Review of S.O.T.A.K. Two in One Pouch

I decided to try out a new bag pattern designer named, SotakCo, and I love her stuff. She is from the Netherlands and has a great eye for design!! Her patterns are clear and easy to follow, and she adds photos of each step to the instructions, which is great. 

Here is my sample of the small-sized wallet:

I really like the design concept of two separate pouches held together by a velcro tab. The complex layout of the pieces was actually easy to do because she had such great instructions. This could be cute in a variety of color combinations and fabrics. I can't wait to try making a bigger one for my cash envelope budget. 

It took me about an hour and a half because this was my first time around and I am just getting experience in using a cutting mat and ruler. But, once the pieces were cut, assembly is fairly quick. Especially if you are used to making pouches and wallets.

I wish I had used black thread for the velcro, and it bugs me that the stitches are so visible! 

That's all for now. I would recommend trying out SotakCo. patterns if you like bag making =)

I'm Still Here!!!

Hello, My Name Is: Sarah.....

And I've neglected this blog for wayyyy too long!!!

My shop is dusty and empty at the moment as I am adjusting to new circumstances.

My crafting life has been slow, but I have been puttering with a few things, mostly things that include paper. I think I had to take a break from fabric for a bit and try out some new things to keep me sane. I have sewed a few things for my boys, but that's really it since Spring!

Here's a spin around my current crafting area:

My first Charm Pack! Neco from Moda. I just love the colorways and funky 70's vibe of this Japanese fabric. Not sure if I am going to use them for a quilt or a bag....I picked this out for myself as a recent birthday present. :D

Hedgies!!!

Kitties!

Stamp/washi supplies. Only a small bit because the rest is in storage! Ack!

Paper craft supplies

Watercolor painting/papercrafting. I found this clear divider thing for free and it works great for this stuff.

Scrapbook paper hiding my machine!! Poor thing!

I am obsessed with making these little tabs out of pretty scrapbook paper. These are for my journal. They are a bit rough because I am using a single hole puncher for the edges, but I will get better. lol

I would love to be inspired to make some little homemadey things for the shop for holiday shoppers, but am not sure I will accomplish this. I am quite sick of making bags and wouldn't mind making some random items that have nothing to do with them! We shall see! 

Thanks for bearing with me over this long hiatus...

Approaching a Handmade Market...

There are steps to take to have a successful market. I am not an expert in this, but want to brainstorm ideas to help myself have a successful event. I have only done 3 so far.

I am a thinker and researcher, but not always a doer because I can become overwhelmed easily in something that has multiple steps to it. Having an outline gives me clarity and vision. I hope this will help give me and others a foundation for purposeful actions to take before the event.

1. Take a look at all supply inventory and separate out what materials you want to use from those that don't meet your needs. Are you going with a theme/color scheme for your items, or making things from whatever materials strike your fancy?
2. Fold, iron, categorize, label all materials you will be using for your items. Make them easy to find and attractively stored so that you will be inspired by your inventory. Sometimes the best ideas can come from seeing certain materials next to each other.
   
3. Select sewing patterns that you think will be best sellers. Put them aside in a file folder or some sort of organizer. Make sure you have all the pieces and instructions.
4. Make sure you have all the tools/supplies needed to make those patterns.
5. Clean your area to perfection and even add some flowers or something inspiring, like a delicious-smelling candle or a new picture to hang of the wall that makes you feel good.
   
6. Now that your creative space is ready, start brainstorming how many of each item you want to sell. Make a simple list on paper or create a spreadsheet.
   
7. Get to work on your items. Now is the time to get lost in creativity and inspiration. And with a little elbow grease and determination. Keep your focus on streamlined ideas in mind.
   
8. Once you have developed a appropriate amount of inventory, begin thinking about how much you need to sell each one for to make a decent profit. Add to paper list or spreadsheet. Also add # of items to each item line.
9. Think about presentation. Make or buy tags to hang on your items. Keep it attractive and fun, but readable. Write the price of the item on each tag. Hang with a cute ribbon or baker's twine.
10. Stuff items with tissue paper. Place business cards inside items.
11. After seeing how much inventory you have, think about how you want to display them. Look around the house for bookcases, tables, hat hangers, coat trees, etc to hang/put your items on.
    
12. Think about the color scheme you want to go with for your displays. Can things be painted? Or covered with an attractive fabric? 
13. Think about signage. Do you want to do a bunting banner? Or purchase a custom made vinyl banner?
14. Once you have acquired all the things needed for presentation, find a space in your home or garage where you can do a trial run of setting up. Use masking tape to outline the space of your vendor area and set up within the perimeter. How does it look? Is there enough room (or too much room) for all your inventory? Does it look neat and attractive? Or mismatched and uninviting? Is there anything you could add/subtract to make it better? Do you need to fill in spots?
15. Ask a friend or family member's advice on how it looks. Having someone else's opinion is paramount to getting a cohesive look.
16. Find a list on Pinterest of everything needed to have a successful craft show. Print and have ready before the show.
    
17. Store items in a plastic, zippable bag or storage tote to keep them SAFE!

Remember to have fun and show the world how much your items are worth. 

Your TIME + MONEY + HARD WORK will = SUCCESS!!

What's Happening for the Rest of 2014

Happy Fall, y’all!! I can’t believe it is already here. Here in Virginia, the weather was mild all summer, so there wasn’t a stark contrast between the seasons like usual. I am excited to pull out sweaters and scarves and indulge in all the fall-related festivities that go along with the season.

Announcement:
A new change going on in my crafting life is that I have decided to end my venture with the brick-and-mortar shop, Pastiche at Main, as the availability of my time is not what I thought it would be when I began. Just a few days after signing the shop contract I was offered a full-time job at a nearby university, which I could not pass up. I tried to handle sewing and selling as well as the Mon-Fri, 9-5 type job with two little ones at home and a husband who works evenings, and I knew I just couldn’t produce the results I needed with the lack of time and energy to devote to the craft. But, it was nice to see what it was like selling at a real store and being a part of a very unique community of crafters. My items will be in Pastiche through the end of September (which is coming up very soon!), and then I will take what is left to the craft shows I have decided to attend this year.

Next step:
The “Frolic in Forest” Fall Bazaar & Fundraiser in Forest, Va on Nov. 22nd. I hope to spend what time I DO have between now and then crafting little gifty items that do not take as long as bags do (although I am sure I will want to throw some of those in there, as well—can’t help it!). On my to-make list are things such as coffee cozies, mug rugs, fabric-covered notepads, keychains, tea

wallets, tissue cozies, checkbook covers, ornaments, bookmarks, zip pouches, embroidered items, etc. As you can see, I have a lot of ideas! I have not done a craft fair since 2009, so I am excited to set up a table,be creative, and see what happens!

After that:
My brother and sister-in-law have invited me to sell (long-distance) at their community craft fair in Ossining, NY in December. I am sending up a small collection bags and items that will hopefully do well there.

For the future:
I am hoping that these 2 craft fairs will help me use up at least *some* of my fabric hoard and materials from Sparrow & Joy, and then I am pondering closing up shop officially on Jan. 1^st, 2015 unless things change job-wise and schedule-wise. My sewing business ventures have been a bit rocky over the past few years, and I am praying on what is the best avenue to take for my family. It is possible that this is not the best time in my life to sew and sell, and I am ready to accept that. 

I am tiring a bit of the bag-making and would love, if I ever have the time, to expand into different types of art & craft that might inspire me into the original state of excitement that creating with fabric first held for me. I have been feeling a bit stale lately, and I miss that creative freedom I once felt.

I want to thank all my customers for helping me make my creative dreams come alive and for your support of the work I create.

I will keep you updated through FB or this blog on what is going on with my Etsy store.

It's almost that time...

for................

CRAFT SHOWS!!!

BAZAARS!!!

FALL FESTIVALS!!!

or whatever you want to call them!

image from https://blog.etsy.com/en/files/2012/10/Craftshow.jpg

I am in a pickle because I would very much like to do one, yet am not sure if I have the time and energy. Plus, there are so many good ones to choose from. I certainly can't do more than one, so it is one or none! 

It is exciting just planning for one, anyway. I have a whole folder full of ideas about what I'd sell, what displays I'd use, but I tend to get carried away with planning stages of things and not with the actual execution stages... :P

I have only done 2 shows in my whole life and enjoyed both. It is fun to see people looking at your things, picking them up, trying them on, and occasionally....taking one home with them! Especially if something is a very original design, it is nice when someone likes it a lot.

For anyone out there who's interested, here are some good tips I found on how to have a good craft show.

Vintage Sheet Cafe Curtains

I was going to do a whole tutorial on how I did this but I am too tired now so I will cut straight to the point!!

Found these vintage sheets at Goodwill....

Cut them into rectangles using a sheet of computer paper as a template...

Sew them together and then make tabs for the top....

Aaaand...you have a lovely, cottage-y feeling cafe curtain for your window!!

I just adoooore this look because it is so girly and bright. The sheets are made of muslin so they have this gauzy look to them and they flutter a little in the breeze. The fabric is so thin that you can cut your squares in a jiffy by folding the fabric over on itself and cutting all the pieces at once. I did 4x.

I have a lot of material left over so I am going to make a matching valance and then maybe some more curtains for my other windows in the kitchen/dining area. SO fun!! And the huge sheets are only about $2 depending on where you get them. I found 4 different prints at Goodwill on separate occasions. There is so much you can make from vintage sheets--just look on Pinterest!! 

The Joy

 The joy is in the doing, 

Not the deed that's done;

The swift and glad pursuing, 

Not the goal that's won.

The joy is in the seeing,

Not in what we see;

The ecstasy of vision,

Far and clear and free!

The joy is in the singing,

Whether heard or no;

The poet's wild, sweet rapture,

And song's divinest flow!

The joy is in the being--

Joy of life and breath;

Joy of a soul triumphant, 

Conqueror of death!

Is there a flaw in the marble?

Sculptor, do your best; 

The joy is in the endeavor.

Leave to God the rest!

-Julia C. Dorr (1825-1913)

I came across this poem last week in a library book I borrowed called "The Literature of Vermont: A Sampler". This poetess lived in Rutland, Vermont for a part of her life. Not sure if she was inspired to write the poem while in the Green Mountain state, but it is beautiful nonetheless. 

Back in the Handbag Groove

Hello, friends!!

I am desperately trying to add enough items to my shop to make a full Etsy shop page, but it is slow going. I am so thankful for the sales lately! I am having fun creating new bags and glad there are kindred spirits who like my designs.

I always end up chopping my head off in shots for the shop. This is the unedited version. :)

A lovely, voluptuous bag in a round design. So perfect for a bag fiend like me!! I love this shape.

I am participating in My Giant Strawberry's Handmade Joy exchange. It sounds like a lot of fun and I love to receive mail, so receiving a handmade gift from a crafter I've never met will make my day. I can't wait to make her something, too!

I have more plans for another bag in the pleated style that I hope to begin construction on this week and hopefully have done next week. Stay tuned!! Thank you!

Sewing in 2014

....there has been very little!!!

But that is because a lot has changed in my life right around the 2013-into-2014 bend.

We moved to Vermont from Virginia, so there is that to adapt to, and we are in a totally different living situation. But the good news is I have a nice place to sew in my mom's sewing room (we are living with my parents).

I actually have access to a large cutting table complete with self-healing mats and a rotary cutter!! Boy, do those make pattern cutting so much quicker. Love them.

My mom quilting.

I've done the tiniest bit of sewing for Sparrow & Joy and wish I could do much more, but it is taking a backseat to things closer to home. But I hope to add new things to the shop in spurts when life gets into some sort of normal pace.

For now I am waiting for some huge creative outburst which I hope will come when the season turns to spring.

This squirrel knows that it will be a while and it is time to stuff those cheeks. :D

Here's to crafting joyfully in 2014!!!

A Crafty Linky: How to Sew A Mouse Pad

Click on the photo to be taken to a wonderful tutorial on how to make your very own mouse pad in your favorite fabric!

Some strange things you need on hand that you may need to acquire:

• ModPodge 
• Shelf Liner

It is so funny I came across this this morning because I was just sitting down to my laptop and thought to myself, "I really need to make a mousepad". Then I went to Facebook and there was a tutorial. Love when that happens. :)

Would love to see the results if any of you decide to make one! (please leave a link in your comment or email me at sarahbhyde@gmail.com) It is definitely on my to-do list, but not sure when mine will get done.

Baby Bibs & A Piping Fail

I am finally sewing some things for the baby and not myself! :P I found this free pattern for "Little" Baby Bibs online a while ago and decided to make some since they will fit a newborn best. I went to JoAnn's and got a 1/2 yard of fun flannel for about $1.41 each.

I have made two so far and really like the size and shape of them. They are a quick sewing project: probably about 20-30 mins per bib.

"My City" flannel

back-flannel

I really wanted to add this lime green piping since I had it in my sewing box and it was the perfect match to the fabric, but I am not great at using piping when it comes to what to do with the ends! It ended up looking like this and I just added some fray check to the raw part to keep it from getting all fuzzy.

I plan to make more bibs (maybe 6-7?) because I really don't want to go buy any.