U-handblog

5 Lovely Links & news of an UTTERLY amazing giveaway

Woo hoo!  Do we have a smashing end of year treat in store for you?  Oh yep!  I have the most amazing blog draw lined up.  I won't say much more for now, but first prize is a flipping fabulous Janome sewing machine (I picked it for it's suitability for bag making). Yowzers!  I'll be putting it through it's paces and photographing it in action very soon. There are are also excellent 2nd and 3rd prizes too so there are more chances to win. This incredible draw is open to everyone so watch this space!

If a brand spanking new Janome sewing machine sounds like your kind of stocking filler it's well worth subscribing to the blog  so you don't miss out on the draw opening date!

So whilst I wait impatiently on my doorstep for the machine to arrive, here are some cool links for you to check out:

1. Delish recipe for Salt and Pepper Ribs - but also works a treat for chicken wings, pork cubes, tofu, mushrooms, aubergine...drool.
2. Christine has a new freebie bag tutorial on her blog up for grabs.
3. Kyoko is giving away the cutest Debbie Bliss knitted baby goods book.
4. 10 awesome things to make your blog rock.
5. ...Um might be a good idea to ensure your boss/partner/little ones aren't around whilst you have sneaky peak at this video... Like, phew that's hot!

Have book, will review (and giveaway)...

...tomorrow.

((Waves hello!!))  to all new peeps who have wandered in from the wonderful Sewmamasew!

Yes I'm still alive, and still writing, and still on Twitter.  I was thinking that if I went on about my book writing to you anymore (at least until next year) you might barf!  Since book writing has temporarily taken my life over I haven't had too much else to blog about - glamorous eh?

So it is with joy in my heart that (in place of the 'B'-word ramblings) I have a yummy book review with the usual giveaway for you tomorrow. I'm sure I can rustle up some nice fabric-ness to go with too.

Yep I have in my possession a brand spanking new copy of Cath Kidston's,  SEW! The book even contains the fabric and buttons needed to make the bag on the front cover - oh yep!

 
If you fancy getting your mitts on this book be sure to pop back here tomorrow.

So hopefully I'll see you folks back here tomorrow with cup of tea in hand for the review. I take one sugar, thanks :)

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Whilst I'm not blogging I still Twitter on. See you there?

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!

Last call for Newsletter Sign Up for a MEGA Prize...

This rather unexciting post is about exciting news of a Super Duper give away that is for U-Handbag Newsletter readers ONLY.

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Up for grabs: 1 finished Easy Peasy Purse; 1 finished Fortune Cookie Clutch; 4 decent quality back issue sewing mags (one of which has 5 cool full-sized skirt patterns); Crafty Chica's Artful Sewing book; 2 Home Decor Amy Butler Sewing Patterns, 1 Clover Yo=Yo Maker; Acrylic Bag Handles; and finally, 1 skein of Cascasde 220 Skein colour 7805 (yummers!) All together, worth at least 50 smackeroos ($80)

If you fancy a chance at scooping up this little lot, you need to be a subscriber to our Newsletter.

I'm just in the middle of tappity-tapping out the latest Newsletter.  I'll be sending it out tomorrow at approx 1pm UK time.  Inside the newsletter is info you need to know in order to enter the draw.

If you are already a newsletter subscriber you DO NOT need to subscribe again.  If you want to sign up please fill in below.  It's free; whatcha gotta loose?

Get U-Handbag Shop Updates

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Rugs designed by Amy Butler - WANT!

By Jimenny!  If anyone is stuck for a gift idea (for me, heh!), one of these would be most welcome.  These rugs would have me rolling around on the floor in a deliriously purring happy cat style. 

To see the rest of Amy's rugs check out this droolsome slide show.

Dinner with Mr & Mrs Butler

Had dinner with Amy & David Butler early this week.  I would have taken pics, but I would have looked a bit goofy.  As David was coming too I asked Al to join us (because I was a tad shy - I mean, they are the First Couple of Craft), but Al's still so new at the hospital he couldn't get away on time.

I needn't have worried. We all chatted so much that I barely touched dinner (very unusual!) David was just as excited about craft as the 2 girls around the table.  David is the chap who does all of the gorgeous photos and graphic design on Amy patterns, website and promo material (not too envious, heh!)  They are a husband a wife team who are both very talented, passionate and very particular about their work.  That said, they are both very nice, down to earth and normal.  Of course there's no reason why they wouldn't be normal, but I must have found it hard to sleep that night due to my daft girl star-struckness :)

I told Amy about my book and she is really excited about it (gosh!) I have a super-cool surprise regarding Amy and my book, but I'm going to keep schtum about it for now...  Amy has her own bag making coming out next year too (and it sounds like it's going to be gorgeous).

So, onto book stuff.  The publisher has sent me the re-worked chapter layout (so I know what the chapters are going to contain) and I have received a book layout plan too - the book layout plan tells you how many pages you have to work with and how many pages each chapter has. This is because I have a certain number of pages and photos and diagrams available to me.

I have also nearly finished designing the bags for the book and though I do say so myself I LOOOOVE them, even if it turns out that only my Mum and I love them I will be happy.  All I can say is that they are very 'me' but you won't have seen styles like these on my site and blog...ooo!

And I've been busy getting my mitts on supplies for my book.  I can't begin tell you how much fun it is to phone the marketing dept of a company or the owner of a store and start the convo with "Hello my name is blah and I am going to be writing a bag making book.  I was wondering if you would be willing to supply me with some of your products for use in the book in return for a stockist credit".  It's flipping great! 

Besides the stuff I have in my shop I still want to get my mitts on:

• Leather - mmm!  Leather that is good for use in domestic sewing machines.
• Harris tweed - because it's just gorgeous - enough said.
• A whole heap of designer fabrics - from designers you know and love.
• A whole bunch of bag making tools - I'm sooo going to have fun getting to grips with them.
• Pretty trims.

This bag supplies 'shopping' is all in the name of work...mwah ha ha hahaha!

Joking aside, I'm trying to get my hands on attractive and good quality materials and tools (that are accessible to you and are pleasant to use) and will look great featuring in the book.  Who can I call on next...?

 
Cartoon taken from Toothpaste for Dinner.

Gap in my pants

That's it!  I've had it with Gap pants (that's the knicker variety, not the trouser variety).  Not long ago I purchased 9 pairs of Gap pants (in a 3 for 2 offer) and 5 of them have gotten holes in the seams after just  a few washes.  And nope I didn't buy them a size too small...  Am I imagining it or has the quality of Gap stuff dropped in standard of late? 

Erm...I'm not one for making my own knickers, so methinks I'll stick to good ol' M&S for my workaday underwear.

Feeling very relieved because Jen (the commissioning editor at the publisher) likes the look of my proposed contents page so far.  Ace! This means that (for the mo) I can get on with a few house keeping bits and bobs for my blog.   One of those jobs is making  a new freebie pattern from the yummy stash below:

The bamboo handles are these ones.  The fabrics and scrumptious bobble trim are from my own stash.  Hopefully this quick to whip up freebie pattern will be up tomorrow. Have a lovely Frideeeee!

Hoover music

Big thanks to everyone who has purchased my new bag pattern I appreciate your support :)

So sorry to have been away for so long.
Some exciting things that have been happening (and will happen) behind the scenes:

1. Just taken on more help.  Susan starts today.  She will help out in the office and share in the tea making and playing with Beans (the office hound) duties. Like phew!  Thanks Susan :)
2. The publisher has given me a rough schedule and I have to send them a draft of what I would like in the book.  I have to send them a draft of the contents and chapters by this Friday.  Still feels very weird to be able dictate what I would like in a book...
3. I have to meet the publishing team in 2 weeks time.  So I have a heap of work to prepare for that.
4. I am meeting Amy & David Butler for lunch (or dinner) soon. Hyhyhyhyhyperventilating...I still feel this way after being email buddies for a little while, but she will always be the Rock Chick of fabric and bag design for me.  Yep, Amy is visiting London town on the 18th Aug and 19th here (scroll down).  If you're town (and you can do a sickie at work) pop in and see her.  She's awfully nice for a rock chick of fabric and bag design...
5. I have been ordering heapso new and yummy-licious stuff for fall/winter (because Summer never really arrived did it?).  There's amazing fabrics for kits on the way - (some by French General - drooooool).  There are 2 new kit designs on the drawing board - dunno when they will be finished (late fall I expect), but I'm really hoping they will knock your socks off).
6. I have a freebie bag pattern on the drawing board.
7. and sometimes when I am too busy to go for my jog in the park or there is just too much going on in my head I get out my vacuum hoover and whizz around the house (which freaks Beans out) and I play these tunes full blast....

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10% off The Chic Chain Purse Kit 'til Monday

Fancy a nice weekend sewing project?  Or are you looking for a original gift idea?  Make the purse up for a friend or if she's likes to sew how about giving her the kit?

We have plenty more frames and chains in stock if you want to make more of these cute purses for friends, weddings or to sell.

This cute Chic Chain Purse Kit is 10% off until Monday (or until stocks last).

To see our other offers please look here.

To see our other purse and bag kits please look here.

Chill Out Tuesday

Wiooo hooo hooohe heh hahaha!  Alan is finally a doctor!  He completed his last university exam yesterday. We have to wait for the results of course, but he's a bright boy so I'm happy to start the woot woot dance now - oh yeah, we're rockin'!!

He's chilling out today; it goes without saying that he and his friends let it awwwll hang out last night :)

But for me it's another busy day in the office, but it's so beautifully sunny outside.  I think I might slather on some coconutty sun tan lotion (love that smell); play the relaxing tune below (on a loop) and pretend that I'm somewhere far away.  The cocktails are on me everyone! 

Make mine a peach iced tea!