Category Archives: Products

Jar cuffs

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IMG_3076 With a growing pile of bag fabric scraps too small for any kind of bag, but too big for my frugal nature to throw away, I started thinking about making jar cuffs.  Considering all my other mason jar items, it seemed a natural thing to do.  Besides, they are cute and keep your hands happy when you are carrying a hot or icy drink.

The process turned out to be sort of a long, bumpy road.  Friends helped me out with getting the right size jars, trying out samples, and taking photos of their findings.  (Thanks, y’all!)  The cuffs themselves have to be EXACTLY the right size, or they just don’t work – there’s not much margin for error (or variations in fabric, or how it takes steam from the iron).  But at long last, there are a few ready-to-ship cuffs to choose from in the shop.  They fit a wide-mouth pint or pint-and-a-half jar.  As much difficulty as I’ve had with my own pattern, I’m not sure if it would be a good idea to sell a pattern for these; we’ll see where the bumpy road leads.

And then another idea came.  Simple, tone-on-tone cuffs with hand-embroidered monograms.  I just love them so much.  I hand-draw the initial before embroidering, so each one is unique and slightly wonky, just like my handwriting.  I can just see these lined up for a bridesmaid luncheon, or for drip-free sipping the morning of the wedding. IMG_0010Or hey, just pick your favorite color, and I’ll stitch your initial on it!  😉

 

what a year

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Jars to Go BagsWow.  One year ago, the Food in Jars post went live.  I had sold a handful of bags and patterns at that point, but I had no idea what was in store.  Suddenly my little mason jar bag idea was placed before the eyes of people who GOT IT.  Every bag I had in stock sold.  Every bag I could eke out for the next two months sold immediately.  I sewed, ate a little, slept a little, emailed patterns, then sewed some more, and that was life during that season.  It was the most joyfully stressful time I’ve ever experienced as a seller.  I was so afraid that customers would grow impatient with me – after all, it was just me and a sewing machine, and I can only make so many bags in a day.  But the response was overwhelmingly positive.  Most of them had been carrying mason jars all haphazard for years, so I guess they didn’t mind waiting just a little longer.

I was just looking back at the shop stats from that week.  The numbers are just unbelievable.  I owe dear Marisa a great debt.

Over the next few months, I’d get requests.  Some found their way into the shop and patterns – the 4-jar bag, the single bag, quarts, half-pints.  That’s my favorite part of all this, working with people to make exactly what they need.  There’s at least a couple more surprises on the way.  And thankfully, I don’t have to email patterns anymore – instant downloads!

It’s been a fantastic year, but I reckon that’s enough reminiscing.  Onward!

in which kim apologizes profusely for her long absence

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Let me say up front that I really do not like blog posts beginning with “Sorry I’ve not written a blog post in such a very long time!” or something to that effect.  But it looks like I’m going to have to write one of those.

I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say that 2013 got off to a bumpy start for me and mine.  Though I love my little shop and my blog, and the friends and acquaintances they’ve brought my way, I had to take a break from all that and just be wife and mommy for a while.  Not an excuse, just an explanation.  But things are (hopefully) settling down for a while, so I can turn my attention to making fun things again.

First up are some jar cozies.  You may recognize these from the free pattern I offer here.  I normally don’t make them to sell.  But we took a long trip (that hopefully I’ll have time to tell you about, because it was great) and I needed a project to take along.  Because if you know me in real life, you know that I don’t sit quietly very well without a project in my hands.  And what I felt like making was jar cozies.  Since I doubt I’ll have time to make them to sell ever again, Maya suggested I call them a “limited edition”.  Here they are in the shop, if you’d rather buy one than make your own.

Speaking of Maya, she has a fantastic new endeavor!  Take a look at her new shop:  French Honey  She’s making pendants, and I think she really has an eye for it.

I’ve also listed a few bags, and there will be more and different things to come.  Thanks for your patience!

 

new sizes!

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Over the past few days, I’ve had several requests for bags to fit quart size jars.  I updated the Jars to Go Single pattern yesterday, adding a quart size.  Lots of people like to bring salad in a wide-mouth quart jar, so there you go!

But I kept on thinking… why stop there?  Wouldn’t a regular-mouth half pint be adorable?  It’s not overwhelmingly useful for bringing lunch, but:

  • Cute doesn’t need a reason.
  • Would be great for those jars of jelly or jam that I KNOW you’re giving as a Christmas gift to the postal carrier, or the neighbor, or the teacher.
  • You could bring a snack?  Yogurt?  Trail mix?
  • Baby food?  Especially if you make your own.
  • Or a little one who wants a jar bag “just like mommy’s” or “just like daddy’s”?
So now we have these bags in three sizes!  Enjoy!  You could make bags for the Three Bears or something, right?  😉

Just a note:  These photos show my prototype quart and half pint bags.  You might notice that the half pint seems a little “tight”.  I added a little height to the finished pattern, after making this one.  So, no worries – bags made by the current pattern should be just right.

Silver Rescue bag

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My aunt Karina rescued a cat named Silver years ago.  Then came another… and another… and dogs… and more cats… and eventually this effort needed a name:  Silver Rescue.  I’m so proud of Karina and her accomplishments.  You can learn more about Silver Rescue at their website.

Karina’s animals get lots of love and attention; but they need more than that.  They also need food and medical care, and those things cost money.  So to help in the way I can, I’ve made another special bag, and this time the full purchase price will go to Silver Rescue.  And as you consider your end-of-year donations, I would encourage you to consider donating to this worthy cause as well.

And if you live anywhere near middle Tennessee, and can provide a safe, loving home to a furry little friend, they do have animals ready to adopt!  You never know – in the end, it’s often hard to tell who was rescued, the pet or the owner.  😉

hard to let go!

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A few days ago, I asked my Facebook buddies: “Did this fabric really just tell me it wants a bright color, like lime green, for the lining?” Well, I wrote a little story about what happened. The whole process has been so endearing to me, I’m having a hard time letting this one go!

I was at my usual fabric place, when I saw this fabric on the sale shelf – a beautiful blue batik. “What on earth are you doing over here?” I said. Sometimes fabric “talks” to me, but Batik said nothing. He was just lovely, and a good price, so I bought what little was left on the bolt.

A few days later, I said “Batik, you would make a fantastic 4-jar bag. But what to use for lining? Would you like muslin?” Again, Batik said nothing. He’s a very quiet sort – despite his flamboyant appearance, I think he’s actually quite shy.

I cut the pieces for the bag, and just as I started to work with them, I heard just a whisper: “I don’t want muslin. Maybe lime green?” Well! Batik has a voice after all. But lime green? Did I hear correctly? I asked my facebook buddies – did this fabric just say what I think it said? I got varying opinions, and I’m sure any one of them would have turned out lovely. But it all depended on what I could find, of course.

So a few days later, I stood in the fabric store once again, with a scrap of Batik. We looked at all the greens, none of them quite right. But there, in the remnant basket, was a beautiful, vivacious Red. Her dye pattern was very much like Batik’s, and I thought they might be happy together. But what about the green? And would there be enough? I asked Batik, “Do you want to try this one?” “Yes” Batik said, in a very assured way. And I think he smiled.

So Red came home with us. It must have been meant to be, because she was precisely enough for the lining, and 4 napkins! (See the photo at the end – that’s all that was left! It was close!) It’s hard to let Batik and Red go, but I think they are very much looking forward to beginning their adventure out in the wide world. But then, they could go on adventures with us instead?

update: Both DH and the 15yo came to me and said that if I list this bag, they’re just gonna buy it and give it back to me. (To stop the sobbing, I’m sure, but still sweet.) So it looks like Batik and Red will be adventuring with us! 😀

And yes, they seem happy with that arrangement too. 😉

New patterns!

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Have you ever had an idea that had to wait… and wait… and wait?  And it feels like it’s gonna burn a hole in your head and your heart until you get it out?  This is one of those.

Even though the “jars” patterns and bags and the embroidered pendants came first, this is the idea that really started the new Etsy shop.  This little bag.  I originally designed it to hold the 7yo’s Leapster Explorer, with all its games and accessories.  (It’s curved at the top to accommodate headphones, and padded to help keep electronics safe.)  But then, I thought, with just the change of a pocket, it could hold the 15yo’s DSi… or a box of crayons… or my sock yarn… or an apple…  it was just such a perfect little size for so many things!  This little bag needed to be a pattern.

And then, I thought, it needs hair and eyes to go with its zipper “mouth”!  Cleaning up is fun when a monster eats your stuff, right?  😉

And now, here it is, out of my head and into the real world!  Finally!  And just in time for your Christmas gift sewing!

There’s also a pattern for the 4-jar Jars to Go bag – I can just see this one used for picnics, or potlucks, or just breakfast and lunch for a long day at work.

And there’s the Jars to Go Single.  Very useful to carry just one jar for a quick lunch.  It would also make a nice gift wrap for your canned goods, I think?

So, three new patterns for your sewing pleasure!  And of course, there’s bundles at a bit of a discount, if you need more than one.  Enjoy!

Just a note about the headphones:  Before I get any concerned comments, these headphones are specifically designed for children.  They do not get loud enough to damage sensitive little ears.  If you choose to allow your child (or yourself) to use earphones or ear buds, please use caution!  Loud music may seem cool, but hearing loss is not!!

special bag

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I love to make things.  And making money making things is handy too.  But I also like to give, and there are causes near and dear to my heart that need and deserve funding.  When all those loves of mine can come together, it’s a wonderful thing!  So for a while, I’m going to have bags in my shop with special themes, and when they sell, the money will be donated to a charity.

Here’s the first one.  My next-door neighbor has two sons, one on the autism spectrum, and we count them all dear friends.  She founded the A. Skate organization to help kids like her son (and their families) get out of the house, learn about skateboarding, socialize and have fun.  There is no cost to the kids who participate, so they depend on donations and volunteers.  When this bag sells, all the money will be donated to A. Skate.

The fabric is an autism awareness collection from Riley Blake called Pieces of Hope.  You can read more about it on their website.  A portion of their fabric sales will be donated to Autism Speaks.  Besides the fact that money will be donated to a worthy cause, the fabric is just adorable.  I love the colors.  And it’s nice and sturdy, too – very good quality.  If you would like to buy the fabric, it’s available on Hawthorne Threads.

 

modifications

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Know where I get some of my best ideas?  From my customers!  Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been asked to make slight modifications to the basic Jars to Go Bag, all of them great and I’m glad I have a plan for the next time it comes up.  But this one?  This one’s going to become a staple in the shop, because I LOVE it.

I was asked to make a Jars to Go bag to hold 4 pint jars instead of 2.  I love the combination of fabrics more and more as I work with them – Amy Butler’s Pressed Flowers and Pat Bravo’s Oval Elements from Hawthorne Threads.  As with any pattern, there’s a little figuring out as I go along – for example, I added another layer to the handles for strength (four jars are pretty heavy!)  But I just adore how it turned out.  I can see this as a picnic basket, or to take to a potluck.  It seems there’s room in the top for some small plates or bowls.  And of course, it needed extra matching napkins!

Enjoy!

signs of life

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An update on the ferns – it’s alive!  Curled fiddleheads and shiny new fronds are poking up from underneath the brown, dead ones.  Looks like they may make it after all.

And that’s not the only sign of life around here!  The lovely Marisa of the Food in Jars blog was kind enough to review the Jars to Go bag.  The results were more than I could ever have dreamed.  See all these bags?  On top of orders?  On top of envelopes, that they are about to be packed in and shipped out?  And this is just one batch from the past week!  Besides bags, I’ve sold patterns upon patterns, and met some of the nicest customers ever!  This event has filled me with such hope and gratitude.

The shop is fairly empty at the moment, but if you’d like a bag or a pattern, go take a look!