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.

Procrastination Station

I signed myself up for a crafty show about a month ago.  It's next Thursday.  Out of all this time that I had, I decided to start making things last week.  I know; for shame! Well I'm just trying to move along, and I have tons of things to make. Luckily for my embroidery machine, I can whip out tons of little things without much of an issue. I have just been extremely unmotivated about life.  Good thing I keep up with reading my daily devotion or I'd be completely lost. I have managed to pump out some wallets and some infinity scarves however.

I decided to use the assembly line process in cutting my fabrics.  Once I established a rhythm, everything went smoothly.  After cutting all the fabrics and stabilizers, I went through my zipper container and found coordinating zippers for each wallet.  Sewing only took a few minutes after all the organizing had been done. I see why people do it this way; it's overall way better.

I also decided to make myself a new clutch and keychain wallet.  I used some chevron and ikat print duckcloth that I purchased from Hobby Lobby.

I was just trying out something for the clutch.  I must say I like it.  Especially the pleats and the the snap.  It's small yet very roomy.

My daughter had Thanksgiving lunch at school.  I decided to doll myself up and head out. I look like I'm about to cry.  I think I had gotten choked up before taking this picture and my eyes were still teary.

After lunch with my daughter, a friend of mine called me up so we could go thrifting and found this print.  We thought it was beautiful, one of the best optical illusions I have seen in a long while.  I think the caption read "Beauty is Vanity."  But at an alarming $26 there was no way that was coming home with me.

I have been craving a shift dress lately.  I found this vintage printed jersey thrifting a couple of weeks ago so I decided to use it.  The name of the print is "Chevrons" by some designer.  The name escapes me right now.  It has an amazing herringbone print with polka dots floating about throughout it.

I didn't want anything to spectacular, just a little slip-on number.  This satisfied my hunger.  Now all I need is to get some opaque tights to toss on under here.

 This is me with all of my exhaustion.  (I have new neighbors that have only been here about 2 weeks now, and they have succeeded in keeping me away night and day.  They have an infant/toddler that is constantly crying, and they refuse to go to its rescue at anytime during its many bawl fits.)  That noise on top of my strain of getting this craft show stuff done has worn me completely down.

UGH!

Shop update: Sorority Keychain Wallets

If you follow me on instagram, then you have seen that have been working on some new embroidered bags for sororities.  Well I have been working on stitching some out and just wanted you all to know that I have added some to my etsy shop: createbylani.  I am also doing them by request, since I don't know all of the sororities or colors or preferences. Go take a peak! Thanks, guys!!!

Welcome to the Jungle

I've really been into leopard print and business apparel lately.  So I combined the two and made a leopard-print pencil skirt.  I say pencil skirt but it's more of a hobble skirt.  It's the first non-stretch pencil skirt I have owned (well at least what I can think of anyway.)

This skirt cost me $3.10. Three bucks for a yard of home dec twill I bought from Hobby Lobby years ago when I was working there and approximately ten cents for the zipper. I believe the zippers were $1.00 for ten; I usually order them in bulk from eBay.

So I drafted up a fairly simple little pencil skirt, but brought it in tighter on my legs just so it could give a better silhouette to me.  If you have never drafted a pencil skirt or don't know where to begin or just scared to take the plunge, try Cotton&Curls, What the Craft, or SewPetiteGal.

Ok now for the details!  I did add a small waistband and some tiny belt loops.  It has a back zipper.  There are double darts on each side in the back, totaling for back darts.  I also added a split in the back.  One of my favorite features is The hem in the front rises slightly higher than the back.  While the hem rests at the bottom of my knee in the back, the hem in the front sits right above my kneecaps. It is exactly what I wanted in a pencil skirt (aside from pockets).  I'm rather surprised it turned out this well.

Would you don a leopard print skirt?  Or do you believe that leopard print is not appropriate in such an article of clothing?

Vintage Sheet Laptop Messenger

I was in desperate need of a laptop bag.  The one that I had was the traditional black canvas number that was both ubiquitous and blah (and also long gone because I trashed it.)  So I decided it was high-time to make myself one when I resorted to carrying my computer around in a flimsy totebag from World Market.

So I rounded up some linen that I had, selected a bright and playful vintage sheet and also some vintage strapping trim that I bought, and set to work.  This baby turned out waaaaay better than I had anticipated especially since I didn't necessarily have a direction that I was going in.

It has 3 zippered compartments: the main bag, a tiny zippered pocket in the lining, and the accented outside zippered pocket.  The accent pocket is quilted and padded, while the main body is double padded.  And it is so HUGE.  I have a pretty typical Dell laptop, so I went off of that measurement.  I didn't want the bag to fit snugly though.  The body can hold the laptop,the charger, and probably a couple of books.  The accent pocket can hold a few incidentals as well.  I keep flash drives and other tiny cords in the smaller interior pocket.

To make it fun, I also lined the bag in vintage sheets.  I just love this pansy print.  I have been trying my best not to use it until I had something special in mind for it.  I think this is a good use of the print.  The zippers were some vintage ones that I bought at a thrift store.  I knew they would come in handy one day.  

Another favorite feature of this bag to me is the strap.  I love this natural colored trim with salmon top-stitching   When I found this stuff at the thrift store I snatched up as much as I could help.  I have it in about 3 or 4 colors.  This "webbing" makes such a good strap because it is comfortable and slightly padded.  It doesn't dig in you from carrying around the weight of the laptop.  And it blends in really well.  I'm not sure from what fiber it is made, but it has the weave; texture; and color of  the linen I used.  Plus the stitching matches the print and the zipper.

Can't wait to take this out more!!

Shop update: VS Scrap Bundles

I added a few scrap packs to my shop today.  These bundles have almost 30 pieces of vintage sheet fabric goodness in them.  They come in three colors: blues, yellows, and pink multi.  I will also be adding some fat quarter bundles very soon.  I have already started dividing them up. Go check them out!

Shop update

I added this cute little guy to my shop: create. today.  These are customizable personalized card wallets.  Like the others, they feature quilting and keychain clip with bright contrasting embroidery.

They are available in the fabric colors below (and also the same fabric as the sample).

Go check them out today!!

Autumn, I Believe You Have Arrived!

I managed to get out a shirt Sunday and one Monday. They are some "hybrid" pieces, if you will.  I think they will go well transitioning from warm temperatures to cooler ones.  I pretty much will wear sleeveless get-ups all year round because I love layering with cardigans. So here are three tops that I have made recently.

L to R: Tie-neck peplum, Gathered bodice w/Peter Pan collar, Reverse button-down hi-low

I love each and every one of these tops, let me just say. They will probably get a WHOLE lotta use out of them this season.

The first blouse:  I had this red floral and navy dalmatian print silky fabric that I had purchased from a thrift store sometime ago.  I got about 3 yards for 99 cents.  I didn't realize I had that much until I started making this shirt.  When I laid the fabric out I knew exactly what I wanted it to be.  So I set out to make this sleeveless tie-neck peplum bad-boy.  I love the vintage print, and I think this style further adds to the beauty of this interesting silky fabric.  The interesting thing about the fabric is that although it has a silky texture, it also has some jacquard dots allover it.  That creates some fun texture to the top as a whole.  I really like the vintage/modern look of it all.  I needed more "dressy" blouses (that are also long enough to cover my plumber's crack).  This will look delightful paired with a cardi.

The second blouse:  I don't even remember where I got this fabric from; I think it may have been at an antique mall.  It's like a cotton blend voile that is amazingly airy (and see-through).  I also have yards and yards of this one as well.  I have been hoarding this puppy for ever since I can remember.  At any rate I finally pulled it out of my stash and decided to sew something up.  Well I was in the mood for peter-pan collars, and this is what I came up with.  The fabric is a nice shade of red with tiny little polka dots.  I'm not a red or polka dot fan but I'm getting there.  It has cap-sleeves and a gathered bodice in the front and back with a back zipper for easy on and off.  With the gathers the shirt actually is made like a tent top, but I think it's still very cute.

The third blouse:  I have been wanting a hi-lo blouse, and I finally got myself one.  I.love.this.shirt!!!! AH!  It is made from some rayon challis that I bought from Fashion Fabrics Club.  I didn't realize how grungy this top looked until I wore the button side in the front and belted it.  But who cares that I brought the 90s back. Every other decade has been brought back lately.
So just to let you know it is technically a reversible hi-lo top.  The original correct way to wear it would feature the higher side in the front (which will have a pocket when I add it) and the lower button-down side in the back.  However I was toying around with the shirt and put the button-down side on in front, and I loved the end result when belted.  It almost gave it a bit of a peplum look.  As soon as I can get my hands on more grungy floral rayon, I am going to whip up some of these babies.  Talk about comfy!!!
                                                

By the way the turquoise britches (he he) I have on in the pictures above are some cigarette pants that I made from some stretch twill.  I will have a post on them later.  Anyway I hope you guys have been enjoying yourselves some wonderful Autumn weather!  I know that I have.

Have you been working on anything for your fall wardrobe?  I'd love to see!