made in bulk

some musings on making my handmade items en masse...

i trim all my seams by hand, to avoid bulk. at curves, i cut small notches so that the seams lie flat when they're turned the right way out. it only takes a couple of minutes for each piece, but when you're making 35 stockings at a time, that adds up! look at all those scraps!

something you may not know, when i stitch my peek-a-boos, i use at least three different thread colours for each, and i stitch around and around. i like the way it picks up on all the colours in the fabric, and creates a nice depth in the stitching. in order to keep the stitches looking clean from the outside, i hand-tie and knot the beginning and end of each pair of threads on the underside of the fabric. that's at least 6 pairs per peek-a-boo.

all stress-points are double or triple-stitched. then, on each seam, i run a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. this means i stitch each seam two, three, or four times.

components for 35 stockings! that's 35 strips for hanging the stocking, attached to 35 cuffs, each one carefully ironed, then triple-stitched for extra-heavy stuffing of goodies.

the first batch of finished stockings. just a peek, mind you, i can't give away everything!

these are just a few thoughts that have crossed my mind as i've been preparing for the One of a Kind Show. i don't normally work in bulk, but this past month, i've made more than 70 mini buckets, a dozen tote bags, 35 stockings, and much more. these steps that take only 2 to 5 minutes, such as trimming or finishing a seam to make sure it doesn't fray, don't normally cross my mind as i do them. but when you multiply that by 35, well then a good chunk of time has gone by. i don't cut corners or look for shortcuts that could negatively impact the finished product.

when i make an item, my aim is to ensure quality every step of the way. besides using quality materials and equipment, this includes accurate cutting, careful stitching, trimming and finishing of seams, ironing at every step, and precise finishing touches on every piece.

this is not meant to be a sermon, but rather my musings on working in bulk while maintaining quality. it's the reason i [and other makers all over the world] try to put a reasonable price* on our efforts, our designs, our work. this is not a $10 polyester stocking from walmart that may last a year or two. this is a one-of-a-kind handmade heirloom christmas stocking, with carefully chosen fabrics, stitched with care so that you can stuff it full to the brim, creating warm and happy memories for many generations to come.

*by reasonable, i do mean that i am aiming to be paid a fair wage, not only for my time and effort, but for the quality and design of each piece.

smidgebox holiday 2011

i think you can guess what i've been working on this week? i hope to have a few dozen smidgebox peekaboo stockings to show at the One of a Kind Show in just three weeks*. It's so much fun choosing fabrics for these stockings, which, incidentally, all happen to be one-of-a-kind. I like the idea of mixing and matching the colours, and would love to see a grouping hung on a mantle just like that. there's a stocking for everyone -- the traditionalist, the modernist, and lovers-of-cute.

*eep! did i say three weeks? back to the sewing machine i go!

summer smidgey blankets

i've been a bit busy lately, between sewing + summer + vacation + life, and haven't had the chance to catch up on posting my work. here are a few blankets that i've made this summer so far. i've mentioned it before, but i just love working on my custom smidgey blankets. each one is different from the last, fun colours, applique images, sweet names. all ready to be sent off to a special tiny person whom i hope will love and cherish it for many years to come.

addison's sunny lion and beckett's cute little owl were special requests made by my customers. both were asked to be in a specific style, and i think they turned out quite nicely. i have had the pleasure of working with some pretty amazing customers, who have fun nursery colour palettes and themes to work with. i feel lucky to have such great people coming my way!

::::::

on to a little shop news. please excuse me for chatting a bit about the holidays {yup, here we are in mid-august, and i'm thinking about the c-word} but i have to be thinking ahead!

I'm going to be taking a break from custom orders for all of september and october while i prepare for my holiday craft shows. I will have to focus solely on amassing stock {mainly for the One of a Kind Show mid-december} so unfortunately something's got to give! I'll keep my shop open with a good selection of ready-made items, so there will be lots to choose from in the meantime. In november, i will be taking a small number of custom requests for holiday gifts, but there will be limited availability. I know it's early to be thinking this way, but if you've got a smidgey blanket or a set of custom fabric buckets or stockings in mind for holiday gifts, it might be a good idea to let me know as soon as possible so that i can reserve a space!

rest + revive

happiest + warmest of holidays to all you wonderful readers, supporters, friends. i'll see you back here in january! i am going to take some time to rest + revive my soul. i wish the same for you. xo

images from my parents' house, decorating their tree yesterday!

i'd like a new hat.

winter spruce hat. image via wildhagenwear

i love hats. i fell for the gorgeous wildhagen hats at the circle craft fair last month [see here]. i'd love to add this beauty to my hat collection. i think that hit of orangey red is just perfect for winter.

little hit of gold

image via sealmaiden

i was reminded of sealmaiden's fun silkscreened tshirts while browsing the elephantine blog the other day. i love this design, with gold ink. the flowing feather motif looks like a necklace of sorts, the perfect little touch. i'd like to add that to my list, please.

on the second day of christmas...

my true love surprised me with this picture perfect pendant lamp.

image via huset shop

what, you don't ask for lighting for christmas? surely i'm not alone...

i would love love love to find one of cathrine kullberg's norwegian forest lamp shades under my tree on the 25th. wishful thinking, perhaps. i may just have to splurge on one for myself someday. available at huset, along with oodles of other amazingly gorgeous goodies.

memories

we decorated our christmas tree last night. i still get really excited when i unwrap all my childhood ornaments. each one carries a flood of memories, filling my head with thoughts of holiday seasons past. waiting {not so patiently} for dad to string the lights so that we could go nuts with our ornaments. wishing i could hang my parents' special ones. dad moving our decorations around after the fact, so the tree would be more balanced. i think i inherited that trait from him. and the tinsel, only one per branch. he was a stickler!

this little wooden cradle was always one of my very favourites. i remember hanging it from it's three strings, carefully balancing it among the boughs, finding it a perfect spot, front + centre. my little d hung it for me this year. she delighted in the sleeping faces of the children, tucked into bed in their red gingham covers.

i'll share more of my tree over the next couple of weeks, more childhood favourites. i wonder if you have ornaments hanging around from when you were a kid. do you still love them, and hang them from your tree?

ps - yes, it is a fake tree. i am trying to convince my husband that we need a real one. next year, it will be mine.

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

or rather, in the baby's room with care. my fireplace + mantle are still a work in progress. yes, two years later. ahem.

anyhow, i just thought i'd pop along and let you know that i've added a few one-of-a-kind peekaboo stockings to my shop! these are the last ones of the year, and to arrive in time for this christmas, should be mailed out within the next 10 days or so.

i'll be reappearing on the old blog over the next few days. it's been a long-neglected space this past month, and i thank all of you who've stuck with me. i guess november is just always going to be a bit of a gong-show! i have lots of thoughts brewing in my head, along with a ton of fab gift ideas that may just be on my wish list, too. see you soon!

circle craft :: in fashion

yesterday marked the opening of the 2010 circle craft christmas market here in vancouver. it's actually been several years since i've been able to get to circle craft. my husband + i used to make it there every year, but since i started my business, it's been way more difficult. it falls right in the middle of my busiest time of year, where i'm literally glued to my sewing machine. this year, however, i was able to get out and see some of the fresh new vendors.

i thought i'd share a few posts about my favourite things, beginning with some of the fashion + accessories. over the years, the fashion being shown at circle craft has definitely made the jump to being more modern + forward, often ecological, and definitely in tune with my style. here are a few of my faves.

images via wildhagenwear.com

i'll preface this by saying that i totally love hats. i would probably be happy to wear one every day. these hats by wildhagen out of toronto are absolutely incredible. it's hard to say, but i think my favourite is the top left, called the arctic fox. all the hats are very fashionable, beautifully made [in canada!], completely unique, and gorgeous. i'll take one of each, please. also, if i could look as good in said hats as the models, that would be great.

images via lilikoiclothing.com

also fun were the clothes from lilikoi. screenprinted illustrations on great looking tops, dresses, skirts, and bags. all sustainably + ethically handmade in canada, to boot. i especially love the inga top, shown above left in black with a fun skyline print.

images via shibangdesigns.com

i thought these cosmetic bags by shibang designs were simply gorgeous. layers of boldly coloured textile + thread adorn the simple pouches + bags, giving them a unique, fresh look. now i'm wishing i'd gone back and bought a couple for gifts, they were fantastic! designer robyn stevens studied textile arts at capilano university right here in north van, and then went on to complete a bfa at the nova scotia college of art and design. i definitely have my eye on that textiles program, i've heard that it is amazing.

one other textile artist i must mention in this post is designer jill harrop and her studio, heartfelt. her clothing, shawls, and scarves are fairly traded and then beautifully yet minimally embellished by the artist, with needle felted wool. the subtle colours woven into these natural textiles are just so lovely. i also love her philosophy on sustainably managed, minimal impact clothing. inspiring! visit her website to have a look at some images and find out more.

it's beginning to look a lot like...

there was a healthy dusting of snow on the local mountains this morning, which seems like a fitting day to bring the holidays to my shop + blog. i gave my headers a mini festive makeover, what do you think? i also got my stockings listed today, head on over to have a look!

{edit :: the stockings were a hit! i'll be saving the rest as exclusives for my local craft shows. if you simply must have one, just contact me and we can chat about making some just for you!}

smidgebox stockings

november first. seriously? wow. there is a whole lot of stuff to get ready around here. i have a huge amount of sewing to do to prepare for my two big craft shows {here and here}, and i can't wait to get my holiday stuff rolled out in my shop!

so, i thought i'd share a little sneak peek of my first line of christmas stockings! of course, they have peek-a-boo appliques, i just can't help myself. there will be kiddo friendly styles, more grown-up versions, and eventually a collection of linen stockings for the peek-a-boo naturals holiday line.

i just love the little squirrel, isn't it the sweetest? i'm glad now that i hoarded this fabric for so long, it is so perfect for holidays.

anyhow, joining the stockings for my 2010 holiday line will be fabric buckets + mini buckets + pouches, all holiday styles. stay tuned!

bing + bowie

this is it! the culmination of The good, the bad + the ugly :: 12 days of christmas videos. i hope you've had some laughs and enjoyed a few moments over here and at lindy's blog. this is probably my favourite christmas song. i know it's cheesy and it doesn't please everyone, but i can't help it, it's just so darn good. enjoy!

2000 miles

this song makes me feel all warm, like an old friend. definitely one of my favourite holiday songs, i hope you enjoy!



as for my holidays, i closed up shop last friday, and that definitely had a calming effect on me. probably mostly subliminal, as the past several orders have been local word-of-mouth. i finished those up yesterday, now all i've got to finish are those last-minute gifts for the kids!
i still am not feeling all that christmassy, but maybe that's due to the buckets + buckets of rain that have been falling outside, along with unseasonably warm temperatures. can't mother nature help a girl out with some christmas spirit?

hall & oates :: the tackiest yet.

ok, this is seriously a cheesy video. one of the tackiest i've ever seen. but funny and christmassy nonetheless. enjoy!



Lindy and i will be continuing our 'the good, the bad + the ugly :: 12 days of christmas videos' next week right up until christmas eve with my all-time fave pick. do come back and have a look, it's pretty classic.

other than that, i have been working away like a busy little bee this past week, getting my last orders finished for local delivery. i'm closing my shop for the holidays today, a nice break, and will be back with new stock january 4th. i can't wait to have a fresh new year, and start it off with a bang!
next week, my son is taking his first ski lessons [fun!!] and i'll be working on one of these for my baby girl. i'm even going to attempt to find time to finish my son's quilt. i only started it 18 months ago [blush]. i'll try to share some pictures along the way. enjoy this ramp up to the holidays, i know i will!

christmas videos :: day 6

alright, i know some of you may file this one away in the 'ugly' category, but i LOVE it! it's on my permanent christmastime mix. no, i don't mean i listen to it all year round, just that i bring it back year after year, in all it's 80's goodness. enjoy :)



did you see lindy's pick yesterday? it made me laugh, oh, the cheesiness of it all. have a look!

all i want for christmas is...

here is my pick today for the good, the bad + the ugly 12 days of christmas videos. today's pick serves up a healthy dose of cheese, but i must say, it kind of gets me in the happy joyful holiday spirit. the big white flakes falling outside help, too, and it sure is beginning to feel like christmas in these parts.

this year, i'd love to find one of these, and perhaps one of these under my christmas tree. but truth be told, i'd be perfectly happy just to spend some quality quiet family time, something we've not had enough of these past few months.

tell me, what do you want for christmas this year?

the good, the bad + the ugly christmas videos :: day 2

and so, as promised, here is our pick for today's christmas video! this has always been a favourite of mine, so maybe we can file this one under 'good'...even brings a little tear to my eye.

did you catch lindy's pick yesterday? go have a listen!

the good, the bad + the ugly :: 12 days of christmas videos

december 9th! how did it happen? time has totally flown this season. i've been super busy with craft shows and shop orders, but have found some time to get in the christmas spirit, in particular, the music! my favourite holiday tunes range from sweet to sentimental to down right cheesy. to my delight, i have recently found my kindred christmas spirit, in my friend and fellow canadian etsy gal, Lindy.

Lindy and I decided to join forces this next couple of weeks to share with you our 12 days of christmas videos, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Head on over to Lindy's fabulous blog for today's pick, and be sure to check back here tomorrow for day 2! We'll be alternating weekdays right up until christmas eve, so we'll be sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Hope to see you here!

image via