Money Money

I'm not sure when it happened.

Maybe when I figured out how to add zippers to my book purses?  Maybe it was gradual, seeping in over the years I've been on Etsy.

At some point, money became more important to me than the craft.  More important to me than the people.

If you don't know what movie this is from, or who Bob Fosse is, 

you best get your Google on NOW.  REPENT!  REPENT, I SAY!

I think I was trying to be more "responsible."  Like one of those people that counts every penny, making certain to not go over budget on any projects.  Those people aren't bad, their ways are just quite foreign to me.   I work better in clutter, nestled in piles of things that are only vaguely related but somehow make sense to me.

For one reason or another, I began to feel my way was wrong.  I felt maybe if I was more organized, I'd be more successful.  At that time, to me, success meant money.  I abandoned my piles and began to pay more attention to costs and hours.  I raised my prices.  I ignored creative impulses in favor of the bottom line.

I sold items at my new prices for a short time.  Then something happened.  I lost interest.  If you deny your creative impulses long enough, they'll get the point and leave the party.

I found myself procrastinating on projects for my Etsy shop.  I initially blamed it on my health.  I've had a rough few months.  After a recent conversation with a fellow crafter, I realized that was an excuse.

This crafter was quite cynical and clearly prized her time and money over her customers.  I nodded politely as I mentally cringed.  Her attitude nauseated me.  Then a thought popped in my head.

"I'm no different than she is."

I didn't start BiblioBags to make a fortune.  I knew I never would.  I'll never wholesale my products because I'm part of every single one.  Everything I sell, I make myself with my own two hands.  That was the point.  To share my talents and to make a little pocket money on the side to feed my artistic inclinations.

I was sick when I started my Etsy shop.  I've fought through constant waves of nausea and exhaustion to finish projects.  However, those projects don't hurt me.  They take my mind off of the discomfort.  Crafting soothes my brain and makes me feel useful.  There is nothing more satisfying than working with your hands to make a finished, physical product.

When I began BiblioBags, I was extremely touched to find that every purse I sold became a part of that person's life.  I've had dozens of thoughtful customers share sweet stories about surprising a loved one with a purse.  I never fail to get a rush of excitement thinking that items I've made are sitting under someone's Christmas tree.  Custom purses are my favorite.  I've had some interesting requests over the years and those have challenged me and made me a better artist.  I love being a part of someone's imagination and bringing their ideas to life.  I've made lots of wonderful friends.

Selling my purses is not going to buy us a house or pay down our crushing student debt.  But I think that when I start back up, I'll feel so much happier if I do it generously.  I'm no business person.  I'm a crafter.  I need to make art and I need to connect with people.  I need to share what I can do even if it's quirky and a little silly.  If I just break even, I figure it's all worth it.

Sew Long, Brother

The other day as I was sewing a present for one of my friends, my Brother sewing machine quit on me.  After hours of cleaning, oiling, taking apart and putting back together . . . I had to call it.  It was done for.  I called a local repair shop and they wanted $98 (not including parts!) for repairs.  Um, this was an $88 Walmart special from 2005.  Not going to happen.  I'm just going to have to get a new sewing machine.

Unfortunately, I have medical bills coming in by the dozen.  You'd think I just got accepted to Hogwarts or something.  "NO POST ON SUNDAYS!!!"  I feel your pain, Uncle Vernon.  So, it's going to be a little while before I can get a new machine.  Luckily my mom has kindly offered to let me use her machine to get caught up on purses for my shop (and my contest winner!).  

But all my refashion projects and birthday presents I had planned are on hold.  I'd hate to break my mom's machine doing something adventurous.  So, in honor of my sewing machine's passing, I want to share some projects I made with it recently.  First, a car seat cover for my friend Kimberly using this tutorial.  I made a few tweaks, like the "A" applique.  It seemed "empty" without something there.

She and her husband are big Bama fans.  My husband, being the rabid Georgia fan that he is, was upset when he first saw the Alabama fabric.  "What's that?" he demanded (He's really not the demanding type.  Nor am I the type that would allow demanding).  I explained it was for Kimberly which calmed him down.  Sort of.  

I used a cute plaid Bama fabric along with a white and black houndstooth (my FAVORITE).  It's too bad that Alabama has dibs on black and white houndstooth.  It really is my favorite pattern and I feel like a traitor any time I wear it during football season.  The South is a complicated place, folks.  Really.

I've been needing a big cloth purse for awhile now.  Of course I have book purses, but sometimes I need a big bulky bag to take to church, etc.  I'm not the biggest fan of tote bags (except for library books) and I couldn't find a big purse that was in my budget (that I liked).  I made one instead using this tutorial.  I really love this bag design but again, I took some liberties.  I pleated the sides rather than gathered.  It was much easier to make a pleat than to ruffle and I just like the cleaner look better.  I also added a pocket and a magnetic snap on the inside.  The pattern is super easy and fast.  I think it only took me about 2 hours from start to finish.  Plus, don't you love the fabric?  I got tons of the grey peacock feather fabric with the intention of making a skirt or dress out of it, too.  Guess that project will have to wait until I get a new machine . . . sigh.

The Three Musketeers Custom Book Purse

First of all, I wanted to direct all of you to my new gallery!  Click on the gallery tab above to look at all my purses, past and present.

A few weeks ago I got a custom order to make a Three Musketeers book purse.  I'll admit, I've never read any Dumas.  My focus in college was American Literature and so I never read any Dumas, nor have I on my own.  The closest I've come is that awful movie version with Chris O'Donnell, who along with Charlie Sheen, kept their American accents even though they were playing Frenchmen.  At least Oliver Platt and Keifer Sutherland attempted a British accent (which, in American movies, is pretty much the same thing as a French accent).  Does anyone remember, the annoying theme song?  I think it was a rule in the 90s that your movie had to have Bryan Adams sing your theme song.  Gosh, the 90s were awful.

I think it is so amazing that people trust me enough to make all the choices for their custom purses!  The customer picked out this cover then told me to just go for it.  I love that!  I looked at a few fabrics with cross patterns but they were all religious and I needed something more gothic.  Then I remembered this Alexander Henry fleur de lis fabric . . . what's more french than a fleur de lis?  Plus, it had little crosses in the pattern as well.  Score!

This was really one of the easiest custom purses I've done because everything came together just right.  For the button, I happened to already have a gold fleur de lis button in my stash but it was too small.  I found a large navy button and glued the two together.  Perfect!  It was just so awesome how all the details came together . . . just like the harmonies of Bryan Adams, Sting and Rod Stewart . . . 

The customer seemed very happy with the final product, which is all that really matters.  I really love this custom purse.  What do you think?

BiblioBags Custom Book Purse Giveaway!

This month marks the second anniversary of my Etsy shop, BiblioBags.  To celebrate, I'm giving away a free custom book purse!  

FREE CUSTOM PURSE FROM BIBLIOBAGS GIVEAWAY

 

An up to $85 value!

                                                                                          

How to enter:

1. Post what book you would want made into a custom book purse on BiblioBags’ Facebook Wall as many times as you like.

2. Post one comment on this blog.

I will choose a winner at random next Monday, May 21st and announce it on my Facebook wall and on my blog.

Rules:

1. All entrants must be 12 years or older.  However, I will make whatever book purse (within reason and the following rules) you like for whomever you like!  Say your 9 year old niece really wants one . . . you can enter the contest and I can make a book purse for her.  Make sense?

2. All materials including the book, fabric and handles must be within my set budget.  No $400 first edition books or diamond encrusted handles, okay?  I’ll let you know what is reasonable and what is not.

3. Please no books that include or promote pornography, hateful speech, symbols, etc.  Let’s keep it nice and clean, folks . . . especially on the cover!  Example: Your favorite book may be a historical text on WWII but if it has a swastika on the cover, I’m not comfortable making a purse out of it.  While we’re at it, no religious texts allowed either.  I don’t want to anger any dieties . . . my life is complicated enough.  I reserve the right to turn down a book if I find it offensive or inappropriate.  But relax.  I may be Mormon but I’m pretty laid back.  I just don’t want to put my name on something that is offensive or in excessively bad taste.  A little bad taste I’m okay with.  Wink, wink.

4. Your choice of book is subject to my review, meaning, if it’s too shabby to make into a purse, you’ll have to find another one.  I prefer hardcover/hardback books in good condition.  I will try to make your wildest book purse dreams come true but if it’s not possible, we’ll have to try something different.  So be patient with me!  (Because the best way to make someone patient is to throw an exclamation point at them . . . )

5. Please allow at least 5 weeks for me to complete your custom purse.  Sometimes I am backed up with several orders at a time, sometimes I have none at all.  It just depends on my work load at the moment.

Need ideas?  Go to my shop page and peruse my “sold” listings.  There’s a huge range of what can do and what I have done in the past. 

GOOD LUCK!