Make Something: Handmade Valentine's Day Cards

I'm one of those folks who knows I need to get a card but hate the idea of buying them.....especially since I know it will be filed in the circular bin and I love to make things that show a bit of me in them (read that I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING). So, after looking around the 'net a bit I found these cuties to make and give....just in case someone out there in 'netville is a little bit like me. 

From Christie's Cottage  
This card uses fabric flower rolls, markers, and paper. Make the flower rolls or buy them like she did. Check out Christie's blog for the details. 

Valentine Fabric Postcard by Nancy Zieman
Here is a paper pieced fabric card by the sewing master  Nancy Zieman. Her blog has FREE instructions to download.  

DIY Hand Stitched Fabric Valentine's Cards from KSH Creative
This is a cute one that should whip up pretty good....for those of us who wait 'til the last minute (I like working under pressure is my excuse). The pinking shears create a non-raveling stitch. A little glue, zig-zag stitches, paper, and fabric (can't forget the fabric) and there ya go. A unique Valentine's Day card that's cute and personalized.

Ta Da! Here's mine.....Love Grows Here. I crocheted the hearts on the plane to Haiti (kept my hands busy) using the pattern from Lucy at Attic24 (click HERE for the pattern. I love her blog). The stems are chains of green scrap yarn. The leaves are from a pattern I made that I am sharing today. The rest is a bit of a mish-mosh and too much glue but I think the hubby will like it anyway. He's sort of mushy that way. Perfectly imperfect, just like me.
  Oh yeah, the Leaf Pattern.

The pattern is written in US terms, the stitches as follows ::

sl st : insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.

sc (single crochet) : insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

hdc(half double) : yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.

dc (double crochet) : yarn over , insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops.  

Crochet Leaf Pattern 

Size F crochet hook 

scrap of green yarn approximately 2 feet long 

Chain 6. Sl st in the 1st chain. then 1 sc, 2 hdc, 1 sl st. Do not turn. On the other side of the leaf, 1 sl st, 2 hdc, 1 sc, 1 sl st. 

That's it. Pretty quick and it doesn't use a lot of yarn. The hook size is variable depending on the yarn scraps available. 

BTW, the pattern is available to use how you wish, just give me credit when you do. A little gift from Eileen at GoofingOff. 

Post by Eileen at GoofingOff Sewing

How to Build an Etsy Shop

I was looking around Etsy this morning and saw a couple of new shops that needed help. With that in mind I started writing. I have a few shops….PatternHaus is my newest but the others, GoofingOffSewing, MissEileen (vintage), and MetalWoodsnWater have over 2500 sales. Not huge but I learned a little bit to share with others.
Congratulations on your decision to work for yourself. Remember though, it is work. You just became a business owner.

Pictures
You need good ones. All angles. If you knit, consider a model. Maybe on a baby, maybe on a doll. Do you paint? Show how it could be displayed. Think how the buyer would use the item and try to get a picture of it. Use all 5 slots for the pics.
Pictures are always a work in progress for me.

Listing titles
Baby stuff tells little about your items except it is for babies. Check out what other sellers (the most successful one) call their items to get ideas. As a seller, you need something that will attract my attention. Remember, you have a lot of competition.

Listing
Describe the item…ex: "Handmade baby sweater, leggings, and matching hat made of soft, cashmere yarn." Remember to add the size, the fabulous pattern or stitch you used and if it was crocheted or knitted. Describe the color…lemon yellow, cocoa brown, mint green…whatever. Remember the buyer is using your description and not their hands to decide it he or she wants to purchase your item.

Variations
Use the variations for more than sizes. If you offer a sweater set in different colors show the colors in your listing. Take pictures of the yarn to give people a choice.

Make more than one listing.
The more listings available, the better the chance of selling. Don't use one listing for everything in your shop if the items are different. For Example: Separate hats from the sweaters. Show one in a few close ups, maybe use one a model, and then the one with all the different colors….then use the color variations. Price the hats separately from the sweater sets. They deserve their own space. So does blankets. Consider booties as a separate listing. A successful painter uses one listing for prints, one for magnets, and another for pendants….all of the same painting, all with different price points.

Shipping:
You don't ship for free.  Weigh your items and decide if they need special handling or not. Think about the use of Flat Rate Envelopes from USPS. Shipping in the US should be $5.70 using USPS Priority Flat Rate Padded envelopes and insurance is included. USPS will send them to you free of charge. How about First Class Shipping? You can ship up to 16 ounces using First Class and it takes 2-4 days….and the pricing is reasonable.  If your items are pre made give a turn around time that you can keep up with, maybe 1-3 or 3-5 days. Stop at the store and get some gift wrap tissue (white is the least expensive) to wrap your items and zip lock bags to put them in if they are small. Think about using special packaging as you grow. Buy adhesive labels so you can write your shop name on them and label the bag. Maybe stickers? There are places that will make them to fit your business.
Get your shipping things ready before you have a sale.

Label your work
If you sew, knit, or crochet, consider having labels made to sew into your work. There are folks who will make them for you. I'm not sure how much they cost but it will give your items a professional look. Make labels on your computer or order some.

Custom Work
If you make something custom, give the customer an idea of how long it will take. Take pictures of the work in progress and keep in touch with them. Work with the customer so they will remember you and the wonderful work you did for them. They will appreciate the updates.

There's probably a lot more I haven't touched on but this is a start.
Have patience and good luck.

Trenton Quilt Festival

March is a busy month around here. Winter is over for the most part and everyone is out enjoying the sunshine. Up my way, in North Central Florida, there are two big things that happen every year....the Tri-County 4 H Animal Show and the Trenton Quilt Festival. I love animals but I love quilts more so I drove over to Downtown Trenton, Florida, home of the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shop.

 Quilts on the bank at one end of town.

Rag rugs for sale, crocheted by hand using hand made crochet hooks....The folks at the Dudley Farm between Newberry and Gainesville make these...and teach the process....Handmade owl pincushions...

Quilts hanging everywhere.

Adorable quilt made for a quilter's grandson. 

The guild had some of the prettiest quilts. 

               

Tea, anyone? All pieced...no applique.

I had the winning ticket for this but they picked the wrong one....I hate when that happens. 

Handmade bags from blue jeans.

Mason Jar Quilt. 

This scrappy beauty was made for a guild's civic service....All scraps and nothing but scraps...

More scrappy lovelies.

Gorgeous quilts flying high and proud...

The one on the left has  Japanese print fabrics. 

Wonderful handmade dolls ....Look at those faces!

I love the goldfish quilt.

Handmade Sketch Books.....I have to try this....

Love the eggs. 

OK, so I like old cars...but who doesn't love this? It's fabulous!

The Antique Tractor Club showed off some of their sweet rides, too. Did I tell you Trenton is a farming community? It is.....

Love this! I can see a quilt from this...in Redwork, what else?

Paying homage to our Florida heritage....Seminole Quilting....

As you can see, the festival is a quilter's paradise. Many of the quilt guilds from the region had quilts and wares to show off. I just wanted to wrap myself up in one...or two...or...hmmmm...

Mark your calendar for next year's show...middle of March. Good food, good music, and beautiful quilts....can't do better than that. 

Well, thanks for stopping by....

Post by Eileen Pattern....also known as GoofingOff. 

Hanukkah Gift Ideas

Let’s suppose you need to buy a gift but you don’t feel like getting out of your jammies and dealing with mall traffic. And, let’s suppose that the gift you need is for Hanukkah. Hmmmm……And you want something unique……something that will stand out….something memorable. Not too tall an order. You can go to the local box shop where everything looks like everything else, or you can check out these gift ideas from some artsy folks on Etsy.

 

Hanukkah Menorah with Buttons on Flames by Again Goods  These are too cool!! What a wonderful idea for children…and best of all….no flame! There are other colors in the shop, too.

Hanukkah Bow Tie by Gustys   Is this not too adorable? Just right for the Hanukkah party at the temple.

Stained Glass Hanukkah Menorah in Turquoise by Judaicuts    I don’t know if it is the color or the thought of the glass but I love this.

Sterling Silver Filigree Dreidel Pendant by Adia Art  This is so pretty and perfect for the person who collects dreidels….or just loves silver pendants.

Hanukkah Tutu Dress by Crafty Beever Is this not cute? The little Hanukkah princess would look wonderful in this. I bet she’d twirl a bunch just to show off when she wears it.

Making Latkes Chanukkah Apron by Shem Tov Arts  I don’t know about anyone else but I need an apron to keep me from getting messy when I make latkes. Restaurant size, too.

Hanukkah Menorah Earrings by LindaB142    Cute little menorah earrings with blue beads.

Hanukkah Dreidel Cookies by Katie Duran   Not sure what to get someone? Cookies like these are always a welcome sight.

Hanukkah wine bag from Winey Old Bags A bottle of wine needs to be appropriately dressed. Hey, I know this fabric…..and Winey Old Bags did a wonderful job with it.

So, there’s a few ideas to keep you in your jammies a little longer. Don’t wait too long, though. Hanukkah is only 2 weeks away.

Peace, love, and happy stitching!

Creating Wearable Art: Dreaded Bag Lady

Not too long ago I was checking through the sewing news of the day and found this article about a woman from Maine who creates wearable art from recycled clothing. Being a bit of a scrapper myself, I was intrigued by the story and had to learn more. In the article, she was getting ready for a craft show up in her neck of the woods. The article went on to tell about her creative process. I was a fan.

Soon after the article came out, the DBL…Dreaded Bag Lady, was on Etsy and on Facebook. Yay! Her work is wonderful. I hope you’ll think so, too.

 

Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff)

My Name is Vicki or Vela Anderson, though on paper I am The Dreaded Bag Lady. I am currently from a small town near Orono, Maine. My bags can be found in two local shops. Maine Jewelry & Art in Bangor has carried my bags for over a year and I love working with them. Just recently Met Soul in Orono started carrying a few too.

                                                                  Olive Tree Burlap Messenger Bag

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
What else do I do? Tough one. I am always sketching designs or thinking about my next project, but I love to read, garden, go thrifting, snuggle with my fur babies, and laugh like mad with my husband, who is really funny. And I always look forward to conversations with my son, who is still pretty cool and sometimes thinks I am too.

                                                                       Vintage Burnt Orange Peekaboo Back Maxi Dress

Who was, or is, your greatest inspiration?

My greatest inspiration is my grandmother. The colors and textures of the things she had around when I was a kid are still my favorites. She was also really creative and crafty. She made quilts and stuffed animals and candy... she always had something to work on.

                                                                                        Handmade A-line Rainbow Skirt

 

What are your favorite materials? Your favorite color combination?

My all time favorite material is wool, preferably felted wool. The shaped it can take are fantastic and it's also a forgiving fabric. You can take stitches out and try something again if you need to without damaging the fabric. Earth tones are my favorites, browns, greens and oranges, though I have done some things with hot pink that I really love. Vintage clothing is the best!

                                                                       Tropical Infinity Scarf

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

The first thing I made by hand was clothes for my Barbie doll. Sitting on the screen porch with Nana and my sister, Nana would be sewing and she'd give us a box of scraps to play with. My sister and I would make the coolest dresses for our dolls! Most of the time we sewed them right on her so you had to cut the clothes to get them off, but now and then something would come out so nice Nana would get us a snap or a button and we would save that outfit for a long time.

                                                     Oversized Hobo Dress Bag

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I still get scared when I get into a creative rut. Like that might be it. All the creativity I had. You hear it in bands a lot. First album was great, everything else wasn't worth buying.  I try to let myself enjoy the down time, work on other things, read more. Sometimes the dry spells have lasted for months! No sewing at all but I painted more, baked more, cleaned more. Thankfully, it always passes.

Describe your creative process.

Now and then I decide what I'm going to make before I sit down, but usually I go into my sewing room, look at all the fabrics and just pick something I feel like working with, and see what it means to be. I have been known to pull down a curtain because it spoke to me on that day and I needed to make something out of it. I am a messy worker. I am always getting up to do other things. I can't sit and work for hours at a time without stopping.

                                                                         Handmade Cotton Striped Maxi Skirt

What is your most cherished handmade possession?

Most cherished, well my niece made a quilt of fabrics she made herself. I am still trying to get her to give that to me and if she does that will be it. But right now it is an amazing coat rack my husband made for me out of reclaimed scrap metal, welded and tristy with a clutch plate as the base. It's really amazing.

                                              Handmade Flowered Vintage Homespun Fabric Skirt

What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists?

Lessons? take myself more seriously, keep studying and learning. Know when to leave a "flaw" as part of the handmade appeal, know when to fix a flaw because it should be made well.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

In 10 years I would love to have my own shop for my handmade things but also for select vintage finds that I can't pass up.

                                                                 Vintage 60s, 70s Tesoro’s Embroidered Dress

What are the Web addresses for your work?

I am building a site at Thedreadedbaglady.com but it isn't finished yet.
I am also on Facebook….Just look for the Dreaded Bag Lady or follow this link, http://www.facebook.com/#!/dreadedbags

Are you offering my readers any specials?

Use the coupon code goofing15. It's good on all things in the vintage sections only.

Well, what do you think? Good Stuff! Love her work.

Post by Eileen Patterson…..MissEileen aka GoofingOff

Knitting Fashion: A Hook in Each Hand

Ever see a shop on Etsy that just takes your breath away, leaves you so inspired you want to make everything but know you can’t, leaves you hungry for more? Well, that’s how I feel about Knitting Fashion. After seeing her shop I just had to see more and share all I found out with the world. Here is her interview.

                        Carmen Romantic and Elegant Bolero in Bridal White

Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff)

My name is Albena Petrova and I live in small beautiful Bulgaria, in my pretty house with my lovely family .

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Knitting and crocheting take most of my time yet in my free time I enjoy experimenting, meeting new people, and visiting familiar and unfamiliar places. Over the past year a group of friends and I started a community http://www.flickr.com/photos/threadsthatconnectus/ with the purpose of acquiring new skills in weaving. We are going to make an international exhibition this May.

                Fashion White Candy Shrug

Where does your inspiration come from?

Inspiration has never left me. I am usually inspired by colors, shapes and feelings. I think I am an “yarnholic.” Can’t live without yarn in my hands. My inspiration comes from books, net culture, and magazines, too. I am a people watcher.

                                           Cowl Neck Warmer Scarf

Who is, or was, your greatest inspiration?

ETSY! I’m in love in ETSY. It took me more than an year to find it but I‘m happy to be a part of this amazing community!

ETSY is my life, my passion, my greatest inspiration. I love these friendly and creative people. I have so many friends all over the world!

               Fashion White Shrug Bolero

What are your favorite materials? Your favorite color combination?

I love  yarns, fabrics, felt, and wood. My favorite colors are orange and green but I love every color.

                                     Crocheted Freeform Brooch

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

To be honest  I can’t really remember my very first creation yet I can clearly remember my first experience with sewing. When I was thirteen I found a big piece of fabric and I decided to make a dress. Later I found out that the very same piece of fabric was enough to make more than four dresses yet I made only one. With the professional advice of my grandmother the dress was repaired and I enjoyed wearing it more than two years.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I enjoy doing yoga, jogging, going out with my  friends and surfing the Internet, reading books, and knitting….knitting.

                       Summer Fashion Accessory Headband

Describe your creative process.

Knitting is a lonely occupation. Usually some ideas come up the moment I touch the yarn but others take months. I often work on several projects at the same time because ideas come up unexpectedly. The color combinations inspire me. I like to mold colors. Usually I buy yarn for the colors and texture, then I decide what form of knitting will be made. I have found many ways to give a different form of a right piece of fabric.

                                      Yin Yang Crochet Scarf

What is your most cherished handmade possession?

Personally I cherish everything that comes out of my hands because it is created with much passion and love.

What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists?

To be yourself – unique, colorful and special.

                              Fashion Ruffle Lace Jersey Scarf

Where would you like to be in ten years?

On Planet Earth with two hooks in my hands.

What are the Web addresses for your work?

You can find me here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/knittingFashion - my fashion hand knitted and crocheted clothes and accessories

http://www.etsy.com/shop/albenaben- my unique collection handmade textile jewelry

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35468850@N06/

Are you offering my readers any specials?

All your readers are welcome to visit my shop. There is a special offer for them – 10% discount  for all my items .

They have to use Etsy coupon code – GOOF2012 .

Post by Eileen aka GoofingOff

MissEileen vintage

Goofingoff Etsy Judaic fabrics, sewing patterns

GoofingOff Artfire Sewing patterns, plus size patterns

Metal Woods N Water unusual stuff and  metal work