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!

Bye Bye for now!

So you are probably wondering "where the heck have you been?"

Well, I had my first big wholesale order (very exciting), so I was busy sewing up a storm.

Actually.... I started sewing up a storm, but after a while my wrists were beginning to hurt. Any suggestions on how to minimize the stress on your wrists would be great. Right now, even as I type, I am actually wearing my rollerblade guards (don't really rollerblade so these are now being put to good use). I feel like the bionic woman (whatever happened to her, perhaps she is sewing up a storm as well...hum?)

Anyways, to finish the job off I kindly asked my husband to help (notice I said "kindly" he's not a big into sewing...but whose husband is?) Well... we finally finished 20 wallets and 6 bags.
Thank Goodness!So you can see they are all packed and ready to go.
These bags can all be found at a new online store called: Three Potato Four which opens up in the fall.

It is perfect timing, since we are leaving this thursday for Thailand. I can't wait to go. I have heard so many amazing things about Thailand and seen some amazing photos. I know...I know...we are leaving during off season which is good (inexpensive) and bad (rain). Although, many people said it only rains for a short period of time and it also depends on where you are stay, east or west side. Fingers crossed- minimal rain.

Soooo, I am signing off "bye bye for now" and will return in 3 weeks time.

Tanya.

Grey and Yellow...yummy!

Okay, I changed my mind. This is my favourite bag EVER! I am so happy with the way it turned out. I just love the grey linen, my two new fav. colours grey and yellow.

My new fabric

In a previous post , I showed you all some of the delicious fabrics I bought.

Well, here is one of the finished products. What you think?

I used some yellow vintage napkins for both the bottom of the bag and the inside pocket, which I bought at our local Brocante Market here in Vence. For closing the bag, I used a vintage grey button also bought from the same market. The handles are made from the same linen with some machine embroidery detailing.
I also added some trim with french writing. I really love the combination of yellow and grey...I think I will have to make more...

Cheers!

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you (merci) to everyone and their encouraging words. For a while there, I thought I was the only one checking my blog. Now, I really do feel like I am having some success in my work and it is such a wonderful feeling. When I moved here to France, it was very difficult. I had to quit my job as a highschool teacher. I did not know anyone or know how to speak French for that matter, so I thought what could I do to keep myself productive - sewing.

This has been an amazing experience for me - difficult none the less, but I wouldn't change it for the world!

Thanks again for all your support and I love to read all your comments so keep'em coming!

A Beintot,
Tanya

Produce Obsession

Lately, I have been obsessed with fruit, perhaps because of all the fresh fruit in season here at the market in Vence. Who knows?

So I have made a couple of new items with a Pomme (apple) theme.

Bags and Wallets.

A friend of mine also suggested making some diaper bags, since many of our friends are in the baby making phase of their lives. So, this was my first attempt. It has lots of space for baby things and many pockets both inside and outside. I am pretty happy overall, but I think next time I will add a couple more pockets and continue the fabric strip in the front to go across the whole bag...stay tuned for the updated version.

Made from French linen and cotton, it has of course, a French theme.