Craft Show Preview: Cozies!

A few cozies from the line I've been working on. All original designs hand-stitched onto repurposed fabric scraps. I'll be taking these to Michigan with me for the Holla-Day Bazaar, but you can check more cozy designs HERE.

Toys are Fun.

The last week or so I've been getting ready for an indie craft show I decided to enter with a friend of mine. Decided exactly one month before the date of the show. Since I don't keep piles of awesome stuff I've made laying around, I have a lot of work to do. The show is the Holla-Day Bazaar in Traverse City, MI, and it looks like a good time. Plus, I'll be with friends, so all this work now will be worth it. I hope.

Since it's a Christmas event, and Christmas always makes me think of toys (TOYS!!), I'm making a few to go along with the bags, zips, and beer cozies I'll be showing. Making toys is vastly entertaining to my simple mind; I mostly sit at my sewing machine cackling. I'm hoping to have time for a preview photo shoot before I pack my bags for Michigan, but until then, you should look at these:

And then after that, you can also look at these.

Matt's Beer Cozy

My friend Matt has been dropping hints left and right about what a stand-up beer cozy tester he'd be if only someone gave him the chance. Then a couple of days ago he spent his entire day off helping my husband put a new window in the living room, so I figured this was the least I could do to say thanks. Especially since my living room is like a sea of sunnyness now. So let me know how it works, Matt.

Noel's Messenger Bag

Last week, before the snow, and when it was still a miraculous 70 degrees here, I took a couple quick shots of this messenger bag I made for my friend Noel. She's a fitness instructor in Traverse City, MI, so this one will be doing double duty as gym bag as well. If you're lucky enough to live in the area, definitely check out one of her classes.

Cozies for Cyclocross!

Last weekend was the fourth annual VeloCX, or the National Sports Center Velodrome Cyclocross, hosted by the always awesome Behind Bars/Little Guy Racing Cycling Team. Since my husband and (unofficially) both my little dudes ride for the team, I decided R is R should support the scene this year. For the event I designed this custom cozy and then made 12 of them. (In one day. What is wrong with me?) Since weather is unpredictable during the CX season, I made them all out of repurposed wool scraps. A snappy little coat for your beer! The logo on the cozies is an actual cyclocross tire track in screenprint ink, over which I embroidered the race lettering.

The race itself was pretty great. For November we had a decent day, no rain, no snow, just lots of sun and wind. And the sponsors ponied up for a giant inflatable bouncy thing, free beer, brats, and coffee. Good times. My kids raced the juniors' race, but the husb was still recovering from a broken rib, so he spent the day behind his camera. Good news for you, see his shots from the race HERE.

5 New Bags

A new batch of vintage textile purses in the shop. Details and purchasing opportunity available after the jump for each bag.

1. Librarian Bow Shoulder Bag
2. Velvet Brown Handbag* (Okay, so this one sold right after I posted this! Good thing I take custom requests.)
3. Grey Wool Wristlet
4. Green Quilted Wristlet
5. Raspberry Wool Wristlet