Thursday, January 30, 2014

A Sampling of Isa Creations now at the Pink Attic Cat

I am grateful for Amy's generosity to have a sampling of my handcrafted items in her shop, The Pink Attic Cat in downtown Littleton located at 2555 W. Alamo Ave, in downtown Littleton. 


This small display is a perfect example of how one embroidered linen can be re-purposed into several unique items ...

Created by Isa Creations Vintage


An assortment of heart paper garlands, iPad/Nook bags, pin cushions, vintage linen garlands/buntings, hankie dresses and more can be found at the Pink Attic Cat


Felted wool, lace and crochet doilies = Heart Sachet

Small Felted Wool Hearts


iPad and Nook Bags

Vintage Hankie Dress

Love banner and Vintage Hankie Dresses



Wednesday, January 29, 2014

More Changes to Isa Creations/Isa Creations Vintage (Etsy)


You may recall that on December 31, 2013 I wrote a post about blog header and other changes in 2014.

Changing the look of my blog is perhaps the most noticeable change but a very small one in comparison to other changes I will be making.  Changes that have been taking shape since last fall.

As much as I love creating so many different handcrafted items, this year I will probably not create as much.  Why?  Time.

The biggest changes to come are as follows:

I plan to  work part of the week as a  
Substitute Teacher
Earlier today it became official.  It took several months to get my 3 year  Substitute Teacher License from the Colorado Department of Education.  Then a few more months to have all the paperwork processed by Jeffco Schools.  I hope to narrow it down to my son's elementary school in the next few days.  As of today, I am now on the system as a Substitute Teacher. 
This will be a new experience for me.  One I am a bit anxious about since it's outside my comfort zone but it's the only way for me work outside of the home and have minimal impact on my kids.  I enjoyed working as a Substitute Para because I was a teacher's aid ... in other words, I was not in charge of the classroom.  As a Substitute Teacher, well, you get the picture.

Creating is an integral part of me.

 If I don't create
I get crabby!
Sometimes, my family will just tell me
"Go create something, please"

I plan to continue creating.
Just not as much...

I plan to continue participating in  markets like A Paris Street Market and  Sugar Plum Bazaar
I have even applied for the first time to another great show in June.

One significant change

I will be leaving the Checkered Corner after February
Checkered Corner will be open on February 14, 15 & 16, 2014
It will be the last time you will find Isa Creations in the upstairs bedroom
It is sad but also necessary.  
I loved the year I spent at the Checkered Corner with Anita and Patrice
They are great ladies who love what they do....like me.
The reality is most months my sales barely covered my monthly rent, more recently consistently falling short.

During November and December my sales were record-breaking for me at Sugar Plum and Rue De Noel, A Paris Street Christmas Market.  Through my friendship with Amy, owner of Pink Attic Cat, I started helping out at the shop during several special store events.  That led to Amy inviting me to bring a sprinkling of my seasonal inventory at the Pink Attic Cat during those special events in  October, November and December.  With a sprinkling of inventory my sales at Pink Attic Cat far exceeded those at the Checkered Corner.  They are only a few blocks from each other; however, they are different type of shops.

As much as I loved being a part of the Checkered Corner family, the accountant in me 
(yes, it is still there...buried deep inside but still there)
had  to accept that the Checkered Corner was not the right place for Isa Creations.
My customers are finding me at A Paris Street Market, at Sugar Plum Bazaar,
 and at the Pink Attic Cat
 BUT not at the Checkered Corner.

After the February sale dates at the Checkered Corner, I will be packing up my inventory and it will be ready in May when A Paris Street Market starts up again.  That is of course, that I continue to be accepted as a vendor by A Paris Street Market and Sugar Plum Bazaars in 2014.

On the bright side, I will  pay more attention to my 
 Etsy shop
  I have neglected it.  As I create new items, I will work hard to have a sampling of new items added to my Etsy shop.

You will also find a sampling or a sprinkling of some of my handcrafted items at the Pink Attic Cat.  You will also find me at the Pink Attic Shop on Tuesdays from 10:00 - 2:15.  Above all, I value Amy's friendship and this is just two friends helping each other out. I can help her by giving her the option to work on other things for the shop while I handle her sales register and post pictures on Facebook. She helps me by having a sampling of my inventory at her store.  There is also an exchange of creative ideas, which I love! 

This post is much more detailed than I planned on but I also feel it's important to share the big changes in my creative endeavors.  

So to recap, this year I will re-join the workforce (part-time) = Substitute Teach no more than a few days a week.
Isa Creations concentrate more on shows this year
A Sampling of Isa Creations at the Pink Attic Cat

My love banner, pin cushions and coin purse now at Pink Attic Cat




Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Vintage Embroidered Linen Clutches at Pink Attic Cat

Last year, I re-purposed many vintage embroidered linens into birds, pin cushions, buttons and tote bags.  This year I want to challenge myself to create more hand-crafted items with one of my favorite mediums -- vintage embroidered linens.

This is what I came up with...

vintage embroidered linen clutches


I purchased an assortment of frame sizes, along with a tutorial and did some on-line research.  I purchased frames that are nickel-free with a 2-coat finish that allows fingerprints to wipe with ease.

I like to create one of a kind items; therefore, I think I accomplished that when I created these clutches and coin purse with vintage embroidered linens.  They are lined with a decorative cotton fabric.

These (with the exception of 2 clutches - one is a gift and another I am keeping), will be available for purchase at the Pink Attic Cat located at 2555 W. Alamo in downtown Littleton.  Amy's shop, the Pink Attic Cat has many wonderful Vintage, Unique and Curious objects.  You can visit the Pink Attic Cat's Facebook page here.












Thursday, January 16, 2014

Valentine - Wool hearts & Paper Hearts


Along with the new vintage linen buntings & garlands, I also created a few Valentine theme items for the Checkered Corner this month.

Checkered Corner, located at 5650 South Curtice Street in downtown Littleton is open today from 4 - 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday from 10a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 4. 


Layers of papers along with doilies, crepe paper and glitter.



Felted wool hearts with vintage buttons.  Little valentine ornaments; also, great as tags for Valentine gifts.
 



Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Garlands or Buntings at Checkered Corner

A special opening of the Checkered Corner will be tomorrow, January 16 from 4-7 p.m.  It will open for regular hours on January 17 - 19th.  This link will provide all the details on location and times.

I was not able to photograph my new vintage linen buntings or garlands in my backyard as I hoped.  More snow (not a problem) and very windy (a big problem) and my lingering cold prevented me from taking those photos. 

Earlier today, I hung all my new vintage linen buntings/garlands on the 2nd floor bedroom where Isa Creations can be found at the Checkered Corner in downtown Littleton.




A few of these buntings or garlands have a Valentine theme mixed with a little bit of mix media influence.  I created two buntings with the words "love" using free motion sewing to create a more layered look along with vintage trims and doilies.


The other "love" garland or bunting using the free motion sewing technique has the words with more scrolls and cursive look, along with vintage trims.  





Saturday, January 11, 2014

Vintage Linen & Paper Heart Garlands

The Checkered Corner will be open next week.  Including a special preview on Thursday, January 16th.  It will be open during it's regular hours on January 17, 18 & 19th.  For the all the details on location and times, please click here.

The Checkered Corner will be featuring

"Upstairs/Downstairs" wares and invite you to enjoy tea and crumpets in 
Celebration of Downton Abbey Season 4

I am not the only fan of Downton Abbey.  Anita and Patrice are fans of Downton Abbey as well.  

This of course had me thinking of what new items I could create for January using the inspiration of Downton Abbey.

For me, it is vintage linens and lace.  I decided to create something I have had on my to do list.   Something some customers have actually asked me to create.

Vintage Linen Garlands

I hoped to take pictures of these garlands in the backyard yesterday afternoon but this Colorado weather is constantly changing.  We still have snow on the ground but the days are warmer, which is nice.  But, yesterday was really windy so I decided I was not even going to try.

I am really happy with the results.  If I don't take pictures of these garlands in my backyard, I will take pictures of them on display at the Checkered Corner next week.  For now, I can only show a preview of them.  Thankfully, I manage to get most of these done before I came down with a bad cold.  Now that I am feeling much better, I will finish a few more in progress. 







I am also currently working on creating heart paper garlands.



 Lots more to sew:


Friday, January 10, 2014

Catching up...Sugar Cookies & Gingerbread House

I wanted to post pictures from days before Christmas where we decorated Sugar Cookies and a family Gingerbread house weeks ago.  After all the shows, I was exhausted and needed a break from everything, including blogging.   Now I feel like I have to catch up before I post about the new items I am working on.

Above all I am grateful we had a really good holiday.  I mostly spent quality time with the kids.  I am already a fan of Downton Abbey, all I needed was my 16 year old daughter, Laura to join me.  She did.  I watched 3 seasons of Downton with Laura ... I am ashamed to admit we did this marathon is 2 days.  Two days where she and I just watched episode after episode of Downton Abbey while Alex, my 9 year old son, build lots of wonderful things with all his new Lego kits.  He was happy... we were happy!  David, who was working during all of this, would come home to a very content home.  He is intrigued by this Downton Abbey but sadly does not have time to sit and watch like we did.  He was just happy Laura and I were getting along so well.  Laura and I were so happy when the 4th season started this past Sunday. 

Oh, I should also mention we watched other movies.  Several movies with Laura at home and some with Alex.  Alex and I went to see several movies at the theater, we saw Saving Mr. Banks and Walking with the Dinosaurs (took 2 of Alex's friends to see the Dinosaur movie). 


David and I also got some quality time together.  He and I went to my friend Amy's  (owner Pink Attic Cat) "Christmas" party last Saturday.  The kids stayed home while David and I spent time with Amy's family and friends.  We had a really good.

Before Christmas, we managed to continue the annual tradition of decorating Sugar Cookies.  Sophie, Laura's friend who has joined us for many years spent the day with us decorating cookies. This year, Alex asked if he could invite a friend since Laura always invites Sophie.  So this year, Ryan (also 9 years old) joined us.  The kids rolled sugar cookie dough and used an assortment of cookie cutters.  I made the butter-cream icing then the kids colored the icing - 9 colors!  Then it was time to decorate.

We were all very impressed with Sophie's cookie decorating skills.  She has said she is not too crafty, but I have to say she  has come a long way .... I was so proud!   This was Ryan's first year and he seemed to enjoy himself, although I don't know what he thinks for the 2 teenage girls who kept poking fun at each other.  At some point, Laura and Sophie got into a icing rumble... they were on the floor laughing and getting icing on each others face.

Here are the cookies:

Sophie's Cookies

Laura's Cookies

Ryan's Cookies

Alex's cookies... the long green cookie on top is a snake.  He is the kid that thinks outside the box.  Since we don't have a snake cookie cutter, he just created his own shape.

David's cookies... yes, my husband enjoys this activity as well.  I did not decorate any sugar cookies this year.  I am what you would call the facilitator.  I refill icing bags, take photos and get the kids what they need.


A few days later, on Christmas Eve, David, Laura, Alex and me decorate our family Gingerbread house.  Afterwards we watch A Christmas Story while we wrap presents.  Alex goes to bed early because he still believes in Santa.   I am happy to say this is the 16th year we have decorated a gingerbread house on Christmas Eve...our tradition continues!

"I" am sitting next to the snowman.  "Laura" is on the side of the house.
"Alex" is wearing candy cane suspenders and is next to 2 mini cars he built  in the "backyard"

"Alex with his race track"

"David" is in the back with a snowball in his hand.  Perhaps aiming for "Isabel?"

"Laura" is out of focus in this picture.  I wanted you showcase the bench Laura created from candy.  I have to say, both of my kids are creative!

I originally planned on posting this at the beginning of this week  but I suddenly came down with a cold.  I am on the mend now but get tired pretty easy.  This cold slowed me down but now that I am feeling much better, I will continue to work on some Valentine theme items.

Tomorrow I will post preview pictures of my items in progress.