Jet Designs

Paper Crafting, Fabric & Star Charts

Well I must say that I have had quite a productive 24 hours.  I finished the new Ella Clutch Handbag sample out of some Robert Kaufman Fabrics that I have just packed up and listed on Ebay .  I found a fabulous new font to use and have been playing with it all day.  The fabric wrapper in a paper design download from the Martha Stewart Site.  I got the inspiration for the labels from this blog - drool drool!

I had also promised Ella that I would make her a star chart to measure her good behavior (& sometimes bad).  She earns a star for the day by not whinging!, eating her dinner & going to bed on time (a lot to absorb for a 4 year old).  When she gets the full 12 stars she gets to pick Beanie Kid (we sell them at the store and as yet she has not been allowed to have one. - I think it is killing her every time she walks out without one)

The star chart was made on Microsoft word - just use the autoshapes tool to put the stars on the page - print out one with out the heading the get the child to color in the stars and cut them out.  The cut out stars will go onto the card with the heading.  Easy as - It took Ella a while to colour in the stars for me - so I got to do more craft while she was happy decorating them.

Daddy had to go to work this afternoon - so we only had a little time this morning between his shifts to wish him a Happy Fathers Day and make pancakes for breakfast - Happy Fathers Day to all the Aussie Dads

 

A bit of sewing and some showing off!

I am on the warpath to get some samples made for my shop now that we are a fully fledged craft store and all the music part of the business is gone ( Yeh Yeh Yeh - just slightly overjoyed).  So I am making up a new sample of my Ella Clutch Handbag and will be producing kits with all the fabric & accessories needed to complete.

I started last night and will finish it hopefully tonight if little miss Ella stays in bed.

Posted is the picture of last night's effort - I don't seem to get much done in one session these days.

The following photos are really just me puffing my chest....( Ella calling - interruption number 1 )  Yes back the the photos, they are the last three issues of Creative Beading Magazine with my projects in them and the associated samples displayed.  I laid them out on a table at the store today so I thought I would take some pictures to share.

Till Next Post

Every day in my life is an adventure into the unknown!

More Handbag Patterns off to the USA

Wooo Hoo - Another Wholesale order to be sent to the USA over the next week of my three handbag patterns.

These patterns are also available on my etsy site ( link of the side bar of my blog) and also on my website

I also opened a box of new release books today and look what was inside - I want to do them all - I just have to find the time

Couldn't help myself - I was on a roll!

Well I finished my beads in record time, so my mind started to wandered to the almost completed bag.  It was 8.00p.m. so I thought to myself there is nothing that I really want to watch on TV, so why not finish it.  So I drove down to our shop and picked up some magnetic clasps and headed back home. Lucky for me we only live a short distance from work.

Here is the finished bag ( haven't hand sewn the lining opening yet :P) In front is another coin purse I made from Nikki's patterns this one in the 90 cm coin purse.  Since I made a pretty good job on this pattern out of the Japanese Mag I am going to attempt another tomorrow (maybe).

I think I should learn the Japanese Language

When I was in Melbourne last month I visited Kanga Kanga (Japanese magazine store).  I spent a fair bit of time there flicking through the craft magazines.  The guy who runs it was so lovely - he pulled me up a chair and found all the mags that he thought I would be interested in  I just wish I could actually read them - but I had to look at the pictures and pick the ones with the best diagrams.

Today I decided to tackle a handbag pattern from the Cotton Time mag that I bought.

 

I really don't like that materials or lace in the picture but I liked the shape of it.

Reading back to front and trying to work out which pattern is for what bag - has taken me ages - thank god for the diagrams. I think there is about 12 patterns all printed on one page!!

 

So I have started cutting out and sewing some sections up - I took it for granted that I would have to add seam allowances (wasn't totally sure) but I did and it seems to be working out.  I am using a stash of Heather Bailey fabric that I bought some time ago. - I haven't got any magnetic buttons at home so I can't go to much further -  I really don't want to go down to my shop to get them. So I will go as far as I can, which is probably a good thing, as I have 3 custom bead orders that were supposed to be made by tomorrow and I haven't even started them yet - that will be tonight's assignment.

Anyway back to the family - Ella has just jumped on Jim and hit him somewhere unexpected so there is a bit of swearing and crying happening at the moment, I better go sort it out! :P

Give me coins so I can fill my purse!

Tonight - I made a coin purse - pattern from Nikki - I have these patterns in store now in kit form if you want to make one as well.

This was my first attempt at a coin purse with lining and boxed corners - I was afraid - but oh my god - what a fantastic pattern writer Nikki is - If you haven't sewn much - this girls patterns are for you - I am a basic sewer - straight lines , buttonholes, some darts - thats about it - so I was worried that I would start it and it never be finished and hidden in a drawer with other crafty mishaps - No NO No.  It was well explained, great photos and diagrams and a breeze to do.  I achieved this in about an hour and a half - amazing for me - and it will only get faster with the more I do - 

Hats off to Nikki - for being a true professional at what she does.

If you are looking for Nikki's patterns - I have a great range on our website and in our store

I have actually completed something!!

Yes - this is an achievement for me these days - but I was determined on this my day off to finished one thing.

When I was in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago I went to meet Nikki and Lara at Nikki's Studio - it was great to meet blogging friends face to face.  While I was at Nikki's Studio I picked up some of her new bag patterns to stock up my supply for our shop and website.  I picked up a few patterns & kits for my personal stash as well.  My first project was to do her Make Up Purse Kit - it comes supplied with the pattern and the zips so all I had to do was pick some fabric.  The fabric I chose was also bought on my trip to Melbourne.  I visited Kimono House, which was highly recommended, and I was impressed with the service and range of Japanese textiles.

Here is the completed make up purse - I am still struggling a little with the finishing off of the zip ends - put it is all practice - so I might have a go at a few more - they make great little presents.

The purse is lined and has boxed corners in the main and lining fabrics.

What a Wonderful Day - Warning Huge Post

Jim and I both had the day off today with Ella.  Since yesterday I did the multitude of cleaning, today was a bit of a play day and no housework.  Early this morning I did have to venture down to our shop to have some photos taken as we are doing some local advertising and the paper is going to do an editorial on our shop as well.  That done, I headed home and while Ella was taking her nap I managed to get on the touch and pump out some beads ( Jim was glued to the SciFi Channel on Fox)  When Ella woke we went to do banking and headed to Gloria Jeans Coffee for a milkshake. On the way there is a Bananas in Pajamas ride that Ella was insistent on riding before we went home.

The day was so lovely that I decided to spent the rest of my afternoon starting to spring clean our very neglected garden.  We installed a water tank about 9 months ago, which is great as I never seem to be home or have the time to water when it is our allocated turn.  Ella helped out but before too long she had stripped all her clothes off and enjoyed the weather and the water.  These are the days for her to remember, fancy free and footloose.

Jim cooked a whole chicken on the BBQ rotisserie for dinner ( which was lovely) -- 

My day couldn't get any better but it does. - Jim has to do a wide load tonight at 2 am so he went to bed really early, Ella is in bed, - so I am enjoying my new office/craft/guest room all to myself (selfish me).

I have been sitting on my new sofa finishing off a handbag, listening to K D Lang on my new MacBook Pro laptop (in love with it).

Also photographed some fabric that I bought on Etsy from Fabricworm. It is Heather Bailey - Pop Garden and Bijoux range.  Not sure what I am going to do with them yet - Usually if I leave them at the shop my customers end up buying them from me - so I better have a good think and maybe leave them here at home.

I have also finished a ring that features one of my handmade flower beads - I had one similar that I took to the markets last week and it sold straight away - so this one is also for sale at $20 and will be listed on my website under handcrafted lampwork beads & jewellery and my etsy store

Goodnight - the end

More Handbags

Well as usual I am up to last minute making of items for the Handmade Expo which is on Saturday - (Ipswich Showgrounds 8 - 2pm) - I really haven't had much time this month to whip anything up.  As soon as I make things I put them in the shop and they are gone.  Plus I have been busy responding to custom bead and jewelry orders as well and the dreaded paperwork that goes along with having your own business.

But tonight I finished two more Ella Clutch bags to sell - the black one features some machine embroidery done on my new machine - the design is on both sides and I think it goes really nice with the simple lines of the bag. - I have been using polyboning in the handles which works really well.

Anyway must get back to the grindstone - I am also making my choc chip slice again I have done two batches tonight - not going to ice them until tomorrow night but I have made the bases.  I better go wrap them up before anyone thinks they can have a bit.

Ella Clutch Revisited

I have made a couple more Ella Clutch Bags today - but I have added to them - I have replaced the magnetic button with a self covered button with loop ( this was out of necessity as I ran out of magnetic buttons at the shop) - I added a little pocket inside the lining and I used some ridged boning inside the handles which makes them stand up to attention - they even look a bit cartoonish.  I found some excellent Loralie Designs fabrics at our local remnant fabric shop - which sells end of lines at 1/2 price - $12 a metre for these beauties - if you are visiting Ipswich go to Bargain Box Fabrics in Darling street - but of course come and visit me as well.

I found a free pattern for a square pincushion on the Heather Bailey site I am yet to have a good look around her site - but it looks very exciting and fresh.

I will be selling the finished bags at the Handmade Expo in Ipswich on Saturday - so if you are local be there!! - Ipswich Showgrounds 8 - 2pm