Tag Archives: Etsy

Friday Create Along

Posted on April 20, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

Whew. Ok so here’s my completed NapKitten hamburger wallet thingie. (honestly, I talk like that, meet me I’ll prove it)

It’s cute, but it’s also ridiculously wonky. I had a hard time with this one. I’ve completed 3 NapKitten patterns and I love them all. The wallet was just involved, the phone pouch is super easy and fun, and this . . . I’m not sure what I did but it’s embarassingly crooked and made. I think I choose thick fabrics and because of that I should have bypassed the fleece inside. I might get brave and try another.

The two zippers were interesting to work with, and the assembly is interesting. I, as usual, didn’t read the instructions all the way before starting and the whole time I was thinking “it looks all unfinished inside, how’s it going to get all pretty in there?” then I saw you have to cover it all with bias tape that you make yourself. Bias tape is sort of my nemesis. So for now it’s pretty thready in there.

I’m not done my Keyka Lou camera pouch, which is sad because I have a 9am flight to NYC and I was hoping to pack and pad my camera but oh well. Life sort of got in the way of sewing this week! Silly life. There’s always next week.

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Pretty pretties

Posted on April 12, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

‘Mother’s Day Wishes’ by sewtara

Accessories I’m loving right now.

$30.00

$18.00

$19.00

$17.00

$56.00

$16.00

$19.00

$34.00

$35.00

$14.95

$21.00

$10.00

$16.00

$12.50

$28.00

$5.99

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio

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My weekend in Instagrams

Posted on April 3, 2012 by SewTara| 6 Comments

I was extensively using the map apps on my phone and it kept dying while I was wandering NYC. Here are some of the photos I snapped over the weekend.

What I thought was the Brooklyn Bridge, but it’s actually the Manhattan Bridge. DUMBO = Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. What do I know, I’m Canadian!

Where the magic happens.

We walked a little bit from the Etsy offices to eat in this great ‘event space‘ the photo doesn’t do it justice, it was beautiful. It sort of hurts my brain that this place is in business because it sits there empty, but it was quite lovely. All brick and unfinished ceilings with pipes and such and it over looked a cute little patio/park area.

The trees were already budding, that’s not happening here at home yet, and it was really pretty in Red Hook Brooklyn where I was staying. Even with the drizzley rain.

Fun fabrics at the Brooklyn General Store. It was awesome in there, the displays were great and the fabric selections were super fun. I didn’t take many pictures in there, I didn’t want to be that camera yielding weirdo.

Hoop art wall at Purl Soho. Luckily for my wallet, they seemed to have loads of yarn and I was able to resist what fabric they did have. Some really lovely stuff though, and some great kits and scrap packs.

I was in awe in Kinokuniya the Japanese book store. I literally parked myself on the floor in the kid’s section and looked at a pile of sewing books and tried to narrow it down. I headed to the cash with 2 choices but then realized they have magazines upstairs. But I resisted.

I snuck in some clothes shopping for myself, I got this cute collared shirt at Forever 21 since we don’t have that store in Canada. I also hit Old Navy, and got teased by my hubby for it since we have one moments away from our house, but $5 t-shirts how could I resist those deals!

I’m still recovering from the 13 or so hours of walking I did on Saturday, I honestly did not stop. I promise to share some of the great things I learned, more stories and new people I met.

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Giveaway!

Posted on March 24, 2012 by SewTara| 9 Comments

Margot of Newfoundlander at Heart is generously offering some great items for one lucky reader.

Here’s what’s up for grabs:
– Large Ad Space for April (300×200)
– 5×7 print of winner’s choice from the shop.

Please visit the shop or her blog and let me know here in the comments what your favourite item is. I’ll choose a winner Wednesday night and announce on Thursday.

If you can’t wait there’s also a coupon code, you know, for being one of my friends, NEW20 for 20% off, in celebration of all the new items this month!

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I’ll be sharing the love this week

Posted on March 19, 2012 by SewTara| Leave a comment

I have a bunch of things photographed and tons of posts to write. I decided to share some thing by sharing some link love this week. So the next 5 days will be spent doing just that.

To kick it all off here’s a glimpse at some of the great accessories I’ve been accumulating recently. I’ve suddenly fallen in love with brooches and pendants and I’ve acquired a nice collection.

I made these 2, I’m particularly proud of the deer one. I bought a clearance pendant and yanked out the middle, the I cut a fun piece of fabric to fit inside. I glued it down with some Modge Podge, this seems to seal the fabric a bit, then I poured Dimensional Magic on top. DM is finicky, one moment it’s all nice and air bubble free, the next moment you look back and it’s like ninja bubbles have appeared. I tend to pour it in when I know I’m going to be sitting right there crafting so I can watch it. I seem to have about an 80% success rate with which pendants turn out, I’m happy this one worked out so beautifully.
The owl was a no brainer, I picked up all the pieces at Michael’s and just put it all together.

1. Garlic Paws from Denture Thief
2. Handmade gift from Amy
3. Cat eye glasses necklace by Isette
4. The Fox and the Tea Cup by Stephanie
5. In person at a craft sale, can’t find their Etsy shop right now
6. Mint Designs
7. Birthday gift from Tabatha bought from Beauty Spot.
8. Yellow Heart Art

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In case you haven’t heard,

Posted on March 14, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

I’m going to Etsy, not the site (I do that many times on a daily basis) but the actual building in Brooklyn, New York! If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you’ve already heard this, a few times, but now I’m sharing it here.

I applied to the Etsy Success Symposium and was invited to attend. It’s super exciting. Of course it also left me scrambling with a way to get to Brooklyn for the weekend, but that’s ok. I’ll have some time to wander Brooklyn and the surrounding area.

If anyone knows any fun, cool, crafty, creative, inspiring or ‘things not in Canada’ things I should do or see I’d welcome suggestions. I’ve been to NYC 3 times already, plus I’m not really into traditional touristy things. I’d rather find some fun fabric, or washi tape, or an awesome place to sit and have a tea with wifi and a comfy chair!

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Frankie and tea.

Posted on March 12, 2012 by SewTara| 14 Comments

I had a silly idea the other day and decided to execute it. Here’s the result.

It’s super silly, but so adorably funny too! Yes, he wraps all the way around.

I also made this one, someone requested a custom order before the holidays for a cozy like this and I thought it would make a good tea drinker’s cozy.

The only thing is, and I’m not sure if this is just spending too long knowing Mollie, but I’m really leaning towards putting a cute little face on that tea cup. Opinions?

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Handmade full wall.

Posted on February 21, 2012 by SewTara| 2 Comments

Sunday morning I was the last one down stairs. I could hear hubby making breakfast with the kids and I woke up with a mission. I don’t even have a before image to share, it was that embarassing, I used to have a HUGE pile of unread books on my nightstand. I’ve converted to reading ebooks on my iPad so those books have sat there untouched for over a year. So I went on a mission to clean up and beautify my corner of the room.

I sorted the books into our yard sale pile and a keep pile. Then I wrote down all the titles of the books and made a pledge that I’ll either read them over the summer or buy the ebook and get rid of the physical book. I found them a happy new home, on a bookshelf.

Then I filled the wall space up with my growing collection of handmade art. My glorious Lucky Jackson winnings. This great personalized paining by Lisah and a fun wall hanging from CoucouSalut.

I’ve still got my beautiful print by Laura Jean on the other wall but I have to get some other things framed before it will be complete. I love the way Laura distresses frames and has them all whitewashed, I’m going to frame my other pieces to match.

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Are two shops better than one?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by SewTara| 4 Comments

I sort of fell into making my cup cozies. I love doing it, they’re silly and fun and I love making people laugh but I also like to make other things. I’ve got this growing stash of adorable fabrics and a hunger to try tons of patterns. I learn a little tip or trick with each one and I love trying something new. As a result I have a bunch of great coin purses, clutches, bags, various cozies and other things lying around.

When I added some of those things to my shop they just sit there. They get views, people <3 them but I never had anyone bite. I think selling bags or purses on Etsy is super tricky. There are so many people with awesome designs or awesome fabrics or awesomely designed bags made with awesome fabrics.

So instead I sell them in person. Initially I wanted an item I could sell in the cup cozy ‘off season’ so I could sit at craft tables in nice weather and meet other creative types. The funny part is many of the people in person fall in love with all my fabrics and accessories and usually ask me what the cup cozies are.

So does anyone juggle 2 online shops? Do they sell similar items? I feel like I’ve got dual personalities with such different items on the go. How do you drive traffic to your other shop?

For now I’ll just stick with my current system but I wanted to ponder out loud. Thanks for listening.

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Double Rainbow

Posted on December 27, 2011 by SewTara| Leave a comment

‘So Intense’ by sewtara

I’ve sold a strange amount of my double rainbow pillows lately. I figured a rainbow treasury was in order.

$64.00

$1.50

$9.90

$60.00

$25.00

$6.50

$9.50

$3.75

$35.00

$15.00

$125.00

$25.00

$18.00

$46.00

$15.00

$24.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

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