I’m making some bunting for Impresario Market. It’s going to hang proudly in the store front window once it’s all done. Oh the prettiness!
Category Archives: sewing
Whew.
No really whew.
I’ll admit it, I was bad and there was some procrastination involved, but the cozies did ship on time. My poor fingers, my poor wrist, my poor forearm from all that cutting . . . My poor friend Joanna who came over Monday night to be my minion when I needed help desperately.
There was a day when I was sent an email asking if I handmade my cozies because he was thinking of ordering 2000-4000 of them. After a ‘OH NO WAY!’ moment I thought, “Wait, if I just spent a week going hardcore on making them I could probably do it . . that’s a lot of money”. Having made 200 I doubt I’d survive! The personal injury that would follow would just be insane.
But silver lining, soon 200 new to me people will be holding one of my cup cozies. I made a mysterious event extra special and I did get some money for it all. Now to get on with the teeny tiny but just as important orders I have left in my shop.
Curve balls and silver linings.
I got this order for 200 cozies, my biggest order yet. I called the person who taught me how to screen print and asked if she would have time to make the screen for me but she was too busy. I can make screens but I’m not an expert yet, it’s very hit and miss. So I was on my own for the project.
Here are the hurdles I have experienced since starting on them on Saturday.
– Had to run to Fabricland for supplies, red for the interior, ran out of fabric after cutting 98.
– Went to Staples to make the overhead photocopy I needed for screen printing. Had trouble with the copier, which is silly because as a teacher I could have made the 1 copy at school quiet easily. I put 4 designs on it just in case.
– Came back home and set things up, plugged in the halogen light to burn the screen and the bulb blew.
– Trip to Home Depot
– Pulled out a coated screen I’ve had around for a while and burned it, covering some of the images at intervals to make sure at least 1 of them would turn out well.
– Couldn’t rinse the emulsion out of the screen so I tried again.
– Couldn’t rinse the screen.
– Had to strip the screens down to start over but was out of the chemicals, trip to Michael’s at 8:30pm.
– Came home and coated the 2 screens and rigged up a box covered in a blankie to keep them in the dark while they dried.
Onto Sunday when we had a plans with friends all day.
– Cut the batting fabric I had on hand, only had enough for 102.
– Checked my label inventory, I have 187.
– Massaged my sore forearm muscle while visiting with our friends.
– Came home exhausted and not feeling very well at 11:30pm but burned a screen.
– Washed it out successfully!!! <- a good thing
Monday
- Screen was dried and ready to go but had some spots I needed to fill, trip to the art store.
- Cut the fabric for screen printing, ran out at 119!
Tuesday
– Everything is closed!!!!
Sooooo it’s all manageable but my oh my it’s been a bit of a challenge to get this done. But it’ll be worth it for my cozies going into the hands of 200 people!
Putting it out there.
Ok I guess in some wacky way this week seems to be about publically sharing my accomplishments and goals so I might as well carry on. I’m working on another Etsy shop. I’ve set it up, it’s got a pretty banner, a cute name and now it just awaits creations!
It’s going to feature all the clutches, wallets and purses I make using the wonderful Michelle Patterns and hopefully I’ll start to move into my own designs.
Over the Christmas Holidays I’m going to work away on the Design Your Own Handbag class. Click the link for 50% off if you’d like to join in the fun. Eventually I want to move into making my own PDF patterns and helping others to create great stuff. First learning graphics is on my list . . . oh and fabric design . . . and stamp carving . . and . .
Stockings!
I made a stocking for a lady last year, sort of suprisingly since she just asked at a craft show I was at, “Could you make me a stocking?” and I said “Sure, probably”. And I did. Then she emailed in January raving about it and how nice it was and asking for 3 more. So cut to this November and what am I doing but scrambling to sew up 3 stockings! But I think I did ok.
I *love* this cute birdie filled print.
Don’t forget, if you haven’t entered already my Giveaway Day post is here.
Craftsy class.
So on the day when I’m supposed to be revealing the bag I meant to make ages, and ages ago I’m instead going to blog about this great new class over at Craftsy, Design Your Own Handbag As I’ve said before I’m in love with Michelle Patterns (before = a million times over) and I dream of creating my own patterns some day too so I was really excited when this class recently came up. If you’re interested too you can click the link, check out the class preview and get it for 50% off because I sent you. We’re pretty special.
I signed up for their Sassy Librarian Blouse class a while back but after a foray into making a shirt flopped I haven’t been brave enough to actually give it a go yet. But I’m working up the courage.
As the snow begins to work its way toward my home I’m going to make it a mission to hunker down all warm and cozy with some tea and plow through all these To Do projects (did you catch the snow word play?).
You can check out their Feature Classes and Free Mini Classes here.
Posted in online class stuff, sewing
Tagged bags, blouse, craftsy, michelle patterns, online classes
Did you hear?
Michelle Patterns are all on sale for $5!
I know I rant and rave about this lady and her stuff all the time, but yeah I’m doing it again. Also, how appropriate I post this the same week as my digital hoarding post.
Apron making
So I offered to make this apron for Homespun Dazzle in exchange for some of her fabulously fantastic candles.
If you’re sick of hearing about these look away now.
I’ll forgive you.
Yeah more scrappy wallets. I love Michelle Patterns, perhaps you’ve noticed. I want to grow up and be like her. I keep collecting PDF patterns and trying them all out in an effort to better understand them and how they work so that someday, someday, I can create my own from all these sketches I just keep accumulating.
I just need some time to research it all and get going on it. Michelle Patterns has this great resource for heading in that direction. It’s an ebook/document sharing some of her knowledge from years of selling PDF patterns online.
Description from her site:
• What the pattern user needs
• Basic overview of the pattern making process
• General photo info – test photos, file formats, etc.
• General info about the pattern pieces – margin guide, text to include, etc.
• Setting up and saving a template so your document will be ready for future patterns
• Tips for writing the instructions – style, voice, font considerations, etc.
• Inserting the instruction images
• Inserting, testing, and troubleshooting the pattern pieces (the hardest part!)
• Exporting to pdf
• Testing the pattern
• Lots of tips from my own experience!
I love that she supports other women in starting their own business by letting you make and sell items from her patterns. I don’t always intend to do that with what I make but it’s nice to know you can if you’d like. Also now that she’s branching out and sharing tips on how to *make* your own that’s even more awesome. She’s also selling patterns made by other people in her online shop now so if you’re ahead of me and making your own PDF patterns already that’s something you might want to explore for some more exposure.
I recently bought the Idea Pouch and can’t wait to make one and store my iPad, stylus, little notebook some markers in it.
Posted in crafty books, sewing
Tagged keyka lou, michelle patterns, patterns, PDF patterns, sewing, small business
USA shopping scores
Well I guess it’s about time I actually sit down to write this post about the fun things I picked up on my USA excursion at the beginning of the month.
I got this amazing bag, that I’ve been using almost non stop since, for $3. Actually, not even $3 I’m rounding up. Insanely good find.
I got some great clothes, which I suppose call for some outfit posts. But that’s a tricky one since I’m usually the one behind the camera, I really need to change that.
Other than that my scores happened in JoAnn’s, surprise surprise.
Some FQs just because.
A taste of Denise Schmidt.
Some yardage. Apparently I was in a floral sort of mood.
Whales because how could I not buy those!?! Sure I had a moment of “Gee I’m 30 something should I really be shopping from the juvenile section for myself!?” but I *had* to get these whales.
And I found an english translation of a Japanese craft book I already own. Since I had some coupons the book was half price and I figured it might work like a little guide to help me decode my ever growing stash of Japanese craft books. I have 2 new Cotton Time magazines and today I figured out which symbols say ‘fold’ so I’m pretty proud of myself.
I know it involves more hexies but I need to get around to making this, again it’s just too awesome.
I also picked up some ridiculously cute scrubs that I plan to hack to bits and sew into other stuff.
Posted in crafty books, sewing
Tagged craft book, fabric, fat quarters, japanese, joann's, samsonite, shopping, vintage, whales
