Kindle Case - Success!

For a year, on and off, I've been playing around with a case for the kindle, and other e-readers.  When I first started down this path, we didn't own a kindle.  It's really hard to make a case that's somewhat specific to a device when you don't have one - or easy access to one.

After several failed attempts, I finally have a case that I'm happy with - both in the functionality of it, and the ease of making it.

Knowing my fondness for zippers, my goal was to make a case that zipped on three sides, similar to my gadget (ipod, iphone) case.

The issue I was having was that I wanted the device to fit snuggly, but not too much so.  Finally, I figured out that I needed to make the case like it was a book - with a spine.

I love the result and I'm hopeful that sales will reflect the quaility of the item.

You can check out the selection I have for this style and a hipster style in my etsy shop!

Happy Sewing!

Susan

Deal of the Day - Day 2

What's that you say?  Another Deal of the Day?!?

The day 2 Deal of the Day will be - Lanyards  BOGO - Buy 1 get one Half off. To receive this discount purchase both lanyards at full price and the difference will be refunded.

This is so much fun!

Susan

More "Special" Projects

Not that I really needed new valances in our bedroom, but hey, I got the fabric 50% off original price, then an additional 20% off that - so why not?

Not that I have fabric to make new valances and sheers for the dining room windows that I've had for something like 10 years (actually I think it's more like 6), and I still just have it - not completed valances and sheers.

But I do think they turned out pretty cute!

The color in the photo is a little off - the walls are a sage green.  The valance is purple flowers on a tannish background with green leaves.  It's an upholstery weight fabric, and I dug in my trim box and found a matchiing purple and tan cording.

Of course, now I need a new dust ruffle....

Happy Sewing!
Susan

Extra time - Say What?

I have one show left this year, and because I sewed up a storm this summer, I don't really need to make any inventory for it.  I'll probably have an open house again too, and I need to get that scheduled.

Since I have extra time - SAY WHAT?!? - I've been doing some sewing other than for my shows and etsy shop. 

I started with new dresses for my great-nieces.  I made them some the beginning of the summer, but I had one fabric left that I bought specifically to make - so I finally got it done!

I think it's an adorable pattern - it has a v-neck, zipper back, and that little ribbon at the bottom.

I made a white fleece shrug-like jacket also, so she can wear it all seasons.  Of course, she could also always put a long sleeve shirt under it.

The dress for the other great-niece is the same fabric, but a different pattern.  I still have to make her jacket.

This dress along with some birthday presents for her older brother will be heading out with the mail later this week.

For the other great niece, I'm now also making a Snow White costume for her for Halloween.  And her little brother doesn't like when I send her something and there's nothing in the box for him, so I'll be sure and take care of that.

If I'm lucky, my nieces will send me photos of the kids in their outfits!

Until next time!

Susan

Etsy Team Craft Night

A local etsy team that I belong to (Owl & Elephant) had a team crafting night at Igloo Letterpress in Worthington last night.  We are a very casual team - we connect mostly using a google group and once in a while we see each other out and about town! 

One of our members Grace Hester (GraceHesterDesigns and GraceHesterPapers) set up this great craft night for us.

We started out our evening with everyone introducing themselves, talking about their etsy shop or craft, and what their alter-ego day job was!

Allison then talked about her business, explaining the presses, and process to us.  Each person then got to select something and print it.

I thought the spider was a little creepy, but how great it this for Halloween?

Other team members and their shops who were at the event:

ArtsiBitsi (home of the
BeckySeymourDesigns
Tsurubride (currently on sabbatical)
DaisyMaeDesigns
Cram
AdoreJules

I know I missed a couple, at my age, I'm lucky to remember anything!

Susan

Backwards Weekend?

Just a short recap of my weekend show. I was in Chagrin Falls OH, for Art by the Falls. It's a lovely town with a real artsy feel. I did this show several years ago and it was an awesome show for me then.

Of course, I kept checking the weather forecast (as if that's ever right!) for the few days before the show. Scattered thunderstorms for Friday (setup) and Saturday - the first day of the show. Cooler and sunny on Sunday.

Most of the times, shows are busier on Saturday, than Sunday. Not so with this show this year - Saturday the crowds were much sparcer than I recalled or expected - I thought maybe that 'scattered thunderstorms' prediction was keeping them away. Sunday was a much larger crowd, at least early in the day.

Credit card sales - do most other people experience this? Normally, my Saturday credit cards runs 20-30% of the total sales, and on Sunday it can creep up closer to 50%. I'm not sure what was going on this weekend - but my Saturday credit cards were 60% of my total - crazy! Sunday was about 30%.

So - as I say - it was a backwards weekend!

By the way, the storms on Saturday never happened where we were. It sprinkled just as we were closing down for the day. And Sunday - well, the sun didn't appear until we were leaving - and cooler - you bet - I don't think it got above 62 or 63 degrees. Glad I took a pair of jeans and a jacket along!



Until next time!
Susan

March On!

February was one of those months where there was something going on every weekend. I looked at my March calendar and nothing special was scheduled other than yesterday where I got together with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday (it was in February).


So I started out this past week thinking I was going to get all kinds of things done.

Alas, it was not to be. Somehow my week just disappeared and I didn't spend any quality time sewing.

The one thing I did finish was the February angel project that I'm doing for Dee (twitter). You can see her blog where she posts each month's project and final results!


Here's my February angel:

I sure hope the rest of March is kinder to my sewing time than this week was - I've scheduled two craft shows in April!

Until next time,

Susan

One Yard Challenge - Cutting

So, I think now that I'm trying to decide what all to make from this yard of fabric, why I started buying two yards when I'm not sure what I'm going to do with a piece.

I can't get everything that I want to from a single yard. Here are the ten items I did get cut from this yard:

Lanyard

Large Cell phone case with flap

Large Cell phone case with zipper

Wrap Around zipper gadget case

Regular Box pouch

Small Box Pouch

Zipper wallet/change purse

Mini pack purse (hipster)

Round top flat bottom wristlet

Small Flat Bottom zipper case

Here is what's left:

Not much that's usable. I have containers of scraps like this - anyone interested?

Next time I'll show the selection of finished items.

Susan

One yard challenge

I make a variety of items for my etsy shop and for craft shows. Often when I work with a fabric, I make several items from that fabric. Depending on how much fabric there is, what the pattern is, how I feel that day, and what Mimi cat thinks (ok, that part isn't really true) I may get from 5-10 of my smaller items from it.

So today I am challenging myself to see how many items I can get from a one yard cut with as little waste as possible.

I'll make a list of the items that I've been making, and work on some cutting layouts and then go from there. Should be fun!

Just to clarify, the one yard will be the exterior fabric only, I will use a coordinating fabric for linings.

Here is the fabric I selected to work with.

Check back later this week to see how it worked out.

Susan

Zip Around Success

I made the first prototype of the zip around case back at the end of December. I've been using it for my iTouch and love it. I keep the earbuds in one side and the ipod in the other side. If I plan to go anywhere and need to include the USB, I can include that in the outside pocket.

I made a few more (three to be exact) until I felt like I had a good solid process, and I did list the three prototypes in my etsy shop at a reduced price ($15). The regular price on this size will be $22. Before I could get the first one listed at regular price, I sold two!

My next plan is to make this in a larger size for ereaders and perhaps iPads. I also plan to make them more in a regular wallet style - large enough for unfolded paper bills, a couple of credit card slots, etc.

Let me know if there are options that you would like to see, and specific fabrics also!

Susan

Walker Basket / Bag

I've made a couple of bags for my mom for her walker over the past few years. This pretty green one is the most current. I think it's the prettiest one I've made for her.



My husband's aunt recently began using a walker and my mother-in-law asked me to make something for her also. They wanted something that was more like a basket - you can't see it from this picture, but there are pockets on each end that can hold a can of pop or bottle of water.
There is a little change pocket on the outside and then inside is a zippered pocket and a divided flap pocket.

I hope it works out for her.

Susan

Feedback

My friend and former coworker found some material that she asked me to make a purse from - it was three coordinating fabrics from the 'Man's Best Friend' line from Leanne Anderson and Henry Glass. The blue has all sorts of cute dogs, bowls, bones, etc. The brown has coordinating pawprints, and the cream has bones and dog 'talk'.

She didn't have a specific style in mind, so after harrassing for some measurements to start from, the purse below is what came out. I really love the style, and think I can adapt the pattern to a couple of sizes.

I passed the purse off via some mutual friends, so didn't get to see her reaction, but this is what she had to say:

" The purse was fantastic! My friend loved it! Everyone I showed it to loved it also. I think her (my friend's) comment was "oh, I wanted a Susan purse and this is so cute!!", so count yourself among the Vera Bradleys, Kate Spades, and Stella McCartneys of the world. You are now a product line name! :) "

Wow - talk about making me feel good.


I think I will call it the 'Holly' purse after my friend who let me be creative in making it!

Look for this style in at least two sizes after the first of the year!

Susan

There's always something good....

This past weekend I tried out a new show (for me) in an area where I've not done a show before. It was a large show, lots of vendors, but ended up not being a good fit for the items I make. On top of everything else, the weather was unbelievably crappy. It went from being in the 80's last week to a high of about 52 on Saturday and rain to top that off. On Sunday, it was even colder, and, although it didn't rain on Sunday, the wind was about 30 mph, so it was CHILLY!

My wonderful husband kept me company this weekend (he loves to help!) and we discovered that our neighbors were the nicest couple ever. In their 70's - he did woodworking items - like pumpkins and Santa heads with lights, and a really cute Rudolph. She made snow people from fabric - all handmade, and just wonderful work.

They had this beautiful wooden cash register, and after commenting on it, discovered that he had an extra one that he had made for the next neighbor who coveted it. So on Sunday, I purchased one from him - just beautiful!




The cash drawer has coin and bill dividers, and the middle section will be great for my scissors and stapler and extra sales books, etc. The top also opens and will make a nice storage spot for something. Each side has a place for business cards, there are three places where pens will rest, and there is a spot for staging the payment.




So, although the show itself didn't end up being a profitable venture, the fun of being next to these lovely people and then great cash register made it worth it.

Susan

Perception

As many fabric addicts do, I buy all kinds of fabrics in varying colors, themes, patterns, quantities. You may have seen pictures of my fabric closets (the one that isn't large enough) in previous posts.

Earlier this week, I decided that it was time to make myself a new purse. I had purchased this black, brown and butter yellow batik print a while back, and it was what I selected to make a purse for myself.

I had it all done but for the straps, but my husband hadn't seen it that day. The next day when he came home from work, he came up to my sewing room, looked at the purse and said something to the effect of 'old lady fabric' about the purse I was making for myself. Now, I do realize that I am older than him by a few years, but I don't think that I'm an 'old lady' just quite yet.

Of course, now I can't carry that purse because of what he said, even though I don't see whatever he saw in the fabric.Yesterday I decided to make a patchwork purse which I haven't done in a while. I think it turned out very well - and apparently it's not 'old lady' fabric, because my husband said when it saw it completed - 'that one will sell'!

Back to Crazy?

I'm thinking about getting back to my crazy patchwork jacket this week! I still need to find the lining fabric that I want to use - I'm wondering what I have stashed away in my closet - I really don't want to have to go to the store, because that could turn lethal.....

Right now I'm working on some more ReUsable Baggies - right now I'm finishing up some made with frog fabric.

And next I have ladybugs.....

I also bought some music fabric, so I may go back to INSANE and try to make another CD/DVD case like I did a few weeks ago.

All for now!

Susan

From Crazy to Insane

As you may have been reading, I've been working on the crazy patchwork. I put it aside while I finished some other projects.

This weekend my brother was visiting and he had some CD/DVD's for his grandkids, and asked if I happened to have any extra cases for them that he could have. No, I said, but I bet I could make something.

Now that's INSANE!

Because this was Saturday and we were getting together with the family on Sunday.

I finished the project I was working on and decided to give it a whirl. I measured, and contemplated, and write some ideas down. Then I got started.

I decided to start on the one for the boy first, because I had LOTS of fabric left from his roman shades and quilt I made. I wanted it to have a way to stay closed (can you say velcro?) and it needed to hold 12 CD/DVDs. Here is the result:




So it one works - but it was way too thick in the middle and I couldn't actually stitch all the way down. I just did enough at the top and bottom to secure it.

Think, think, think - how to make it better?

First, a better way to secure the middle parts. Also, I didn't consider the folding effect, so the outside 'pages' needed to be longer than the inside ones. Finally, if he tips it upside down, the CDs may fall out.

Then, I had to get into the fabric closet and find a good 'little girl' fabric for the next one. And I don't know exactly how much it's going to take, because I didn't want to work that hard and add the pieces up! Finally after much searching, I remembered this cute pink kitty-cat fabric.

For this one, each 'page' is just 2 sides, and not 4 like the last - and organize it so the opening for the CDs face where it secures. I like the result much better. Tell me what you think?




My brother was excited about it - he said - "there you go, something new you could sell!" Maybe I could, but for the amount of time it took, I would have to charge a small fortune

Anyone have a fortune they want to give me to make these?

Hope you enjoyed my story!
Susan

CRAZY Patchwork Continued....

I got about 2 yards or so of the crazy patchwork compeleted. Here are a couple of pictures:

Because I stitched this to the interfacing, it is only about 22" wide or so. That's about the equivalent of 1 yard of regular fabric.

I plan to make a jacket using this - that was my original thought when I started this project - but I wasnt' really sure until my last blog post and I asked for suggestions.

After completing the crazy patchwork, I decided on a fabric for the base of the jacket, as one year would not be enough for a jacket, and the next step will be to determine the placement of the patchwork on the jacket. I also selected some embellishment items such as beading, lace, ribbon, etc., that I plan to use.

The final piece will be to select the fabric or fabrics for the lining, as I want this to be a professional looking piece.

I've been sidetracked with some other projects for now, so it will be close to the end of August when I get back to this.

So stay tuned.
Susan

I've gone CRAZY!

I started my new project this week. I have this container of fabric scraps, most of which are pieces that are too small for anything that I normally make. I did find some larger pieces of some holiday prints - I'm not quite sure how they ended up there.

Here are some pictures of the container and it's contents:


It's pretty much just a mess of small fabric pieces of all kinds. I hardly throw any scraps away (as you may be able to tell).

So, I take out my craft fuse interfacing and here is what I find:
The cat (Mimi) has been chewing the edge of the interfacing. Yes, folks, my cat is an addict. She is addicted to GLUE. I have to hide the tape from her - she will eat the entire roll. Obviously, she found this even though I tucked it away where I thought she couldn't get to it.

My plan is to take pieces of fabric from my scrap box and make a crazy patch fabric from it. I pin the pieces on the craft fuse, give it a light ironing to adhere some of it, go across each section just with a straight stitch and then the real work begins with stitching around the edges of each fabric piece. I mostly use a zigzag stitch arounds the edges. I will use varying colors of thread - that way I can use up some of the thread colors that I don't use much too.

Here is a picture of a piece I found from the last time I did this. I made fabric bowls from this piece.

What will I make from the new one? Check back to find out!

Have a great day!
Susan

My First Blog Post

So today is my very first blog post. I'll be really honest, I'm not too much into this kind of thing. But I've joined the Etsy community for selling my items (check out my etsy website at http://sewdarnsimple.etsy.com/) and blogging is one of the things that everyone recommends doing to increase sales.

So here I am, trying it out.

I've been working on cleaning and re-arranging my sewing room this week, so I've literally done no sewing since Monday, I think. The cleaning part was good. I quess I'll see how the re-arranging works out. I'm excited to try it out - there are probably a couple of changes that I'm not sure I will like - I think my ironing board is too far from my sewing machine now. Of course, maybe that means I'll get a little more exercise!

I hope you will look at my etsy site, and find something that you like!