Monday on a Tuesday

Today is Tuesday, not Monday. I must remember that.

So this weekend was fun and productive. I didn't get a chance to go fabric shopping, but I did receive an order I placed from fabric.com to get me through the week. Plus my stash is huge as it is and I probably have enough to make anything my heart desires for a whole year.

The VC Handcrafters Etsy meeting went well! I met a bunch of super creative women at all levels of Etsy selling experience. We discussed a lot of helpful topics, and I think having a group with which to talk shop is going to benefit everyone involved!

Then it started raining and I got lazy. It was just too tempting to cozy up with a coffee and get caught up on Jersey Shore.

Sunday was the best. We went over to my parents' house and I brought all of my sewing supplies. I cranked out a bunch of ruffled clutches and coffee cozies. My sister Bari is a great helper.

I also finished my February swap gift. I won't mention what it is, because I want my recipient to be suprised. Well actually I only finished the one I'm giving away, but not the one for me, so I need to keep working.

I just need to take photos and create shop listings for all the items I made this weekend, that's the tedious part.

I took some more photos for Janemade Jewelry, so be sure to check out the new listings.

 Remember that the discount ends Feb. 28, 2011! To get the discount, become a follower of this blog and enter coupon code YELLOW15 at checkout to get 15% off your purchase.

Prepping for a marathon

Yeah right, I'm not prepping for an actual marathon. Psh, last time I checked you have to be in shape for one of those. The marathon I'm planning is a craft marathon of sorts. This upcoming weekend will be my ONLY free weekend in the month of February. My weekdays are filled with school and work, and I don't have time for much else. So this weekend is going to be packed with projects I have been putting off this whole month. Here is what I'm planning on getting done:

Coffee Cozies! I haven't stocked them in my shop since they sold out over the holidays, but I have about 12 cut out and ready to be sewn together.

Ruffled Clutches! This is a new product (of which I have already sold 2 (Thanks Judy!)), and I'm planning on cranking out at least a few. I have made some with buttons, some without. You can view photos of both on my Facebook page. Let me know which ones you like better. Leave a comment here or on Facebook to let me know what you think.

Heidi Bag! I offered to pattern test for Julie of Vibrant Designs, and she sent me this great handbag pattern. I'm not quite finished yet, but I hope to have it completed by the end of the weekend. The pattern will be sold in the Vibrant Designs shop shortly.

Duffel Bag! Ok, so I bought this pattern on Etsy awhile ago, and I have been doing a little bit at a time.



Image via StudioCherie on Etsy

It's a pretty complicated project, made even more complicated by my lack of a serger. I have had to attach a narrow binding to every edge of this bad boy because there is no lining, and I couldn't bring myself to leave the edges raw. I chose the first one to practice on as my own personal duffel bag, but once I get the hang of it, I plan on selling them in my shop. Here are the fabrics I'm using for mine:

See? All the pieces are ready to go, just waiting to be assembled.

Last but not least... I need to make and send my February craft for the Great Create. I'm not gonna say which item from the list I'm making, but here's a hint: It's kind of something I need. That narrows it down quite a bit. But seriously, I'm going insane without this thing and I need it ASAP, so my lucky exchange partner will also be receiving one, whether she needs it or not. I hope she does :)

So my schedule will be like this:

Friday I'm taking Raelene, my crafty partner in crime, to the LA fashion district to go fabric shopping! I've been a couple times but this will be her first. Prepare yourself Rae Rae, it can be overwhelming.

Saturday I'm supposed to meet up with the members of VC Handcrafters, an Etsy team we are trying to get going for people in Ventura County. After the meeting, I have no plans and I'm going to confine myself to my craft room for the whole day.

Sunday I'm going to my parents' house to watch the Daytona 500. Actually my real plans are to eat food and cut out patterns while my dad and boyfriend watch the race.

I hope I can put a dent in my "to sew" pile. I will post an update next week to let you know how I did. Don't forget to check out Facebook and let me know what you think about the ruffled clutches: buttons or no buttons?

Also make sure you take advantage of the Janemade Jewelry reader discount. Become a follower of this blog and enter the code YELLOW15 at checkout and receive 15% off each item from Janemade. Expires Feb. 28, 2011

Thanks for stopping by... Have a crafty weekend!

Janemade Jewelry Reader Discount

Brendan's mother Jane is a wonderfully talented jewelry maker! She sent me a gorgeous amethyst mobile/suncatcher awhile back and I thought that was really pretty. Then she sent me a necklace, and then a bracelet. I knew she should be selling her creations... it would definitely make for a fun little side business, and some extra income.

She still lives in South Africa, and she uses her very precious time on the internet to Skype with her boys, so she asked me if I could set up a shop for her. Of course I agreed.

She is hoping to come visit the U.S. soon, and then she will be running the shop herself.

This past week I've been experimenting with taking photos of the gems in different lights and writing descriptions for the necklaces. So far I have a few listed, but she sent me quite an inventory, so I'm still working on getting everything photographed. Here is a little taste of what you can expect to see at Janemade Jewelry:

These things were so great to photograph! They capture the lighting a little better than the fabric stuff I usually take pictures of.

We are offering free shipping to all U.S. locations, and until February 28th, a 15% discount to readers of this blog! Just follow my blog and enter coupon code YELLOW15 at checkout.

For right now, the only listings available are for pendant necklaces, but I am working on getting bracelets and key charms listed. Please let your friends know about Janemade Jewelry, and about the discount!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Great Create Project List

So, I signed up to take part in the Great Create hosted by melissa on my house is vanilla. It's a fun exchange of crafts, and the best part is that you are encouraged to make TWO of each thing on your list so you keep one and send one! By the end of the year you have 12 (or in my case 11) items that you made for yourself and 12 (or 11) handmade items from other crafty people. I'm very excited about it, so I made up a list of the things I plan on making.

I like to have fun with fonts.

I'm going to be making these in no particular order... Just whatever I feel like making each month. And I'm so excited to see what the other crafters come up with.

Also, I've been asked about my business card holder. I used this tutorial to make it (super simple).

I used the same fabric that is scanned onto my business cards and in my etsy banner. I believe it is Heather Bailey.

The last photo is me flipping this baby open like an FBI badge. Makes me feel important.

I've been pretty busy the last few days; I just got back from Las Vegas where I saw George Strait & Reba in concert (!!!), and I whipped up a few little clutches before I left.

I was kind of inspired by the gathered clutch tutorial from Noodlehead. Instead of a horizontal gather, I made mine vertical, and layered it on top of the print fabric.

We went to the concert for my cousin's birthday, so I gave her the purple/yellow one as a gift.

The other ones are going up in my etsy shop.

I'm off to finish some homework and decide what I should make for my February swap gift!

30 years, plus food, plus wine

This weekend was filled with good food and family. Those are my favorite weekends.

Half of my extended family lives in Las Vegas, and it's pretty rare that they can all come out and visit.

The gathering was for my aunt & uncle's 30th anniversary!

Kelley & Kelly (how cute is that?!) were married January 31, 1981. That's a long time, and quite a commitment.

Whenever we get together, we eat. And we eat well!

The fare consisted of smoked tri tip and chicken, mashed potatoes, pasta salad, potato salad, garlic bread, and more.

We also like to get down on a variety of appetizers. I brought these chips that I found at the grocery store, and couldn't pass them up.

I got them because I thought the name and packaging were hilarious. Plus they were the same price as the chips I usually buy. As a bonus, the company is involved in giving jobs to youngsters on the streets of LA so they don't end up in gangs. I'll support that.

My sister Bari had this wine that was perfect for me. She isn't much of a wine drinker so she gave the bottle to me.

The label is the perfect rendering of my sisters and I.

I guess now is a good time to confess that I suffer from chronic middle child syndrome. It's been a struggle, but I have learned to deal with the constant need for attention, and the nagging urge to be different.

The wine helps.

Aaannnd lastly, here is a picture of Bari with one of my favorite little squirts, Lyla. She is dressed like a ragamuffin because, well because these are the clothes she chose.

That was my Saturday.

On Sunday I lounged around and did a little bit of homework. I also made a few little things.

I'll show you tomorrow. My Blackberry camera is doing its job, but I'd like to take better photos with a real camera. I'm going to check one out from the school library today.

Hope your weekend was filled with food & fun.

Half the Earth

Have you seen these pillows on Etsy? They make it to the front page quite often, and they always catch my attention. I thought these were super cool because i LOVE where I live. Plus I think the shape of California is kind of iconic... it's a symbol of sunshine and laid-back-ness.

I've had this picture in my mind for awhile. I wanted to incorporate my home state of California with my boyfriend's home country of South Africa.

I've always thought it was kind of fateful that we came from opposite sides of the Earth and we somehow found each other and fell in love. I don't think I believe in fate, but I'm thankful for the happy coincidence that we were in the same place at the same time.

I looked it up, and the distance between us for most of our lives was something like 10,870 miles. But not anymore.

I made up this pillow to remind us of where we came from and how wonderful it is that we are together now.

 Here is a brief rundown of the steps I used to make my new favorite pillow:

1. Print map images from Google to trace onto fusible web.

2. Cut out appliques and iron to front of pillow. I used this tutorial for the applique.

3. Stitch around the edges. I hand-stitched the hearts to make them look more homemade.

4. Insert pillow form. I made a simple envelope pillowcase. Here is a great tutorial for that.

So that's my pillow and my love story. 

It was very simple to make, and I hope some of you will try it. You could use two hearts in the same state, or country or continent. It would make a great Valentine's day gift for your sweetie, or give it to someone you know who traveled far away for love.

I'm entering in the Bloggers Pillow Party! See the rest of the entries here!

ETA: These photos are not the best quality. My camera is broken so I have been using my Blackberry. I did what I could with Picnik, but please know that I am capable of better photography. Try not to cringe :)

Things are getting real around here

On Friday I went to the Board of Equalization to get my sellers permit! So now I am licensed to sell my wares online and at shows and fairs. I had a booth at the Ventura arts & crafts walk last June, on a trial basis (you don't need a permit your first time around), and it did not turn out the way I would have liked. It is held as part of the flea market, and let's just say my products did not fit in with the other items being sold. I ended up just breaking even... I made about as much as the booth cost.

My family and I had a lot of fun getting all of my things together and setting up the booth, but we ended up doing a lot of standing around looking pretty. See?

My sisters Jessica, Bari, and me.

After that I was kind of scared of doing another craft show. I finally think its time to try again. I have been looking into setting up a booth at the Santa Clarita Street Fair at College of the Canyons. It is held the 4th weekend of every month, which would give me time to build up some inventory.

I went this weekend to check out some of the other vendors, and it looks like my stuff would be a good fit. I also took some notes on how the booths were set up and the displays others were using. I talked to a lady who was there for the first time. She made crochet hats and headbands and really cute stuff. Everyone was really friendly.

I think I'm gonna go for it!

So now I start working like a crazy person and turning my sewing room into an assembly line-style sweat shop.

And in addition, I start school today. Just a little something extra on my plate.

I forgot to mention another cool thing about getting my sellers permit is now I can buy my supplies at wholesale prices! Awesome!

Hope you had a good weekend :)