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...

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!

Sad News

Today is a day with a sad post. I have closed my shop down for personal reasons that I do not wish to go into, but I hope that you all understand. I have SO enjoyed sewing and selling and do not regret a moment of it! But for the time being, I cannot run my shop. I hope someday to make this a certified, real deal small business, but right now it is not possible to go to that level.

I am finishing up custom orders that have already been placed, so no worries there. I honor my commitments and do not want to leave anyone hanging. Please e-mail me at mattsarahhyde@gmail.com if you have any questions.

I am going to keep my Facebook page running and this is definitely not the end of my sewing hobby! I have tons of fabric and materials to use (and patterns), and I will still sew for pleasure and gifts. I will keep sharing about projects for those who enjoy hearing about it. If you have no interest in staying a fan of "Sweet Sparrow", I understand if you want to remove yourself from the fan list.

Oh, this is bittersweet!! But it is for the best and I will have more free time to sew for gifts and home, which is a good thing. I am trying to find good things about this, but it is hard!

I am going to change the name of this blog to "Sarah's Craft Blog" to keep it consistent with what's going on. The web address will stay the same. 

Thank you, ALL, for your support and business, and I will never forget what you've done for me by buying my handmade crafts! It has been so wonderful and life-changing, really, to have an Etsy shop for 5 years.

God bless,
Sarah

Supplies Are Up!

I've got a decent amount of supplies for sale in the shop! There is a mixture of bag making supplies and fabric. I haven't got too much fabric up for sale yet because I am having a hard time parting with it! I know, I am obsessed! I keep thinking "oh, that will be great for this project!!" SIGH.........


Thank you all for your support of my crazy business! :)

MEMO: Big Changes

If you have been following me on Facebook you may or may not have noticed that Sweet Sparrow's FB presence is kaput right now. I deactivated my account for several personal reasons. I did not mean to abruptly sever my relationship with my beloved customers, but that is exactly what happened. But I am hoping many people will come over here to the blog to see what is going on if they are interested to know.

I am rearranging my life a bit right now and have to reign waaay back on the sewing. It was eating up too much of my personal time with my family, our money, and space. I have been trying to make it work here in our new lifestyle, but you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as they say. It just ain't working. There has been times in my life where Etsy selling flows smoothly, custom orders flow smoothly, and life is great on that side of things. But right now, I am not called to keep that portion of my life afloat, especially not at the expense of my family's well-being!

SO. I am going to try and sell a lot of my supplies and materials that are sitting around eating up real estate. I have a LOT of fabric I need to sell that, face it, I LOVE but am never going to get around to using up. My loss is someone else's gain, and I am glad to sell it to someone who will use it.

Time to sew may occur here and there, but additions to the shop may be scarce. There is so much I need to sew for home that I have a big list backed up! It is amazing how much you can make for your home to save money, if you have the time.

I hope you all understand where I'm coming from (or at least where I'm trying to go). I'm sorry to pull a fast one on everyone and I have been so blessed by everyone's support. I am not saying this is the end of Sweet Sparrow, but it may be a long hiatus until her gears are turning smoothly again.

I still want to use this blog to post crafting ideas or things that I sew for my home. I like having a place to dump my creative juices. :o)

God bless!

New Items and Still At It

Here is a wallet I made last night and posted in the shop today. My new schedule for sewing has been working out quite well and I am pleased that it has. My current schedule for sewing is either sewing during one of two of Luke's naps during the day, or if I can't manage that, I sew after everyone has gone to bed at night, usually between 9-10:30 p.m. Hubby has to go to bed early to get up for 4:30 every day. This works well. I don't tend to like to go to bed earlier so I create away until I get tired.

These specific verses (below) from Proverbs 31 in the Old Testament give me a lot of encouragement and vision for why and how to do this. I find a lot of satisfaction in being creative and industrious for my family's sake while not having to leave the home for a career. I hope to always be able to do this as  a stay at home mom and wife.

"She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
 She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers...

She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come."

Shop Updated!

Click here to see the new items.

Have a blessed day!

Free Motion Stitching: A New Birdie Pouch

Woo! Something I've been wanting to try for a long time. This is a relatively new method of sewing applique--kind of an artistic way of doing it...very modern. I saw a birdie that had been stitched free-motion style by someone online and wanted to try my own version. What came from it was a cute linen zipper pouch with an appliqued bird on it and some free style stitching applique.

(The back of the back exterior piece. Thought it looked neat from this side)

Pieces ready to be sewed together.

The finished product! Love this type of "fiber art". Can't wait to try more!

I love the loose, flowy, sketchy look to this. It looks like someone use a pen to draw the black lines on, but it is actually machine stitching. There are so many possibilities! I will be adding this to the shop sometime this week.

Sew Inspired Lately

It must be because the seasons are changing or something! It is so easy to be inspired creatively in Vermont.

Construction of my handbag for fall. I love the white contrasting stitching and what I call the "peek-a-boo" pleating. It is a bit different from my usual pleating style, but I really like it.

Since my son is starting to sleep through the night (finally, after 10 months of not!), I can get up early and sew and not fall asleep at the machine. Here is an apple pouch I created between 6 and 7 a.m. this morning. :) It is made with soft, brushed corduroy for the exterior. I will put it in the shop soon.

Sweet Sparrow Pricing

Ohh, this is a subject I have been struggling with for a while now...how much will someone pay for what I make? Am I pricing too high for this economy? Am I underpricing my work and consequentially devaluing it and my creative process? It is so hard!

So, I have been researching and reading about how to price items. Here are the guidelines I have decided to follow:

1. Time. As in, how many hours it took multiplied by the hourly wage I've set for myself.
2. Experience. I think I have definitely moved out of the "beginner" category and am somewhere in the "intermediate" category. Thus, I will take this into account when pricing. I am not an expert seamstress or quilter like some people are when they have been sewing for their whole life. That is a goal of mine--to someday reach "expert" level, but for now, I know I am not there!
3. Complexity. I will admit: some items I make are a "wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am" type of construction (in my opinion), and then others take hours and lots of varied skills to complete. Such as embroidered or appliqued pieces. The "easier" pieces will be priced accordingly. But within that type of piece, say like a checkbook cover, I could create one that has more detailing, such as patchwork on it, and then I would charge more.
4. Materials. They aren't free. I wish they were. Especially the designer fabrics I use. They are worth it because they look and feel exquisite and are unique, but they cost $$$.
5. Packaging Cost + Time. This is an aspect most buyers don't think about. I know I don't when I am shopping on Etsy. When I see someone charging over $2.50 for shipping I get annoyed, but they are usually doing it because they are using quality packing materials and may be shipping your item Priority Mail. Though sometimes you have to inquire to make sure they aren't trying to rip you off. I try to keep my packing materials and methods as low as possible, because I don't think it's fair to rip people off on shipping.
6. Photography. It takes time to get good photos that illustrate an item visually. Bottom line: TIME IS MONEY! Especially when you are a SAHM!

 I remember paying $49.00 for a simple medium-sized tote in a designer fabric back in 2006. I still have that bag, and have used it again and again. It is unique, pretty, and well-constructed. This morning I went back into my buying history to see how much I had payed for it because I wanted to see how much I, as an Etsy buyer and not a seller, would pay for a handbag. My jaw dropped when I saw that I had paid almost $50 for a simply constructed bag. But when I thought about the transaction and how much I love and use that bag, I realized it was worth it. The seller had used a quality shipping box (yes, I remember these things), Priority Shipping, wrapped it in tissue paper, put her shop sticker on it, put her business card in it, and wrote a nice note. Then the bag itself was just beautiful to me. I have gotten tons of compliments on it over the years. She did not under-price her work or what she was doing as a seller.

Here are my new pricing categories. I hope that people who visit my shop will understand that I work hard on these items and that they are getting something high-quality, unique, and well-loved by its maker. I feel like I have been putting so much into what I make, and not asking for what they are worth to me and their new owner.

• Basic Wallet: $14
• Card Wallet: $14
• Checkbook Cover: $7 (same price)
• Chickadee Bag: $28.50
• Tissue Cozy: $6.50 (same price)
• Basic Totes: $30
• Pleated Plover Bags: $40
• Zipper Pouches (Large): $15 regular, $18 detailed (embroidery/applique)
• Pocket Clutches: $15.00
• Wristlets: $15.00
• Tea Books: $10 (same price)

I love my little shop and working on fabric creations. I hope that customers will continue to find my things on Etsy, and order them and enjoy them the way I did my favorite bag back in '06! :)

Packages Going Out Today

Mailing a few packages today and having a fun time prettying them up for shipment. I love adding these handmade tags and my business card. Then I stamp the envelope with bird stamps (rubber). This one is on its way to Florida!

Thank you, customers, for your business!

Tissue Cozies are Up!

Thanks to Dawn at By Sun & Candlelight, I was greatly encouraged to add some tissue cozies to my shop! It is that time of year when colds and allergies will start popping up more frequently, and these are great for keeping in your purse and protecting those much-needed travel tissues (that get squished!). 

I've uploaded three to the shop and hope to do more soon. These are so fun to make and can be either very simply designed, or full of sweet little details. I love adding linen to them for a soft, natural look. Then a dash of buttons or ribbon make it even sweeter. Hopefully there will be something for everyone!

Find them here.

Busy, busy!

I have been happily busy these past few weeks, making custom orders for friends and customers. Three people have requested custom-made Plover Pleated bags (as I now call them--after the bird, of course!) in black, gray, and a plant print. I loved doing the solids because I NEVER use solid fabrics unless it is for the linings. I don't know why I never do, I guess I just prefer prints and lots of color. But there is nothing wrong with a solid color, especially when it comes to matching your wardrobe for everyday use.

So, I would like to keep trying new things and want to do a bag in solid plum for fall. And maybe one in a cinnamon or chocolate brown. Yum.

The solids showcase the details of the bag so nicely. Prints tend to overpower them and you don't notice them unless you are looking close. That is another positive of a solid colored bag.

Phew!!

Ok, the shop is updated with 8 new items!

Please click here to view the items in more detail.

Cheers!

Shop Update Coming Soon!

Working on some new things for the shop! I am trying to do a shop update once instead of putting one thing up here and there. I would like to "blast" my shop with new items, you might say. :)

I purchased a new set of marketing graphics for the shop to give it a more put-together look, and for a GREAT price. Love when that happens. I really like the new look and feel it is more my style now than the old funky pink-based/bird clip art style designs I used to use. Sweet Sparrow is *growing up*. :)

Here is a sample of something that is coming up. I am so happy with this wallet design combined with this fun fabric, but I unfortunately got a black smudge on one corner that doesn't deem it sell-able at full price. So I am still going to list it since it is FINE other than that, but at $2.00 off the original  price.

Other Sparrow items coming:

•  Magazine Tote
• Basic Wallet (shown)
• Specialty linen zipper pouch in a neat design (involves embroidery)
• Small Satchel
• Tea Wallet

Stay tuned!!

Grumpy Gnome Pouch!

Here's a chubby, grumpy little gnome who landed on a patch of mushrooms and is mad about it! :)

The interior of this pouch has this wonderfully mod yellow and grey paisley print I just LOVE! Wasn't sure what to use it for before this project. It paired perfectly with the colors and feel of this pouch. 

Embroidery is so fun and has really neat results when you try different things with it. Linen is a little wrinkly looking sometimes, but is a fabulous fabric to use for crafts. It gives everything a wonderfully natural and simple looking feel.

I can't wait to use this mushroom fabric again! :)

I have some other ideas in my brain that are a little different from my traditional items that are usually in my shop. I like to change it up once in a while and get a little more creative. It is usually only when I have the time...

Till next time,

Sweet Sparrow

( ')>

New Pouch in the Shop

Something bright & cheery for springtime is in the shop! 

Natural linen + retro daisy dot in aqua = super fun zipper pouch!

New To The Shop!

*Large Zipper Pouch in Sun Blooms in Fuschia*

*Zippered Wristlet in Flock to the Tree in Timber*

*Snap Wallet in Conservatory Buds & Violet Lace*

Managed to find some time to make three new things to add to Sweet Sparrow this week! I love when that happens. I was very inspired by some new fabrics and one old, and had to do something with them, FAST! My favorite is the Sun Blooms fabric. I think it would look great as a large purse or messenger bag, but I did not order enough to sew up something like that. This zipper pouch is so cute and easy to tuck under your arm if you want to take it on the road as a clutch. :)

I made a new banner for this blog! I love making banners and like the design of this one a lot more than the other one. I am famous for constantly switching banners and blog layouts, so beware.

I am hoping that, once we get settled, I will be able to do a tutorial or share some home projects that I have created. That probably won't be for a month or so, though. ;P

Sew on!

Shop Updated!

Shop here

Belts Are Coming Back!

Hi, readers! If you've been familiar with the Sparrow for a long time, you'll remember that I did a brief stint making fabric belts. Well, I miss those happy hip accessories that I used to make so I am planning on bringing them back to the shop in new, fun fabrics. They will be an average of 41" long and fully adjustable, so they will fit most waists. Custom belts are always available for other sizing options.

Now I just need to check my stash for some eye-catching fabrics in colors that integrate easily into the modern woman's wardrobe and I'll be all set to get started! {shouldn't be hard!} :)

Have a blessed day!