i have to say...

I'm impressed.

If you have followed So September for a few years than you might remember this little project from way back in 2010. It was an embroidered fleece blanket created for a holiday craft article on Good Housekeeping.com. In the process of working on that project many blankets were made. They did not end up selling but that was okay because a fleece blanket (or several) is something we can actually use in our home.

And use we have. These babies have been used and loved over and over again. They have been turned into forts, warmed chilly little feet in front of Saturday morning cartoons and have even been dragged along on road trips.

photo from 2010

photo from 2010

And I swear these are actual photos of these blankets from then and now. You'll see they look pretty much the same. After all those trips through the washer and dryer (and NOT the delicate cycle) and all the rough play they have endured. I am pleasantly surprised that the embroidery has held up so nicely.

This was the first project I ever embroidered using fleece and after this experience I have to give it a thumbs up! Don't rule this fabric out when planning handmade holiday gifts or just some fun household items. If you missed the tutorial and project back in 2010 you can find the free snowflake embroidery pattern here as well.

photo from 2012

photo from 2012

All I'm saying is give fleece a chance. (giggle)

holiday happenings

It's that time of year...no, wait, it's way past that time of year. That's right, it's a new Holiday Embroidery Pattern set! I like to get holiday patterns out in the summertime because that is when organized people start planning their holiday projects (so I hear - personally I wouldn't know as I am never that organized). So, it's a little later than I hoped but I am still pretty excited about this new set. This Christmas pattern collection is called "Season's Stitchings" and it is a really fun mix.  

Initially I planned to design a set of pattern based on holiday motifs from the 1950's and 60's. As I started looking into more vintage Christmas items I decided not to limit it to just those two decades. 

Browsing through old Christmas cards, wrapping papers and advertisements was perhaps the most fun part of this project. Plus I also learned a lot along the way.

Did you know that images of scrappy little dogs appeared frequently in holiday decorations from the 1930's? Not the pure bred stately dogs but the feisty mutts that could get through anything and look adorable doing it. After reading that I knew that somehow or another a puppy was going to end up in this pattern set.

And what about those aluminum Christmas trees? It's a good enough reason to try out those metallic flosses, don't you think? Vince suggested I find a way to add some sort of color changing device to the back but I'm not quite that good... yet. 

Finally I added a graceful deer reminiscent of the brass variety that was, and now again, is so popular. I've had my eye out for some in the thrift shops but I think they have all been snapped up! I guess I'll have to settle for my little embroidered friend for now.

So there you have it a Holiday hodge podge from SeptemberHouse. You can find Season's Stitchings in the SeptemberHouse Webstore or on Etsy.

Now I really really need to swing back to Halloween mode and get some costumes figured out for my two little goblins. That clock is ticking you know. 

2 things

It's been kind of a roller coaster week here but I am here to share a couple of the 'ups' with you today. The first one is a bit of press for SeptemberHouse on the Online Seller website. What a fun opportunity to share more about the challenges and rewards of selling online. Hopefully I did more encouraging than scaring when it comes to the topic of selling online, even though it certainly has been both at times for me.

And secondly, I mentioned previously that I planned to do a wee bit of Etsy shopping for SeptemberHouse's fourth birthday and promised to share what I bought. Lately my weakness and obsession has been with prints ( I should probably say 'reproductions' though I adore prints as well). I have so many on my personal 'wish list' and part of me is determined to one day have them all. It's hard to choose just one at a time but this week here was the lucky selection. I ordered it on Monday and it was in my hands on Wednesday which is pretty amazing. I can't wait to hang it up!

Other recently acquired pieces include this gem, this little beauty, and this lovely. See, I am slowly but surely making good on my pledge to NOT have bare walls in this house like we did in our last one. < sad, isn't it? It's true though - indecision stopped me from ever hanging up anything and I refuse to let that happen this time.

What new beauties have you hung on your walls lately?

i took the pin plunge

It's true, I did, in fact climb aboard the pinterest train. I tried to be oh-so disciplined and not get into something that would be a huge temptation. But, I saw a lot of shop views coming in from Pinterest (and also everyone else I knew was already there) so I started peeking around to see what it was all about and well, you know how that goes. Have I spent time there when I should have been doing something else? yes. But not too much and overall I have been a pretty good girl I think. Besides, there are worse habits I could pick up, am I right?

Here is where you can find me on planet Pinterest.

SeptemberHouse turns 4!

Seems like only yesterday she was just a wee-little shop, eh? Well, I still feel like she is a wee-little shop but here she is, FOUR years old today!

I have loved watching SeptemberHouse grow and have especially loved getting to know you all through So September! It's so exciting to think what is to come in the next four years!

Let's just keep the party rolling today with a little birthday sale over on Etsy - where it all began. Enjoy 20% off site wide today with promo code 'birthday'.

I think I will celebrate by treating myself to a little Etsy shopping too. I will be sure to tell you what I choose though I know it will be an extremely tough decision - my favorites list over there is ridiculously long!