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Handmade Kindle Covers!
September 14, 2011, 4:11 pm
I’ve been working on my kindle cover pattern for weeks now, and I’ve finally got it right:
Handmade Kindle Cover
Each case features a one of a kind applique on the front. I hand cut, glue and sew them on. They are padded with a double layer of felt made from recycled plastic bottles. Here’s a picture of the inside:
Inside of Kindle Cover
Originally, I was going to go with a moleskin notebook style that closed with an elastic strap, but decided that I wanted the Kindle to be protected on all sides. The zipper closure works perfectly for that. The cover folds back like a book and the Kindle is secured in place with industrial strength Velcro, so you never have to remove it from the case if you don’t want to. I went with Velcro because I prefer the clean look and there simply isn’t enough room on the Kindle 3 to use elastic corner straps or pockets without covering the buttons.
I read a lot of reviews of other covers before I started making these, and saw that a lot of people were concerned about putting sticky Velcro on their Kindles. I assume that’s because they think it will never come off. Well, guess what. It’s super easy to get Velcro off your Kindle! Simply peel up a corner, soak a Q-tip in Acetone, and run the Q-tip back and forth across the glue, peeling the Velcro up as you go. Acetone is cheap and can be found in most drug stores near the nail polish remover. I’ve used this method several times on my Kindle and have seen no damage to my Kindle’s case. It did leave a perfectly clean white square on the back, but that’s easily remedied with a moist wipe. So, don’t be afraid of Velcro!
At the moment, I’m only doing cases for the Kindle 3. I’ve had requests for Nook covers and Kindle 2 covers, but having never seen either of these e-readers in real life, I’m putting a hold on making those cases until I can get my hands on the actual devices. I will be working on an ipad cases very soon. Stay tuned!
Loads of new bags.
July 16, 2011, 12:19 am
It’s been about a million years since I last posted, but i have been busy! Here’s some of the stuff I’ve been working on:
Three new snap clutches.
These are my three newest magnetic snap clutches. The first one is made from a satiny leopard fabric remnant. I’m on the hunt for more of it, but for now there is only one of these bags. The middle bag is color blocked black twill and grey suiting fabric, and the last bag is a cotton floral print with black twill stripes.
Blue convertible hobo bag.
This bag is made from heavy blue cotton fabric with a linen texture. The lining is a striped blue canvas. It’s basically the same style as the purple bag, but with some different details.
Pinstripe denim hobo with braided handle.
This is my newest bag. It’s made from grey denim with blue pinstripes. It’s got a flap pocket on the outside and a braided denim strap. Usually I would say that denim is too country for me, but I think the dark wash and stripes dress it up quite a bit. The rest of this fabric will soon become my new favorite pair of skinny jeans.
Also, I finally managed to get my hands on some rivets! For years, I’ve been looking for a source in the states with no luck. Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that we have a Tandy leather store right here in New Orleans! They have aisles and aisles of hardware, so expect to see some studded bags in the near future. Here’s a picture of the rivets on this bag:
Rivets!
These are nickel finish rivets, and I used to add some extra strength to the strap and the pocket flap. The little swivel clip that closes the pocket has a matching nickel finish.
I think that about brings us up to date on new bags. In other news, I’m putting together a package of goodies for a summer giveaway. I’ll be announcing it on my Facebook page, so make sure you’re following me over there if you want to win some free stuff. Later!
The Nola Collection
May 19, 2011, 12:52 am
I’ve started working on a new collection for my New Orleans peeps. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but I couldn’t find any appropriate fabrics that didn’t have Saints logos all over them. I love the Saints, but the last thing I need is to have the NFL come after me for using their logos on my designs. So, I’ve decided to make my own fabrics:
Inspired by wrought iron fences.
I draw the designs in Paint, print them on poster board, and cut them out with an Exacto knife. The design is stenciled on black linen with metallic fabric paints, and the whole thing is then touched up and detailed by hand. This particular one is inspired by the wrought iron fences that you see all over the city. I’m working on a magnolia design and planning to do some purple, green and gold stuff. Check it out in here: the shop.
Now I just have to hope that we actually have a football season this year. Geaux Saints!