carrie girl

at last! some sewing that is purely for my etsy shop! i've been thinking about making a large version of the travel jewelry wallet for a while now, and i was really happy to find myself on saturday with a couple hours to spare for this little project.

the original jewelry wallet is about 4 inches by 3 inches with pockets that measure 3 inches by 2 1/2 inches. this is great for earrings and more delicate necklaces, but i've been wanting something for my chunkier pieces. the large wallet is about 6 inches by 5 inches with pockets 5 inches by 4 inches. the pockets of the travel wallet used to be the bane of my existence. they took so long that if i really charged my hourly rate for the production (plus materials, etc.)  the price tag would be ridiculous. so with the large wallet, i set out to streamline the process.

the new pockets consist of one large piece of fabric folded and sewn in an origami-like way so that they are vitrtualy seamless. this shaved off at least an hour from the construction time. i haven't tried this technique on the little pockets, but i'm hoping it works for them as well.

this is the new wallet filled and closed. i'll give this a test-run when i head home to kansas city for the holidays.

here's a shot of carrie girl's newest intern.

love these.

i should be shopping for gifts for other people, but i can't stop buying things for myself. for instance, these lovely storage jars from fishs eddy. they're on sale for $18.96 for the whole set! i almost got the floral juice glasses, too, but i do know my limits...that, and i already have a set of juice glasses.

i also bought a swimsuit on bluefly which is weird because it is 10 degrees here in iowa, and i am so pale that i might blind innocent bystanders. i am 99% sure i'm going to take them up on their 60 day return policy, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

i'm sure everyone has read this article on etsy in the ny times already, but i thought i'd pass it along just in case. i admit that i am a fan of reading etsy's article quit your day job, and catch myself daydreaming about what my life might look like if i got to do carrie girl for a living, so this was a really interesting read.

shop update

the weather gods are smiling down on me because due to nearly a foot of snow, i've had the last two days of school off. i feel totally rested and ready to to tackle the huge job of handmade christmas gifts. i was also able to update my shop with some jewelry wallets and clutches.

while i was at renegade last weekend, ted sneaked over to the apartment and put up a tiny tree for me.  i didn't think i'd have time to get one, nor the energy for it, so it was a nice surprise. we're slowly working on things, but for now it is just nice to decorate the tree and share a big bottle of rogue hazelnut brown nectar.

today is my last day of school...officially. yesterday was the last day with the kids, but today is the last day i have to step foot in the building until august 19th. although it wasn't a particularly difficult year, i'm happy to see it come to an end.

on wednesday, my clementine clutch was featured in the storque's etsy finds which was really amazing. i got some encouraging feedback from fellow bag makers, and really felt the enormity of the etsy community. sometimes you just plug along, not knowing if anyone actually reads your blog or likes the things that you make, and you can start to question some things. i'm always telling ted not to rely on the accolades of others to validate his writing--so i need to take my own advice when it comes to my sewing, but i'll be damned if it doesn't feel nice once in awhile to hear that what you're doing is meaningful and good.

weekend update

this weekend was sunny and amazing. i got to hang out with some good friends, see some family and even get my shop update finished. let's hope this week is just as lovely.

photo shoot

i know how important good pictures are to listings on etsy, so i've been searching online for some tips and tricks for amateur photographers like myself.  basically everyone says to use natural light, and that is essentially the only way to get a good picture. well, as someone who is gone at my job from 7:15 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., natural light just aint going to happen. so, the next best thing (other than quitting my job and sewing/taking pictures all day) is a light box. i'd made one attempt at a light box, and that was sort of a disaster, so i was hesitant to try it again. but, i really didn't have any other choice, so i hit up hobby lobby and office max, and tried with a whole new approach.

it looks very dramatic and space age-y, but it was super simple and i think the results are the next best thing to taking the darn wallet outside at noon for a photo shoot.

 

the photo on the left is what it looks like right from the camera, no flash. i uploaded the picture to photoshop and auto adjusted the curves and voila! there are still some dark shadows around the edges, but i think i can tweak it and get those removed. if not, no big deal.

 

*now that i see these on my work computer (and not on my beloved mac,) i realize that i need to do a better job in photoshop and brighten them up a bit.  also, the room isn't pitch black when i'm taking the pictures...it just looks that way...

advice

i need some advice on buying a sewing machine.  i know a lot of it has to do with personal preference, but i'd love to hear what machine you use, and if you love it or would recommend another brand. i don't need a lot of computerized bells and whistles, and will probably start off by looking at used machines. currently i use the most basic singer i got from target 3 years ago, and it works fine, but i'd like to upgrade. so if you have any thoughts or advice i love to hear it, or even if you have a link to a good article or blog post, i'd love that, too.

on another note, i lifted my self-imposed etsy shopping ban and ordered up some delicious double-sided corduroy from good-ness, and this print from elsita. can't wait for them to arrive!

stocked

the shop is officially stocked with vintage goodies. i actually feel like i'm getting things done around here. i'm still in the planning stages of some of my projects, but i feel like i'm making progress.  getting the shop updated and the craft studio organized were definitely on the top of my list.  next up...heat set my gocco prints and dust off the old sewing machine. 

it's almost friday!

colonel mustard

this is my new favorite color--i mean, green will always be my favorite favorite color, but mustard yellow has been on the brain lately.  this particular yarn will become viking braids for one of the half dozen projects i have strewn about my studio. i'm finding that carving out some crafting time in the evenings this week is going to be difficult.  i signed up for a class at the local community college to really learn how to use adobe illustrator, so that lasts from 5:30-9:30. my first class is tomorrow night which means i'm going to miss out on watching the pennsylvania returns. BUT, it is a class on the computer which means i'll have internet access and, in turn, access to a myriad of political websites so as not to miss all the pundit banter. in truth, i'm just really ready for this to be over...is there a light at the end of this tunnel?

i've decided to have my first sale in the ye olde vintage shoppe.  if you've been eyeing anything in the shop, now is your chance to snatch it up for 30% off through april 27th!  all you have to do is enter the discount code, COLONELMUSTARD, into your 'notes to seller' box.

here's more details about how it's going to work...

1. first add an item from my shop to your cart and start the check out process.
2. enter the code in the 'notes to seller' and the email address where the revised invoice should be sent.
3. complete the order but do NOT go to paypal to pay.
4. you will receive a revised invoice, and a link to complete payment, via email reflecting the 30% off.

happy easter!

last night i did a huge vintage shop update. when i first started the store i had this panic that maybe i would stop enjoying going to the thrift stores if i started selling on etsy.  so far so good, in that i still enjoy it and do occasionally find something i can squeeze into my apartment for myself. i have, however, run into a bit of a storage issue.  so during my (much needed) spring break in a couple weeks i'm going to head next door to the ikea in illinois.  i haven't started looking online at all the fabrics and organizational stuff yet because i know if i do, i won't be able to contain my excitement or anticipation for this entire week. 

oh, and a big special thanks and a hug goes out to melissa for being my first customer over at the handmade store.  thanks, melissa!

off to do some sewing and to eat a ton of easter candy!