Cajun Corner - Vol. 4, No. 35

Cajun Corner – Vol. 4, No. 35 – September 16, 2012

 

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

 

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com, and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:

http://www.imprintit.biz/cgi-bin/cobrand/site.w?location=olc/catalog-home.w&top=catalog&frasmes=no&target=main&sponsor=000699

and www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery.

It has been another busy week.  The huge headboard embroidery design is finished.  I am very proud of that project.  Now I am repeating the same project for the same client.  This time the embroidery not only includes multiple hoopings, and puff embroidery, but also some metallic thread.  It is the most beautiful project that I have worked on so far.  Sorry, I cannot share photos of the project at this time.  This project has definitely built up my confidence as a professional embroiderer.

Remember earlier that I said that I planned eventually on George handling not only the hats and caps, but the regular day-to-day logo type embroidery.  We are at that point now.  George is brushing up his skills, learning some new skills, and is back at the embroidery machine, Boudreaux, stitching out those orders.  In the meantime, as George says, I am working on the haute couture embroidery.  I call it my Tiffany embroidery.   Soon I hope to be able to move into larger quarters because we have run out of room in our little studio.

Today I was very tired and George insisted that I take the day off.  So, what do you do on your day off?  My hobby and passion is embroidery.  I spent the day on the computer posting photographs of our embroidery on Facebook.  It initiated some good conversations and I even got an order.  I think the people on Facebook will be happy that I have now stopped posting – at least, for awhile.

This year we have bell peppers all over the garden and not one of our chili pepper plants has grown.  How funny is that?  Especially when you consider that last year we had so many chili peppers that we kept ourselves and a local restaurant stocked.  This seems to be the year of the ginger.  Not necessarily edible ginger, but ginger plants.  We have all kinds of ginger plants – including the edible ones.  They are beautiful plants.  Some we don’t even know how they got in our garden.

The tomato plants are in the garden and they are huge but so far all we have are 2 cherry size tomatoes.  I sure hope the beefsteak tomatoes start producing soon. 

Beans are also doing well in the garden, although nothing like last year.  We didn’t plant nearly as many beans this year.

George did, intentionally, turn over a bucket of sweet potatoes to see if we have any.  He got a handful of little sweet potatoes.  I guess we will leave the other bucket alone for now.  Anyone know when we are supposed to dig those things up?  I think we will be replanting these little sweet potatoes that George harvested.

We planted horseradish, again.  It is already growing.  Can’t wait for the taste of fresh horseradish.

We did monogram a little boy’s jacket this week.  Imagine a Blue Angel’s jacket in miniature.  It is the most adorable thing.  It is for a friend’s grandson.  You did good, Gram.

Hopefully this week we will get our new dishwasher.  This washing dishes by hand is getting old.

The Nereids Splash Party was wonderful.  Everyone was soaked and everyone had a great time.

Have a wonderful week.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

STARS

a poem by Robert Frost HOW countlessly they congregate O'er our tumultuous snow, Which flows in shapes as tall as trees When wintry winds do blow!-- As if with keenness for our fate, Our faltering few steps on To white rest, and a place of rest Invisible at dawn,-- And yet with neither love nor hate, Those stars like some snow-white Minerva's snow-white marble eyes Without the gift of sight.

 

A little trivia from http://www.triviaplaying.com:

What famous document begins: "When in the course of human events..."?
A: The Declaration of Independence.

What current branch of the U.S. military was a corps of only 50 soldiers when World War I broke out?
A: The U.S. Air Force.

What game was created by French mathematician Blaise Pascal, which he discovered when doing experiments into perpetual motion?
A: The Game of Roulette.

Who said: "I'm the president of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli"?
A: George Bush.

What so-called "war" spawned the dueling slogans "Better Dead Than RED" and "Better Red Than Dead" in the 1950's?
A: The Cold War.

What president was shot while walking to California Governor Jerry Brown' office?
A: Gerald Ford.

Who earned infamy for noting: "A billion dollars isn't worth what it used to be"?
A: J. Paul Getty.

What ethnic group was largely responsible for building most of the early railways in the U.S. West?
A: The Chinese.

===========================================

 

C’est tout, mes amis

 

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

 

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 43

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 43 – October 28, 2011

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com, and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:

http://www.imprintit.biz/cgi-bin/cobrand/site.w?location=olc/catalog-home.w&top=catalog&frasmes=no&target=main&sponsor=000699

and www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery.

We had several orders last week for bags with the Cajun saying and Teaching is a Work of Heart.  All orders have been filled and shipped.

Last Monday I met my friend from MADD for lunch at The Coffee House to give her the table runner that I made.  As we were standing at the counter placing our order, we were commenting on the beautiful antique photographs on the wall of a turn of the century wedding.  The photos were family photos of the owner.  My friend and I were both commenting on our own weddings and each of us wished we had more and better photographs.  The young lady who was waiting on us mentioned that she is getting married on November 6^th.  My friend and I clicked into motherly mode and began asking questions.  The young waitress is from a small town outside of Boston and her family cannot attend the wedding.  She has been living with her husband-to-be for 7 years and they have decided to get married in their little church in Foley, Alabama.  They have nothing to speak of and are living with her in-laws to be.  We asked if she had a wedding gown and she said, no, they are just going to stay after church that day and get married.  She was still saving her money to get him a wedding band.  At that point, we began serious meddling.  We didn’t want her to be our age and regretting not having enough pictures or having the wedding of her dreams.  We began speculating that certainly someone has a wedding gown they could loan her.  You only wear those gowns once.

Thus began the search.  When I got home, I put out a message on Facebook with my WBL group about the situation and that we are looking for a wedding gown in a size 6-8 for this young lady.  Before the day was out, my sweet peep and business consultant contacted me and was having her wedding gown shipped here from her mother for the bride. 

The Facebook message took on a life of its own and I put the message out for all of my Facebook friends.  Another friend messaged that WBL has a Pay it Forward Wedding Program where girls put all of their wedding décor and the like in the program and whoever needs it can help themselves.  Down the road they help someone else.

We had offers of deals on wedding bands and all sorts of things.  My friend got in touch with the pastor of the church who said that the congregation was planning a surprise reception after the wedding.

Another friend, a hairdresser, has both the bride and groom coming in that morning to have her hair done and he gets a hair cut.

It seemed like everything was falling into place but if the bride is going to wear this gorgeous gown (we now have the gown), then we don’t want the groom showing up in jeans.  So, we got some measurements from the bride for the groom’s size and began trying to find a tux for him.  I must say that the generosity was overwhelming.  No one seemed to have his size in a tux.  Facebook friends began saying that if we could get a deal from one of the local tuxedo rentals, then whoever would like, could call the tuxedo rental company and charge whatever amount they could on their credit cards for this young man’s tux.  The problem with that offer is that you don’t know how much of a bill will be remaining for the groom to pay. 

Today, I have spoken with both the bride and groom.  I should be meeting with her today to give her the gown.  They keep telling me that he is more of a suit jacket and jeans guy.  That simply will not do; not with this gown. 

To top off the generosity, a dear friend of mine who is literally at her ailing mother’s bedside in Idaho, called to say she knows the owner of a local tuxedo rental store and is going to place a call and have the owner call me to make the arrangements for the tux.  My friend, who owns an entertainment/DJ business, told me that if she was here, she would provide the music and entertainment.

I love people.  Given an opportunity, people always rise to the occasion.  This week’s kindness and generosity has been pretty overwhelming.

As if that wasn’t enough human kindness for one week, there was more.  I knew that one of our neighborhood friends was having a birthday this week.  His wife emailed me and wanted to give him a surprise party, but, as it turned out, another neighbor had a birthday this week, too.  The plan was that we would get the neighborhood together at my house and hide them in the back yard.  When our birthday boy walks by (via a devious plan between his wife and mother-in-law), I would call him over to show him something.  Once he was on my deck, everyone would jump out and say “Surprise.”  This plan worked perfectly.

The second part of the plan was that when we bring out the birthday cake, we would sing “Happy Birthday” to both birthday boys.  The cake had both names on it.  Thus, we had the second birthday surprise.  Again, the plan worked perfectly.

We had appetizers, lasagna, salad, garlic bread, birthday cake and lots and lots of wine.  Not only was the first birthday boy surprised, but neither of them expected the second surprise.  They both received birthday cards and gifts and our neighbor that plays guitar played as we all sang songs.  We had a fire in the chiminea.  We ended up with about 12 people at the party.  It was an absolutely perfect evening.

Before I forget, I still have the box for non-perishable food for the homeless shelters.  If you are in the area, drop off some non-perishables.  The food drive is going on to December.

All cell phone holders in our Etsy store are half price ($5.00), so stop by www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com and get some cute cell phone holders as gifts for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS is around the corner.  Get that Christmas shopping done now and enjoy the holidays.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

===============================================================

Thank you Marshall Larrivere for the following:

Father Murphy walks into a bar on Bourbon Street,

and asks the first man he meets, “Do you want to go to heaven?”

The man said, “I do, Father.”

The priest said, “Then stand over there against

the wall.”

Then the priest asked the second man, “Do you want

to go to heaven?”

“Certainly, Father,” the man replied.

“Then stand over there against the wall,” said the

priest.

Then Father Murphy walked up to Thibodaux and

asked, “Do you want to go to heaven?”

Thibodaux said, “No, I don't Father.”

The priest said, “I don't believe this. You mean

to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?”

Thibodaux said, “Oh, when I die, yes. I thought

you were getting a bunch together to go right now.”

=================================================================

C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Thought Processes for the Arts & Wine Festival

A few weeks ago George and I took a look at our photographs from last years Arts & Wine Festival on Pensacola Beach.  Simply, our booth looked ugly.  The tent with the embroidered "Cajun Stitchery" looked great.  The tablecloths did not match, the items for sale looked scattered and messy.  The tables were not situated for the convenience of the customer.  Oh my, it was embarrassing to look at those photos.  It is a good thing that we took the photos, though. 

Now that we've taken a look at last year's booth, we need to make some corrections for this year's booth.  The table cloths are history.  I would like matching floor length table cloths but in lieu of that, I purchased 2 white, plastic tablecloths from the dollar store.  The only problem with that is now you will be able to see under the tables where the boxes are kept.  Nevertheless, it cannot look as bad as last year.  We are also going to place the tables differently.  We are going to put them in a way, probably an L, so that the customer can come further under the canopy.  I have purchased some baskets to put little things, like patches, into to keep some order on the tables.

When I went to my first arts and craft festival, a friend warned me not to have too many different items.  Pick out 5 or 6 items and make lots of those items.  I think she was right.  I tend to just put everything out there and it becomes confusing and messy.  This year we are going to offer (1) caps for $10 or $12, (2) Christmas stockings for $20, (3) can wraps for $7-$10, (4) patches for $5-$7, (5) fingertip towels for $10, and (6) little scrapbook appliques for 2 for $1.

One of my dear friends told me recently that it just seems that lately the prices at craft fairs have gone way up.  I would guess that is correct; everything has gone up.  I don't know if people go to arts and craft fairs to get a deal or to find quality arts and crafts and unique items.  The artisans have to make a living and most items cannot be purchased anyplace else.  Nevertheless, I know that it is a good idea to have a variety of prices so people don't have to walk away empty handed. 

Part of me wanted to include the luggage grips in our repetoire of items, but George said that he thought the luggage grips were more custom.  People would want their names on the luggage grips.  Perhaps he is correct.

The can wraps are included because they are easy to make and I enjoy putting cutesy sayings on them.  I love the new one that says "Never Give Up!"  Years ago George brought home a paper with this Never Give Up design on it.  It has gotten us through some tough times.  Perhaps others will like this, too.  I have some done (no pictures yet) that say "A smile is the same in any language."  I like encouraging messages.  There is already too much discouragement in the world today.  Besides, I have some cute stock designs that I've never used before with encouraging or funny messages.

C'est tout, mes amis:>)

Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 24

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 24 – JUNE 17, 2011

Bon Jour! Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often. We are also on Twitter and Facebook.

The Fiesta Ball is now a thing of the past and we must move onto the next event. Before we leave the Fiesta topic, let me suggest that everyone go to www.PensacolaBeachMardiGras.com and look at the photographs of the evening. I love our group picture. I am the short woman, of course.

The next event would be Father’s Day, which is this Sunday, June 19th. What does everyone do for Father’s Day? Both of my dad’s have passed away. I did put some items, recommended by George, in the Etsy shop specifically for men. Just wondering what everyone else does? We used to buy little gifts for Johnny but there really wasn’t much more.

Last Saturday I reluctantly went to my friend and hair dresser’s open house for her hair salon. She’s asked me before to bring my wares to her open house and I have declined. This time I decided to attend. I sure am glad that I did. She’s had her salon for, I guess, about a year and has done a remarkable job. The salon, All About Me, is lovely. There were other “artists” there, as well. One lady was selling her oil paintings, another sold jewelry, and another was a photographer. Out came the market baskets, purses and other items which filled the top of a counter. Then I sat. If for no other reason, it was worth it to meet these ladies. Several women began talking about makeup and before I knew it, they were applying makeup to each other. I learned some great tips on disguising wrsinkles and double chins.

A couple of the girls from the krewe showed up which put me at ease. At least I knew someone. I met the other hair dressers there and they even had live music performed by a local musician, Paul Killough. When the door prizes were announced, I won a hair color treatment. Both of my krewe friends each won a prize, as well. In fact, all three of us made appointments for yesterday. Two of us showed but one had to cancel for health reasons.

Would I do this, again? Absolutely, I would. I do need to learn how to set up and present my items better but that comes with practice, I’m sure. I did have a few sales and simply enjoyed the evening tremendously.

Wednesday night is always our girls’ night out. This Wednesday we began gathering at The Break for COLORS (Celebration Of Life Of the Republic of Sandspur). Everyone is invited to COLORS on the 15th of each month at a location that changes each time but is always on the beach. Once a month all of the old timers, characters and others gather to exchange beach stories and find out all of the local news and gossip. Even our Shelley, from the Island Times, is there.

After COLORS we went to Paradise Bar & Grill for dinner and drinks. We had a lovely time. Not only were many of our krewe members in attendance, but also many of the people from COLORS joined us. It was definitely a fun evening with good friends, good food (Rene is the best), good drink, and great entertainment.

After Paradise, several of the girls went home and several more went to Paulette’s to continue our Wednesday night festivities. We laughed until my face hurt but that is so typical of our Wednesday night girls’ night.

With my new do and my hair dresser with me, I attended the Gulf Breeze WBL (Women’s Business Luncheon) meeting today. The Gulf Breeze WBL meeting has been around since the month that Cajun Stitchery opened its doors in March, 2009. Recently attendance had dwindled. It was so good to see that attendance was up today. These wonderful women have become my friends and they really are a wonderful group. So, I was happy that Cathy, my hair dresser and friend, joined me today.

As I write this, my white flashing boa is still slung over the banister. The red, white and blue tinsel wig, flashing tiara, and red, white and blue flashing light sticks are decorating the center of my kitchen table. Guess I’ll leave it all as is for the 4th of July.

Today my baby, Hank, turned 43 years old. We called to wish him a happy birthday but got his voice mail. So, George and I sang the Happy Birthday song to him over voice mail. lol

I’m sold out of the little hot pink, mini market totes. Of course, I can get more. One of the regular size market baskets was sold at the open house. These baskets are just adorable and very functional. I have one for myself with the Cajun Stitchery logo embroidered. Since I carry so much stuff around with me, I even put my purse in the basket. These market baskets are canvas and really nice. Perhaps it’s because no one else seems to be using market baskets for advertising purposes, but people really do stop to look at them. They have stopped me.

Right now, in stock, we have black, red, purple, navy blue, hot pink, and black with white polka dots. These are all regular size market baskets and the price, without embroidery, ranges from $22 (for solid colors) to $28 (polka dot), each. A name or initials would be $5. Of course, the more embroidery you want on the basket, the more the cost.

From the same shipment, we also have a black laptop case($24), a black with white polka dot carryall($14), some blue and white striped canvas purses ($8 each), hot pink purses($8 each), hot pink mini purses($6 each), and a brown purse($8 each). I’ll embroider a monogram (name or initials) for $5.00.

The market baskets have a bunch of uses.

• One customer said they are perfect for a beach tote.

• They make great personalized gifts or gift baskets.

• With your logo embroidered, they are a wonderful advertising tool. If you are like me and always seem to carry a bag with my wares, picking up or delivering items, your logo embroidered on the basket is ideal and unique. It’s an eye catcher.

• Recent embroidery on a market tote was done by embroidering the outline of the word “Mine” and then filling the word with rhinestones. It turned out beautifully. The same technique can be used for any word.

• They also make great picnic baskets. Include a set of matching cloth napkins, a tablecloth, some personalized can wraps, and an assortment of picnic items and you have a great gift. These totes have two mesh pockets on either end on the inside of the basket, as well as plastic feet and a luggage grip. A red market basket with blue or white embroidery, filled with red, white and blue napkins, tablecloth, can wraps, and other picnic items for your 4th of July picnic would be very patriotic.

• Another really great idea is a wedding gift with the names of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding embroidered on the basket. Fill it with household items, linens, or picnic items.

• And don’t forget that this makes a great diaper bag for mom. Embroider the baby’s name on the side. Fill it with diapers, blankets, bottles, and an assortment of baby items. Pink for girls; blue for boys. In fact, today someone came to me at the WBL meeting saying that she thought I brought a baby.

• Fill it with your cleaning items and take it from room to room as you clean the house.

• Same with gardening items. Don’t forget to include a pretty little apron.

• The possibilities are endless.

We now have the red, white and blue stripe, and the blue, white and red stripe webbing, 1.25” wide. There are more rhinestone flag buckles. If you are interested in a pretty terrific Father’s Day gift or for the 4th of July, George will make the patriotic belt for $10 each. Just let us know the waist size. About 6 inches are added to the waist size for proper adjustment of the belt. Better hurry if you want it for Father’s Day because Father’s Day is on June 19th.

SALE: Good through next Thursday, June 23rd. Adjustable can wrap with your name or initials embroidered in outline with rhinestones for $7 each. The rhinestones are applied by hand and usually sell for at least $10 (depending on how many rhinestones are applied). Never lose your drink again.

CONTEST: First person to answer correctly is the winner. What was my first job in Pensacola – what company? The winner will receive a set of 4 cloth napkins, restaurant quality, and 20” x 20” with your initials/monogram. (Color choice depends on what is in stock.)

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list.

Thank you Marshall Larrivere for sending the following joke:

The year is 2016 and the United States has just elected the first woman, a Louisiana State University graduate, as President of the United States, Susan Boudreaux.

On inauguration day in the front row sits the new president's Dad and Mom. Dad noticing the senator sitting next to him leans over and whispers, 'You see that woman over there with her hand on the Bible, becoming President of the United States.’

The Senator whispers back, 'Yes I do.'

Dad says proudly, 'Her brother played football at LSU.'

==================================================

French Phrase of the Week: The following was taken from LSU.edu:

Tu peux le répéter? (Can you repeat it?)

===============================================

C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S. You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.