Tag Archives: cozy

Curve balls and silver linings.

Posted on January 2, 2013 by SewTara| 3 Comments

I got this order for 200 cozies, my biggest order yet. I called the person who taught me how to screen print and asked if she would have time to make the screen for me but she was too busy. I can make screens but I’m not an expert yet, it’s very hit and miss. So I was on my own for the project.
Here are the hurdles I have experienced since starting on them on Saturday.

- Had to run to Fabricland for supplies, red for the interior, ran out of fabric after cutting 98.
- Went to Staples to make the overhead photocopy I needed for screen printing. Had trouble with the copier, which is silly because as a teacher I could have made the 1 copy at school quiet easily. I put 4 designs on it just in case.
- Came back home and set things up, plugged in the halogen light to burn the screen and the bulb blew.
- Trip to Home Depot
- Pulled out a coated screen I’ve had around for a while and burned it, covering some of the images at intervals to make sure at least 1 of them would turn out well.
- Couldn’t rinse the emulsion out of the screen so I tried again.
- Couldn’t rinse the screen.
- Had to strip the screens down to start over but was out of the chemicals, trip to Michael’s at 8:30pm.
- Came home and coated the 2 screens and rigged up a box covered in a blankie to keep them in the dark while they dried.

Onto Sunday when we had a plans with friends all day.
- Cut the batting fabric I had on hand, only had enough for 102.
- Checked my label inventory, I have 187.
- Massaged my sore forearm muscle while visiting with our friends.
- Came home exhausted and not feeling very well at 11:30pm but burned a screen.
- Washed it out successfully!!! <- a good thing

Monday
- Screen was dried and ready to go but had some spots I needed to fill, trip to the art store.
- Cut the fabric for screen printing, ran out at 119!

Tuesday
- Everything is closed!!!!

Sooooo it’s all manageable but my oh my it’s been a bit of a challenge to get this done. But it’ll be worth it for my cozies going into the hands of 200 people!

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Friday Create Along

Posted on August 31, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

Made this neat little pouch for my phone. Yes of course it’s a Michelle Patterns pattern, I’m so addicted.

It was ridiculously easy to whip up. It’s super cheap because it’s only the pattern pieces and some very brief notations, but since I own almost all her patterns and I’ve sewn a lot it was easy to figure out the assembly bit.

Now I’m going to be smart and not choose my next project, with the first week of school looming next week I’m going to be realistic and know that I won’t have time to sew something new. Instead I’ll post a really fun tutorial, an item of my own creation! That hasn’t happened in a while. So yeah, next Friday, super awesome cool stuff.

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Posted in createalong, sewing

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Another sunglass cozy.

Posted on May 1, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

I finally finished stitching on the frame for this fun sunglass cozy.

Well I intended for it to hold sunglasses but My iPhone fits perfectly, and you could put eye glasses in it too. I’m debating writing out the pattern and even making kits. I’ve got a few frames left but I’ll need to stock up on more.

The fabric is a fun piece of Japanese print I had lying around. I quilted around the square designs to make it look even more like a quilt.

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Posted in cozy, sewing

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A new home for my sunglasses.

Posted on April 18, 2012 by SewTara| 7 Comments

I love randomly making stuff. I was in my work space looking at a coin purse frame and had this little brainwave.

I really need to learn to draw these patterns out in a way to share/sell them.

I actually cut into a fat quarter Echino fabric I’ve had lying around forever.

My sunglasses fit in perfectly. I took it into work and some of the ladies I work with have sunglasses that are thicker when they’re all folded up, which was sad, but it works for me!

I even managed some fancy print placement.

I’ve got some others in the works, just have to get sewing those frames on.

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Frankie and tea.

Posted on March 12, 2012 by SewTara| 14 Comments

I had a silly idea the other day and decided to execute it. Here’s the result.

It’s super silly, but so adorably funny too! Yes, he wraps all the way around.

I also made this one, someone requested a custom order before the holidays for a cozy like this and I thought it would make a good tea drinker’s cozy.

The only thing is, and I’m not sure if this is just spending too long knowing Mollie, but I’m really leaning towards putting a cute little face on that tea cup. Opinions?

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Winners!!

Posted on December 16, 2011 by SewTara| 3 Comments

Woohoo!!! A big giant thank you to all the lovely people who popped over to my blog and left a lovely comment. I even got a few sweet emails as well.

So for my cup cozie giveaway the lucky winner is Bryanna!

For a 10 ounce bag of new to you fabric scraps the winner is Meredith!

And because I have a huge bin of fabric scraps and why not share the love I decided to choose a second winner, so congrats also goes out to Heather!

Emails coming in a few moments ladies.

I’m also being totally lazy and skipping on sharing my Create Along for this week, things have been so busy at work and home. I did not have time to crochet up those adorable slippers. However, we are going away for a week over the holidays and I just might take that project with me since it’s more portable than my sewing machine!

But for the next week I’m going to choose something pretty easy since we’re all busy and I’ll be going crazy with a Nate’s turning 3 party to organize, Christmas to organize and a trip to get ready for!  Let’s make one of these handy pincushions. The PDF won’t let me steal an image to put here but click on over and see what it looks like and if you can squeeze it into your busy week play along with me!

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Posted in cozy, createalong

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Perhaps you’ve heard,

Posted on November 3, 2011 by SewTara| 6 Comments

I’ve been published! Like on that paper stuff from real life!

Thanks to Sara for Tweeting about it and sharing an Instagram pic I could steal. Stitch is sending me a hard copy and I can’t wait to see it in person!

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Posted in crafty books, fun finds, gifts

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It’s tea time!

Posted on August 31, 2011 by SewTara| 3 Comments

Last year while working at a craft event I picked myself up one of these tea thingies. Mostly it was supposed to be a way to get me to use up all the loose tea I have lying around. Usually I just toss a boring orange pekoe tea bag in the bottom and add hot water.

With the cooler weather on the way I decided to finally stitch up a little cozie for it. Then I can take it down to my creative area late at night and have cup after cup of tea!

I used some scraps I had lying around. Also, I snuck in these great wooden buttons I had from a previous Etsy purchase. The fantastic apples came from a bundle I ordered recently from Sara at The Split Stitch. I keep missing her other stash packs in her shop, curse me for being behind in my Google reader! I’m a sucker for scraps.

The inside is also scraps of fabric all quilted together, guess I should take a picture of that part too . . . when it’s not warming tea.

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Posted in scraps, sewing

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On second thought . . .

Posted on July 26, 2011 by SewTara| 24 Comments

I was driving alone in the car the other day, a rarity, and I realized maybe I’ve been to hard on myself. I’ve felt pretty unproductive since school let out. I had high expectations that I would be able to catch up on things, and get the To Dos to done and set some things into motion that are still only just ideas. July is almost over and I don’t feel that I’ve caught up, or gotten ahead.

Then driving I started to think how it was a year ago, almost exactly, when my shop went viral for a pillow I made mostly as a joke. I spent August recovering from that.

Then on labour day weekend things got insane again for my Caffienating cup cozy. I spent the fall and winter recovering from that.

And I realized all the things I’ve accomplished in the past year.

- I balanced being a mom, teacher and crafty blogger/shop owner
- I survived hundreds of sales in my shop & been on the front page of Etsy
- I’ve learned how to screen print (from building a screen to washing out ink with my self made ‘pressure washer’)
- my mad self taught sewing skills have grown a bunch
- I’ve started taking much better photos, thank you natural light
- I edit photos in the blink of an eye, thank you Picnik (take that winter in Canada with few hours a day of sunlight!)
- I’ve introduced myself to Photoshop and we’re getting to know each other
- I own a 1″ button machine and know how to use it
- I’ve made new friends at my local postal office, fabric stores, online and in person

So I think really, I’m not doing too bad after all.

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My busy last few days.

Posted on July 18, 2011 by SewTara| 4 Comments

Whew, what a crazy time. I spent most of last week staying up waaaay too late making things and getting organized for my table on Friday and Saturday. Friday morning was all busy with getting ready, taking the kids to the sitter (which we were out of practice on) picking up my friend and getting up before the show. It was a hot hot day and we were thankful for being in the air conditioned library for the day.

I went home Friday night and like a mad crafty woman stayed up until 1:30am making some more things. Most notably this cutie.

Saturday was absolutely perfect. There was a lot of scary talk on Friday about how hot and humid it was going to be but it turned out to be beautiful. I decided to be brave and move out of tent sharing with Joanna and set up beside her. While my table was in the sun at times, I was under the shade of the tree branches all day.

Between talking to other vendors, who were such great people, and chatting away with people who came to my table I was sewing coin purses on frames for both days. My poor fingers! In the 10 hours I spend sitting at my table for 2 days I got 4 finished. I also sold 2!

The 2 days were filled with such awesomeness – great weather, sales, my friend, compliments, pictures for SNAP, media attention from the local TV station, live music from local bands, some great food and mostly just awesome people stopping by to support local artists. I had a great time. Thanks to the organizers Broken Arts for all the fun.

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Posted in cozy, neat spaces, vintage

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