Arello & Beebug

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

The Sewing Witch has another window and was out of the office today to support a good cause!

Yesterday, after early morning haircuts for both John and I, playing with Calamity Jayne for a couple hours and the senior center for some much needed therapy with the ladies in the Giggles & Crafts group, John and I came home to work on installing the last window in my new sewing space. It's getting there! Still need to extend the eaves yet and then all of the outside work will be done. The window was the easy part, the rest took time, a lot of creative patching and maybe some swearing. Is it pretty? Not at all. Is it done? Yes it is, and that's what counts.

Today, John and I volunteered to help with the Joe Lancour Memorial Scholarship Golf Scramble. This year was the 8th year that our community has come together to help fund a scholarship in the honor of one of our own fallen soldiers. Joe dreamed of being a nurse and helping people, but unfortunately his life was cut short in Afghanistan. His mother Starla started the scholarship to help others fulfill their dream of being nurses. I can't remember how many years we've volunteered, but it's been fun and challenging and a worthwhile charity. Thank you to everyone that participated today. It was fun seeing you again and I hope to see you next year.

As always, many blessings.

The Sewing Witch 🧙 🧵 🪡

07/24/2026

The Sewing Witch has updates and news! ✨️🎊✨️🎉

With the weather the past week or so being humid, smoky and HOT, we didn't spend much time outside. John did go out to the garage a couple days though to do some caulking and seal some cracks up between boards. He didn't spend a lot of time though because it was far too warm. This week though, the weather finally graced us with a day that was absolutely perfect. We got a window installed! The window went in without a hitch, it was level and it fit perfectly! Then the time consuming, icky part came next. Cutting the hole in the steel, putting it back on and caulking around the window and wherever there was a gap. That's where it started to be less fun and the sun found it's way past the trees to cook us. I got a bit of a sunburn (it was gone the next day). It's amazing how much light that small 24"x30" window let's in. You'll see in the picture, but imagine the walls and ceiling painted white! 😳 We have one more to put in yet, but we'll wait for a cooler day for that.

We also have all of the supplies to fix the driveway and install a drainage tube so we can hopefully get rid of the squishy spot that people get stuck in. The drainage tube was delivered this morning, so we just need to borrow a tractor from our friend Lupe. It will be nice not wrestling with the snowblower in the potholes.

Finally, I am officially registered for the craft show at St. Simon's Church Applefest. I got the email last week, mailed out the application the next day and received the receipt yesterday. Applefest is on Saturday, October 3. 2026. Stop by and say hi!

So that's the updates and news. I'm excited about my new space and can't wait to get moved out there. Pictures really don't do it justice.

As always, many blessings,
The Sewing Witchz 🧙 🧵 🪡

07/08/2026

The Sewing Witch has an update on the new space!

For the past two days, John and I have been working on the south facing windows. Last week was so terribly hot and humid, but he went out there and cut the holes in the inner wall. We worked together and got one prepped Monday and the second one prepped yesterday. We just need to cut the steel and install/seal the windows and we'll be one step closer to being finished. The outer walls still need extra insulation yet before we can paint. Looking at the pictures, it looks like an awful lot of wood sticking out beyond the wall, but it will be taken up with foam insulation and OSB.

We are also fixing the driveway and the spot that is low and always swampy in the yard. People keep getting stuck there and it's become a huge problem this year. We have most of the supplies already, just need to have the heavy equipment and weather to cooperate. It would also be nice to not have the mosquitoes trying to drain us dry while we are out there! They are awful this year and huge!

If you read this far, thank you! I will continue to post updates.

As always, many blessings.

The Sewing Witch 🧙 🧵 🪡

06/18/2026

The Sewing Witch is tired, grateful and relieved.

The past 7 days have been difficult, emotionally draining and yet very good over all. Let's begin with Friday of last week. Our pressure tank for the well was bad, really bad, and putting excessive stress on the pressure control switch. Rewind to about three weeks ago when we had no water pressure because the switch malfunctioned and we had to call a plumber to find out what the problem was. A new tank and switch were advised at the time, but they couldn't fit us in for months. John ordered a tank, that was coming from Maryland, but wound up taking the scenic route through Georgia and took two weeks to get here. Last Thursday was a marathon of laundry washing, making sure we had drinking water and reserve water to flush toilets. Friday began deconstruction and removal of the old tank. Our good friend Lupe came to help with the heavy lifting. Saturday was repairs and painting the walls where the tank and laundry room sink were, my nephew Raven came to help out that day as well. Self leveling concrete was poured so we had a sturdy base for the new tank. Sunday, John and I got the new tank in and plumbed, had some minor leaks so we left it for the night and started fresh again on Monday. Monday, was a successful finish! Everything was put back in place, drains were hooked up, water softener back up and running and we all gratefully took nice hot showers!

Tuesday was a flurry of activity with the sisters and family prepping for our mama's memorial picnic. There was a lot of laughter, maybe some tears, people we hadn't seen in ages and new ones met. Mom really would have loved seeing everyone and it was great sharing stories.

Wednesday, yesterday, was the burial of her ashes with our dad. Miscommunication between us, the funeral home and cemetery led to a delay and no hole when we got there. A hole was dug, ashes buried and everyone hugging in the rain.

Now it's Thursday, goodbyes will be said to my sister and her family because they leave early tomorrow. Going through mom's stuff to see what we want to keep or get rid of. And that will be the end of a chapter.

It's been a difficult week with plumbing. Emotionally draining with saying hello and goodbye. And yet I'm grateful for all of it.

As always, many blessings

The Sewing Witch 🧙 🧵 🪡

06/02/2026

The Sewing Witch will be out of the office on June 3rd!

Tomorrow a very special young lady is graduating from cosmetology school. I've known her since she was 4-5 years old and started preschool with Kearyn. They have been inseparable, like sisters since that day. We've watched her grow up and become the fantastic person she is. She invited John, Kearyn and I to her graduation ceremony, which means a lot to us.

Congratulations Mac! Love you as much as I love my own biological children! We are so very proud of you!

As always, many blessings.

The Sewing Witch 🧙 🧵 🪡

05/16/2026

The Sewing Witch has a ceiling!

Huge, immense and gigantic thanks to Don Gilman, Raven Owens, Kathleen Strayer , Mel Gilman and of course my own sweet husband John for all of the help getting this space as far as it has come! The ceiling is now complete. Is it perfect? No. Did we mess up a few times? Yup! Is it done and covering all of the insulation? Yes! Did anyone get seriously injured or maimed? Thank goodness, NO.

It has been a year since we really started working on this space. Small stretches of time, what we can handle physically and with schedules of life. It started out as a joke really, "I could move out to the pole barn so I don't track glitter and sequins all over the house." Then it became an idea, "Hmmm... that space is really not being utilized much and then you would have a dedicated area to work. No squeezing ball gowns into the half bath, fewer people traipsing in and out of the house and then hopefully the glitter will fall off you on the way across the yard." Then my job with UPS ended and it became a reality, "Well, since you won't be working there we could get started on the garage." Cleaning was done, measurements taken, math was involved, a Lowes Pro card was procured and then things were ordered, delivered, trips to Lowes for stuff we forgot, stuff we ran out of and then the real work started. Framing in a dividing wall, insulation, panels put up and now a ceiling.

Next steps are to insulate the outer walls more, install two windows, extend the roof over those windows, paint, seal the floor and then get stuff moved in. It's a process, but it's happening.

I hope you all stick around for the journey. Thank you for being such amazing folks out there. Thank you for spreading the word, sharing my name, recommending my services to friends, family and complete strangers. If it weren't for all of you, I wouldn't have been doing this for the past 10 years.

You can catch The Sewing Witch out in the wild next weekend (Memorial Day Weekend) at the Rotary Park (city park downtown Ludington) with a bunch of other pretty awesome vendors. Stop by, say hi and maybe chat for a minute. You'll find me near the corner of Lewis Street and Ludington Avenue, just look for the crazy lady wearing a corset and sporting rainbow hair.

As always, many blessings.

The Sewing Witch 🧙 🧵 🪡

05/11/2026