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Chaco Pen

Last night I took a trip to the fabric store--mostly for the chance to be in the air conditioned car since it has been very hot here the last few days.  One of the things I came home with is this Clover Chaco Liner Pen and it is pretty fabulous.  It marks very well and the fine tip really does handle curves quite well. 

Sevenberry Floral

Anyone seen this print online?  I bought a yard at Bolt, but want more!  It is a Sevenberry fabric, but the selvedge doesn't include the print name.  I could go back to Bolt, but it is a bit of a drive and they didn't have much of this print left.  So if you've seen it online, let me know.

Bags for Your Bags

Here is two quick tips for those of you selling your sewn creations. 

1.  When taking photos use plastic bags for stuffing. 

Even though I almost always use my own reusable bags when shopping, somehow I end up with a collection of those annoying plastic bags anyway.  Most go back to the recycle bin at the store, but I do keep some around to use for stuffing bags when taking pictures. 

It seems like every little lump, bump and indent tends to show up as a shadow when you take pictures.  All these shadows can definitely distract the viewer and sometimes even distort your image.  I've found that stuffing whatever I'm photographing with clean plastic bags works really great for evening out the surface. 

Once they are inside you can give the bag/pouch/clutch/etc. a squish until it is the right shape and all the bumps are gone.  The plastic bags are super malleable and fill in the gaps giving you a smooth surface. 

The interfacing instructions that often come with your interfacing purchase also work well.

2.  Recycle paper bags into stuffing for shipping.

Don't send the plastic bags to your customers!  Many people are turned off by plastic bags because they are an environmental nuisance.  Instead use tissue paper or recycle paper bags into stuffing by cutting them up.  Cut the bags into smaller pieces and then lightly crumple the pieces up for lightweight packing material.  I remove any printed parts--just in case the ink might run or rub off--and toss those bits into the recycle bin.