Christmas is near

Well I am finally settled for good I hope! :) Theres been a lot of moving for me this year. And as such times are tough all around, so I put my crafty skills to work and made stuff for gifts. People better like this shit! :)

Well...

Life seems to be very challenging for me at the moment. I am having the worst time trying to manage it and as such have not blogged in some time. I have two shows coming up and have been busy ramping up for them. Here is a really cute bag I made from vintage fabric.

I will have to make another or I wont be able to part with it! It has silver rope for the handle and silver fabric inside as the lining, with a vintage button accented by a rosette of more silver fabric.

Come by and see me if your local to the central valley. Check my calendar to the right for dates.

Moving?

Just a quick blurb tonight. I have been busy trying to finish projects and then I have to slam my daughters homecoming dress out by Sat morning so I likely wont post the rest of the week. I am up tonight as I was watching election coverage like the rest of the US. (BTW I have an editorial post over on my other blog www.inpiredbylife247.blogspot.com) Disclaimer you may not agree with me and thats OK. Anyhow I am also testing out a new hosting over at squarespace. So far Im liking it, as it has ease of use for designing my blog, and lord knows I barley have time TO blog let alone design it. Plus later I can integrate my website with it. So please check it out and leave me a comment there telling me how you like the look of it! www.sewbitchy.squarespace.com

Chow!

Odds and ends

Ok so I broke my record of blogging daily. Well I'm just not that perfect okay? :) Plus Ive got tons going on. Just moved again, thats the 5th time in 5 months. But you don't want to know about that! I thought I'd post some things Ive done the past week that Ive been MIA, like for starters here are the four pouches I made to go with the NKOTB messenger that I did. And I'm happy to say that the new owner is thrilled with the results!
I have also started on another project for a local church. I am embroidering 12 vests for a program they have called Well Versed Kids. The kids learn a bible verse and get a patch for each one they memorize. The patches are put on the vest. Its a great idea. The funny thing is I met the woman in charge of it, Debbie at the Wal mart fabric department. She was asking about how to iron the patches on and of course the employee was no help! So I said, well you can use wonder under and we started talking and next thing I know I get an order!

In other news, I also wanted to show off a recent custom that I made for an ebay customer in canada. She loves Donnie of course! I hope she likes it!

Right now Im getting settled in my new place and trying to finish up the vests as I have two more nkotb Jackets to do and then I need to prepare for HandBorn which I am doing on the 29th. Whew! This running your own label stuff is hard work! And to think Im debating a part time job for christmas??? Im just nuts!

Another messenger

This one, made for a trade came out better than I had pictured. It was trying to figure out the flap. I wanted to do it in two different fabrics so I tried to alter the original tutorial on craftster.Well I tried to alter it a bit too much and thankfully it still turned out awesome. I wanted a larger bag so that was the first thing I did was increase measurements but somehow its smaller than I wanted it to be. Then I cut the flap off off the original pattern so I could do it in the two fabrics but then when it came time to turning the bag I ran into a world of trouble. In the end I had to place everything inside easch other and iron in the seams and just stitch from the outside. It was a bit of a pain, so I will be revising it again because I love how it turned out with the two flap fabrics.

I used a tarnished vintage button and made a fabric rosette for the front. i thik It is still very simple looking and polished. The fabrics are from Joanns (I know I know) I couldnt resist. They have the AB look to them. (and who can afford those?) Its a whole new line they have out and they sell one yd of fabric in a package with coordinating FQ stacks so you can do little projects. Clever marketing.

I've updated this post on 11/1 to include nicer photos as well as a pic of the matching pouch I made. It clips on with the attached hook. And Im pleased to say my craftster buddy was exremely happy with it, as was I with her goodies!

Todays Treasury Pic

I have decided it would be fun to choose a new treasury to promote (hopefully daily) So heres todays! I hope you like it as much as I do! It was the first I clicked on.

Finished Messenger

I finished the messenger bag I started yesterday. It was a custom order from an ebay customer and I am really excited with the results. Im excited to post so these pics arent that great, I'll get new ones up tomorrow. I did it all from scratch, after reading through a few tutorials found online. It wasnt as hard as I thought it would be. I guess I underestimate myself. It was my first time doing a messenger and the adjustable strap. I amazingly got it all done in about 3 hours and I didnt have to rip too many seams.

This is my favorite project now so far. Of course each project I finish becomes my favorite! But the customer sent me the fabrics and patches and I never would have though of putting all those on a bag. Now I want one!!

Unproductive day

I really hate days when I really want to get things done and it seems I just dont. Today was one of those days. I had the car so I went to run errands and nothing was going my way and by the time I got home I was too tired to do a thing in studio. Well Im getting to bed early (yes as I write this its 1;16 am and that would be early for me) But I want to keep at least one thing rolling and that is today is the 4th day in a row I've blogged!! Yipee!! I guess I dont have to blog everyday. Especially with so much on my plate, but I am getting myself in the habit and I guess they say it takes like 21 days to make something a habit so only 17 more days to go! :)

Here is a really easy project that I made last night in less than 10 minutes:















It was an oval placemat, and while most would have thrown it out due to looking a bit aged, I saw the vintage charm of it. (of course) I added a big vintage button and instant clutch! Simply fold in half, then sew up the sides. Dont catch the top part in the seam! You cant see but it is folded over and opens out to make the purse wider at the top. I hope that makes sense. It was hard to get a shot of that.

I also picked up some vintage postcards that I must share with you. They are of New York and have the twin towers on them. I think they are early 90's. I just felt a sense of americana when I found them and bought them all to use on postcrossing. See more in my flickr photostream.

Lookee what I made!

Well here it is...the finished top. It took about 5 hours, a lot more than expected but I guess thats ok. I used Simplicity 2933. I love how it came out and it is because it took me so long. There is a reason I dont like working with silkys and this is it. Its so slippery! I repped seams more than once but I am more than satisfied with the end result. The two fabrics go together even better than I imagined! I just love reusing stuff! The downfall....I cut the bottom band a little too short (or Im to fat!) Because its going to be a stretch for it to button around my hips. I really ran out of energy in the home stretch and pushed my self NOT to hurry. I really wanted to get it done to share with you as I am trying to be good about blogging :) So I dont know if I want to tackle ripping it apart and making a new one. I'll think about it though. Also probably because of the same reason the seam on the band is not centered with the side seam but I didnt care much ! :) Everything else about it is gorgeous. You just cant tell from my crappy cameraphone pictures :(

All in all the pattern was really easy to work with and I definitely want to make more of these especially with my cute Raggedy Ann sheets I've been collecting. I should make one for my best friend She loves RA. Ok well until tomorrow or maybe the next day :)

Chrystine

In the works

Today was a pretty long day, I spent it with my kids and so I didnt work in the studio until later in the evening. I really was dragging and just didnt feel motivated, but I pushed myself to get at least something done. Well that and the fact that I went to Joanns today to get zippers only to come home and realize I bought two seperating ones when I actually need one and 2 regular zips. So the custom nag I mentioned last post was yet again put on hold.

So I decided to actually bust out a pattern I bough a few months ago and use these two dresses to make into a top. This is the pattern (excuse my cell pics as my camera is broken) its the yellow blouse. And the two dresses ( again horrible pics). The first dress is a pale yellow and its a shimmer satiny with sort of confetti sprinkles. The second dress I am using for the yoke and the cuffs of the sleeves only as I still like the dress and I'm saving as much as I can to alter.

I plan to shorten the length as well as the sleeves and also gather the sleeves at the shoulders. I think it will come out sort of cowgirl sexy. I may add a tulle underskirt and even some lace to the hem. Stay tuned. I plan to finish the top tomorrow and I hope to get some better pics for you :)

Business is good. And Im busy ;)

So I have been really focusing the past three weeks on getting my etsy store advertised every possible free way I can. Mainly because ebay bast [[cough]] tards. Unfairly suspended my account. Well I am just getting to the bottom of that, and I'll save it for another really looong post ;). So back to etsy. Ive been ramping up my work hours although youd never tell, I guess Im just somehow getting more done. It could be partly because Im not taking the time to list vintage on ebay anymore. I figured anyway with the money I was paying them for fees I could use in advertising or supplies for my designs.

So I now have 50 items in my shop and this week alone I have had 5 sales with 2 the week before that. So Id say thats pretty darn good! I have even done some small changes in an effort to improve my shop and have consistency which if you knew me is pretty difficult to do. The first thing I did was make a new avatar for my etsy store. I then decided that to become recognizable across networks I should change it on the 20+ social sites I belong to, that is if I can remember them all. lol

I started a new bag today which is a custom for a trade Im doing with my friend from craftster Amy. I am working on a tutorial for the bag which will be a revised version of this one. My version will have a contrasting flap and the inside pockets will also have coordinating fabrics. I hope it looks ok and she likes it because she is nervous about my fabric choices. But im excited as its a new challenge for me, and if it works out I'll start making some cool designs in my ever popular vintage sheets.

I will do my best to have the tute up in the next few days, and besides I want you to subscribe and come back for more.

Ciao
Chrystine

Todays project and thrifty finds

So today I finished this dress which is a combining of a 70s shirt and this really really long 80s green glitter sweater dress. Which of course looked like it could only be worn for two occasions christmas or st patricks day. Well I could have made them seperates but that is just too much work now isnt it? Besides it seems to be a trend right now to make these high waisted dresses with vintage shirts as Im seeing them all over craftster. be warned that without a belt this dress is not attractive. My husband hated it. He said it looked like a grandmas dress. Well what does he know? My grandma called and she loves it! hahaha

I think it looks sorta boho and yeah I was worried about the glitter in the sweater but I dont know I think with a brown or earthy belt it will play down the cristmassy ness of it. I just only happen to have a red belt on hand. It started out as this before:



















Stay tuned tomorrow (I promise!) for another reconstruct and maybe I'll see if i can do a video sew along or something.

Hello World

Its been a long time since Ive posted anything here. Ok its not the new year yet but Im trying to get an early jump on the resolving to stop procrastinating thing. Dont count any chickens okay? Just be glad your getting a post after 5 months ;p
So I am back in the studio and getting inspired by all kinds of goodness. Not to mention that mother nature breeds necessity or in this case ebay has jacked me again so I am now selling stricktly through etsy, which means I gotta take it up a notch!


I have been working on perfecting my bag making skills and I have gotten pretty darn good the past few weeks. Moving from more simple bags to things that are more decorated or pieced together. Here are a few items Ive made recently and I promise a tutorial tomorrow! Its 2 am so I just dont have anything left in me right now :)

New Kids On The Block had a bunch of hits

And now they're BACK BABY! Oh yeah! I couldn't be more excited about the reunion, except of course for the fact that they aren't coming to a city near me :( Well they will eventually I'm sure. So in the meantime I'll just keep rolling out awesome merchandise I have been making from vintage sheet sets with the guys on it! I made a bunch of tote bags and wristlets which went over really well.

I also made a few tops and baby doll dresses. I have a link to my babydoll tutorial here.
Check out the guys new web site at www.nkotb.com. They are still hot as ever and they sound even more amazing than 15 yrs ago! I cant wait till the album drops! Until then I'm hangin tough in the sewing room!

Burnt out

Well today I decided I would go to ikea and by a drawer and a top for one of the racks I found at the thrift a while back which was missing these. So of course I got there and debated and finally I thought I could get more space if I stacked the racks so I decided to just buy a whole new one. Somehow I thought I would still have two floor level racks and a little counter space but I'm bad at math because I only have 5 racks. Well anyway heres what it looks like now that is half organized.

I spent about 4 hours in there and got 90 percent of my fabric organized. I am so tired I can barely write this post. I had fabric that I forgot about, fabric I didn't want anymore, and fabric that I spent a crapload of wasted time looking for.
Well the good things that came out of this are:

1. I have a huge stack of fabric I can sell on ebay (more money for new stuff :) )
2. I realized I have enough fabric to keep me busy with projects for at least three months (so I really shouldn't buy more)
3. I really do realize I shouldnt buy anymore fabric until I get through some of what I have.
4. I MUST keep on top of this because it is so time consuming to look through piles of stuff.

Here is a pic of my other fabric "bin" and it is now almost empty compared to before:
Its hard to tell but believe me it is half empty. Everything was so crammed before because I just kept buying more stuff and putting it here since it was next to my cutting board.













I still have to figure out what to do with the clothes I have for recons and the two big tubs of scraps I have here:

I also have a tub of chrstmas fabric (i'll likely sell)

Here is the angle from the other side of the room
The two boxes are pattern. One is vintage the other modern. I plan to get some of those plastic drawer carts like at Target to store them in. I'm so sick of the boxes they have like that for years.

I also have four containers with all my trims in them. I think it will be nice to get another set of drawers for those and separate by type and color. Because again, I am constantly digging to find what I need.
Well the next two days I'll be off for the most part. I have to help my family with a few things so It will be amazing if I get any work done. I hate that feeling, but at the same time I was telling my best friend It must mean you love what you do if you cant stand NOT to do it for more than a day. :)

On a baby kick...

I never really thought I would want to make baby clothes now that mine are all grown up. (Well they aren't babies anymore) While browsing the sewmamasew pool (one of my favorites), I came across the cutest baby dress. The creator, kokoleo had it blogged so I hoped over to check it out.
I fell in love with her dresses and the awesome stash she scored while thrifting and it inspired me to use some of the heaps of fabric I have laying around. It never seems like I even make a dent! I was most impressed that she actually went home and made something from her thrifty finds right away. My fabrics just get tossed in the never ending, "I'll make a great bag, dress...whatever out of that....someday" pile.

Don't believe me ? Here is a picture of my space about a week ago. I started to attempt to clean it.
Quite the mess isn't it?? Finding time is just so tough. I need to force myself to get it organized and keep it that way because it actually takes me more time to get stuff done since Im looking for things all the time! Egads!







Ok well back to the baby dresses. Like I said I was inspired by kokoleo, and
also weekend I went to a few new thrift stores and I did manage to score some good stuff. Like this huge vintage apron for $2
Surprisingly enough I came home, washed it and immediately made this from it:
It took me about 4 hours, and it was really rewarding once I finished even though I am exhausted from standing so long the past few days. I took my time to pay careful attention to all the details which is something not like me to do. (I like shortcuts!) So I guess thats a good thing. So, I finished that one last night and this morning I made another from vintage curtains, and cut out a third from a vintage pillowcase. I'll get pics of those in the next few days. But I must say I am on a roll. Even though I'm so tired I feel like I can't stop. It is a lot of fun making these dresses though. I just need a model now!

Hooray!!!

I finally quit my day job and this is my last week! I can't wait to go back to designing full time. Well this also means the pressure is on to make $$ doing what I love so on that note...come help support me by attending my first Trunk Show!

You can RSVP if you like chrystine@sewbitchy.com

I'll have cool tunes, and food so come mingle!

I just cant keep up!

I'm really trying but its not going well. Theres just not enough time in the day. I either sew and list or sew and post. I need money more so there you have it. :) Ok so heres what I've been working on this week.

Trying to get through my stash and just make quick simple totes, but I can't do anything quick. Im too much of a perfectionist. I made these two from repurposed t-shirts. I love how the stones one came out. It is listed on my ebay, and the green day one is actually simple. No pockets even. I put it on Etsy. Stop by and look! I'll be working on more and trying to finish unfinished things in between that!

The cutest baby clothes ever

I think I am making the wrong size clothing. While browsing the sew mama sew pool over at flickr I came across the cutest photo of a toddler outfit. Upon further investigation I ended up at Bowznstuff blog. She has the absolute cutest designs for toddler clothes I've seen. You know you only can dress like that when your a kid, so you may as well live it up. Adults can only get away with that on some occasions and even then people look at you odd. Its the whole reason behind why I design my own stuff to begin with. I think the world should be a more colorful place. People are too serious sometimes.

Anyhow, I really love this British punk outfit, OMG I wish it was my size!!! I think I have a t-shirt like that somewhere so I will try to recreate the look for myself. The best part of the whole thing is the Hat! You should stop by her page and have a look.

Next up for me is finding models and getting some better photos, because I am also really impressed with how nice hers look. Whew! Running a business is lots of hard work!

Snow cat hoodie and Project Runway

Well the two don't really have anything to do with each other except the fact that I'm going to blog about them both. I made this hoodie the other day and for my first attempt it came out good. Its wearable anyway! The first time I put the zipper in (as i have done many times) I forgot to use a separating one. DUH! Well that problem is solved as the next day I found three bags of zippers at the thrift store for about $12 total. I got a lot of zippers and especially the separating ones so it worked out! In the meantime I made a clutch bag from the same fabric and some pleather vinyl. I like how it came out. It was my first time working with this kind of fabric together.

I am really quite proud of myself as I never used to attempt working with certain things as i thought they'd be to difficult. But of course I was younger and not so wise then :) And I didn't have Project Runway to inspire me! Now (I'm at a level) I feel I can make anything no matter how difficult it looks. I find it harder and harder to buy retail now. Even a crappy cheap shirt from F21 becuase even though it may be $10 Im always saying-"I could so make that!"

Ok so now speaking of PR, I missed the last two episodes and last night I saw the Hersheys show. How fun was that!!! I loved almost all the designs, they were really creative. Christian is my fav but I think he chose an easy out. His dress was basic, but the fact that he used all those reeses cups gave it a cool look. I think bar far Ricky's was the best. His model looked like a hersheys kiss! Rami's was awesome too, but after all the mistakes Ricky's made he should've got more props. Well at least that Elisa is off. I dont like any of her designs. I think Sweet Pea may be next. She is really great, but I don't think her experience is enough to make it through the show. I think it will come down to Jilian, Christian and Rami.

Itsa Mario!

Itsa Mario!
Originally uploaded by pinkmini

I have soo much fabric and its high time I not only made stuff from it, but keep up this darn blog. So I'll just say it now-my new years resolution is to blog!
So I made some really cool bags and a pouch from some nintendo sheets featuring mario and zelda (my favorite!) I am so proud of how cool they came out. They were just simple to make but I think the fabric makes them totally awesome! I am trying to crank out as many as I can because I want to weedle down my fabric stash, as of course I'm always out buying more.

I also made this awesomely cute Rageddy Ann Purse for my best friend. If she actually gets it she'll be lucky! LOL Im getting more confident in my skills and lately I am very happy with all the projects I'm making. I have been taking a little more time to "finish" things. With this purse I am thinking about maybe adding lace or eylet around the top. It is still too plain but cute! Im also debating to have the flap button on the inside vs the outside as it covers up andy's face. What do you think?