Tea Please

Although we are in the South of France, the weather is also staring to shift to winter season. By winter season I mean 17 degrees celsius but still chilly enough to crave a warm cup of tea to make you feel warm and cozy. But who ever makes the teapot feel warm and cozy?

I do...
Thought this fabric would be perfect for my tea cozy, bought ofcourse from one of my fav. shops superbuzzy.
After making my teapot a tea cozy, I figured let's not make the cups feel neglected. So, here are five little coasters I made from the let over scraps of linen and fabric I had kicking around.


I think it is time for a cup...

Pay it Forward!!!!

Pay it Forward

I was reading Erleperle's blog today and thought I would join in the fun. What a great idea!!!!

Here are the rules:

1. You leave a comment here on my blog and request to join the Pay It Forward exchange.

2.The first three comments who agree to join will receive a handmade gift from moi (a surprise of course) within 365 days.

3.You return the Pay It Forward by making the same promise on your blog. How fun is that!!!

La Meme Fabric

Since I have recieved many inquiries about this fabric, I decided to make more treats with this pouchette fabric. So, here are a couple of pics of a small little "over the shoulder" mini totes I made with grey linen and embroidery. Each lined with a cotton fabric.

I made two orange embroidery and two pink ones What do you think?
I also had a fair bit of extra linen scraps from all my linen bags, so I decided to make these little change purses. Just the right size for all your little extra change that usually floats on the bottom of your bag.
I know that the theme is not really christmas(y) per say, but I thought butterflies could be appropriate for any time of year. There are green and orange butterflies and the inside is lined with a stripe green fabric.

See etsy shop for details on both products.

Ma Pouchette

Just got this fabric in the mail and had to use it right away, so I made some little pouches for itsy bitsy stuff. I just love the pattern. All those little purses and pouches...I wish they were all mine!

A friend of mine here in France just had a baby girl named Emma, so I decided to make her a little christmas stocking. I know it's a little early, but I wanted to get started on all the stockings to put on etsy so I figured I could use hers as a prototype.
Me likey!

Wallet Tutorial

Well, here it is tutorial #3: How to make a tiny Wallet. It has been a long time coming but I finally finished it. It has been about 1 year since the last video. Take a peek, I hope you enjoy!

Why so chilly?

Brrr...fall is finally falling upon us here in the South of France. So it's time to pull out all the warmer sweaters, drink mulled cider and read by the fire (okay our fire place actually has a television in it, but we can always watch the television fire...not the same though).

I started what I like to call my "Fall Collection" using darker fabric colours and playing around with different textures. I made a couple of Petit Sacs using wool and a heavy linen and velvet print. I love the way these bags feel especially the wool which is very soft and yummy to touch.

Each bag is lined and has a little pocket perfect for keys and a mobile phone.I also made a couple of matching pouches to hold smaller goodies. What do you think?

All of these are available at my etsyshop.

J'habite en France

Well I have returned back to the Riviera and with soooo much to do.

They have started to put up the Christmas lights here in Vence...Wow christmas already?
Time to start sewing some stockings and other Christmas goodies.

I am attempting to put together a new website, where you can shop directly from the site. And let me tell you I am NOt computer savy, so it is taking me a lot longer than I had anticipated. Trying to get paypal to talk to my website is a lot harder than I thought. Why can't they just say Hello? Arghhhhh

Hopefully, it will be finished before Christmas and yes... I am almost finished the how to video on wallets...it's a slow process... aussi!

Off to sew with my new splints...I look just like the bionic woman (the newer version I think)

Back to the T to the O...

Seems like I am constantly on a plane and I haven't decided if that's a good thing or not. I am off to Toronto, Canada for my mom's 60th birthday, but she doesn't look a day over 30. I am looking forward to visiting the family and friends and my old pooch Pika-peeks (my blog was named after her).(Look how cute)

I have been pretty busy this week completing last minute orders so I thought I would share.
Here is a bag made for a friend for a friends birthday..complicated explanation?


A custom-order for a girly pooch: Maggie and 6 lavander satchels. All off to the U.S.



And for myself, I decided to make a flying bag (no it does not fly). One that would be big enought to hold all my goodies for the LONG plane ride to Canada. Sincce the bag was "tres grand" I decided to call this bag: my BIG bag (because it is).



It is made from Ikea fabrics: cotton and canvas . Very hefty and sturdy, perfect for all my French homework I will bring with me to Toronto. There is also linen trim for embellishment (can't keep me away from linen) and some buttons on the handles as well.

So, I will not be posting for a while due to my vacation, but I will be checking my blog messages periodically and try to write you back ASAP.

A Bientot,
Tanya

Another Feature

I was checking through my blog today reading some of you comments (which I absolutely love getting by the way) when I came across an email from kara at designtalk. She has done a feature on her site about my blog (yes...the one you are reading right now) There is a little write-up on some of my creative goodies and my crafty sewing room.

Very exciting, looks like things are slowly coming together...who would of thought that a highschool music teacher could turn into a thriving entrepeneur.

Check out designtalk.homevisions.com It's great site with lots of information on design and decor ideas.

Here is the feature...Very Cool!

Blog Hopping: Craft and Sewing Rooms

It’s sewing and crafts week here at DT! We’ve been scouring the web to bring you some of the prettiest and most inspiring creative spaces out there.

Today’s tour is a jet tour through the blogosphere, to highlight several bloggers’ recent craft room updates.

Starting with Tanya in the South of France, whose handmade by moi blog showcases some of the stylish stitching she is working on overseas. Like this adorable “apple” tote — in French, of course.

Our favorite idea from her sewing room is the lovely cover she tossed over an ergonomic office chair. Comfort + style = many hours of productive sewing. Beautiful!

Three Potato Four Shop

Handmade "Pomme" Bag $64.00 Hand-sewn tote made in the South of France is ideal for your farmer's market fresh fruits and vegetables or just totin' around on the weekends. Bag is made from linen and recycled denim with embroidered "pomme" and "apple". Interior lining uses blue and white ticking stripe cotton fabric and includes one large interior pocket for your goodies. Bag measures approx. 11" wide x 16" high. Handles are made from heavy recycled canvas and measure 36". Choose from three different handle colors: white handles with red stripe blue handles with red stripe yellow handles with red stripe

Yahoo! The Shop is Up!

Remember how last month I talked about making my husband help me sew wallets and bags for a custom order, because I had to wear my roller blade wrist guards and I looked like the bionic woman which made it a little difficult to sew? (wow, that was a long sentence) Well, it was all for not. The shop is up and running, and my bags and wallets are now available for purchase. Very exciting! The shop has many "tres chic" things for sale, but I think the Pomme Bags and Wallets are the best (not that I am bias or anything).

When you get a chance take a peek and visit the shop: www.threepotatofourshop.com

New Baby Jade

Another custom order! Yipee!

This is an order for a new baby (soon to be welcomed into the world): Jade.
I made two linen bibs with her name embroidered (must admit I used the machine for the names) and added velcro for fastening with pink and blue flowered backing for each.

For the towel (which is store bought), I added a stripe of patchwork along the bottom and of course her name as well.

Hope she likies!

And oh yes...I haven't forgot about the wallet tutorial I promised. It will probably come mid-oct. since I am off again (to Toronto this time) for two and a half weeks. Excited to visit family and friends, but I will definitely miss my Matilda (my sewing machine), and of course Marko (my husband) and Ms. Polly-Anna Pockets.

POur RoOney

A friend of mine has asked for a doggie mat for her pooch Rooney. She loves the colour green and so I thought this was the perfect mat for her adorable wrinkled-up shar-pei. This will help with all the doggie food bits left on the floor.

I think my pooch Ms. Polly-Anna Pockets needs one with her name on it too...next project!Ms. Polly-Anna Pockets

I'm Back!!!

Well what can I say...Thailand was amazing! Definitely a feast for all of your senses. The scenery was amazing, as was the food and the people. We took at Thai Cooking Course where we learned how to make my own curry paste (very spicy). We went to an Elephant Nature Reserve where we bathed and fed rescued elephants, hung out on the beach, saw some majestic temples. The list goes on and on. One of my favourite trips ever.

Highly recommend it! You can see more photos here.

Now that I am back, it's back to business. I finally organized my sewing room which has now inspired to get back on the sewing wagon.
I just recently finished a custom order for a dear old friend of mine. She wanted a messenger tote with a birdie pattern so here it is....

I hope she likes it!