U-handblog

There is an outside?

Hello my lovely blog friends!  How are you keeping?  I miss you all heaps; it's rubbish not being able to blog as often I usually do.  ((Waving frantically to you all!!))

I'm not complaining though, life is wonderful if your work is also your hobby.  That said, with my book writing I have kinda disappeared under rock lately and I have suffered a few other unforeseen consequences:

• I can't do my emails right now (my beautiful assistants are taking care of them).
• What? My chin? What the hell is that on my chin? I grew myself a fuzzy chin?!?
• Upper lip - see above
• Legs - see above
• Eyebrows - see above
• and umm...other bits - see above
• I have mysteriously gained 8 pounds
• Even my pyjamas look a bit more frumpy than usual...
• Haruumph! I don't remember signing up for this little lot in the book contract. 

Next week Lorna the photographer (isn't she amazing!) and Charly the book stylist are coming to my house to do the first round of photography for the book. So I gotta smarten up my act, my mop, and get me a manicure hand treatment thing (because I don't think my construction worker's hands are where it's at) and I actually have to wear something other than pyjamas in my home. It's all so exciting and quite surreal.

  This is where I been working away for the last 6 weeks.  And this is a really tidied up version. Usually it's a bomb site and Al and I argue over the merits of not tidying up your WIP (he just doesn't understand because he's a tidy freak).  See that sewing machine in the bottom right corner?  It's a Janome 6600p and I flipping love it!  Beside it's other cool wing dings it's got a seriously strong motor and it's super fast.  Janome have loaned it to me for me to road test and fickle ol' me has left my own Janome 350 to gather dust (sorry girl).

 

And everyday Beans waits patiently (snuggled in his bed) for our early evening walk.  He's so lucky!

Meanwhile across the pond my bag buddy Amy has launched an amazing fabric line and a couple of to-sew-for patterns.  Just when I don't have to time to make them up myself.  I mean, I even have my own luscious copies of the patterns right here on my desk mocking me.  :(  

 

 
Amy does a great job working the English Country Vintage look doesn't she?  This Sweet Harmony bag has such pretty lines, a sweet curved pocket, and the handles have a really nice cut-out design detail.

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Love Love this Liverpool Tunic!  It's instantly slimming (perfect for concealing a superfluous 8 pounds) and as you can make the sleeves and overall length to suit it's great for shrimpettes (like me) or your taller willowy types (like Amy).

 
Amy's fab new fabric line is called Love and it's available in different weights: Quilt/fashion; home dec; laminated and flannel  Flannel!!! (as above) Oh I soooo want pyjamas in the blue and the pink colour ways on the right.

I hope you are all looking after yourselves and enjoying winter food and winter crafting!  Big hugs!!!

... and the winner of the Mega Newsletter prize is ...

Sorry again for the late announcement!  It has been soooo busy here!

 

 
So Miss no 163 is ...

Evan who says ...

I would love to see a bag that's big enough for my yoga mat :)

Congratulations Evan and commiserations to all you other lovely people with your wonderful ideas.  As soon as I have finished the book I will definitely be putting some of your ideas into action!

Stop that Etsy thief!

Just finished a ppppppocket-tastic nappy bag for the book. More pockets than you can shake a baby bottle at!  I really enjoyed developing this bag partly because I designed it with you in mind - yep I am so lucky.  I ask you what you would like me to design and then you tell me! 

All in all, pattern development, mess ups sampling, and construction for this bag  took around 4 afternoons and 3 evenings so that hopefully it would take you approx 2 evenings to whip this up for yourself. 

I'm sure some of you already know how much work goes into developing an original pattern and instructions for anything (be that knitting, cooking, or sewing).  So of course when your work is born and published it's only right that you claim your work as your own and decide what others can do with your work. Which is why I was totally gobsmacked when Marianne very kindly emailed me to let me know about an Etsy seller who's PDF patterns looked kinda familiar.

This Etsy seller is taking other people's FREE patterns and is re-selling them.  How cynical.

  Seen any of the bag patterns before?  If you're a newbie to this blog, you will find these bag patterns to the right of this blog for free.  Yep, I designed those patterns, they are mine, but they are yours to use for GRATIS.

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   This seller has helped themselves to 5 of my designs.  I told the Twitter folk about this seller and they told me that ALL of the patterns available in this shop are actually free patterns designed by other people.  You might want to check to see that they aren't profiteering from your free patterns...

I'm delighted when folks try my patterns and they are welcome to make items to sell from ANY of my patterns (indeed, I wish them every success if that's what they want to do), but selling-on my free (or pay for) patterns?  Eyes-wide in disbelief, splutter, cough cough!  

**Update** I've reported them to Etsy (as have some of you lovely people) and I've sent the seller a prickly message (see below).  I'll keep you posted on what happens next...

" Hello,

Listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31993057

This is one of five designs that you have taken from me without my permission. I designed those 5 bag patterns and they are available for free from my blog. No one has permission to take any part of my patterns to sell on. I know that all of the other patterns that you sell in your shop are by other designers who also provide those patterns for free and I'm positive they would feel the same as I do. You did not seek permission, you helped yourself in the hope that I (and any of the others) wouldn't find out.
  
May I say that your actions lead me to think that when it comes to business you are underhand and you lack integrity. You are happy to profiteer off the back of hours of other people's work and creativity. I and several others (some of which are the authors of the other patterns) have reported you to Etsy because a person with intentions like yours has no place in forwarding the 'made with love' craft movement.

I would go as far as to say "you should be ashamed of yourself".

Lisa Lam,
owner of U-Handbag (& 5 of the patterns you are currently selling)."

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Right, I'm off to make meself a herbal tea and say oooommmm!

***UPDATE 2*** Yay!  Their shop is no more.  Either Etsy told them to buzz off and/or they felt the collective clout of our efforts and they scuttled off.  See?  This is part of the reason why I love hanging out with the crafty gang.  It's in our nature to be really inclusive and supportive of each other, that is until some lazy Ratfink attempts to cash in on someone's ideas and work.  Thanks heaps for your support, you all rock very muchly.  You should all have a nice cake and give yourselves a pat on the back.   The Crafty Blogosphere proves yet again just how strong and how gaarooovy it is!

What with book writing and things I'm finding it hard to blog nearly as often as I would like - which I HATE because it makes me feel like I am missing out on the party.  So (for the time being) until I grow another pair of hands you'll find me hanging around more on Twitter.  If you're interested in my chatter I'll see you there.  OX!