Destashing!!

Our tiny Ellie is here! After 10 weeks of bedrest, I couldn't keep her in any longer, and she made her entrance into the world a full 8 weeks early.

My days involve trekking back and forth from home to the NICU, my evenings have been comprised of a lot, and I mean a LOT of nesting.

I am currently in the process of destashing my ready-to-ship items, and am offering them for sale at a discount through my Facebook Page I don't know what I'm going to do with my Etsy shop quite yet. It all depends on how things go with Ellie and eventually how I manage to balance out both kids :)

I have a TON of blankets to list, most of them are cotton with a minky backing, and cotton border.

Changing Pad Covers are $30 shipped
Fitted Sheets are $35 shipped
Blankets will range from $30 shipped, to $55 shipped

Please tell your friends to check out ourFacebook Page!

Owl Set

I'm so excited that this customer sent along a picture of her completed nursery :) Thank you!!

This set started off with this design layout:


and this is how it ended up!

I love the wall color, the awesome vinyl stickers, all of it! What a cute room :) We did the crib bumper, skirt and sheet. Pillow is from another Etsy seller!

Sorry, we aren't back in action!

I was going through listings today, making changes to descriptions and adding new pictures, but to do so, I had to leave vacation mode, and Etsy sent out an email saying we're back. Sorry, we're not! I really wish we were, but things are still crazy, and I haven't figured out how to comply with full-on bed rest and sew at the same time.

Our Blog feature is LIVE :)

Head over to Seventh Smith to enter their fantastic giveaway!! $350 worth of gift certificates to be won, to a bunch of awesome shops.

http://fabulousfridayfreebies.blogspot.com

Status Update

I got home on a day-pass today, and checked out the status of all my orders. EVERYTHING has been shipped, although some of the parcels were shipped with Parcel Post (when they usually go Priority) so not everything has a tracking number.

I apologize again for all the craziness over here, and ask for your understanding if things arrive a little later than promised.

in times of trial...

I literally dream about sewing, I miss it so very much. The hubby and I had a talk a while back because I thought I might want to change directions with the business... but the more I think about it, the more I am sure it is what I want to do. Wish our house (which I haven't seen in ages!) Were bigger, but we will make it work.

To be honest, I am afraid that this pregnancy disaster and ensuing hiatus from sewing and the delay in getting orders out because of it all is going to affect consumer confidence. Online, all we have towards our name is the feedback customers leave. My communication has been sketchy , at best, over the past month and a half, and if I could chanhe it all and have the uneventful pregnancy i'd hoped for and been able to keep sewing until the bitter end, I would have been so happy. I never dreamt I would have six medical visits a week, and not be allowed to go to my house! I never thought any of this was even remotely possible. As a minor control freak, not being able to SEE the items that leave bearing my name is tough. I just hope that people can understand I am never going to disappear with their money and leave them beddingless. Unfortunately, we missed getting some sets out before babies were born, and I am sincerely torn up about it, but there is nothing I can do. I have no control. I also only have a phone at the moment, no computer, which makes it difficult to navigate through emails and messages efficiently.

When this all blows over, and God-willing, we have a healthy baby to show for it, I know it all will have been worth the stress. I hope you can stick by us, and hope to see you on the other side, when kids and sewing rule my life and bed rest is a distant memory.

Fabulous Friday Freebies at Seventh Smith

Before things got crazy with me, we committed to a giveaway as part of Mandy's bedroom extravaganza. The total giveaway is $350 for a bunch of amazing stores!! Mandy's blog is brilliant and her story is inspiring. We are so happy to be able to participate.

Please, check out the blog atSeventh Smith you won't be sorry :) The feature runs on Friday!!

Giveaway on Crafty Mommy Diva

Please, check out Maryanne's blog!! She's been so nice with running our review and giveaway even though I'm stuck here in bed.

Giveaway is for one of our Ready-to-Ship Changing Pad Covers!!! Closes March 20th :)

http://craftymommydiva.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-shower-event-susie-cues-review-and.html

March 13 Check-In

Hello :)

The last of my open orders are going out this week. I hope, if you've got an order still in the works you're not too frustrated with us. I've been trying to get as much help with the sewing as possible, but it's taking a little longer (okay, a lot longer) than it usually does, because I can't get out of the house to go check on progress.

Everything is going out this week, because I'm going in to the hospital on Friday again, and won't be back until our Princess is here. She's only been in there for 26w5d, so every day I can keep her in is a blessing.

I miss sewing like you wouldn't believe. Since I haven't been able to do it in weeks, I have been really thinking about life after Ellie is here, and I think I will reopen SusieCues completely. I really love making all that bedding <3

Will still be moving forward with the pettiskirts as well, so we'll just have more for you to choose from.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. Wishing all those of you that are expecting, a healthy and happy FULL TERM pregnancy,

To my wonderful customers,

I love you! You have been absolutely amazing to me since I opened up shop, and I am beyond grateful.

As some of you know, I've been experiencing quite the complicated pregnancy (we have thought several times that we lost her) and as I get further along, the complications keep piling up. With a toddler running around, and everything else that is going on, I'm having a hard time keeping up with orders.

Thinking forward to having two little ones underfoot, I've been thinking about my options, and I think SusieCues is going to be going in a new direction. After the baby is born(hopefully weeeeeeks from now, and with as few complications as is possible) I will be launching Ellie's Petties: Pettiskirts by SusieCues, as my new venture.

In the meanwhile, all orders placed by the middle of February will be completed as discussed, with no extensions on production time foreseen at this time. I will continue to have a selection of shipping-ready sheets, and changing pad covers available, and as long as I am able, I will continue with custom sheets and changing pad covers, until she's born.

For custom bedding, there are some other amazing work-at-home mom's on Etsy who produce brilliant pieces and custom sets. Check out: Jayna at http://rockytopdesign.etsy.com and Emily at http://tiptoestudio.etsy.com Both are SO nice.

For fabric, I'm madly in love with the products available at Drawstring Studio. Danielle is amazing to work with, and she has a ton of great organic fabrics available, as well as lots more in her brick and mortar store. If you are looking for something, she probably has it. I also love luckykaeru, and have shopped there what seems like hundreds of times :)

I'm not quite sure where this path is going to take me, but I wanted to thank you all for everything. Come see us in the Spring for your frilly, fluffy, girly pettiskirt needs.

Love,

Closed February 4th, 2011

I get to spend the day at the hospital today, while they check out my gallbladder. I can think of a million things I would rather be doing...

Will be back as soon as they let me go home.

Thanks for your patience.

Pettiskirts!!

I don't know what it is about expecting a girl, but girly-girl things have invaded my thoughts. I was shopping the other day, and saw the cutest pettiskirt I've ever seen, but the price tag blew me away. They wanted almost $110 for one to fit a little baby. SERIOUSLY?? So, naturally, I got the supplies together to make my own, and I am in love.

So, coming just as soon as I've completed all my outstanding bedding orders, awesome pettiskirts starting at $55.

My thoughts for the day, include coming up with sports team themed skirts. We are a hockey-crazy family, and have every size of kids' jersey available. I love the idea of dressing up our baby girl in her infant jersey, but I want to add a little girliness to it. Custom team colored pettis!!

Here are just a few color combos to get us started, I have a dozen other combinations done, but need to get started on my day!:

NEW! Covers for Moses Baskets

We had a Jolly Jumper Moses Basket for my son, which we never used, because the padding on the original cover made me nervous. The covers that now come with the basket are un-padded (great move, JJ!) but are hard to find separate from the basket itself!

Here's a way to incorporate the colors of your nursery into your baby's first bed. With elastic around each end for a snug, secure fit, and ties to attach to the handles, your custom basket cover is sure to draw in the compliments!

Choose any cotton fabric you like, options are available in our Fabrics section, or through any fabric seller online.

Listing includes the cover and one (1) fitted sheet to fit the JJ mattress, with elastic all around for a secure and snug fit!

We will also be updating to include a small minky backed blanket to go with the set, for an additional $15.

Before, and After:

Ties to keep things in place:

Complete with matching Sheet:

New Shipping Rates and Times

Today is starting off great! I spent the morning sewing, and decided that today I was going to print off some shipping labels to use USPS south of the border. I have a bit of a guilty conscience when it comes to lying to border guards, perhaps that comes from being married to someone in law enforcement, so I did a little Googling.

Turns out, there's a company local to SusieCues, who has a business of taking shipments south of the border for us, which is very exciting. I've sent an inquiry in to the owners, and if everything goes according to the FAQ's on their website, SusieCues could very soon be shipping just like our American competitors. This means a decrease in both shipping fees AND shipping times.

Very exciting!! Stay tuned for details.

Etsy's Having Issues Today!

I've been trying for almost an hour to log on to my account, but I can't get Etsy to load!!

Baby Girl

Just in time for spring, and using the fabric I got on Spoonflower! Will post more pictures when the room is done, there's a twin sheet and comforter cover, pillows and a valance to go, not to mention painting. But, this girl does NOT paint!

Hit the Ground Running

We're back and well into the swing of things. I can't believe how quickly a week goes by, or how quickly it feels like I was never on vacation!

I am so looking forward to 2011, and can't wait to get started on your own custom baby bedding set!

Vacation Starting January 6th!

SusieCues will be temporarily closed, from January 6-13th, while our family is away on holiday. I'm not sure what the internet situation will be like while we're there, but if it's feasible, I will check in a couple times over the week to answer any messages, and questions.

Our vacation will not affect shipping times, just communication over the week we're away.

We'll be back in full force on January 14th, and look forward to serving you then!

Hello, Spoonflower!!

In the search for the perfect fabric for a project of my own, I discovered Spoonflower.com

OMG. I don't think I've EVER been so excited about a company before. I've already placed my order! We're doing yellow, aqua and white crib bedding, and I could NOT find the fabric I wanted. I have the perfect aqua, a pattern I adore by Paula Prass (Aqua Garden Trellis), and it's available in an array of colours, but not yellow and white.




Enter, Spoonflower! In less than 5 minutes, I was able to alter the colours of the orange print, turning it to yellow, and I ordered the yardage I needed. $3 shipping! Yes, the fabric is PRICEY (read $18+/yard!) but it's totally worth it.




You can upload any pattern, picture, drawing, print, you name it! When we're back from holidays, I plan on setting up some listings incorporating completely unique fabrics. Imagine, bedding for your toddler, in a print SHE drew! Blankets with those special drawings, handprints, scribbles... so many options! Have a favourite picture, or print you want the theme of your nursery based on? We can have fabric printed with that EXACT print! In the right colours! It's AMAZING.

Love it! Check it OUT: http://www.spoonflower.com/

Swap Meet on January 22 - Local Fundraiser

Looking through our stash of Ready-to-Ship items, I realised we have WAY too much on hand at the moment, for our tiny studio, so we'll be participating at a local Swap Meet on January 22nd, with a kid-friendly business table!

We'll be selling our legwarmers (with new packaging!) changing pad covers, fitted crib and toddler sized sheets, as well as minky blankets! Custom orders for all of the above can be placed at the meet, and if you see something you like, and would like to buy it ahead of time, we will have pick-up packages ready to go too :)



Wasn't sure that craft fairs/swap meets, etc... were the direction we wanted to go with the business, but I'm always willing to support community fundraisers, especially when the proceeds go towards a great elementary school.

Here's the flier, complete with details!

They're Back! Twin-Sized Bedding Sets!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65123160/3-piece-twin-sized-bedding-set-any

Sets are $130,and include:
FITTED SHEET
-in any fabric of your choice
-with elastic all around, for safe, snug fit on mattress
-double sewn seams, and serged for durability, and to ensure the sheet lasts through endless washings
-fits standard twin mattress *mattress depth will be required
Length: 75 "
Width: 39 "

COMFORTER COVER
- in any fabric of your choice (up to 3 fabrics)
- fits standard twin sized comforter insert
Length: 86 "
Width: 64 "
-zipper or aplix closure

PILLOWCASE
- in any fabric of your choice with coordinating ribbon embellishment
- fits standard sized pillow insert
Length: 20 "
Width: 30 "

As always, pieces are available individually. Pictures to follow :)

I love the designing!!

So, it's been a busy couple days over at Etsy for me :) I think it's a fantastic, amazing way to start off the new year!

I've had a number of people approach me about a range of design ideas, and here are just some of the ones I've been having a blast creating!