WIP Friday - More Spring Cleaning

 I think this is the longest my 'spring cleaning' feeling has lasted, but I'm STILL finding more fabric to destash and clearing out some of the older inventory! I have a purse sale going on in my FaceBook group right now, probably until I clear out at least half of it...Then I might move on to some of the other things I've been lugging to craft shows for a while. I really want to start making more fun things and have lots of new stuff this year, but I'm out of space to store finished items! 

One of the bags on sale!

Mouse H2O to Go Slings (Lind's Handmade)

Obviously, if you are going to various parks, you need appropriate H2O To Go slings for each! I already shared the magic park ones, now for the Mouse parks!

Very different, but both are fun!

WIP Thursday - Christmas Prep Time

Strange as it sounds, I'm already thinking about (and signing up for) Fall/Christmas shows, which means I need to start making my list of things I want to have ready for the shows! Obviously I'll be doing more of the doodle dolls, crayon rolls, and notebook covers since I have the supplies prepped for them, but maybe starting now will give me time to FINALLY do the geeky stockings I've been planning for years...maybe. I could never be a vendor that focuses on one main item, that would just get too boring! I see the booths with hundreds of keyfobs and the thought of cutting them all out has my hand cramping in sympathy. Or they do only 1 or 2 sewn item in tons of different fabrics, which is probably pretty fast for them, but SO BORING to me! One thing I would like to add is new small purses, fancy totes, and water bottle bags! Just need to start prepping them to sew up between orders, since the orders are starting to pick up again!

I'm OBSESSED with the shaker filler, it's so fun!

Magical Fanny Packs

Do you need a hands-free option for your park hopping? Something that could go over the shoulder or around the waist? How about a flashback to the 80's? This fanny pack is just what you need!

Bright and colorful, but also pretty small!

WIP Friday - Spring Cleaning

I'm still in the process of cleaning out my 'old' fabrics and trying to find them new homes, but there is a LONG way to go! I pulled out 2 new tubs of fabric and panels, and some has already been claimed, but there's not even a noticeable dent! The only bad part about the destash is that I don't want to put the fabric back on the shelves after I pulled it out, so my family room is starting to fill up with tubs of fabric waiting to find a new home...

2 tubs of fabric to destash...top one is already listed but the bottom is waiting.

Wizard H2O to Go Bags (Lind's Handmade)

This was part of a pretty big order for a fun park filled vacation! I love seeing how different fabrics make the same pattern look so different! These were for a parent/child trip, so one has card slots and the other one doesn't.

Two H2O's, twice the fun!

WIP Thursday - Spring?

Last weekend we had lots of snow, and today it's in the 60's. Probably going to snow a few more times before we hit true spring, but the trees and flowers are trying to perk up (and make allergies so much fun!) and I'm starting to feel the urge to spring clean and organize! I started pulling out more fabric to destash, but I realized I have a few tubs of previous destash that I should offer again...I'd LOVE to clear out more of my unloved fabric to a new home where it might actually get used! (or at least moved to someone else's collection) It just takes SO LONG to list up everything, everywhere. Maybe this will be the time I finally start listing fabric on my etsy shop. Or maybe make a separate 'destash' shop?

The newest stack to destash

Tula Pink Minimalist Wallet

Anything I make with the gorgeous Tula Pink fabrics is always fun! Even a super simple and cute wallet like the Minimalist Wallet from Story Quilt turns out great!

Front or back? You decide!

Discord Road Trip Wallet (Emmaline Bags)

The Road Trip Wallet from Emmaline Bags is actually what I've been using for a few years now, it has SO MUCH room and such a fun style.

Wallet and matching bookmark, why not?

WIP Wednesday - Lost a Week

I'm really not sure where last week went, I know things got worked on and stuff happened, but I think I was in an allergy induced haze for most of it. This week is starting to fly by as well, so I really need to make sure I don't forget to finish up the other blog posts!

Just a few of the ready to ship items I need to list!

WIP Thursday - Another Month GONE!

It makes me laugh when people talk about how 'short' February is...but being 1-3 days shorter than every other month really does make a difference! I still got a good amount of things accomplished this month, including another fabric destash. At this rate, I'll be able to fit everything on my shelves in only 5 more years! 

My 'test' vinyl zipper pouch works great for holding my wip keychain stuffies! 

Magical Cross My Body Bag - Pattern Testing for ChrisW Designs

Usually when I do a pattern test, I go for something fun and the easiest materials recommended for the project. Not this time! The Cross My Body Bag has instructions for adding quilting to your pieces, but I have a gorgeous pre-quilted vinyl from Wizardry, Stitchery, and Crafts that I've been saving for something epic.

The light catches the glittery under layer and makes this vinyl AMAZING

Tangled Stitch Opal Organizer (The Styled Magnolia) - Oh So Pretty Fabric

I really wanted a project to show off the Glossy Glitter vinyl (Mint to Be color) and Tangled 626 fabric that I got from Oh So Pretty Fabrics, and it needed to be quick...Opal Organizer from Styled Magnolia to the rescue! 

This would be so fun with embroidery or a fun panel, but it's pretty in the glittery vinyl, too!

Tangled 626 Ninebark Backpack (Sew Sweetness) - Oh So Pretty Fabric

I was so excited to be chosen for a guest strike spot for Oh So Pretty Custom Fabrics, which as you might guess, has the PRETTIEST fabrics! The one I got to sew up was a super fun Tangled and 626 mash up, which is both pretty and EPIC!  I searched around to find a good pattern that would show off the panel, fabric, and the vinyl I received, and the Ninebark Backpack from Sew Sweetness, which had just been released, was perfect!  

One of the prettiest little backpacks I've ever made!

WIP Wednesday - Ongoing and Unending

Another month is flying by, and things are getting done! I'm starting to get the spring cleaning itch, where I want everything to have a nice and neat spot, but I just have too much to fit on all my shelves and cubbies...so I guess it's time to destash! I'm actually on track with orders too, trying to get them out in 4 weeks (or less!) and still squeezing in pattern testing and fabric promotions.

Did I mention that I'm starting to make stuffy keychains? I needed something else to make, obviously!

Tula Pink H2O To GO

I really want to make a stockpile of the H2O To Go bags from Lind's Handmade. I feel like they would be super popular if I did a spring/summer market!

I even made the fabric strap instead of going for easy webbing style!

WIP Friday - Back to It!

I feel like January was my 'relax' month where I just worked on stuff here and there, with no super rush, but February is going to be nonstop! I already finished up one fabric promo project (super cute new backpack!), started cutting out the next project with the leftover scraps (organizer), and I need to get started on some wallet orders. Plus there's a new test purse pattern I committed to finishing by next weekend... It's not as much as I usually have stacked up on my plate, but definitely enough to keep me busy! Oh, and I'm still trying to add things to Etsy and try out new stuff to list, like fun little keychain stuffies! 

Still need to sew the bottom shut by hand, but she's so adorable!

Firefly Walkabout Wallet (StudioKat)

This was the first time I have used a StudioKat pattern, and while it ended up looking nice, I don't really plan on making this one again any time soon! Mainly because it uses binding, which is my kryptonite. Also, it isn't a PDF file, so I can't easily print new pieces if I lose some of the pattern pieces!

My little Kaylee came out to make it all shiny! And a matching vax card holder

WIP Thursday - There Goes January...

Another month flew by, and I'm really not sure where it went...I feel like I must have wasted a bunch of time since I barely did anything. At least I'm starting to get into the destash mood, but it takes SO LONG to find things, get pictures and measurements, and then list them up...and then waiting to see if anyone claims so I can invoice, pack, and ship. I wish there was a better method! I have too much invested in my supplies to give it all away...I'm tempted to try listing them up in the Etsy shop, but I feel like the fees would raise the prices so high that no one would want to purchase.

Pretty in pink Moondance! Blue shimmer shifts to pink

Feelings NCW (Emmaline Bags) and Zip ID pouch

Sometimes it's super easy to find great fabric for a fandom...and sometimes it's super hard! There is surprising not that much available for the Inside Out movie, and what little I was finding wasn't that great. Finally, I tracked down two fun fabrics from Oh So Pretty Fabrics, and this adorable Necessary Clutch Wallet was born!

Both fabrics are really fun!

Magical Books Strapfield (ChrisW Designs)

The Strapfield from ChrisW Designs is a pattern that looks somewhat complicated, but each step is clearly broken down and walked through, so it's really not that bad! I left off the front pouch pocket, but there are still a bunch of pockets available!

Front view with giant illustrated book for scale!

WIP Friday - Words Are Hard

This week has been pretty low on the writing inspiration, and every time I tried to write a new blog post, my mind went blank. I still don't have much to say, and the post I've been working on for the next purse is all a jumble of pictures and a few comments thrown in here and there. Pictures ARE the best part, so I should just finish it up and post that one today too! I'm really falling behind on my 2 posts per week goal, and it's only the first month of the year.

That's a big bag!

WIP Monday - Ramping Up!

We're halfway through January and things are starting to pick up!  A few orders are trickling in, and I'm actually almost finished with my UFO! I started it about 7 years ago, business got busy, and while I worked on it here and there, this is the first time I've had a longer stretch to focus on it. It's pretty amazing and I can't wait to show off the fully-functional Factotum! 

Just one of the pockets on the outside, SO MANY pockets in this bag!

Poe Quick and Easy Tote Bags

Sometimes I get requests for 'something' with a specific fabric or panel, and then I have to come up with ideas. This 'something' was for trick or treat type bags that used the fun Poe panel from Backstitch, plus they needed to be useful for after Halloween too! These were a quick turnaround item, so I somehow missed getting the 'nice' pics.  Instead, I'll walk you through the process for how I do custom orders!

Don't be a Scaredycat!

WIP Monday - List Overhaul

New year usually means the same list, but I started going through it and taking off projects I no longer care about, adding in stuff I want to focus on this year, and updating some of my goals! I still need to dig into the piles to find the crochet projects and see if I have enough of the yarn/pieces to make it worthwhile to finish...I also have an urge to totally rearrange my sewing studio, but I really have too much fabric to make that happen any time soon, unless I want to make it look like a fabric store exploded in the rest of the house.

Stitching up some of my new patterns!

2024 Plans and Goals

I don't like to call them resolutions, because then it seems like they are easier to break...don't ask me why. Instead, I try to outline goals and a plan to reach them whenever we start a new year. Last year I didn't write any down, but I worked on finishing orders faster and staying more caught up, so I could squeeze in test bags and strike projects, and I was able to meet that goal!

Everything is better with pics, so here's my first UFO project for 2024, the almost 7 year old Factotum!