My thoughts on sequels

Event Tags
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

There are sequels that are so bad, they make you forget how great the original was. (I realized this when Caleb was watching The Matrix for the first time.)
Then there are the sequels that keep getting better - like the Die Hard movies. (I like that there is less swearing in the last movie than in the first. "you just killed a helicopter with a car!" I was all out of bullets.")
I did not set out to become one of those designers that puts out the same thing over and over again. I am sequel-shy. Two things came together this week that made me rethink that stance for luggage tags.
1. The craft party we are having today. I wanted to bring something for everyone, and I thought a cute magnetic name tag that can double as a photo frame for the fridge sounded great.
2. I had a customer inquiry for 120 luggage tags and I could not do them for the price she needed.
I find that if I have the need for a project, there are lots of other people who have the same need. My new Event Tags Sewing Pattern can be made up in a fraction of the time it takes to make my original luggage tags. (With virtually no materials waste- bonus.)
I think they are just as lovely - and smarter than the original. I can sell them for as little as $4 each when ordered in bulk. See the wedding favor listing. And DIY brides will be able to get this project done quickly for under $1 each.
I hope my sequel meets rave reviews and opens up the event market to more handmade sellers.

Making Ornaments with Boys

As I watched my 14 year old son tenderly place Humpty Dumpty on the Christmas tree, out of reach of his little brother and sister, I realized what an opportunity handmade ornaments represent. We made this ornament when he was 5 years old, and it is still "his precious." Now that I have a girl, it's easy for me to forget that boys can love making things too. Our family will be doing more crafting together on these dark, winter days between school and dinnertime...

To make Humpty Dumpty:

1. Empty an egg by making 1/8" holes in the top and bottom with a straight pin, and blowing through one hole, so the contents of the egg spills out of the other (into the sink)

2. Wash out the egg, by running water into it and blowing it out again.

(If you wonder whether or not this will be fun for your son, trust me, he will love it, it's gross.)

3. The pants are shiny wraping paper glued to the bottom 1/3rd of the egg, trimmed in narrow ribbon.

4. The arms and legs are 1/4" wide elastic, glued in place.

5. The hands and feet/shoes were drawn and colored on white paper, cut out and glued in place (4 of each, so you have both sides of the elastic covered.)

6. The face was drawn on the egg with a sharpie permanent marker.

There is no hanger because the egg will break if you mess with the hole too much, so we place it on the tree. If you wanted to glue a ribbon on top though, outside the hole, that would probably work too.

I know a lot of you are making things this year with felted sweaters. Here is some inspiration from FeltSewGood.