Creating with a Vintage Flair with B Stauff Designs

Summer!

2009-06-23T08:23:00.003-04:00

Well summer has finally arrived and it seems to have finally brought some sun! Here in PA we have had rain for the past month! It starts to get you down in the dumps.

Things here have been busy. My show on the 19th was a huge success and I met the nicest woman from Good Housekeeping magazine who loves my bags and is interested in my fall line and what I will have for the holidays.

This week I will work on several custom orders from the show and then I will be starting my fall designs. I have some new shapes I want to try out and some gorgeous fabrics I can't wait to work with! I want them ready for the Philly Designer Market Show on the 18th of July.

I also have to work on some more wedding bags to get to Kori from Wedding Daze Boutique in Easton. Work, Work, Work... It's great to be busy!

New Bag Designs

2009-06-10T14:37:00.011-04:00

I wanted to share some new bags I have made for an upcoming show next week. These will not be available for sale unless they do not sell at the show. The next public show I will be at is the Philadelphia Designer's Market on July 18th so be sure to stop by and say hello if you are in the area. The show is free!

Woo Hoo!

2009-05-27T13:44:00.003-04:00

Just was contacted from the owner of the bridal boutique and she loves my work and wants to display it in her shop. She also wants to put all my information on her website which is fine with me!

I also have to contact another business owner who wants to carry my bags, as well as start working on two large shows in June and July. I need help!!! I am a little nervous and starting to freak out a bit but I am so excited at the posibilities!

I am also now on facebook so come be my friend! I still have no idea what to do there but I am learning!

Off to start sewing!!!

New Opportunity?

2009-05-17T08:55:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I attended a bridal shower for my friends daughter. I had made her bridal purse as well as the money bag which I had posted here about a couple of weeks ago. The shower was lovely and afterword my bff and I walked around downtown Easton to look at some of the new shops.

A brand new bridal boutique has opened up and we went in. The store is so pretty and the dresses were gorgeous. Wedding Daze Boutique is owned by Kori Muntean and she is a professional bridal consultant. Wedding Daze not only carries bridal dresses, but they also take care of every aspect of the planning from invites, to flowers, to catering, location, and photography. The website is gorgeous so be sure to check it out http://inaweddingdaze.com/ .

While we were talking to her, my bff, who is a consummate sales person, casually asks if she carries handbags, Kory said she didn't so I told her I was a handbag designer. She asked for my card and said she knew of no one who does that kind of work and if I wanted to bring a few to show her she would love to see them.

Although I am excited at another opportunity, I am scared. I am my own worse critic. Things have to be perfect and when they aren't, I am not happy. Although everyone thought my bridal purse turned out beautiful, all I could see were the small bumps from the interfacing, and the way the silk draped a little weird on the front flap.

I need to find a way to interface these wedding bags without the interfacing texture showing through. I also worry that I won't be able to keep up with all the work that is coming my way. With all the custom orders, the store in New Hope wanting more, a home show in June and the Philly Market in July, as well as a store in Avon NJ wanting some clutches to wholesale from me, I am getting panicked that I am only one woman!

So my question to all you talented artists out there: Does anyone know how I could interface a clutch to keep its shape without the lumps? I want to use more delicate, wedding fabrics, but without the worries of them being transparent. Also, how did you keep up with your growth spurts?

Answer on!

Tough Decisions

2009-05-13T17:56:00.003-04:00

Today I made the huge decision to put my Etsy shop in vacation mode. I moved all my listings to my artfire shop which I am hoping will do better. Although I loved the idea of Etsy, they are just getting too big, they do not advertise to the general public as much as they should, and the sales and views are shrinking.

I was very excited and proud to make the home page a couple of weeks ago, and I had hoped that things there would pick up. Things did not change and instead of wasting my time promoting, and creating for them, I am focusing more on my other outlets.

Truthfully I am becoming too busy to handle the upkeep of two online stores. I have been receiving more and more custom orders, and my designs are selling well in New Hope. I have also been contacted to wholesale my clutches in another boutique in NJ, and I have several home shows this summer. The textiles editor of Good Housekeeping saw one of my bags and loved it. She said my bags were of superb quality, inside and out, which is the sign of a real artisan! She is coming to one of the home shows so keep your fingers crossed.

Once I complete my custom order backlog, my goal is to start on my fall line. I want to come up with 2-3 basic shapes and a couple of special techniques I have in mind to really make them original, funky, and fun. I will premier them here when they are completed!

Finding Time to Sew

2009-05-06T17:01:00.002-04:00

2 Years ago, I foolishly thought that when my youngest was at school all day I would get so much sewing done. This is why I timed starting http://bstauffdesigns.com for when all three would be away at school.

Boy was I mistaken. Now that the oldest is in High School and the other two starting 45 minutes later, I spend most of the day in the car! I don't get back home until 8:30, so by the time I eat breakfast, shower, and check my emails, it's 9:45-10 am before I can actually start sewing. I roll along pretty good until the phone rings, or the washer buzzer goes off, or the dog needs to go out, or I have to return books at the library. I then have to leave at 1:40 to pick up said teen, then drive to pick up younger two. It is 3:30 by the time we return home. I maybe get another hour in if I am lucky before homework, dinner, driving to activities and baths happen. By the time youngest is in bed at 8, I am tired and not feeling too much like sewing!

I have such ambitious intentions when I first wake in the morning. I think of my new fabrics and of what I want to make with them. I dream of completing three projects and posting them on http://bstauffdesigns.artfire.com or http://bstauffdesigns.etsy.com and still having time to work on the computer a while. Sadly the reality is there just are not enough hours in the day.

Balancing a start up business, being a mom, and running a busy household is not easy, but it is possible. You must be disciplined and dedicated, and you must want it bad!

Wedding Purse

2009-05-03T14:13:00.003-04:00

One of my friend's daughter is getting married on 6/20. Her shower is on May 16 and I made her the purse and the gift bag to match her dress. Her dress is beautiful, in ivory and champagne so I made the bag in the champagne and lined it with ivory taffeta. Her bridesmaids are wearing terra cotta so I added the little terra cotta rose buds to bring in the color.

I had some challenges because the silk I worked with was thin and when interfaced, it did not look smooth over the interfacing. I ended up having to double line it and it helped a lot, but it still pulls a bit when snapped closed. After three attempts and wasted materials, I stopped trying for it to be perfect.

I hope she likes it and I hope years from now she will look back with happy memories of her special day!

I Made The Front Page of Etsy!!!

2009-05-02T08:23:00.004-04:00

Holy Cow! I went online this morning only to find out that my Box Tote graced the front pages of etsy last night at 7pm! I am so sad I missed it, but thankfully I got to see it in the archives.

I am so excited! It got a ton of views and 8 people marked it as their favorite. This has been a really good week for me as far as exposure to new markets.

Currently, I have been very busy with custom orders. I finished a wedding bag set for a friends daughter, and I made some clothes to send to S.O.T.A. in New Hope. I also made my daughter a dress for her spring choral concert which I have to put the finishing touches on. I have 7 more bags to finish for orders and then I can start making some new ones for my artfire and etsy shops.

Have a great weekend everyone, and what ever you do, don't lose hope, keep plugging and do it the best you can.

Featured Artist!

2009-04-30T08:34:00.004-04:00

I am being featured on www.bretttorrium.com ! This is a really cool site from NYC that markets handmade artisans from all over the country. I don't know how they found me but I am sure glad they did. I am hoping this will bring me some exposure in the big apple which would be great!

Please check it out today and let me know what you think.

Best Recycling Idea

2009-04-27T16:24:00.005-04:00

Last week I talked about ways to recycle and asked for your ideas. I got 15 great responses and I thank you guys for that!

Two that really stood out as great were to use old sewing patterns as tissue paper in gifts and to use old receiving blankets as diaper doublers. Although I am long out of the diaper stage this really is a fantastic ideas for those of you with little ones still in diapers. Cut them up, fold them up and sew along the open edge. They are washable and reusable!

This weeks question is more of an idea hunt. I have a big collection of vintage calendar tea towels. They are in great condition and I would like to make some things with them. Any ideas? Comment on what you think I could make with them. I will make the best idea, post the finished product here and on Etsy, and give you the credit!

Shad Festival

2009-04-24T06:36:00.002-04:00

This weekend is the Shad Festival in Lambertville, NJ. Lambertville has a really cool main strip that has lots of antique shops and boutiques. Go over the bridge and you are in New Hope which is an awesome town for shopping. While you are browsing around, please make sure to stop in at Simply SOTA on North Main Street http://www.simplysota.webs.com/ .

SOTA is a consignment shop for only PA artists and crafters. Not only do they carry B Stauff Designs, but they have beautiful art, clothing, jewelry, woodworking, and more.

If you go, get there early as parking is on the street and since the weather is going to be fantastic, it will be packed!

For the Boys....

2009-04-15T14:39:00.006-04:00

I can't tell you how many times friends will say to me "don't you make any boy things?" Having three girls, I have always just gravitated to the dresses, the purses, and the feminine accessories. Finally, I was asked by my favorite shop owner Patti Cilenti of Simply SOTA in New Hope to make something for younger boys because there is nothing out there for them.If you don't believe me, take a look through a pattern book one of these days. 700 pages of women's and girls, 2-4 pages for men and boys and 90% are PJ'S!

So, after some thought, I decided to branch out a bit and make some cute drawstring bags with different themed pockets. The first one is shown above. They are perfect for carrying toys, handheld games, clothes, books, or just about anything. An overnight bag, pool bag, gym bag, beach bag, or small laundry bag even.

I also have planned and in construction some pj bottoms, fun boxers, and some outfits for little boys.I have so much to make I better stop blogging and get back to work!

What would you like to see me make more of? Have any ideas of handmade sewn items that boys would like? Let me know, I read all comments!

Wanted: Your recycling/reusing ideas!

2009-04-11T14:19:00.003-04:00

Rather than use the dreaded Easter grass that ends up on our floor, our carpets and is horrible for the environment, I will be using fabric.

I am going to pick spring colors from my scraps and tear them into thin strips. Then I will line the baskets with the strips to resemble the grass. I can them just store them in a bin for next year!

Now it is your turn. What is your favorite recycling tip? It can be simple or you can tell me about a favorite project you did. Post it here and let others be inspired! I will read every suggestion and post the one I think is the best on my blog!

Growing

2009-04-10T09:27:00.003-04:00

In the past few weeks business has started to really take off which I am so excited about. More people are hearing about B Stauff Designs and word of mouth has been really instrumental in helping me to make a brand for my work.

In addition to my custom orders and selling at Etsy, the consignment shop down in New Hope, Simply SOTA is now going to be running a weekly feature in the Bucks County Herald. Each week a different artist will be featured and this will bring lots of exposure not only to the store, but to the individual artists as well. The artist will also be at the store demonstrating their craft, answering questions and letting people see how things are made. I will be down there one of these weekend so when I get the date, I will let you know!

I have been working on some new original designs which I will be showing this summer. They will be part of my Fall line so stay tuned for that too!

New Look for a New Season

2009-04-07T08:56:00.004-04:00

Recently on http://handmadeinpa.net/ , we were given a challenge to redesign our blogs in order to help with our brand, and connect more to our businesses. I took this challenge and the results can be seen with my new look.

I changed the background colors to coordinate with my business logo and changed the heading of my blog to my business name. This helps my followers connect my brand name to my blog and makes my logo get stuck in their brain for future use!

I also added a section on side called "About Me" which explains what B Stauff Designs does and why I love doing what I do.

My goal is to have a cohesive package so that customers, bloggers, and those just browsing will be able to get a complete package from their visit.

I have been so busy the past two weeks with tons of custom orders and sales! My poor Etsy shop is getting low, but I will not be able to re-stock until the middle of next week when I should be caught up. B Stauff Designs is growing and I want to thank all my family and friends for their love and support. Thanks you also to all my customers! You are the best!

tidbits

2009-03-31T08:59:00.003-04:00

Ok I know I have not posted in a while but I have been busy and life interrupts my blogging sometimes.

I wrote another article for http://handmadeinpa.com which will be out Wed. or Thurs. I show a dress I am making from upholstery fabric.

I had some custom orders to get out and I sold my vintage dress so things are really picking up again! I have three more custom orders to do and a bag for my friends daughters wedding in June, plus I am making some kids clothes to sell down in the New Hope store.

I recently acquired a dozen vintage aprons that are so cute! Some I will use in other projects, others are just too cute to rip apart. I will post about what I make with them and put up some pics also so you all can get some ideas.

It is slowly warming here in PA and I bought the seeds for my garden yesterday. We are expanding ours this year and I am trying to grow everything we eat as a family. I wish I lived on a farm and could have my own chickens and cows but that is not allowed here in my development.

Not much else is going on so I will keep it short.

The Wearin' of the Green!

2009-03-14T09:27:00.002-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend to all my Irish friends and those who wish they were! Today is our annual St. Pat's Party so I will make this brief because I have to get the corned beef's in the cookers!

Every year we invite family and friends over for corned beef and cabbage, we laugh, drink, and sing Irish songs. The kids love getting together and putting on acts for us which is a riot. I took over the tradition a few years ago from my Uncle Jim who lost his brave battle with cancer in July,2006. He was famous (in our huge family)for his annual St. Pat's Day Gala which was a talent show. It started at his apartment in Little Falls, NJ with just the immediate family and close friends. Over the years, it grew to fill the Belmar Fishing Club in Belmar, NJ with about 150 people.

His best friend would don a tux and be MC each year. Some of the acts were hysterically funny and some showed real talent. I have had my share of fame with singing with my sister and my daughter and my cousin's. It was looked forward to and people rehearsed their acts for months ahead of time.

When he grew too sick to host it, I decided to just have my mom(his sis)and dad and my sis and her family and some close friends so that we could look back and relive the good times. It is my small tribute to him and I hope he is smiling today from heaven having a Guinness with us!

News Update!

2009-03-11T08:44:00.003-04:00

FYI, I wrote an article for http://handmadeinpa.net on what to do with old fabrics. It is the first of a series I will be writing for the site and it is up today! It's weird seeing my name as a byline!
Swing by and check it out for some great repurposing ideas.

Also on the site is the giveaway for my Olive Green clutch. The deadline is Friday so don't forget to comment and enter for a chance to win!

Partridge's

2009-03-09T16:12:00.004-04:00

I made this charming tote today from this adorable Retro fabric. I listed it on Etsy and named it "The Partridge's Summer Vacation Tote" When I named this I was thinking of "A Partridge in a pear tree" because of the birds shaped like them and the upside down pears on the fabric. I didn't want people to think "Christmas" so I thought it would be funny to wonder where the partridge goes for sumer vacation.

I had to laugh because when I was on the Etsy forums and asked if anyone thought the name was too long, most people thought I was referring to "The Partridge Family"! I hadn't thought of that but hey, if this makes you smile or better yet, buy it, then good for you!

Yippeee!

2009-03-08T18:06:00.002-04:00

My meeting went great!!! I now have 15 of my handmade items in a really cool store that is in a fabulous location. I couldn't ask for more. The store is adorable, My things are totally unique, and she was so impressed with my work and said my prices are great. She said that definitely have found a niche because no one seems to sew anymore.

The Grand Opening is Saturday, March 14th 10am-9pm. If you will be in the New hope PA area, make sure to check out Simply S.O.T.A. at 26 North Main Street. Great store, great artists, great owners.

Big Day Today

2009-03-08T11:01:00.002-04:00

I am a member of a great group called http://handmadeinpa.net . This is a site dedicated to artists and crafters of handmade items in PA only. Tara Gentile the founder of the site works tirelessly to promote handmade in PA and lets all of us Pensy crafters know what is going on.

Through this site I was put in touch with Patti Cilenti who is opening a consignment only shop for PA crafters in New Hope. Only PA crafters and artists can sell their items in this unique shop, and after contacting her about B Stauff Designs, we set up a meeting for today. I was told to bring all my work, and a pricing sheet so I am very excited at this great opportunity to get my work seen, and hopefully sold!

New Hope is a thriving, eclectic community of artists, crafters, boutiques, and restaurants and they get a lot of tourists from all over the country. If you would like to check out Patti's site or if you are in the area, please stop by for the grand opening on 3/14. Tell her I sent you, and make sure to look for my items!

Simply S.O.T.A.
State .Of .The. Arts.
26 N Main St New Hope, PA 18938
http://www.simplysota.webs.com
215-862-1865

And The Winner Is.....

2009-03-05T09:08:00.004-05:00

Audrey from http://audreyscountrycrafts.etsy.com ! She is the lucky winner of my makeup bag! I am so excited for her and I hope she loves it!

Thank you very much for everyone who entered! There were 132 entries for my first giveaway and I value all the kind words you all had to say about my shop!

This coming Monday I will be the featured artist as well as giving away my olive Roarin 20's Clutch on http://handmadeinpa.net/ . Be sure to check it out and enter to win this great bag!

Why does my dog do these weird things?

2009-03-01T09:31:00.002-05:00

I have a beautiful pure bred Yellow Lab. Buddy comes from a long line of field/hunting Grand Champions, has all the markings and measurements to conform to breed standard and is a beautiful specimen. And then there is his reality. He is crazy, hates to be outside, hates the pool, and has a long list of weird fetishes.

I have to be thankful that he has never ruined any furniture, shoes or toys in our house. He is a great dog 90% of the time. It's the other 10% that drives us crazy.

He counter surfs so no food can be left anywhere when we go out or even leave the room. He has eaten loafs of bread, with the plastic, raw meat, avocados, oranges, bananas,tomatoes(an entire basket full), cheese, plates of food, bagels, sandwiches in one gulp, and butter.

All the taboo foods that supposedly could kill a dog? Yeah he has eaten them. Last year he jumped up high enough to pull down my oldest daughter's Easter basket off her chest of drawers and ate all her candy. There had to be 2 pounds of chocolate in there, he never even burped.

He has eaten an onion, about 15 packs of sugar free gum(stolen out of visitors purses), and grapes which are supposed to be bad for them too.

His strangest delicacy is paper. He is addicted to eating napkins, paper towels, t.p., and tissues. He hunts through the garbage to get every last tissue so he can feast on it.

Another tasty treat is Rabbit poop. We have hordes of bunnies in our backyard and Buddy loves to chase them. But, he also loves to snack on their droppings which is so gross I can't begin to talk about it. (Let's just be thankful he isn't a big kisser!)

Other than his constant watch dog barking at anything that may move out the window, the fact that he gets locked in my studio and cries to be set free about 10 times a day, his jumping on visitors, his steel tail and 90 pound body knocking over visitors, his habit of sleeping on the sofa when we aren't home and licking his feet so there are wet stains all over it, his asking to be let out but then not going out due to the weather, and his anxiety over people being in the pool that causes him to bark incessantly and pace, he is a great dog! Really. He is.

My foray into Vintage Couture

2009-02-23T12:56:00.005-05:00

Ok maybe not couture, but it is a vintage inspired cocktail dress from the 1950's. I had this lovely sage green brocade fabric in my stash for years. I never knew what I wanted to do with it until I came upon the idea of making it into a vintage styled dress.

The bodice has a boat neck collar and is fitted with waist and bust darts. It is fully lined for comfort as well as for shape. I chose to line the bodice with a really pretty cotton floral so there would be a surprise when moving or bending down, or hanging on the hanger. It went so well with the main fabric and I had to put it somewhere!

I also had a vintage barrette in my collection that I sewed to the waist as a focal point. I think it gives it just the right amount of interest without having to use a belt. The full skirt is knee length, and fun to twirl in!

I love how this turnd out and I can picture someone wearing it to a wedding, a shower, a summer party in the Hamptons, a matinee, or a special evening out with friends. Wouldn't it look equally great at the Kentucky Derby paired with a gorgeous large flora hat and a mint julep? Can you tell I must have been wealthy in a previous lifetime? Ah well, back to reality.

Off I go to the studio to create yet another fantasy in fabric!

It's Giveaway Time!

2009-02-18T12:47:00.005-05:00

This week I am beginning a giveaway contest. One lucky winner will receive this beautiful quilted makeup bag in the cutest spring colors! Here's how you can win it!

1. You must go through my Etsy or 1000 Markets shops and comment back here on your favorite item.

2. Comment here on my blog with your name and contact info.

3. Winner will be announced March 5th, when I will contact the winner to get shipping information. If winner does not contact me within 3 days, I will pick another winner through a random drawing.

4. Blog about this give away and receive ONE extra entry. Just leave a seperate comment here with your blog link.

5. Twitter or Plurk about this give away and let me know and get One extra entry!

Why wouldn't you go for it! It's easy, It's Fun and It's FREE!

Good Luck!

New shop

2009-02-17T16:34:00.003-05:00

I decided to open up some alternative selling venues as Etsy is just getting way too competitive and it seems like they only promote people with tons of sales. I have already opened shop on 1000 Markets and I am going to be checking out some others as well.

Please check out the new shop at http://bstauffdesigns.1000markets.com

vintage love

2009-02-17T09:13:00.003-05:00

I'm am trying to get back to my original love and inspiration that started it all. Vintage Fashion. When I set up my studio, and got serious about sewing, my first love was sewing clothes for myself, my friends and my family. I began collecting vintage patterns and making reproductions of them.

Then I began making handbags and they were faster and seemed to be more mainstream marketable, and people wanted to buy them. I slowed down making clothes because I didn't have the time to do both and fitting issues for too many body types is hard to deal with.

Lately, I have really missed sewing clothes. I have all these great patterns and fabric that I never used! I had so many plans for the wonderful outfits I would make and the winter coat I wanted to try and create. I spent hundreds on fine quality fabrics and Italian wool blends. I have several U.F.O.'s laying around that never got completed because the handbags came first.

This weekend, I started on a new dress from the 1950's that I cannot wait to post pictures of. I am going to sell it on my shop as well as a few other items. I debated on whether or not to open up a separate shop for this but I decided to keep it all in the same family, just a new section. My idea is to offer women vintage fashion in modern fabrics that can be used today.

I realize that it will take longer to finish each piece, but that time will be a labor of love and open up a new level of creativity. Maybe I will even make a matching handbag with each outfit! Hey! there's an idea!

Featured artists

2009-02-04T09:04:00.003-05:00

I came across a great painter on Etsy that I wanted to bring to everyone's attention. Her name is Tracey Nicholas and her work is beautiful. I love the colors and the way she makes the objects in her painting come to life. 4 of her paintings are in the etsy mini on the left but please stop by her shop to see her whole collection. http://www.traceynicholas.etsy.com/

The next artist is a wonderful photographer who captures the beauty and wild of nature. I love the detail, starkness, and emotions that these pictures bring out in me. Her work can be enjoyed at www.MNHPhotography.etsy.com She has a great shop and is a regular poster on the etsy forums so if yousee her tell her you saw her featured here!

New this week

2009-02-01T10:23:00.002-05:00

This week was a good one. I have received a lot of great support from my fellow etsians as well as some great feedback on my new designs. Slowly but surely, my business is really taking shape and taking off. I am playing around with the idea of teaching sewing and advertising them on craigslist but I am still undecided. The extra income would help right now, but I still don't know what to charge.

I am currently busy making as many items as I can with the goal of going to several local shops that sell local artists goods and hopefully getting my items in their stores so more people can see them. I think all items sell better when people can see and touch them rather than just looking at a picture on the computer which distorts the true color.

I am also anxiously awaiting payday so I can go fabric shopping! I really need to get some more yellow fabrics as this seems to be the color for spring.

New Direction

2009-01-29T08:19:00.002-05:00

After much thinking, I have decided to take my shop and my designs in a new direction. I am going to focus more on my first love of vintage fashion and really work on making bags from the 1920's-1950's fit into today's fashions.

My Etsy shop looked all over the place, so I weeded out some things that sell better in person, and I am going to focus more on just a few styles with lots of different fabric options. I have received tons of positive feedback on the forums about the look of my new clutches which was great! I even sold the black one yesterday which made my day!

My goal, in doing this, is to have people think of my bags when they see my name/logo. I want a certain style to come to mind when people think of B Stauff Designs. Then, once I am really famous and selling oodles of bags, I can expand and take my brand to new directions.

Have a good day, be creative, and have fun!

This weeks featured artists!

2009-01-26T15:59:00.002-05:00

It is a new week and with that I am featuring two very talented artists. The first is Lisa amato who is owner and photographer of Photoamato. Here is what she has to say about her shop:

*****HALF OFF 16" BY 20" PRINTS ONLY UNTIL FEBRUARY 15th*****
Please visit my entire gallery at http://www.photoamato.com

Welcome to my gallery. I hope you enjoy your visit. All of my photographs are available in a variety of sizes. I also offer custom sizing. They can also be converted to black and white, sepia, or any custom post processing. Just ask...anything is possible!
ADDITIONAL SIZES/PRICING: Note card=$3.00, 5X7=$10.00, 11X14=$30.00, 16X20=$60.00.
All my work is created in a smoke-free home.

Her work is featured in the etsy mini to the left! Please check her out!

My second artist is Kit chase from www.trafalgarssquare.etsy.com She is a very talented painter who also creates beautiful dolls. This is what her shop announcement has to say:

I have been working this week on new paintings, stamps, and...(drumroll)... a collection of dolls! I'll be loading them this weekend so don't forget to stop by!
I LOVE to do custom paintings! If you would like one, or see a painting that's sold and not relisted, just convo me and I'll create a painting just for you!

Her lovely dolls and paintings are also included in the etsy mini on the left.

Two Featured Artists

2009-01-21T12:39:00.002-05:00

I am changing things up for 2009. Instead of 8 different fave things in my etsy mini, I am going to pick two of my favorite etsy artists each week, and post 4 pics for each of them. Hopefully this will get them some exposure, and allow my blog followers to see some new things.

The first is www.KittyKatKards.etsy.com . I love these origami cards and tags, especially the dress ones. They remind me of the vintage fashion I so love. KittyKatKards is based in Maryland, and her shop is terrific so check it out.

Next is a dear friend I first met when I started on etsy last year. She was one of the first people to reach out to me in the forums and she has been so good to me by featuring many of my pieces in her treasuries. She is known for constantly helping fellow artists get exposure and her Crocheted Little Things are so beautiful. Her shop is filled with unique, ooak designs for all ages. she can be found at www.piccoladonna2006.etsy.com so please stop by her shop and say hi!

Big ideas

2009-01-18T12:03:00.005-05:00

I just made a very large tote for a friend of mine and I am now offering them in my etsy shop in a variety of fabrics. I took photos of the base fabric options and fabrics that could be used for the stripes and lining. I am offering them through my Etsy shop for $50.00. They include a cell phone pocket as well as a larger square pocket. They make great beach bags, market bags, or even an overnight bag. My friend is using it as a purse because she likes really big bags.

I am hoping this offers people more choices and lets them see what color combos can be used in handbags.

I received a Blog Award!

2009-01-16T10:19:00.002-05:00

My sweet friend Piccoladonna2006 from etsy just awarded me with a blog award! I am so surprised! Please check out her etsy shop as she creates amazingly cute crocheted little things at http://www.piccoladonna2006.etsy.com/ . I also have her pink baby booties featured in my treasury whose link is in the post below.

Vintage Valentines

2009-01-16T09:59:00.003-05:00

Ok I know it has been ages since I posted, but I have been very busy and I was also having problems signing into this account for some reason!

I currently have a cool treasury on etsy called Vintage Valentines and it features some amazing things so please check it out. http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=33607

Speaking of Vintage valentines I thought I would give out some ideas on things you can make to help decorate your home during this season of love. Fabric hearts are so easy and quick to make and they can be used as small pillows, gift toppers, sachets, or ornaments, depending on the size heart.

Pick out your favorite vintage fabric or any print you love. Make a heart template from a paper bag or piece of paper to use as your pattern. Cut out your pattern and pin it to you fabric which should be folded in half with right sides together. Cut out the heart, making sure to add a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Sew around the heart leaving an opening of about 2-3 inches to add stuffing. Turn the heart right side out and start filling it. You can use poly fill, cotton batting lavender,or my new favorite, fabric scraps!

I have so many scraps that I started using them to fill my pillows and hearts. I actually like using this type of fill because it gives the pillow a firmer shape. I made my BFF some hearts for Christmas and filled it with scraps that included pieces from things I had made for her over the year. It was a sweet way to remember those.

Once you have filled your heart until it is nice and plump, stitch up the opening and you are done! You can also add a ribbon loop at the top, simply by including it in between the seam allowance before you sew, and then catching it inside the seam. Make sure you place it upside down so when you turn your heart right side out, the loop isn't stuck inside the pillow! You can also play with the design and sew on some vintage buttons or rick rack to the right side of the heart before sewing the two halves together.

These make great gifts, and bring a shabby chic type of look to your home!

Have fun!

time for new favorite things

2008-12-06T08:04:00.002-05:00

My list of favorite etsy shops is late this week not because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but because I love the winter trees.

This made me think of how sometimes we don't like to leave the past truly behind and accept new things or new challenges. The past is known, its familiar and comfortable. Even though it may be unhappy, we know that we can handle it because we already did.

I have a problem of letting go of some of my past demons and they are affecting how I treat myself. I need to exercise and lose 30 lbs. I need to be healthy not only because I would look better, but because my three girls deserve a healthy role model.

I need to be more optimistic. I need to see the good things about me instead of focusing on what is wrong or what is not working out my way. I need to say goodbye to the wrongs done tome and say hello to the good things that are waiting for me to receive them.

So to anyone out there dealing with the same things, let it go. Embrace today and tomorrow and leave yesterday behind where it belongs. Be happy.

Happy Birthday Erin!

2008-12-02T09:13:00.007-05:00

Today is my middle daughter's 11th birthday. Erin is a beauty with pale skin, and dark brown hair with a touch of auburn highlights. She is tall like her older sister, but that is where the similarities stop. Erin is definitely a OOAK kid. She is very smart and funny in a dry, sarcastic but not mean way. She makes you laugh without thinking she is funny. She has always been very inquisitive and asks great questions about everything.

She has always noticed the little things in life. When she was little she would look at the mountains and notice the way the light was hitting them, or the color of the leaves at a certain time of day. She sees things through an artists eyes and draws and paints very well. She is smart and very stubborn and argumentative which will serve her well someday but can be trying at times. She currently wants to be a senator when she grows up but that changes monthly.

I remember when she was born, my husband left to tend to her big sister and it was just Erin and I snuggled in the hospital bed. I wanted to soak in every moment of just the two of us because I knew it would be the only time we would have together without the rest of the world crashing in.

Being the middle child isn't easy. Especially when you have an older and younger sister who are both very outspoken, loud, outgoing and talented and you feel like you live in their shadow because you tend to be on the quiet and shy side. I wish Erin could see how wonderful she is and that sometimes, the ones that are the loudest aren't always the ones to be listened to.

So here is to my beautiful daughter Erin who has lighted my life and my heart for the past 11 years. May she know only happiness and joy in her life and may she always stay true to her dreams.

Gearing up for Christmas

2008-11-30T09:53:00.002-05:00

This was a very busy week for me. After the stress of last weekend's show, I took a bit of a break from sewing to clean house, and start cooking for Thanksgiving dinner which I hosted. The dinner was great and we had a good time. I also awoke Turkey day morning to a huge order from my cousin in CA which really made my day!

My house is a mess yet again due to the boxes and bins of Christmas decorations in every room! The tree is up, the outside decorated and some things are out, but I will have to finish up today. It is snowing, sleeting, and raining here so it will be a good day to get it done.

On top of it all, I have my middle daughter's 11th birthday on Tuesday so I also had to shop for that yesterday and I have to wrap today. Thankfully here in PA the girls are off from school tomorrow because of hunting season opening something or other.

I have custom orders to get done so that I can start sewing the Christmas gifts I have planned. I also have to make my oldest a dress for the Christmas dance Dec. 20th.

So, that is just a taste of what I have coming up, not to mention the school concerts, parties, and other social engagements on the calendar.

I wish you all a fun holiday season, whatever it is you celebrate and take the time to really enjoy each moment, they won't come again.

It was Great!!!

2008-11-24T09:20:00.002-05:00

Had my open house debut yesterday and I had so much fun! I made a nice amount of money, got a bunch of custom orders and future customers and best of all, everyone was super impressed with my work!

I was nervous no one would show up but I had a nice turn out. A few didn't show up that I thought would, but life gets in the way so no bother.

I did manage to make a really cool original design bag on Saturday with a matching wallet.
It turned out great and I really like the edgy look of it.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17663335

I am off to start my plan of attack on the custom orders I got. Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving. We all have much to be thankful for if we only look around.

I have entered sewing sweat shop hell!

2008-11-19T16:29:00.002-05:00

So I knew I had my big Debut open house this Sunday the 23rd for about two months. An organized business owner/designer/artisan would have had a plan of attack and would have worked steadily creating new items, tagging them, and pricing them all before the last few days. But not me. No, I had to procrastinate, and let life get in the way. I kept thinking I had more time, that somehow the things would get made.

I have been sewing like a fiend for the past 4 days and I still have so much to do before Sunday. I wake up at 5 each morning with a nervous pit in my stomach and my mind racing. I start sewing at 8:45, after my daily school commute and stop at 2 to pick up the kids, get homework going and start dinner. I start again at 7 and sew until 11. It's still not enough!

So, I am hoping that I will have enough to sell and showcase on Sunday. I am really hoping for this to jump start my business and get me some much needed Christmas spending money!!

With that, I will sign off to get back to work. Wish me luck, pray for me, and I will post more when this madness has ended.

Happy Crafting.

Blue beauties!

2008-11-12T14:18:00.003-05:00

This week's fav is a little late because I absolutely loved the last ones I chose. They would make a great treasury collection on etsy.

Anyway, this week I chose the color blue, which I love as my guide. I found some gorgeous items which you can check out on the left in the fav mini.

Remember to check out my etsy shop for the latest listings and gift ideas as well as all the other talented artists there.

Happy crafting!

Quiet Sunday Mornings

2008-11-09T08:02:00.002-05:00

I love to get up before the rest of my family and make coffee and read the paper while soft music is playing. I don't get to do it as much anymore because Brian gets up super early and so do Erin and Emma.

Today was a rare occasion and it was nice to watch the sun come up and be able to collect my thoughts.

I am finally having my open house debut on the 23rd so I have to get sewing big time. I want to make more bags,table runners, and some other things to showcase what I make. I am hoping that it will bring me some new customers and get the ball rolling to get my business off the ground.

The sun is shining, and it is nice to be able to post this entry without hearing the girls fighting or Brian yelling at them to clean their rooms!

I hope you all have a great Sunday!

Here's to a New Hope!

2008-11-05T09:11:00.002-05:00

Yeah!!! I am so very happy this morning that our country voted for change and hope for our future. I am not so naive as to think one man can or will do everything we need, but I do believe that we now at least have some hope for a better future.

I have a busy day of sewing ahead of me. I am working on a reversible work tote, that can carry a lap top, or files or both. I also have some more scarves to make for holiday gifts.

Enjoy today, and the promises of tomorrow!

GET OUT and VOTE!

2008-11-04T10:32:00.002-05:00

Happy Election Day! Please make sure you take the time to go and vote today. Whoever it is you support, it is important for your voice to be heard. We in this country take for granted our privileges that our forefathers fought and died for. We have grown accustomed to our freedoms and are blind to the fact that there are many places in the world that people have no rights at all.

If you have kids, then be a great example to them by voting. Children learn from example, and if you use a lame excuse like the weather, or long lines they will view voting as something that is not important at all.

Let's hope that whoever wins will make the changes we so desperately need and turn things around.

Have a great day!

New selling venue!

2008-11-02T16:17:00.003-05:00

I just opened up a shop on Big Cartel with some of my bags. I heard about it in the etsy forums as another selling venue and thought I would see how it goes.

Check it out and tell your friends. I will add more when I see what the response is.

For now you can find me at www.bstauffdesigns.bigcartel.com

Good friends, good food, good wine...

2008-11-01T10:05:00.003-04:00

Do you need anything more for a perfect weekend evening? Tonight we are having over one our favorite couples for dinner. I am going to make Pasta Fagioli the way my grandmother did and serve it with good Italian bread and red wine. With a fire going, it will be the perfect peasant styled meal for a cool evening in November!

We always have a great time with them and we laugh a lot which Brian and I need to do after this stressful week (OK 6 months). We deserve this little break from reality tonight!

I love to entertain and have friends over. In the past I have always felt I need to have something fancy for dinner, to make it seem special. Not anymore. Simple dishes can be even better because they are comforting, easy to prepare and make your guests feel at home. If you are trying to recreate a restaurant in your home, why not just meet at one? Your friends come over for you, not the meal. A simpler menu also lets you spend more time with them and actually enjoy the evening rather than running around the kitchen preparing different courses.

Open up a good bottle of your favorite wine, put on a pot of soup, serve it with bread and a simple salad and add some friends. You'll have a great weekend!

Have fun!

P.S. It's a new week and you know what that means...new favs on the etsy mini!!! check them out!

Happy Mischief Night!

2008-10-30T12:27:00.002-04:00

Do you remember Mischief Night? They don't have it here anymore and my kids have only heard of it through us. I think its a shame but then again, we were less destructive 30 years ago!

I started remembering all we did on that wonderful night! We would soap every ones windows, and TP our front yard and the neighbors. We also always tried to make a TP wall across the street. We would wrap it around a tree in our yard and walk across to wrap it around the tree across the street. The goal was to have it be high enough before a car would come down the street. It was funny to see all the cars slow down, afraid to drive through it. some would turn around, and some would race through. We would hide and crack up. Man did we go through a lot of TP! My dad probably had a fit.

We would also ring doorbells and run and I always thought the people who would answer were pretty stupid for even bothering on that night!

I heard of some funny things people would do like dress up a scarecrow and tie it to a rope and put it in the middle of the street so people would think there was a body in the road. When they would stop and get out, the rope was pulled and it would scare the heck out of the person!

I also think the classic dog doo in a paper bag is funny although I would not want that to happen to me now!.

Good times, good times.....

Have a safe and fun Mischief night and Halloween!

Twittering

2008-10-27T09:08:00.002-04:00

Ok so the hottest new thing apparently is Twitter. Twitter is a website that is set up like chatting with people you choose to follow. It is supposed to be a great marketing tool and has gotten a lot of people sales so I am now twittering away hoping for some!

If you would like to check me out there my address there is http://twitter.com/bstauffdesigns

Let me know if you twitter and we can follow each other!

Funny things kids say

2008-10-26T07:56:00.002-04:00

My youngest, Emma will be 7 shortly and she is really a funny kid. She says the funniest things at times and cracks us all up. I recently taught her how to chain stitch because she wanted to learn how to crochet. (I barely even know how so she won't get too far!) She got the hang of it pretty quickly and woke up early one morning to start again. As she was working away she announces "Crocheting is my life. I was born for it" Well, needless to say her sister Erin and I just lost it.

My oldest, when she was about 5 was saying grace and thanks God for "our family, the good food and the merry drinks". Maybe coming from a wine/beer loving Italian/Irish heritage was rubbing off!

My middle one, has a very dry sense of humor and although she may not come out with the funny phrases the other two have, she will make a comment without even knowing how funny she is. Brian and I will burst out laughing and she will look at us like"what's so funny". She also gets humor quicker than the other two and will appreciate a more complicated joke.

There are so many times my girls have made us laugh and I am so blessed to have those memories. When times are tough like they are now, it is such a nice relief to just sit back and laugh with them.

Check out the new favorites I have posted, as well as my new 1950's styled tweed bag.
Have a great day and happy crafting!

Pics, books, and recipes

2008-10-22T09:02:00.005-04:00

I am going to cover three topics today since I have lots of sewing to get to! First off My daughter's Homecoming dance was last Saturday and she looked beautiful. She and her date had a wonderful time. Here is a picture of the vintage dress she wore.

I have also been busy adding new items to my shop on Etsy. My latest handbag is a gorgeous cranberry floral print hobo bag. It sells for just $35.00 and would make a great gift for the holidays! I have also added some new vintage jewelry pouches as well as new table linens so check them out.

I also wanted to share with you an appetizer recipe that is so easy but so delicious. I get rave reviews on this and with the holidays approaching it is an elegant and easy appetizer for your next party.

Brie Toasts:

Bruschetta toasts - plain or only lightly seasoned
14oz. wheel of Brie Cheese
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 melted butter

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F

On a cookie sheet, make a single layer of bruschetta toasts either store bought or home made, from a sliced baguette and toasted in the oven until golden.

Slice the brie cheese into 1/4" think pieces large enough to cover the toast. Place one slice on each toast.

Melt the butter and mix the brown sugar and walnuts into it. Spoon this mixture over the brie toasts.

Bake 5-8 minutes or until the brie has melted. Serve hot. Yummm! You won't be able to stop at one!

Have fun and happy crafting!

Fall showings

2008-10-17T07:00:00.002-04:00

The air is finally getting cooler today here in PA. For the past week or so we have had an Indian summer and while it is nice, I am longing to have to pull on a sweater without fear of sweating or having a hot flash!

The leaves are beautiful around me, and my house is decorated for Halloween. I got a late start this year because I have been busy preparing for a show on November 1 I am having at my home. It's kind of my debut party for my friends and family. I'm am stressing out that I won't have enough stuff or worse, I will have too much, and no one will show up. I hate having to do these things but I need to get my name out there and have people see my bags and scarves and other things.

This weekend is the big Homecoming formal for my daughter! Very exciting! She is wearing a vintage dress I had to seriously alter for her but it fits her like a glove and is so lovely. I will post pictures Sunday!

The new items listed on my etsy faves are finally up. Really great fall/Halloween things so check these artists out.

New Beginnings

2008-10-06T09:29:00.005-04:00

Sorry for the long time frame between posts. It has been a very busy week here for me and my family. We changed schools for my younger two and today was their first day. They were excited and nervous at the same time but we really feel good about the change and know this will be a better fit for them.

New beginnings can be hard. Just like starting up a business from scratch and all the work that goes into that. They can also be exciting, like starting High School and getting asked to Homecoming by a junior when you are only a freshman (say a prayer for her father's nerves! :D ). They can be challenging like starting a new exercise program and diet, or going back to school after a long absence. They can also give you a fresh start and a new look at your life that you may not have seen before.

This fall, try something new. Take up a new craft, learn a new language, take the road not taken, expand your circle and see where it leads you. Feel free to share with me what you have done new and what you experienced from that new beginning.

Also, it's a new week so please check out the new featured etsians in my faves mini to the left!

Have a great day!

New etsy mini for faves

2008-09-29T15:16:00.003-04:00

It is another new week and Saturday I posted my new faves on the mini to the left. This week I used Etsy's pounce feature to show off some artists that have never had a sale. I love the photos and art work.

I have a big show coming up on November 1st that I need to stock up for. I just can't seem to find the time! I really have to get of the computer and start sewing! So, with that said this will be a short post so I can make at least one bag today. Have a good day everyone!

It's a good Day!

2008-09-25T16:45:00.004-04:00

Things have been pretty glum here lately. Money worries, slow sales on my handbags, the economy, etc. Today was a good day! Clean bill of health from the dermatologist: which is especially important to me with my mom having had melanoma 3 years ago and her brother dying from it 2 years ago; sold a purse on Etsy, got an order to make some pillows, and we have a busy weekend coming up.

Hopefully this will be the start of an upward swing. With each sale I just think of all the new people that will hear about my designs which will bring in new business.

Designed a new evening bag the other day and I am going to make a bunch in different fabrics for the holidays.

Check it out and until we meet again.. keep positive, keep smiling and keep doing what makes you happy.

Fabric Stashing and addictions

2008-09-22T09:04:00.006-04:00

I have to come clean, I really am addicted to fabric. You know the economic fact that even in the worst of times women will still find the money to buy a lipstick? Well, the heck with a lipstick, I will still get fabric!

I love it. I love the colors, the patterns, the texture, the smell of it, the way it feels draped over your hand, the endless possibilities in what I can shape it into. Fabric has personality. Each piece is unique and speaks to me about what it wants to be.

Vintage fabrics are the best because of the history attached to it. When I get a new vintage piece I love to think about who owned it, how many lives it has seen, how many tears, hugs, or laughs it has witnessed. I love the worn soft feel of vintage cotton. The colors and prints are so different than today. It is comforting to me and reminds me of a simpler way of life I wish was still around.

My fabric stash is growing out of control. My studio is small. Only 10x10 and I make use of every inch. However, even though I have been making bags and cranking out product, the fabric doesn't seem to go down. It's like when you have to eat something your not crazy about and even though you keep taking bites, it never goes down.

If I ever win the lottery, I am going to put an addition on my house for my studio. then my current studio can be one huge walk in closet just for fabrics!!! Aah! the shear joy of it.

I'll keep dreaming!

14 years ago today

2008-09-20T09:37:00.002-04:00

Today is my oldest daughters 14th birthday. 14 years ago today I became a mother and my life changed for the better. It was an easy labor and only 7 hours long. All 7 pounds 3.5 ounces and 21 inches of her was perfect in every way. She was a happy, free spitirited, outgoing little girl and she has grown ito this amazing young woman I would want as a friend.

Kate lights up a room when she enters it. She is tall, thin, and her beautiful red hair and green eyes grab your attention. She isn't afraid to do her own thing and is so much more outgoing then I was at that age. She has every good trait you would want in yourself. She is wonderful with children and is a very popular babysitter in our neighborhood.

Kate is a very talented actress and singer and has had several lead roles in community theatre, and school productions. She has a great imagination, always has, and is also very good at drawing, and writing.

For all these gifts that she has, today makes me think of what she has given to me. She has made me love life more. Being her mom has been challenging, and there were times I would just say "grow up!" as she was busy playing another pretend game. But now that she is growing up I realize that I was the one that needed to grow up. I needed to learn from my daughter that life is meant to play pretend and to sing and dance when you feel like it no matter who may see you. I need to care less what others think, and do what makes me happy. Kate has taught me that.

She has also taught me to look for the good in everyone. She is always the first to find something positive to say about someone that may look weird, or act weird, and she is always there to stick up for her friends.

My life has been blessed in so many ways. I only have 4 more summers with her before she leaves for college and is on her own. I know we will always have a special relationship but my how the time has flown.

When she was 3 she told my mom "Grammy you make my heart smile" Kate has made my heart smile for the past 14 years.

Happy Birthday Kate!

I hate paper clutter!

2008-09-16T20:16:00.002-04:00

School has only been in session here since 8/25 and already I am swamped with paper for all three girls. Between fundraisers, permission slips, lunch menus, weekly calendars, school lists, and mail I am drowning in it.

No matter what creative way I have tried to organize, it still clutters my counters and island, and desk, and drawers....
I try to be neat. Really I do. but I always end up not being able to throw any away because at one point I will need it.

So much for us trying to live green. I wish everything could be done on the computer but there are still so many who can't even email and they always complain when it is mentioned. I thought by becoming the Home and School President for the next 2 years I would be able to do something about this, but alas, no.

Well, I am off to bed. I know that right now it is only 8:22pm but I was awake last night between 12 and 4:30 with my mind racing and I just couldn't relax. Not to mention that I am nursing a really sore butt, legs and arms from my first spinning class last night. God was that hard! I think I should have eased into exercise a bit more because I can hardly move today!

Have a great night, enjoy your stay here and I hope to see you around my shop at Etsy sometime!

Handmade Holidays

2008-09-13T09:52:00.003-04:00

I know its early, but I wanted to let everyone know that I will be having a handmade holiday season this year. I did so last year also making the women in my life handbags, and the men, fleece pullovers and PJ bottoms. My girls received nightgowns and American girl doll clothes and coats in addition to other gifts.

I have added some of my favorites from Etsy in a photo mini to the left. These Etsy artists are my favorites because their shops are unique and their products are original and beautifully made. I will change the list every Saturday to showcase a new crop.

This holiday season, check out Etsy for your gifts. Think of all the people you buy for, friends, family, teachers, bus drivers, coaches etc. Etsy has thousands of gift ideas in all price ranges and these are unique gifts that will be treasured more than the standard token gift.

Have a great weekend!

9/11

2008-09-11T08:12:00.003-04:00

Today being the 7th anniversary of the most tragic day in my life, I send out my prayers and thoughts to everyone affected by the events of that day. I still remember every detail of that day like it was yesterday.

Please say a prayer that our children will be able to find a way to agree to disagree, and solve problems through words and peace instead of wars.

ramblings about ugly sewing projects

2008-09-10T20:02:00.004-04:00

I posted a thread about this at Etsy but I thought it deserved a bit more ranting from me. Why is it that almost every craft magazine has the ugliest sewing projects? The knitting, felting, weaving, beading, ceramic ones are always really nice and up to date. The sewing ones are always tea cozy's, quilted table runners, sweatshirts made into something that my grandmother wouldn't wear, or clothes that would not have been fashionable even in the 60's or 70's!

With the exception of Threads which at times isn't that great, there really aren't any good sewing project magazines out there. Even just covering sewing is rare. There are hundreds of mags on quilting, knitting and jewelry making but only two or three on sewing and some of them aren't that good.

That being said I thought I show off my latest piece:

What do you get when you buy 'Handmade'

2008-09-07T11:54:00.002-04:00

A fellow Etsian posted this and I thought it was great. To all those out there visiting craft fairs and looking at handmade items and wondering why you should pay the price they are asking, please keep this in mind.

What do you get when you buy Handmade?
You pay for:
The materials
The time taken to make the piece
The energy (power,heating, and other overheads)
The years the artist has taken to become a specialist in that field
The design of the piece
The talent that hand made artisit has to create the piece

also add that it will probably last longer than anything you would buy at Walmart, Target or any other retail store.

Fall decorating and new ideas

2008-09-07T10:03:00.002-04:00

I love the fall! Being a natural redhead, it is my season because the colors work well with my coloring. I can't wait to get out my fall decorations and Halloween things. I am a bit crazed about Halloween. I love to decorate my home inside and out with cool Halloween things. I don't like tacky plastic things, but wooden signs, lifelike rats and crows and cool folk art are so great! I have a 6 foot fake pine tree that I decorate all year round with different ornaments for the different holidays and seasons. It looks so cute in my family room and makes a great conversation piece.

I had planned on getting out my stuff this weekend, but I got into a crafting mode and was sewing all day yesterday. I made a few new pieces that turned out great. Check them out on my Etsy shop if you want to.http://bstauffdesigns.etsy.com/. I have also been busy making some custom orders as well as marketing online and setting up another shop in dawanda http://bstauffdesigns.dawanda.com/. Dawanda is a European site that is similar to Etsy. I figured it couldn't hurt!

I also have someone passing along my shop to a friend of hers who owns a pricey boutique and is looking for handbags. She loved my things and wants to tell her friend about me. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Tropical storm Hannah gave us some much needed rain yesterday and today is much cooler and crystal clear! Now to just get in that crawl space and dig out the fall stuff....

Pets at Work

2008-09-04T09:07:00.003-04:00

This is a typical morning in my studio with Bennett my cat and Buddy my yellow lab. As you can see they are hard at work helping me sew and create! My ironing board is constantly covered with black fur and I am thinking of taking up stock in lint rollers. This is the lesser of two evils though; the other being laying right on top of my latest project. How he escapes getting straight pins in his paws is beyond me.

Buddy is my 88lb baby who unfortunately lays right in the middle of the room. This is fine while I am working on the computer, but once I need to start cutting and sewing, moving around can get hazardous. I don't only mean hazardous because of the scissors and rotary cutter I am holding, but hazardous because of his gas problem. God forbid he eats anything other than his food, and the dog is a farting machine. In a small room, its a wonder I haven't passed out and hit my head on something. It really is bad and can actually bring tears to your eyes. But, we love him even though he is lucky he's good looking!

It's another beautiful but hot day here in eastern PA. Here is hoping Hannah will turn out to sea and not damage our beloved Outer Banks!

vintage aprons and being patient

2008-09-03T10:23:00.002-04:00

Thank God the girls are back in school! I can finally get some things done without breaking up a fight.

I recently updated my photos in my etsy shop and I think they look better. A friend had told me to just take the pictures with a white background but that looked boring. The photos I changed are now in natural settings and I used eldest dd as model to give perspective which is good.

I got a request for a vintage apron but with a wider bottom so that the apron covers all of the hips. I am going to work on that today which should be fun. I wish more people were into aprons. I love them and they are such a cute fashion accessory. There are plenty of books out there, and magazine articles on this once popular staple, but I guess it depends on where you live.

I want to make some with sweetheart necklines and some ruffles for fun. I saw a shop that had some gorgeous aprons and the woman even has a retro kitchen in which she took photos from so it really added to the nostalgia of the pieces. She has a lot of sales so maybe I just have to be patient. We could use the money though!

I hate being patient. I have all these ideas and I know my stuff is great, but I hate waiting around for someone to discover it and buy it. Hopefully, blogging will help although I admit that I am such a newbie at this I don't know how people are going to be exposed to it.

But, on the off chance that someone, somewhere out there is reading this, check out my etsy shop at http://BStauffdesigns.etsy.com . Let me know what you think.

Have a great week everyone! Buy handmade!

Back to School- Back to Work!

2008-08-28T08:38:00.002-04:00

vacation being over i am now going to focus on getting my etsy business going and getting my designs out there. the girls are back in school and i can now start getting back to sewing and creating. i have a lot of cool ideas for the fall and winter, to use up my ever growing stash of fabrics(which never seems to go down.....) i'm not going to focus so much on christmas because i want my creations to be enjoyed all year through, but i will change the color scheme from cooler colors to warmer.

i still don't think people understand what vintage means. to most, it means "old" or out of fashion and they don't get the concept. i am trying to change that way of thinking by using vintage fabrics in a new way. i love using aprons as a piece of clothing to wear all day, not just when you are cooking. they look great over a pair of jeans and a cute shirt.

made my first sale on etsy the other day which was very exciting!!!! i hope more follow. i need to go to a few vitnage stores by me and see if they will carry my stuff in their store. i think it would be great to get people to see and feel the products rather than just seeing a photo on a computer screen.

today i want to finish up the apron i am working on and the patchwork purse also. i also want to lay out the fabrics i am planning to use and sort them into project categories. i'll post pictures when i get a chance.

well, this concludes my first foray into the blogging world! let the fun begin!