Tag Archives: keyka lou

If you’re sick of hearing about these look away now.

I’ll forgive you.

Yeah more scrappy wallets. I love Michelle Patterns, perhaps you’ve noticed. I want to grow up and be like her. I keep collecting PDF patterns and trying them all out in an effort to better understand them and how they work so that someday, someday, I can create my own from all these sketches I just keep accumulating.

I just need some time to research it all and get going on it. Michelle Patterns has this great resource for heading in that direction. It’s an ebook/document sharing some of her knowledge from years of selling PDF patterns online.

Description from her site:

• What the pattern user needs
• Basic overview of the pattern making process
• General photo info – test photos, file formats, etc.
• General info about the pattern pieces – margin guide, text to include, etc.
• Setting up and saving a template so your document will be ready for future patterns
• Tips for writing the instructions – style, voice, font considerations, etc.
• Inserting the instruction images
• Inserting, testing, and troubleshooting the pattern pieces (the hardest part!)
• Exporting to pdf
• Testing the pattern
• Lots of tips from my own experience!

I love that she supports other women in starting their own business by letting you make and sell items from her patterns. I don’t always intend to do that with what I make but it’s nice to know you can if you’d like. Also now that she’s branching out and sharing tips on how to *make* your own that’s even more awesome. She’s also selling patterns made by other people in her online shop now so if you’re ahead of me and making your own PDF patterns already that’s something you might want to explore for some more exposure.

I recently bought the Idea Pouch and can’t wait to make one and store my iPad, stylus, little notebook some markers in it.

Addicted to these things

I went on another scrappy wallet binge. Pattern available here zip pocket pouches.

On the weekend while we were camping I took a pile of fabric and cut out tons of pieces for more wallets. I sorted them in zip lock bags and labelled them A, B, C, D and E. I was also organizing my space last night and I made a project bin for them, it’s got all the zip locks in it, and some scraps to cut out later, zippers, precut velcro and lining pieces all ready to go.

Now when I need something quick to make to satisfy my ‘I gotta make something’ urge, I can just pull that bin over and go crazy.

Oh my!

Did I really just miss almost a whole week of blogging?! Where does time go!?
Guess I’ve been fooling myself saying “Once school’s out I’ll have so much time to do things”. Summer vacation isn’t as productive when you have a 3 year old and 5 year old to entertain and play with.

I did manage to do some creating last week. I’m getting ready for the Broken Arts Fest I’ll be at on Saturday.

Here’s the one with that vintage fabric I thrifted a while back, love the little handkerchiefs.

This bunny fabric is fun. I’ve had scraps of it in packs I’ve ordered here and there and I finally just went ahead and ordered a half yard.

I’d better get catching up on my Create Along post, and writing about the Hamilton EtsyCA meet up, and sharing some random stuff . .

Scraps! Yes, I’m a scrap addict.

Well I fell victim to ordering some scraps again. These ones are from Michelle Patterns and I always love her fabric choices, all the ones she posts about on her blog and of course her patterns. So whenever I catch that she has a scrap pack for sale I usually end up buying it.

I’ve already cut a bunch up for some scrappy wallets and set aside the small bits for magnet making. Now that I’m caught up on all my orders I intend to do some fun sewing. What a coincidence school is almost out.

Seriously, fabric with poodles *and* strawberries. How cute is that?!

What was I thinking!

So I commited to making messenger bags for my sons, and I will. However, last night I got cutting out all the fabric and there’s 30+ pieces for each bag!! Batting, interfacing, lining, exterior . . . oh my!

It’s Thursday night, here’s an phone photo of how far I am. Guess I’ll be revealing next Friday. Fingers crossed I’ll have 2 done.

Friday Create Along

I’m going to tackle one, hopefully 2, of these messenger bags from Michelle Patterns.

Wesley asked for a bag like that, probably because Mommy and Daddy have messenger bags. So of course Nate wants one too. I’ve taken their colour requests and if I’m lucky I can get both finished this week! I’ll let you know on Friday how far I get.

Friday Create Along

Ok first order of business is picking the lucky giveaway winner! Aaaaannnnd it’s Lee! Congrats Lee, Cristina has your info and will contact you. Have fun getting all pretty.

Next up is the addmission that I’m not done my camera pouch yet. I was on the second to last step last night and I can’t get the project to reach my needle! The arm part of my machine is just a touch too long for the project to slide up so I can stitch it. I tried as best as I could but when I turned it righside out there’s spots where the stitching didn’t catch all the layers. I’m going to check with some neighbours to see if their machine’s have shorter arm pieces and I’ll be able to slip the pouch on. I choose the small pattern, guess I shouldn’t have! Reveal coming soon.

Friday Create Along

Whew. Ok so here’s my completed NapKitten hamburger wallet thingie. (honestly, I talk like that, meet me I’ll prove it)

It’s cute, but it’s also ridiculously wonky. I had a hard time with this one. I’ve completed 3 NapKitten patterns and I love them all. The wallet was just involved, the phone pouch is super easy and fun, and this . . . I’m not sure what I did but it’s embarassingly crooked and made. I think I choose thick fabrics and because of that I should have bypassed the fleece inside. I might get brave and try another.

The two zippers were interesting to work with, and the assembly is interesting. I, as usual, didn’t read the instructions all the way before starting and the whole time I was thinking “it looks all unfinished inside, how’s it going to get all pretty in there?” then I saw you have to cover it all with bias tape that you make yourself. Bias tape is sort of my nemesis. So for now it’s pretty thready in there.

I’m not done my Keyka Lou camera pouch, which is sad because I have a 9am flight to NYC and I was hoping to pack and pad my camera but oh well. Life sort of got in the way of sewing this week! Silly life. There’s always next week.

Blue Calla

I had the pleasure of meeting Celine of Blue Calla a while back at a local event. She makes these beautiful bags and purses so of course I nearly trampled people to get over to her booth. And not surprisingly, I made a purchase.

She uses absolutely fantastic fabrics for her projects and often she uses Keyka Lou patterns *currently on sale*, which I also have a soft spot for. Honestly, she’s after my heart!

Here are some of my favs from her shop. Click images to go to listings.

And in her not a purse or bag category she has some amazing items, like these.

When you’re crafty it’s easy to look at things and think “I can make that” and with many of Blue Calla’s items I actually *can* make it as I have the pattern too, but I still drool over her creations.

Friday Create Along

Well a slight wrench was thrown into my Create Along plans for last week, in the form of salmonella poisoning. I’m still a bit grumpy that I sort of wasted a lovely 4 day weekend by battling illness.

Just a reminder I’m creating one ofthese using one of NapKitten‘s great patterns. It’s all cut out and in progress!

Soooo I’m a little too behind for a reveal. But I’ll forge ahead anyhow and launch into the next project all willy nilly!

I’d like to tackle this padded camera pouch from Keyka Lou. As a bonus all her patterns are on sale right now, to celebrate her 4 year anniversary as a pattern maker and seller. Congrats Michelle!

Designing, making and selling patterns is something I’m really interested in. I’ve got some things to learn first but I’m heading in the right direction by sewing up anything I can think of!