Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Happy Birthday to You!

Ok, so we'll test this out and see if my lil bro reads my blog (my money's on no).
I had this fabulous vintage fabric, and it needed to be used - I thought of making a gentlmen's necktie, but I know that my husband won't wear one. Then I thought of my brother, who is dressed by his wife - and thought "this just might work!" :)
So, here's my first gentleman's necktie, what do you think?





Oh how I love this fabric. I hope my lil bro likes this tie as much as I do.
Happy Birthday Drew!

Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

mmm checkers....
Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

Lazy Summer...

Ok, so, even though you haven't heard from me in a while, I have STILL be creating a lot of items. I've also done a lot of creating just for myself (is that ok?). I think, "what's the point of creating things, if you only get seconds?". All that to say, I made a load of shirts and onesies for Sparrow Clothing, and they turned out quite well, thank you very much. Here are a few samples. We'll call this "Show and Tell".

My favorite tree shirt - size 3T


Next up, a sweet onesie, with vintage fabric embellishment - size 6mo.


Oh, and I've been creating these MiniZips... I procured a large stock of zippers, both vintage and new, and wanted desperately to make a small pouch to incorporate these, this is what I came up with.





Then I decided after making about 20 of those, that I would make something for myself - here's an early pic of my first ever handknit sock!


The first sock, does make your brain hurt a bit, but the second one was seriously autopilot, it knit up so quick and easy, didn't even have to look at the pattern for the toe or the heel! So there!

This vintage sheet has been calling my name for months. I made a little sundress for a friends newborn earlier in the spring, but I have been wanting to do something with it for myself too - here's my first skirt.



Oh yes, there is a zipper in that too! :)

So, no, I haven't been blogging much, but I have been creating a lot. Our Etsy group has been frequenting the Nampa Farmer's Market each week, with a new vendor, and that's been really fun to organize, as well as getting to know some other local Etsy-ers. They are a great resource for creative thinking and great instant friends! Please check out their blogs too :
LovelyLittleLovelies and BellaGrano.

A Time for Everything

Alright, yes... I've been swamped. But seriously, three kids keep one especially busy! But, even though I've been silent on the blog-scene, it doesn't mean that I haven't been productive, creatively. So, there!
Our Idaho Indie Works team recently met for a "destash party" - where we traded anything from old sewing machine parts to beading looms. I came away with some exceptional finds. A sturdy set of salvaged wooden bag handles. Several pieces of fabulous upholstery fabric. A bag of zippers (old and new). A pile of adorable quilting fabric. And a collection of scrap fabric.
I also managed to nab some sweet vintage Singer sewing machine accessory boxes... little, perfect... brick shaped boxes... with fitted lids. mmmm
While I was on my way home from the swap, I day dreamed of a dozen creations for my new finds. Some can wait for a later debut, but this bag... is currently my favorite. I have it hanging on my wall... even though I took a picture of it already... I just can't seem to stay away from it. I walk by it and have to linger and stare. It really is a beautiful bag.
I've changed up my "tags" as well. I'm using scrap fabric, and a permanent fabric marker along with my "revive" stamp... I set the ink with heat... and voila! - permanently printed tag!

Please welcome my new bag to my collection. I'd like to call her the "MaLinda" - after the fabulous girl who found it in her heart to part with these gems.




I really love how, she used these fabrics for other things, and then I was able to make a completely new thing with them. And I have more scraps of these fabrics - that are bound to be made into something fabulous!

I will be at Nampa Farmer's Market on June 14th 9am-1pm, if you're in the area, come see me!

mmm fabric...

Yeah, I am really itching to buy some new fabric - and I think after I receive payment on this next purchase, I will buy a LOT of new fabric. Here are some beautiful textiles that have been really singing to me lately.

First up, my very own sister-in-law, Lacey. Not only is she a talented artist, and mom - but she has decided to produce textiles. I mean, she's hand dying, batiking, printing... creating absolutely beautiful fabrics, which I MUST get my hands on!
Her newest prints are available at Puffy Mondaes (our local, fiber art source) - and her Etsy shop is coming along quite nicely.



Next, another artist from my beloved Etsy : Stitchindye!
Her style is simple, and colorful, and very unique. What can I say? Handmade really IS better!







Ok, but maybe hand dyed, isn't your thing? Or the item I want to create demands something a bit different? Well, there are certainly your garden variety fabric shops all over the place - so what makes fabric really pop? I mean, is it just because you might be the only one in your county that has a bit of it in your closet? I think that may be it, but it's also the fact that really unique, beautiful fabric is hard to come by - so when you find it, you really need to buy it and keep it close!

Here are a few other options from the mass production world - I must admit, I prefer japanese imported fabric to a lot of domestic brand ... here are some of my favorites:





And yes, this next one looks like something from the end of the 70's, but so am I, and I really love this stuff - but guess what? You can't find it except from japan!




So, It looks like I have my work cut out for me!! I can't wait to get my hands on this stuff!
Happy crafting!!
jenn

Etsy etsy etsy...

So, yeah, I sell some items of mine on Etsy.com - and have had the privilege of joining forces with other local etsy-ers recently. But I was just thinking about how great it is to meet someone new, and have something in common with them ... like "the desire to buy handmade" or supporting someone who does what you do. Don't know... if that applies to you in your line of work or not, but in my journey to make some cash, while doing something I love, I've found that it's not all about me. There's a whole community of people doing what we do, and they're all over the planet. Incredibly creative ones too, some have more talent than they know what to do with - and others have worked really hard honing their craft to perfection... some things catch your eye, mesmerize you and others only make you think... "i could do that" (my least favorite comment I get from people regarding my own craft.
Anyway, all that rambling to say - I found a new crafter in the midwest, and she has such a cool style, and is creating very functional art, which I love. I contacted her to see if she wanted to "trade" , which may sound cheezy, but I can't do what she does and she can't do what I can... so it's sort of perfect in these handmade circles, to trade it up! Anyway, here's her store. And a sample of what she does. I am more than impressed, and one of her hand-stitched, reverse applique shirts, is on it's way to me as we speak! Hooray! I can't wait to advertise for her.

Her shop is New Flight, and if you see something you like, place an order and tell her I sent you. It's so great to find a great shop on Etsy.
So, here's my new quest - not just get the word out about the stuff I do (boorring...), but get the word out about fellow etsy-ers that I love and appreciate.
Come back and read more soon! and keep buying handmade! (trust me, you'll know the different instantly!!)