Customer Smiles - they're the best!

I got a great note from Carol who bought a purse organizer DIY Kit.  She wasted no time sewing up a storm...I mean a purse organizer :).  Here is a photo she sent:

and here's what she had to say in her note: "Just thought I would share a few photos of the finished organizer ...

and the purse I made for it. I love the organizer! Thanks again!!"

Way to go Carol!

All DIY Purse Organizer Kits are on Sale!

Hey Everyone!  Just to let you know that I just put all of my DIY Kits on Sale.  

They are now 25% off of the original price.  That includes fabric (already cut), interfacing, and pattern.

That makes an easy project that much better!  

And purse organizers make a great gift...maybe get a head start on holiday gifts?  And, by the way, there are many more kits with different fabric at my shop.

Making It Yours series - Signature Square

I've never met a pattern or a project that I didn't want to change!  Whether sewing or knitting or just about anything else, I always seem to find something I want to change.  That's how I got started designing purses in the first place.  So I decided to write a series of posts about how you can do the same thing.  Yes, I want everyone to feel my pain!  Not really, it can be fun :).

This post, I'll show you how to put your signature on something...like a purse.   My signature square is easy to do and adds a personalized touch.  I'll show you how I do it, but remember, you can change it!

First, cut 2 pieces of fabric, one from the lining fabric 2" x 4.25" and a second from the outer fabric 1.5" x 3.75".

Then fold each in half, right sides together, short ends touching.  Stitch down each long side close to the edge, about 1/4" in. Turn both pieces inside out and push the corners out to a point.  

Turn the unsewn edges in to make what looks to be a square.  I just eyeball it.  Pin the larger square if necessary.  

Take the smaller square and position under the sewing foot so that the needle will start at the logical starting point for your initial.  You can draw your initials first with a washable marker, but I just eyeball this, too.  If your sewing machine has a setting so that the needle stays down when stopped, engage this.  

Now start sewing!  I go pretty slowly, lifting the foot slightly and turning the square as needed.  This gets easier the more you do.  Once you finish both initials, pivot the square on the needle and go back over your stitch lines slightly weaving over them. When you get back to your original starting point, pivot and go over the initials for the third and last time.

To sew your squares on your purse, position the little square centered on top of the larger square. Then position both somewhere on one of the purse pieces where they will show and not be in the way of seams, etc.  Stitch just inside of the smaller square all the way around.

That's it! It's harder to explain (and read about) than it is to do it. As you can see, I don't try to achieve perfection.  That's part of the 'signature'.   Now there's no mistaking who made that beautiful purse you're carrying!

Hi-o Silver!

It was a bright and chilly day.... I was busily stitching away in the waiting room of the car service station when up rode a cute little gal with a white hat (well, actually that was her hair) packing her own heat (more on that later).  She saw that I was fighting off the frays and arrows of an organza shape with my trusty running stitch. Without much ado, she dropped a button hole stitch into my arsenal.  And, as she rode off into the sunset, I began using a loose version of that.  Wow!  My enemy was defeated! Thank you to that (not) masked woman whose name I never learned.

Thank you, Seam Ripper Santa!

What an unexpected surprise to find this beautiful seam ripper in my stocking.

Our neighbor turns wood and makes many beautiful objects.

And he is generous, too!

It is made of four woods and is about 7" long.  It feels wonderful to touch and, because of the diameter of the handle, it should be more comfortable to use.

I may see about carrying them in my shop: stay tuned!  

My other Me

Recently, I started another blog devoted to the fiber artist in me.  www.ChristieMinchew.com will be a place where I have photos of my wet-felting, weaving, cloth wall hangings, and all things related.  www.SweetbriarStudio.blogspot.com will continue to have posts about sewing ideas and tips, new patterns I've designed, announcements regarding my etsy shop, www.SweetbriarStudio.com and showing you what others have done with my patterns.

So, come on over and see what My other Me is all about!

Dusting off the old weaving loom

I bought this Frame Loom several years ago for a sweet $25.  I have a floor loom (4'x4'), but I wanted to do some very small weavings and that loom was overkill.  

I finally got this one out, dusted it off and started in.  

First, to measure out the warp.... 

Oops, I'm a bit rusty, so I made a couple of mistakes.  No problem, I'll just undo what I did and start over....

 And in my haste and idealism, I created a tangled mess. About 3 hours later (yes, I'm that frugal that I couldn't bring myself to just throwing it away), it was ready to put on the loom.

Oh boy, oh boy, this is going to be fun!

She is fast!

Linda, the inspiration for my "Eco Shopping Bag" tutorial, is definitely the over achiever.  She has already made her first shopping bag... and only 7 more to go!  I love to see photos of what people have made from my patterns and tutorials - Fun!

Eco Shopping Bag Tutorial

I have officially jumped into the video pond with my first sewing tutorial on how to sew an unlined shopping bag. "Linda" asked me if I had a pattern for something like this and I thought it would be the perfect excuse to learn a little about making a video.  So here is the video... and here is the pdf file for the supply list and instructions to accompany the video: Eco Shopping Bag Tutorial .  Learning is fun - yea!

Knitting Heaven

My friend, Kory, is going to a special wedding this month - her son's!  So, dutifully, three of us got together and made a supreme sacrifice.  We sat around one afternoon eating cheese, fruit and chocolate and drinking a little wine while Kory gave us a fashion show of all the dresses that were contenders for her mother-of-the-groom look.  We successfully picked a great dress...but it needed a scarf or jacket to complete the look.  One more sacrifice coming up!  I'd knit if she bought.  So off we went last Saturday to my favorite local yarn haunt, "Yarns, etc",  and picked out these fabulous yarns - 5 of them. 

I love to knit and love an excuse to knit for someone else...especially when the yarn is beautiful and the pattern is easy!  I'll be back later with a photo of the finished scarf.  It has a surprise ending :)