By Brienne

In the Making

This is the one remaining photo that I have of one of the first things that I ever made. 

These were a pair of jeans, distressed and worn, that my aunt and I repaired together the summer that I turned 20. They were snug in just the right way and stylishly cut.I just had to have them for the wedding weekend of my best high school friend.

We patched them by tracing the fronts of the pants and using those tracings to cut out panels from a batik print that I got locally. We (and I mean mostly she - thank you Aunt Steph)  stitched them in place with brown, button craft thread. We made teeny x's all the way up and down the long legs of the pants both repairing them and improving them. I felt beautiful when I wore them. 

I'm not certain about how these trousers relate to what I am making now except to say that I've always wanted to make things. I've wanted to make practical things but not just practical things, beautiful, functional things that would communicate something distinct and would elevate the spirit of the wearer.

More recently, I've been tinkering with these handbags in wool and leather. 

They were in the shop. 

And now they are on shoulders. 

I purchased a very limited quantity of this fabric - not knowing whether or not the bags would have appeal. And now, I wish that I had more of this textile plus more time to sew them!

I'm looking forward to making more after the holidays. If you'd like to know when new bags are available, you can follow me on Etsy  (where you can see both what's currently for sale and what I've sold in the past) and on Facebook. I'll be posting sneak peeks of new designs on Instagram. And always feel free to contact me by email ([email protected])  if you have questions. 

I'm feeling humbled and grateful for the enthusiastic response that I've gotten to these things that I'm making. Thank you. 

Joining the talented makers meeting up at Frontier Dreams today over here:)

 

Sewing with Leather

I've had my head down. I've had my ear to the radio. And my foot firmly planted on the presser's (foot). 

It turns out, that while I've been stitching madly, I've become confident about sewing with leather.

It's been a little more than a year now since I sewed my first of these totes and the one I made back then remains my constant daily companion. It has crossed the airways with me to Georgia and New Hampshire. It has cradled about a dozen knitting projects from conception to completion (or not) . It has languished in the dirt next to the ball field.

While I've had my head down, cutting and stitching and sewing, I've been listening to the While She Naps Podcasts. Abby Glassenberg, the podcast's host interviews creative entrepreneurs about all kinds of things including how they operate their creative businesses, what their favorite tricks and tools are and about how they became successful. I am totally hooked. 

It was thrilling to hear Ellen Luckett Baker on the program recently just as I was sewing with this pretty fabric that she designed! 

I'm excited to share some of the tricks and tips that I've learned about sewing with leather. So if you are interested, please stay tuned. For now I am blissfully busy filling up the shop where this tote is queued right now. 

While you're browsing the interwebs, do take a minute to look up Abby at While She Naps and Ellen at the Long Thread if you haven't already. Inspiration abounds! 

Joining Frontier Dreams today over here:)

 

About a Bag

I've been stitching. A lot. And I've been scheming some new designs for the shop. This Alison Glass fabric has absolutely stolen my heart and I can't wait to get some more to work with. Why I cautiously ordered just one yard, I'll never know! I am waiting now, rather impatiently, for the next batch. 

Simultaneously, I, myself, am in need of a new tote. Am wanting to sew an advent calendar for my kids and am without mittens and a hat. But those things will have to wait:)

I've been wanting to add a foldover tote to my collection but wasn't totally square on how it should come together. I decided to take the plunge and dive into sewing one using one part this tutorial and some parts sewing instinct to come up with these two bags.  

 I made the black one first and knew pretty quickly that the proportions weren't right for me. For the next, I changed the strap size, the hardware and added an interior pocket. I'd love to throw a zippered pocket on there too. I think that'll come next. 

This one, in Arizona Rhodes fabric is in the shop now. I plan to add more, like the first, black one early next week. Stay tuned...

Joining Frontier Dreams today over here:)

Pouches and Totes

Slowly but surely, I am re-stocking the shop. 

In mushrooms and dots, 

 In leather 

And cats. 

Get em' while they're hot! 

Bird Bag. Baby Goats.

If all goes as planned - this bird bag, featuring an original print by Mr. Moody, will be in the shop on Monday morning. Good luck Anton, at this weekend's  fat bike birkie!

 Some baby goats too. These guys are sans drawstrings and have stubbier horns and tinier ears than their big brothers. 

 They're made using a buttery gray double knit and upcycled fleece. 

 

They're sewn, not serged and made to weather many a pretend-play session. Perfect for crossing the bridge and scaling the hillside in search of spring's greener pastures. Enjoy 20% off on anything in the shop through next Friday with the code: SPRING20.

Now offering international shipping:)