Bye Bye Summer, Hello Fall!

I stepped outside into my garden this afternoon and it really hit me that that summer was at an end. It is beautiful bright and breazy outside and all of the rain clouds have gone into hiding.  This is the kind of day I wish it was everyday and I remember why I love living in Miami!

I had a wonderful and busy summer this year and there is so much to catch up on.  I get so wrapped up in making things and having fun with my work that I forget about everything else around me! :)

I'll begin by sharing the link to an interview I did with my friend April this summer for her blog a thoughtful life. http://athoughtfullife.com/?p=1380  I met April in college and she is a wonderful friend and a wonderful artist.  This interview is just a little insight on me and my obsession with color and pretty things! :)

 Here is a picture of a few of the new Becky cases I made which I will be adding to my Etsy store this week. I just love making these cases! They are so bright and colorful and they just make me happy. :)

The red Becky case on the left is a little experiment I tried with fabric pleating.  I really liked this pretty red and white cotton lawn fabric but I thought it was just a little too plain for my taste. 

So I decided to interface the fabric with a light weight fusible interfacing and made random pleats.

I interfaced the fabric again to hold the pleating in place and then I stitched it with a coordinating red thread.

Now it is perfect! :) I think the Becky case out of the fabric turned out so cute and it is now available in my etsy shop here http://www.etsy.com/listing/56840067/becky-cosmeticaccessory-case-bc21!

I also re-designed my Sophia Wristlet this past month.
I added little side loops to make it convertible.  I think they all turned out really well too!

As you can see, I've been busy and I am also working on two or three new projects.
There just isn't enough time in a day to get everything done but I'm trying my best! :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Summer and I'll try to keep in touch more this Fall!
xo
Mary

Market, Updates and Sneak Peeks!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it has been so long since I last updated my blog!  June was a crazy busy month for me and I have so much to fill you in on!  I've been working on new items for my Etsy shop, custom orders, gardening, battling with a terrible computer virus for the past two weeks and coming to terms with turning thirty a few days ago! :)

Here are some of the new items I'll be adding to my Etsy store this week and a sneak peek at the new shoulder bag design I am currently working on.

I've also been busy making lots of new items for Market Boutique, located in the Shops by the Falls  8851 SW 136 ST Miami, FL 33176.   I went to visit Market this past weekend and I took a few pictures to share with you all.

One of my clutches was used in the storefront display.  Doesn't it look bright and fun with the white dress?

 My handbags are displayed in this awesome vintage cabinet.

Here are some more pictures of the store...there are so many awesome finds and many are made by local Miami artists!  If you are ever in the area, you should stop by Market to see my work in person! :)

Till next time!
Mary :)

Plum and Teal Treasury

It has been a while since I last made a treasury and I have been dying to make one on Etsy's new Treasury East!  I just love these colors and I think they look so pretty together!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4becbd192d6e8eef1d8259b3/plum-and-teal?sort=hotness&order=desc.

I hope you like these talented Etsy artists as much as I do!
Check out their shops for more wonderful finds!
xo

Sneak Peek - New Stuff!

I've been really busy these past few days working on new items for my Etsy store!

I have new iPod nano cases and a brand new padded cosmetic bag!  I'll be taking pictures of them and adding them into my Etsy store this week so check in often to see them all!  I'm also going to extend the free shipping promotion throughout the month of May. : )

I really love this new padded bag!  I had a custom order last week for a larger version with extra padding for a Garmin Nuvi.  http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=28472599.  I think it would make a great camera bag as well.  Let me know if you are interested, I can make it in any size! : )

Pinecrest Gardens revisited!

I went back to Pinecrest Gardens with my family this weekend and remembered to take my camera! No cellphone pictures this time! It was a gorgeous day outside...perfect picture weather! :)

This was the first picture I took...I accidentally left my studio setting on the camera but the picture still turned out pretty neat!

Here are some of the other pictures I took...Enjoy! :)

Zoom in on the tree...the branches are incredible!

Goodbye sweet Booger Monkey :(

This morning my  sister's beloved Booger Monkey passed away. :(

Booger was the sweetest, most adorable and stinkiest little ferret.  I love you Boogie!  Rest in peace sweet boy!


I took this video of Booger playing with Sushi last July when I was baby sitting him. I will miss my chunky little nephew.

Office Chair Project

I was finally able to reupholster my boring desk chair!  I am so bad at remembering to take before pictures...I just get so excited to start on projects! 
This is the best picture I could find of the chair before I covered it. :)

I thought taking the chair apart and re covering it would be difficult but it was really easy and fun.  This is what it looks like now. :)

I really like the fun and bold pattern of this fabric.  Before the fabric arrived, I printed an image of  the pattern and used it to make the stencil for the shelf I made next to my desk. I think it turned out well! :)

Birthday Boy

On April 28, 2009 this sweet little kitten stole my heart.

This is how he decided to pose for his birthday picture.  What a little turkey! :)

I don't know what I'd do with out him. :)  Happy Birthday Sushi!

Mother's Day Sale

To celebrate our beautiful mothers, I am offering FREE U.S. shipping on all items in my Etsy shop from today April 26 - May 9, 2010! :)  www.maryjmaalouf.etsy.com
I am also offering a buy one get one half price sale for all of my blog followers on everything in my shop April 26 - May 9...Buy one item get the second item of equal or lesser value at half price...just write "MOTHER'S DAY SALE" in the message to seller box during check out and I will refund you through Paypal. You could also send me a message and I'll set up a special listing with the price already reduced! :)
Please share this with anyone you think might be interested!
Thank you so much!
Mary :)

 

New Iron!

My new iron finally arrived!  After a whole week of not being able to sew, I can finally get back to work! : )

I bought another industrial iron.  We used these at the place where I used to work and I honestly could never use a regular iron again!  I haven't tried this particular model before but it had pretty good reviews and I got a great deal on it.  My first industrial iron lasted four years and the one that just died only lasted a year and a half.  Hopefully this one will live longer than the last one! : )

Stephanie Levy

I just won a blog giveaway!  Yay!

I have be drooling over Stephanie Levy's artwork for a while now but I haven't been able to buy anything just yet. I love her use of colors and her compositions and all of her work is just amazing!  Check out her beautiful Etsy store and her wonderful blog! 

This is the piece I won.  It is titled Dublin.  :)

Here are some of my other favorites. My birthday is coming up soon...I think some of these will look perfect in my newly made over office!

DIY Done! :)

I took a whole week off from working on my Etsy stuff and re did my office space!  I was going a little crazy watching all of those home makeover programs and I just had to change something!  Since we are renting this house, I didn't want to paint the actual room so I re-painted my furniture. 

I was so excited to take pictures of the diaper bag I made for my friend, that I accidentally erased my "before" pictures.  I managed to find pictures of my cat, Sushi, that show what my desk area used to look like and there are two surviving in progress pictures.

I warn you...I love bright colors and it is really hard for me to simplify my stuff! :)

I built a little shelf (with the help of my step dad since I am afraid of miter saws) to go over my printer and I painted it with a stencil I made. 

I raised the shelf inside my desk so I could hide my obscenely large computer.  I also made a curtain and panels around it so I could hide the unsightly cords and so I could keep all of the litter dust away from the computer.  Unfortunately, this is the only space i can fit the litter box. :(

I got a cute little shelf at Micheal's for $15.00 to put near my bed and I painted it too.

I love this mouse!

So, there it is!  I love working in my bright new space!  I still would like to re-upholster my desk chair and find new art for my walls...but that will have to wait.  Time to get back to work! :)