syko

A summer breeze in the snow...

Last Sunday we took out our Spring shoes in the air and the children were so happy! Then during the night it started snowing and it didn't stop, today has been cold and sunny. I have to admit that the clean white new snow is very beautiful, even if I am so ready for Spring! So I made some fresh herring, just to remind myself that Summer will come, eventually. I'm putting some in the shop too! I've got fishy cushions coming too, they will be available as soon as I receive my order from the pillow factory in a week or so!

I've also got some burning news that I will hopefully be able to share with you very soon...!

Shop update!

Just a short note to let you know that I am updating the shop with new handbags today. Be quick if you want one like mine, because I had fabric for one more only. Or maybe you prefer one in brick!
There will also be bags embellished with fabric yo-yos, here's a dotted one in light green, hope you like it! I've got a really nice one in blue too, but I will just have to wait for the camera batteries to charge to be able to take some more photos. Sigh. Now I need some tea, hope you have time to join me for a cup!

The making of a handbag

The quilt therapy did a good job, a good vibe arrived that made one of my cushions reach the front page on Etsy and then a couple of e-mails I had been waiting for arrived so by the end of Friday I was in a good mood. I decided to go with my flow and picked out some fabrics for the handbag I had planned for so long. My old bag was in a very bad state. I designed it last night when I had trouble falling asleep. The fabric I used is a furnishing cotton; a bargain because there was something wrong with the print. Which makes it look even better, I always feel for the misfits... It was actually this bag I saw on Etsy yesterday that started the whole process.  I am very content with how the purse turned out and will most certainly make more to sell, the only thing I need to correct is the shoulder strap, it wasn't a good solution to place it in the seam. I will probably add a pocket inside too, I've heard people like it that way, my stuff just like to float around in my bags... More pics on flickr.

 

When in doubt - quilt!

I had one of those mornings today. With doubt and other unhealthy thoughts. So I came to the conclusion that I needed some quilt therapy. My first action was to finish the second block for Jacquie's Project Improv. She is doing an amazing job and you should definitely check out her blog to read about this project! I named my first block goat TV, so this will have to be the pig TV then. Made form scraps all the way.

 My second anti-doubt action was to create a little art quilt, I have missed making these and I will make a little series because I need it. The hill in aqua comes from an old pillow case I have been treasuring, this seemed to be the right project for it. I also got the chance to use a piece of my new black lace and a vintage mother of pearl button, yum! And my BSR-foot seemed happy to be out and running again, no problems with the quilting today!
 
As soon as I have figured out what to call this little thing it will move into the shop, can't call it therapy quilt, can I? Details in my flickr.

Have a wonderful weekend all you lovely crafty ladies!

Birds, patterns and fab ribbons

It doesn't look much like Spring outside, actually it does not look like anything else than winter. But the day it comes I'm prepared! This cushion is one way of welcoming Spring (whenever your're ready I am, and can you please come with more sun than rain)! It's in the shop.
Thank you so much everyone who volunteered to try out my pattern yesterday, I got completely overwhelmed! Did you notice that I didn't even mention what kind of pattern it was about? I am sure I will find out something for all of you. First out is the tomte stuffy pattern that is nearly ready for the jury :) Would someone be interested in trying out appliqué with fusible webbing (aka Vliesofix, HeatnBond aso)? That is another thing I have planned to write down instructions for "some time in the future", but you inspire me to get on with my plans. I would provide you with instructions and template.

I browsed through my new books quickly last night and my favourite among them all is Simple Contemporary Quilts. Too inspiring, I feel an urge to make a quilt right now!

The Syko Fab Scrap shop is slowly being updated with fab ribbons, lace and fabrics!

Lots of lovely books arrived and a volonteer needed

I admit that I haven't been very inspired to blog lately. One of the reasons is that I am having serious difficulties seizing the day. We are planning a move to a new place next Summer so my thoughts are often in the future. Another reason is time. The days seem to be so much shorter than my to-do-list! Today I got some lovely mail that I wanted to share with you. I have made a pattern for the next book in the "pretty little"-series by Lark, which will be all about pillows. Since my bank does not accept US pay checks and when they do after some discussion, they take a ridiculous percentage of my money, I asked Lark to pay me in books instead. This is what Beth at Lark put together for me! I am so happy for this and so glad that I dared to ask for a special arrangement! I haven't bought any books since I-don't-know-when and foreign books tend to be crazily expensive in the bookstore here so I can't wait to lie down with this pile of goodness!

 
I also got some ribbons and lace in the mail today that I will happily share in the Syko Fab Scrap Shop. But that will not be until tomorrow! I will also offer HeatnBond that I use for my appliqués as soon as my order arrives. There will also be other fabrics and materials that I love to use in my work. Patterns for some of my products will be available next Autumn, well in time for Christmas, if not earlier. I was wondering if there was someone who would be interested in reading through my Swenglish and maybe try out the pattern too?? That would make me very happy and there would probably be some progress sooner! The wonderful volonteer would of course get a free copy of the printed pattern and lots of other Syko goodness for the job. *edit* I'm overwhelmed, thank you for the interest, I might have to make more than one pattern!

Unpacking

Good morning! I was going to blog yesterday, I sat and stared at the compose box for awhile until I realised my head suffered from serious emptiness... Or maybe it was too full after the weekend fair. Now after a good nights sleep it feels better, even if it is totally chaotic behind my back with unpacked boxes and new cards and prints...

I know that many of you have already checked out these new postcards at flickr, thank you! I've said it before and I'm saying it again, it is something special to see your work in print. And I'm very happy with how these turned out. Many people say that it is so hard to find stuff for men, so what I came up with was the bottle card... I call it message in a bottle :) I like that xo looks like traditional cross-stitch, marks a good bottle of cognac and that it can be a sweet message for someone special.

The horse (new banner) is now bringing in some flowers for Spring to this blog, even if it is snowing outside and there are no signes of Spring at all outside my window. I am so happy that we got a nice winter this year and I don't mind at all if it lasts until mid March, because there will be no good Spring weather before that anyway.

Reetta of Joutomaa that accompanied me to the fair was so kind to lend me a table and this great card display that I got so attached to that I ordered one for myself from her husband! I was surprised by how good the cards looked against the black.
Now I have some orders to take care of and some unpacking to do, why is it that it is much more fun to pack the stuff before you leave???

The cards and the new prints are in the shop!

Wishing you a creative week!