shop sneak peeks

a little peek at what is to come when i reopen my shop later this week.

i'm rather fond of the fabric combination below. the outside oslo fabrics by jessica jones are some of my new favourites. so gorgeous! i was tempted to keep this one for myself, but into the shop it will go.

i had intended to reopen on the weekend, but the weather has been very uncooperative, and i haven't had the chance to photograph all my new things. it looks like we've got a stretch of sun coming up starting tomorrow {fingers crossed!}, so i will plow through these photos and try to stock up a little before i open my virtual doors. i hope you'll swing by to check out the shop once it's ready!

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!

totes are on the table

a batch of daily totes and a batch of weekly totes. just another peek of what's happening over here to prepare for the One of a Kind Show in Vancouver, december 8-11.

cherry + charcoal

i'm finally getting around to sharing a bag i made a couple months back. i'm not sure why i've never played with this colour combination before, but i absolutely love how it turned out! the cherry red lining just pops against the dark charcoal canvas. this bag was commissioned by a lovely return customer -- she wanted a new bag for her birthday, and i was thrilled to make something special for her.

as a special request, i was asked to add a divider to my weekly tote. it took a bit of figuring and moving a couple pockets around, but went really smoothly. you can see a peek of the divider, above.

in case you couldn't tell, i quite like photographing my bags with my favourite chairs. eames goes with just about anything, don't you think?

a ladybug hallowe'en

several weeks ago, i got a lovely email from the talented angie allen, asking if i would be able to make a custom hallowe'en tote for her adorable daughter's ladybug girl costume. of course i agreed, i was totally honoured to create something special for this sweet 6-year-old.

i love how it turned out, in fact, it has given me an idea for a fresh line of fabric buckets in the new year. stay tuned!

angie wrote a great post about the costume on her blog, her photos {as always} are absolutely gorgeous. you should definitely head over and take a look. thanks, angie!

pouches for preschool

this past summer, i embarked on my second preschool 'end-of-year' gift making. these little zipper pouches will be handed out to my daughter's preschool peers on their last day of school next june, as a little gift from their teachers. when my son was in the same preschool, i was asked to make the gifts, so the boys went home with d-ring belts, the girls with headbands. i wanted to have them finished early, winter + spring are so busy for me, so i did them in little bits over the summer.

forty pouches for the girls,

and forty pouches for the boys.

it was a fun project, though it did take some time. it's a labour of love, for sure. my kids get {and got, in my son's case} so much out of that school, so i agreed to do what i could within their budget. i got to use a bunch of fabrics from my large scrap bin, that were too small to use for much else. i love the way they look all splayed out like a colour wheel. i hope the kids like them!

sneak peek :: baby organics

well hello! it's certainly been awhile, hasn't it? things are so super busy at my sewing machine, and i'm afraid i've just not had the time to post here. i do miss it. i know i sound like a broken record! my plan is to capture november in pictures. whether it is a photo i've taken myself, or something that catches my eye around the web, i will be sharing here more often, lots of images and fewer words. i do hope you'll visit!

i'd like to share some sneak peeks of my upcoming baby organics line. I've had this in mind for a really long time, and finally have enough fabrics that i'm ready to get started! i will be having an exclusive launch of the first phase of smidgebox organics at the one of a kind show in december. phase two will follow in the spring. i am so excited about this, and i hope you will love it.

these next couple of pics are an assembly line of iphone cozies, ready to be sewn up for the one of a kind show as well. there is loads of production happening in these parts, and still lots to do in the next six weeks. {wow! did i say six weeks? yikes.}

i do hope that my lovely friends in vancouver will stop by the one of a kind show and say hello. it is my first foray into a multi-day big deal show like this. i must admit i'm a little nervous, but mostly i'm so excited about what's in store for my little business. a few friendly faces would be very welcome, so do come and have a peek!

lastly, i have a quick interview up at my friend allisa's blog. allisa is an amazing sewer, and i totally adore her work, so i was honoured when she asked if i'd participate in her 'shops that shine' series. thanks allisa!

some recent work

i have mentioned before how much i love making all my custom orders, but i think that baby gifts must be my very favourite. there is something pretty special about making a one-of-a-kind item for a brand new little babe, and i feel very honoured whenever someone chooses my shop for these important first gifts. i always imagine the babies loving their cuddly blankets or squishy blocks for many years to come, becoming a well-loved part of their young lives.

i haven't made many blocks this past year, as i haven't had them in my shop for some time*. but every now and again, i get a request from a past customer or from a friend, and it is really fun to whip up a set of cloth blocks! these were made for a friend to take to a baby shower earlier this month.

custom smidgey blankets are always a customer favourite. i love the watery blues + greens in phoebe sue's blanket, with a hit of girlie pink for good measure.

tobie's blanket was commissioned for a very special visit with a miracle baby. the sun + clouds were the perfect choice! i hope she has many snuggly seasons wrapped in her special blanket.

* look for my custom cloth blocks to return to the shop in early 2012!

red + orange + green + blue

not long ago, i got a request from a customer to make large fabric storage buckets for her baby boy's room. she had a fairly neutral colour palette in his room with some greys, and then a couple bright pops of primary colours. after chatting back and forth, she decided on a scheme that gave each bucket it's own colour, red + orange + green {with grey on the outside} + blue. it worked perfectly, and i love the fabrics she chose.

this is the largest size of bucket that i make, 10x10x10 inches square. i find this is as big as i like to go while keeping a good amount of structure, and when they're filled with toys, kids can still pick them up. they fit perfectly in the ubiquitous ikea expedit units, which we have in both our kids' rooms [i photographed the buckets in there before i sent them off]

my customer was really happy with them, and sent me a couple pictures of them in her son's room. i love doing projects like this, giving people a one-of-a-kind item that no one else will have. i think they turned out really well, what do you think?

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!

blankets for brothers

two brothers, two sweet custom smidgey blankets. these blankets were both made within the last couple months. jack's mom loved his new baby blanket so much that she just had to have one for her older son, greyson, as well. i love the colour schemes she chose, that they complement one another without being too matchy.

the moon + stars motif is perfect for bedtime snuggles. for big brother greyson's, she asked if i could do a sun + clouds, which i think is a wonderful choice. i love how they both turned out, and i sure hope those two boys get loads of cuddle time with their new smidgey blankets.

as a final note, i have to say that i feel so lucky to have such amazing customers. i have now worked with jack + greyson's mom on three separate blankets, and she is an absolute delight to collaborate with. i'm so so happy that she loved each blanket enough to come back and order another, it is truly the greatest compliment i could receive.

got craft? this sunday!

also known as the reason that things have been so quiet around here! Got Craft? is this sunday, so come on out to say hello to 55 indie designers from vancouver. in my humble opinion, this is the best craft show in town, and i am honoured to be taking part.

this sunday also happens to be mothers' day, so what better way to treat mom to a unique gift than to pick out something awesome at Got Craft?

hunt + gather

i just wanted to share a smattering of the easter buckets i've made so far this spring. tomorrow [april 1 -- no fooling!] is the last day to place your order to receive yours in time for easter, so if you've been thinking about it, the time is now!

this is the second year i've offered choose your own easter buckets, and i must say, it is really fun to see what my customers choose for the fabrics! i've had the chance to sew in some combos that i wouldn't have thought of, but that i really like the results.

there were definitely some popular picks -- the wide blue + white stripe with the blue zoo fabric lining was the clear fave for boys, and the pink + orange fireworks sold out super fast over on the girls' side.

the two zigzag buckets shown on the bottom left were specially requested to be mini-buckets. i think that's a fun option, maybe i'll offer that next year, it's a nice size for the really wee kiddos.

anyhow, i've still got a few more lined up to sew over the weekend, and then they'll be gone for another year. up next for me, getting prepped for got craft -- it's creeping up soon!

some recent work

i made a couple of fresh custom smidgey blankets last week, which i thought i'd share with you.

first up, for little ari, whose parents are super hip and prefer a less babyish style, rather more sophisticated. i'm a huge fan of grey {stating the obvious, i know} so i was pretty excited to make this monochromatic blanket. i hope the little man + his parents love it, too.

next up, a sunny + bright blanket in one of my favourite colour schemes, aqua + orange. there's a little canary in the grass there, keeping an eye on things. wee leiland lives in new york, i sure hope this blanket is cool enough for him!

easter already?

i know, i know. rushing the holidays, can't we just have a break, it was just valentine's day...i know! but with custom items, you need a little more time.

what does this mean? it means that my build-your-own easter buckets are back in the shop, for both boys and girls! i'll be taking orders up until april 1st to ensure delivery in time for easter, which falls on april 24. i found some fun new fabrics that are perfect for spring, and i also brought back a few faves from last year. can't wait to start making some easter buckets!

you know, it's only six weeks until april 1. yes, spring really is just around the corner.

most of these images are from last year, with some fabrics still available, and others not. just some examples for you to see!