Not your grandmother's cross stitch!

My new obsession:

1. Squirrel Cross Stitch Pattern - Sewing Seed - $3
2. Babushka toadstool Cross Stitch Pattern - Cupcake Cutie 1 - $8.95
3. Fawn and Doe Cross Stitch - Slipcover your Life - $5
4. Key Cross Stitch Pattern - And Wabisabi - $3.50

Finally! New PDF Patterns!

So, while in school, all I kept thinking about was re-vamping the two PDF patterns I have listed in my shop plus making more! I know many of you out there are DIYers and would love to make your own items. I decided that I would make the patterns of my bags available to others and also allow you to sell them (as long as you respect my requests!) I have made a new pattern called the Grab and Go Bag. It's small enough to be used as a child's bag (who think she's an adult) or for an adult who just wants something small to carry around.

I am also in the process of making another pattern for the All Day Tote. I do not have any listed in my shop right now but have about 5 in the making! Hopefully in the next couple of days I can also re-vamp the other two patterns that are already listed (the market bag and coasters.)

Any patterns that you are looking for in particular? Let me know!

My Second Tutorial - Coasters

So after I made my first tutorial I couldn't help but make a second. I kept thinking about it all week and decided to make a simple project of coasters but with a ric rac trim. I think they came out pretty well and will be listing the set I made in my shop sometime this week. The tutorial is for sale for $6 USD. I like how they came out - I'm keeping one of them for myself for my desk. The good thing about living in a student apartment and having only one room to yourself is that the only place that you could use a coaster is on your desk ;)

Although these tutorials are both for sale, I want to make a free tutorial to post here on my blog, but one that isn't too long. Something simple, but useful. Do you have any requests or things you'd like to learn how to make? Let me know!

First Tutorial Up for Sale - the market bag

I have purchased quite a few tutorials & patterns on Etsy myself, so I thought maybe I should make one too! I love handmade patterns and tutorials because they are completely original. You know that someone put a lot of time and work into their project and it shows through their work. I also like the step by step with color pictures along the way and the ability to email the author with questions or comments about the pattern. It's so personal! Being an advanced, but self taught seamstress, I sometimes find that I do not know certain 'tricks' or techniques that many have learned through conventional ways. That is one of the main reasons why I also by handmade tutorials, so that I can learn these tricks and techniques to better my skill set.

I have been thinking about making a tutorial myself for a while but kept putting it off. I wanted to make something that was pretty straight forward, something that may teach some 'tricks' to other seamstresses and of course something that I haven't seen made yet. I would say the most popular things right now for sale are small pouches, aprons, purses and of course things for children so in making this market bag, I knew it would be one of the firsts on the (Etsy) scene with it. The best thing about this pattern is that it can also be shrunk down or blown up and be made into almost any size that you would need! This project took me about 6+ hours all together with the sewing, picture taking, writing, and the designing of the pattern then putting it all together into a PDF. It can be found in my Etsy shop for $8USD and free shipping! I hope that those who purchase the tutorial can send me some pictures of your completed projects for me to post on here!