Morsbags

I upcycled these sheets into shopping bags using the instructions from Morsbags. It was easy to follow and I love how they have turned out. This was the August Craft for a Cause hosted by SewCraftyHouston. They will be donated to local shelters and homes for the elderly so they can use them for shopping and reduce the number of plastic bags floating around. They were so fun I am going to make more!

My Brand New Bag

As we are heading to Hawaii tomorrow, I decided that I needed a new bag. So, I found a pattern online, modified it to what I wanted and made it out of corduroy, a cute floral fabric and some scotch guarded fabric I had picked up from the Salvation Army store a few weekends ago. I made it big enough to hold my camera and accessories safely without looking like a standard camera bag. I even included some pockets on the inside. I am please with how it turned out.

Outside of the bag - note that the strap is lined in my floral print.

Opening the bag...there is a snap closure.

Inside the bag - with pockets and my telephoto lens. The lining is not the prettiest, but it is scotch guarded and thick so I think it will do well for the lining. I used the floral print again for the under side of the flap.

The straps are very sturdy on the sides! It was so think that I accidentally sacrificed one of my needles in the process before putting on a stronger one.

Poker Shirt

Over the Labor Day weekend, Wes went with me to the fabric store to pick up some items I needed for a new bag I was making. While there, he wandered off into the pattern catalogs and turned up with a shirt pattern. He decided that I should make him a poker shirt, complete with cards embroidered on the pocket. Here are images of the results - I like how it turned out. He is wearing it out to his poker game tonight so hopefully it will be lucky for him.

New Sewing Machine

A few weeks ago, my new sewing/embroidery machine arrived. I have finally found the time to upload my pictures of the beauty in action. The first shot is of the machine itself with the embroidery hoop attached. Next, three shots of the progress on my first design - a pretty flower bouquet on felt. Last but not least, the final product. Let me know what you think!!

The above pictures were taken using my new telephoto lens with my camera on my new tripod - so much new stuff lately!!!

10 City Promo Swap

I participated in a 10 city promo swap for Etsy shops. It was organized by AlwaysAmy. I sent off 10 of my promo posters and received 4 sets of promos from other Etsy shops.

I received items from the following shops:

Crazy Bliss
Daisy Mae Designs
Flaunt It Maternity
Victoria's Art

I put up our promos at Texas Art Supply and Inversion Coffee House. Here are pictures of the posted promos:Here is picture that includes my promo posted up by AlwaysAmy:

I am in a Treasury!

I was chosen to be in a treasury by someone that I met in the Etsy forums. Check it out:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=59842

ETC July Design Challenge - Summer Delights

As part of our team's Spend Your Mondays with ETC program, we would like to take today to show off interpretations of our monthly Design Challenge. This month's theme was Summer Delights!

My entry for the design challenge was a Fruits of Summer Note Card set. Wes and I worked hard at pulling together and photographing some yummy treats. Then, we suffered through eating the treats when we were done. It is a rough life!

Here are some of our team creations for the design challenge (click on the image for a better view):



Team members who accepted this Design Challenge and listed items pertaining to this month's theme include the following:

EtsyTexasCrafters.etsy.com - ETC Team Shop, loaded with Texas Goodies

AngelsAndOutlaws.etsy.com - A place for the romantic cowgirl in us all
ApacheMoon.etsy.com - Unique & Custom Silver Jewelry for a Joyous Spirit
AWPhotography.etsy.com - ACEOs, note cards and fine art prints from original photography
ByBethStudio.etsy.com - OOAK art quilted items such as fabric postcards, ATCs/ACEOs, bookmarks and journals
CarolBradley.etsy.com - Bead and wire jewelry
CarylsCreations.etsy.com - Novelty embroidered items: magnets, dish soap bottle aprons, squares for quilts, "glass slippers", flour sack kitchen towels
Chido.etsy.com - Fused glass pendants, earrings and bowls
ChristinasMagic.etsy.com - Wearable Art, Paper Goods, Paintings, & ACEOs
CindyJoy.etsy.com - Beautiful baby bounty from Bundles of Joy
EcoFab.etsy.com - Fabulous fabrics and finds
ElephantDreams.etsy.com - Photographs from around the world
FabFrills.etsy.com - Unique handbags, sassy art dolls & other fab things
FandangoMoon.etsy.com - Greeting cards, notes, bookmarks and tags
FriendlyBanter.etsy.com - Cute crochet accessories
GreerDesign.etsy.com - Whimsical Pet & Wildlife Art
HandmadeWhimzy.etsy.com - Fun, unique jewelry, bookmarks, handpainted decor and more
ItsMeCheri2098.etsy.com - Handcrafted jewelry, home decor, gifts and more
KillerBeeDesigns.etsy.com - Business Card Holders, Purses, Textile Art, Wine Bottle Carriers, and ACEO's
MayzBeadz.etsy.com - Handmade Lampwork Beads
MiaSophia.etsy.com - Stained glass panels and jewelry
PumpkinsBoutique.etsy.com - Custom Accessories for Your Little Pumpkin
RevolutionArtPhoto.etsy.com - Fine Art Photography
SerendipityRose.etsy.com - All kinds of Jewelry and Beaded Gifts
SimplyCynful.etsy.com - Custom Bows, Headbands, Socks, Flip Flops, & Tutus
SpiritMama.etsy.com - Spiritual and Nature Inspired Art & Jewelry
SweetWolf.etsy.com - Funky handmade items for you and your home
Thistlecraft.etsy.com - Handpainted glass & window clings, CD collage cards, crochet scarves, & other fun stuff
TimelessDesigns07.etsy.com - Wire Sculpture & Custom Jewelry
TinaLewis.etsy.com - Handmade pottery and ceramic art
Tulip36.etsy.com - Beaded Jewelry
UnkamenGifts.etsy.com - Jewelry and Dolls

-:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:-

To find our Design Challenge Items, change the default search to "All Items: tags, titles" and search on "TeamEtsyTx DesignChallenge" or click on the following link:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title_all&search_query=teametsytx+designchallenge

-:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:-

You can find a list of our current members in the following locations:
1. On our website at http://www.etsytx.org (includes shop descriptions)
2. On our Etsy team profile at http://team.etsy.com/profilest/tx.shtml
3. In our team shop's Favorite Sellers list

To find more items by ETC members, search for our team tag of TeamEtsyTx - don't forget to search All Items to find Supplies and Vintage treasures as well!

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title_all&search_query=teametsytx

-:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:-

Join our mailing list via our team blog at http://www.etsytx.org/wordpress & receive our monthly newsletter to hear about that month's sales & other events, plus get a special "newsletter-only" coupon valid on purchases from our team shop.

-:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:- -:¦:- . -:¦:-

Interested in joining ETC? Submit your information via our website at http://www.etsytx.org/contact.html
(membership requests are processed once a week)