I started my Etsy shop!

Phew, it's been a long month. I finally started my Etsy shop selling accessories that I sew or make by hand. I've been working on custom designs that people can't find anywhere else. Unfortunately, I also just started back up on my last term of school so stocking the shop is slow going. I am setting aside some time for building up inventory for the upcoming holiday season and corresponding holiday bazaars right around the corner.

What does that mean for this blog? I still firmly believe that people should be able to make their own stuff and that everything I make could be made by someone else. The only exception are the digital illustrations that accompany some items. Those are copyright to me. :-) But, the basic principle to making all of these things still applies. I'm just your average crafter who likes to make unique stuff.

With that in mind, if people really want to know about some things I've made I'm happy to explain my process so that they could make something by themselves. I'm not sure how much blog updating I'll be doing for a while but I'm always open to requests for topics.

Until next time!

Custom Doctor Who TARDIS bag

After making this bag, I told myself that I probably wouldn't do it ever again. But it appears that people really like it and with the impending start of me selling things, I might be forced to make some. This bag has the same structural pattern as the Toile bag on a previous post and I'll put a link to the pattern at the bottom of this page. However, for this bag I altered it in a few ways.

First, I added a custom flap to make it more like a laptop bag. I did not include the magnetic clasp this time because I didn't feel it was necessary for the bag to stay closed. I didn't have any buttons that matched the colors so I custom made some buttons from shrinky dinks and a dalek design I created a while ago. The last alteration was stitching the handles directly into the exterior shell. I was worried about having the dalek buttons hold all the weight so doing this worked out well. I had already topstitched the straps (which isn't required but I hate hand slip stitching) so I ended up having to double over that stitching to attach it to the bag. Somehow, I did that really well, but in hindsight I might have done the topstitching and attaching to the bag in one fell swoop.

The final product with a matching coffee cozy!

There is a double pocket inside the bag

There's a pocket with a ruffle under the flap and these are the custom buttons

Just a little before-and-after of the buttons

I sewed in the flap during the process of attaching the exterior and interior pieces

As promised, this is the free original tutorial. I think this project was good to open my eyes to how I can alter patterns to make unique things. I wouldn't have done it if someone hadn't requested this particular type of bag in exchange for something they were making for me.

Purses! You can never have too many!!

It's been a while since my posting-binge where I posted a lot of entries. I've been so busy making things (and trying to make a living) that I haven't been able to post.

Today's entry is for a purse I made for the first time! The hardest part was the ruffles (as you'll see by the shape of the bag) and this would be the only reason I would maybe not make this one again. In the end, it wasn't terrible, but it was a gift so once again I don't get to reap the rewards of a cute project!

These ruffled spots took forever! Two for the exterior and two for the interior.

A nice magnetic closure to keep it closed!

I played a lot with contrasting thread for this one!

The whole purse!

The whole thing ended up being a mishmash of fabrics (which worked out in my favor) and it was definitely bigger than I thought it would be. This was the small version of the purse and so I wonder how big the big version is. Anyhoo, it came from the Bags book I mentioned in another post. Sorry, but I don't have the name at this moment, but I think it's on Amazon if you wanted to look it up (I know, I'm being terrible right now).

Thanks for stopping by!

I made my first tote!!

It was easy, but not what I expected really.

I chose a template from a book (I'll picture it below) that was labeled something like Lazy Sunday Bag because you were supposed to be able to do it in short time and it was a beginning bag (not because I'm lazy!). I did leave out the magnetic clasp because I don't think I'll need it. In the end, it was definitely easy to do and I'm going to alter my next one to make a pocket with dividers for knitting needles.

This might sound silly, but I want to make people aware of just how much fabric you need compared to what you use. There will be large scraps left over from knocking the template out of the fabric because the handles are so long. Also, if you buy interfacing (and I did) keep in mind how tall it is. The template didn't go from the top to the bottom of the interfacing because it wasn't tall enough so I'm left with some rather odd shaped pieces left over. Luckily I always buy more than I need so I had enough. And, if you end up with leftover scraps, check out my posts about coffee cozies and key fobs because the scraps are perfect for it!

This is Bags the Modern Classics. Obviously, I checked it out from the library (my favorite place to get books!)

Lots of cutting and scraps left over! (scraps not pictured)

Just a little picture of the pocket. =)

This was the oddest part. You pretty much sew the top up and pull the whole bag out through a hole in the lining.

Final bag before tying the straps.

And it's done!

I had a hard time taking this picture, but it's the little pocket inside...don't you just love the fabric!

In case anyone is interested, I bought this great Ghastlies fabric a long while ago but didn't know what to make with it. I'm really glad I got to actually make something for myself for once! Of course, I'm using it as a guinea pig for the next bags, but oh well. =)

Fabric, fabric, fabric...

...I always buy too much!

If you sew you probably know how this feels. I buy way too much fabric. Even when I'm not making something, I just see cute fabric and I have to have it. You never know when you might need it!! So, I decided to inventory my current stash (though this isn't technically all of the bits and pieces I have) and post it here.

The mermaid pattern is a perfect example of "I'm sure I can use this later!"

Some generic fabric and some school spirit fabric!

These are some of my favorites and are great for gifts!

Here we start to get into the flannel fabric on the left.

A lot of different textures here from linen fabric to cotton to flannel!

Here we have the thicker of my fabrics: duck cloth & outdoor fabric!

I've had to rearrange on multiple occasions to fit all of this in. Most recently (this last weekend) I moved all of my fabric to a drawer that would fit the home-made bolts. They're almost perfect but would fit better if I could use up some of this fabric! ;-)