Granola Totes

I'm really pleased with the new bags I made this weekend: the tree-hugger colors, the shape, structure, straps, and roominess add up to fun and function. The Granola Girl Tote will be very handy for whomever chooses to buy one.
On another self-congratulatory note, I'm also pleased with the ongoing improvements with my photography skills. The Etsy Wiki on photography has helped heaps, though I continue to find plenty of faults to work on.

Sewing and Item Photography

After deciding my self-taught innovation could use some informed technique, I tried using a pattern (my first since junior high). Of course, I couldn't leave it alone and made numerous improvements, such as an extra five pockets. The result is this babe in the gorgeous fabric.

My re-arranged sewing space in the basement led me to create a new indoor photography area. I'm not happy with it, and will need to reinvent the space again soon. I'm finally getting a smidge better at white balance, but much experimentation is still needed.I keep getting blue/gray tints around the edges of my photos and will have to read up on remedies for that. Shadows are another trick. I have to move my lights around to minimize shadows and sometimes I forget (see below).

The butcher paper roll that I hung from the joists above is not wide enough for large shots. I think I'll end up painting part of the wall, though it will mean covering up a mural that holds good memories (see post on my basement walls)

Sewing Day

Today I made this bag. I'm thrilled with the way a belt I found secondhand matches the fabric and makes a great strap, and I really like the interior pockets, the quirky boxiness of the bag's shape, and the cuffed lining around the top. I'm not so thrilled with the way it hangs. My poll question (to the right) is: Do you think I should offer this bag for sale?As I was ironing the final crease in the flap, this ginormous spider stepped up and frightened me so badly that I shrieked. My impulse was to stomp on it, but I didn't want to clean the carpet after such a violent murder. I dumped my stainless steel sewing foot bowl onto the ironing board, scooped up the spider and ran him outside. He sat, stunned, in the same spot long enough for me to run for my camera. I've never encountered a spider this large.

Productivity, at long last

This is what I made today! I hope it sells, but I simultaneously hope it doesn't, so that it can live with me and be mine forever.
Inside is my first home-made tag. I used a custom stamp (designed by Jelene and produced by SweetPaperie) on fabric, then set the ink, cut it out, and stitched it in.
My little assembly line.
Procedural tools.

At last!

This bag has been in-progress for nearly a month! My design is fairly simple, but the thickness of the fabric and interfacing layers were stubborn to get through. I'm happy with it overall. It's a bit sleek, yet relaxed, and stands on its own.

My goal for the upcoming week is to complete two dozen more headbands. I'd also like to finish a batch of key fobs, and begin some pendants that have been dancing around in my imagination, but time is too limited.

I've been intending to go to an auto junkyard for months. My mission: to cut seatbelts from the least-used seats in cars. I plan to launder them and re-purpose them as awesome straps for bags.

Another design I'm toying with is for a gym bag. As a birthday present to myself, I might take a day off work to make myself the perfect gym bag next month.

I love to read your comments, and check out your blogs, Etsy sites, and works in progress, so leave your mark and let me know where to find you, please.