My first sale on Etsy!

About a week ago I was complaining about how difficult it is to stand out among so many shops on Etsy. Well, I am very happy to say, that today I sold my first item. This cute coin purse went to USA for buyers sister.

Safe journey and I hope the sister will like her new coin purse. Enough of celebratin, I have a lot to do. And some great new to share with you... but not right now. You'll have to wait a couple of days. Untill then, have a great time!

I'm still here

Hi all. It's been a very long time since I last blogged. March 4th. How did time fly by so fast? Well, I hope you are all doing well and didn't totaly forget about me. I'm still here, just didn't find energy for blogging or simply didn't find anything worth writing about. I was busy working on marketing. Etsy, facebook and lately twitter and pinterest.

My Etsy shop has been up and running quite some time now, but unfortunately so far no sales. That is so frustrating. It's realy hard to stand out from this huge crowd of shops. I begin to question myself is it worth it? Do I even belog there?

I'm not a fan of facebook and I don't have a personal account, but I made a bussines page for my bags. That was a compromise I had to take. I can see now it was a good decision. It doesn't take a lot of effort to post and I have a feeling I reach more people that way, at least comparing to blog. If you haven't yet liked my page, you are very welcome to do so.

My latest addition to social media is twitter and pinterest. I'm not sure what to do with twitter yet, but pinterest seems interesting. I mean, how often do you see something interesting and want to remember where you've seen it? To me it happens all the time. I used to save images or print them and then forgot where I've saved them. Now I can just pin everything I like. All the cute things, ideas for home, recipes etc. Too bad I haven't used pinterest before.

And sewing? Well, I finally got my new tags - now in three dimensions. At the back of the photo you can also see my washi tape collection. I love washi tape.

I continue to use genuine leather, but for now just for handles. I would need better, stronger sewing machine for anything else.

I totaly fell in love with frame purses. Here's just some of them. They're so popular, I'll be making more of them.

I wanted to use wooden handles and here's what I made.

The black one is still in progress. I just have to sew around the handles, but then the sewing machine went on strike. Again. Nice. Just what I need. It seems I won't be sewing for some time now. I NEED NEW SEWING MACHINE! I almost made my mind about the model, but it's a bit pricey - the last time I checked it was 640€. I don't have that kind of money at the moment.


Have a nice week!

Indian Summer

I had an urgency to sew. Something. Anything. Since my tags are not ready yet, all my bag projects are in hold, I decided to quilt a little. This small pachwork is made from two Indian Summer charm packs by Zoe Pearn and some Bella Solids.

While I was taking photos, this red moster came by and decided it was time to lay down a bit. It was actually her way of saying it's feeding time ;)

Until next time, have a great time!

Work in progress and a little bit of sale

It's been long time since I've blogged. The last time was in mid February and it was still very much winter - cold and snowing. Now, about 14 days later it's very warm with temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Farenheit). I know it seems like winter is over, far from it, it still might snow, but I love spring! It's great because days are longer and warmer, the first flowers are blooming, the birds are singing more loudly (I know I'm going to hate it when they'll be singing at 4.30 am in the summer) and I feel there's optimism all around me. I don't think I could live far north with long and cold winters. Congrats to all of you who do.

I haven't been sewing lately because I'm totaly out of my tags. I went to local sewing shop where I bought satin ribbon for the first time to buy new one, but they didn't have any. Said I would have to wait a month untill they'll order. So I ordered it myself directly from UK - here. It was much cheaper and faster! Now, that I got my ribbon I'll have my tags soon as well, just need to get them printed. I have been asked before, so I'm telling you all now: I use Berisfords satin ribbon and my tags were printed at Mumino.
Can't wait to get new tags 'couse I have so much ideas I wanna try. I' m almost done with this wood handle bag.

I also have half done frame purses. As soon as get my tags I'll be able to finish them. Until then just a little sneak peak.

And last, but not least. I've decided to make a little spring sale. Those cell phone bags are now only 10€. Pick your colour! If you'd like more info and photos, contact me at blackbird.bags@gmail.com

Hi. How was your weekend? It was snowing around here Saturday and Sunday so I was baking these. They're for someone special ;)

I also made a few frame purses. Those frame purses are addicting! I just couldn't stop making them. Good thing I'm out of frames, otherwise God knows how many I'd made. Those frames are different shape than previous ones, therefore so are the pures. Frame size is 11 cm wide, they're between 12,5 cm and 14 cm high. The dark blue one is made from soft leather. Can't wait to receive new frames!! 

I'm sure you reember this bag. Many of you voted on black leather stripe, so here it is:

I also made another one with leather straps. Unfortunatelly this photo is not that good. The colour in nice warm yellow, almost gold and leather is dark brown. 

Have a nice week! More photos on my fb page  

Valentines shopping bags

I belive that more and more people are becoming enviromentally conscius about disposabe plastic bag and are using cotton bags insted. The Valentines day is near, so I made a few shopping bags with lovely hearts. If you'd like your boyfriend, girlfriend or anyone else to be more envorimentally friendly now's the time. Those bags can be washed and reused over and over again. The best part is, they can be folded and put into handbag.

Small hearts or one big heart, the choice is yours.

What's this? Tiger in the snow?

Not exactly, just Flora wearing something I made for her, because her tummy is stil pretty much hairless and the temperatures are very low (around -10 degrees celsius ) not to mention the cold wind. She didn't mind modeling while I was making this and she doesn't mind wearing it either. Such a darling girl.

Practise makes perfect and I need your opinion once again

I was telling you about my first frame purse and what a nightmare it was putting purse into a frame. Well, I wasn't going to give up that easily. And actually it's true what they say: practice does makes perfect! I changed order when putting purse into frame and every next purse was easier to make.

On those frame purses I added my tags. The thing I'm not sure yet is where to put a tag. On front, like this yellow frame purse?

Or on the side of the purse, like those two?

Front or side?

Which one is your favourite? Mine is the yellow one, because it's got history. The fabric I used for the purse, was once my mums dress she made for herself ages ago. She got tired of the dress and I reused the fabric for this nice frame purse. I might make more.... But first I'll be a pattern tester! I'm so excited! So stay tuned, more to come....

And thanx for giving an opinion last time and again this time! You're the greatest!!