Silverlinings Originals

I haven't posted anything on this blog in over a year.  So many things have happen to me since I lasted posted!  My business has been growing steady. Would I like it to be growing faster than it is...yes, but all in due time I guess.  Since I have been concentrating on my business I haven't had time to post because I am always at the sewing machine.  Instagram has also been the new form of blogging for me.  It has been much easier to take a picture of an item I have sold or am selling, write a description and go from there. Not to say that I haven't missed writing on my blog.  Just in today's world with everything being a photo snap away, that is what it has come down to lately. I have been considering moving my blog to WordPress. I am also looking into Google Sites. I have been wanting an actual website that I can post my items and or services on, but at the same time have a blog if I want.  I don't want to lose all the posts that I have ...

It is time to play a little catch up!!!  I will hopefully be able to spread my posts out over the the next few days or weeks.  I have sooo much to share!  I think it is better and easier for me to post to my blog from my iPhone.  I seem to have the phone to more accessible than the computer now a days. The first piece of news that I would like to share is that as of April 2015 I am now a legal LLC!! My registered name in the State of Connecticut is of course...Silverlinings Originals LLC!! Yay for me!! It is now hanging on my wall above my work station. I have been doing business out of my home as well as two store locations.  Everything I am doing is pretty new still and I am learning as I go, but I am super excited about this new journey I am on!! Soooo.....since I am my own boss (even though I am still working at the hospital as well...can't quit my day job just yet) I needed to have a more functional and appealing work space. I am very OC...

How to Clean a Filthy Iron!! This is what my iron looked like after many interfacing needed projects. When it was time to iron garments, there was no way I was putting this on the fabric! I decided to go to the store and see what I could find to clean the iron instead of buying a new one. I found this in the household section of Walmart for less than 2 bucks.  I know there are a lot of people out there that try to find alternatives to cleaning in homes without using chemicals. But they way I see it, if my grandma did these things and she living past 91 it won't kill me either! LOL I grabbed an old white washcloth that no one uses. One capsule is all you need to clean the iron one time. Make sure you dump all the water out of your iron so the steam is not in use. Rub the iron over and over the spot. Even getting the sides of the iron that you have no idea how cakes on guck gets on the edges. You can wipe the excess off on other corners of th...

DIY   - Tunic -   Simplicity 2255 View A I haven't posted in awhile because I have been working on some business ventures as of late.  Two opportunities have been brought to the table for me and I have decided to jump on them.  I will be sharing more on this in a later post.  Most of my posts are always about firsts.  That may still be because in my eyes I am still a beginner (novice) sewer.  I got up the courage to try my first button up shirt. I have had the pattern for a while but was very intimidated by it.  The shirting fabric I decided to use was purchased at Mood in NYC when I was there in September. So I did my best with the trying to cut all the patterns out to line up with each other in the end. I think I did pretty well. The only thing I had trouble with at this point were the pockets.  I had to sacrifice lining the plaid up perfectly horizontally and make it line up vertically.  Originally the pocke...

Clothing Labels Just Arrived!! When I was in elementary school I remember my teachers always saying, "Don't forget to put your name on your work so I know who it belongs too!"  I even have to remind my children when they do their homework to put their name on their work as well.  Now I get to put my name on My Work!!! A few weeks before Christmas I was searching for clothing labels that I was able to customize and wouldn't break the bank.  I really was doing my homework!! I was looking for a small quantity to start with just in case I wasn't satisfied. One of my Instagram  followers had shown a picture of herself sewing in her labels and I was curious where they came from.  She told me about this website Labelsandribbon.com . I believe the basic starting price for 50 labels is $21.00 US.  If you add a graphic it brings it to $24.00 US and if you add the border it takes it to $27.00 US before taxes.  This was plenty affordable to me to s...

New Year Sewing Budget So again, I really didn't plan on having any resolutions because I would have a hard time keeping them.  I know last year a lot of people participated in the Sewing Diet in which they did not buy any unnecessary RTW (ready to wear) clothing and either sewed or upcycled their clothing. That challenge didn't do much for me because I only shop about a few times a year and not for expensive things.  I have some jeans, shirts, sweaters and scrubs that I have been wearing for 6+ years and still look good and in style.  What I did notice last year is that I spent lots of $$$$$$$ on fabric and tools of the trade.  Like any hobby it can get a little pricey just with fabric alone!!  Now in my defense for last year, I spent a lot of money basically for start up.  Having to buy a new reliable sewing machine that can grow with me as I hone my sewing skills can break the bank itself let alone buy all the supplies that you need. (Pa...

I'm not gonna say that I have a million resolutions because I know myself....they will eventually one by one be broken.  My goal for this year is to try and blog once a week with the busy work and family life I have been living.  I had this notion that I had to blog every day and that my blog would only be about sewing.  Yes...sewing and showcasing my work was a big part of the reason why I wanted to start the blog in the first place, but I am realizing that there is so much more to "blog" about.  As I have said in my previous post it's not about making money or trying to become famous. It's about being me and sharing the things that I love and love to do.  In the header of my blog it says:  " My journey as a beginner in the sewing and blogging community. The failures,the triumphs and the in between!!! " I have to remind myself that I can blog about the in  between  and not let so much time go in between posts.   I do...