Tag Archives: vintage

Making my own awesome camera/laptop bag.

Posted on February 27, 2011 by SewTara| 1 Comment

I really, really, really wanted a JoTotes camera bag.  Pretty sure I’ve said that a few times.  I was being good and saving for the lovely tangerine one but then disaster struck and when I went to actually purchase it they were all sold out. I sent an email and learned they aren’t making that colour again. They’re very sold out, often.

So I implemented a back up plan. I searched on Etsy for vintage bags and narrowed it down to the local shops hoping to skip expensive shipping charges and organize a pick up. I found an awesome bag at this shop. They’ve got fantastic prices, some vintage luggage left, and if you’re in Canada too the shipping is reasonable.

Now I’m working on lining and padding it so I can toss my camera, ipad or lappy. I’m also working on learning photoshop so pardon me while I experiment!

→ 1 Comment

Posted in fun finds, repurposing, sewing, vintage

Tagged , , ,

Vintagey laptop sticker DIY

Posted on February 21, 2011 by SewTara| 5 Comments

My last laptop was plastered in fun goofy stickers.  Then I got my new shiny Macbook and it’s just been all simple and silver, until now.  I tracked down some vintage Contact paper to adorn my lappy.  After checking around in a few thrift stores, and frankly just not wanting to wait, I went ahead and ordered some on Etsy.  I’ve been checking back frequently and the selection does vary from day to day just in case you want to grab some.  Also, be sure to check under the ‘supplies’ and ‘vintage’ categories, you get different results.  While I was waiting for my goods to arrive One Pearl Button coincidentally posted a link on covering idevices yourself with helpful links to templates.  But I wanted to do my Macbook and the templates don’t take into account the apple cut out.  So I got adventurous.

First I used my printer/scanner/copier and made a copy of the front of my laptop so I’d have a copy of the apple logo.  Next I carefully cut out the apple with my little exacto knife pen thingie.  I placed it over my laptop just to make sure I trimmed it well.

I measured the top of the laptop and guesstimated at the size of the surface area before the slight curve.  I have a 13 inch and I figured it was about 12 x 8 1/2.

I cut the apple out of the Con-tact paper, aproximated the center and cut the piece 12 x 8 1/2.  Then I used my scrapbooking corner rounder to clip the corners.

Sticking it onto the laptop proved a bit finicky.  I didn’t want to start at one side and work my way across so I carefully took the backing off and exposed the sticky side of the Contact paper in the middle where the apple is.  This allowed me to line up the apple all nice and straight and then just work my way out towards the edges.

Once it was all nice and flat I opened the cover and examined my handiwork with the apple lit up.  There was a spot where I needed to trim and I just used the exacto really gently to shave off a teeny bit.  I’m sure happy with the results, I love the grey and yellow combo.

Plus I’ve got some other patterns in my stash and so when I get bored of this I can just peel it off and switch it.

→ 5 Comments

Posted in other crafts, repurposing, tutorial-ish, vintage

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Pattern tested!

Posted on February 9, 2011 by SewTara| 2 Comments

Well guess that titles gives it all away . . . I tested a pattern.

I signed up on I Think Sew and then when I was contacted the lovely Sue asked me if I’d make . . . . A TOTE BAG!!!  Yipee!!

I used the vintage fabric that Keyka Lou mentioned, I have a problem buying the cute fabrics she mentions.  For the lining I just grabbed something from my stash.  There’s a little metal clasp on the inside and it’s a really nice big roomy bag.  I’ve been using it since.

I also own this fun pattern and have been carrying around the PDF on my ipad searching for just the right fabric.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in sewing, vintage

Tagged , , ,

Thrifting fun!

Posted on January 26, 2011 by SewTara| Leave a comment

Last night the plan was to go fabric shopping with my bff.  We did a bit of that but weren’t equiped to really search out what she needed so instead we decided to pop into some thrift stores.  We were  amazingly rewarded!  She found a vintage typewriter that she loved, but it was missing the J.  While pondering if she shoudl just take it J-less or not she realised there was another one buried under some stuff right beside it.  I wandered over and checked it out and while I did she lifted up the round keyed one and found the J lying there.  It just needed to be snapped back on.

So we left, each with a typewriter.  Price tags $17.99 each.  Score.

I found this cute little mixing bowl, no idea if it’s actually ‘vintage’ or not but I love the colour and designs.  The little set of plates feature cute little building and are from Germany.  My husband and I have vowed to only have knick knacks if they are from our travels.  These plates aren’t, but they’re really cute and we’ve been to Germany so same thing really.

I also got a Samsonite train case but it’s still in my van and needs some surface cleaning before a photo shoot.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fun finds, vintage

Tagged , ,

The fabric love continues.

Posted on January 5, 2011 by SewTara| Leave a comment

Isn’t this the cutest little print ever?!

Available at DreamingOfSewing.  I’m trying really hard to resist buying it.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fun finds, sewing, vintage

Tagged , ,

My new favourite Etsy shop.

Posted on November 5, 2010 by SewTara| 2 Comments

These prints over at HappyTownUSA are awesome!  I love silly sentiments and the vintage toys and fun photography makes me like them even more.

I’ll resist the urge to post all of the prints and make you wander over there to see them, it’s well worth the time for the chuckles you’ll have. Heck, you might even make a purchase!

→ 2 Comments

Posted in fun finds

Tagged , , , ,

Like and need to learn

Posted on October 14, 2010 by SewTara| 2 Comments

I’ve been admiring the stuff at Citrus Pop for a while.  This necklace is particularily lovely.

I think the colourful doilies in her photos are so fun too.  Need to work on my crocheting skills!

→ 2 Comments

Posted in crochet, other crafts

Tagged ,

Camp themed swap stuff!

Posted on October 4, 2010 by SewTara| 3 Comments

I’ve been a bad blog owner, forgive me. My fun package for the Camp Themed Swap that Amanda so willingly ran for me and a group of lucky ladies arrived . . . . 2 Fridays ago. It took me until Sunday to even open the package, I’ve been sooooo busy lately it’s been insane. Hence the blog absence. I’ve been frantically making cup cozies, yes still! Everywhere I go I’m pulling out some stitching, it’s a little crazy. I’ve finally made it into my September orders and I only have about 20 more to make. I sat around all summer on vacation and of course my shop had to go viral (for the second time) right when it was back to school time!

Anyhow, enough ranting, here’s what I’m supposed to be writing about, my haul!

Going across the rows – back row -  a fun mixed media painting, a print of a drawing of three bears camping and some awesome hoop art with a happy camper.

Middle-ish my log pin cushion, a CAMPO game, a fun floral case for glasses, some camp themed stationary, a crocheted flower hair thingie, and a heart shaped box.

Front-ish – a little note book with graph paper and camp themed stickers in it, a compass hair pin, a firefly keychain, a button ring,  brown bear earrings, and a signed original piece of art work.

All placed on top of a vintage pillow case sending me happy camping wishes!

Here’s some close ups,

It was such a fun thing to be involved in.  At first I wondered what on earth we would all come up with for camp themed crafts (especially as someone who’s never been camping) but we did all right!

→ 3 Comments

Posted in crochet, embroidery, other crafts, papercrafts, repurposing, sewing

Tagged , , , , , ,

Part of my day in Toronto.

Posted on August 18, 2010 by SewTara| 1 Comment

Had some fun this week wandering about Toronto.  I’m going to have to make time to do this again really soon!  There was way to much to see and I ran out of time for all the fun things I wanted to accomplish.  In Kensington Market we stumbled upon Funky Junky, an awesome vintage store full of fantastic stuff.  I was camera-less but snapped some photos with my iphone.

A collection of vintage cameras and accessories.  Beside them was an ancient Singer sewing machine, the old weighs-a-ton black model with the fancy gold writing.  Yeah, that’s my description.

Suitcases and other travel worthy things.  Super cool stuff.  The white one was really cool but when we opened it there was a blow dryer inside!  Beside them you can see the collection of phones.  Around the corner from those was a big box with Gem’s Roadster in it!  Complete with FM radio in the trunk.  There was also a stack of old video games, including Intellivision!  We had that.  I remember my mom bought it on some financing plan it was so expensive when it first came out.  Of course Atari took off and poor little Intellivision was left in the dust.

Here’s some random kitchen stuff.  It was easy to lose track of time in there with so many fun things to look at!  The best part is it will be even more fun to make sure to pop back in every time I’m downtowm and see all the new treasures.  Definitely taking my camera next time.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in neat spaces, other crafts, repurposing

Tagged , ,

Jazzing up boring white address labels.

Posted on August 11, 2010 by SewTara| 5 Comments

I’ve been doing a lot of shipping lately with the sales in my shop and after a few handwritten return address labels I thought I’d get a bit inventive.  Plus it saves space on the package.  So I printed some return address labels on Avery label paper.  Then I gathered some other paper materials to stick them on to.  I started with an old atlas.

Then I grabbed some other things to reuse like Nate’s recent art work and some flyers from the newspaper.

It was super easy I just peeled off the sticky label and placed it on the backing paper so it would have a neat border.  Then I cut around it leaving a bit of the backing paper showing.  Other things I thought would make really neat backing papers are wallpaper scraps, paint chips and old stamps, sadly I didn’t have any of those lying around.

I used packing tape to just go over the whole label when adhering it to the packaging, I wanted to make sure they stayed on as some are going far, far away.  Glue, a tape runner or a Xyron would work too.

→ 5 Comments

Posted in other crafts, papercrafts, repurposing

Tagged , , ,