Apples and Sewing

We stopped in Hendersonville, NC and bought five bushels (10-1/2 bushel bags) of apples on our way home from Pigeon Forge. So my evenings have been spent doing apples. My goal has been to do a 1/2 bushel (1 bag) most evenings and so far it's working well. I'm sure there are faster ways to accomplish this but this goal is attainable and not too overwhelming. 8 bags down, 2 to go!

I've been making applesauce, apple butter, dried apples and will also freeze some apples for pies and apple crisps. I think I'm done with apple sauce now; I have over 40 quart. We love homemade applesauce and eat a lot of it!

I've spent an hour or two each morning working on a big Etsy order--5 of these Christmas gift sets. They are packed and ready to ship off today-- I didn't get a picture of them before I boxed them up. But my sewing room looks like this...

Etsy by day; apples by night!

Housework beyond clean dishes, laundry and cooking hasn't been my top priority during this season as you can see. I'll get back to it soon! Starting to drive me a bit crazy as I really like things in order.

Our fall seasons are always jam-packed and super busy. This year is no exception!

What have you been up to?

Etsy News

I've had a good amount of business through my Etsy shop lately. Yeah!

My goal has been to have at least 50 items for sale in my shop. I keep getting close but then I'll have a sale or two, bringing the number of items for sale back down. Oh well, that's a good problem to have! :-)

This burlap pillow cover was a recent custom order. Thanks Christina!

I just love the color combination she chose!

The hanging kitchen towels were getting low so I just added another batch to the shop. These have sold very well!  I had more but some friends saw them at my house and bought a few right then and there! So I'll be making more in the near future.

Thanks for looking!

What's New In My Etsy Shop

Some etsy shop news:

1. For local folks: Use coupon code PICKUPYORKCOUNTY to waive shipping fees. This applies if you are in South Charlotte, NC or York/Lancaster/Chester counties of South Carolina. I will then make arrangements with you for delivery in a central location.This should simplify the process for local folks who want to pick up directly from me and not pay shipping!

2. Lots of new stuff in the shop including some fabric, Valentine's and baby items. Be sure to check it out!

3. I've recently added some older inventory to the SALE section so be sure and head that way for items at reduced prices.

As always, thank you so much for looking and shopping at The Gingham Cottage!

Buy Handmade!

In honor of Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, get 20% off anything in my shop when you use the coupon code CYBERMONDAY12 at checkout!

Coupon code good through  Monday 11/26/12.

Thanks for looking!

Winner!

The winner of the pumpkin giveaway is...

Wendi!

She commented that what she loves most about fall:

"The thing I love most about fall is the changing leaves. It is like a new picture outside my window each day."


Congratulations!


For the rest of you, I'm offering a coupon code good for 15% off anything in my shop through October 31, 2012. Use  coupon code FALL2012 at checkout!

In The Shop: Kitchen Towels

A brand new batch of kitchen towels are in my shop!

A Bushel Of Pumpkins And A Giveaway!

Remember these pumpkins I made last year?

I recently whipped up a big batch of them and they are in my shop. 

But for fun, I'm also offering up a set of 3 pumpkins as a giveaway here on the blog!

The giveaway will be open all week and I'll draw a winner on Saturday, October 20.

To enter: Simply leave a comment on this post for a chance to win! Make sure you leave a name and a way to get in touch with you if you win--an email address, link back to your profile or blog that includes an email, etc. I can't give the prize to Anonymous or to someone that I have no way of getting in touch with!:-)

For additional entries:

(Leave a separate comment for each one.)

• Leave a comment stating what you love the most about fall!
• Leave a comment stating your favorite cool weather or fall food to cook or eat. 
• Leave a comment sharing your favorite fall activity! 

Happy Fall! 

Gingham Pennant Garland Fun

I've had the urge to make a pennant garland for a long time now. So one afternoon, I sat down with a pile of gingham fabric and used my pinking shears to cut out a stack of triangles.

Then I sewed a couple of simple garlands which I hung in my kitchen and dining room windows.

I still had a stack of triangles to use and wondered what else to make with them. A sweet pair of burlap pillow covers were the result. 

And the next day, a pair of denim pillow covers!

It's fun to create.

**Pillow covers are in my Etsy shop.**

Gingham Cottage News: New Stuff & A Custom Order

A few of the new things in my shop:

Tan and Pink Floral Apron 

A vintage sewing book. 

Floral Tote Bag with Yellow Gingham Lining.

I've also had a couple of custom orders lately, which I am most grateful for! These have all been outside of Etsy.

One order was some adult bibs and the other was this cute ruffle apron which I thought turned out really beautiful--the black and hot pink is really striking!

If you are interested in a custom order, I'd be most happy to talk with you. Either email me or start a conversation through my Etsy shop.

Thanks for looking!

Gingham Cottage News: New Items, Apron Sale!

**Through February 10th, all half aprons (waist aprons) and children's aprons in my shop are priced at just $10.00 each. This is a savings of $3-$5 off the original prices!**

Some new items have recently been added. Here's a sampling: 

Yellow Floral and Gingham Apron

 Rick Rack Trimmed Cloth Napkins 

Made from a vintage tablecloth.

Matching kitchen towel also available!

 Not made by me but by someone else's sweet mama, these vintage hand-embroidered bunnies would make a darling spring garland!

Visit my shop to see all this and more! 

Thanks for looking!

Gingham Cottage News--FREE Shipping Code

Happy Boxing Day!

Get FREE shipping in my Etsy Shop today and tomorrow, December 26 and 27 when you use the code FREESHIP1211 at checkout.

Valid for U.S. customers only. Only one coupon code per transaction.

Thanks for looking and shopping handmade!

Would You Like To Win One Of My Aprons?

My sweet blog friend Katie is hosting an apron giveaway! Visit her blog to get the details on how to enter and also get a coupon code for my Etsy shop!

Crayon Roll Closeout!

Through tomorrow November 29, all crayon rolls are marked down to $5.00 in my Etsy shop. These come complete with crayons and make wonderful stocking stuffers!

Thanks for looking!

**Through the end of the year, proceeds from all of my Etsy shop sales go towards a mission project in India providing wells for villages and rescuing girls in sexual slavery through E.A.R.E. ministries.

New Stuff In My Shop

There's a new batch of fun stuff in my shop tonight!

Here's a  sampling of what you'll see:

Cute little wallets

Drawstring purses

Be checking back the rest of the week as I'll be listing more each day.

**I will refund shipping to you if you're local and would like to arrange your own delivery. 

Introducing...

I'm so excited to announce the opening of my Etsy shop--The Gingham Cottage .

There you will find purses, bags, aprons and crayon rolls as well as anything else that I decide to create. I love to recycle and repurpose fabrics so many of the items you will find here are one-of-a-kind.

I still have more items to list for sale in the shop so come back frequently to see what's new! As of right now, I only have a few items listed and not a wide variety but I will have more up in the next couple of days.

Along with the opening of my shop, I've also started a new blog. The Gingham Cottage blog will be where I will post shop news and updates and show what's happening in my sewing room.This will be in addition to my regular postings here at Mary Ann's House.

Feel free to stop by The Gingham Cottage shop and blog to browse the work of my hands!