The Week Of Being Vegan - Day 5 & 6

So I didn't post yesterday - but mainly because it was a busy saturday.

Breakfast was Kamut puffs with almonds (dry of course, but I hate milk with cereal.. i like the crunch.)

Lunch was eaten while hiking through Lynn Peak, and was humous with fresh veggies: peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers - yum. Cherries were for dessert - score!

Dinner was leftover risotto, and I'm glad I made so much!

Then today breakfast was virtually non existant - we were in a rush. But I did discover I don't dislike soy milk, like I thought I would. I went to Dulcinea, my favourite coffee shop and was sad I couldn't order their delicious hot chocolate - until the barista offered to make it for me with soy milk. Sat and played chess with my delicious drink - score! Home and had some more left over risotto, and a couple rotis. Then went for a coffee at starbucks with a friend, and felt perfectly comfortable asking for my caramel macciato to be made with soy milk - hurrah!

Went rock climbing later in the evening, so all in all, a good day.

And in other news, I had 3 wonderful things happen today.
1. My friend Anna told me someone stopped her while she was shopping on 4th to ask her where she got the handbag I had made for her. She gave the girl my website info. Yes!
2. Recieved an email on my etsy account from someone who had seen the steampunk style pendants I make on craftster.org and she asked if they were available for sale. Flattered beyond belief, I made an etsy shop for them: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5927191
3. At the climbing gym, the girl who was working the desk commented on the bag I was carrying - one I had made from my dad's old blazer and tie. I immediately, however blushing, told her I made it and gave her the card for my website.

wow - talk about a good day for business!

Jane bags and website launch!

The other day I decided to take up my trainer's offer to showcase some of my purses at her gym. She called me the next day to say she had sold a purse and wanted more. She sold Li'l Kim, the one that I thought was the least attractive!

I started sewing like mad, and in one day managed to make a bunch of different Jane bags.. so.. without further ado:

Elegant Jane came about from Lady Kim. I set the cameo in Damask Ribbon, and it was all as an afterthought as I thought the plain polka dot pink bag needed a little something extra..

Lemonade Jane is just like Lemonade Lucy, since I had left over lemon print fabric. The ribbon adds a nice touch and looks much nicer in person!

Country Jane is my favourite from this batch I think. She's understated and ladylike. Perfect for a long white skirt and big sunglasses. I love the fabric!

How could I not call this "Cupcake Jane"? I mean, the pink polkadots and cute blue ribbon just lend itself to that cutesie cheesecake kind of look. I love the periwinkle silk lining. Yum!

I see this more as a little shopper bag, since the fabric makes me think of cooking. I think I may make an apron out of the rest of this fabric, no quite sure any one will want a handbag covered in chili peppers!

But.. on the upside.. MY WEBSITE IS DONE! of course, until I decide to change it all over again. for now, I love it. Check it out, since all the purses can be found for sale there..

Person Jane Picante!

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Phew. Bad hair days and Jane.

It's been a bit of a shit day- so I'm cheering myself up by blogging about my latest creations. After a crap day at work, I got home and had a drink. On an empty stomach, so I found myself slightly tipsy. Then I went to have a piece of cheese and managed to have the cheese cutter break in half (its got a porcelain handle) spontaneously, leaving me with a cut on my thumb that wouldn't stop bleeding. Add to that a bunch of other crappy things going wrong, and you get one grumpy housewife.

So.. cheer up pictures!

this is a new bag concept: Jane. She's simple but chic. I love the metal handle hooks. This one was my first one, which I made on the fly with no pattern. I just kinda liked the idea and went for it after sketching it out. She's made out of gorgeous pink, red and creme striped pattern fabric and red cotton lining.

That led me to making my next one immediately after, Sailor Jane

This bag is too cute for words! Right before I started sewing I got the idea to really enhance the nautical theme of the blue and white pattern by adding the red ribbon. She's also a little american patriotic- though I think of her more as nautical style. I might make one with blue ribbon next to be even more nautical. So I stuck the ribbon into the sides and sewed away. Then I realised the first Jane bag had no way of closing, so I added the magnetic clasp. I think this design was one of the easiest to perfect: second try and sellable!

This next one was actually a Kim bag gone wrong. It ended up not being quite the right shape, but I loved the fabric too much to throw it away. So I just added the metal handle hooks and lined it in red.

Lady Kim

I've been sewing again today- guess I got the urge!

I made another "Kim" bag, and here she is:

Lady Kim

I was purely selfish in making this one. I love, LOVE, LOVE damask fabric. I splurged a little while ago and bought a ton of different types of damask print fabric, and this is the first of my endeavours with it. I really wanted this to turn out perfect because of how much i love the fabric, and of only having one fat quarter or it, so only being able to produce ONE bag out of it.

Anyways, I lined her with bright red silk, and then decided to top it off with a cameo. I used red ribbon to make the nest for the cameo, and then glued it in with silicon glue. Then added a pin to the back, so it's a removable brooch- makes it easy to dress the bag up, or dress it down for a more casual look (or if red isn't matching the outfit you're wearing)

I love it!

I like to think I'm getting better- or at least, I hope I am!

purses and chairs?

Oh, the neglect!

With good reason though..
I've been holding back on creating any handbags, since I have so many and havent gotten rid of them yet. I dont feel that any of them are good enough to sell yet- since they're not perfect. BUT, tonight I had some time home alone, so I set about making a bag from start to finish with no flaws. I made sure to take my time, instead of rushing to the end like I usually do. The only thing I forgot was to put the feet on.. but other than that, I think she came out rather well.

Hawaiian Kim

Technique wise, this is probably one of the best I've made, if not the best. I put the straps on inbetween the lining and the outershell, so there aren't any unsightly ends. I also made sure this time to have my threads matching, so the outside has red thread and the inside, which is lined in a dark navy blue shimmery fabric, has black thread. Yay!


In other news, I decided that I couldn't stand the ugly pink velour chairs any longer. I've never upholstered before- but then again, most of my sewing efforts are trial&error, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Instead of buying one of those chair covers that never quite fits, I decided to have my hand at it. I managed to find a fabric that matched our couch perfectly in colour, so I thought I'd post the progress of covering the chairs (there are two, but no sense showing both!)

This is how they started out..

snug tailoring..



sewn and fitted..


Almost done..


Done! This chair gave me a bit of a headache because I wasn't thinking, did the whole thing, then opened it to recline it (they are reclining chairs) and snapped all the seams! Back to the drawing board.

I ran out of fabric so the bottoms were showing pink.. which I decided to fix by making magazine pockets on both sides..


Magazine pockets!

Hurrah!
Sleepytime now!

When life hands you lemons..

I've been neglectful, I know.. but it's been busy in my non-housewife world..

I've been sewing less, but I still managed to make this little lady:

Lemonade Lucy

She's made of a gorgeous lemon print cotton, with a lush green lining and green handles. Magnetic snap closure, a pretty nautical themed button, and metal feet (my first time using these) so she'll stand.

I need to really get on with designing a website for my ladies, since I've been told they're not an effective use of closet space. In that vein, I registered the domain www.divina-denuevo.com, so keep an ear to the ground for my launch!

Luc(k)y 13

Ta Da!!!

My 13th handbag, a "Lucy" style, with Henry Alexander's "Veronique" fabric, magnet closure, and a juicy black button. I love this bag! I made it yesterday despite the heat.

I also baked some delicious cookies, who's recipe I'll post soon. It's been quite the housewifey week. Yesterday was Canada Day, so we had a proper BBQ and watched the fireworks.

3 bags in two days - I'm my own sweatshop!

In the last two days I've managed to make three different bags. This new design, Ariel, came about when I was planning on making a "Kim" bag. On a whim I decided to throw in a couple pleats (which, since were done last minute were difficult thanks to the sturdy interfacing). In order to conceal the top's jagged shape because of the pleats, I added another layer of fabric and folded it over- I think it gives it a nice clean look. But then I realised the bag was getting lost in its print, which is why the big black bow came to the rescue..

And voila, Ariel!

I fell in love with this fabric- I'm a sucker for houndstooth, tweeds, herringbone- all that goodness. But this, with the teal, well, how could I not? I'm thinking of buying more and even making a dress or a skirt - when I feel super adventurous.

But, not content to make "kim" bags only, I freestyled a new design. I just decided to cut and cut and sew and sew, and this is what I ended up with:

Her name is Alexandra, and she came to work with me today because I love her so much.

It was fun to make something different, though she came out more "sac" like than I would have wanted.. she's slouchy, I'm planning on using some interfacing next time for a sturdier look. She's only got the cotton shell fabric and the thick navy satin lining holding her, plus the super cute damask ribbon as handles. I love the trim idea, so I think it'll be making more appearances in the future!


And lastly, my first creation out of this little set, my ladybug "kim".

Dresssew was having a sale on the piping, which was going for $1.00 per ROLL! So of course I bought red, pink, green and blue! they're my new easy-cheat handles.. for the times that I can get away with non-matching handles..

But how cute are those ladybugs!?