Mimi's Handmade Happenings

My Website Is Up!

2011-07-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Will wonders never cease? I finally got my website back up! I simplified it quite a bit, and instead of having my own shopping cart like before, I'm only going to list on Etsy. This is the first site I actually made all by myself. Well, I used a template, but I had to customize it with all my own graphics and colors. Pat, pat, pat. (I'm patting myself on the back.)

AND I even made myself a little favicon--the little graphic that appears at the top of the browser. Mine is a tiny brown purse. Pat, pat, pat.

Mean Columbian Hacker

2011-06-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

If you've looked at my Sheekoo site lately, you probably noticed that it isn't there. That's because it was hacked and taken over by a Columbian phishing scammer, trying to get private banking information from people in Columbia. They corrupted a bunch of my web files, and I need to figure out how to fix them.

Thankfully, they did not get any of my customers' personal information, and since I use Paypal for my checkout, I didn't have anyone's credit card information anyway--phew. I'm also grateful that they weren't scamming people in the US, since that's where my customers are.

But I'm not so grateful that there are such underhanded, good-for-nothing, bleepity-bleeping people out there that would do something like this. Have your mothers taught you nothing?!?

Anyway, my website was pretty out of date, so maybe this will help me re-envision what I want it to look like and how I want it to operate. So, I'm sorry for any inconvenience. If there's something in particular you saw previously or at a show, feel free to contact me!

A Little Bib Crazy

2011-03-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

I sometimes babysit a friend's 8-month old baby, so I got it in my head to make a few bibs for her. It was SUCH fun picking the cute baby fabrics that I got a LITTLE bit carried away.

I ended up making over 50 bibs. My family members asked me why I was making so many, to which I laughed maniacally and told them that I couldn't seem to stop myself. Is there a local chapter of Bib Makers Anonymous?

So what, so I have a few bibs to sell. Here's a set for little girls.

Or for little boys.

Or if you don't know the baby's gender, here's even a set that's gender neutral. I'm kinda partial to those robots, and of course, the little doggies.

I have them posted here in my Etsy store. They're made of super soft 100% cotton flannel and are lined with a layer of 100% cotton batting, for the utmost in absorption and coverage. The side velcro closure means they're easy to put on and take off--but make sure to close the velcro before putting them in the wash so other things don't get stuck on it.

A Purse for Me Own Self

2011-03-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

I liked the style of the purse I made for my friend Suzi so much that I decided to make one for myself. Even though I make purses all the time, it's actually quite rare for me to keep one.

Although I made it a month ago, right after I made Suzi's,I just haven't taken the time to post about it until now. Bad, bad, bad, bad.

Enough self-flagellation. I love the fabric of my new purse, the convenient adjustable strap, the fact that it closes completely with a zipper, and the crimson ultrasuede edging on the pocket. But having a cell phone pocket on the outside of the purse--THAT is my all-time favorite feature. Also a great place to stuff keys (or a few dog treats for Cabana).

Lots of pockets inside, too. I tried being lazy once and made a purse without interior pockets. After a few days, I ripped it apart so I could add pockets inside. I don't know how you can use a purse without pockets. Where would you stash your lip balm or mints or hygiene products?

Hey hey, if you like this purse, GOOD NEWS! I made TWO, so there's one for sale on my website!

Suzi's Purse

2011-02-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

My friend Suzi has been carrying a purse that I made for her a couple years ago. She uses it daily--and it shows! Kind of like a child's overly-loved stuffed animal, with bits falling off here, frayed and tattered. I said, "Suzi, it's time for a new purse!" She said, "Oh no, I love this fabric so much that I can't stop using this purse."

Since there have to be a few perks to being my friend, I decided to make Suzi a new purse, using the same fabric she loves so much.

It is zippered across the top for "thing containment" and has a big pocket along one of the outer sides. The long webbing strap is adjustable to wear the purse straight or cross-body.

A feature I like best is the hidden cell phone compartment tucked inside the outer pocket, making it easy to find and answer.

There are also pockets inside and a cheerful blue interior. I hope Suzi likes it enough to finally stop using her old worn out purse!

Sewing Room

2011-01-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

I am challenging myself to do a better job at posting on this blog and updating my Facebook page. I've been quite pathetic in the past, I know, but after I make this one excuse, I won't make anymore. Hopefully. But don't quote me on that.

My recent (and forevermore last) excuse is that I've been moving my sewing area into the house. For the past several years, my sewing studio has been in the garage. While I was grateful for the space, it was actually slightly miserable. It was always dirty and messy and dark. In the summer, it was boiling hot. In the winter, freezing cold. I made do with a fan and a space heater, and granted, for most months, since we live in a temperate climate, it wasn't bad. But for a few stretches in January and August, the weather was enough to deter me from getting any sewing done.

We have an extra bedroom in the house that we used as a guest room. Now, I apologize to our relatives who used to have a nice bed (the most comfortable mattress in our whole house) to sleep in when they visited us. But really, how many days a year did the room get used? Maybe 2 weeks maximum. Compared to how much time I spend sewing, it seemed like a change I should have made a long time ago.

I'm SO pleased with my new sewing room. I love having a window! Natural light, sights and sounds from the neighborhood, and even beautiful sunsets! I bought an old TV off Craig's List for $10, and it has been fun to watch TV while sewing (I've been getting hooked on HGTV--I love those decorating and do-it-yourself shows). It took me weeks to get everything sorted, organized and situated, and even though I have more that I can probably do, it's good enough for now. Ahh, I feel so spoiled and blessed and creative whenever I'm sitting in that room.

So now I have no more excuses. I have a great work space, so I need to buckle down and get to work. Laissez les creative juices rouler!

Various & Sundries in Fairfax

2010-10-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

The boutique store Various & Sundries has been selling my Sheekoo items for a couple years now, but recently, they moved to a fabulous new location in Fairfax, CA. The new store is GORGEOUS, with lots of natural light, on a street with tons of other fun shops. And as always, it is filled with unique gifts, most of them handmade by local artisans. Here is Stephanie, the wonderful owner of the shop.

There's a whole area dedicated to baby gifts.

Here's a sampling of clothing and pottery items.

And of course, some of my Cork Collection and fabric items. The inventory on my Sheekoo items is a bit low right now, but my items sell very well there--sometimes, it's a struggle to keep them well stocked!

New Store in Sonoma - My Girlfriend's Closet

2010-09-16T18:16:00.001-07:00

My Sheekoo Cork Collection is now available at a brand new store, just off The Plaza in Sonoma's beautiful downtown. It's an upscale consignment store called My Girlfriend's Closet. (I also designed the store's logo, seen on this fun sign outside.)

Here are a few of my cork items, prominently displayed behind the wrap counter and register.

Even though the store just opened, it already has a great inventory of new and nearly new items. I bought a pair of shoes there for only $24, and I have my eye on a couple of other items I saw there.

Hope you'll stop by!

My Girlfriend's Closet
539 First Street West
Sonoma, CA
707-933-3050

Bitty Booties and My First Tutorial

2010-07-01T09:44:00.001-07:00

I recently made these felt baby booties as a present for my friend's new baby, using Heather Bailey's free pattern.

There are so many free patterns and tutorials online these days--aren't we so fortunate?! I've been wanting to make my own contribution to the resources available out there. So here's my first tutorial on how to make an adjustable dog collar. Cabana is modeling one of her MANY homemade dog collars here.

If you use my tutorial, I'd appreciate any feedback so I can make changes to it as needed. I'd also love to see photos of the collars you make, so please send them to me!

Featured on Martha Stewart!

2010-06-11T09:45:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not going to be on Martha Stewart's TV show (yet)! But a few months ago, I submitted a photo of my felt sewing kits on Martha Stewart's website, and it was selected as one of the favorites! It's probably not such a big deal, but I'm still pretty excited about it.

You can see a slideshow of the "Best Sewing Projects" here. Mine is the second photo in the slideshow.

Cork Portfolio

2010-05-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

A customer recently asked me to make a portfolio out of cork for him, because he works for a company in town that sells wine corks. He also asked me to put his company logo on it for him. Since it was an easy logo to produce, I said sure!

It took me two tries to get it right, but I was pretty happy with the result. Since I've taken the trouble to figure out how to make one, I suppose I should be making a few more to sell (albeit sans logo). Think they would sell?

No More Butter & Eggs

2010-04-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

No more Butter & Eggs Day, for another year at least. I always breathe a sigh of relief when a show is over--and I sleep like a log that night, too. Shows are a lot of work, leading up to that day, since I never seem to have enough inventory. And then, being outdoors from 7:30am until after 5pm is exhausting, doubly so if it's a 2-day show. But finally, I've gotten the hang of doing them, and they don't seem as daunting as they used to. I enjoy the interaction and direct feedback from customers.

In some ways, with this past show, I think I got a little too relaxed. Didn't push myself as hard leading up to it, didn't plan out how I wanted the booth to be laid out the day before, which is something I usually do. Also, my best friend Lisa usually comes to help me set up. She has a great logistical eye and usually tells me to move this rack over here, put these products in the front of the booth, etc. This time, Lisa didn't come (I told her not to, although she offered), and I lacked her discerning eye.

But the pendulum has to swing back and forth before it finds its comfort zone. After two years of getting stressed and nervous about shows, it's a welcome change to be a bit too laid back about one. Hopefully, I'll be able to find the right balance for my next show.

Speaking of which, my next show: Sonoma Plaza Ox Roast, June 5-6, 2010

New Cork Collection Photo

2010-04-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

The store in San Anselmo that sells my products is going to be placing an ad in The Pacific Sun newspaper! So they needed a photo for the ad, which prompted me to get cracking and take this photo.

This Saturday is the Butter & Eggs Show and Parade in downtown Petaluma. My booth will be in the A Street parking lot. Hope to see you there!

Embellished Cork Messengers

2010-04-03T18:37:00.001-07:00

There's no doubt about it--I'm lazy when it comes to this blog! But hopefully, it means I'm being productive in other ways. Right? Well, I don't know how true that is...but I'm trying. Sewing has a way of being edged out by everything else in life.

I am pleased with these new embellished messenger bags. After I made the journals in my last post, I realized that I should be embellishing more of my cork items. Natural themes seem to pair best with the cork. Pictured above is my first leaf motif, a close copy of what I made for the journal cover.

Then, I made this straight stem motif. Both my daughters prefer this one. I have to say, I kinda like it better, too.

The embellishment is time consuming--but I find I enjoy that part best. Although I may not really be able to recoup the time spent in the price of the bag, it's okay for now. If I were making hundreds of these at a time, I might need to come up with a quicker way of doing it than cutting each leaf individually with plain old scissors--but for now, it's something I can do while I watch American Idol or Project Runway. ;)

Journal Covers

2010-03-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

At Staples, I happened to find a bunch of composition books for only .50 each. Since I'm often asked for journal covers, my bargain purchase made me decide the time was finally right to make some. These covers are made with light cork fabric and then embellished with dark cork that I have cut out and appliqued.

I think the leaf is my favorite. A standard sized composition book slips easily into the slots and can be replaced with a new one.

There are two ribbon bookmarks for keeping your place.

Dark Cork Wine Totes

2010-03-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

Wine totes are a unique way to give wine as a gift. Hopefully, the recipient will re-gift the wine tote so it gets many uses. But I've had many people tell me that they plan to bring the wine in the wine tote, but then take the wine tote back home with them. Sort of like a casserole dish, rather than as part of the gift!

I decided to make some wine totes out of dark brown cork fabric. Previously, I only used the light colored cork. The dark cork has a leather-like feel and weight. The handles are made of bamboo grown in a neighboring town, but I also made some with birch, from a large tree branch that fell down in our yard a month ago in a rain storm. Now that's upcycling!

Any preferences on number of stripes? One, three, or none? The stripes are pieces of natural colored cork fabric.

O-Ring

2010-02-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

Border prints take me back to high school (or maybe even junior high school). I always loved skirts with border prints, but border prints on short girls is a "Glamour don't". Plaster that black rectangle right over my face, why don't you!

Maybe that's why this brown floral border print purse makes me so happy. You can be short or tall, and it doesn't matter. It looks good on just about everybody!

I have made a few purses in this o-ring style, and they have all sold well. It's not a big purse, but it's deep, which gives a snug feeling of security to your possessions. This style takes 4 rings, which can get pricey. But I recently found a good source for them, so now I'm ready to make them in earnest.

Click here to see this purse in my shop.

Black Cork Sling

2010-02-14T15:12:00.001-08:00

I'm excited to introduce a new color for my cork bags--black! Technically, it's not a true black, more of a brown-black. I know that I personally favor black bags, so I had to make one for myself right away.
This sling style is really versatile. The strap is long enough to wear cross-wise, if desired. The zippered pocket on the outside provides easy access to your cell phone or keys.

Best of all, it's made of cork, which is eco-friendly as well as water- and stain-resistant. Although similar to leather in feel, no animals are harmed in the production of cork fabric. And it was handmade--by me! In my own sweat shop (except that it's too cold for any sweating right now). Now I need to get my rear in gear and add it to my website.....

I Love Mushrooms

2010-02-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

I so clearly remember being about 10-years old, sitting at the dinner table with my family. My mother had made something with mushrooms in it, and my sister was gobbling the mushrooms up, while I stockpiled them in the corner of my plate, hoping to slip them into my napkins and throw them away.

My sister said, "Mushrooms are so delicious. I love them." So I tried one (I think I had never ventured to put one in my mouth previously), and what do you know, they WERE good! "Hey, Mikey!"

I have loved mushrooms ever since. And I had great fun making this 'shroom eyeglass case. The polka dots are made of sequins, and I used actual blush on a Q-tip for the cheeks!

I took lots of photos of things I've made in the past week--but the photos all turned out crappy. Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow!

Window Seat Cushion

2010-02-04T15:42:00.000-08:00

Some friends asked me to make a window seat cushion with matching pillows for their daughter's bedroom. They chose this gorgeous black and white medallion fabric. What a fabulous choice!

In the photo, it all looks so small, but this cushion is actually 77" long. That means that my 6'5" husband could lay across this window seat with his legs fully stretched out!

Although the easiest way to cover the cushion would have been to "railroad" the fabric (run the yardage lengthwise), I felt the medallion pattern would look like it was "sideways" if I did it that way.

So, I laid the fabric out widthwise instead. Because the cushion was 77" wide and the fabric was only 54", I had to have a seam. I carefully matched the pattern in the fabric, though, to make the seam as inconspicuous as possible. I bet you can't tell where the seam is!

The Perfect Pouch

2010-01-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

Please click photos to view larger.

I'm quite pleased with my new pouch design! They have an appealingly rounded shape to them and are the perfect size for putting into a larger purse or for carrying alone. The wrist strap makes the zipper easy to pull open and closed, but the bolt snap makes the strap detachable, if so desired.

They measure 9" wide by 4.5" high, a good size for most makeup brushes or pencils. Or slip in your cell phone, some cash or credit, and your keys--and you can travel light for a short shopping trip or lunch with a friend.

I'm working on adding these to my website now--but it will probably take me a day or two to get everything photographed and listed. From now through the end of February, The Perfect Pouch will be just $10 each (regular price $14).

Blaming It On the Dog

2010-01-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

Dogs get blamed for a lot of things. "Hamlin ate my chemistry homework." "Tara chewed my soccer socks." "Poppy ate the pizza." "Cabana kept me from updating this blog."

I don't know about the other accusations, but the last one is true. After our puppy Cabana came to live with us, I stopped updating this blog--over a year ago!! I spent my blogging time on her dog blog instead.

But now I'm back, and hopefully with frequent updates and photos.

Here are some recent felt eyeglass cases I made. They are made mostly with recycled/upcycled 100% wool and have a spring-frame closure. All the embellishment is done by hand, with the only machine work being the top flap that encloses the spring frame.

Nest Fabric by Tula Pink

2008-11-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

The strenuous activity of removing my camera from its single-clasped case seems to be a task that requires Herculean efforts, in my case anyway. It is a hurdle I find great difficulty in overcoming. What else can be the reason why I am SO extremely lame at updating my blog and my website, both of which I have neglected for 1.5 months. Sigh. But I managed to get my rear in gear today and finally take a photo of something I've recently made.

Here's a photo of a set of wristlets I made with a collection of fabrics called "Nest" by Tula Pink. I love the fun colors and how all the fabrics have a subtle reference to birds. Look closely, and you'll see eggs, bird feet, feathery plumes, and entire birds. The fabric just happens to perfectly match my little wrought iron stand.

Some of these are going to a store in San Anselmo called Various & Sundries. And some I'm saving for my next sales event at Cline Cellars later this month.

Napa Show -

2008-09-15T18:43:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, I had a booth at the Napa Art & Wine Faire. It was a VERY successful show for me. My wonderfully kind husband helped me the whole day--it's so nice to have his support! He's the best!

The Cork Collection was the talk of the show. Being that it was in Napa, with the wine tie-in, it certainly makes sense. People were extremely complimentary, and I got some follow-ups from retailers who are interested in carrying Sheekoo items in their stores. So exciting!

The number one question about the cork is, "how well does it hold up?" I explain that it is very durable, maybe just a notch under leather. Next time, I'm going to bring some cork fabric scraps so people can touch it, crumple it, maybe even pour some water or wine onto it.

My new cork fabric arrives later this week. I can't wait to make something out of it--it's going to be gorgeous!

New Home Page Pic - Cork Bags

2008-09-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

Finally, I am updating my website! I try to add new items at the beginning of every month. Although I enjoy making the bags, it's more of an effort for me to photograph and list them.

It also doesn't help when I take a ton of photos, only to find out that the memory card in my camera is NOT remembering any of them. Which is what happened today. I thought my memory card had gone senile, so I ran out to Radio Shack to get a new one. Come to find out, the memory card wasn't the problem after all. However, after a modicum of frustration, I got everything up and running again.

So...(drum roll) here's The Cork Collection.

I have sold these at my last couple of events, and they were quite the attraction. Cork fabric is still a pretty new concept, so everyone likes to come and see, touch, and even smell them. I would say that men are even more interested than the women, so I will definitely be adding some men's items to the line. In fact, my husband has been using his cork wallet for the past few weeks.

I ordered two gorgeous and super high quality cork fabrics last week, and they should arrive in mid-September--so watch for those new items! I am expecting them to fly off my shelves, and I don't say that flippantly! It's just that the cork is THAT beautiful!

WHO does Sarah Palin remind me of???

2008-08-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

That was the question running through my mind all day today. Finally, this evening, I came up with the answer! Anybody agree with me??

It's the fairy godmother from Shrek (maybe Shrek II?)!!

I Hate Naked Ladies

2008-08-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

Around my neck of the woods at this time of year, a profusion of pale pink flowers start to bloom. They come up along roadsides, around trees, near fences, as well as in peoples' yards. These flowers grow on brown stalks and have no leaves to adorn them. I suppose that the astonishing lack of leaves or any hint of green on them is what gave them the name, Naked Ladies, although they are also called belladonna lilies.

For some reason, I HATE this flower. I really don't hate that many things--but these flowers, flourishing and reproducing themselves every year in larger quantities, just give me such an annoyed reaction. Now, if they were on green stalks and had some sort of leaf, I think I would like them very much. But those brown spindly stems make them seem like an abomination. Or if they grew in a green field where their stems were hidden, even that would be acceptable. But I live in a region where the summers are extremely dry (no rain has fallen here for months). These naked ladies seem to flourish in dry plots where not much else is growing--so they stand out, showing their nakedness all alone.

I wonder if part of my distaste for this flower is because of the time of year when it blooms. They signal the approaching end of summer and the time when we rev up to back-to-school mode. No more lollygagging in the heat of long summer days, no more illusions of whiling away on a lawn chair, slightly bored, but in a way that is relaxing and renewing.

Okay, so I never really lollygag or while away any day or take much time to sit in lawn chairs--and I'm pretty much never bored. But the POSSIBILITY of those things seems to end when those infernal naked ladies start popping up everywhere.

I may never understand my hatred for these flowers, but at the same time, they don't stay in bloom for very long. They'll be shriveled up and lose their petals before I know it. And even though I hate them, that thought makes me a little melancholy.

While These Moments Are Still Called "Today"

2008-08-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where does the time go? I can't believe it's already August. I've already taken my girls shopping for back-to-school clothes. The countdown has begun.

I am usually an ultra-productive person. I like to fill every minute of my day with tasks--work, sewing, housework, cooking, shopping, gardening, exercise....I never have enough minutes in the day to do all the things I'd like to do. Even when I watch TV, I have to multi-task. I save some of my handsewing to do while watching, or I have a knitting project at the ready.

Today, I spent the morning taking photos of my bags so I could post them on my website--something that I haven't done for MONTHS! It's not one of my favorite things to do. Here's one of my new bags:

Then, because I had asked the girls to clean out their bookshelves, they brought me STACKS of books that they had outgrown. We took photos of those and listed them on eBay. So, I ended up spending the better part of the day at the computer.

After that, I just wanted to VEG and do nothing. So I did! I watched some mindless TV withOUT working on ANY projects! My husband and I went for a walk after dinner (it was a gorgeous day), and we talked about what we want to do when we retire someday (we're only in our 40s, so we still have, like, 30 years to go--we like to plan ahead).

Ahhhh, it really felt so good to NOT accomplish much this afternoon and evening. I got some necessary things done this morning, so I didn't have to feel like a total slug. But I realize that I need to allow myself downtime more often. Life is too precious, and time passes WAY too quickly.

Here's a recent photo of my daughters. They are both taller than me now, although since I'm only 5' tall, it wasn't that difficult for them to bypass me. Still, my babies are almost all grown up--BUT there's still time to be savored and relished with them. They still like being read to at night, hanging out at home during the day, eating dinner all together, making popcorn and watching our favorite shows on TV. Life is good, and it was nice to stop and smell the roses, "while these moments are still called today" (Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls, "History of Us").

Back Up Your Hard Drive!!!

2008-06-26T07:04:00.001-07:00

I own a Dell laptop, a hand-me-down from my very generous sister, who gave it to me about 4-5 years ago. Though it was in great condition when she gave it to me, other than being a couple years old, it now has a lot of little quirks to it. For one, the Ctrl button doesn't work, which means all the nifty shortcuts, like Ctrl-C to paste or Ctrl-alt-delete to get to the task manager, all don't work.

Also, no accessories can be plugged into it when it's turning on--or it doesn't ever make it to the Windows screen. So I have to pull out the printer cable and the mouse cord, and any other USB cables. After it's turned all the way on, then I can plug everything back in. Yes, it's a pain in the butt.

But I have loved this computer and hope to be able to squeeze a few more years out of it. HOWEVER, a couple weeks ago, it started to act a bit funnier than usual. It gave me a dreaded blue screen, saying bladdadee blah blah. I didn't really pay very much attention to it.

Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. A few days later, I found it in a horrible state. It was making a LOUD buzzing noise, and the screen had an ugly message, saying that my hard drive had failed. My hard drive, and all the information I had stored on it, was gone.

Because I am a super cheapomatic person, I wasn't about to take my computer to a fix-it shop and pay hundreds of dollars to fix it. I got on eBay, found this replacement hard drive, with 2x the memory of my old one, and with Windows pre-installed on it--for $40. Plus $10 shipping and handling (the S&H people charge on eBay is highway robbery).

It came from across the US in just 2 days (I guess USPS isn't always slow), and I popped my old hard drive out, and installed the new one in under 3 minutes. I did have to reload all my drivers and software--but now my computer works 10x better than before. It is so quiet and fast, and I love having Windows XP (I only had Windows 2000 before).

For any of you reading this, though, I hope you will learn from my mistakes--and back up your files!!! Thankfully, I didn't lose too much information (I store most of my files on an external hard drive)--but I did lose all my emails and email contacts, and all my bookmarks, which had tons of research for shows and events. An easy way to back up your files is through a service called Mozy.com. You sign up with them, and for different fees (they also offer a free service, I think), it will automatically back up your computer every night, or however often you decide.

A few days before my computer died, I had met a wonderful woman in Florida who sent me all kinds of information on sewing machines. But I lost all the information she sent me with my hard drive failure. She was telling me about Bernina and Pfaff sewing machines on CraigsList and had found my blog by accident. If you are reading this post, please email me because I don't remember your email address, and it was one of the things I was saddest to lose!

One of My Favorite Sewing Tools

2008-06-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

Certain members of my immediate family (actually, all members of my immediate family) scoffed at me when I recently purchased this wear-on-top-of-your-head flashlight. Sure, it makes me look rather goofy when I wear it, but it is one of the best pieces of equipment I have bought for my purse making business. At the bargain basement price of 99 cents on eBay (plus $10 shipping), it was well worth every cent.

I don't wear this contraption ALL the time, but it's great for when I'm hand sewing at night or working on black fabric. Even with good overhead lighting, sometimes it's still hard to see what I'm doing. This tool came in super handy while I sewed in the lining of the Amy Butler bag with cranes from my previous post. That bag is DEEP, and it's hard to direct light in there. (The lining needs to be handsewn around the zipper.)

Plus, my husband and daughters will all be jealous when we go camping this summer. They will have to lug their flashlights around in hand, while my arms can swing freely and unencumbered. Who will have the last laugh then?

Custom Order for Overnight Tote

2008-06-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

This is a custom order for an overnight tote that I made from Amy Butler's pattern. Being that it's the second time I made it, I added some improvements that take it from "good" to "great."

As the pattern calls for, it has 4 outer pockets, all topped with rigid welting for terrific structure. I increased the length of the handles slightly for easier over-the-shoulder wearing.

I added inner pockets, these shown (great for undies and socks, in my opinion), and also an inner zipped pocket.

And the best improvement of all--a vinyl bottom with purse feet, to help keep the bag clean on dirty airport floors.

I like this bag so much, I think I'm going to have to make another one for myself!

Obsessed with Vinyl

2008-06-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

I'm obsessed with vinyl! Why? Don't ask me, I don't know. Well, okay, I guess I do know why. It's because vinyl's properties are so low maintenance. Like felt, it doesn't fray (sometimes it does, but just a tiny bit, and I use scissors to cut off any offending threads). This means that it can be cut and punched in all sorts of configurations, and it doesn't have to be hemmed or stitched down. It's also got a lot of shape and stability to it, so it doesn't require interfacing.

Here are some coin purses I made with the amazing stuff.

I'm so glad I didn't get rid of all my scrapbooking hand punches because with a little coaxing, they work great (not super great) on the vinyl. I have a Zip'E Mate die cut machine, too, which I think is the ticket--but I don't have many dies to go with it. Gotta save up those Michael's coupons when I get 'em!

I've signed up for a bunch of events to sell my bags at (that's bad grammar, those dang dangling prepositions). I don't know if selling at events is really my bag, though. Especially those 2-day events, which are mentally, physically, and socially exhausting. If only I had an extrovert button I could push on myself, and voila, I'd be so excited to be out there, face to face with thousands of people. I'm in a quandary about whether to try to pursue more wholesale accounts, or sell them myself at the shows. No answers forthcoming today.

Craigs List Crazy

2008-06-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a bit of an obsession with Craigs List. I just like to look. I like to look at jobs (even though I'm not looking for one for myself), I like to look at gigs (even though I'm too busy to do any of them), I like to see what people are giving away for free (even though I don't have room for any more stuff).

Well, I got it into my head that I need an industrial sewing machine. My bag business is going really well, and I work the heck out of my expensive Bernina. I love my Bernina, but it has its limits. It would be great to have an industrial machine that will easily go through 4-8 layers of heavy fabric, especially when it comes to topstitching on straps and things like that.

So, yesterday on Craigs List, I found a pristine-looking Juki industrial machine for only $250. An alterations shop was going out of business, about 45 minutes from my house. Even at this price, I wavered on whether to take the plunge (I'm extremely cheap). I decided that it would definitely be worth it, and I drove all the way there. Gas is so expensive, so even though it was close to 90 degrees, I didn't even turn on the AC in my car! Alas, I got to the alterations shop, only to be told that she had already sold the machine a couple hours before!!!!!

Ugh, I was SO disappointed. SO SO SO disappointed. And of course now I will never find another machine in such good condition for so little money. I snoozed, I loozed.

But I cheered myself up by making a couple vinyl bags. I love working with vinyl, and even though I might love it even MORE on an industrial sewing machine, I was happy with the way these turned out. I broke out some of my old scrapbooking paraphernalia--a circle punch, my EK Success circle scissors, and even my eyelets and eyelet setter.

I Heart Audiobooks

2008-06-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

This is something I've been meaning to blog for a while, so I thought I'd just do it, instead of procrastinating it any further.

One thing that has been such a joy to me is listening to audiobooks while I sew. For one thing, I LOVE to multi-task. And sitting and sewing in the garage for hours can get a bit lonely at times. But listening to audiobooks allows my mind to stretched, entertained, and engaged, while my fingers guide the fabric and my foot presses the sewing machine pedal.

Lately, I purchased a good pair of wireless headphones. They recharge automatically when I'm not using them, which is awesome, so I don't have to keep recharging AAA batteries. Headphones are crucial when sewing, because it's hard to hear over the racket made by the sewing machine. Wireless is great, since I'm constantly moving from the sewing machine to the iron to the cutting table. Sure, these are all inches from each other in my tiny little sewing area--but still, it's nice to not be impeded or obstructed by wires.

I used to pay a lot of money for audiobooks. I had a membership on Audible.com, and I also bought a lot of used audiobook CDs from eBay. BUT NOW...(drum roll)....you can download audiobooks from the library website for FREE!!! Can I tell you how happy this makes me? Yes, it makes me super happy. It's cheap, and it's just about inexhaustible because more and more books are being recorded all the time.

My last listen was The Sex Lives of Cannibals, which I recommend highly. It's funny, it's true, and it's educational. I had never heard of Kiribati before, and the author's description of life on this tiny island is hilarious, and also sad at the same time. What a crazy world we live in.

I am giving my listens a star rating system, in case anyone wants to know what all the asterisks are after the titles. I like being able to keep track of the ones I've listened to here on my blog. Even my blog likes to multi-task!

Arts & Crafts Fair Successful!

2008-06-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

I just finished selling at a 2-day event on Sonoma Plaza. Although I'm exhausted, the show was successful, and I realize how far I've come in the past year. I remember how scared I was at my first event, wondering whether ANYBODY would be interested in my bags, much less buy any from me. I imagined myself standing there, alone, while everyone passed by my table. I worried that I would feel stupid and embarrassed.

Now, after 4 events under my belt, at least I'm past the fear. My bags are always well-received. Though not everyone buys, the ones that stop to browse are very complimentary, saying that my workmanship is terrific, they love my fabric choices and styles. They say my prices are good (an area I'm still working to get a better grip upon), and that I have a wide range of price points for all types of shoppers.

Even though the economy is crappy and the gas prices get higher by the second, I feel like my little Sheekoo biz is doing quite well. If only I could make more items! I always have way more ideas than the time to bring them to fruition.

I had a lot of friends come out to keep me company--which is SUCH a big help. Thanks to Lisa, Teresa, Karen, and all the Knuths!! And my husband and daughters also came and helped me. And thanks to Theresa Rhodes for all her talking me up to all her mommy friends!

Almost 1 Year

2008-05-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it has been about a year since I started Sheekoo. I remember starting to work on the 300 fashion show bags about this time last year. I was so worried and skeptical then. I'm STILL worried and skeptical--but a little less so, I guess.

I am so fortunate to have been able to make a slow transition from my day job to my making it on my own business. My husband has been awesomely supportive, saying that we are okay financially for me to bring in less money for a while. And it has worked out great with my bosses, Rob and Bonnie, since they have been slowly transitioning and phasing out their business, allowing me to work fewer and fewer hours. I was working every day until the beginning of this year. Then, in about February, I cut back to 3 days a week. Starting this week, I will further cut back to 2 days a week--and probably over the summer, I will only work on an as-needed basis. Hopefully, I will only be needed a few hours a month.

This has provided me with a steady (although diminishing) income, since I'm putting everything I make with Sheekoo back into the business. Right now, my checking account is extremely paltry because I have paid for booths at a couple of upcoming shows. I have also made some big investments in bag hardware (big to me, although it's only about $200-300). I have another idea that might catapult my business--but it also requires a fairly large outlay of money for the supplies. But I think it's definitely worth pursuing.

I have a show at The Sonoma Plaza this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. So I spent all of Memorial Day Weekend sewing, sewing, sewing. But I enjoy it. And I consider myself so extremely fortunate to be doing something I enjoy. Last night, after 3 days of sewing with only stops for making dinner and a bit of yardwork, I did feel sort of tired of sewing--but then, I have the luxury of stopping. Today, I am ready to get back to the sewing machine.

April in Carneros - Windy but Successful!

2008-04-24T20:07:00.001-07:00

So, I guess I can't even count to 3 or 4, because I've lost count of how many events I've done now. I think April in Carneros was my 3rd. Woo hoo! Can you imagine my excitement when I get to counting fingers on a second hand?! The weather was EXTREMELY cold and windy. It felt more like January than April. But I sold a lot of bags, met some wonderful fellow vendors, drank some absolutely delicious wine, and had fabulous helpers (my older daughter the first day, my younger daughter the second day).

The event was all day Saturday and all day Sunday. On Saturday, I sold a lot of purses, so I went home that evening and whipped out 4 more purses, so I'd have a good selection for the next day. I was extremely tired and bleary-eyed--being in the wind had chapped my skin and lips, and I felt like I had spent the entire day at the ocean or something. Of course, I wasn't at the ocean, but I was at the event for 7+ hours, setting up, selling, tearing down, driving back home...but when I got home, I pushed myself to make those bags. Of course, the next day, people only bought my accessories--wristlets, coin purses, etc., and I only sold 2 purses, neither of which were the ones I had forced myself to make the night before. Ain't that just the way??? Murphy--I kinda hate you.

New Home Page Photo

2008-04-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

"Loujy"--that's what my mother would call me when I was irresponsible as a kid. It was her pronunciation of "lousy". Well, I see that I am definitely a loujy blogger. I'm so inconsistent!

But I did manage to stop sewing long enough to take some photos of my new bags--the PoongSung Purse. I love these bags--the gathering gives them that slouchy, hip look, but they're also big enough to hold a lot of stuff. I have to handsew the handles, which makes the process a bit more cumbersome--but I love to handsew, and I think the result is definitely worth it.

This weekend, I'll be selling my bags at the Carneros in April event at Cline Cellars in Sonoma. I'll be there both Saturday and Sunday. I'm having each of my daughters help me one of the days. I'll pay them for their time, of course. And it will give me some company during the long days, as well as allow for bathroom breaks and the like.

I am also working on some large overnight and garment bags. I made one out of Amy Butler's pattern, but I wasn't so happy with the result. It LOOKS pretty, but the functionality and the stability of the lining are questionable. I'll be developing my own version soon.

I also bought some ADORABLE metal purse frames for small coin purses. Look for pics of those soon, too. I'm so excited about them. They are so cute!

Taking the Next Step

2008-02-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly making the transition from day job to Sheekoo. It has been a struggle to continue working at my day job, and still finding time to sew and work on Sheekoo. With the weather getting warmer and farmers' markets and fairs coming around the corner, I hoped to be able to get more time to sew and sell my bags. This past week, I asked my boss if I could go to 3 days a week, and he said yes. Woo hoo! I think the smaller paychecks will be a little daunting--but hopefully, it will push me to get my butt in gear on Sheekoo.

Some recent developments for me and Sheekoo: I have 3 local stores carrying my line, plus a store in Germany! I was asked to participate in another winery event in April. Only a few unique vendors are asked to participate, so I feel very honored. And now, with cutting back on my day job, I hope to take Sheekoo to the next level, whatever that may be.

In the meantime, here's a few new items I just listed on the site this morning.

Style Questionnaire

2008-02-10T08:05:00.000-08:00

Wow, I haven't blogged since November?!? You blink, and 2 months go by. Ever feel that way?

I came across these interview questions on www.trustyourstyle.com, so I thought I'd answer them for myself. As sort of a snapshot of my thoughts right now. I didn't answer the first 3 questions because I couldn't come up with any answers. That's why the interview starts with letter D.

D) FOUR JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE:
1 assembling electronic radio parts
2 selling men's shoes at Nordstrom
3 bookkeeper/office manger/production assistant
4 small business owner

E) FOUR MOVIES I WOULD WATCH OVER AND OVER (AND DO)
1 Music & Lyrics (Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore)
2 Sense & Sensibility
3 Lost (this isn't a movie, but I have the first 3 seasons on DVD)
4 Meet Me in St. Louis

F) FOUR PLACES WHERE I HAVE LIVED:
1 Seoul, Korea
2 Washington, DC
3 Rockville, MD
4 Northern California

G) FOUR TV SHOWS I LOVE TO WATCH:
1 Lost
2 Survivor
3 American Idol
4 America's Next Top Model

H) FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS:
1 Los Angeles, CA
2 Baxter, TN
3 Germantown, WI
4 New Orleans, LA

I) FOUR WEBSITES I VISIT DAILY (Or at least Weekly):
1 ebay.com
2 printandpattern.com
3 flickr.com
4 craigslist.org

J) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1 Thai summer rolls
2 be-beem bap (spicy Korean rice & vegetable dish)
3 lasagne
4 green beans

K) FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1 on the beach in Maui
2 shopping in Japan
3 exploring Australia
4 sewing in my garage

My New Assistant

2007-11-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

I like to see purses on a person, to get a better feel for size. So I'm grateful to my new "family member", Amanda Quin, for modeling my bags. She's not the brightest girl in the world (she can be rather hardheaded and well...a bit plastic), but she is perfectly proportioned.

She was rescued from the fields of Sonoma, where Bonnie was planning to use her as a scarecrow. Poor Amanda, she's much too pretty for that kind of job.

Watch for more photos of Amanda on www.sheekoo.com, where she has an exclusive contract to model all my bags.

2nd Event a Success!

2007-11-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

I had my second booth at the Gilead House Flights & Bites wine tasting/fundraiser. The Gilead House is an awesome non-profit organization, founded by my wonderful husband, and provides transitional housing for single moms and their kids. The event was at the lovely West Wind Winery in Nicasio, CA. I got great feedback, a lot of interest, and a pretty good amount of sales. I am really grateful to the Gilead House for allowing me to join their event.

Fashion Show Opening

2007-10-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hooray! The fashion show was a couple days ago, where I debuted my Sheekoo bags. The 300 bags were used as party favors/table decorations, and I had a booth to sell my wares. Everything went very well, and the responses from people were encouraging and super favorable. Although I didn't sell out (I had high hopes), I did sell a fair number of bags.

Now I have plenty of inventory left for my next event in mid-November. I will still make more bags, but at a leisurely pace, rather than feeling like I have to crank them out.

AND....Sheekoo.com is up and running! Thanks to my wonderful webmaster (and husband). It looks great and works great (as far as we can tell so far).

Today, I am busy moving all my sewing stuff OUT of the living room and into my tiny workroom in the garage. I need to pack away all my scrapbooking stuff, and hopefully, the sewing stuff will fit. But I've got to reclaim the living room as a living room. I can't live with the mess forever.

Mean Pea Green Machine

2007-10-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

Two blogs in one day! I'm on a roll, and I've been wanting to blog this for over a month. So since I'm sitting here, I'll just do it!

About 150 bags into my 300-bag project, my beautiful Bernina sewing machine got all x*3$%@z?-ed up. You know how that happens? My Bernina is THE most expensive thing I own--other than our house and cars. It's a great machine, but it wasn't really meant to sew through 6 layers of heavy upholstery-weight material. Yes, I was abusing it.

So, I took it to my trusty sewing machine repair shop (Parkside Sewing Center in Santa Rosa, CA--I highly recommend it!), and Jim told me that it would take SIX WEEKS for him to get to it. Yikes. By then, the fashion show would be upon me! But I couldn't trust anybody else to fix my beautiful Bernina, so I left it there with him, realizing I had to go to PLAN B (whatever that was).

I started looking online for industrial strength sewing machines because I obviously needed something that could sew through these thick layers I would be subjecting it to. I happened upon an Ebay seller who lived within 30 minutes from me, a fantastic woman named Kate, who repairs old Singer machines! I called her on a Saturday morning, told her my predicament, and she graciously allowed me to come to her house that same day. She told me to bring some of my fabrics and said we would try all the machines in her house to see which one could sew through all those layers.

And voila! This adorable, 50-year-old Singer was the mightiest of all!

It is a Singer 185K from 1959. It goes through all those layers like a knife through room-temperature butter. And best of all, it's so darned CUTE! I love the pea green retro color and styling. It even has its own matching pea green case!

I was able to breeze through the other 150 bags with this dandy machine. Now, I have my Bernina back from the shop (a couple weeks early even!), and I'm back in business.

Sheekoo is Family

2007-10-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I haven't blogged anything for a LONGGGGGGG time. I've been busy and productive. I finished my 300 bags, plus I have made about 50-60 more so far to sell at the Fashion Show in the Vineyards, happening at Cline Cellars in Sonoma, on October 25.

I have to say that my feet are sooooo cold (figuratively)--I mean I've got cold feet. About having a business. About putting myself out there. About thinking that I could be successful at selling my handicrafts.

But to catch y'all up (all -1 of you that are probably reading this blog), I have named my little biz "Sheekoo", which means "family" in Korean. Or as my mother says, "this group right here," as she gestures toward all the people who may be sitting at the dining room table. I like that definition. It means that it's whoever is there, sharing their lives together at the moment, not necessarily a blood tie. Isn't that how relationships should be??

Here's my little logo. Carry on!

Travel Kit

2007-08-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

We went to Nashville last week to visit my in-laws, and I wanted to have a little project to do on the plane. Thankfully, we are once again allowed to bring scissors and needles on airplanes! I made a little felt travel kit while traveling, so the next time I travel, I'll be ready! It's a little oxymoron-ish, but it was fun.

It's a little embellished needle and pin holder, with a teeny pouch inside to hold things like snaps or beads or whatever.

85 Down, 215 To GO!!!!

2007-08-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

So, you know I have an order to make 300 bags for the Boys & Girls Club fundraiser in October, right? It is turning out to be quite a challenge. I keep telling myself, this is what I want to be doing! Maybe not quite so many bags, but I remember reading other peoples' blogs and being so jealous when someone would say they had a big order to fill. Now, it's my reality, and I need to savor it!! It's a good problem to have after all.

With my friend Lorraine helping me this weekend, I was able to make 29 bags!! Yippee! That brings me to about 85 complete. I have goals written on my calendar, so I can stay on track. I hope to have all 300 complete by mid- to late-September. That will give me all of October to make bags to sell at the fundraiser, which will be a much more fun and creative process than this assembly-line rote task I'm doing at the moment.

My New Favorite Tote Bag

2007-07-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but I just LOVE this bag! Thankfully, I made 3 of them--one for my sister-in-law, one to sell, and one to KEEP! You'd think I'd have a million of my own bags, but I don't usually keep any of them. This time, I gotta make an exception. It will be great to use at the farmer's market or a quick trip to the G&G Market. Made with Tracy Porter fabric. It's available at www.sheekoo.com!

Oh, maybe I forgot to say that Sheekoo is my bag company name. It means "family" in Korean. Or as my mother says is the more accurate translation, "this group of us right here". I kinda like that!

Too Busy to Post!!

2007-07-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

A lot has been happening in my world of crafts, but I've been too busy to blog it. My friend and boss Bonnie has gotten me the gig of a lifetime, making 300 (yes, 300) bags for a fundraiser giveaway. So, yes, I'm a little bit busy and a lot crazy. The bags need to be finished by October 25.

In the meantime, I've also been making and listing bags on ebay and etsy in order to make acquire the funds to purchase all the materials I'll be needing to making 300 bags! Here's some of the ones I've been making.

Wine Gift Bag

2007-06-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

So, the other day was our friend Jorge's 50th birthday. Happy birthday, Jorge!!! We gave him a very delicious bottle of Castle Pinot Noir. To dress up the gift, I thought I'd make a nice wine bag/tote to give it in. Then, he could re-use it by giving it to someone else someday. (I'm into regifting myself...shhh, don't tell anyone.)

I thought the bag turned out nicely, and I liked the gender neutrality of this one. But I think I'm going to make it in a bunch of different fabrics to sell on etsy--if this one sells. My sales have been non-existent for quite some time

BUT--I am so happy that I have been doing better in other venues! I sold a couple of totes on eBay, and I also sold some cards and buttons to a local card store. AND I took a bunch of my pillows to a consignment store, and the owner said she thought people would SNAP them up. I may need to give up on Etsy. It's a good concept--but I think only other crafty people know about Etsy. And then they just steal your ideas, rather than purchase anything.

WHERE are all my posts?????

2007-06-07T19:00:00.000-07:00

The truth is, I haven't been posting much--but I do have a good excuse. Both my daughters got confirmed at church last week. And then, they both graduated this week, one from elementary school, another from junior high. So, I've been moderately busy (more than a slight understatement). Now, if I can just get through our church's 50th anniversary this weekend, I will be free to get back to blogging, crafting, designing, and mess making.

Big Orange Bags Sold!

2007-06-07T18:57:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo! I sold 2 of my big orange tote bags. One left! I didn't have much luck selling them on Etsy, so I listed one on Ebay. It got bid up to $51, can you believe that!! Then, I sold another one, not for as much money as the first, but still a good sale. Now I have money to buy MORE fabric and supplies for MORE bags! It's a never-ending vicious cycle...but what I can I do? I'm compelled by forces outside myself.

BIG BIG Tote Bags so you can Fit-It-In!

2007-05-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

I hate carrying 5 different bags when I go on an excursion to the beach or pool or wherever. I need my big beach towel, change of clothes, snacks, water bottle, camera, MP3 player, books and magazines, and at least 2 or 3 craft projects (you never know what you'll feel like working on at the time, and I always tend to overestimate what I'm capable of completing in a given amount of time).

So, I made these HuMonGouS tote bags for others who are like me. I have them for sale at my etsy shop, www.mikimi.etsy.com. I'm calling them Fit-It-In tote bags, and I hope to make more in other fabrics. They are really fun to make and are my "obsession du jour".

70 Corsages for Mother's Day

2007-05-16T18:44:00.001-07:00

When I was growing up, at my church, the youth always made corsages for all the mothers at church. But we made them out of Kleenex tissue. You know, you fold a tissue in half, make an accordion, tie the middle with a wire, and fluff up the layers. Strange, but true. Sometimes, we'd even take lipstick and rouge the edges, so they looked more like a carnation.

Now that I'm a mother myself, although I appreciate the efforts that went into those tissue paper carnation corsages, real flowers hold a little more appeal to me. Call me funny that way.

So, last year, I took it upon myself to make real flower corsages for all the mothers at my church. I had a $100 budget, and of course, all the women loved them. What makes you feel more special than having a lovely corsage to wear?

This year, we made it a youth group project, so 5 youth (including my own two girls) helped me make 70 corsages. The youth were fairly helpful--but even a group of 5 adults would be hard pressed to make a decent corsage. It takes an eye for design, plus manual dexterity to hold the flowers in place while you wind them with florist tape. Even making a nice bow is a challenge for most people, not to mention kids.

Still, I was happy to celebrate Mothers Day with this yearly ritual. Being surrounded by lots of flowers is enjoyable, whatever the reason.

Birdy Obsessed

2007-05-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

I can't stop making these little felt bags. They're such a calming, gratifying project. Here's my latest, listed at Etsy.

Items on Etsy

2007-05-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a few other things I've been making and selling on Etsy.

It's Already MAY!!!!!

2007-05-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that April is already done and gone, and now it's already the second day of May. A whole month has transpired since I posted to my blog. But that doesn't mean I haven't been making things. I've made plenty! I have had lots of opportunities to be creative, both tactilely (?) and computer-generated. Here are some tote bags that I made to give as Mothers' Day presents. I used Timtex, a very thick interfacing which is what makes the bags so firm and stable. I love that stuff! I bought more fabric to make more totes, which I hope to sell on Etsy.

April was a good month for me Etsy-wise. After weeks and weeks of no sales, I actually sold about 7 items! Whoo hoo! I won't be quitting my day job, but it's definitely exciting.

April Floo (as opposed to fool)

2007-04-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

I have had the flu all weekend, so I sat on my couch, watched a lot of movies, and made these little felt bags. I use felt with a high wool content, which results in clean lines and a sturdier bag. I am going to post them on Etsy, and they will sit there, and never sell, just like everything else I have posted on Etsy. Is that site a bit lame, or is it just my stuff???? It seems like everyone else has a measure of success, so maybe I am the April Fool.

We Need Stinkin' Badges!

2007-03-25T21:07:00.001-07:00

I have been DESPERATE for a button/badge making machine for the past couple months! I have been saving my pennies, hoping to make the big purchase on eBay, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the $100 plus. But over the weekend, I went to an art supply sale in Oakland...and guess what? NOT only did they have a button making machine, they had THREE!!! So I bought all 3 of them. I got all 3 for less than $50, along with 4 HUGE bags of button making supplies! The guy obviously didn't know what he was doing, selling all that for so cheap. I bought all 3 of them because they were all different, and because I figured I could sell the ones I didn't like as well on eBay and make my money back, plus some! So all day today, I have been going button-making crazy. Haaa cha! I know, I get excited about silly things.

Wooden Sushi Board

2007-03-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a wooden sushi board that Adrienne made in her woodshop class at school. Very cute! She says the teacher gave her a B because she burned the ends a bit when she was using the sander. But we give her an A+ because the burned ends just give it patina and character, something the woodshop teacher doesn't seem to get!

My First Try at Silkscreening

2007-03-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

I have been dying to try silkscreening, so I bought a little kit from a teenage boy on Craigs List a couple weeks ago. I think I picked too intricate a design to start with--but I was still pretty pleased with the result.

Pillows on Etsy

2007-03-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to sell a few things on Etsy. It's only been a couple of days, but I have my doubts. It seems like everyone and their brother and their pet goldfish are all listing things, but I just wonder if anybody is BUYING on Etsy. Time will tell if anyone buys my stuff. Here are some pillows I made. My Etsy store is loveinanenvelope.etsy.com. The store name is because I'm also selling cards.

Shirt Design for a Band

2007-03-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, I thought I would be blogging a lot more than this! I hadn't made anything for a while, but now I'm on a roll! Here's a t-shirt I designed for my boss' son's band. It came out pretty well, I think. The band is called A La Mode--see 3 dripping ice cream cones under the curve of the guitar? Heh heh, get it? Ice cream? A la mode?

Felt Bird Bag

2007-02-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

I can't figure out how to get my banner to go across the top of my blog page. That's why it looks a little funny today.

But in the meantime, this summer, I fell in love with felt applique. It is such an easy, manageable medium to work with. This is a little bag that I use as a camera case. I definitely recommend using felt with a HIGH wool content--don't buy the cheap 20 cent squares. It just isn't worth the effort. I have made lots of these little bird bags as gifts. Such a great portable project, and perfect for doing while watching TV. This one I use as my camera bag, with a strap that's long enough to go over my shoulder.

My Daughters' Creations

2007-02-22T10:37:00.000-08:00

Last summer, my daughters spent long afternoons, making these little Japanese-inspired felt creatures. They made them into backpack adornments and gave some away to friends. The felt makes it a fairly easy project, requiring only a handful of stuffing and supplies. You just need felt (I like felt with high wool content much better than the cheapy stuff), stuffing, beads for eyeballs, some embroidery floss, a red or pink marker for cheek blush, and optional ribbons, bows or other accessories.

A Bunch of Photographs

2007-02-21T19:39:00.001-08:00

I went around my house this morning and took pictures of some of my handmade items. The photos are posted on Flickr, but let me see if I can also post them here. I'm new at this--wow, I feel like a kindergardener!

These are a few cards I made for loved ones. I have often thought of having my own card making company because I enjoy card making so much. The first card on the left is made with little quilled hearts. The second is paper strips layed across a folded piece of paper, then hand trimmed into the heart shape. The third card is scraplifted from the Basic Grey web site and uses their papers. I added a few of my own little touches and revisions.

I bought this chair for $1 at a garage sale several years ago and reupholstered it in blue toile fabric. Even the fabric was recycled because it used to be a curtain in our old house. When we moved, I didn't want to use the same curtains anymore--but I was pleased to be able to find a new use for the fabric.

I have reupholstered just about every piece of furniture in our home. Partially because we can't afford to buy brand new furniture--but also because I love the hunt of finding a ratty piece of furniture with good bones, either for free or dirt cheap, and then transforming it into an altogether serviceable home furnishing. The sectional was purchased for $75. I definitely wanted a sectional in this room, so we would all have a comfortable spot to watch Lost and American Idol. And I didn't want unattached back cushions, which tend to flop over and need readjusting all the time. So, I was SO pleased to find this sectional, which was a faded dirty beige when I got it. I got the fabric on sale, spending about $120. Not too shabby for a sectional!

The big overstuffed chair in the foreground of the photo was a freebie on Craigs List. I covered it in a soft napped fabric, in between velour and terry cloth--about $25 total for that piece of furniture. Ahhh, it's heavenly, and the chair can fit a newlywed couple in a pinch (you have to not mind sitting REALLY close to one another, hence the newlywed).

More of my reupholstered furniture! I bought this chair and a matching loveseat for $50 on Craigs List. It had been covered in a faded and dirty green and white striped fabric. I have to say that I don't think this chair turned out as well as I had hoped (see the puckering on the back cushion?). But it will do for now--until I find something else to replace it with. I also made the pillows and the window treatments. I like neutral colors--can you tell?

New and Amazed!!!

2007-02-21T06:09:00.000-08:00

I have been enlightened by reading other crafty folks' blogs for the first time last night. Wow, there's people out there like me! People who like to make all sorts of things into the wee hours of the night! People who can't settle into one artform and have to dibble and dabble in dozens of mediums. People who even make a living with their craftiness! That would be my dream come true!

How did they get to that place? I am hoping by starting my own blog, that the answers to that question will come.

So here I come, out into the vast bloggy unknown. I hope I'll be welcomed.