Shop Update August 2011

I have been adding a lot of new designs so if you haven't visited the shop in awhile, stop in for a look see.

Gladiator Cuffs with Secret Pocket

Secret Pocket

Shades of Green

Shades of Blue

Oxblood

Leather ID Card Wallets

Timeless Romance

Baroque Oxblood

Peek-a-boo Window

I'll give you the moon and the sky

I have been working on many things some of which I am not ready to announce, so I thought I would share with you what I was viewing at 5:30p.m..

The moon seemed close enough to grab and the sky was so fluffy in other areas.

For my Birthday

I made myself one year younger!  You see, today is my birthday and to be sure of my age I had to use a calculator.  It seems that for the past year, I thought I was a year older than I really am - go figure.

Tomorrow I plan to take off a few more years by dyeing those pesky gray hairs that are getting out of control.

It was a beautiful day and I am blessed for being here.

Happy Birthday Canada!!!

You look good for being 144 years old :-)

Leather wristband cuff with secret pocket

My cuff was featured on Lesa Kay's blog.  Go on over to check out her amazing writing skills.

Not your garden variety envelope

Lately I have been doing a lot of financials and bill paying, which I hate doing.  So what do I do when I don't want to do something?  You guessed it, procrastinate by doing something else.  I told myself that I needed to have something to put all my loose receipts in so that they were contained.  This leather envelope is what I came up with.

While I was at it, I used the opportunity to use up some of my leather scraps and practice some stamping.  The stamping did  not turn out that well, but I got to make something useful from scraps that was taking up space.

I can't wait to do more of these!

New Slipcover for Ottoman

This large padded ottoman was originally upholstered in a light cream fabric that lived through the pen marks of a growing child and claw marks of a curious cat.  It was time to add  new life with a textured elegant fabric that can be easily cleaned when needed --- ENTER the Slipcover!

I will be linking this post over here so go on over to see over fabulous transformations.

Cushion Covers transforms from Winter to Spring

I finished up an order for a client - 9 cushion covers to convert her winter look to her spring look.  These are a few of my favourites.

As a thank you, I made this stacked pillow for her cat.

It's Spring, Let's grow a Contractor

If ever you are in need of an enthusiastic contractor, that is willing to work for marshmallows and a heart-felt thank you -- this 9 year-old is your girl!

She even parges walls, but I missed the shot!

Trudging through the Drudgery

and hoping to survive!

It's the same thing every year, delay, delay, then crunch, crunch, crunch - will I ever learn?  I am hopeful that I will. ----------------Happy Friday everyone!

Shop Update AKA What's new in the Shop

I brought the Prospect Biker Wrist Cuff back

and added a new one for the ladies.

Introducing Betty:

both with secret zippered compartments of course!

The Making of a Slipcover

Here is something fun from Picassa - a moving Gif file that documents the making of this slipcover:


Make gif

Slipcover - Before | After

I needed a change and making a slipcover was the right decision.


Before:

After:

I just liked up over at My Uncommon Slice of Surburbia. If you get a chance, go on over to see some amazing projects.

Kobe, Kobe & Herbie

Nothing to do with law but they certainly rule!

Industrial Straight Stitch

Industrial Walking Foot

5 thread Overlock/Serger with Chain Stitch

My Creative Space

In the heat of work, there is no time for cleaning. You should see my hands - I always forget to put on my gloves in my haste. Now check out what everyone else is doing in Kootoyoo's My Creative Space

Thrift Store find gets a slipcover makeover

Here is a perfect example of how a slipcover can change the look of a piece. This was a thrift store find. Nice bones, wrong colour and a little worn. I made the slipcover from a low pile chenille that fits like a glove.

Before


After




Stay tuned for more transformations.

Bar Stool Makover with a Slipcover

This stool was cursed with the blahs.




A slipcover gives it punch and adds new life.




I made the piping detail out of leather.

My Newest Addition

My very good friend who works in a real-estate office rescued this 30 year old serger from a grow op and gifted it to me! I was thrilled to have this vintage beauty in my studio. After a tune-up and several broken needles (well, I had to get to know him, didn't I?), we are off to a great start.

I have named him Herbie in honour of his 'roots'. BTW did you know that an upper looper needle costs $40?!? -- Let's just say that I won't be breaking any more needles in a hurry.

Stay tuned for exciting projects.....

Office Chair Slipcover

This office chair was looking fugly and blah. My Sewlution was to make a slipcover for it.

Slipcovers are great because it instantly changes the look without too much of an investment. I used a red and white check matelasse fabric and threw in some menswear waistband interfacing for the skirting.


Before & After


The Frilly Details:




Watch for more slipcover Sewlutions!

Much to do in 2011

Thank you to everyone that kept me hopping in December. January is proving to be equally busy in the studio. Changing things around and adding new stations is challenging when you have orders to get out. I will try to show these changes this month.

I had lost my painting table because of my new industrial serger (more on that at a later date) so I had to come up with a space saving solution. This pull out painting tray is what I came up with. I used the tracks from those kitchen pull-out bins and went from there.


Cut out your hole.


Drop in plastic tray.


Fill the plastic tray with colour.


Pull out when you need to do your painting, staining or dyeing.


Push in the mess and save some space!


I am very pleased and will get around to painting the edge of that board this year.