year-long lease is up at the studio and life is a little too crazy to justify continuing this venture in this way.  So Scrap Stash Studio will be morphing a bit into something different.  It is not going away by any means.  It was really fun and semi-successful but I have new plans for this figurative baby of mine now...now that literal baby number two will be here soon.  My "studio" will be moving to my basement.  My basement, until now, has been a workout room/dumping ground for stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else in the house.  But soon the shelves will be packed with all of the paper, poster, yarn, markers, scissors, glue, and random bits of this and that that are currently housed in the studio.

Hopefully the fabric and thread that have overtaken my kitchen can find a tidy space in the new basement craft room.  The room is much smaller than the studio but with a couple fold-out tables, I may be able to host a craft party of 8-10 people at my house.  But, I have bigger plans than an occasional basement craft session.  I want to have you, my crafty and not-so-crafty friends, to host craft parties at your house.  I have brought up the idea before but not really pursued it very diligently.  Well, now, it is the main avenue I will be embarking on for Scrap Stash Studio.  The way it will work is just like most Mary Kay, Thirty-One, Pure Romance, and Arbonne parties.  You sign up to host and have a group of friends in mind or I round up a group of friends for you, and you invite all of us in to make a fun craft or project over cookies, or dinner, or glasses of wine, or birthday cake, or whatever.  I will charge each attendee for the class.  Prices will vary depending on activity, and all materials and supplies will be provided.  In return for welcoming a group of loud and crazy friends and madness and potential for glitter and paper clippings everywhere, you will craft for free.  Sounds like a deal to me.  So next time you are trying to come up with something to do for a special event or just a unique and fun experience...think of me and my new traveling studio.  Let's make fun things together!  Scrap Stash Studio 2-point-oh...Scrap Stash Studio 2 GO!
That being said, I am ready to host, or have someone else host, a rag rug-making party.  I have 4 trash bags full of t-shirt scraps that we can use to make rugs.



From this ^...to this....


It would be a $10 class (free if you host) and I will provide the base for the mat, fabric cutter, cutting mat, scissors, hooks, and all of the t-shirt clippings you will need.  Of course if you would like a certain color variety you can use shirts of your own.  I would recommend going to a thrift store and getting cheap t-shirts if that is your wish.  So if you are interested in attending and/or hosting this craft party, let me know and we will make it happen, even if it happens in my basement. 
PS-the closing of the physical studio comes just in time for the yard sale I will be having at my house on Saturday the 30th.  I will be selling lots of the stuff that filled the studio.  I will have chairs, tables, and shelves from the studio for sale along with all of the typical yard sale-type stuff...toys, clothes, books, etc.  I will have some quilts and crocheted items for sale as well.  So come shop.  Or if you are looking for anything in particular, hit me up before the sale and I can let you know if I have it. 

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

To-Do List Tuesday

I plan on getting back into the studio in the very near future and would like some company.  I need your feedback on which classes sound most appealing to you, as well as dates and times that work for you.  I would love to never have a studio event where the voice inside my head is my only company.  Let's fill up those seats.
The next few weekends are off-limits.  My personal to-do list is pretty long until after school gets out...
This weekend-Monika's wedding weekend
Next Wednesday-Shea's Birthday

Next Thursday-My mom comes into town!

Next Friday-Baby doctor and Shea's 2-year well-check!  Crazy how much he has changed since his 1-year check up

Next Saturday-Shea's Birthday Party
Next Sunday-Chill with the family
Saturday the 16th-Sequoyah High School Graduation-SHOUTOUT TO ALL OF MY SENIORS!  Congratulations!  I am so proud of how far you have come since you were just my little freshmen babies 4 years ago! 
AND
My little brother Nathan's graduation from high school.  I cannot believe you are already a senior.  I look forward to all that your next big life adventure brings. 

So my next possible available day for a studio event would be Sunday, May 17th.  Would anyone be interested in any of the following classes on May 17th?  Seriously, let me know if you are free to hang out and make fun things with me.  Here are your options for classes...

1.  T-shirt scrap rag rugs- $10...rag base and t-shirt scraps provided but you are welcome to bring your own shirts too.

2. Custom Planners from books...I have done this class before but would like to try it again.  I made one out of the children's book Peter Pan and have used it all school year.  The class will be $10.  Cost includes needed supplies and binding rings.  Bring your own book or purchase one for just a little extra from my collection.
3. Sewing Party-$5 for studio usage.  I plan on this just being a hang out for my sewing friends and wannabe sewing friends.  I am new to the sewing world...self-taught.  This is something I am proud of but also would love to learn from my veteran stitching friends.  Bring your machines or needles or come empty-handed and we can share materials and knowledge.  We could even do a fabric swap and exchange scraps.  I think this would be super fun and I would love to pick your brains.  Cindy Varner, Katie Turner, Kim Ingle, and Ms. Mary...you all come to mind.  So be there or be square!  :)

I really want to hear what you guys think about these studio event ideas.  Throw out some ideas of your own if you have any.  What is on your Tuesday To-Do list?

Monday, April 27, 2015

Inspire Me Monday-Monika soon-to-be Patel

So normally my Inspire Me Monday posts are about artists and crafters that inspire me with their work.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my inspiration has come from other places lately...most recently from my dear friend, Monika.

This past month has been my most creative month in a while.  I think I can attribute that to lots of things.  First, I would have to say that I have made more things because I have had more orders than I normally do.  I am grateful for that.  It will keep me busy after school gets out for the summer.  My last day of school this year is May 22.  I don't know who is more excited, me or the students.  I like teaching, and I like my kids, but I am glad that school isn't year-round.  All that to say I am glad I have something to keep me busy this summer besides just my little boy and my hubby...who I am super looking forward to spending more time with really soon.

  :)   This is the longest list of orders I have ever had outside of the holiday season.
  1. 4 Mermaid Tail Blanket Wraps-DONE...This is where I can say that inspiration came from a friend.  Blakely, one of my husband's co-workers posted a link to mermaid tail patterns on my Facebook and within a day I had people requesting I make them.  They were really fun to make and I hope I get to make more in the near future.
  2. 2 T-shirt Quilts-DONE
    One is not pictured because it is a surprise.
  3. Heart Quilt-DONE
  4. Secret Special Surprise for my LITTLE brother who is graduating from high school in 2 weeks-WIP (work in progress)
  5. Onezie Quilts for twins-one boy and one girl-WIP
  6. Crocheted Football Headbands-To-do list
  7. Newborn Crocheted Elephant Hat and Diaper Cover-WIP
  8. Teddy Bear Quilt-waiting on fabric to arrive from Etsy

  9. T-shirt Quilt Order-waiting on shirts
  10. Quilt for my dear friend and her Hubby-to-be!-DONE
This dear friend of mine, Monika, has been an inspiration to me since we were roommates and teammates on the track and cross-country team at UTC. 

She is a jack-of-all trades, that woman.  I am inspired by her ambition and ability to throw her whole heart into a variety of hobbies and callings and passions and be a rockstar at all of them.  If this tells you anything about her, her wedding is next Saturday and she spent literally all day yesterday preparing for her physical therapy final today.  Next year she will be graduating from PT school.  So yesterday her only break was catching up on life with me over some Crust Pizza.  I felt special.  As I pulled up to her house to park my car, I was greeted by a giant community garden that Monika created herself.  It has brought the people of the community together and is a source of food and fun for the neighborhood.  And she made it on her own.  No one asked her to or paid her to or praised her for it.  She just saw a need in the community and an empty lifeless space owned by a neighborhood church and she asked them if she could give it life.  Look at it now.  It used to be a lot overrun with weeds and now it is a beautiful garden.

I am so excited about the new adventure she is soon embarking on with a great man.  I just pray that her marriage is as much of a treasure and light in her life as mine has been.  I pray they continue to make each-other's hearts happy and inspire each-other to more wonderful things.  I can't wait to see what the Patel team does.  Here is a testament to Monika's awesomeness and Pranav's love for her...proof that these two will do more for the world together than they ever would apart.  This is what Pranav said of Monika on their wedding website.


Why I chose Monika

Her determination, honesty, and humility are magnetic. She maintains an active, yet simple lifestyle, helping others and contributing to our community. She's adaptable and all-accepting.  She has an unconditional giving nature in every act.  She's in sync with nature, reads often, and has not missed a single day of journaling since the age of six, which shows discipline, commitment to one life principle. Mark Twain, one of Monika's favorite authors, made a statement when announcing his engagement, and nothing could ring more true for my feelings toward her:
"I am not worrying about whether you will love my future wife or not—if you know her twenty-four hours & then don’t love her, you will accomplish what nobody else has ever succeeded in doing since she was born. She just naturally drops into everybody’s affections that comes across her."


So I have concluded that if Monika can do it all, I can do it all, too.  I can't wait until her wedding next weekend.  It is going to be a blast.
This was her on my wedding day RAPPING...yes RAPPING a "speech" at my reception.  I won't be rapping but I do plan on returning the favor as creatively as possible. ;)
I can't wait to share in her special day in 6 days! Eek!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Finished Project Friday

I know the blog has been collecting a little dust lately.  Sorry for that.  I did notice, however, that it has been getting quite a large number of views!  Yay for Scrap Stash Studio!  But no comments...so if you read, respond.  Let me know who you are and what got you here.  A LOT has changed since my last post.  First of all, I am happy to announce that my family is growing.  The Strauss house will be one boy busier in July.  Patten Turner Strauss will be baby number 2 for the Strauss family!  Yay for children.  I am truly thankful to be blessed with the gift of motherhood and look forward to all that is to come with my house full of boys.  :)
That being said, the studio has been on the back burner lately.  This is due, in part, to the frigid temperatures and lack of sufficient heat in that old brick building lovingly known as Scrap Stash Studio.  But the sun has come out and soon I will sling open those doors and welcome in Scrappy Crafters. 
I am also so excited to announce that I will have new friends joining me in the building.  Andrea Smith is amazing.  She has an organization called Operation Santa that she has been going strong running for quite a number of years.  She collects items throughout the year to give to less-fortunate children at Christmas.  Her operation has outgrown her house and she needed a donation station.  So she will be collecting items throughout the year to prepare for the holidays.  Along with that, she will also be running a thrift store of sorts to help offset rent costs and raise money for purchases at the holidays.  So donate away my friends!  You can donate any type of item you wish.  She will also hold frequent yard sales at the "Studio/Op-drop."  I will post updates as they come available.  I believe her first yard sale will be the first Saturday in May.
I have a few craft class/party ideas floating in my head and will soon get them on the calendar. 
1.  T-shirt scrap rag rugs- $10...rag base and t-shirt scraps provided but you are welcome to bring your own shirts too.

2. Custom Planners from books...I have done this class before but would like to try it again.  I made one out of the children's book Peter Pan and have used it all school year.  The class will be $10.  Cost includes needed supplies and binding rings.  Bring your own book or purchase one for just a little extra from my collection.

3. Etsy Craft Party-this project is a mystery to me.  I believe it is some sort of paper-crafting.  Etsy will send me info on what this project entails and educate me on how to educate you.  Tentative date will be June 5th or 6th.  More details to come.  Price, date, and time are to be determined.
4. Sewing Party-$5 for studio usage.  I plan on this just being a hang out for my sewing friends and wannabe sewing friends.  I am new to the sewing world...self-taught.  This is something I am proud of but also would love to learn from my veteran stitching friends.  Bring your machines or needles or come empty-handed and we can share materials and knowledge.  We could even do a fabric swap and exchange scraps.  I think this would be super fun and I would love to pick your brains.  Varner, Turner, Kim, and Ms. Mary...you all come to mind.  So be there or be square!  :)
Please let me know your level of interest in these projects.  Heck, even throw out some dates that you think may work well for you and I will try to make them happen.  My life is sort of in plan as I go mode at the moment so I will let you know as things materialize.  As always, suggestions are welcome for future class ideas.
I am also Thankful for the orders that have been piling up.  My sewing machine and crochet hooks have stayed busy lately.  In the past month, I have:
*...Crocheted an afghan for baby Patten.

*...Completed a quilt for a dear family member who has a little one on the way.

*...Crocheted 3 mermaid tail blankets.  They all turned out super cute.  You can order one if you would like.  Adult size $60, Child size $50, Toddler size $40, and Baby size $30. 

*...Completed 2 t-shirt quilts. One quilt was for one of my best friends from high-school's little sister.  It was a lot of shirts...the biggest quilt I have ever made.  All of the shirts were from events and teams from my hometown so quilting it brought back a lot of memories. 


One quilt is a surprise that has not yet been revealed to its future owner so I will have to show it off later.
*...Cut all the squares out for my 3 upcoming quilts.  One quilt is for one of my dear friends who is getting married next weekend and her hubby-to-be.  The fabric combination is even prettier than the inspiration photo that she sent me:

(This is the inspiration photo...not her quilt.)  Hers is going to be even cooler!  I can't wait to get started on it.  The other 2 quilts are for twins!  How cool is that?  A former student of mine has one-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.  What makes this project even cooler is that I am using all of the onezies from their first holidays...first New Years, first Valentines, first Easter, first Halloween, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas.  They are going to be coordinating quilts.  Eeeek!


*...Made my first overseas purchase of fabric for a special baby quilt.  Who knew it would be hard to track down cotton fabric with teddy bears on it?  I never would have thought.  But my package should be arriving in the next few days.  I can't wait to see it!