New Etsy Shop Now Open!

Just a quick post tonight!  My new Etsy shop is now open and currently has three listings.  Three more to be added tomorrow!  Please drop in to take a look around MistieBlue and let me know what you think!

Well it's been another day of x country skiing!  Tomorrow Lovely Man and I are looking after the clubhouse for two hours before heading off for another scoot around the trail!  Mind you there is going to be a wind chill factor of -30 apparently so I may change my mind!  Then it's back to catch up with my loved ones via Skype and then maybe a spot of baking...oh and home-made chicken Korma tomorrow, Mmmm!

Sold out!

Well almost!  Yesterday I did my first ever craft fair.  I sold 8 of my twelve bags and had four enquiries for my silk keepsake books!  For some reason my red velvet xmas stockings and gift bags didn't tempt anyone at all.  I made these last minute to make things look a bit christmassy as it was a christmas craft fair, perhaps people are not so keen on this sort of stuff anymore?  Never mind! 

Earlier in the week we did Thunder Bay one last time before the winter really set in.  The road was really pretty this time! Last time we passed through Schreiber I was intrigued by a number of trees bent over, almost in a perfect arc, at the side of the road.  Our friends, who have lived here for years, explained that there was an ice storm a few years ago and this was the result!  Fascinating! The frozen 'waterfalls' on the rocks at the side of the road are pretty impressive too!

So this week really saw the arrival of winter with our first real snow of the season, although I guess by local standards this still isn't anything to get too excited about!  It dropped to about -18 yesterday then rose back up to about -10!  After the craft fair Lovely Man and I decided to take a walk in the snow.  Having been shut indoors for two days sewing I was eager to get out there.  So eager I did the usual 'grab your boots and coat and out the door' thing.  Note to self - choose something you think will be warm enough and add another layer underneath!  Although I am told we will acclimatize eventually.  It was a strange experience.  Wearing only thin brushed cotton jeans my thighs got real cold even though I was walking quite quickly.  Within minutes of being back indoors they were suddenly on fire!  At one point they were SO hot I considered taking a cold shower!  I did, however, manage to get some nice shots of the beach and lake - all frozen of course!

 

So today is lazy Sunday.  Cooked breakfast, a little tidying up and then a whole day just painting and maybe another little walk in the bush!  Have a great week all!

New Items

As most of you guys know it has been my intention to work from home, making bags and other pretty things to sell locally and online.  So far I have finished 5 bags and a silk keepsake 'book'.  They are all handmade by me.  Each bag has a small logo label, individually hand embroidered.  They are fully lined, the tote bags have extra stitching on the handles for strength and also a hidden vinyl panel to re-inforce the bottom.  The Fabric Tote bags will retail at $30 CAD, the bambo effect handled purses at $40CAD (+ shipping).

Chocolate Burlap Tote with Rose Embellishment

Floral Tote

Cream Rose Tote

Lime & Blue Purse

Cream Rose Purse

The keepsake books are custom made to order, the one shown was made for a dear friend.  The pictures, 8 or 12 of your choice, are printed onto Habotai Silk, and are permanent. The photos supplied by you will be suitably cropped and sized by me.  I can include other materials, such as a poem or message but nothing that is copyright protected.  The 'pages' will be embellished with beads, lace and ribbons and then sewn into a book.  The cover can be made from various fabrics, with or without embellishments.  Apart from the top stitching around the cover which is machine stitched, everything else is stitched by hand.  Each one has a sewn in ribbon and bead bookmark.  The books can be made to suit many occasions: Anniversary, new baby, friendship.  These will retail at $50 CAD (8 pics) $65 CAD (12 pics) + shipping.  

Keepsake Friendship Book

Inside Pages

Close-up Book Page

I will be setting up a shop on Etsy.com in the very near future, but in the meantime please feel free to contact me via e-mail if you would like to place an order.  

Blue-green purse

Blue-green purse
Originally uploaded by Rona Gregory

I recently came across a book by Clare Youngs on making the perfect handbag. Two days later my mum gave me this piece of fabric which I love. I bought another piece of fabric from a charity shop, which was the perfect color match and weight for the lining, along with an old bag sporting the perfect handles! What else could I do but get started? It proved to be a learning curve however, as I started on one style but then half way through adapted it slightly because I wasn't 100% happy. This is the result. I'm going to give it to mum to say thank you.