Cats

I make lots of things. Yet my Etsy store is mostly always empty. One could doubt my productivity as a result from that.

But I have to correct here.

Of course I’m not as productive as I would like to be. I should spent less time online and more time in my ‘atelier’, yet I don’t. I love to blame the lack of hours in one day, though!

A lot of the things I make don’t ever make it to the Etsy store. They often don’t even make it to my blog (I’m trying to be a better person on that matter now, though).

There are two stores who sell my items. And there are customers who place direct (custom) orders. And of then there’s me, of course. Every once in  a while I like to make something for myself.

Recently I’ve made a bunch of cats. I already sold most of them, but there’s a trio that’s still available for adoption. I didn’t put them on Etsy, because I thought that the shipping costs would be too high on these lovely creatures.

I loved making them, they make the world a happier place.

Sacha.

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Monday Monday

Today (my Monday, your Tuesday) I finished another nightgown. This one I made from about 40 year old cotton fabric. It has a pattern of pretty tulips in the colours red / pink / light blue on an off-white background.

The soft and tender touch of this vintage fabric feels very comfortable on the skin. It’s like a Spring breeze.

   

This ankle long nightgown is one happy comfort-zone. Since I finished my white nightgown, I never looked at my old sweater and matching pants again! Wearing a nightgown likes this, makes me feel really feminine and almost like a princess!

And yes: my husband finally stopped humming ‘Monday, Monday’.

I’ll put this nightgown in my Etsy shop any day soon, so pay attention! (or just send me an e-mail for more information).

Sacha.

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Pure Linen

And yes: another project finished.

I work in a 400 years old environment with walls from natural stones and lots of old oak wood.

Therefore I decided I wanted to have a skirt to blend into that environment. And what’s better for that 4 centuries old feeling than pure unbleached linen? Right. There isn’t. Besides rough leather, but that’s a slight bit too kinky for my taste.

So linen is what I used to create this skirt with.

Of course the fabric is still a little rigid (and itchy), but it will become better and better while wearing it.

   

I really like to work with this rough linen fabric and find it a challenge to use it for less obvious projects.

Now if only I could think of a matching shirt, bag and hat…

For now? I’m blending in partially.

Sacha.

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Nighty Night!

Yes. It’s been a while. That really doesn’t mean that I’ve been zipping Champagne and sitting in my garden, between the beautiful rosebushes. Oh well. That too…

But I’ve been doing projects as well. There was just a lack of discipline to put ’em on here. I’m really going to try to be a better person. Really.

I’ll show you the project I finished on working today. It’s a white ankle-length cotton classic nightgown. One I’ve always wanted to have. Never could find one, of course, in my size and length. And now I’ve got one. Yeah!

I’m not entirely satisfied. But that’s a good thing, since I’ll be making another one soon.

It’s mostly the ruffles on the armpits I don’t particularly like. While working on it, it felt like a good idea. But I’m in serious doubt now.

My husband got scared that the next thing I was about to do was to start a band and name it “The Mamas and The Papas”. I’m clueless on what he’s talking about, of course.

Anyways: I’m really looking forward to spend hours in my beautiful nightgown. Just relaxing on the couch with the fireplace burning and a copy of Wuthering Heights. But I guess I’ll have to wait 25 degrees Celsius for that…

Sacha.

P.S. Have you always been looking for a full length snuggly nightgown like this? Send me an e-mail!

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What I like doing best…

I just love to go and hunt for fabrics, wool and items I can use for making my bags (or other projects).

Yesterday I stumbled upon a very ugly used bag. It was as good as new, but ugly. The clasp was pretty, though, and I’ve never seen one before. I immediately knew this was going to be my new personal challenge. How to make a pretty bag from this ugly one with beautiful closure?

Today I started stripping the bag. This is what I ended up with:

I picked a very nice vintage (oh well: 2003 is older than five years, so, vintage, right?) Laura Ashley linen that has a reddish colour in it to match the clasp.

I started working. To come to this, was easy enough:

But that’s when the camels came walking in… (don’t you just love to translate sentences to English, with knowing it probably doesn’t make any sense at all?!??!)

I had a seriously hard time to get the oh so pretty clasp onto the fabric. I stitched, I overlocked, I stitched again using finer stitching. I’m so afraid the fabric won’t stay where it’s supposed to stay, I even used glue to secure the threads!

Well. Finally the clasp was in the right place. I even got the 12 tiny screws screwed in… (blood, sweat and tears!!!)

Et voilà, it’s done:

And yes: I think it is a pretty little clutch!

And yes: I’ll be putting it on Etsy to sell it (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35539654).

But no: It’s not flawless (to my standards).

And no: I won’t give any guarantees.

 Although I firmly believe the bag will get through the 2010 season easily, it’s probably not going to be ‘a future antique’.

And yes: that will be reflected in the price of the bag.

It was a nice little project to spend my Sunday on. It was a personal challenge which resulted in a cute little bag, but I’ll walk past a similar used bag the next time!

Sacha.

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Amboise Hobo Bag

Although Hogi Bag sounds less insulting to a bag this feminin and elegant. It’s a girl’s bag, not for boys!

While preparing for my trip to Amboise, it came to mind that I once bought a nice piece of fabric with the name ‘Amboise’.

What I particularly liked about this fabric, is that it’s a Parisian fabric, with tulip-like flowers on it. Since I’m Dutch and living in France, it made me decide to buy it.

Oh. And because I really, really liked it, of course.

I wasn’t really sure what bag to take with me on my trip, so I decided to turn the fabric into a roomy sized hobo-bag. Both looking elegant and casual, it’s the perfect bag! (and it makes my hips look smaller in my black dress;))

It’s big enough to put half my house in it.

So. This one is coming with me, but I’ll be most happy to sew a new one in case someone wants to have one too!

I put it in my Etsy store (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34921591), that will be closed for the next week.

Take care y’all! I’ll be back in no-time, filled with inspiration given to me by old Chateaux…

Sacha.

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I entered a challenge

I really should have found out about Etsy years ago.  It’s amazing how this ‘community’ (it isn’t really that, but I couldn’t think of another description) has already changed my life.

It started with finding out about the European Street Team. A group of Etsy people from Europe who joined each other. I thought it would be a nice idea to ‘meet’ other crafters from Europe and see what they’re up to. So I clicked around and stumbled upon their blog (http://www.europeanst.blogspot.com/). And I couldn’t help myself, I just had to click on the link that said ‘Weekly Challenge’…

The most beautiful felt I’ve ever seen smiled at me.

It was made by Ingermaaike in last week’s challenge ‘Under the Sea’.

This week’s challenge, however, turned out to be ‘Mythology’.

Pling!

There it was, the small lightbulb hanging over my head that started to shine brightly. I instantly thought about the fabric I must have lying about somewhere… Where was it? I completely emptied out my closet (of course I didn’t, everything’s needly organised, but overdramatizing makes my story a bit better, don’t you think;)). And there it was: Olympus, Paris.

The fabric was inspired by the House of Gods (Homerus’ interpretation of the Olympus Mountain) and shows a pattern in Toile de Jouy style in beige and off-white.

Thinking it would make a nice messenger bag.

Neeeeh, not elegant enough.

Thinking it would make a nice purse.

Neeeeh, too elegant.

It had to be something both tough and feminin. Hey: let’s try and make an elegant bag with an extra long strap so it can be worn messenger-bag-style.

Bingo!

I put it into my Etsy store (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34867185) and asked Inger what I had to do to enter the challenge. Within half an hour she Convo’d me (yeah, that’s ‘Etsies’ for sending private messages) that she liked the bag and added it to her challenge. You can see it here:

http://www.ingermaaike.nl/index.php?/archives/386-Mythology.html

I’m so really proud and happy, happy, happy!

Since I’m leaving to Amboise tomorrow (speaking of which… got a nice fabric with that name lying somewhere…), I think I’m gonna go and have to pack my bag now (and not go and look for that fabric, Sacha…).

Have a nice weekend! I’ll be back Thursday next week!

Sacha.

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My fist listed item on Etsy

I did it. It took me about forever, but the first bag’s on Etsy!

(Just in case you are clueless on what Esty is all about… Etsy is a website to buy and sell handmade items. You can find most everything on this website. Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/)

So. I’m on Etsy (and Twitter, but I’ll get to that later. Or not). With my Chateaux Chic Bag.

I actually finished it this weekend, but it sounded much nicer to say I just finished it. Hope y’all can forgive me this little white lie.

To see my listing (and more information and the price and the possibility to buy it etc etc) on Etsy, follow this link:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34678480

I’m so proud I’ve been having such a productive ‘computer day’. But now it’s about time to go back to my hobby room. Or should I start saying Studio?

Neh!

So: off to my hobby room it is. With a nice cup of Lapsang Souchong and biscuits.

Sacha.

 

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