Three Day Weekend!

Good Morning!

I have tomorrow off from my fulltime job for Easter, which means I am in the middle of a three-day weekend! Awesome!

I haven't updated in a while (Bad Taina!), but I will give a summary of what's been going on in my handmade world:

Last weekend I bought a bunch of speckled chocolate M&M eggs to make birdsnest cookies for tomorrow and proceeded to eat a whole lot of chocolate, leaving not enough for cookies. One day I will learn that planning anything having to do with candy in advance doesn't work in my household. =)

I listed an owl coin purse and a leaf coin purse! I'm so stoked about them:


(Click photos for more info!)



The owl fabric makes me smile.

My spring fabric came in from FabricStash and I LOVE it! 4 half yards of different prints. I prewashed it all and cut clutch pattern pieces out of them, leaving enough fabric for more coin purses and maybe even a few makeup bags.

Yesterday I went downtown to Mood Fabrics on a hunt for heavy duty interfacing in white. No such luck. They sent me to a place on 39th Street, I asked for heavy-duty fusible interfacing, the employee swore it was fusible, I stupidly took his word for it, brought it home and nope! Doesn't fuse. I have no idea what I am going to do with this stuff. I'm using my black heavy-duty interfacing now, which doesn't show through, so it's not that huge of a deal, but I was partial to my pellon. I will have to order some online. le sigh!

My cards from MagicJelly arrived a couple days ago! She's such an awesome artist. I'm going to send one to my Etsy Penpal, Nadine.

I made my first clutch ever last night. I'm so excited by it! I think I'm going to keep it for my Easter outfit and make more for my etsy shop. I'm actually not religious at all, but Easter and Christmas are the two days my family gets dressed up and has a big dinner.

Okay, it's 10:30am, I want to make another clutch, list it, and head to the farmer's market for organic eggs to dye tonight.

<3 Always,
--Taina

a relaxing weekend.

Good Afternoon!

I have no social plans for today or tomorrow and I'm actually kind of thrilled about this. I went out last night with 5 coworkers for Mexican food, got home before 11pm and slept. I really needed the rest.

Today I haven't made anything yet, I'm still in bed, I've been awake since 8 this morning. I'm catching up on last night's episode of "Lost" and thinking about all the things I want to make. I'm waiting for my roommate to leave this afternoon. Sometimes I don't like to be watched while I sew or knit. I really just want some quiet time in front of my machine.


(click photo for more info)

I listed my latest makeup pouch, made from the cool fabric I purchased at Mood Fabrics a while back.

I've read somewhere around 8 blogs so far. I love reading crafty blogs, they are so inspirational. Two Etsyans started a daily forum thread called "The Original Blog Love" where bloggers can post their links and everyone else can browse all the daily entries in one place. So much fun.

The only four things I MUST do this weekend (Fri/Sat, I work Sundays) are go to Target, the Farmer's Market and the library. I already forgot what the fourth one was, but I have it written down somewhere.

I usually have much more to do than that, so this seems pretty darn relaxing!

Spring knit dresses are on sale @ Target and I finally found out I got Easter Sunday off from work so I want to go and see what they have. I have been eyeing certain Sparrow/Swallow necklaces on Etsy and think Easter is a great reason to purchase one. I sent a message to a seller asking about shipping policies, as I really only have a week to receive it in time to wear with a new dress. I hope to hear back from her soon!

My family is really not religious, but we use religious holidays as good excuses to share a meal and good conversation. I also use it as an excuse to buy a girlie outfit to wear.

I will probably do Target and the Farmer's Market bright and early tomorrow, on the way to the Farmer's Market I can return some library books. Sounds like a plan!

<3 Always,
--Taina

An apple a day...

My coworker's friend just had twin boys! He bought 2 apple hats from me and I couldn't be more excited. I hope she takes lots of photos!



The cool thing about my hats is that the brim rolls up and down and the knit is stretchy, so it works very well for growing babies. Since they are only 4lbs currently, the hats will definitely last until Fall. Alvaro is seeing the babies either tonight or tomorrow night, I can't wait to hear his friend's reaction to the hats. Alvaro was totally in love with them.

I love when customers are happy!

I just bought a bunch more fabric, half yards in 4 different prints from FabricStash. Maybe I will get them by Saturday, that would be awesome!

I have marketing class tonight, which I'm not thrilled about since the class is mostly common sense. The one really nice thing about the class is it inspires me to work hard.

I made two more makeup bags last night but had to leave for work before I was able to list them in mh shop. Another pink/red striped, since I just sold the last one and one made out of my new orange/yellow/red floral fabric.

I'm glad I'm on a creating roll. I'm always happiest working with my hands.

<3 Always,
--Taina

She's back!

Good Afternoon!!

After a very crazy/hectic/chaotic week, it's Tuesday of a new week and I'm feeling great!

I received a letter from my Etsy Penpal yesterday. She's such an inspiration. Not only is Nadine attending grad school AND training guide dogs, but she makes a tremendous amount of new items in her spare time and is selling tons! I came home and sat in front of my sewing machine and made two new makeup bags. Including one out of the Fishy fabric I purchased from FabricStash! So exciting!



I have paypal $ burning a hole in my creative pocket. I "hearted" at least 4 listings of FabricStash's today. If I sell one more makeup bag, I will be able to place a nice order for fabric AND buy more fusible interfacing. STOKED!

The second item I made? Another pink bird makeup bag, I have yet to photograph it, though.

As usual, all photos are clickable for more info. I'm off to work and then home to make MORE THINGS! Hooray!

<3 Always,
--Taina

Etsy Purchases! <3 !

Good morning! (It's 10am EST here!)

So I didn't make anything new for my shop yesterday, but fully intend to today as I sold two more items this week and want to at least replenish those. I had a few work-related meetings on my day off that I had to attend yesterday. No sewing! When that was all said and done, I went and hung out w/ my friend Dorian at Blockheads for Mexican food and margaritas.

So today, what do I write about since I haven't made anything new? I'll tell you!

SweetestPea!

For those of you who don't know, Jen of Sweetest Pea is one of my favorite stuffed animal designers on Etsy. She's also one of the nicest people I've ever met in real life. One of her very unique fat monsters was on the Martha Stewart show that interviewed Rob Kalin of Etsy. It was made entirely of recycled mens business attire. So cool!

On my birthday I decided to buy a gift for someone else. It's actually a Hobbit tradition and one of my faves. I immediately went to Jen's shop to purchase this little guy in Green:



It's a little rice ball w/ seaweed! and eyes! The cuteness! I've been eyeing it for two of my friends for a while. I think Greg will really enjoy it.

Also, the best part? I mentioned that it was my birthday and Jen made me a little stuffed cupcake to send along. I took some silly customer appreciation photos to list in her feedback. Here's one of me hanging out on my bed with the riceball and cupcake:



Super cute! As always, you can click photos for either listing info or larger more detailed versions. =)

I'm off to do some laundry including the new fabric that arrived from Fabric Stash so I can get to work.

10:09am! Time to get moving!

<3 Always,
--Taina