Where It All Began

Can you believe it's been a year since I did my first craft show? Crazy! Since my first foray with the Martinez SWAN (Support Women Artists Now!) I've been a busy bee, with a Sonoma school craft fair, the Treasure Island Flea, some fun home events, the Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Fair and even a Unitarian church event!

Now it's back to where it all began and I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends and new. Hope you can make it!

P.S. I got a spot inside the Old Train Depot this year, and I'm not sure if that's good or bad because people might not be able to find me, but that's where you should look.

A Few More ...

Shiny!

So I showed this bag to my sister, who has historically been the only person to really give me any real criticism, or "honesty" about my bags. She's pointed out a few stinkers, and I appreciate it.

But on this one, I think she's wrong. She was turned off by the reflective quality of the bottom on this one, and says she doesn't like the print in the middle. But I'm standing by it.

This bag is a crazy patchwork marriage of FIVE different upcycled upholstery samples, so yeah, it's going to be a little wackadoodle just by its very nature. But I like it. I think it works. To quote Firefly's Capt. Reynolds, "shiny!"

What say ye?

Replenishment

A first: One of the stores I consign with, Multiple Threads in Berkeley, called me last week! Turns out my upcycled upholstery tote bags have been a big hit and they asked me to bring in some more.

Of all the bags I've made over the past 16 months, I think they garner the most excitement. That combined with the fact that I love recycling makes them my favorite bags to make.

Anyway, I packed up what I had left, a grand total of eight tote bags, leaving me upcycled upholstery bag deficient. So I set my mind this weekend to making some more and came up with these three. I am pretty happy with how they turned out!

In other news, this weekend I visited the Alameda Point Flea Market. It was super crazy, way too much stuff to see in one day if you ask me, and my feet are killing me. BUT I scored two great things that made it all worth it. (I had a good time, too. There really was so much amazing stuff to gawk at.)

The first is a lovely vintage wooden sewing box with some treasures inside (a few fabric scraps, some threads, buttons and rick rak, and a bunch of great patterns). But I did make an important tactical error by choosing to carry this around instead of going back to get it when I was done shopping. Oh well. The second is some vintage flour sacks, which I am going to use to try to make some bags. Stay tuned!

Random Totes

Totes To Go

 

Roll-up tote bags! Keep one in your purse and you're always prepared for an unexpected shopping trip!

A Craft Fair to Remember

A great day at the Patchwork Indie Arts & Craft Festival. Thanks for the pics, Paula!

Sewing for the Cause

I've been sewing my little heart out lately in preparation for next week's purse party/fund-raiser my Aunt Diana is hosting next week. Knowing two courageous breast cancer survivors, Diana and my very own mom, I am thrilled to be helping out such a great cause. Proceeds will benefit the 2013 Danville Relay for Life.

Here's a sneak peek at what I've been working on lately:

 

P.S. For those of you who already have enough bags (ha! as if!) I also have a lovely collection of hot pads and table runners as well. Oh, and some very cute wristlet key chains. 

If you'd like to come to the party, e-mail me and I'll send you the information!

Tote-ally Rad

Some more tote bags, all rad IMHO. A rainbow one (natch), plus two scrappy little numbers and an upcycled upholstery bag accented by a denim bottom.

Getting Scrappy

Note to Self: Buy More Zippers

Owl Take 2

Sew Little Time, Part 2

These pictures will just have to be worth 1,000 words :)

Sew Little Time

Hey, long time no blog! I have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to post here so I thought I'd better remedy that. I've still been sewing, as evidenced by the photos above. I'm madly in love with all of these items and am probably going to keep them for myself. I made the blue and green tote from some complementary fabrics that I used for my friend Jasmine's iPad case way, way back. And speaking of which, the denim with red and green flower print is an iPad case. I've been experimenting and I think I finally got it the right size. The two smaller zip bags are from a metallic Marimekko fabric scrap I found at the Crate and Barrell outlet in Berkeley. I suppose I could part with one of those ... maybe.

In other news, I've been busy trying to move some of my inventory to make room for more (and earn a little cash for supplies). I went last weekend to a little consignment shop in Sonoma called Sandbox. I'd met the owner at the Sonoma Charter School fund-raiser and she turned out to be the friend of my friend Paula, who lives there. I brought a giant box of tote bags and zippered pouches to choose from and she took it all! Oh no, guess I'll have to make more. How sad. Not.

Next up is a house event in July that a woman from my book club, who sells jewelry, volunteered to host. If nothing else it'll be a fun afternoon of showing off my stuff, which is basically the only thing I love more than actually sewing it. More details to come.

I'm also working on an Etsy store but that's not coming along very quickly. It's fairly laborious, because you need three or four photos of each item, and a very detailed description with measurements and everything. I need more hours in the day!

Stripes and Vines

Here's two more upcycled bags, a lovely set of vine fabric samples with complementary stripes. Stripes go with everything!

Match Made in Upcycling Heaven

Upcycling is so often a case of kismet. I have a crazy giant collection of fabric, about half bought new and half from thrift stores and my friend the Dumpster  Diva. One of the best things about sewing is pawing through what I've got and finding things that will look great together.

This gorgeous thing is  made from home decor fabric samples on the outside, and on the inside a batik fabric Paula found for me at a thrift store (or estate sale? I don't remember which). They are a match made in heaven, don't you agree?

Oh, and the leather-like strap is actually pleather I got in one of my Thrift Town grab bags. I'd have never knowingly brought something like that home but it turned out to be just the perfect thing. No animals were harmed in the making of this tote bag!