My Muxtape

I just discovered the craze that is Muxtape. It is a simple little site to upload your fav music mixes to and share with your friends. I made a little playlist of some of my favourite tunes, you can hear it here.

And on that note I decided to take some better pictures of my Cassette Tape Bag. The old photos had snow in the background and, of course, that is just sooooo yesterday (literally yesterday - we have been having nice above freezing tempretures these last few days).

So I teamed it with a matching outfit and tada, here she is (most of my bags have been female so far) in all her glory:

Greeeeeeen

95% of the time I use Canadian wool from a factory only an hour away. Last night however, I could not resist these colours. This wool cost more than usual But I thought I could knit a bag in my regular wool and then use this fancy stuff as a flap or something.

I also got the linen napkins last night from the wonderful Value Village (how do I love thee? let me count the ways). I love the color. I'm thinking I can use them to make some pretty corsage brooches.

In Value Village I was also hunting for some granny boots. Granny boots? you ask! Well, it was here that I first fell in love with granny boots and I know you will too (but don't tell too many people, keep it on the down low). No success last night but I am keeping my eyes open.


Today, I am working on a bright red crochet flap for a grey bag, and watching endless episodes of the Gilmore Girls (one of my many addictions). It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it!

Sale City!

birdy mosaic
Originally uploaded by steen ink

Yayyy, I have made 7 sales in the last week!! If I kept that up regularly this would actually be a job!! Meanwhile my shop is looking empty, so I gotta get listing. I have some bags here awaiting their final embellishing.

I discovered that my wardrobe choices have been featured twice on the 'ever-so-cool' website www.painfullyhip.com !! Shucks, thanks guys. I now look at my closet in a whole new light. I must admit getting dressed in the mornings is taking a little longer! (much to the dismay of Shane) But it is much more fun.

I am distracted today as we are having a St. Paddy's day party this saturday and I have to make the house presentable. I still have to stock up on some green food dye and download some good irish gigs.

Last night I went to my friend Katie's baby shower (my first ever baby shower). I made these little birdies for them to hang in their nursery. I still haven't got a power converter to make my UK sewing machine work over here, so they are hand-stitched, don't look too closely, my sewing skills leave much room for improvement. I stuffed the birds with grocery bags! well, it worked. And the little hanging tags are finely crocheted cotton with a cute little sparkly bead. I think I may make a few for my shop. What'd'ya think?

My very own Steen Ink bag

10th March 08 - felted market bag
Originally uploaded by steen ink

I made this bag way back in early fall, it took me fooorevver. In fact, it was such a traumatic process that I buried it in the back of my closet and vowed never to look at it again. But last week I got the idea to sew on some lace to it and draw it in at the top (so it didn't look so shapeless). And tada, here it is. I haven't yet sewn on the lace, it is just pinned on here.

I am always being told that I should have one of my own bags on me all the time, as a kind of advertisement, but every time I make one that I love I think I would prefer to sell it and get some money. But I think this bag may just be there perfect size and color for me. hmm.

Things are troubled here, the other night we came home from a friends house at about midnight, I wanted to go check on some laundry in the basement, SO as I descended down the stairs I heard a SpLaSh when I reached the final step. yup, our basement flooded, big time. It was TERRIBLE, me and shane sat for a few hours scooping the water up with anything 'bucket like' we could find, the whole time I am sobbing at how much money it will cost to repair the damage.

In the morning the water had obviously found a way out and drained away, we have the heat up high down there to dry things out and a friend lent us their dehumidifier too. Someone is coming to look at things this week. fingers crossed it is a tiny tiny problem....

work work work

March 4th 08 - Doily Bag and red shoes
Originally uploaded by steen ink

I am feeling a little Blah today. We got our yearly property tax bill in the mail today and so I am having money stresses. Well I shall channel my stress and knit knit knit. I thought you might enjoy this little picture of me and my big puppy gretchen. She is a lovable big scruff.








I made this tropical bag today:

cherry blossom bag

March 3rd 08.
Originally uploaded by steen ink

Considering I wasn't doing too good with 'fashion friday' I have shifted my focus to the flickr group 'wardrobe_remix'. This is my my contribution for today.

pink blouse - vintage thrift store
pistacio sweater (with little white poka-dots on the arms shoulders and collar) - handed down from my mum.

Grey vest (underneath) - American Apparel
Skinny Jeans - cant remember
Shoes - Buffalo 'guddies'
Bag - made by me
hair pin - made by me
Necklace - made by me !

I am holding a bag I made the other day, I just listed it. I am so happy with the embroidery, It took me a long time but was well worth it. I LOVE blossom trees, I just wish the snow would melt and I could see some in real life!

When will the snow melt!!

Doily Delia the French Maid Bag
Originally uploaded by steen ink

..And stop falling!!

I am SO tired of winter. This weekend we are going to a 'beach party', to celebrate the first day of spring. There will be snow on the ground and the river will still be frozen rock solid. BUT there will be swimwear and there will be fun.

It is day 3 of my design-a-day challenge. Doily Delia was Day 1. and The little pink number below was day two and I am still working on todays. I think I will make a brooch, something quick, tomorrow I should have another bag ready for completion.

Partaking in the Challenge

I seem to be stumbling across the 'design a day' challenge everywhere these days. So I have taken the hint and submitted myself to the task.

For a month I will have a complete creation every day. Gone are the days of getting tangled up in web marketing junk, or working on multiple designs that never see completion or refining the fine art that is procrastination (I should have a Ph.D. in procrastination).


I made a chart that I have to cross of every day and I have it above my little work station. Todays contribution is sitting on the desk, it is 'Doily Delia the French Maid Bag' - a little black and white number that has been in the creating process for way too long. BUT today Is a new day, and today Doily Delia became a complete creation and I am waiting for Shane to come home and take some yummy pictures so I can list her tonight.

i knit at parties

i knit at parties
Originally uploaded by steen ink

yes I do. This is a picture of me working away at a house party this weekend.

Well I finally got my sale started, there may be a few more items to arrive in the next few days. I had a busy weekend and didn't get as many cozies as I'd have liked made. Oh and I got a totally gross day today for pictures, so the photies aren't so great.

Winter Sale ! 18th-24th of Feb!!

From Monday 18th of February to Sunday the 24th I will have some lovely winter cozies on sale.

I have a bunch of neck warmers and scarfs that I never got listed in time at the start of Winter....So, in order to make room for some new spring stock, all the winter treats will have 20-25% of for this limited time only.

So Start Saving Some Pennies for a Shopping Spree on Monday!

Fingers crossed we get a nice day tomorrow so I can take tasty pictures of these woolen delights.

sniff sniff, achoo, cough, cough, boo, hoo,

Custom bag - Blue Feather
Originally uploaded by steen ink

Yup I have been looooaded with the cold this last week. lets just say that I am not the most stoic when it comes to cold, I think I must suffer from the 'man cold'.

But I did manage to FINALLY finish of this custom baggy.
ya like?

What delight!

Last night I checked my email and saw I had my regular email from the 'etsy success mailing list' - giving me lots of juicy weekly tips on becoming a better Etsian. As I scrolled down I saw a familiar site, Me and one of my baggies! - yup someone chose my Mocha Bird Bag as an example of 'telling stories with an image'. THANKS!

therefore I am in business.

Tis the logical conclusion - business cards mean...'it's business time'. I need some strategies and marketing ideas and and and....any ideas?

going postal

I have to admit I quite enjoy getting my stuff all ready for posting. I take pleasure in making a cute tag and wrapping it up with a bow. I keep all my scraps of wool (of which there are plenty) for the final trimmings, nothing goes wasted here.

prideful me

Originally uploaded by steen ink

I made this little beauty last week and I am soooo happy with it. I am currently felting another one similar to this but with a few more experiments tangled into it , hmmm. Felting a bag is always exciting/scary, I never quite know what I am going to end up with.

I called this bag 'Starry Night' - she is up for sale in my etsy shop.

It's another snow day

button revamping
Originally uploaded by steen ink

There is a storm coming, I secretly love storms (not that secret anymore). Today I am parading around the house in thermals, two sweaters, a big huge scarf and a hat.

Last night I started experimenting with a boring old white top I have, I am gonna cover the colar in buttons, yum.

I also listed a new bag today, it would be perfect for a valentines present.

Someday I will blog here about pricing. I have real problems with pricing. Since this is more than just a hobby for me I need to be giving myself a wage. The bags take a lot of time and work and it just drives me NUTS when I see someone list a felted bag for a ridiculously low price. It isn't doing anyone any favors. grrrrrrrr. let me at 'em.

anyway, I am confident that my bags are worth it. If I do say so myself.

:o)

agh

the Noreen Bag
Originally uploaded by steen ink

There is one bag I am working on with lots of text embroidery on it and it is driving me nuts! I keep getting letters wrong and having to rip out and start again.

So I am slumping in front of the computer trying my best to avoid the bag scowling at me from across the room :o)

This bag is one being posted to the ol' homeland this week. it was my first attempt at a zipper bag. yup.

Ok I am away to find other distractions.

Lovely Brooch

Lovely Brooch
Originally uploaded by steen ink

I am trying to think of quick and affordable items that would sell fast for valentines day. hmmmmm. This is one of my experiments, It began it's life crocheted, then felted, then embroidered and finally embellished with a sparkley button. What do ya think?

A Valentines gift to remind your honey how lovely you think they are.

I want to make a nice card to pin it to and then print the world "you're" above the pin.

Fashion Friday (3)

Well it is Friday again. I have to admit last night as I sat in my old tattered pj's and slippers I was somewhat dreading thinking fashionably. BUT fear not!

Yesterday me and Shane went to see Sweeney Todd, staring the very beautiful Johnny Depp. I LOVED the clothes in this movie and I noticed
some of the lovely knits. I couldn't find a picture from the movie to show of the Neck Cozy as modelled by Depp. This was the best I could get

SO I got home last night and got knitting. I dressed myself today with a little bit Burton-esque charm. In this pic I am wearing two neck cozys. The petrol navy one is my fav and I will have a few of these for sale in my etsy shop over the next week.

The Sloane Bag

This is Heather, she got a Steen Ink bag for Christmas. I made a squiggle on the bag because it reminded me of Heather, she is a darn right marvelous doodeler.
You can check out her lovely squiggles at her
blog and you can see the lovely designs of her and 'er hubby, Peter at the Atto blog.





A lovely heather drawing.