NEW DIY Tutorials

We have new DIY Tutorials for you!!

DIY Bib

DIY Custom Labels

Please come and check out all the new items and maybe even buy something!

www.flipflopfancy.etsy.com

WIN FREE Hair Clips

Who doesn't love free stuff!!! Be the 33rd ReTweet and you when SIX PAIRS OF HAIR CLIPS!!!! You will get to choose the ones you like. So go and RT to win!

www.twitter.com/flipflopfancy

Hope you win! I will be announcing the winner on this blog. Also pass this along to friends.

Check out the new items we have too http://www.flipflopfancy.etsy.com/

Past Few Months

We have been busy. Bailey is so much fun these days and the things that come out of her mouth crack us up everyday. She tells daddy what to do all the time and it make me giggle. She is just the love of our lives and is like sunshine on a rainy day! Jeremy has been busy at work. He said something about going skiing and i hope he take a break and goes, he needs it. We have both taken up working out like 5 days a week and it has been nice. He sees results faster than I but what can you do at least I am trying. I have been busy with my line and custom orders. I was sad when i made the decision to not go to market, but I am hoping there will be something amazing that will come from this. I had been planning for a year and put my heart and soul into it and I sometimes I feel it was for nothing, but a little bit here and there I see that it was a good decision. Well That is all for know just have a blast planning for the bugs BIG 3rd birthday bash! More to come....

Ashley's Prints with Love

Ashley Heffington was in a car crash on Dec. 31st with her mother. Ashley was only 9 years old. The car was sitting at a red light and another car slammed into the back of them. Ashley took the grunt of the crash and serious brain injuries. Sadly she passed away on Jan. 12th.

To honor Ashley's life her family has set up the Ashley's Prints with Love. A friend of the family makes and sell thumb print charms(http://www.designsbyjanessa.com/) .Soon after Ashley arrived at the ICU Children's Hospital in San Diego her Aunt Z brought in the "compound" to take an impression of Ashley's thumb print. With this print the friend then made Ashley's mother, father, little brother, and grandmother a charm so after Ashley passed they could wear it close to their hearts.

So they wanted to do this for the other family's that have to go through losing their child in ICU her in San Diego. How you can help got to http://www.loveashley.etsy.com/ and shop shop shop!!! It is that easy. Pass this along to everyone you know.

DIY: Cute Fabric Wall File

My sewing nook was getting so messy and cluttered. I needed something to put on the walls to put patterns, books, etc.. in, so I made these cute fabric wall files. All of the fabric I used was left over from other projects!! I love them so much I wanted to share how to make them.


Supplies:

6 Strips of Thick Fabric(Linen is a good choice) 25 1/2 in. x 4 1/2in.

4 Strips of Fabric (I used a thin linen) 25 1/2in. x 4 1/2 in.

Fusible Fleece 25 1/2 in. x 23 in.

1 pack large(wide) double fold bias tape

1 pack regular double fold bias tape

thread

iron

sewing machine

All seams are 1/4 inch.

Step 1: Sew all 6 strips of the base fabric together length wise (25 1/2in sides). Once they are all sewn together iron the seams open. Ironing the seam gives the product a clean finished look.

Step 2: Sew together 2 of the other 4 strips length wise and then repeat with the last 2 strips. I chose a coordinating color for these strips. Iron the seams down. Know you have three pieces: 1 large piece that is your base fabric for your wall file, 2 strips that is in a coordinating color for your wall file pockets.

Step 3: Take your 2 pocket pieces and you regular size bias tape. If you notice the bias tape is called a double fold. You slide the bias tape over the raw edge of the fabric going length wise and sew. You will only need to do this to one side of each pocket piece.

Step 4: Take your 1 large piece of base fabric and your 2 pocket pieces. Place the base piece right side up on the table. Count down 3 seams. Now place 1 of the pocket pieces right side down onto the base piece of fabric. When placing the pocket piece make sure to lay the side with the bias tape toward the bottom. Sew this pocket piece onto the base piece.

Step 5: Take the last pocket piece and place it right side up even with the bottom half of the base piece. Sew to base piece. Now you have all pieces attached. Flip the first pocket you have sewn up and iron. Make sure the bottom pocket is facing up.

Step 6: Take the piece of fabric and fold it in half and just press with your hand. This will put a crease down the middle of the fabric. You will then open it back up and sew a straight line down the middle following the crease. Now you have made your 4 pockets for your wall file.

Step 7: Take your wall file and you fusible fleece. Place the fusible fleece with the rough side(fusible side) up. Then place you wall file right side up on top. Iron the fleece to the back of your wall file. Make sure the wall file is fused well to the fleece. If there is any extra fleece hanging off just cut it off.

Step 8: Take your large(wide) bias tape and sew it around the entire wall file. Making sure the pockets are flat when sewing the bias tape on. When you are at your last corner fold in your bias tape so it will have a clean look when sewn.

Step 9: Take your grommets. You will want to place your first grommet 2 inches in from the top left side. The package should explain how to adhere them to the fabric. Place another 2 inches from top right. Then find the middle of your wall file and place one 2 inches from the middle on either side. You should have 4 grommets in all at the top of your wall file.

Step 10: Hang and your done!! Hope you like it! Send me a link to your pictures. I would love to see your creations!!

Lilac

If you are looking for a cute accessory to your outfit this is the scarf you need to get. I found this at Boutique-a-holic Handknits on Etsy.

"Casual or formal – Depending of your clothing, the scarf can be used as casual or formal. You can use it as everyday wear,or put it over a nice formal dress. " She also can make this scarf in other colors if you her to. I asked Nevita a few questions to get to know her better.

How did you get started?

I live in Bulgaria, it's a small country in south-eastern Europe where only a small number of people know that there is such amazing place like etsy.com. Last year, a friend of mine was searching for online stores for good Christmas sales. She told me about this place. When I started searching in etsy stores, I got lost in so rich choice of handmade items. I always wanted to open a store and sell my hand knitted scarves and baby clothing. However, my full-time job, and pregnancy didn't bring enough confidence in this picture. When my beautiful baby daughter came to the world, she brought new hope and faith in myself. I found knitting section and crochet section and I was happily surprised that someone is selling so many handmade creations. At that time the idea that etsy.com is an easy way to create and maintain shop came into play. With etsy, I figured, I wouldn't have to care about renting and maintaining a physical shop, and at the same time I'd have flexible working hours. Now I stay at home as mother, enjoy spending time with my baby daughter, my knitting, and promoting my shop via interesting online tools.My etsy shop is http://www.nevita.etsy.com/



What is your favorite creative thing to do?

I learned to knit and make gobelin tapestry, when I was a child. I went to my grandparent's home, during school offs. My grandmother thought me different handmade techniques, such as knit, crochet, sewing and others. During the years, I was paying more attention to knitting and gobelin tapestry, and found I enjoyed it a lot. It became my hobby, and after my daughter's birth I decided I was determined to share the products of my passion with people around the world.Fir example this gray capelet is one of my favorite projectshttp://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34763879



How long have you been doing this?

I am new at etsy, but I am knitting for about 10 or more years.



What is something most people may not know about you?

I like the Human Resources area and I am finishing my masters degree in Human Resources management. I enjoy interacting with people.I love to travel and regularly organize small trips through my country.

Blue Glass and Metal Birds

I am on a bird steak at this point. I just can't get enough of them. The beautiful necklace is from lilacpop shop on Etsy. Janna is very talented in many different creative ways. She says "LILACPOP gifts - where art, fashion, and function come together! "

"Each piece of jewelry that I make is not only one-of-a-kind but also very thought out. I try to achieve just the right amount of balance with materials, colors, and textures to make the best possible piece of jewelry that I would also wear myself! "

I asked Janna a few questions to get to know her better.

How did you get started?

I went to art school and got my BFA in Photography from the University of Michigan and while there I took so many different kinds of art classes. I really enjoyed painting, mixed media, and especially life drawing besides photography. I've always wanted to combine different mediums. Doing things the "normal" way never works for me! I had been making jewelry for friends and family and had just taken up knitting and crocheting (self-taught) when a friend of mine told me I should try selling it all. That's when I discovered etsy. I'd been selling clothing on ebay and was pretty experienced as a seller so it was very easy to transition over to etsy and much more fun to actually sell the stuff I was creating too.

What is your favorite creative thing to do?

I think my favorite thing to do is manipulate photos. I like to cross process them, mess with the color, and make them into something else. I really like to photograph things that most people would find ugly and make it appealing again. I think there is beauty in everything- you just have to look hard enough.

How long have you been doing this?

I have been selling on etsy for a little over a year now. As far as creating I have been doing it my entire life. I can remember making things when I was little and bringing them to my mom (also an artist) and loving her reactions to them. The funny thing is my 8 year old daughter does the same thing now!

What is something most people may not know about you?

Something most people might not know about me....I had some odd jobs while I was in college. I worked in the Biostatistics Department at U of M. I was the crazy funky art student walking around all the normal people! And I worked at a state park in Michigan for many summers. That was a great job. I had so much fun and met my husband there too.