Fabric Postcards for Christmas and More

I made a bunch of fabric postcards for Christmas and everyday, and if they sell well I'll make more, because they're a really fun way to feature pretty fabric. Here is one that I did for Christmas, and here is one of my favorite "everyday" cards that would also be great to send from a Hawaiian vacation:

I have a few different designs for both Christmastime and any time. They're for sale now in the shop, Etsy.com/PandorasPurses! They are $5.00 a piece plus shipping, and as of 11/1/15 cost about 71 cents to mail within the United States. Any questions, let me know!

First Ornament of the Season

I found a picture of this somewhere online and spent a fun hour or so making myself a little donut. It's about four inches across and a great excuse to use up some beads and felt. I'm looking forward to making more ornaments this season!

What are your crafting plans this holiday season?

Holiday Crafting Plans

So it's getting to be that time again- thinking about Christmas crafts. Actually I was thinking about them in August when I bought a pillow pattern from Craftsy and got started cutting. Now it's the end of October and I have to get serious.

This past weekend I bought a copy of Better Homes and Gardens "Christmas Quilts and More," which is always fun. It was nice to see that this year there were no projects I recognized from other issues, as sometimes they do recycle projects from year to year. There is also a nice mix of modern and traditional patterns- a red and white shoofly alongside a modern Christmas tree, for example.

The issue also contains some ornaments, bags and purses and some woolfelt projects like the snowman pillow on the cover and a simple wreath made with felted squares.

My favorite ideas from this issue include the fabric gift tags and the "Happiness is Making Friends" stitchery.

In the mean time though I have a Pinterest board full of Christmas ideas and that pillow to finish! What are your crafting plans for this Christmas season?

Ditty Bags!

I really love this bandana-style fabric I found last spring and I think it sewed up so cute into this "ditty bag" by MichellePatterns.com. I love this pattern for its ease and versatility; you can make so many different-looking bags from this simple pattern. MichellePatterns.com is a great source of easy, fun bag patterns and I definitely recommend you check her out!

If you'd like to buy this, you can find the listing here.

Name Change!

In an effort to rebrand and start promoting my shop more vigorously, I've renamed everything Pandora's Purses.

So the shop is Etsy.com/shop/PandorasPurses, and on Facebook, Pandora's Purses. I'm working on getting a Twitter account up and you can follow me on Pinterest at Pinterest.com/Bostonbibliophl.  That's my not-so-secret book blogger identity.

And you'll see me posting here more often.

What Do You Do To Stay Inspired?

When I get in a crafting rut I can go more than a week without making or sewing anything. That may not seem like a long time, but when you are a creative person, and being at the sewing machine is just another part of your day, a week or two with no sewing can seem like forever. The longest I've ever gone is about two years- and that was because my family was going through an upheaval and I didn't want to spend anything on crafting. Of course I forgot that I already had so much stuff in my sewing room that I could complete numerous projects without spending a penny. It took a little girl looking at my stash and saying "You can make so many things with all this," that brought me out of my funk and lead to me to ask, "What can I make with all this?"

Usually I don't have any little girls around to set me straight though and I have to figure my own way through a dip in crafting. One way I do this is by organizing. There is always a drawer or box or pile to sort out and neaten up. As soon as I clear off a shelf, or rearrange a table top it's messy again with this and that I don't know what to do with. But what happens is I find things- unfinished projects, bits and bobs, random stuff that inspires me and gives ideas. For example earlier this week I reorganized my scrap basket, something I do periodically, and found a long strip of striped fabric I realized would be perfect for doll legs. Later I found a coordinate for a dress, and we're off to the races on a new project.

Then there's routine work. I make bookmarks that I sell to a bookstore in the Boston area; I do an order every few months or so, maybe four or five orders a year. Working on bookmarks is very routine and not the most exciting sewing, but it pays and I enjoy it, and doing it puts me in the mood to do more challenging work. I get through a few bookmarks and I'm like, "hey, let's do a purse".

That's when I realize those little tasks aren't so little, but are actually a really important part of being a creative person. Organizing my space gives me ideas as well as a sense of tidiness and responsibility. Doing easy work puts me in the mood for something harder. And since even more difficult projects become easier with practice, there will always be a reason for me to keep learning.

Blue Mermaid Snow Day Friend

I've been really busy sewing lately, just not posting.

Here's a little blue mermaid I made from a pattern by Bit of Whimsy Prims. She came from my scrap pile but now she sits on my reading chair.

Little Mermaid and a Matching Quilt

Another little doll, this one a mermaid baby, made from a pattern by Bit of Whimsy Dolls. I made the matching doll quilt a long time ago, from scraps from a larger quilt, and have been wanting to make a little doll for it since then. The license on the pattern allows me to sell dolls I make from it as long as I credit the designer, so you may see some show up in Pandora's Craft Room sooner or later.

Makeup Bags

I love making these makeup/cosmetic bags. I've probably made close to a dozen by now. They take me about a half hour after I'm done cutting (2 each of outer fabric, lining, two kinds of interfacing, so it's like 8 pieces).

It's such a versatile pattern and can have so many different looks and uses. Use a fabric with sewing supplies on it and it's a craft pouch. Use flowers and it's girly. Use fabric depicting the New York subway system, and it's got some cool.

You can find the pattern I used here. So-Sew-Easy.com is a great sewing blog. You should follow it and you should make this bag. Once you make one, you'll want to make a million. Two fat quarters, interfacing and a 9 inch zipper is all you need.

New! Key Fobs Added to the Shop

I added a half dozen or so fabric key fobs to the shop today, in cute fabrics with cats, bees, ants and more. They're $6.50 a piece plus shipping.

Check them out!