spring shop update

April 22nd, 2009

I have stocked my little shop in quite some time, but I’m trying to make it look presentable again. There are four new kiddy messenger bags in some pretty fantastic prints: Heather Ross (who I hear won’t be designing fabric for a while–damn!), Alexander Henry, and the Japanese line Kokka, most of them lined with vintage gingham.  I also made the little bear from that awesome Kokka forest print. His name is Julien and he is the first bear of mine stuffed with 100% wool. I need to look around a bit more for wool stuffing, because damn it’s expensive, but so much nicer to work with than sucky poly fil (anyone have a good wool hook up?).  I’m moving to use only natural materials for the stuff I sell. The bags are now lined with cotton twill, because interfacing is weird and god only knows what it’s made of. I switched to using  cotton thread a while ago, mostly because it just sews so much nicer than polyester thread. And now the stuffing is wool, but I do use foam for my diggers and tugboats and I just don’t know what natural material could give them that same structure.  Anyone have any ideas? I will always use vintage and thrifted fabric even though I’m sure most have some polyester in them, but their coolness factor makes up for that. right?

Posted in sewing.

11 Responses to spring shop update

  1. Kari says:

    Love the new bags!

  2. hay there! I just found your darling shop via Etsy front page feature!

    Fine job on that:)))))

    I adore what I see in your there and am sure I will treasure plenty of treats for my family… I find also that its a nice and courteous thing to say hello to those of use who share our lives through blogging and creating, and so ‘salutations from me’… and see you in the wind:)

  3. Fiona says:

    I’ve been thinking the same myself re using wool fill – I’ll be watching to see if anyone can send us in the right direction :)

    Well done restocking your shop – your stuff looks great!

  4. oona says:

    Good job! Beautiful work.
    I stumbled across your blog ages ago… I can’t believe how much you get done – I have just one toddler and I’m not getting anything finished anymore – no more naps.. sigh:(.
    I too struggle with the coolness:poly-cotton of vintage/found fabric. Thanks for calling it out!

  5. Can I just say that your patchwork digger is wonderful! It made my “relishing” list today.

  6. Rae says:

    Aw! I just love those little messenger bags! So adorable as usual!

    Regarding fill: I really can’t anything out there that would replace the foam that would give it that kind of shape…they look so sharp with those cut edges; you really couldn’t get that with bamboo fill or anything like that.

  7. Leslie says:

    Those are just lovely. I am adoring the fabric you chose!

  8. Carolyn says:

    I love your bags with the chunky handles. The car one is way cute!

  9. Perfect timing on the bags since my daughters 2nd birthday is coming up! I love the forest bag for collecting leaves and rocks, maybe even a few bugs, okay maybe not. But I know she’d love it.

  10. Lisa says:

    Love your bags! Great fabrics and combos!!!

  11. erin says:

    hey there, i came to you via angry chicken… i do have a great source for wool stuffing, but it’s in portland, oregon – pick-up only, no online. I am not sure where you are in the world, but email me if you live near by and want the contact.
    erin