November 30, 2010

You Really Need a Brand New Bag

...to give away, of course.

Ok, so here's another one of those really great handmade holiday ideas that will fit seamlessly into our celebratory traditions over here. Not only is about making something fabulous, it's green to boot! How about that!

It's the Green Grocery Bag Challenge, which goes something like this:

"The Green Grocery Bag Challenge is a project to encourage sewists to wrap their holiday gifts in reusable cloth grocery bags, thus reducing the amount of wrapping paper entering the waste stream, while simultaneously getting multi-use bags into the hands of consumers (gift recipients)."

{This lovely idea and above description is compliments of Kristin Link at Sew Mama Sew. Merci!}

And just in case you don't know the many good reasons to bring your own reusable bag when you're out and about shopping up a storm at your local retailers:
  • US consumers generate 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bag waste during the holiday season alone. (Boo on us.)
  • The US goes through 100 billion single-use plastic grocery bags every year. (Eek. That's a lot.)
  • Bringing your own bag—and encouraging others to do it too—can make a big difference! (Yay for us!)
So crafty birds, sew (or knit, if you're particularly motivated!) a bag for someone (or everyone!) you love and plan to bestow gifts upon this holiday.

You can use any of these awesome patterns / tutorials, or just wing it!
Grocery Bag—Keyka Lou Patterns

Wallet-Sized Fold Up Reusable Shopping Bag—Whip Up!
T-shirt Bag—Martha Stewart Living
Cheap and Easy Produce Bag—Wisdom of the Moon
Alright, go fire up your machines! You've got bags to sew (or knit)!

Happy crafting everyone!

November 29, 2010

Cyber Monday

I hope everyone had a lovely (long) weekend and happy holiday (if you're in the US)! We certainly did, with lots of food, family, friends, and even some crafting! And what a great way to cap off a happy, relaxing weekend than with a little extension of that big fat Black Friday sale? (Ok, I know I didn't think of this on my own—it's called cyber Monday—still, it's a good idea!)

Wee Wonderfuls

Felted Slippers by French Press Knits

Festive Flock by SeptemberHouse

Bridget Cowl by Tickled Pink Knits
Use the code "BlackFriday" (but without the quotes) to get 25% off anything in the shop all day. (Woohoo!)

Happy shopping everyone!

November 26, 2010

Feeling Inspired! + A Sale!

Oh my gosh, twice in one week! But I thought it might be nice to have something to browse on Black Friday (or Buy Nothing Day, if you prefer), after taking advantage of the little Black Friday Sale in the shop, of course! So how about Grosgrain where you'll find amazing sewing tutorials to get über-inspired!

Poppy Boutonniere Tutorial from Grosgrain Fabulous
Last Minute Frock Pattern and Tutorial
Mockingbird Refashion Frock Tutorial
Embellish Knits Month Day Ten Tutorial
And that's just the tiniest sampling! There is so much more over there. Seriously, a girl could spend a week just looking!

But before you go, stop by the shop and use the code "BlackFriday" (but without the quotes) for 25% off everything (except shipping)! The code is good through Monday (cyber Monday!), so pick out something fabulous and get crafting!

Happy sewing!

November 24, 2010

November 23, 2010

A Little Sneak Peek

Ok, so don't tell my kids but here's a little sneak peek at a couple of their holiday gifts.

First up, for the space-obsessed four-year-old, there's the adorable duo, Space Boy and Robot.  I can honestly say I never thought I'd find a space-related sewing project so sweet.
Space Boy and Robot
And then for the six-year-old, one of these three lovely ladies:
Kit, Chloe and Louise
Both of these pattern books are by the fabulous Hillary Lang of Wee Wonderfuls. Neither of them are in her amazing and wonderful-in-every-way new book (although there are lots and lots of other sweet patterns in there).

When I was a little girl my mom made all my dolls, most of which came from a catalog centered around a doll named Amy. I'm pretty sure she had more clothes than I did and I have a very distinct memory of requesting baby brother and sister dolls (which my lovely mother diligently provided).

I loved that my mom made my dolls, and if I ever coveted store-bought dolls I don't remember it now. Hopefully the same will be true for my kids!

Happy sewing!

November 22, 2010

Hats!

'Tis the season of hats, is it not?

We almost had snow here this weekend (so jealous Vancouver BC!) so I tracked down the two Pashas I made for myself—which now belong to the four-year-old and six-year-old—and whipped up three pairs of fleece mittens. Just in case.

But, sadly, not a flake.

Still, I was thinking about hats (still am actually since the two Pashas mentioned above have both been co-opted) and so added some new hat patterns to the shop. Which is always happy, even without snow.
Robin Hood by Grace Akhern

Up, Up & Away by Grace Akhern

Huck Finn Cap by Sew Liberated

Rose Red by Ysolda
Meow Kids
Cute huh?

Happy crafting!

November 19, 2010

Just in Time!

Knitters, just a gentle little warning that there's not a whole lot of time left for handmade holiday gifts this winter. I know, the holidays have snuck up on me too (I still have two sleeve-less sweaters to finish), but luckily there's no need to panic. Joelle Hoverson is here to save the day with another amazing book of Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.

Only have two hours to spare? No problem! There's a project for you! Have eight hours or maybe even a little more (for all you all-nighters out there)? Great! There's a project for you too! And, they're super cute to boot!
More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts








You're good now, right? Good.
Happy knitting everyone!

November 18, 2010

Lovely Colette

I'm so happy to be adding new Colette Patterns to the shop. For one thing, the photography is gorgeous (have I mentioned how much I love beautiful imagery?). For another, the patterns just so lovely!
Eclair
Crepe

Sencha
Am I right?
Happy sewing!

November 17, 2010

Feeling Inspired!

Bookends
Secret Keepers
Vintage Seed Sachets
Petit Point Ribbon Spools
All of these lovelies are from Twine, a shop I found recently that makes my heart go pitter-pat. The bookends are genius, are they not? I mean, essentially they're sweet plushies stuffed with something heavy. Like, say, beans?

And the Secret Keepers make me want to try my hand at ceramics. I seriously love them. At first I thought they were stamps, which would be cool, wouldn't it? And don't they look like something you could potentially make with your kids? I mean, the kid-version would look different, of course, but these little guys could get you started, right?

The vintage seed sachets are so cute! I don't know how to print images onto fabric like that, although I'm sure it would be easy enough to find instructions or tutorials on the web, but I love the idea of keeping seeds in those sachets. (I know, they're filled with lavender.) Wouldn't it be fun to make up a bunch of little linen packets for the seeds saved from your own garden? Talk about a sincere holiday gift!

And who couldn't use that sweet ribbon for just about any project?

I hope you're feeling inspired!

Happy crafting everyone!

November 16, 2010

I Love Coffee with My Knitting

There are new patterns in the shop today by French Press Knits and I have to say, they're adorable and make me want to grab a cup of joe. (Ok, my drink of choice is an Americano, but I do like a good French Press too.)
French Press Felted Slippers

Breckenridge Cowl

Montebello Texture Cowl

3-in-1 Felted Baby Booties
Seriously cozy, right? Lovely to work on—or wear—with a mug of hot coffee!
Happy knitting!

November 15, 2010

So Much Cuteness!

Can you guess why I'm swooning with delight over so much cuteness? I know, it's easy right? The Wee Wonderfuls books arrived! {Happy dance...happy dance...}
Wee Wonderfuls
I could tell you all about all the awesomeness in this book, but really, it will be so much easier (and more effective) to just show you some of the darling projects.







I mean, have you ever seen anything more darling? Oh, and there's more Hillary Lang sweetness to come! This week sometime (fingers crossed) I should be getting a shipment of patterns for individual dolls (none of which are in this book, I believe). It will be a merry holiday this year for sure!

Happy sewing!