Today...

I'm just dropping in to give you a glimpse of what I have planned today.  Not really a whole lot, but I am starting to tackle my horde of vintage sheets.  I'm finally going through the ones that I have at my home.  I still need to get the tons more that I left at my parents' house. Bleh! I hate trying to decide which ones I want to keep versus what I don't.  I have to keep reminding myself that I don't want my child(ren) to talk about me, though, if they have to have an estate sale after I'm dead.  It's better to purge now than then I suppose.

Enjoy your Sunday!

KCWC 2013

     I'm very late with posting this for kcwc 2013.  I made one other piece as well that I will post later.  Anyway I whipped up this quick little blouse for my babes.  I bought the fabric from my local quilt shop.  It's Riley Blake's Song Bird by Carina Gardner.  I paired it with a navy and white chevron and navy and aqua chevron both also by Riley Blake.  I used the navy and aqua chevron to make bias tape for the arm holes and hem.  Funny thing about the bias trim: I made just over 2.5 yards of it and just barely had enough of it.  Fortunately I made it.

     I designed the shirt to be a bit A-line and a little of a tent blouse.  I added a keyhole button and loop closure in the back.  I embellished the front with multiple contrasting ruffles.  I also added a bit of elastic to the sides to cinch in the bodice to keep it from being so balloony.

     Before I forget: When I uploaded photos of this shirt to instagram, Elsie Marley was the first person to like my photo.  Talk about your excitement!!!!  I was super SUPER SUPER excited to see that.  No kidding!!!!  At any rate, what did you create for kcwc spring 2013?  I hope you were more productive than I was!

Oh My! Where Have I Been?

     I have truly missed you guys something awful! I hadn't realized that it has been months since I've sat down and blogged. But I suppose it has. I didn't mean to go this long; honestly I didn't.  I have been busy with volunteering, kindergarten, custom orders, and trying to get myself back into school.  If you follow me on Instagram, then you have seen the custom orders and things that I have been making my way around. Not even including the barrage of emails I've encountered.  But enough of this stuff! How have you been my darlings?!?  I hope great.

     I've been working on phone clutches lately, and I'm really into them actually.  I've had requests for monogrammed clutches.  To tell you the truth, I didn't even think about it until a client of mine asked for it.  So those options will be in the shop shortly.  Here are some for example.

     A couple of weeks ago I made a fabric purchase from Fabric Shack.  I very rarely purchase designer fabrics online.  I'm not sure why.  I think it's because I'm a very tactile, visual person.  I generally have to have things in my hand and see the true color of it to get my gears turning.  Well, I decided to check on the website anyway in their sale-a-bration section and found some really darling fabrics for a really good price and not to mention the half price shipping they offer!

     I ended up with a bunch of new fabrics that I am in love with.  One of the perks I'm noticing about shopping online for fabric is not only the vast variety (er, duh!) but the availability of stock and the prices are much cheaper than my local quilt shop.  Because I live in a sort of small city, it takes awhile for trends to catch on out our shop; and when they finally do come in they tend to be very expensive there.  Also it's hard to get a plethora of variety at our Singer shop, and I'm not the one to make special orders or requests for fabric.  I definitely will be purchasing more designer fabrics online from here on out, especially from Fabric Shack.  That bundle only cost me $3 to ship.

     I was in dire need of updated business/contact cards for my public outings and such.  Besides that, my tastes have changed.  So I sat down and created these fun, little jobs and printed them at home.  I used some kraft cardstock that I had purchased at Hobby Lobby.  I really like the look of anything natural like kraft paper and natural linen.  I paired it with social media icons in Pantone's color of the year Emerald (which also is my birthstone. Today is my birthday. Yay!); I think natural colors and blues work so well together.  That combination always makes me happy!

    

     I have more to show and tell but I have some photo editing to do before I can post.  And let me send my deepest apologies for these horrible phone photos (the pictures are from Instagram) and being gone for so long.  I promise to try to be back soon, mmkay?!

Simple Tablet Sleeve

First off I want to say I miss you all.  I feel like I have been a bad friend.  I can call you guys friends, right?  I feel like we are all friends at any rate.  I have been neglecting my poor little blog for no reason whatsoever really.  I have been volunteering at this Christian pro-life women's clinic for some time now, and Kelsey is in kindergarten.  So these events have kept me occupied.  With that being said let's jump right into this.

I purchased a tablet a few days ago.  I purchased a 7" Nextbook tablet. So far I am thoroughly pleased with it.  It came with this horrible black velveteen bag that collects all the dust in the world and is just overall ugly. I knew I wanted to make a simple sleeve for it to fit into.  I wasn't sure what style I wanted to make.  I was thinking about an envelope clutch but decided against it.

So this bad boy ended up costing me less than $2 in supplies.  I purchased some vinyl fabric sheets from Hobby Lobby for $ 1.47 a sheet and some felt sheets for $0.25 a piece. I only needed one of each.  The sheets were bigger than I thought they were.

I settled on the giraffe print textured sheet.  It's not so bad looking after all.  I was mostly just using it to test it out, but I actually like the end result.  I may try some other vinyls or leathers later, but for now it will work.

I did purchase some scrap leather, acrylic paints, and studs for a more designer cover.  Once I figure on a design for the leather, I will post the results.

What have you been creating lately?  I would love for you to share! I hope you all have a great day!!!

Err.., Happy New Year!

Hi gang! It's been a little space of time. I have been meaning to blog more frequently over this past month, but you know how the holidays can be.  All that's important is that we are here now! So how has 2013 been for you so far? I hope great.

I have been busy. If you follow me on Instagram, then you will have seen the bags and drawings that I have been working on.  I have started on some hand-lettered scripture drawings that correlate with my daily devotions.

Psalm 16:10

Psalm 91:2

2 Corinthians 12:9

John 14:6

Matthew 6:33

Hebrews 13:5

Hebrews 11:1

Jeremiah 29:11

Keeping this journal helps me in many ways: 1) helps break down the scripture in my words, 2) helps me get a better understanding of the Word, 3) helps me remember what I read, 4) reiterates God's love for me, 5) pushes my creativity, and 6) helps spread the message to others (since I post them on Instagram.) They also help to calm my spirit; I notice after I feel stressed out, I immediately want to read the Bible and do some hand-lettering.

I have also been sewing some, mostly bags though I do have some clothing wips. I have to be in the mood for clothes-making. And since I am one that hates trying on clothing, I oftentimes save clothes for the very last.

outside

inside

I made a faux leather and vintage canvas clutch. I got the idea from a good friend of mine, who said that she wanted me to make her an envelope clutch.  This was a prototype for what I'm going to make her. She wants a large one, and this little baby here would probably only hold a wallet, phone, keys, and some other small items (not that you would ever need room for much more.)  I added a little zippered inside pocket just to hold some other little items that might need to be protected.  I also attached a snap closure.  I rarely add magnetic snaps to bags because I have a fear of magnets erasing all the data out of any of my electronic devices, and we just can't have that type of chaos happen.

 

                                    

This little box bag is for my swap partner on swap-bot.  I believe it is for Sew a Pouch swap.  I lined it with a sunshine yellow and white zigzag fabric and quilted it with the same zigzag pattern.  It has a reversible zipper on it.  I just love these colors and fabrics together. I sure hope my partner can use it.

I've been working on some phone clutches as well. This idea stemmed from a phone holder that I saw at Target that really piqued my interest.  So I sought out a plan of attack to execute this design I had brewing in my head.  This is something that I needed a long time ago because I hate having my phone in places that aren't easily accessible (i.e. zipped up in a purse some place.)  It fits down in the outer pocket and is held in tact by a snap fastener while your essentials fit into the zippered compartment and your keys attach to the key fob/handle.  I have more prints and colors coming up that will be available soon.

Speaking of clothing, I made my junior some pajamas to match the vintage sheet pajamas I made for myself. I used the same pattern but a different colorway.  I also stitched some pockets onto pocket-less American Apparel tees using the pajama fabric and embroidered our monograms onto them.



Lastly, I'm going to show you guys some artwork that I did years ago.  I'm trying to get back into sketching and drawing because my mom has said if I don't use it, I'll surely lose it.  Besides I really want to do a portrait of my daughter soon.

pencil

charcoal

pen and ink (pointilism)

painting (watercolor)

Oh yeah! Side note:  Whilst perusing instagram for fabric ideas, I came across a lovely photo of jersey fabric some had taken.  Her caption had mentioned that she had picked up the four fabrics from her Wal-Mart for a buck a yard.  Since my Wal-Mart still carries fabric, I made it an immediate point to head to it as soon as possible, which was early the next morning. (BTW I rarely even step foot into Wal-Mart.  I only make the trip about once, maybe twice, a year and it's only for fabric on top of that.)

                                     
I brought home 9 yards of 7 fabrics for 12 dollars total. All but one of the fabrics were $1 per yard.  Only the jersey with hearts on it was $2 a yard.  The blue and orange striped fabric on the end is the same as a fabric at Hobby Lobby that is $7.99 a yard.  As much as I abhor Wal-Mart, I will go in there for the jersey fabric especially when I'm running low on it.

Shop update + Coupon code!

I know I have become very sparse when it comes down to my good ol' blog.  I have been very busy with craft shows lately!! (I'm so excited to get to say that!!)  At any rate, I have just updated my etsy shop: create. by Lani with loads of new wallets.  I am also offering a 15% off coupon from now until December 21.  Just enter coupon code: CMAS2012 during check out.  Now let's show some samples of what I have available, shall we?

I will be gradually adding more things throughout the course of the week.  Don't hesitate to email me if you are looking for something specific!!

Enjoy!!

A Crafty Christmas: My First Craft Show!

     So last night I completed my first "real" craft show.  Surprisingly enough I was nowhere near as nervous as I had intended on being.  That was a big accomplishment for my high-strung personality.  The event was called "A Crafty Christmas" and was hosted by BigHouse Foundation, which is an amazing organization here in my county that tends to the needs of children, especially fostered and orphaned. It was held in an old, brick warehouse in historic downtown Opelika.  The venue had a very rustic appeal to it.  Overall I think it looked more country Christmas, which was in itself inviting and nice.

     Despite my procrastination, I managed to get up over fifty pieces.  I sewed a great deal of them the day of and the day before.  (I will never, ever do that again!!!!!)  I had children's Christmas skirts, quilted wallets, checkbook covers, keychain wallets, infinity scarves, and some mini crayon rolls.

     I mentioned that I didn't feel nervous, and that was a great thing.  But instead of feeling that way, my nervousness was replaced with inadequacy when I set up my booth.  Ugh!! I walked around and browsed my fellow crafters and noticed that they had some really incredible things.  Not only did these ladies and gentlemen have amazing things, but they also had an overwhelming quantity of merchandise.  Immediately I felt that I wasn't enough nor did I have enough.

    But I shouted to myself to stop thinking that way, made myself leave the building.  As I got into my car and drove off, I prayed.  I reminded myself that God doesn't want us to do it all; He only wants us to plant the seed, and He will do the watering, fertilizing, pruning, etc.  I went to get food, and I focused on this article about inadequacy.  It mentions 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, where the apostle Paul didn't feel capable of preaching because of fear.  It also reminded me of Moses being called upon at an old age to try to deliver a nation of people and he not believing that it could be done.

     After I eased this stress of not feeling "enough," I came back to the warehouse and got ready. I looked around in sheer amazement at the other booths, relaxed, and waited for us to open.  By that time, we still had   a tad over an hour before we would let the public inside.  At 5:11 p.m., I sold my first item (which was a scarf) to the hostess's mother.  We still had forty-nine minutes before we opened.  I was very grateful and very pleased that I relied on God to show me His work.

 Checkbook covers & Infinity scarves

Keychain wallets & Mini crayon rolls 

Wallets 

Children skirts

    I managed to sell a quite bit more than I anticipated.  I made some great connections and saw some familiar faces.  I have another craft show next Friday night that a good friend of mine just told me about.  I believe I can get used to these craft shows.