Shop update 6/27

New in the shop today - keyring pouches. Stash your cash and other necessities and clip it on your keyring, belt loop, or dog leash and you're good to go!

How to sew when you only have 5 minutes....

My girls are dancers.

Dance - unlike other "sports" - doesn't have a season. It's a year round thing - which means when school's out they tend to dance even more than when school's in.

My older daughter started dancing when she was 4. My younger daughter did soccer for years and has only in the last few years turned to dance.

This means they are not in the same classes.

Which means during the summer I drive to the dance studio many .... many ..... MANY times a day!

Which really doesn't leave much time for...well...anything! (please excuse those dust bunnies in the corner..and those dishes in the sink...)

But I'm one of those people who HAS to get their craft on at least every other day otherwise I tend to get very VERY grouchy! And NO ONE wants a grouchy mama!

So when I have extra time I work in batches. I spend one block of time going through my fabric stash and working out what goes with what and stacking them in a pile. Then another block of time cutting out all the planned items.

Then whenever I have just 5 minutes here or there I can sew a seam, or pin, or iron. And so even though I don't have a lot of time I end up feeling quite productive.

And before long I have a bunch of pretty pouches ready to find new homes :)

Shop update today

In the shop now are buttons, rings and bobby pins

and 3 new bags to carry your things

:)

Fabric scraps - before and after

I will probably not being showing you a photo of my craft space any time soon. I am embarrassed to admit that there are piles ..... everywhere! Piles of fabric that need to be put away, piles of fabric that are ready to be made into something new, piles of big scraps, piles of little scraps.... My process usually involves creating in a ever shrinking work space, surrounded buy ever growing piles until it reaches a point that I really can't continue and then I spend a few hours cleaning! And then repeat....

 

So was the case on Sunday when in cleaning, I started playing with my scraps. I had bought some button making supplies about a year ago and started playing

Before long I had a collection of buttons, which some of which then became rings, some bobby pins, and some hair ties - (many of which were quickly claimed by my younger daughter).

The ones that remained I put on cards, added a few more fabric scraps, and sent them off to have their photos taken :)

And soon they will be available in my store if you'd like to give a new home to these once abandoned scraps :)

Taking photos

I always thought I was a decent photographer - I don't have a fancy camera, but I do have a decent one. I took photos of my kids that I was pretty pleased with. And with an iPhone, taking good photos isn't really hard at all is it? But then I started trying to take "product" photos.



And let me tell you - that's a whole different ball game! Trying to take a photo of something you've made - trying to capture what makes it so special, is a lot harder than it looks! So I turned to my friend Ms Feisty who I knew was good a taking photos  - but WOW! She takes AMAZING photos!

They were so good she made me want to buy my own stuff! It's so nice to have such talented friends :) You can go over to her blog to see more of her fabulous work.

Getting started

After years of sewing first for myself, then for family and friends, and at the encouragement of many of them, I finally took the plunge and opened up an Etsy store :) Let me tell you - it takes some courage to put yourself out there in this way! It's so personal - you put these little pieces of yourself out there in the big wide world and wait ..... and wait ..... and hope that someone out there likes it enough to take it home with them! It's a nerve wracking, nail biting experience.


I've started with a few little things that I'd previously made and will be adding more stuff as I play in my craft room. I hope you'll find something in my little store that you like for you or a loved one. If there is something you wish I made please don't hesitate to leave a comment - I'm always open to suggestions or special orders.

I love to work with linen, thrifted, vintage, upcycled and new fabrics. My current favorite items are bags and pouches, but I also like to make quilts and I'm always trying something new.


Join me in my creative journey and take a minute to say hi -  I'd love the company!