Tag Archives: handmade

My Photographs on Bags

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Lately, I have been taking some amazing photos of my previous trips and hikes. One day I discovered a website called Spoonflower.com, where I can upload my own pictures and have them printed on fabric! Once I receive the fabric, I have been making tote bags and zippered pouches with my printed photographs! The first tote bag I made were from a couple of pictures I took on my Paris trip. I made an instagram collage of pink roses and the Eiffel Tower. I thought this bag came out great.

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The next two tote bags are pictures of flowers I took during my hikes here in Colorado and in Michigan. The first bag is a collage of lilies and flowers, and the next tote bag is a close up picture of the Colorado flower.

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The two zippered pouches I made were from pictures I took of the Colorado mountains! The first picture was from back in Fall. I thought the pictures printed on the fabric perfectly. I have been interested in photography recently, and I love that I can show off my bags and my photographs at once!


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Up-cycled Materials into Bags

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So, last month we moved into our new place. We kept our brown leather couch, however, we decided to get rid of the ottoman. But I didn’t just want to throw away good leather material, so we decided to cut up the leather and I made several new tote bags and cross-body bags out of the up-cycled fabric.

I also included regular fabric to the bags including canvas and cotton. I think the bags turned out really great with the brown leather.

I have also included a couple more bags I currently made, and of course one of them is sugar skulls!

HAHO Market & the Great Western Alpaca Show

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This past weekend was the HAHO Market & the Great Western Alpaca Show, which was the first craft fair I participated in this year. The show was an all weekend event. It was a great show, and I sold several of my tote bags and pouches. I thought my display was descent and held up great. I added some new displays such as a coat rack to hold up my bags, and I also included my pink rug to brighten up my space a bit!

I had a great time at the fair meeting other local vendors, and I also made a few more connections.

The HAHO (Denver Handmade Homemade) Market and the Great Western Alpaca Show was a combined event that took place in the National Western Stadium Hall in Denver. The 2nd floor was where the HAHO market took place with all of the local handmade vendors. The first floor was where the Alpaca livestock show was held. The whole room was full of Alpacas and breeders. The first floor also included with vendors that sold products made of raw alpaca wool including handbags and stuffed animals. After setting up my space I took a little sneak peak downstairs at the alpacas and of course they were super cute!


This week, I am learning to Crochet! And will continue to search for other upcoming shows in the local area!

Spring is Here!

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I can’t believe it is already April! After having a very warm February and March, it feels like spring came early this year. Nothing new going on in the last couple months, just continuing to stay busy with my sewing. I am excited to have my first craft show of the year coming up in May, so of course I have been preparing for that. I have included examples of creations I have made the past two months, including more Colorado bags, a CO cross-body bag made with up-cycled denim, and Broncos bags!

Other bags I have made including a Honey Bee drawstring bag, Paris Zippered Pouch with up-cycled denim, and another sugar skull bag! More updates on the upcoming craft show and other new creations next month!

My Holiday Creations

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It is the holidays in Colorado, and it has been cold and snowy!  The past few weeks, I have been super busy with sewing and craft fairs.  I have participated in two holiday craft fairs that took place in the suburbs outside of Denver including Aurora and Castle Rock.  I made a whole new banner for my booth and I sold more of the CO tote bags that I began to make, and I continue to make more of the CO flag tote bags, and sell them at future craft fairs!

For the past few months I have been spending a lot of time making custom orders, sewing little Christmas bags, and preparing for the holiday shows, now I am taking a break to enjoy the holidays.  Last week we went up to Keystone to go skiing, and this week I started a new position at my company.  The view of the mountains from my office building is beautiful.  The week before Christmas, I will be flying into Virginia to visit with my family, and for Christmas I will be here in Colorado.  After the holidays, I will continue to sew and begin to prepare for future local spring craft shows!

I hope everyone has a safe/happy holiday and New Year, and check out my new listings on my Etsy site!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JuliesJewelz086

Autumn in Denver!

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So far, Fall has been unseasonably warm these past few days in Colorado.  Halloween is approaching, so I have been busy making trick-or-treat bags, mainly for my niece and nephews.  Last week, I participated in my second craft/vendor fair here in Colorado.  This fair took place in Centennial, and I had fun meeting other vendors and makers.  Last week we visited a couple haunted house attractions and pumpkin patches.  I didn’t carve a pumpkin this year, instead I painted a large sugar skull.

Of course, I am continuing to sew more handbags!  I have been working on a new design, which is sewing the Colorado flag onto the tote bag using felt fabric for the C and the yellow sun.  The first bag turned out good, and I am working on a few more bags using the Colorado flag inspiration but experimenting with different colors.

I have been shopping at my favorite local fabric stores, and buying so much unique fabric that I think my new handbags are better than ever!  I also think I have found a new hobby, which is the paint and wine nights!  On Friday, I painted an awesome picture of “Colorful Colorado” which is hanging up in my living room!

 

New Creations and Backpacking Adventures

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Fall is coming up which means farmers markets, apple cider, leaves changing colors, and new creations.  Although, I have been sewing new bags and pouches to prepare for another craft show coming up in October, I have made a few things for myself including the fox drawstring bag and the Fox/Colorado Mountain pillow.  I was inspired by seeing a similar pillow in a local business, where the Colorado Mountains; made of felt were sewn onto the pillow.

More creations I have made the past couple months were more zippered pouches, fall market bags, crossbody bags, and cosmetic bag.  Of course, the majority of the patterns included skulls!

And of course on the weekends we are still taking advantage of the Colorado Mountains, and continue to go hiking, and even backpacked up to a Ice Lake to go camping on Labor Day Weekend.  The mountains and waterfalls have been beautiful.  Since fall is coming up, the leaves are beginning to change.  We hope to find some more colored leaves this weekend.

New State, New Chapter

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Well, this week is my last week on the East Coast.  On Thursday, I will be journeying to my new home; Denver, Colorado.  Although I am very excited about this new adventure, I will be missing Virginia where I have lived for the past 30 years.  I have included a few pictures of some of my favorite places located in Norfolk, Virginia, which is the last City I lived in Virginia.

naro

The Naro – which is an old and small movie theater

zekes

Zeke’s – a local restaurant/coffee shop

kitsch

Kitsch – A local artisan shop.

Last week, I participated in my last craft show in Virginia; which was the Riverview Village Days Market.

 

So long Virginia, and hello Colorado!

ocean view

 

New Creations with Old T-shirts

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For the past few months I have been staying at my parents house in Elizabeth City, North Carolina until I journey off to Colorado next month.  One day, I was going through my closet and I saw some old shirts that I have not worn since high school/college.  Some shirts were too cute give away, so I decided to make tote bags.

t-shirts

So far, I have made one tote bag out of an old pink Candy Land shirt.  The inside of the bag I used regular pink cotton fabric, and then I cut up another old t-shirt and braided the material to make the handles for the bag.  I found this unique idea on Pinterest.  I am really impressed on how the bag and handles turned out.

While I have been staying with my parents, I have been trying to keep myself busy by sewing.  I have included a few examples of more creations I just made, including a Grumpy Cat tote bag and a few zippered pouches with faux leather.  I have also included these creations on my Etsy site.  Please go check these out along with my other creations!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JuliesJewelz086?ref=hdr_shop_menu

 

Dirty 30 and New Beginnings

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In April, I just turned the big 3-0.  I thought I would be more depressed about it, but it turns out this is the year of changes and excitement.  In February, I found out that I would be moving to Denver, Colorado.  My boyfriend accepted a job offer right outside of the City.  He moved there last month, but I will be moving there in July.  This will be huge and an exciting new adventure for me considering I have lived in Virginia practically all my life.  I am excited to see what the craft and art atmosphere the City of Denver has to offer.  I am assuming that it is a lot bigger in Denver than in the VA Beach area and maybe more competitive, but I plan to continue with my handbags, participate in craft shows, and meet other local artisans in Denver.

Since I have been getting prepared to move and been commuting a longer way to work for the next couple months, I have not been doing much sewing this Spring.  I did participate in farmers market in March, and I plan to participate in a couple more craft shows before I move.

farmers market

I did get a new sewing machine for my birthday – so I still have been doing some sewing.  I have made several more tote bags, and I also been making some reusable market/grocery bags to sell.  I have received a box full of up-cycled fabric, and that is when I decided to make and sell reusable grocery bags.

 

Here are some examples of new tote bags and make-up bags I made in the past couple months, and also the new maxi skirt that I made from fabric I bought from Mood Fabrics!

mermaid make-up bag