I went to Hawaii and brought back this adorable fabric!  I've got plans for it, but have yet to cut into it.  Have any great ideas?

There are tons of new stores to find bobaloo! in these days.  Just click that "stores and shows" tab at the top of the page to see the latest list.  I gotta tell you, it's been lots of fun to ship products to stores across the US and customers all over the world.  I keep planning on getting one of those big maps in my sewing room so I can mark where products have travelled.  I am downright horrible at geography so maybe that would help.

I just wrapped up the Rocky Ripple Festival yesterday and it was a great time (despite the on-and-off rain).  The next show I have lined up is the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange Fall Mini at the Harrison Center in a couple weeks, then a new show at the Indiana State Museum (details are on the left).  I don't mean to frighten you, but it is almost holiday shopping time so you should definitely come by one of those shows and see me!

I've made some new goodies recently, too.  My favorite has been the little Tooth Fairy Pillows, but I'm pretty crazy about the Trick or Treat bags, too.  I even made a couple of quilts!  Typically it takes me a little while to post new stuff in the shop, but make sure to like bobaloo! on Facebook because I usually post all the new stuff there first.

So what have you all been up to?  How was your summer?  Kids back in school and all that?  I promise to be better about keeping you all updated so you don't think I've disappeared again!  Oh, and a new newsletter's coming this week, so sign up at the right if you haven't already because there are usually coupons involved!

As I mentioned on Facebook, my sewing buddy Hillary brings the cutest little pincushion to sewing night. I couldn't stand it any longer and had to make one for myself.  Turns out they're super-easy, and no sewing is involved!  Why didn't I shamelessly copy these earlier?

Supplies

• Scrap of high density foam (at least 6”x 3”, I used ¾” thick foam) *see note at bottom
• Scrap of fabric (at least 12”x 8”)
• Scissors
• Small glass canning jar, including the lid and band (I used a Ball 4 oz quilted jar)
• Hot glue gun & glue

1. Draw one large circle onto the wrong side of the fabric, about triple the width of the lid (mine was about 7.5" across).  Trace the lid to make another circle the same side of the lid, also on the wrong side of the fabric.  Then, trace the lid twice onto the scrap foam.  Cut all the circles, using pinking shears on the fabric circles if you have them.

2. Stack foam circles in the middle of the large fabric circle.  Holding the fabric with the foam on top in your palm, wrap the fabric around the foam so the edges of the fabric cover the top and sides of the foam pieces, gathering the fabric at the top. 

3. Push the foam through the band, so the fabric-covered foam is sticking out of the top and the raw edges of the fabric are inside the band.

4. Put the lid over the bottom of the foam, under the edges of the fabric.  Pull gently on the edges of the fabric while holding the lid in place to squeeze the foam into a nice rounded shape. 

5. Hold the edges of the fabric outside of the band and run a line of hot glue around the edge of the sealing lid.  Carefully push the edges of the fabric into the glue.  Let it cool off for a bit.

6. Trim any extra bits of fabric that are sticking up.  Glue about ¼” inside the edge of the lid, on top of the gathered-up fabric.  Place the smaller circle of fabric wrong side down on the gathered fabric to cover all the raw edges.  Let it cool, and try to remove any glue that may have ended up on the threads of the band.

7. Make sure the foam and lid are pushed all the way up into the band and screw the whole lid onto the jar.  The foam stays put pretty well without being glued to the band on all of the pincushions I’ve made, but if you’re super-handy with a glue gun you can try gluing it in place.  Now go make some for your sewing buddies!

note: I think my buddy Hillary made hers with batting instead of foam – just stuff the big fabric circle full of batting and you should be good to go!

We all made something a little different.  Megan and Hillary made their own versions of this cutie:

Julie decided to try out a sewing pattern for the very first time and is making some great progress (those are some nice pockets!).  I've been itching for a smaller, less ruffly apron, so I made this little number for myself:

I apologize for the not-so-great camera phone picture but I have a really good excuse.  We have a new member of the sewing group and I couldn't resist taking pictures of her instead of our sewing progress.

The cuteness!  Can you stand it?!

If you're in Indy and want to learn to sew, make sure you check out the French Seam!  Sewing classes are going to be starting up soon.  Plus, they have amazing fabric, so you should just stop by and have a look, okay?

What projects have you guys been up to?

It's FABRIC!  Yards and yards of beautiful fabric!

I made the decision pretty early on to start buying fabric wholesale as soon as possible so I'd always have plenty of fabric on hand.  I placed one smaller order already, but this order was a whopping 10 bolts, including a couple of my favorite fabrics EVER.  I now have all 17 prints that are going to make up the fall line.

I can't wait to get to work mixing and matching new prints.  I know the Etsy shop has looked a little bare the past few weeks, but soon I'll have so many new goodies available.  I may wait and reveal it all at once when I open up the new and improved online shop.

I'm planning my product line for the fall, so if there's anything you'd like to see from bobaloo! or any other special requests, let me know.  I can't wait to start putting a dent in all this cotton!

The show was at the Harrison Center for the Arts and was held in conjunction with the Independent Music and Arts Festival.  There was loads of good music, beer from Sun King, and enough handmade goodies to make your head spin.  I'll definitely be applying to this one again next year!

On a completely different note, I'm revamping my email newsletter this summer.  If you haven't signed up yet, don't miss out!  I'm planning on both deals for you guys and fun (free!) treats for the kiddos.  Keep an eye out for the new and improved bobaloo! newsletter in July.  In the meantime, you can check out the June edition here.

If you're a Facebook fan you probably already know about the new products that have been released the past couple of weeks, but here's a little peak just in case.  On the left is the brand new Sqube, a soft and squishy stuffed baby toy with different patterns and textures on each side.  On the right are the new Pacifier Clips made in the bobaloo! fabrics you know and love.  Limited quantities are available in the shop right now and more will be coming soon!

I hope you all are having a relaxing summer so far - I know our baby pool has been getting a workout!

Some plans that are definitely in the works:

A new focus on my email newsletter.  You can sign up on the right side of the screen - I promise it's gonna be worth it!

Online store overhaul, including new product pictures and fun new products.

More tools for shop owners that carry bobaloo! products.

My favorite part of the weekend was meeting so many amazing crafty women.  I was so excited to chat with Amy Turn Sharp from Little Alouette and Suzy Ultman - I am so inpired by both of these ladies and they were so generous with their business advice.  I made some new Indianapolis buddies (including the super-cool Jen from Three Fifty Baking Studio) and met a couple of blog readers (hi Hanna!).  The amount of brainpower in that building was a little overwhelming!

I can't help but mention the championship belt that Martha from Sunday Afternoon Housewife and I brought home for dominating the Craft Corner Deathmatch.  The amazing Renee from Flamestitch made these belts - go check out her out!

This week is devoted to getting ready for the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange, an amazing show here in Indianapolis.  If you're local, come by and say hi!

So here's my problem - how do I know which shows are great?

I'm ready to take this show on the road and try an out-of-state show this fall.  Right now I have two (very different) shows I'm considering - Craftin' Outlaws in Columbus, OH and Chicago Renegade Craft Fair.  Craftin' Outlaws is a one-day show and Renegade is a HUGE two-day show, way bigger than anything I have ever done.

So what's a girl to do? I talked it over with the hubs and I think I've come to a decision - apply to both! I feel like Renegade is a long shot because SO MANY people apply, but I want to push myself.  Craftin' Outlaws would be a more comfortable show for me size-wise, but the competition is so tough that I really have to present great products.  Who knows, I could be only accepted to one and my decision's made, or I could be accepted to both and be VERY busy!

Do you guys have any input?  Ever been to either of these shows?  And crafters, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

If you're subscribing in a reader, click on over and tell me what you think.  I'll be back to regular posting later this week, I've missed you all!

Thank you, each and every one of you, for reading this blog.  I've learned so much and had so much fun interacting with you guys and I hope it continues.  Change can be hard sometimes, but I think this change is the right move!