kirstencan

Shop Update

New shirts available in ye old shoppe:

The boys' shirts are 3T and 5T, the girls' shirts are 6x and 7/8.  It was fun to make some 'big girl' shirts!  And the Happy Tree one is just like the one I made for Princess  - and I still smile when I see it.

Next up:  Brooches. Then hopefully some storybook ornaments for the shop.

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And if you're more in the market for paper goods check out my SIL, Eva's new shop. 

She got her MFA in printmaking this summer and now is having a ball creating stuff with her letterpress.  Her stuff is gorgeous - go check it out!

17 Brooches

A custom rush order for Etsy - 17 brooches... in 4 days!

Apparently there will be a lot of ladies in Indiana wearing them this week! :)

They went together pretty quickly, I usually do them in batches of 4 or 5 anyway (as it is always so fun to play with the darning foot!).

There were already 4 in the shop, thank goodness, so only 13 more.

I had fun playing with new color combos and (as always) digging through my vintage buttons.

Thank goodness for Fedex.  I hope they like them!

I am now working on a little shop update - I haven't really done that for a while, which is why I love Etsy - no pressure!  Just a few more shirts - they are really fun to make!

Wholesale Bunting

In sewing news, I've been quite busy with bunting lately.  Besides the Monkey one, I made one for my sister's birthday - pink, vintage, and quite like the one made for my other sister's birthday.

And I had a small wholesale order to complete.  (!)

Six bunting - 3 girly, 3 boyish.

I think the lavender/aqua/vintage/olive one below is my all-time fave.  I have enough (hopefully) to make another one - which I was going to put in my shop -but I just might have to keep it for Princess' room someday( right now she has too much in there).

It was a small (and my first and probably only) wholesale order, so I enjoyed it.  It's always fun to play with color combinations.  Still, it was good to get them all packed and shipped off to Canada, where they will be awaiting sale in a new children's boutique.

Next on the project list - two wedding gifts, a bridal shower gift, and then maybe some shirts/bunting for a wee shop update.

What are you working on?

M is for Monsters

**edited to add:  Hey, I'm on CRAFT!!!  Wahoo!  Thanks, Sarah!**

This striped shirt of Thomas' has been calling for a monster.
Just calling, I swear.

(Laura, please note the stripe + plaid combo - although they go surprisingly well together in this case...)

Pretty fun, and of course, Monkey wanted one, too:

I like his better (and the one eye was easier to sew than three!).  The boys love them.

They were fun to put together, so I made a couple more for the shop:

(sized 4T & 5T(sold)- I love the stripey one, I think it's my fave.)

Ah, monsters...

And then I decided to do a little shop update, too.

A new batch of brooches:

A new bunting:

There's also some new magnets, in case you're interested.

And I've been getting a lot of "Where do you find the time?" comments lately. 
Two words:  Nap Time.
Most of my projects are done in stages, not all at once.  Also, most of my projects are fairly little/quick!  I swear I'm not as productive as I sound! 

I'm fortunate that Thomas still takes a good nap every afternoon.  Don't know what I'd do without it!

Grand Opening

Wish me luck!

I have opened my own Etsy shop (I know, me and everybody else, right?)!

I want to say first-off that I am not expecting you, Dear Reader, to buy my stuff.  I don't like when blogs pressure readers to buy from them.  If you want to, I'd be delighted, and please tell your friends if you think they'd be interested, but while I will talk about the shop sometimes (as it is a new adventure for me!) I will try not to make you feel guilty for not buying from me.  That's the beauty of Etsy - people will hopefully find me through searches, too.

I just think that a shop sounds like fun. When I get into an appliqué kick, and run out of my family's shirts - I'll have someplace to put the extras!  And if it helps pay for my crafting habit (and Stanley's repair bill...), so much the better, right?

Pricing was hard.  Hand-stitching this batch of appliqué shirts took a lot of time.  So how much do you charge to make it worthwhile for you and the buyer?
I really looked at each item and how much time was spent making it.  The brooches were a dilemma - I  mean, I shopped for wool sweaters (and they're
100% lambswool), felted them myself, then made the brooches.  But when I look at them, I see the imperfections in my work and wonder how I could possibly charge more for them.  So anyway, prices may fluctuate in the future, but for now they're what they are! :)

BTW, I 'invested' in a small stock of these cute stripey shirts - I have lots of them between 18 mos, 2T and 3T, plus snap-bottom shirts for baby girls and boys (and I'm more than willing to try and find other sizes).  So, if you have been thinking that you would like a specific shirt (letter, number, train, flowers, etc.) let me know!

Anyway, let me know what you think, or if you run into any problems if you stop by!  I have shirts, bunting, magnets, and brooches up for sale right now.