Blanket Timeout

Made for a friend who is giving it to someone else.

Michael Mille 'Lil Cowpokes pattern, blue handkerchief pattern and red/cream homespun from JoAnns, brown and light yellow cotton sashing, cream satin binding, brown minky fabric on the reverse. This is the first time I have sewn minky fabric and it was a little tricky, but not as bad as I was expecting. I had the most trouble with the satin binding, which is why it ended up a little weird.

No Couch, No Pillows, Yes Purse

I went to Ikea the other day - they are having their semiannual sale you know - and wandered around in there for an hour or so. I haven't been there for quite a while, it is just not as much fun without an Ikea buddy. I went in for some rugs...which is about the only thing I DIDN'T get. I DID get:

• a 12"x10" butcher block shelf to use as a platform for hammering grommets and snaps - $2
• 4 yards of fabric $4
• 2 pillowcases $2

The fabric sale was a big part of the reason I went to Ikea in the first place. I love the Ikea fabrics. They are mostly heavy decorator weight, but are flexible and soft (for the most part). I love the big, oversized dramatic designs, and I love that they let you cut it yourself. =) Of course, the fabric I liked the best was not on sale, but I may go back and get some anyway, because it is just, well, AWESOME. I think I must have a fixation on trees, because these were my favorites. Left to right, Gunilla, Fredrika, Saralisa, and Majken.

I don't actually have a couch, or a place to put throw pillows, so I tore apart the pillowcases and ended up with a nice piece of fabric with a nifty design.

I can't find the original pillowcase on the Ikea website, and of course, I forgot to take any "before" pictures, but it was just a square pillowcase with a zipper on one end. This is what I ended up with. I would like to switch the links between the handles and the bag itself, in fact, I went to JoAnns this morning partly to get rectangular links, but when I tried to pry them open far enough to slide them on, one of them broke. So...I used these instead. I am not totally happy with the links, but other than that I like the bag. I wasn't sure if I would, it is really bright, but I do.

I also managed to smash my thumb pretty seriously with the hammer...fun times.

Selfish Sewing - Part 2

I have been using a t-shirt bag this year for school, but have been wanting some variety, so I needed to upgrade my old messenger bag.I am head over heels in love with the Heidi Grace designs currently at JoAnns....I've used a white fabric pattern in the same collection before, but really like this red one as well. It's a fairly small messenger bag, finished size is about 14x12 with an adjustable, well-cushioned strap.
Pockets inside, of course.....I love this bag and can't wait to use it! In fact, I loved it so much, I made another one, exactly the same, except I added a pocket on the back of the bag. It is hard to see in the pictures below, but it is made of very soft, narrow-wale, butter colored corduroy (actual butter, not bright creepy butter) with a teal blue cotton print for lining. I may sell this one, but I don't have a model, so I can't put it in the shop yet.

Selfish Sewing 1

It figures that when I have a post I need to leave up for a while, I end up with like 6 projects backlogged that I want to post about.

I have been having some trouble this summer trying to relax. For whatever reason, I just can't seem to let my brain sign out of school. I certainly WANT to let this year go. BELIEVE ME. As a result, I have been going through a bit of a funk sewing-wise. So, I started to think about it, and realized that deep down, I really wanted to sew just for me. The things I make are almost always given away or sold (although less of the selling right now...sigh...), and I really just want to make some things for me. So...I did. My laptop is oversized (accidental...I'll probably never do that again) so it is impossible to find a laptop bag to carry it around in. I pulled out a dark navy blue narrow-wale corduroy and some awesome orange and gold quilter's cotton and went to work. I really should have made this a tutorial it was so easy, but oh well...maybe I'll make another one.
I didn't make the flap quite long enough, but the closure is completely intentional. I didn't want to use velcro and I have been longing to use more grommets, so this is what I came up with.
I really really like this bag, and like I said, SUPER easy. I plan on using it in a couple of weeks for a class I'm taking....along with the great messenger bag I made myself today. I'll post about that tomorrow.

Hope your summer has been relaxing so far!

Comment Responses - reposted - and a Winner!

According to Random.org....comment number 12 was it, and it happens to be one of my favorite (and local!) artists - Tina, of glam.spoon! Congrats! Email me with your choice....
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I love to respond to comments, but I know that I never go back and check the blog comments again after leaving one, so I thought I would answer some of them here. I linked back to your blogs when I could.

Heather - thanks! I like how lightweight the kids backpacks are, although I don't have kids, I know some whiny ones, and I know that mom and dad usually end up carrying the backpacks for their kids if they are too bulky. I reshot all of my etsy pictures over the course of a few days and was going for the clean and simple look, but I can definitely see how the colored backgrounds could work as well. Thanks for the advice!

Carla - you are so sweet! You have excellent taste and thanks for the shoutout!

Darling Petunia - I agree about the Coke bottle...I was trying to find something to show scale and seem to have a decided lack of things that are common knowledge for scale. I may reshoot those pictures. And as for the lining, that is a good point. I went back and changed the listing. It is a little hard on etsy, sometimes I wish the description changed with the picture. Thanks!

Antoinette - I DO need more models...you're about the right size, want to come visit? =) For some reason, I don't really know anyone with kids here. I am hoping to use my nieces and nephews as models this summer when they come visit.

Natalija - I am not sure if I can order the things in the shop or not, but I will play around and see. That is a good idea. The John Deere bag is the same shape and size of bag and I use that picture to show the way the bag will hang on you. I will go back and make that clearer in the description. Thanks!!

Write Me Beautiful - I really do need another option for the clothing, I really need to make some friends that have kids!! Different angles are a good idea.

Janell - The last time I saw you, you were so little!! =) I do need to find something to use as perspective. I need models, clearly....I have a surprising lack of objects that are common knowledge as being a certain height. Thanks!!! I am so glad you like your bag!

Sara - thanks!!!! I like the t-shirt bags a lot too, I carry one to work each day. I love your blog, by the way, you are a very talented artist.

Chrissy - what a great idea about the photo gallery! I will have to see if I can figure out how to do that on Blogger. It seems lots of people like the Wicked Witch bag...


Writer Lady - there is actually only one page of items at this time. I am not sure how many fit on a page, but I have never had enough things in the shop at one time to bump it to two pages. As far as the pictures go, I have them sized as large as etsy will allow, but I believe if you click on them they will get larger. I will be sure to get them as clear as I can. What kind of information would you like me to include in the shop? I tend to keep the informational section small since I personally do not like to go to shops that have so much info at the top that I can't immediately see what is in their shop. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Tina - I like the "teaser" idea too...but I struggle with what the balance should be between photos as art and photos as information. When taking pictures for personal pleasure, I tend to do a lot of macro shots, I love the look of a blurry background with the focus on just one thing in the foreground.

Steph - I love the name of your blog!! I too am a big fan of the pinstripe clutch, if I went out I would use it. I love the wool and the lining on that particular bag a lot, but I only had a little narrow remnant and I don't think I have enough to make another one. As far as the backgrounds go, I do really like the clean look of the white, but I can see that if I am photographing a solid-colored purse that a nifty patterned background could work if done right.

The Shop is Open

After a marathon photo editing session last night and this morning...like 8 hours total....I have updated the shop. To celebrate that, and because I am far, FAR behind on giveaways, I will be giving away something to you, one of my 8 blog readers.



What would you like? I'll give you a choice:


a. a mini pouch, your choice of color and/or applique
b. a wristlet (Lisa Lam pattern), your choice of color
c. a t-shirt bag from the shop or one of your own shirts


I'll leave this open for a few days....let's say from now to 6 pm (West Coast time) Monday, July 6.

RULES OF THE GAME:
Go to the shop please, and in the comments on this post tell me

1. something you like and
2. any advice you have for set-up, pricing, photos, or anything else.

I welcome constructive criticism!! Good luck!

Tomorrow

I have some M.A.S.S.I.V.E. photo editing to do tonight, but I will be updating the etsy shop tomorrow. Here is one of the things to be included.