On A ROLL!

 Well LOOK at me GO!   Two posts in a row!  I may be on a roll here, but don't get too excited...my little business is really picked up a lot over the last few months and I have VERY limited amounts of time to do much else.  

This post might get a little long...but it's mostly photos...so I think we can handle that!

I recently expanded my business to include other brand names, that I can add decals to, or sell as is!   It was a very good move for me, as it buys me a little time to get my hand made stuff stocked up and ready to sell.   The biggest issue for me is time.   I am crazy picky about the items that I sew.   I refuse to put my brand on some 1/2 ass crooked seamed thing that will look like a rag after just one wash.   So I make sure my seams are straight, and everything looks great before each thing hits the line.   

I thought that today, since I have a few minutes before I need to go ship the orders that I have completed and it is hotter than Hell outside, (and it's not a healthy thing to be out there)  I would share some of my new line with you.  

First...if you are new to Tootsie Time, you may not know that I have another little business.   

I call it 19 8ighty 9ine Design.   It's my baby.   I have been nurturing and expanding this little shop for about 6 or so years now.   

It started out as me teaching myself to sew and making just boot cuffs and some leg warmers, and then it grew into scarves too.   Then, one day,  I decided to really teach myself some skills and expanded into ladies designer clothing.   I make all my own patterns on wrapping paper and I sew each thing from scratch.   I recently decided to expand into items for the home...such as blankets, curtains, pillows and home accents, and now even more recently I have moved up again to where I am today!  

It's been a fun, frustrating, exhausting process and I am still learning, and loving every minute!   Some days I work for 3 hours, others I work for 20...and others I just do nothing, but every day I end up with a few orders for different things and that is good!   My bills are paid, and I can help my kids when they need a little extra.   I also have my products in several different stores across Alberta and Sask!   Ya...so now you see why I don't really have much time for Gardening, or blogging...

Now ...lets do  a bit of a fashion show for you...

This right here is my MOST popular hand made item.   I have made and shipped HUNDREDS of these wraps, in dozens of colors to 5 different countries around the world!     They are just so perfect for whatever you want to do.   Sporting events, camping, travelling, shopping, hospital visits...(one woman loves hers for dialysis...another loves hers for her chemo treatments.)   OR just hanging out on the deck in the cool summer mornings or evenings.  They are just so simple to wear and care for that they have become a staple in my line.   I recently released a version that has no scarf, so those who don't want a scarf can enjoy a wrap too!  These wraps come in a variety of colors as well!

 

Next up I am sharing one of the blankets I make.   I love the new trend of pom poms on household items.   They just add a bit of whimsy!   I don't like that poms poms aren't really all that washable...and who in their right mind wants to hand wash a blanket?!   No one!   So I made my pom pom blankets with REMOVABLE  pom poms!   They have been a smash hit!

This set is one of my favourites!   Not just because it's got a matching pillow...but because it has beautiful texture, simple colors and it functions indoors and outdoors!   You can also ....complete the look by adding a table runner and place mats to match!

 

 

Speaking of table runners....

 

 

 

 

easy care...casual style...perfect!

I use these all over my house...

Then there are the towels...They match the runners...and the place mats...and they are perfect in any room!   I have some in the bathroom to dry wet fingers, in the kitchen to dry the dishes, and I even used a set in my kitchen window as curtains!

 

I adore the casual style of these place mats!   I also have some matching cloth napkins, and some coasters to match this style.   

I mentioned that I make some blankets....

I struggle to keep the blankets in stock too.   They are all quite popular.   

I have had so many changes happen in my little business over the last year or two...It is exciting to have expanded so much.   The following are some of my newest additions to my company.

If you know me...you know I can be a tad sarcastic at times...and to my surprise...Sarcasm SELLS! lol

STOP!   TIME FOR A DISCLAIMER BEFORE ANYONE GETS MAD AND THOWS A FIT!

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This Yellowstone reference tshirt was a request by a store that carries my stuff...it has been popular with Trudeau, Biden, Kenney...and a few other politicians names on it.   The photo does not necessarily reflect my view or affiliations...it's just to show you what I do.   

(yup...I got a bit of flack for that shirt...and the #allracksmatter one too ) ugh

I have been having an absolute blast with making the decals to put on the tshirts and hoodies.   I have done several custom decals now including a curling team logo and  put on hoodies.   It has been extra crazy!   

THIS...has been HUGE!   It's a hoodie with a lined drink holder!   They are not easy to find in these parts, and I had gotten in an order of 50 of them in various sizes.   I made my product shot and shared it and within 3 hours it was sold out!   

I searched far and wide for another supplier, as my original one was not restocking for a while, and I finally found one...so these are set to arrive in a few weeks...and I am waiting impatiently for them to come.   If YOU want one, head to the website and order it up now.   They absolutely won't last long once they arrive. 

They will be here in time for me to get them ready for the fall/winter/christmas rush.   Until then, I will be working on tshirts and hoodies and wraps and blankets and whatever else pops into my head, and gets ordered up by my fabulous customers!

So...as you can see...there is a REASON I have been kinda MIA for the last while.   I have been one busy girl between my business, my children, my grand child, my cowboy (who is SO incredible and supportive... plus kinda cute too lol) and my house...I don't get much for free time anymore!   

I am secretly glad I don't have a greenhouse right now, and I have put a hold on the plan to build a new one this year.   I just can't add anything new to my plate until I either figure out a system to stay WAY ahead of things, or I hire some help.   

One day...I will be digging in the dirt in a greenhouse again...just not right now.

Well...That's it for me for a few days...I hope you all will pop over to my business website and see what else I have available!   To get there click on any photo, or click here

 Until Next Time...Happy Shopping!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

This post has been proudly sponsored by 

19 8ighty 9ine Clothing House 

and 

Galaxy Creative Designs  

 

My Tribute To a Beautiful Woman. RIP Sweet Gloria.

 Hi guys.   It has taken me a while to write this post as I just don't know how to do it justice.    I'm not sure if you all know this or not but our online community has recently suffered a tremendous loss.   A loss that has affected so many of us who knew her, myself included.  

This is my tribute... One I was asked to write for her several years ago, and hoped I would not have to do for a long long time.   

I was contacted by one of Gloria's daughters a few weeks ago to let me know ....Our sweet Gloria (some may remember her from RMS or from her Blog as Happy To Be Gloria) passed away on May 12, 2021.   She was more than ready to go, as she suffered from a horrible lung disease that made just being alive difficult.   She had mentioned to me more than once that God just needs to take her home so she could reunite with her one true love Wally, her beloved mom and another blogger who passed not all that long ago...Picket.  

While she was here with us Gloria was an angel on earth.   She was kind, generous and loving and ALWAYS had time for those she loved and who loved her.   No matter what I might have been going through, good or bad, she was there with love and encouragement.   Her family was her pride and joy and she spoke to me regularly about all of her daughters, grand and great grandchildren. 

I met Gloria (and so many other wonderful people that I am proud to call my friends, )  in 2008  on a site (that is now deleted)   called RMS.  She was always bouncing around from profile to profile spreading her special brand of sweet sentiments and "popping in for coffee"   Many of us got so that we looked forward to her visit and became friends outside of the group.  I am one of those people.   

 

I adored Gloria.   She and I would have long conversations on the phone and text back and forth regularly.   We became very close and she "adopted" me as her Canadian Daughter.   I called her and thought of her as my mom.   Oh I miss hearing her say "ya know Toots.... I love you girl..."    

I loved seeing her cheerful posts about antiques and her love for them.   I loved hearing her stories from her absolutely amazing life.   Gloria was an incredible woman who loved her life, her home, family and friends.   Her life was one that had so many amazing adventures...from being a single mom, to becoming a pastors wife, getting her pilots licence ... I admired her brave spirit and her loving heart, and I know she touched so many souls in her lifetime.   She was one of those people who could make another feel SO loved, just by being part of your life. 

Gloria will forever be in my heart and I will miss her more than I can express.   I just know she's an angel in heaven now,  having a wonderful reunion with Wally, her mom and Picket, and she's looking down on the ones she loved so dearly.   While the earth lost an angel, heaven gained one.   

Goodbye Mom.   I promised you I would write something when you left us, and I hope this does the job.  I love you now and forever...until we meet again..."hugs and love"

Love Toots.

 

Until next time my friends...

 
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

 

A Little Cowboy...A Little French Country...and Whole Lotta Love...AND a Story...

Those of you who know us personally, already know that it has been almost a year since we flipped our first property.   Yes…we moved last summer.   We bought the acreage with a flip in mind…and that is what we did.   As much as we loved it out there, it wasn’t in the area we had in mind for a long term home.  We spent just a little more than a year out there…and did a whole lot of work to that place. 



Everything from the fireplace to the kitchen and bathroom cabinets to the exterior of the property got a little Tootsie and Co. touch!   I didn’t share all of the upgrades we did, as I was dealing with health issues and didn't really get time to share them all... but there were a lot…and we were very proud.   So proud in fact that we actually thought about staying there long term.

At first we were very sad to say goodbye to the place…but when we saw how much we made on the flip…the sad went away pretty quick .   hahaha.

We found our new Project house…well new to us…and were smitten right off the bat.  



She’s an older home, and she’s close to all of the things that TEENAGERS like and need.   She looks small from the outside but inside there is lots of space for us all.   It’s even close to a college for the older kids and a very good school for my Busy to finish up her education. 

We don’t know if the plan is to live in this house forever, or instead, just until all the kids are out of the house.  Until  the day comes that we make a final decision,  we will call this house our home…and slowly get her fixed up the way we want her.   There’s a lot of work to do as the yard was badly neglected and the interior needed a little Tootsie Touch.
At first sight the ‘bones’ of this place were adorable.   The yard has promise…and the house itself is super cute.   It was the color scheme on the inside that was the nightmare.

There were several VERY undesirable paint colors used throughout the house…The worst of which was in the living room.  

They say every girl LOVES Tiffany Blue right?   Well…for me, that only applies if it is on a tiny little box…NOT on my living room walls. 



Seriously…it’s a beautiful color…but all 4 walls?  In the LIVING ROOM???  
My son who is color blind even commented to me…  “Mom…please paint”   hahaha  



We all agreed that the screaming blue had to go…so I got busy about a week after we moved in and set my sights on something just a little easier to look at.  This blue looked SO bad with my olive green and earth toned furniture...you have no idea.  



Lately I have been crushing hard on the creamy tones…and they co-ordinate nicely with the earth tones and olive shades that are my living room colors…so it worked out perfect! 
I think that the name Living Room is absolutely appropriate for our front room…as it is the MOST used space in our house.  

Once the walls were updated, I had planned to get busy and paint my way thought the rest of the house…but that was not in the cards.   As it turned out…my health kinda cratered again and my little clothing design company took off in a very big way and I was spending 12-16 hours every day for several months sewing and creating styles for my customers to enjoy.   It wasn’t until this spring that I was feeling up to painting, was caught up enough with work and was able to resume my decorating in the house.   I painted the kitchen, which was a hideous shade of red/coral blech!   You can see that post here.   It was an amazing change…and a change very much for the better if I do say so myself!

It was only a few weeks ago that I got back into the living room and did some more changes to make her look like a space we could all enjoy spending time in.   I started with the furniture.  I gave my antique sofa set a HUGE makeover.  You can see that post here.   After I shared the post about the painting of the furniture, I had several of you email me and request photos of the rest of the room, so I am sharing today to oblige those requests!
Shall we get started on the big reveal of our living room?

When you walk into our house through the front door…this is the first actual room you will see.




The Cowboy picked out some very nice throw pillows to accessorize the sofas and chair...I really like them a lot.   For a guy he's got okay taste sometimes...(wink wink)



The two cream throws on the cushion of the chair and far side of the sofa are for Marty and Ginger.   (our two very spoiled cats)  They love their blankies and that is where they generally sleep. 



See that guy???   He’s supposed to be on the other end of the sofa on his ‘special baby blankie’…



WHAT A BRAT!   He supervises me in almost everything I do…but today...he's being like this! 



The updated furniture has changed the whole feel in this space…we love it.
I went through and edited out some of the things that used to be part of the living room…and added some others.   Getting rid of old memories and reminders is often a very good thing.   There's going to be one heck of a garage sale this summer...



We use this room every day…and I for one am very happy with the way it all came together.  

I wish it wasn’t so hard to get a good photo of this space…I am a tad rusty with the room pics so perhaps is just the photographer.   hahaha.



There’s a little cowboy, a little french country and a whole lot of love in this room. 



Well…that’s it for me for today…thanks for stopping by!

I am headed back to the sewing machine for a few days.   I can’t wait to share my work space with you…it’s getting a nice crisp update too!!

Until next time…  Happy Decorating !!!  ( and re-finishing!)

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

This post has been proudly sponsored by

www.chic-a-boot.com

What’s the MOST Outrageous Thing You’ve Ever Painted?

As many of you have probably noticed…I LOVE PAINT.   Not Chalk paint…but latex paint.   Chalk paint just doesn’t do ‘it’ for me…and I think it’s a colossal waste of time and money…so unless I find a brand that does what I want it to do…there won’t be any chalk paint posts from me.   I don’t do fads, and I think Chalk paint is just that.   This post…like most  of the others I’ve done…is a latex paint project.

Over the years you guys have seen me paint a LOT of different things…and for the most part I was sure of how the project would turn out before I even did it.   This time, however, I decided that I had nothing to lose…and I was VERY skeptical about how it would turn out…but SOMETHING had to change…so either way this project was going to get done.

Do you remember a few years back when I got my antique sofa set?   Of course you do!
In case you don’t …this is the sofa.


Do you remember how much I hated the color of that set, so I decided to try to dye the velvet?   Of course you do!

In case you don’t…this is her after I dyed her fabric…




We LOVED her new color…and I never did get around to updating the wood on it…BUT…after three full years of us using her…moving her...vacuuming her…and even steam cleaning her…the dye faded.

To read the whole post about the dye and the way I went about that project...click here.   

It looked sad.   Just sad and OLD.



This is our everyday living room furniture...we USE it.   I imagine that had it just been in a sitting room, with occasional use…it would have lasted a lot longer…but…it didn’t and so I am in the ‘mood’ to fix it up a bit again.

It was getting an update no matter if I had to take the time out to reupholster it…or not…so in MY mind…I had nothing to lose.   We all hated the way it looked at this time…and the Cowboy even suggested we toss it in the dumpster and find a different set to add to our home.  One way or another…there was going to be a much nicer view in our living room.

SOOO…the most outrageous thing I have ever painted became…my antique French Provincial sofa set.

I just could NOT look at this sad, faded view any longer.   It was at the point where we were embarrassed to even have people see it!   When the decision was made…I was determined to make my idea work no matter what…and if it didn’t…I’d either let them hit the dumpster OR reupholster them.



With nothing to lose…I hit the paint shop, chose my color…and got the girl to mix me up a can of flat latex paint.   I wanted a darker shade…so as to hide that nasty pink…and I wanted something neutral.   I chose a color called Cambridge by General Paint.   It is a dark brown with grey undertones.

I had been researching painting velvet fabric for a few days, and I saw NO posts that were successful in painting velvet…and …and saw that I needed fabric medium…or glycerine…and there was NO way I was going to go to that expense for an experiment…PLUS…living in this tiny little town, there was no way I was going to get my hot little hands on either of those…so I decided to do what I do best…and use my experience with paint…and wing it!

I made my own recipe using specific parts vinegar, water and paint, and went to work on a project that all of my research said could not successfully be done.

WHY IS IT THAT WHEN I SEE THAT OTHERS ARE SAYING SOMETHING CAN’T BE DONE…I HAVE THIS STRONG URGE TO PROVE THEM WRONG????

When I first started…I was using my mixture AND a spray bottle of water, like I had seen in the posts I read of others trying this.    I figured that if I sprayed the fabric first, it would allow the fibers to soak up the paint better…but that was not the case…all that did was create more work for me.   (which is also where I think the others that tried and failed went wrong)



By adding the extra water from the spray bottle…I was diluting my mixture even more than I wanted to and ended up needing to do a second coat!   So…that spray bottle got ditched..and I just went with my little wax brush and painted in a circular motion (pushing down firmly) to make sure that the paint would get between all of the fibers in the velvet. 

This is the type of  brush I found the best to get right into the grain of the fabric…I borrowed this photo from the internet as I forgot to take a photo of mine.



It took a fair amount of time to get the entire sofa set and cushions done…but I finished it!   I then used a regular soft bristle brush to paint the wood parts of my sofa in a full strength paint in the same color!   I could have used my fabric recipe to do the wood as well…but it was faster for me to just use it full strength.



I set up a fan to get it to dry faster because I was SOOO excited to see how it was going to turn out.   It felt like FOREVER before it was dry…when in reality it was only a couple of hours…but an excited Tootsie is an impatient one!

Let me tell you…it was WORTH THE WAIT!!!



MY SOFA PROJECT TURNED OUT WONDERFUL!!!

The first couple of days, it was as you’d expect it to be…just a little stiff…but not crunchy or solid…but the more we used it, the fabric softened right up!



The next weekend…I found time to finish the set…and I am absolutley amazed at the difference it made to the entire room.

We all love the new look AND feel of the fabric…and I am proud to say that velvet CAN BE PAINTED and that it won’t be crunchy and hard but instead soft!



My antique sofa set looks like brand new!…well almost.   I am waiting on my new foam to put into the cushions, because as you can see the old stuff is kinda tired.   That will make another huge difference.

As you can imagine…the fresh look of the furniture has prompted a bit of a makeover of the entire room…and once it’s done, I will share again…but I just could not wait to say that I did it!…and I am glad!

So…that’s it for me for today…What’s the most OUTRAGEOUS thing you’ve ever painted???

Will you try to paint YOUR living room furniture?   If you want my recipe just say the word…I’d be happy to share.

Until next time…Happy painting!!!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

today’s post has been proudly sponsored by Chic-a-Boot…