Where WESTies Create: Episode 6, Punky and the Bug

Hi, I’m Samantha from Punky and the Bug. I have been crafting and making and sewing for as long as I can remember! It seems like it was not that long ago that I was in my grandmother's kitchen on the farm, and I would be begging her to find me some fabric, needles and thread so I could sew my Barbie dolls some fabulous new fashions.

I’ve decided that this year is my year to come out of my shell and move forward with my all my crafting ideas--it’s time to make it happen! Having an Etsy shop is one of my goals and so here I am showing you what my workspace looks like.

This first picture is the whole view of my work area. It is in the basement of our house, and I think I’ve managed to carve out a pretty nice space in such a small corner. The basement also serves as our home office, and the kids' arts and craft area, which you can see below, to the left. These bins house all the kids' crafts from foam to perler beads and more! It’s quite a challenge to keep everything uncluttered and something that I’m always working on. I can be a hoarder when it comes to craft supplies.

This area is where I keep all my crafting goodies. My fabric is in the large rubbermaid containers and some smaller pieces and projects are in the tower along with sewing notions, embroidery thread, patterns and some random craft show supplies (like that wood crate).

This space is where I draw all of my designs and do all my sewing and paper crafting. Or you could say where the magic happens! It’s my crafting desk: I have both my sewing machines on this desk and they are very easy to use whenever I need to. The table to this desk also props up so I’m able to be comfortable while I’m drawing. The best part about this desk is that I got it for free about 15 years ago and it's still going strong. I love it!

And last but certainly not least is my computer desk, where I work on my Etsy shop, my photos, facebook and of course let's not forget to add getting distracted on pinterest.

One other space I’m not showing here is where I do all of my actual embroidery. Since I’m holed up in the basement for all aspects of my crafting, I usually bring myself up to our living room where I can sit comfortably on the couch and watch some good ol’ tv while stitching away.  

Thanks for checking my space out--I hope you enjoyed the wee tour! Please come check out the shop on Etsy and also on facebook. See you around!

What's New Wednesday

Click the photo to see the item! 

What's your favourite piece? Let us know in the comments!

Periwinkle Dzyns | aeliodesign | PrairieThreads | Nancy Blokland Pottery | Mary Maude | Heidi's Jewels | M-agination | PrairiePeasant | Windseed Studio | Real Swanky | Sage & Olivia Jewellery | DragonNerd | Krista's Jewellery | Kiki Plushies | Bitchin' Kitsch 'n' Kitchen | We Are Bound Together | ladylikeness

Who's New Tuesday: Heidi-and-Seek Boutique

Hello everyone, Heidi here from Heidi-and-Seek Boutique. We're starting a new segment on the blog where we get to be introduced to someone new! To start this segment off, I will introduce myself and continuing on, we will post intros of new members on Tuesdays as we have them :)

Where are you from?
I'm from Winkler, MB.

What is your Etsy Shop Called?
Heidi-and-Seek Boutique

When did you start your Etsy Shop?
My business, Heidi-and-Seek Boutique was started in May of 2009 when I received my first ever sewing machine for Christmas! I started up-cycling things like pillowcases into skirts and purses, using place mats to make clutch purses, things like that.

Why did you decide to open an Etsy shop
I decided to open an Etsy shop because I was making things people liked and it seemed like a really neat community! At the time I was (and still am) reading A Beautiful Mess, and I believe that is where I first learned about Etsy from her creative paintings and kits. Heidi-and-Seek Boutique sells unique, up-cycled clothing and accessories for women.

What is your favorite item to make?
My favorite item to make right now is probably my Heidi Hoods. I love the idea I came up with and am really enjoying thinking up new things to do with them!

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
I'm hoping to start taking some Apparel Design courses in the near future, and ultimately would like to be able to 'quit my day job' and do this full-time!

So there's me in a nutshell!  If you'd like to follow my handmade journey, you can get updates on my Facebook Page and feel free to check out my blog for all things Heidi-and-Seek Boutique :)
Thanks for reading!

PS. If you're new since last July, be expecting a message from me at some point ;)

Cold as Ice with WEST

Snowflake earrings from WinterSisters 

Fractal Necklace from DragonNerd 

Moonstone earrings from KristinBuhler 

Winter fashion earrings from AeliosDesign

Where WESTies Create: Episode 5, Heidi-and-Seek Boutique

Hi! I'm Heidi from Heidi-and-Seek Boutique I started out my little business when I was in college, and started my Etsy Shop on May 4th of 2009! I've come so far since then, it's amazing to see what happens when you really start working on your dream!

Anyway, here are a few photos of my studio. Almost 1 year ago my husband and I bought this house (he was still my fiance at the time), and I insisted that I needed to have a proper sewing room, so the second bedroom upstairs was deemed 'sewing studio.'  Here's my computer and shipping desk.

It so happens that my dad is a carpenter and had all these leftover cabinets and shelving units that were PERFECT for what I needed.

He also made me this fabulous cutting table with storage cubbies!! Best part-there's cubbies on both sides and it's on wheels!

Across the way is my sewing machine and serger, I LOVE having this much space for the machines.

Another beauty, a hanging rod for my items and a little extra shelf space above :)

I hope you've enjoyed a little peek into my creative space, to be honest, this was right after I cleaned it up for the new year...it usually looks a lot more cluttered ;)

If you want to find out more about what goes on in my creative space, feel free to follow me on my blog, Heidi-and-Seek. Thanks for reading!

WEST New Talent

AnitaRexDesigns 

Beadmeabracelet 

Innersanity

Stay Warm with WEST

Slippers from SelkieDesignShop 

A cat to cuddle with from CloverleafFibreArt 

Sip tea from vintage mugs, Windseedstudio 

Look hot wearing fire engine red necklace from Sageandolivia!

Where WESTies Create: Episode 4, Prairie Peasant

Hi! I'm Laura, the designer and creator behind everything you see in the PrairiePeasant and PrairieThreads Etsy shops. I'm happy to show you today the spaces where I create--but be warned, these are not the perfect spaces you will see in studio magazines where everything is colour coordinated and in its place. No, these are real places, where real work happens!

This is my basement studio, a large bedroom that I laid claim to when we bought this house 12 years ago. This was the first creative space I could call my own and I love it! It rarely gets tidier than this, despite my best intentions, but today you can actually see parts of the floor, so that's not bad!

Most of the furnishings have been salvaged from renovations (home and work), improvised, or purchased at great sale prices. My sewing table is a reject flat door from a hardware store on folding legs. On it are my serger and sewing machine, and many projects, current and queued, both mine and at least one of my daughter's. There are bins for storing fabric everywhere--there are more hidden under the table and in the laundry room. On the left side wall under the window is a long counter top with deep shelves for storing paper. It's a nice work height for standing (my professional career as an occupational therapist helped with the ergonomics!), and has a light table which I use frequently.

The opposite view shows my other work table which I found at the Habitat ReStore for $25. It was dinged up and needed a leg repair, but well worth it! It has longer legs (think barstool height), so again, it's a nice height for standing and working. I use this table for cutting both fabrics and papers, so it gets tidied a little more often. Mounted from the ceiling is a roll of paper that I use for some book making and the few wall spaces hold my kids' artwork. I use peg boards on the walls for organizing some tools and supplies.

I don't always like to be holed up in my basement room, so I often work in this corner of the living room, by the front window. On the wall is my daughter's "copying the masters" piece from art class. Here I can have more contact with my family and not feel as isolated. I work on envelopes and binding books at this station. The table is a drop leaf table that my mother bought in the 1950's when she moved out on her own and the chair was my husband's grandmother's.

My husband says I'm a space hog, since I probably use more space in the house than anyone else! I have salvaged books stacked everywhere, and finished journals and boxes of bookboard are stored in an out-of-use shower stall.

In the room adjacent to my studio is an office. Here I do all my computer work and packaging and shipping.

I use all recycled shipping materials, and have them stored in boxes here, along with some supplies and finished products.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting! I hope you will stop in at my PrairiePeasant and PrairieThreads etsy shops or visit me on facebook.

What's New Wednesday

Click the photo to see the item!

Supply Shopping on WEST

Address stamp from OnePlusOneDesign 

Geeky fat quarter from TawnyBee

Metal numbers from JunkSalvation 

Stone settings from BusyAsaBug

Llama bat from MapleLaneLlamas 

For local goodies for cold weather crafting, look no further than WEST! Just search winnipegteam and then select supplies on Etsy!

WEST New Talent

Summertimecrafts 

Kikiplushies 

Zebiereart 

A small sample of new to WEST talent!

What's on Sale in WEST Shops?

Go to NancyBloklandPottery to see details on her 20% off sale till January 13 

Browse WildWoodRoseVintage for awesome deals including this Mad Men style coat. 

VoilaAndreanne for a beautiful locally designed dress.

Where WESTies Create: Episode 3, Tawny Bee

Hi, I'm Tawny from Tawny Bee!

I'm a work at home mommy who creates sewn items (mostly housewares) in between shuttling two kids to school, cleaning the house, cooking, attempting not to eat all the leftover Christmas chocolate I find in this house, doing the hokie pokie, breaking up sibling rivalries, finding lost socks, laundry, snow shoveling, etc.

And my work space is in the middle of all the chaos.

Welcome to my basement.

Here is my sewing machine set up against one of the walls right next to my computer.

I move my chair back and forth depending on if I'm working on Etsy on the computer, or if I'm sewing.  Of course, I usually have to boot a lazy cat off the chair before I can even do that.

Directly to my right as I'm working is usually a scene very similar to this:

Those are my little munchkins. They are pretty used to playing around me while I work. If you look carefully to the very right of the photo is the entrance to my laundry room.... er... I mean.... STUDIO of course. :)

In my studio you will find my cutting table. It should be cleared and ready for me to lay out my patterns and fabric and do some serious work. But instead it has become more of a catch all for various projects on the go. The brown basket with handles holds the squares for the Tawny Bee quilt I'm working on. The blue folded mess is an almost finished rag rug for my son. My homemade patterns are stacked underneath the basket.

Most of my stock in stored in those bins underneath the table. And of course my crafty apron that holds most of my work supplies (scissors, pens, chalk, some safety pins, a ruler, measuring tape, etc) is folded on top of the happy face box. Lace and ribbon of every sort is hanging from a pant hanger above it all.

And the beautiful mural that my son made for me has a special spot on the wall. It features trees and train tracks. Bottle Squid that I made with the kids out of empty milk jugs are hanging right above the table.  I always have my kids' creative energy proudly displayed all over my work area.

We go a little further into my laundry.... I mean Studio... and we see my ironing board.  An essential tool for anyone working with the fibre arts. And once again it is half used as a catch all.  I also use my ironing board for packaging orders.  Hence the packing tape. And another use for the ole ironing board is "snap placing" table. I use my snap pliers to attach all the plastic snaps to my mama cloth creations on this board. Hence the jars full of snap parts. I have an analog Pinterest board above me here where I "pin" all the fun things I find from magazines and general crafty stuff including a calendar for blogging, craft shows, shipping deadlines etc.

Once again, I try to include my kids' art in my work space. Their Sponge Bob art gallery fills me with creative energy whenever they pin up a new masterpiece (this time it's 3 eyed paper monsters).

A little further into my studio we find the back wall where I store most of my supplies.

Fabric lines the one shelf.  It may look a little chaotic, but I can find most everything. The top shelf is for upcycling materials and is covered with a blanket because my cat likes to lay on top of this pile and even though I wash everything before use, I don't want her shedding on any of my fabric. The second shelf features knits, fleece and velour. The third shelf is for cottons. The bottom shelf is for quilt batting. Along the side I store binding, buttons, zippers, velcro etc. You can see my giant hanger full of repair items hanging directly in front of my supplies. I figured if I hung it there, I might actually get to it one day. Nope... that hasn't happened. :)

If you look to the left, you will see my basket of mama cloth and a box full of wrapped toy hammocks on the bottom shelf. And again, above everything is the stuff for my kids - puzzles, games etc.

Devo the Found Objects Robot that I made (on the second shelf down on the left most shelves) presides over everything. He's the Tawny Bee manager and quality control. He always reminds me to do a good job and not send anything out that I don't think is absolutely perfect.

Thus ends our tour of the Tawny Bee work space. I hope you enjoyed hanging out with me today! Stay tuned for more Where WESTies Create tours.

What's on Sale in WEST Shops?

Art pendant from Heavensearth 

Lemongrass felted soap from FlatlandersSoapCo

Shoe lace purse from Magination 

Bank note book set from PrairiePeasant 

It's easy to find good deals in WEST shops, just go to Etsy.com and search winnipegteam sale!