Tapes & Tapes

So, before Thanksgiving, i stopped by everyone's favorite Swedish-based clothing store and while browsing the clearance racks, i stumbled upon a crazy cute cassette tape dress that was way too small for me. I bought it anyway so i could rip it to shreds and use the fabric to make new things. Here's a little peak at the first thing i've made so far:



Some totally crazy things happened so far this week, like snow and lots of unexpected Etsy sales (i probably just jinxed myself), so i'm hoping the rest of the week is good if not better. I'm going to be printing and sewing up lots of new keyboards in the next few days because i'm damn near out, which is an amazing thing to realize.

This Friday is the Philly Etsy Street Team Trunk Show at Mew Gallery, so i'm already stressing, but i've got some neat new things in the works.

Productivelittletootoo.

Yesterday (meaning Tuesday), i set out to make some new and simple mini tote bags and picked out 11 different fabrics- new, repurposed/recycled, and vintage- and started sewing like crazy. I don't really know how i arrived at 11, but with as much fabric as i have, i guess i had to stop somewhere.

Sooo, it's totally past 3am now and I'm finally done! I sort of made them with the Philly Etsy Street Team Autumn Handmade Market in mind, but i still haven't decided if i'm going to participate or not. I guess i also wanted to test out my productivity, though they were fairly simple and i don't usually like to make so many of the same style all at once...usually because i get bored, and/or distracted way too easily and end up with piles of pre-cut fabric that i have no interest in assembling.



Since i'm out of the woven labels that i usually order, and i just paid my business taxes -aka- SUCKAGE!, i made some new labels using my embroidery machine with different colors of thread and felt. I like the way they turned out, but it moves a little slow and is a bit time consuming to sit there and make sure the thread doesn't eff up here or there.



Anyway, it is now way past 3AM now and i should probably call it a night, but i just wanted everyone to know that i LOVE this vintage sweater from TheVintageZoo on Etsy:



...as if that wasn't obvious enough!

Post Office Woes & More New Fabric

So, my lovely friend Sam purchased my Little Blue Birds Pendant Necklace as well as my Sad Girl Swan Song Pendant Necklace and after over half a month, she still hasn't received them! I've sent things to customers in her area before, so i know it only takes like, 2 days or so. This is completely upsetting and is the first time this has happened to me, but i read about Post Office horror stories all the time, so i guess i shouldn't be surprised at all. Still though, these are things i can't remake and it's going to bug me just wondering where they are. Maybe they'll be sent back to me? Maybe i'm hoping for too much? Grrr!

On a happier note, here is more new fabric that has been arriving in my mailbox:















Also, I've reached over 200 photos in my Flickr account!

Newish

Here's a new Purple Bow Bag that i made last night! The fabric is this crazy neon purple and neon red printed corduroy that's totally obnoxious, but in a good way. Unless of course you're one of those folks who is completely horrifed by dayglo colors...or color in general. (It's okay, i wear a lot of black). The picture below is of Emily, who i met back in April when i had a trunk show at Best Friends Boutique in Phoenixville, PA. As you can see, she purchased the green and purple leopard print Bow Bag.





Also, here are some new Keyboard Pouches i made using really thick vintage sheets with a large floral print, and a custom Boombox Pouch i made for Ryan. He picked out this boombox, a yellow zipper and matching lining, and the back is made out of bright green wool with a navy blue grid pattern.



There's not much else to report here for today. Tomorrow, Ryan and I will be heading over to our local Etsy Street Team meeting for the first time ever and going to see 30 Days of Night, which i am DYING to see. Woohoo!

New Stuffs

Due to last weekends crazy crafty weekend, my inventory has been severely depleted! This is definitely a good thing, though, because now i'm motivated to make lots and lots of cute new things. I need to hit up the sewing machine soon and make more bags, because that's what i'm really lacking. I spent a few hours yesterday scouring the good old Eeb* for some really bright, obnoxious fabric and i can't wait 'til it all arrives in my mailbox! I also went out and got some new fabric the other day, and the woman who cut everything seemed sort of shocked (in a good way) and gave me a running commentary on my fabric choices. The word "funky" was used, and it's usually not a word i'd use to describe my own work. I guess it's appropriate, though, since i tend to make everything bright and bold and colorful, and i like crazy patterns. Anyway, here's my haul- check out the obnoxious neon purple/neon red printed corduroy, black and gold houndstooth, and neon green vinyl!




I also hit up the remnant bins, only to find that they had already been picked through. I did find a handful of usable bundles, but not nearly as much as when i went on a remnant raid a few months ago and left the store with over 50 remnants. I usually buy them when they're super on sale, and it's never really advertised, so i guess it's all about timing.

I'm just starting to get back into the swing of things, and i've just updated the shop with a few handmade pendant necklaces. I've been wanting to look for some new vintage beads and charms to add to these and luckily at the Lancaster PRFM, i caught up with Tara of Eames & Lola and Buttoncollective (who i met at the last PRFM). I looked through the various packs of vintage beads and findings she had to offer...all of which were sorted by color -aka- eye candy...and i had such a hard time deciding which pack to buy, but went with my trusty old pal, red.



This weekend is going to be awesome and includes things like Darjeeling Limited, local flea marketing, and Nada Surf. Nice!

P.S.- Here are my two new friends:



(They're big brooches!)

Out of the blue, i looked to see what was up with The Treasury and somehow nabbed an empty spot. Totally not front page worthy, but i like seeing some of the stuff i like all bunched together. Check it out here.

Thursday just wasn't my day for sewing. I was *trying* to put together some new keyboard pouches, but my sewing machine and zippers decided that they hated me. I literally screamed out of frustration and had to walk away or else i would've punched it in its proverbial face. I love sewing, but sometimes on an off day, things don't go how they're supposed to.

The Lancaster PRFM and the Mew Gallery Art Extravaganza are creeping up in just over a weeks time, and i'm already getting anxious about not having enough stuff. I always get like this, even though i tend to bring more than enough.

[umm, weird sidenote: my left contact lense totally just fell out! I'm sitting here typing with my eye shut, though i'm thinking i should probably stop]

Back In The Saddle

After three weeks of not touching my sewing machine, i finally hopped back on yesterday! The last time i used it, i made these, but got frustrated and didn't feel like sewing anything anymore. I pile my scrap fabric collection onto a table and sort through everything for pieces that are large enough to be made into these mini pouches. They're really fun and easy to make, and hopefully i'll have another batch ready soon.



Also, here are more pendants that i just made. This grouping is my favorite, and i'm not sure whether to sell them as a set or seperately. Any suggestions?