Monday, July 21, 2008

The fun is in creating new ideas

When I first decided to sew and quilt items for sale, I really didn't know what people would be interested in. I had lots of ideas, so decided to try a variety of items, eyeglass cases, zippered makeup bags, photo frames, tote bags and mini-quilt fabric postcards.

Over the past few months I've found that the most popular items are tote bags, both large and small, and fabric postcards. I guess it makes sense. The tote bags are fun and functional, and postcards are the traditional item to take home from vacation.

So those are the items I have been concentrating on. It is easier for me to make a few items, and I can spend more time coming up with the decorative elements with just a few items.

But like most quilters, I'm always itching to try new projects, and over the past few weeks I've had an idea for a wallhanging percolating in the back of my mind.

So I finally got to sewing, and was so pleased I made two, one to keep and one for sale. I call it Log Cabin Lighthouse. It's a large log cabin block, in colors of the sunrise and water, set on point, with a lighthouse, based on the Tybee Island lighthouse, appliqued on it.

It was so much fun I'm thinking of other variations, maybe one with one of Tybee Island's famous sea turtles appliqued on it instead of the lighthouse.

I'll post pictures soon, but for now, pictures and information on my other items are on my website, www.vickisvintagestitches.com

Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Website is online

Well, now that I have my website online, I guess I need to keep up with this blog -- more chance that someone will actually read it!

We've been really busy getting ready for the tourist season on Tybee Island. My big project in February was making window treatments for Lighthouse Pizza, part of their renovation and remodeling in the dining room. I found a great fabric -- with lighthouses on it, naturally -- and combined it with yards and yards of red and deep blue Kona cotton. It was a great project, but I'm glad to get back to my regularly scheduled sewing.

Another project was getting the retail area set up in the restaurant. It was a great thrill to see all my bags and other items hanging on the racks there.

My mini-quilt fabric postcards have turned out to be popular -- not too surprising, since people tend to buy postcards when they are on vacation. I've been having a great time making them, since there are so many motifs and ways to embellish them. The lighthouses are fun, but I have a particular fondness for the sea turtles, too.

This weekend I tried out a couple of new items, picture frames and coasters. The coasters are woven top kind, that you can put the foot of a wine glass in. Lots of fun to make, since you can put together interesting color combinations.

We're enjoying beautiful weather here, with the dogwoods and azaleas still blooming. We're getting ready, and hoping the weather will hold, for the Tour de Georgia, which starts April 21 on Tybee Island. The first day they will travel through Savannah and end up in Statesboro. We're looking forward to an exciting event.

Now, back to sewing...

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Fun with color and design

I'm having a great time designing the items that I will make and sell. I love color, and since my first retail location will be on the beach at Tybee Island, Ga., the brilliant blues, pinks and yellows I enjoy are perfect.

The first item I came up with are purse-size mini-totes, and now I'm working on larger tote bags. Each of these has a front panel that can be a feature fabric, a patchwork block, an applique design or something I haven't thought of yet.

For the smaller items, I've been making zipper bags with applique designs, glasses cases and, now, cell phone bags. This was an idea from a friend, who has lots of teenage relatives. She said the cellphone bags are a popular item with the teens and tweens.

So I came up with a simple drawstring bag pattern, appliqued with hearts or other designs and made in bright pinks, blues, yellows, lavenders and other fun colors. They are great fun to do. My latest idea is an eyeglass case shaped like a flip-flop, complete with straps.

I get inspirations everywhere, but have chosen not to use patterns designed by anyone else. So I'm designing my own patterns, and as I have new ideas, refining the designs or completely changing them. The colors, the fabrics and the idea of the beach and ocean are providing the inspiration.


Sunday, January 6, 2008

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog for Vicki's Vintage Stitches! I'm in the beginning stages of establishing a web presence for my new sewing business, and plan to use this blog to announce new items, give updates on where items are available for sale and just talk about what I'm working on -- I always love to talk about sewing.

As an intro, I've been sewing since I was a child, starting with doll clothes and moving up to making my own clothes through high school and college. In 2000 I bought my first vintage sewing machine, joined a group dedicated to using treadle and handcranked sewing machines and was launched on hobby of collecting sewing machines and quilting with them.

My plan for Vicki's Vintage Stitches is to make useful and beautiful quilted and sewn items for sale, using my vintage and antique sewing machines. I love to design and combine colors and fabrics, so every item will be a little different from every other.

My first "collection" is inspired by Tybee Island, Ga, and includes bright tropical colors and patterns and beach themes. Items for sale are displayed at Lighthouse Pizza, on Tybrisa Street, on Tybee Island. Stop by and check them out -- and try some pizza while you're there!

More later!