A Note to Readers

As some of you know, several things have kept me from catching up on several cases I've been following.

I've been crazy busy helping Mr. Sprocket get back to work full time (he's doing fabulous, by the way) as well as several house and car projects that needed my attention.

You can see some of my recent hard work at my sewing machine, since I'm kicking off my Market Bag Madness Sale 2014 today.


I'll be getting back to writing about Michael Gargiulo, Cameron Brown, Dawn DaLuise and Joshua Woodward in the next few days.

Thank you everyone, for your patience.

My Friend Julienne Dallara & BraunAbility Vans

I'll never forget that phone call I received almost 16 years ago. "Julienne's in the hospital. She's paralyzed." My beautiful, charismatic, totally funny, actress friend who started a volunteer massage program for AIDS patients couldn't move her legs. And for quite a bit of the next year, I was her ride. I was the one who helped take her wheelchair apart, put it in the trunk of my car so she could get to her physical therapy appointments. It was also the start of my sewing custom bags for her that she could hang on the back of her wheelchairs.


This weekend is the ABILITIES EXPO at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. Admission is free. On Friday, there was an article and video on Julienne in The Daily News about how a BraunAbility van changed her life. Julienne works for Ability Center, selling wheelchair accessible vans to people like her who want more mobility and independence in their lives.

Raffle for Pray For Aidan

The raffle benefit for Pray For Aidan has started! You can read all about the prizes and see close up photos here, on my sewing blog.

Betsy Ross Linens July Events: Market Bag Sale & Raffle Benefit for Pray For Aidan

Market Bags on Sale in July.

July Market Bag Sale

There are two big events I've planned for the entire month of July. The first is a sale on my Market Bags. These bags will go on sale at a significant savings. The 18 bags you see pictured above are either one-of-a-kind or limited edition bags. They all have the added bonus of a free muslin liner. Some bags come with matching fabric straps and some have metal feet. There will also be several discontinued Market Purses and Mini Market Bags. If you can't find a premade bag you like, you will be able to order a Market Bag or a Market Bag Euro at a significant savings. I'll have detailed photos and descriptions of all the bags pictured above when the sale starts on July 1st.

Raffle for Aidan

The second event is a Raffle Drawing for three prizes. Betsy Ross Linens is donating to a raffle that will be occurring throughout the month of July to benefit a sweet little four-year-old boy, Aidan. On February 16, 2008, just 5 days short of his 2nd birthday – Aidan nearly drowned in a pond near his grandfather's house. It is unknown how long he was under water before he was revived.

I first learned about Aidan from my friend Sharon Zambito, and her company SugarEd Productions when she made a donation for a raffle to benefit the family. I was so touched by Aidan's story and the family's struggle that I immediately wanted to do the same. So I went to work and started sewing. The Raffle Drawing will coincide with a Market Bag Sale.

What Betsy Ross Linens is donating:

This photo shows the Grand Prize.
Total value is $263.00 and consists of:

1 Fleece & Patchwork Flannel Baby Throw Blanket ~ Value $75.00
1 Fleece & White Panne Throw Blanket ~ Value $45.00
1 One-of-a-kind Market Bag with liner and metal feet ~ Value $54.00
1 One-of-a-kind Market Bag Euro with liner and metal feet ~ Value $54.00
1 Standard Hot/Cold Pack ~ Value $27.00
1 Mini Hot/Cold Pack ~ Value $8.00

The Second Prize is a Market Bag or Market Bag Euro with metal feet
in the fabric of your choice. Value: $54.00

The Third Prize is a Standard Hot/Cold Pack and Mini Hot/Cold Pack
in the fabric of your choice. Value: $35.00

For those of you who are not familiar with my work, you can read what people are saying about my Hot/Cold Packs, Market Bag Line and throw blankets here.

Raffle Tickets will be sold through the Pray For Aidan website, and I will provide you with the specific link to the Raffle before it starts along with close up photos and details on each item.

You will be able to purchase as many chances to win as you want, but only one prize per person. A single entry will cost $5.00, three tickets for $10.00 or seven tickets for $20.00. The Raffle will start at 12 am EST on July 1st and end at 12 am PST on July 31st. The winners will be chosen a few days later and notified by E-Mail.

I'm really hoping you will look into your hearts and help little Aidan.

2009 Hot/Cold Pack Sale

The 2009 Hot/Cold Pack Sale has arrived on Betsy Ross Linens Sewing Blog.

Fleece & Flannel Blanket Sale

My fleece & flannel blanket sale is finally here! Details on my sewing blog.

Donating & Gifting

Donating
Do you donate to worthy causes and how much do you donate? I donate a lot of items to the Goodwill. It's the one place that isn't to picky about what you are donating. I've dropped off televisions, old cookware, clothing and tons of fabric that I knew I would never work with again. There are a lot of other worthy causes besides The Goodwill where you can donate items or your time, like your to local school that might have a need for volunteers or other items. Have you ever donated something directly to a needy person or family? The personal reward for direct donation can be exceptionally gratifying.

Last year, I had been trying to give away my old G3 iBook to a person in need. Most of my Internet friends though, didn't want a Mac. So it sat under my desk for months gathering dust. Then I read this post by Steve Huff at his old, True Crime Blog.

I've never met Huff in person, but I've been a fan of his crime blogging for a long time. There have been times in the past when Steve was in need, he would temporarily add a Paypal button on his blog. I always felt he had the absolute right to do that, and it was satisfying to see that his loyal readers would click on the link and make a donation. Steve is a real writer and I've always felt that if anyone could score a paid writing gig for their crime blogging, it should be him. Earlier this year Steve did get a crime writing job. He is the the driving force behind a new blog, True Crime Report.

But back to that entry. Steve was thanking people for donations but he let everyone know that he really needed donations to go to his wife Dana, so that she could save up for a laptop computer. Eureka. I finally found someone I could help who really needed a laptop, and to top it off, Dana is a teacher (she has two other blogs besides the one linked) and this laptop would help lesson planning for her students. So, indirectly, it was helping more people than just Dana. Last I heard from Steve, the G3 was working perfectly and a big help to the entire family.

Gifting
Not just our nation, but it appears the the entire global economy is heading into dark times. It's going to be especially hard for many families to have a bright holiday season this year. There will be many people who will have to cut back on their traditional gifting. For the last couple of weeks I have been sewing late into the wee hours, making some affordable gifts that might be within your budget. First up, the new Mini Hot/Cold Pack priced at just $8.00! My Hot/Cold Packs are filled with rice, flax seed, lavender flowers and peppermint leaves. The Mini Pack is 4" wide by 12" long.


You can see more photos of whats for sale and how to order on my sewing blog, here.

The Joann Fabric Store...In My Attic

I have an new entry up on my sewing blog, which is where I will be putting personal stories from now on.

My Christmas Present

I am getting a brand new sewing machine for Christmas. It won't be "under the tree" so to speak on 12/25, but I did put a deposit on it about a week ago. I'm quite excited about it. The machine I am getting is the elna 7300 Pro Quilting Queen. Even though I'm not a quilter, this is the machine I'm getting.

I've never owned a new machine before, so this will be new experience for me. Every sewing machine I've ever owned has either been given to me used, or purchased used. When I had taken my Pfaff 1473 in for regular maintenance two weeks ago, I was asking him about getting a used back up machine or purchasing a second Pfaff for parts. He sat me down and told me that for the type of sewing I was doing, I really needed to get a new, more powerful machine. Besides, if/when the electronic board goes out on my Pfaff, that's it. I can't get a new one.

I didn't want to hear that of course, because who can just open up their wallet and put down two grand on a new machine? Not me. But what he did offer me was to make payments and when I was two weeks away from making the last payment to let him know and he would order the machine. And, if I put a down payment on it before 12/31, he would knock 15% off the price.

Back in 1994 I bought my first used Pfaff from him, an 1171 the same way. On a payment plan. It was quite old when I did buy it and it lasted me ten years. About three years ago I bought the 1473 and I really love it. I'm a "love the Pfaff brand" sewer, but this machine has some wonderful features that any hard core sewer would love to have. Most important to me is the fact that it has a more powerful motor in it than my Pfaff, which will help me tremendously in sewing the heavy upholstery fabrics as well as the glued/bonded fabrics.

Once I finally have my machine, I'll take a photo of it on my sewing table and put it up on the blog.

This entry will be cross posted on the sewing blog.

Fleece & Flannel Blankie Sale

I've got four polar fleece and flannel throw blankies I'm putting on sale. There are only one each of these, no more available, and whom ever emails me first, gets first shot at purchase. The blankets regularly sell for $45.00 each + shipping and tax. The price of each blanket is now $30.00 + $8.00 shipping. California residents will be charged tax. These blankets are ready to ship. I take paypal payment only.

Dimensions: 42-43" wide x 59" long



This is a one of a kind Christmas Blanket with Snowmen playing.



This is a one of a kind Baseball blanket.



This is an HP Shields blanket. There were no more than five of these made. This flannel is a bit heavier than the others. Update: Sold!



This is a HP Owls blanket. There were no more than five of these made. This flannel is a bit softer than the other HP flannel. Update: SOLD!



Email me if you are interested in any of these blankies. This entry is cross posted on my Sewing Blog.

Update: The two HP blankets have sold.

Market Line Production Continues

I'm actually making some progress with this big order of Market Line bags. Here are the bags that are all ready for their initial sew. In the second image on top of the chair, you can see some finished bags that are, I'm happy to announce, slated for an exclusive little shop in Hilton Head, SC.




This entry will be cross posted on the sewing blog.

Being Swamped With Sewing Orders

Ever since the trial ended, I have been swamped trying to catch up with orders that came in during the trial, and there have been some orders that I just had to say I couldn't meet, because they came in too late for me to meet the individual's shipment deadline. I am so busy with sewing!

I am currently in major "Market Line" production right now, trying to fill two big orders and a few little ones for Market Bags and Market Totes. If anyone is interested in ordering something from the Market Line, you need to email me asap, since I will be shutting down the initial stage of this production (bonding glue to the canvas bases) tomorrow night or Friday at the latest, and I won't be revisiting these bags again until February of next year.

After that, I will be in major Hot/Cold Pack production for about a week. Then I will be working on table linens such as napkins and placemats, and after that, sachets and ornaments. I'm hoping I can even get to making some Throw Blankets this year. Sigh.

So if you are interested in a Market Line bag or a Hot/Cold Pack, you need to let me know now, so I can set the materials aside for that particular item.

This is a "Mini-Market Purse, " in Cotton Fabric 323 Geese.


This is a "Market Bag" made with Cotton Fabric 301 Calligraphy Red.



This is a "Market Tote" made with Cotton Fabirc 309 Mountain Cranes Blue.



This entry is cross posted on my sewing blog.