Wink Designs

Open for a short break

We are off to the tropics for a week's rest and recreation.  Usually I would close the shop whilst on hols but am doing something different this time and leaving it open.  The downside is that things don't get mailed until I'm back but there is, of course, an incentive!

 

A bonus fat quarter will be given away with any purchases made while I'm on holidays (including patterns, kits and handmade items).  The offer lasts from today up to and including next Friday 13 November 2009.  No need to enter a message/code, the offer is open to all and I'll also post a notice in my shop to announce it.

I have some cute Japanese prints and lots of children and animal themes.  There are also some florals and "grown up" prints in the giveaway stash. (I'll check your preference before mailing).

PDF patterns purchased during this time will be emailed on Saturday 15 November and bonus fat quarters will be mailed on Monday 17 November.  All kits and handmade items will be mailed on Monday 17 November with bonus fat quarters.

Have a great week!

I think I need....

to learn to crochet again:

 

Image: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/09/flickr.html

i heart craft

Here is some of my haul from Mathilda's Market in Sydney yesterday:

 
Paper Doll Parade Notecard Set from My Messy Room, a gorgeous Vintage Storybook Tile with little mousies from The Red Thread and some wonderful Happy Camper fabric from Badskirt (check out that gorgeous puppy on Amy's postcard - what a face!).

I got lots of other little stockingfillers besides which have already been claimed or given away pre-stocking-filling-time!  And the piece de resistance, my "i heart craft" badge.  Sums it all up really....

Quick "Wrap-Up"

Word has gotten around that two lovely ladies have lost no time whatsoever in making up their Wrap-Up Skirts.  Here is Soo's lovely concoction in all its butterfly glory:

 
And one from Kerry in cool lightweight denim with a Heather Ross print underskirt.  Just perfect for summer:

Thanks for sharing ladies!

The "Apple Notebook" (in pink)

Meet one of the little loves of my life.  It's my MacBook (which I'll call my Apple Notebook for the purposes of this post).

 
I still run a PC (it has its uses) but this is sleek and portable and life is much easier when you're not tied to a desk.

When I got it a few months ago, Daughter Number One gave it the once over approvingly (she's hanging out for her own computer) but then thought for a few seconds before asking "Do they come in pink?"  Well, not in the way she'd hoped, but here it is.  Her own "Apple Notebook" in pink....

 
Don't they look cute together?

Dolls and dots

Another "Wrap-Up Skirt" this time in Kokka Russian Doll and Amy Butler Full Moon Dot fabrics.  This one has been sent off to a little friend who I suspect will look very cute in it.  I have another stack of nearly completed skirts in various print combinations which are headed for the shop as I want to offer both the pattern and readymade skirts.  Then I'll take a little break from sewing these babies and move onto something of the non-skirt variety!

 
Full Moon Dot is one of my favourite fabrics ever.  It's sadly being discontinued (or so I've heard).  It adds a more modern twist than normal polka dots and seems to work with so many different prints.  I managed to snap up a little extra from this etsy shop, whose lovely owner Jennifer had some yardage at normal prices (many shops have upped the price in response to its scarcity).

 
Also, the Kokka Russian Dolls print must surely be one of their most successful ever. Probably because of its versatility for both clothes and softies.  On my shopping travels I've noticed some suspiciously similar doll motifs on clothes, bags and homewares.  Coincidence? Perhaps.....

 

Rainy days and Sundays

What to do when rainy days and Sundays coincide?

Big girl Lego.

 
And little girl Lego, of course.

"The Wrap-Up Skirt" for girls PDF pattern

Here's my latest little pattern project unveiled (as hinted at in this post).  This one's been a long time in the making and I'm very happy to be able to finally show it off.

My aim was to create the pattern for a cute wrap around style skirt that would be practical for active little girls.  I always loved wrap skirts but couldn't find one for Cee Cee that didn't either come undone or slip down.  This design has a fully elasticized inner skirt which is sewn down both side seams for added "staying power".

Two half metres (or yards) of coordinating fabric will cover you for the pattern and it's satisfyingly easy (truly!) and fun (honest!) to make.  This model is made up in Liberty "Mab" and Michael Miller "Ta Dot" polka dots prints.  The pocket is optional and it also looks great made in denim or plain linen on the outer wrap panel with a printed inner skirt or embellished with covered buttons, applique, yo-yos or whatever else you can dream up.

An added bonus is that this is a "sew and sell" pattern, meaning that pattern purchasers can sell the finished skirts in their online shop or at markets.  I think it's great that there's an increasing number of patterns that come with this type of licence because it allows handmade sellers to stock their stores with classic or simple styles and not have to reinvent the wheel and draft their own pattern from scratch each time.

It's in the shop now (in PDF format which will be emailed to you within 24 hours of purchase).

AND! Before signing off I have to say how incredibly grateful I am to Lisa who worked her graphic design magic on both the photo tutorial and the pattern drawings.  I can't tell you how happy I am with the exceptionally professional result.  Lisa is one smart cookie who just seems to "get" everything - no explanation required. Not only that but she did it all at a time where she was up to her eyeballs with her own business, fulfilling orders, preparing for markets and developing new products (not to mention juggling school holiday activities!).  Thank you so much Lisa!

Crafty packaging

You've gotta love a pretty package.  I know I do and as such was chuffed to have one of my photos included in this round-up of gorgeous packaging shots on flickr.

Click on the link above to see the full gallery plus photo credits. (I can't resist showing just a few here to pretty up my post.)

  

  

Thanks to lovesdesign*'s for curating the gallery!

Twinkle toes

Do you ever put on your technical hat and try to decipher visitor stats on your blog, etsy shop etc?  I signed up to Google Analytics recently thinking that it might give me a heads up on who visits my shop and blog and where they come from.  Making sense of the info there is another thing altogether and I can't say I'm any the wiser (yet).

Anyway, I do know both from feedback and from the basic stats (the ones that I can understand), that a lot of readers visit to view/download the little ballet slipper charm free pattern that I put up on the blog some time ago.  It was early days then and I was dipping my toes in the waters of pattern writing to see what it was like.

So, I've put together some little kits to go with the pattern which contain all the bits and pieces you need to put them together: wool felt, cotton print scraps, silky cord, crystals and polyfil.  Cute! They're in the shop.  Also, if you're a blog reader (and you mention it in the "Message to Seller") I'll throw in some of the ballet tutu fabric used to make the totes in the background of the photos (until it runs out, of course!)

(Note: The pattern file was a bit clunky in the early days and a few people had problems downloading it. It's since been resized and should be easy to access.  If you do have any problems, though, give me a shout and I'll email it to you.)