Solstice

Nothing quite thrills me like being a seller and receiving extra positive feedback from a buyer who apparently loves their purchase!

It really makes the hours spent selecting the perfect color combinations and sorting through hundreds of buttons, the possible carpal tunnel aches and long hours so very worth the effort.

Visiting my site and seeing that the number of feedback received has changed, sends a nervous rush through my body. I’m a mix of excitement and fear, praying that everything was satisfactory. There’s time when I read the comments and the rest of the world melts away for just a moment and I know in my heart that I have been successful, even if it’s this one ‘small’ task.

So, to those who leave extra special feedback to their sellers, here’s a loud resounding, heartfelt ‘THANK YOU’!

I feel like a broken record coming here explaining the rarity of my posts due to the busyness of life. Forgive me for stating the obvious.

I’m happy to be busy, the sun is shining which has awakened my joy from its horrid hibernation and I’m ready to embrace the world. Yes, that last statement reads something like a pathetic love sonnet that wouldn’t have made its way into any book or tale so it found its way onto my lowly blog.

I suppose I can’t help but sound jubilant and thrilled about the official changing of seasons. Living in a climate that actually changes temperature rapidly and sometimes without much warning, it’s important to soak up the parts you enjoy before they’re torn from you. Maybe I was meant to live in a warmer climate. I’d ponder this more, but I’ve already made plans (that exist only in my mind and heart) to retire or settle only 4 hours away from my current location.

I suppose winter and cold or summer and heat a Newfoundland girl may be just that, a girl bound to the land she was raised in. I’ve always found myself revolted by the typical jolly I-love-Newfie-land-ness that often gets expressed by those who’re from this province, and yet deep down could I dare admit I may be one of them? This thought may be enough to let fear and disgust for myself overtake the lovely feeling of joy I was revelling in only a moment ago. In order to retain my sanity, I have to repress these thoughts and believe that I have infinite years left to live in Vancouver, New York, Paris and Rome. Now that I’ve revived my expat tendencies, I’ll give you a peak at a new project of mine, please don’t laugh too much at my Newfoundland-loving and forsaking personality.

I’ve had some Newfoundland Tartan in my possession for quite a while and I’ve been wanting to pair it with this heavy weight corduroy that I had no real use for and couldn’t imagine that the earthen brown of the fabric would ever be translated into something beautiful. I had the urge to pair the two together, they seemed to complement each other somehow, and I’m amazed at how stunningly ‘homeland’ but modern the overall product is.

I haven't listed this in my shop yet, and I'm uncertain if I will. It's much more a 'local' thing and I doubt it would get much response on etsy. I may feature it in a number of craft shows during the summer. I hope to make a full 'line' like this experimenting with more earthtone corduroys. It seems to fit NL somehow.

I also have some Nova Scotia tartan that I have some plans for.

I added two new listings to the shop today, why not stop by and check them out. Have a beautiful weekend!

Peter, the Mini-Tote/Purse "wannabe"

I had another one of those nights, where you wake up at 5 am and think and think and can’t stop thinking in order to get yourself to sleep. Usually when this happens I pull myself out of bed and try to either solve the issue I was thinking about or in most cases actually create the item I planning/constructing/sewing in my mind. Since my ever growing pregnant belly is too daunting to drag out of bed at 5am, I instead rolled around, thinking, checking the clock until I eventually exhausted myself and fell asleep three hours later for a short enough ‘morning nap’ to find the energy to get up and work on the project that caused my obsessive thinking.

I wanted to create something not totally unlike the pixie bag, but something more casual without the pleats, that would resemble a smallish tote/purse. I also wanted it to look slightly trendy/hip, and thought I’d go with a slight retro/70’s inspired stripping with satin ribbons. Here’s the finished product;

The style reminds me of shorts that I’ve seen my brother wearing in family photos from the 70’s. The vibrant orange and turquoise ribbon seems to bring a nostalgic feeling for me, although I wasn’t born till the 80’s I’ve often looked through those photos and dreamed of what it would have been like to have been born closer in age to my other siblings. I think I'll name it Peter, which is my brothers (the short wearer's) middle name.

I’m not certain that I recreated the item I was really dreaming about, the sizing almost too closely resembles a tote, while being too slim and short to actually BE a true tote, maybe I should have shortened it a little more. The strap is a little longer then the pixie strap, allowing it to fall a little lower under the arm. I wasn’t looking for this vibe, but it does look like a fun purse for a tween, big enough to carry lots of fun notebooks, markers, maybe a tween magazine.

I guess I’ll finish prepping the listing for the shop and see what the fine shoppers on Etsy think of it.

EDIT: Here he is in the shop, click here for more views/info

Retro

The other day I was sorting through my buttons, as I so lovingly and obsessively compulsively do from time to time, and I came across this really beautiful large retro style lime green button. It was like bliss, or maybe fate, well whatever it was it motivated me and this is what resulted from it;

To see more check it out in my shop.

I finally got up the nerve to cut into the outrageously expensive quilting fabric that I allowed myself to indulge in. I like to buy fabrics that are beautiful and durable, but also economically priced (which means I can sell my handbags for a little cheaper then some others to help those who’re seeking beautiful items within their budget). But, last summer I visited this high quality, high priced quilting specialty store, and forked out more money then I really ‘wanted’ to on some really indulgent fabrics. I’m not sure how an individual with a quilting hobby can manage to maintain it financially.

But, that said, after seeing this fabric used in this finished product I’m happy I had it in my stock. I hope someone on Etsy loves it just as much.

Three's Company

I added three new items to the shop over the weekend.

I decided to try beading on one of my handbags and this is how it turned out,

I named it ‘In the Sky with Diamonds.’ I suppose it could be called Lucy for short. I used glass seed beads, clear and iridescent which give a beautiful sparkly contrast to the grey fabric behind them.

Here’s a shot of the whole purse. It’s reversible as well, so if you’d like to see more images, check it out in the shop.

This bag is also a new addition; it’s OOAK (One of a Kind). I love the black, white and grey blossom fabric that I used here, and I only had enough to cut for one handbag. So whoever purchases this purse will be the only one with these colour/fabric/button combinations. Check the shop for better photos of ‘Sophie Blossoms.’

I realize both of these additions are very grey, but I’ll be bringing back some old favourites that have sold very well in the past this week. So keep an eye out for those. And, as we’re approaching Easter, I added a very pretty lilac handbag that screams spring.

I’ve named this bag ‘Selah’ which is a classical Hebrew term, the general interpretation is here.

This past weekend celebrated Earth Hour; hopefully everyone was challenged with the amount of electricity and energy we absorb from our planet. Let’s keep up with the conservation, not just one hour a year, but everyday, all day.

A New Design

From the suggestion of one buyer, I’ve created a shorter almost clutch like Pixie purse: The Pixie-Mini. I’ve only made two of these so far, one as a special order and another shown below, that just sold from my shop. I’m a little unsure about making many of these sized bags, since our culture is such a fast moving one where women tend to put a LOT of stuff in their handbags. This one is a little smaller and could fit the essential; wallet, cell phone, keys, lipstick, and a few extras. The strap is quite a bit longer, then the original pixie purse, so it rest's a little lower under your arm.

Let me know if you think there’s still a viable market for the smaller style purse.

I love selling, the 58th sale is just as exciting as the first one.

I’ve got a few more bags that I just finished sewing buttons and snaps onto, which will become available in the shop in the next day or two.

Hope you’re having a wonderful Saturday!

Stocking the Shop

Finally forcing some motivation in the midst of morning sickness and exhaustion to add items to my esty shop. It's a slow and long process of finishing a number of 'works in progress' and photographing, editing, etc etc.

It's amazing how much slower being 24 weeks pregnant makes me, it's a little more difficult getting those perfect pictures, bending and leaning. Tho, I'm enjoying the feeling of my baby boy rolling and bumping around in there, I swear he thinks he's in a mosh pit.

Here's a bag that I'm prepping to list in the shop a little later today, I love the navy fabric. It's got such a great texture to it.

I'm attempting to devise a quirky yet catchy name for this bag.

I'm also a Twitter convert, I've given in for the extra opportunity to promote my creations. www.twitter.com/cryst0

Francis Albert Pixie Pleated Handbag/Purse

I made this guy today. The husband had a button up shirt that really looked fantastic on him, but one small place on the shirt got a spot that couldn’t be repaired. So, I recycled it. The fabric was too stunning to waste, so I cut it with my pixie pleated bag pattern to use it as lining, and then paired it with this really great dark navy fabric. Hence, it’s a beautiful bag, which is “green” inspired and useful!

I named it after good ol’ blue eyes, because it seemed to have it’s own class and is pretty dignified, and it’s the style of bag that is timeless and classic. Sadly, there's only enough shirt to make two of these.

Christmas time is near

I really love Christmas. I’m looking forward to putting up a tree and making my new home Christmassy and cozy. It’s also great that things in my Etsy shop are moving much better now that fall has arrived. I’ve hardly the time to make new colour combinations or designs for the shop. Plaid is really in, and I have some more plaid waiting to be made into a beautiful bag, so I guess I should hurry and do that while plaid is so hot. So I'll make some similar to this;

And a few similar to this;

We finally have some furniture. We’re not exactly rolling in money so the furniture we bought for our bedroom and dining room all needs to be assembled (this kind of furniture is cheaper), so the Hubber has been labouring on getting it all together. We’re still waiting on the actual dining table and a few chairs. The sofas are a different colour then I expected (that’s what happens when you buy things online, this coming from someone who makes her ‘living’ selling things online) so it’s a little difficult tying it into the décor I had planned.

Here's our Dining Table. I think this is our living room sofa and love seat, in light spice brown (on here the colour looks a lot lighter, like a cream colour, instead it's much more caramel or camel colour, which clashes a little with my charcoal walls), and this is our bedroom furniture.

Now to fill a few orders! YAY

EDIT: Whoo Hooo Check Me OUT here!!

Goddess Pixie Pleated Bag

I just listed this bag. I think it’s stunning. When I saw the fabric in the store, I hesitated to buy it; it was a little more expensive then I tend to buy fabric for, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t find a good complementary colour for the lining and several other fears. But I loved it, and took the risk. I think it’s one of the nicest bags I’ve made yet.

I named it ‘Goddess’ because it has a special quality to it, something feminine but beautifully unique. It reminds me of the Greek Goddesses. Maybe it’s the silver threads that add that mystical touch. Whatever it is, I think it’s a good name.

I hope other’s love it as much as me. Check it out here.

Holiday shopping has surely begun, and I've been happily sewing myself silly. Lots of work to do to make the most of this season, including my own gift giving.

50’s fashionista

I should have been in my prime in the 50’s. I love the movies, the fashion and really love the look of this new 50’s inspired Paris fashionista handbag. I just need a name for it that really suits it’s look.

Winter is coming, so this bag is made from a fantastic black and white plaid wool fabric. It reminds me of classic 50’s black and white high gloss shoes.



I'll be posting this on etsy soon, hopefully people there will love it as much as I do!

Good Bye Philip

I spent much of yesterday sewing and shopping with my husband, browsing paint colours for the new home we’ll be occupying for the foreseeable future. I’m happy with our colour choices, and am pretty excited about decorating/nesting, though I’m very sad about leaving the people I’ve grown to love here.

Speaking of which, some of the girls came to visit and watch a movie with me last night, sadly our DVD player, (apparently his name is Philip, though he didn’t feel the desire to tell us that before last night) rather recklessly decided during the last 15 minutes of the particular movie we were viewing, to become an emancipated spirit, unbound to the slavery of playing our favourite DVD’s time and time again, at our every whim.

As much as we attempted to convince it otherwise, it would not agree to resume it’s former life. And hence took our DVD hostage, until we relented, opened Philip up with intense surgery, and allowed his spirit, or whatever it is that inhabits an electronic to give it life free of it’s circuit boards and metal cage, and then we wiggled our DVD from the lifeless cold clutches of the machine. One less thing to pack.

I made a few more of the weekend bags, as I’ve decided to term the design. I’ve just posted one in my etsy shop.


I'm excited about this bag, I love it. It's so hard to sell something that you labour over, and I have a weakness for bags anyway. I've named it after the Hebrew word Selah, it's one of my favorite words and I think it suits the style and look of this bag well. Check out the bag here for more info.
Have a happy Wednesday!

"Prince of Wales" Pleated Handbag

(Click on the Photo for a better view)

This bag is named for the specific type of plaid it is, this plaid is very detailed with a slight hounds tooth look if you look closely. The pattern is named for the prince of wales. Ever dream of being English? Or maybe of marrying Henry or William?

This bag is made from that polyester suit/skirt like fabric, it's a fantastic black and white with slight red detailing. The inside is lined with a solid black cotton. There's a black button on the outside for some detailing and black snap's attached to the inside to close the bag, you can see them slightly in the bottom left photo.

The handle measures around 21 inches, perfect for your shoulder. The opening is 10 inches wide, from the opening down the bag is just under 11 inches deep. The bottom width of the bag is approx 11.5 inches (the corners are rounded so that's about the widest part of the bag).

Email me if you'd like to buy this bag.

"Purple Purple Purple" (Pleated Handbag)

This bag is made from a fun purple/plum/wine upholstery fabric, which has a velvety/suede feel (being upholstery fabric makes it nice and durable). Inside is a pale purple cotton broadcloth. There’s a matching purple button on the outside, and inside there’s a snap closure to make sure that whatever you put in it, stay’s put.

The handle measures around 21 inches, perfect for your shoulder. The opening is 10 inches wide, from the opening down the bag is just under 11 inches deep. The bottom width of the bag is approx 11.5 inches (the corners are rounded so that's about the widest part of the bag).

Email me if you'd like to buy this bag.

I accept payment by cheque/money order, email money transfers, or paypal.

(also note, that I can gift wrap any item for an extra $1 if it's a gift for someone)

"The Rain in Spain" Handbag

This bag is made with navy cordory for the outside, and is lined with some really great cotton stripped fabric. There's different tones of blue and green in it. This could be reversed if you'd like. There are three buttons on this bag, one large wooden button, one fantastic blue square button, and an irridescent white button.

This bag measures 9.5-10 inches high (not including handle, 18 inches including handle), and 10.5 inches wide.

Email me if you would like to buy this bag.

"Star Struck" Handbag [SOLD]

This bag is made with a great navy canvas fabric. The inside is a fantastic plaid with different shades of navy, green and turquoise, it also has some silver threads running through it. This is prob the most expensive lining I bought, but when I saw it, I fell in love. I've added some decoration on the front, stitched onto the bag is a little design, similar to a dragon fly,butterfly or a partially opened water lilly. With contrasting threads, of green, turquoise and white. This was really time consuming, but I love the way it turned out. I wish I could keep this bag for myself, but if I did that then I wouldn't be able to share it with you. So here it is. Since this lining was so expensive, I didn't buy much of it, I MAY have enough to make one more bag like this.

This bag measures 9.5-10 inches high (not including handle, 18 inches including handle), and 10.5 inches wide.

Email me if you would like to buy this bag.

"Lilly" [Sold]

This bag is made with a great grey suit fabric, similar to that of a suit or skirt (possibly a linen wool blend). The inside is a fantastic plaid with different shades of green. The lining was much more expensive then what I typically use in my bags. I've added some decoration on the front, stitched onto the bag is a little design, similar to a dragon fly,butterfly or a partially opened water lilly. With contrasting threads, of grey, green and white. This was really time consuming, but I love the way it turned out, so much that I made one for myself. I don't have any more of this fabric available, so I won't be able to make another like this.

This bag measures 9.5-10 inches high (not including handle, 18 inches including handle), and 10.5 inches wide.

Email me if you would like to buy this bag.

"Classic" Handbag [Sold]

This bag has a really great classic feel to it, and yet it's also trendy. This bag is made with a great brown/tan and black mixed suit fabric, in such a way that it can be worn with most anything, earth tones or black. The inside is a really soft flannel plaid, with green tones in it, along with various shades of beige. I really love flannel for bags, just makes you happy to be digging in it for things to feel the softness of the flannel. This bag could be reversed, for a bit of fun. On the front, are three buttons, a large beige one, a smaller grey one, and a small black. To the right you'll see a close up of the buttons.

The flannel fabric is a little more expensive then what I generally use, but it's worth it for the feel.

email me if you'd like to have this bag.

"Fourth of July" Handbag [SOLD]

This bag reminds me of a sailors uniform, or a french school uniform, or from which I named it, fourth of July decorations.

This bag is made with a very dark navy canvas fabric and has a very fun red and white gingham. This bag could be reversed if you'd like, for a fun twist. There are three buttons on this bag, one medium sized wooden button, a medium sized red plastic button, and a small white star button to match the inside lining. The top right hand photo gives a close up of those buttons.

This bag measures 9.5-10 inches high (not including handle, 18 inches including handle), and 10.5 inches wide.

Email me if you would like to buy this bag.

"April Showers" Handbag

This bag is made with a very dark navy wool tweed feeling fabric and has a very fun bright blue cotton lining which is printed with small white flowers. You could reverse this bag if you wanted. There are three buttons on this bag, one medium sized wooden button, a small plastic white flower button, and one plastic blue button to match the inside lining. The middle right hand photo gives a close up of those buttons.

This bag measures 9.5-10 inches high (not including handle, 18 inches including handle), and 10.5 inches wide.

Email me if you would like to buy this bag.

This is the last of the dark navy tweed that I have, so i won't be able to make any more like this. If you'd like something similar, I may have some other dark navy fabric that I might be able to use.

"Pretty in Pink" Wrist Style Handbag

This bag is made out of two similar fabrics, in alternating colours. I'm not sure the name of the fabric, although I really love the feel of it. It sort of resembles a nice skirt or pants (if that helps).

This bag is reversable, alternating between grey side out or pink side out. The only thing to be aware of if you're favorable of the pink side is that there's some exposed stitching on the bottom of the pink side of the bag, although the stitching is a matching pink colour and is barely noticable, if you would like some close up photos of this, simply request it when you email me. (I didn't add any buttons with this one, I can if you would like to have it with buttons, just ask.)

Measurements are about 16 inches from the long handle down to the bottom, and 9 inches across the bottom.