New Pattern Prices and Discount Until New Year

I haven't mentioned my PDF sewing patterns in a while here, but they are still available for purchase in my Meylah shop and in my Etsy Shop -- and now automatic digital download is available from both shops, so you can get sewing right away! 

I have been thinking for a while that the $6 price for the patterns did not reflect the complexity of the patterns, or the current market for these types of patterns.  I am proud of these patterns and put a ton of work into writing them, and I would hate for anyone to think that the low price was a reflection of a lower quality product.  So I have decided to raise my prices to $8 per pattern, which I think is still a great deal!  

For one last chance to buy the patterns at the old price, use the coupon code "NEWYEAR" on Etsy for 25% off (bringing the price for each pattern back down to $6).  This coupon code is only good until December 31st, so if you have been thinking of buying one of my patterns now is a great time to do so!
 

Store/Patterns Update

Before we moved, I mentioned that I had opened up a new Meylah shop with automatic downloads of pattern purchases, and that I was putting both of my patterns on sale for $5 until after our move, and putting my Etsy shop in vacation mode.  I had thought that I would end the sale and reopen the Etsy shop a week or two after we got here, and it has been on the back of my mind to do so, but I haven't had time until now!

I'm reopening the Etsy shop now, but will keep the patterns on sale in the Meylah shop until Wednesday, so if you have been thinking about getting one, now is your chance before the price goes back up to the regular $6!  Also, at least for the near term, I will only be selling patterns in my Etsy shop and not handmade items - I don't have much time now to make and list things, or to go to the post office, but I may decide to go back to doing so in the future.

Thanks everyone! And sorry for the photo-less post :)

New Storefront and Moving Sale!

I have been meaning for a while to create a shop for my patterns that offers automatic downloads after purchase, so that anyone buying a pattern can know they will get it right away, and I don't have to worry about being away from my email.  Our upcoming move was just the push I needed to make it happen - hop on over to my new Meylah storefront and check it out!

I'm putting my Etsy shop in vacation mode until mid-September after we are finished moving, but the patterns in the new shop will be on sale for only $5 until then, compared to the regular $6, so if you have been considering getting one, now would be a great time!

The patterns for sale are:

Free-Motion Applique Messenger Bag Pattern and Giveaway!

I am so excited to be releasing my new PDF sewing pattern, for a free-motion applique messenger bag!  I decided to do another giveaway to celebrate - more on that at the end of this post.

The pattern is for a medium-sized messenger bag with two design options for a free-motion applique decoration on the flap of the bag.

The design includes a handy divided organizer pocket under the flap to store your phone, keys, and other essentials - or you can leave the pocket undivided if you prefer.

The bag also includes two interior pockets, one open and one zippered, so there are lots of places to stash all your essentials!

The pattern would also be great as a basic messenger bag pattern if you have your own decoration idea for the flap, or if you wanted to make it in a patterned fabric rather than a solid.

Huge thanks to my pattern tester, Shelley, for all her suggestions to clarify and improve the pattern!  I am really proud of the final product.

The pattern is sold as a printable PDF file, and includes computer-drawn printable pattern pieces, cutting diagrams, and detailed step-by-step instructions/photo tutorial.  The pattern is available for purchase from my Etsy shop [update: and in my Meylah shop with automatic download].  I'm also selling a few finished bags in my shop if you want to buy one already made up!

To celebrate the release of this pattern I am having a giveaway!

 I'm giving away a copy of the pattern and either:

• The materials required to make the bag as pictured above - 3/4 yard of dark green corduroy fabric, 1/2 yard of Amy Butler Love green spots, and a fat quarter each of solid terragon Kona cotton and the green trees on white background from It's a Hoot by Momo, and an 11" zipper and a magnetic snap ; OR
• A $25 credit to my Etsy shop.

The winner of the giveaway can choose which of these options they prefer.  Feel free to enter even if you don't sew if you are interested in the shop credit!

Each person can have up to four entries - make sure to leave a separate comment for each:

1. Leave a comment on this post
2. Tweet about this giveaway: RT one of my tweets or write your own with a cc to @NeedleNSpatula and a link back to this post - Example - Check out this giveaway from @NeedleNSpatula for a sewing pattern and fabric or shop credit!  http://t.co/3Cd1iPE
3. Follow or subscribe to my blog (or let me know that you already do)
4. Like Needle and Spatula on Facebook (or let me know that you already do)

This giveaway will be open until next Wednesday, April 20, and is open to international folks (although I may ask you to pay any additional shipping for sending the materials if you win them, depending on how much it costs).

If you don't have an email listed on your blogger profile, please be sure to include one in your comment -- feel free to substitute (at) for @ symbol etc if you like.

Thanks and good luck!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!  Thanks!

I may not be Irish...

But green is definitely may favorite color, as you may have noticed.  I thought it would be fun to gather up a bunch of the green things that have been seen around here and in my Etsy shop to celebrate St. Patty's day...

Clockwise from top right...
Yarn-over cable socks, blogged here
Patchwork zip pouch, in Etsy shop here
Big butt baby pants, blogged here
Cucumbers from my garden, blogged here
Cabled baby hat, blogged here
Free-motion embroidered messenger bag, blogged here and in Etsy shop here
Trio of celedon-glazed porcelain vases, most in Etsy shop here
Holiday tree bunting, blogged here
Wedding thank you cards, blogged here
Needle book, blogged here
Zigzag/chevron yoga mat bag, in Etsy shop here

I had to resist the temptation to put the descriptor "green" before each one of those items.

How about you?  Do you love green like I do, or if not what is your favorite color?

More Tote Bags and Pouches!

I have been having a lot of fun sewing up tote bags from the easy tote bag tutorial I posted - mostly with a contrasting band of fabric at the top because I love how that looks - and also some more zip pouches.

Some of the pouches I made with my pleated pouch tutorial and some are basic rectangular pouches with a fun pieced stripe.  You may notice the similarity between these fabrics and the tote bags...

That's because I thought it would be fun to make matching sets!

Or really, I should say coordinating.  I had fun picking out fabric combinations that used the same main fabric and went well together but didn't use exactly the same fabrics.

For this one I used coordinating fabrics from the Modern Meadow line - I love this line and am stashing fabric to make a quilt with it someday, but decided I could spare a little for these bags.

I think there are all kinds of fun uses for a tote and matching pouch, including just using it as a purse and simple wallet, but the biggest one I was thinking of was as a knitting or hand-sewing project bag and matching notions pouch.  I always use tote bags to carry my knitting and love that I can hang it over my arm while standing and waiting and just stand and knit without my yarn getting everywhere!  Maybe there's a knitter or sewer in your life who would like a set?  You can whip them up using the tutorials or all of these are listed in my Etsy shop!

Big news! I opened an Etsy shop!!

I am super excited to let you all know that I have opened an Etsy shop!  I have felt a bit like I was keeping a secret, as I was crafting away making a bunch of stuff to post in my shop and not blogging about any of it.  But now that my shop is up, I can tell you all about what I have been making!  Here is a quick rundown of some of the stuff that I have put up or will be soon... 

I made a number of pouches from my pleated pouch tutorial, some of which are shown above.

I also made some really fun patchwork clutches, similar in size/construction to Noodlehead's gathered clutch but with a fun patchwork stripe on the front instead of the gathered piece.

I got excited about valentines day and made some valentines gifts and cards...

More patchwork clutches in a fun pink color with some of my favorite pink and red fabrics in the patchwork stripe.

And I had so much fun making these cute little watercolor valentines!  I make homemade valentines for a few special folks in my life each year and these are a reprise of a past favorite.

I am also listing some pottery that I have made.  Most of the pots I am going to put up will be celadon-glazed porcelain vases, including the ones above, very similar to the pots that I had at my wedding.  I haven't blogged too much about my pottery I realize, so it is fun to get to show some more to you.

Finally, I think I am most excited about this messenger bag!

I loved doing free-motion embroidery/applique on my needlebook and was excited about the leafy vine design, so I made a similar design on the flap of this purse.  The purse incorporates some of my favorite design features including an organizer pocket under the flap and a zip pocket inside.  Check out all the details here.  I definitely plan to make more of these purses and hope to even write up a pattern to sell in my shop!

I'm so excited about having the shop up (did I mention yet that I am excited?), especially because now I can share all my projects as I make them!  As you can tell from the initial set of items I listed, I am planning to sell items that run the gamut of my crafty interests.  I am not sure this is the best business plan as a lot of successful etsy shops seem to specialize in certain types of products, but I like making so many different types of things I just can't really imagine limiting myself to making just one type of thing.  Check out my shop and let me know if you have any thoughts or advice for me!