Posts Tagged ‘craft’
Lot’s of bags and pretty packages.
I think I have mentioned the large bag order that I recently had worked on putting together. Well, tonight I finally sat down and edited some photos to put together a post dedicated to this first large volume order I worked on.
About a month ago, my Aunt had called me asking if I would come meet up with her and some of her friends that she does bootcamp with. She mentioned that she had told everybody about what I was doing, and they were interested in seeing some of my bags. I, of course said yes. And planned to meet them all for coffee one morning.
I had put together a photo book to bring to a vendor event that I am planning to go to in July. It’s basically a scrapbook of most of the bags I have made since starting this business in January. So, I brought that along with 1 messenger bag, 1 ruffle clutch, 1 doily clutch, and 1 tote. And some business cards.
I, honestly, went into it thinking I would pass out some cards and get some of the women to check out my Etsy shop.
Well, after a bit of sharing and story time (passing around bags samples and the photobook), I immediately started taking orders. It was amazing. I felt like I couldn’t write fast enough at a few points. My heart was pounding with excitement. Once, my order list reached about 5 bags, I looked over at my Aunt in surprise. I had no thought that I would get 1 order just yet. Well, basically one by one, 8 different women sat next to me and explained what they’d like to order. My aunt even ordered 2 bags, and my Godmother who was also there ordered one. It felt amazing to have anyone want to order a bag. But, something about my Aunt and Godmother caring so much to support me felt really Great! I was sort of flying high by the end of all the orders. I collected some money up front, and took email addresses to email invoices and my Aunt and I parted ways with the group and walked up the street to get lunch and celebrate! I counted the order at that point. 16!!! I was FLOORED. and giddy.
After that Friday morning, I spent the next 2 weeks, processing the entire 16 bag order, and processed a few Etsy orders in the meantime. Now that I am babysitting part time every week, I am only really sewing 3 full week days right now, so it did pose a challenge. But, I worked some weekends and late nights (and actually took memorial day off) and I did it! Finished all 16, and delivered them last Friday morning.
I thought I’d share a few of the separate bag orders. This is not all of them, but it’s most. I had fun with the packaging. Since I wasn’t shipping them, I was excited to do something a little different than I usually do. I made custom craft paper sacks for each order and decorated the accordingly. I LOVE packaging!
I am always really excited about custom orders. Because, it is always fun to see something NEW come out, and what an idea looks like in the end. There were a couple custom orders in this group. The Olive on Olive Heartstring messenger bag in the 2nd order down. LOVE it. Need to make one for myself. And, then the Houndstooth messenger bag! It turned out really gorgeous with the red lining that was chosen. I am really happy with it how it turned out.
All in all this was a really fun order for me. To get one huge order and belt it out over a 2 week period. I hope to get to do something like this again. Purse party anyone?!!?
Heart zipper pulls!
I added a little somethin’ somethin’ to my most recent Heart Collector clutch order! Left over hearts doubled together and clipped onto the zipper. I Like it. Making this the new norm. 
Get yours HERE.
Available for all zipper clutch styles.
Granny chic.
This might be my favorite outfit. Kinda boring, I suppose. But this is my ideal outfit for everyday. Especially with the weather we are having right now. Gorgeous and sunny with a breeze. I cut a pair of old Navy skinnies that I didn’t really like as jeans. Viola! My new favorite shorts! And, of course I wanted to carry one of my new Doily Clutches. I chose the Grey! Because, it’s my personal favorite. It’s a little granny chic, so I’m rocking a bit of a granny updo. Keeping it consistent… maybe?
Tshirt: Nordstrom Rack
Scarf: Forever 21
Jean shorts: Old Navy Diva skinny cut below the knee.
Boots: Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters
Clutch: Krust.
Okay, back to work on a few more new bags!
The Stylish Housewife Clutch, aka the Doily Clutch.
More Spring clutches! This line was inspired by an idea suggested to me by fellow 30×30 remixer and lovely fashion blogger, The Stylish Houswife. Ah, you see where I got that clever name for this fantastic clutch, now? I was looking for a challenge one day (As I always am), and decided to ask some fellow tweeters for a good challenge. Well, this was one of those challenges. It took me a while to perfect it. And, I finally feel that I did. And now that it’s done, do you not agree the “The Stylish Housewife” is not the perfect name for it. I hope she doesn’t mind me calling it that. Also, I hope I completed her challenge well, and she likes it…
I really love this clutch. I’m ridiculously proud of how they came out. The construction is tops! If I do say so myself. And while they are so dainty and pretty, they are really darn sturdy! I used cotton canvas fabrics and stabilized them with a sheet of heat n’ bond interfacing. There is also a layer of felt in between to add extra stability and a little padding for more fragile items.
See all the bags in full detail and shop them in my Etsy Shop!
Outfit pics featuring this clutch are coming tomorrow. My sister will even be modeling one, as well! I finally got her to agree to let me use her for her beauty to sell my goods 
She’s denied me the past 10 times I’ve asked her.
A recap of recent creations.
Just separate post to showcase some of the recent felt creations I had worked on for the party. See the party post HERE. I don’t have pics of EVERYTHING yet. But this is most of them. Some items will be available in my Etsy shop later today.
There are a good number of tapestry rounds featuring various felt woodland critters (top and bottom left). I think I may list them in sets of 3. Not positive yet. The woodland creature playset (top right) may not make it on Etsy. I may try to do a variation. I just wouldn’t know how to price it yet. It was quite a bit of work. The standing toadstool plaques (bottom right) will be available, as well as all of the hair clips and brooches (center). The clips ended up being a hit. I wish I could have done more. They were all been adopted at the party!
Update! Critter hair clips are available in the shop now!
My niece and nephew turned 1!
This last week my twin niece and nephew turned 1!!! And on Saturday my Sister in law, Emily, threw them a big party! She had come up with the theme for it, maybe a week after having them. So she had been brainstorming for about a year. We talked over the year about putting it together as a team. She let me help with the DIY decor for my oldest nephews first birthday last year. I always have so much fun with anything that involves CRAFTS! So I was stoked she included me in the planning for the twins party this year. We had a blast talking, and shopping and researching and getting ideas (crazy ideas) throughout the year. During the last month we really cracked down and did some WORK! Emily had amazing ideas! Some she admittedly was inspired by other parties or things she had seen around. She was always coming up with things on the fly though. And I loved it. I’m not good at the idea part. But, I love a good challenge. So i would get excited when she was juiced about some new idea, and I in return would get juiced to get to work on it! She debated locations for a bit, and eventually she decided on Coyote Point. It is an awesome park right next to the bay. She reserved 6 picnic tables in a spot that had 2 tables perfect for a couple buffet style food setups. It was a short walk to a huge play structure built just a few years ago called Magic Mountain. It’s giant castle with crazy slides coming off all heights! It’s pretty rad. Anywho, I Thought I’d share pics of the setup. Sadly, I didn’t photograph EVERYTHING in it’s deserving detail. But this is what I got. Hopefully you get the gist.
As guests arrived this is what they saw!
Some detail of the tent. A glittery Happy Birthday banner, cut out by Emily and sewn together by me. A woodland themed heart shaped garland that Emily put together. Inside the tent on all the bars we hung about 15 small tapestry rounds with various felt woodland critters on random fabric colors and prints.
Table 1. Aka, the Truman table. The banner pieces were all crafted by Emily and I sewed them along some ribbon for hanging. This table housed the goody bags, a gift I made that served partially as decor (I didn’t wrap it, but it went with theme), Starbucks coffee, Almonds, carrot sticks, PB&J mini sandos, Snack size pirate’s booty, extra bread, kids milk and chocolate milk cartons, Champagne (yup!), and sangria!
Some detail.
More detail. The glass bottles are from Starbucks bottled frappucinos (which I LOVE) so, Emily bought me a case from Costco. I enjoyed them, removed the labels and ran them through the dishwasher, Viola! Super cute drinking bottles! Emily found the wax paper straws somewhere online. Sorry I don’t have that info. But they were great! Here, you can also see my gift, it’s just a felt woodland animal playset. I made a few felt creatures, and a felt playmat. I also made the standing felt toadstool plaques. There was one on each of the food tables.
Table 2. Or the Sawyer table! Again the banner pieces were put together by Emily and I sewed them onto ribbon for hanging. This table housed CHEESE! Lots of cheese. Emily cubed a ton of different varieties of cheese. There was salami, crackers, fresh bread, grapes, strawberries, olives, cookies, some fancy pastries, truffles, and homemade cupcakes.
some Detail. Emily put together the cupcake plate stands and the grape plate stand out of thrift store bought vases, candlesticks and plates with some hot glue! When I worked at Urban Outfitters, the store designer made these for jewelry displays! It’s a great way to make your own cute little cake plates.
little more detail.
Emily made these terrariums filled with moss, faux trees and various woodland animals. Each table had a different set of animals. I wish I had gotten pics of them all, but like I said I sort of failed at getting appropriate photos of everything. At least I got the foxes! I LOVE them. But, the black bears were pretty darn cute too!
The Birthday twins high chairs for cupcake time! Emily put together all the pieces for these banners and again I sewed them along some ribbon for hanging.
A neat ribbon banner Emily put together. I thought it was in a perfect spot for some photo shoot action. But, we were enjoying to party too much for any photo shoots. oops.
Presents! The wagon was meant to hold the gifts. There was a slight overflow…
And, I Think that’s it for decor. Now, just a few of my favorite moments from the party.
The first to arrive! The guests of honor lead by their big brother, Hud B.
Cake time!!! Emily and I also made the Appliques for their shirts. But, most of the work was done by Emily. I I think I just cut out the toadstools and a little grass for one of them.
I think Truman became a tad overwhelmed… or he hates cake.
Sawyer contently devours hers.
And Hudson had to show this cupcake who’s boss!
Back at home, Truman checks out some critters.
The whole day was really great! I do wish I got more pics or looked decent in any of them myself. But, there’s always next time. I Absolutely LOVED being involved and helping where I could. My Sister in law knows how to throw a serious party. And I love that she let me play and live out some of my crafting dreams through this party for her babies. I wish we could plan parties together for a living. We always have a blast! And maybe go too far. Not even all of our extravagant ideas were used… maybe next time.
I love being an Aunt! I love these kids more than I can even express. They are so much fun to be around. They make me super pumped on life. For real. I Love watching the twins as they are learning to walk and sort of try to figure out their balance. I Love hearing Hudson say “Kust!” (Krust), it’s somewhat of a recent development that he’s really started to say it. My heart melts every time he calls for me.
This weekend was great, and my heart is happy.
Craftin’ up some critters!
So, I suck at blogging even when I’m not working. I think I was better when I was working. What gives? Anyway, here I am. I have been hard at work with my Sister in Law, crafting up a storm the past couple weeks for my twin niece and nephew’s First Birthday party next weekend. She chose a woodland critter theme for the party like the day they were born and we have been brainstorming and getting inspired since. A couple weeks ago we started to really crack down and get to work on the decor. It’s been AMAZINGLY fun. The woodland critter theme has gotten me bananas! We have been having a ball making pennants, banners, and felt critters to throw and hang about. I’m so incredibly anxious for the party to come so we can DECORATE! Everything is so damn cute! I want to share it all, but it’ll be fun to reveal it all in party photos after the fact, I feel like. Well, how about a sneak peek?! Okay!
Fun times! I’ll post more after the party. Some items will be available in my Etsy shop after the party!
Introducing Reagan, a rumpled ruffled floral hair clip.
New clips, needed a new name. I’m trying to working on naming my pieces better. I clearly suck at it. I love a good name.
First up, Reagan:
Stitches by Krust Giveaway @ Mom-nom.com!!!
First of all, Check out Bubbette rocking her felt flower elastic headband!!!
Such a lovely little lady. More here: Mom-nom.com: It’s Krust!
Go enter for a free item of you choice from my shop, at Mom-nom.com
Win something for yourself, a little lady in your life, or a friend!
