Tawny Bee's Bomb Girls Dress

Hi, I'm Tawny Bee and Ruth (our WEST captain) has asked me to repost my latest creation on this blog to share with you! I participate in a bi-weekly challenge put on by a crafty blog in the US called Iron Craft. This was a project I made to meet the newest challenge. I happen to love the dress I made (and the TV show it's based on), so I didn't argue with Ruth's suggestion of posting on here for you all to enjoy.

The following was originally posted on Tawny Bee's Blog: The LT Experience on February 26th, 2013:
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The challenge this week:

"The Emmys, SAGs, Golden Globes and, of course, the Oscars, it is awards season for the entertainment industry. So, let’s make something inspired by a movie or television show OR you can make something you would wear on the red carpet." (courtesy of Just Crafty Enough)
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For anyone who has followed this blog, or my Facebook knows that I'm currently obsessed with the Canadian TV show Bomb Girls.

A little bit about Bomb Girls for those who haven't watched it (I think it's available on some obscure American channel now though):

Set in the 1940s, Bomb Girls tells the remarkable stories of the women who risked their lives in a munitions factory building bombs for the Allied forces fighting on the European front. The series delves into the lives of these exceptional women from all walks of life – peers, friends and rivals – who find themselves thrust into new worlds and changed profoundly as they are liberated from their home and social restrictions. (courtesy of Global TV)

Before the second season started a few months back I showed you how to make your own 1940s turban head wrap.  So I couldn't do that again for Iron Craft.

So I decided to outfit myself in 1940s inspired garb and made a dress from Retro re-released Simplicity Pattern 1777.

I went all out and did a photo shoot at the Winnipeg Aviation Museum.

I even got my hair to stay put in 1940s victory rolls.  Phew!  That took A LOT of hairspray!!

But it kinda looks like the pattern cover.

Of course, it's Canada and it's cold outside, so the boots aren't exactly great for the photos, but whatever.  And it's 2013 and there isn't any rationing going on right now, so I was able to wear tights.  Yay!

The plane that I'm posed beside is a de Havilland Tiger Moth used by the Royal Canadian Airforce during the 1940s.

I found that even my coat went well with this Bomb Girls inspired look.

And I couldn't resist hanging with the flygirls for awhile. :)

Cast of Bomb Girls

I'm thinking that this is totally a Lorna dress (Meg Tilly's character in the centre).  I love her so much!
And because this was a challenge dealing with all the award shows coming up, I'll let you know that Bomb Girls has been nominated for a bunch as well. OK so maybe they are all Canadian award shows, but still.  I love this show so much!!!!

To follow all the Iron Crafters and snoop on their favourite TV and Movie inspired crafts, check out the Flickr Group.

(PS: My favourite movie happens to be It's A Wonderful Life, which incidentally takes place in the 1940s as well, so it's a double win with this dress).

What's New Wednesday

Click the photo to see the item! 

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

Adorables by Alisia | Bitchin' Kitsch 'n' Kitchen | Lady With a Frog Tattoo | Heartfelt Yarn Wreaths | Heavens Earth | Heidi-and-Seek Boutique | Krista's Jewellery | M-agination | Nancy Blokland Pottery | PrairiePeasant | PrairieThreads | Sage & Olivia Jewellery | Seaweed & Sage | Tawny Bee

Who's New Tuesday: Marathon 1981

This Tuesday's new member intro is Kami Goertz

What is your shop name?
Marathon 1981

Where are you from?
Winnipeg, MB

When did you start your Etsy shop?
May 4, 2009

Why did you decide to start an Etsy shop?
I enjoy thrifting and garage-saling more than almost anything, so my hordes of wonderful vintage finds needed an outlet. I started the Etsy shop as a way to share these finds and also as a place to sell my handmade creatures. I started making creatures during my maternity leave and finally got the guts to open a shop in the spring of 2009.

What do you sell?
I sell quirky vintage knick knacks like ceramic figurines, mugs with names or funny animals, stylish kitchenware, and handmade creatures made from vintage fabrics and trims.

What is your favorite thing to make?
My favorite items are custom requests; using my style and materials and the new ideas of a customer are the best combination!

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
I would love to turn my Etsy shop into a steady part time job that would allow me to make what I love, and provide for my family.

Want to follow Kami? You can here:
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Flickr

WEST is Looking!

Heard we are having WEST Handmade and Vintage Sale III?

We are also looking for a food vendor to join us on May 4.

Vegan options and food that meets the Etsy vibe (handmade!!) would be preferable.

Please contact winnipegetsy@gmail.com for further details

There is no such thing as a simple cup of tea!

One of the first questions we hand-made-people get from folks at shows is...."how long does it take to make a mug?"...

Well, now my answer is 29 years. This is how long I have been doing pottery. There is no speeding up and no shortcuts in making craft or art. I thought you might be interested to know a little about the steps in making a teapot, which is significantly more complicated than you might think.

You need to make a body, a spout, a lid and a handle. Within that there are many variations on how complicated you want to get. Here are a few photos of some of my most recent teapots in process from start to finish.

 

Each element  of the teapot is made separately, dried and trimmed.

 

 

Spouts are a personal thing: length, angles, how to cut them...

 

 

The handle needs to be in line with the spout to pour properly, be aesthetically pleasing, and strong enough to support the weight of a full teapot.

 

 Lids need to be not too big and not too small, but in good proportion to the body (this one is not).

Then you bisque fire, glaze, and fire again! If it doesn't crack, warp, twist or have a glaze run, you may have a sale-able teapot!

Where WESTies Create: Episode 8 AdorablesbyAlisia

Welcome to my home!  The home of Adorables by Alisia…Come on in!

Living in a basically open concept loft can be pretty challenging when it comes to having a workspace area. I TRY to confine myself to our little den right here…

Yes, it looks neat and tidy, but realize it’s not craft show season right now, so I’m able to keep things mostly under control… I will show you a few of my “secret” hiding spaces though. This is one of my favourite spaces in our loft. I’ve loaded it up with tons of pictures of family, friends and vacations; it’s a great place to curl up in my chair and crochet. I’m still in search of a great slip cover for the chair which was a free hand me down when my in-laws moved – hence the rust on rust tone I have going on….

 

I have a bit of a wool addiction, especially when I find a great sale. I like to stock up on fun colours and soft, cuddly feeling wool. I have yet to find a way to organize it, and more often than not, when I get an order and don’t want to plug through my pile, I go out and buy colours I most likely already have…

 

My husband HAAAATES this corner, as it tends to get pretty full and starts to push the chair away from the wall and further and further in to the hall. It’s currently housing my wool scraps, miscellaneous buttons and a load of bags for my newest project – making Plarn (or plastic bag yarn!).

This is my “office” and also my “photo studio.” We purchased this re-purposed dining table a few months ago, and it also happens to make a great back drop for my photos. The natural light is perfect for taking pictures here! My husband also works from home at times, so we spend many an hour working alongside each other. I love that I can look out my window while I work and see the beautiful Exchange District!  During Craft sale season, this area is usually over taken by stock and table set up things as well!

Another hiding place/creative storage area. Behind my clothes I keep a suitcase with any current stock I have on hand, vacuum packed to fit in as much as I can.  Keeping it this way is also helpful for transporting it to craft sales and such.  Some more bags for my “Plarn Project” are also stored here.

Well, that’s my space – it’s ever evolving like Etsy Shop and business. 

Who's New Tuesday: Warped Metal

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means! We get to meet a new member of the WEST team. Today's newbie is Tim Dwornick

Where are you from? 
Winnipeg

What is your Etsy Shop Name?
Warped Metal 

When you start your Etsy shop?
July 31, 2009

Why did you decide to start an Etsy shop?
I decided to close my brick & mortar storefront for a while to pursue on-lining, so etsy seems to be the perfect replacement venue.

What do you sell?
Jewelry as wearable art

What is your favorite item to make?
Any form of jewelry that's built around a detailed theme, the more conceptual it is the more I like making it.

What are your long-term goals for your business?
My main Etsy goal is to spread my creations worldwide.  I know that's a silly little thing, but it's those silly little things that light up the day, and Etsy has given me great success in selling my jewelry worldwide.

My business goal in the future is to set up a metal-smith studio here in Winnipeg as a 'beehive co-op' model of strategic inclusion of metal and related arts in one place, with shared and rented studio space and high-dollar equipment, a small retail space, and a dedicated focus of members' online profiles.

Be sure to follow Warped Metal:
Twitter
Facebook
Metal Arts Guild of Canada
Main Website

Make It Monday - Free hairbow pattern

Happy Louis Riel Monday (especially if you have it off)! This is my first tutorial so I’ve decided to do something that is really easy, really cute, and that just about anybody can do.

I found a pattern through Pinterest for a super cute bow hair tie. This is a free pattern that comes from the Oliver + S website.  I absolutely love the style of their patterns at Oliver + S, they are so charming!  Here is the link http://oliverands.com/free-patterns/bow-hair-tie. The website tells you that you will need two 5x5" fabric scraps, thread, an elastic hair tie, and about 5 minutes.

A good idea would be to download the PDF and then print the pattern out. As I started this tutorial I opened up the PDF and promptly remembered that our printer has no ink. So you may notice that my pattern piece is hand drawn because I made do and traced the pattern piece from my computer screen. If you do this, be careful--I have an ink spot on my monitor that bothers me (from another hand tracing moment) and I cannot get rid of it!

Lay out your pattern piece on your chosen fabric.  This is perfect for scraps! 

 

If your fabric is doubled, you can pin the pattern to the fabric and make your cut; you will end up with two pieces. Or you can cut the two pieces separately--whatever suits your fancy.

Now place the pieces with their right sides together, and pin.

Now stitch around the edge with a ¼ inch seam. Leave a 1 ½ inch opening near the center so you will be able to turn it right side out. Trim the corners before you turn it right side out. This creates less bulk in the corners, and it will sit prettier.

Now that it’s turned right side out, press the hair bow. Often this is a step I skip, because I’m lazy and I don’t want to take out my ironing board and my iron, since my cat jumps on it and wreaks havoc. But it is a step that I’m learning really makes a big difference in the finished piece. So do it!

See how it looks professional, just by using that hot little iron.

Now take the elastic and move it to the middle of the bow so you can tie your knot. You don’t have to finish the open seam because it will be hidden in the knot.  

Tie that knot!

The finished product: easy peasy.

And this is how it looks in my daughters’ hair.  

Pretty darn good I think! See it really only took about five minutes…okay maybe ten minutes the first time, especially if you are doing a tutorial with it. I hope you've enjoyed the tutorial and take the time to try it out. Sometimes it's really nice to have a small project that only takes you a few minutes to accomplish, especially when you don't have a lot of time.

Where Westies Create: Episode 7 Emms Pocket Shop

Come on in to my Pocket Shop studio!

Before you reach the tv room in my basement, you can stop off at the ironing board and check out my latest fabric selections for snack bags, zipper coin purses, sandwich wraps and receipt keepers! I am trying to break the habit of leaving things on the ironing board because every once in a while I want to iron my clothes. This little alcove is the perfect size for a 60" x 34" oak desk that I would never let my parents get rid of. And finally, it became mine when I settled in Winnipeg.

Once in Winnipeg the desk saga continued. My husband and I have always thought about getting rid of it - it's big and clunky - that is until I started to sew. I love the pull-out work spaces on each side of the chair. I use the knee drawer for rulers, pins, tape measures, sewing machine feet and chalk.

I have three baskets on top of the desk (and two lint rollers...strange) for in-progress items and the large one with the lid holds my fabric stash. I mostly buy fabric in 1/2 yards and fat quarters (I love variety) so I can hold a lot of inspiration in one basket.

Behind the desk is our family game closet, in which I have overtaken the bottom shelf. These baskets and boxes hold my finished stock, solid colour fabrics, smaller scraps, and templates. The blue dresser (seen in the middle photo) was recently relocated to this area so that I could store liners and interfacing as well as old pairs of jeans that I cut up for change wallets.

Thank you for stopping by. I'll see you again when I share my jewelry studio with you.

What's New Wednesday

Click the photo to see the item! 

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

Birdie and Dot | Bitchin' Kitsch 'n' Kitchen | DragonNerd | Heidi-and-Seek Boutique | Krista's Jewellery | ladylikeness | Periwinkle Dzyns | Sage & Olivia Jewellery | Selkie Design | Real Swanky | Windseed Studio | WWNaturals

Who's New Tuesday: Jake + Cleo

Who are jake + cleo?
Corina (the tall one) and Emily (the not-so-tall one) make up jake+cleo, a jewelry business they named after their cats from their single girl days.

Where are you From?
jake + cleo is based out of Winnipeg, Corina's hometown, but have been known to take their studio on the road to Kitchener, Ontario where Emily's family is located.

When did you open your Etsy Shop?
j+c opened their Etsy doors late summer of 2010. Emily has been selling her own beaded jewelry line on Etsy since 2008, emms gEM's and Emms Pocket Shop and convinced Corina that jake + cleo should give the Etsy community and platform a try.

What do you sell? 
jake + cleo design and create fine silver charms and pendants. Fine silver is a clay medium. We use a brand that is made with 100% recycled silver. When the clay is fired, binders and water burn off, leaving .999 silver. Our pendants and charms are then displayed on sterling silver chains and ear wire.

What is your favorite thing to make?
Our favourite thing to create is anything from our herb imprint line, in particular pieces made with dill or wheat. We love to see how they will roll out and what fine details will be picked up in the patina. And custom pieces are fun too!

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
This is a difficult question to answer. Our goals can't be given in numbers. For us, Etsy is an outlet for our creativity. As a result, this creativity has generated some wonderful feedback about how our jewelry carries a personal touch for those who purchase it either for themselves or as a gift. This feels good. To continue to use our creative release in ways that are meaningful to both us and our clients is our goal on Etsy.

Follow along all things Jake + Cleo here:
Twitter
Facebook
Blog

WESTie on Breakfast Television

Andee Penner of Sew Dandee was on Winnipeg's Breakfast Television yesterday, February 8, showcasing lots of local talent: herself and other WESTies!
Watch the full interviews here:
clip1
clip2
or read more about it on Andee's blog
Well done!

WEST February/March Design Challenge: Emerald Green

It's time for WEST to resume it's regular Design Challenges! It's been a little while since we've had one, so here's how it works:

I'll post the theme/inspiration on the blog and in our team discussion forum on Etsy. Your job is to take that inspiration in whatever direction your imagination leads. The goal is to challenge yourself, be inspired and enjoy the creative process! 

As you think about the theme, add comments to the discussion thread on Etsy about your process. Take pictures of your process and the finished item and post them in the discussion thread when you are done. It's interesting and inspiring to others to hear the story about how you arrived at your finished product, so please share at least a comment about your process! I will post the results of the challenge after the deadline. If we get enough items, I'll make a treasury including all the items! 

And now on to the current challenge! The theme for the next month is the Pantone Colour of the Year 2013, Emerald Green! Let the colour inspire you, but don't be too hung up on recreating this precise colour. The deadline for this challenge is one month from yesterday, March 7, with the results being posted on March 8, just before St. Patrick's Day!

 
And to inspire you further:

Ear cuff, chain, and Green Shell Earrings by Secret Jewelry

1930's Ladies Day Dress by WildRoseVintage

A few notes: 
Create something new, especially for the challenge. Entries for each challenge must be finished by the posted deadline. Vintage and supply sellers are welcome to participate too, with a focus on artful photography and careful choice of item. 

Happy designing! I hope this inspires you, and I can't wait to see what you'll come up with!

Getting to Know... Alisia from Adorables by Alisia!

A new addition to the WEST blog is "Getting to Know You!" - an opportunity to get to know our members a bit more beyond their shops. Since this was my brilliant idea...hahaha....I  figured I should be the first one to take the plunge!  So HI!  I'm Alisia!  The handsome man is my hubby Jeff, and the cute Pug is my fur baby Lily!

1.      What is your shop name? AdorablesByAlisia

2.      What do you create and sell? Crocheted Stuffs!

3.      What inspired you to go along this handmade/vintage trek?  When my nieces’ were still little specks in their mamas’ bellies, I picked up crocheting again.  My mom and grandma had knitting needles or a crochet hook in my hand as early as I can remember and as life so often gets in the way, I had let it go over the past few years! Once the little ones were born, the mamas had lots of requests on “where to get that” item I made for baby, and it expanded from there.
 

4.      Where do you create?  In my condo in the Exchange District!  LOVE IT!

5.      Do you have another job other than your Etsy Shop? Yep, I’m an occupational therapist.

6.      What’s your “motto?”  Keep chugging along…just like the little engine that could!

7.     What would be your perfect day?  On the beach in Puerto Vallarta, re-reading Valley of the Dolls (again…) with my hubby on one side, and my pooch sitting under my beach chair!

8.    What is your favorite word? Now, my favourite word to say?  Because it’s poo and makes me laugh every time…. I am a giant 6 year old. Or my favourite inspirational word? Because that’s “breathe” – it’s a word that always reminds me to centre myself when things are crazy!

9.    What is your least favorite word? Can’t

10.  What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Family

11.  What turns you off? Negativity

12.  What sound or noise do you love? Nieces' laughter

13.  What sound or noise do you hate? Bones cracking….ech….

14.  What Etsy-Inspired work other than your own would you like to attempt and why?  Sewing/Fashion Design - I can sew, but don’t have the patience for it, and would love to be able to take the time and design plus-sized clothing!

15.  What Etsy-Inspired work would you not like to do and why?  Vintage selling because I’d never want to get rid of any of my finds, and would have to buy a bigger place to live…

16.  Show us some of your current favorite listings – well I’m currently on a short hiatus while I work out this whole business thing and fill some custom orders.  But here are my shop sites if you want to keep updated!

ETSY

BLOG

FACEBOOK

17.  Your “Famous Last Words?”  Love ya! Because you can’t say it enough to those you do.

Well, now you know me a little bit better!  Stay tuned on Thursdays to get to know more WESTies!

Who's New Tuesday: Nancy Blokland

This week's new member intro is Nancy Blokland! Let's welcome Nancy and learn a little bit about her!  

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, and I have also lived in South America

What is your Etsy shop called?
Nancy Blokland Pottery

When did you start your etsy shop?
I started my Etsy shop in November of 2011

Why did you decide to start an Etsy shop?
I started my Etsy shop because I wanted to be part of online commerce, broaden my customer base, and also to have a platform into the social network world.

What do you sell?
I sell functional pottery largely for foodies! Cups, bowls, plates, platters, butter keepers, honey pots, teapots, and yarn bowls.

What is your favorite item to make?
Fun and funky handbuilt trays and vases

What are your long-term Etsy goals? 
I have lots of goals with Etsy, but one is to reduce my reliance for sales on attending shows, and perhaps increasing my wholesale business through the world wide presence of Etsy.

So make sure to check out Nancy's shop, and follow along with her Etsy happenings on her Facebook page and Blog!