Personalize A Tote!

This week I picked up a bunch of canvas and denim tote bags at a great price, and they are ready to be embellished. These are perfect teacher's gifts: Useful, reusable, and a backdrop for personalization.

The denim bag measures 16" wide x 14" tall x 3" deep. The canvas tote is a natural color measuring 13.5" wide x 13.5" tall x 4" deep.
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For a recycling theme, one can go with some great little graphics.

Or, get a little kitchy with these retro birds and critters. You'll find more like these in my Embroidery Design Files Flickr set.

You can keep it simple with some names and monograms. See my Embroidery Font Flickr set to check out a number of fonts I have available.

If you're a South Carolina girl, you'll love the Polkametto Tree! Be sure to check out all my South Carolina designs in my SC Flickr set.

You can further embellish the tote yourself with ribbon trim around the edges, add a button and loop for closure, and maybe some yo-yo's or fabric flowers.

I'm not sure how I'll list these in my calicodaisy etsy shop. I haven't had luck taking good photos lately, as I'm still working on the backdrop issue. The price will run in the $15.00 range depending on the requested embroidery work. If you'd like to order a personalized bag, though, just get in touch with me here or through the shop and let me know what you'd like on your bag, and we'll design something together.

Remember The Equation?

You know, You + Me = TERRIFIC! Well, two crafters understood what I was going on about and have wonderful ideas. Both posted their finished products today, and I am going to reveal them here, too.

First, Michelle of greeting arts chose some embroidered fabric panels from me and created a bunch of covered buttons / ponytail holders to sell at her children's school bazaar.



The covered buttons turned out marvelous. She just looped a covered elastic through the button shank to create the ponytail holder. I love the little kitties.

It's been great working with Michelle because she has little girls and is really "in-the-know" about what is popular for kids right now and has great ideas about what I can do with the new applique designs I've been acquiring. She has a few more of my fabric panels, and I can't wait to see what she does with them.

Through my calicodaisy etsy shop, I met Chrissy of Dottie Stripe Layne and DSL Kids. Chrissy contacted me and asked if I would be interested in providing the appliques and monogramming services for her children's clothing line. It has been such a great opportunity and has stretched my knowledge and techniques of my embroidery machine. She has wonderful ideas, and I am really pleased that she chose to work with me.



Look at how cute these outfits are! I would never have thought of all these ideas myself, especially not having a young one to sew for. Do you see the teapot and cup set? So cute! Just a t-shirt and jeans turned into a boutique, designer outfit.

Here is another set:



I have several favorites, but I can't get over how darling the baby is in the red leotard and tutu! It's just great! Chrissy has been sending me fabric panels marked where she wants the applique. When she gets the fabric back, she cuts it out as planned and then just finishes up the outfit.

And, finally:



The reindeer again on a darling dress! Chrissy makes matching bows, too. She has had a few shows this month and has a number of outfits to make up, so a box is on the way to me with a bunch of reindeer to sew out for some sweet girls' Christmas outfits!

South Carolina Embroidery Designs

We're moving our son into the Unversity of South Carolina dorm tomorrow for his freshman year! We are very excited and nervous. We have about an even number of friends heading downtown for USC and upstate to Clemson to move their kids in, too! I'm quite popular right now with embroidery orders for both sides. A duvet cover for one gal, towels for my son, and bibs for babies of college alumni. Here are a number of South Carolina big college themed embroideries I have available. They all embroider out very pretty and are nice and bright and very substantial. I have several sizes of the palmetto tree from 4 inches down to tiny ones that can work on a polo. Please visit the mishflicks site to see my finished work and more embroidery styles in the Palmetto Embroidery Design set to see if there is something there you'd like to have fashioned in your team colors.



Here are some bibs I embroidered out last night. You'll find these in the calicodaisy etsy shop. Take it easy, USC fans! I have to take my orders from whence they come! If you would like your team tree or cheerleader with a name included on any particular item, just e-mail me from here or convo me from etsy so we can discuss a custom order.



Soon I'm going to list this reversible pinafore design I sewed up this week. I've already bought appropriate school colors for a solid on one side with a monogram or design and a coordinating calico for the other. Contact me soon for custom orders! This pinafore will obviously work with any set of colors, holidays, or seasons - with or without embroidery. The top can be worn with a shirt underneath or without. Sizes are 12 months to 4T.

All the above designs look great on shirts, children's dresses and tops, towel sets, golf towels, linens, etc. Now that I have the new serger, I can even whip up a set of napkins for tailgating!