improving

I think I managed to get better photographs today (the ones in my last post seem very dark):



I really need either a model, or a tripod, or a photographer.... or preferably all three!

The first two are listed in the shop too!

to do and doing

TO DO

If I actually sat down and wrote a "to do" list of everything I have either on the go, or want/need to get down to, I think I'd probably disappear from sight for a good few days...

The most urgent at the moment are:
- List the white blouse from my last post in my Etsy shop... (others already listed, as well as the first shrug of the season!)
- Write-up about some of the super features Katsai has been getting lately on other friendly blogs... so watch this space ;P
- Post pictures of the "formal" dress - and the hiiiiigh-heel shoes I dared to wear - from the wedding down in Malaga.

Maybe tomorrow I'll find a bit more time to spend online :)


DOING


In the meantime, I've been fine-tuning the latest of my new patterns...

Here's the inspiration:


The Armadillo, or "little armoured one".

And here's the interpretation / application / next-big-thing ;)



Its just the neck-part... an orginial sculpted cowl, or much-needed-cozy-"armour" for when the cold weather hits!

So, what do you think?!

Lined-up

Lined-up a waiting to be listed!



I have the day off work today, so am busy-busy-busy on my "other" work! Just finished shooting these new tops -including the first shrug of the season :) - and will be listing them later today...


It was also a lovely suprise to see that one of my dresses made the Front Page at Etsy this morning!! Yipppeeeee! Thanks Ellembee 's shop-checker for picking it out :)

new month, new listings

To kick off the start of the new month, I just listed two new tops over at the Katsai shop at Etsy!

... maybe you'll recognise one of the fabrics from an earlier post this summer when I went on a fabric-shopping spending spree :) They're always the best...

azul como el cielo // blue as the sky

just need to....

... get the two new tops properly photographed and they'll be listed in the Katsai shop!

Here's a little taster: Jabot-sporting Katsai dandy :)

newities

After quite a quiet time recently I've been updating my shop the last couple of days. Check out the pictures below...

And in the meantime I've been:

- working on new patterns and techniques (watch this space!)

- playing with crochet threads again making up hems and yokes (see halter below)

- shopping more fabric (mmmmm!)

- making a couple of much needed summer pieces for myself (including a super-dooper Katsai summer bag! ...I really SHOULD "treat" myself more ;P)

- and the best of all, doodling sketches and brainstorming ideas sat out at our new balcony table and chairs! Such luxury to have a space in the fresh air... must remember to get a picture to post!!

version dos

I just finished this afternoon another of my new Toile tunics in Blue.


I love the fact that with the toile each one is completley unique, as I never get the same positioning twice... this one is for the "hen enthusiasts"!















It'll be listed tomorrow and is a size medium :)

more to come...

Well my blog posts seem to becoming few and far between... sorry about that for anyone who may have wondered where I'd got to: I'm still here!

It's been a fairly busy week, what with family visits (which have been great!) and trips down to the post-office to send my goodies to their new homes, my shop is getting emptyier by the day (so much for my determined attempt to restock ;P).

But, I do just about have two new Militario tops ready to list (just need to hand-sew the strips and buttons onto the 2nd one and thats it!) in my Etsy shop, so hopefully visitors to the store in the next few days won't be too disapointed by the reduced stock?

This has been one of my most popular designs so far, with lots of enquiries and interest, which is really encouraging! I know I've said this before, bu at some point I just HAVE to make one for myself too.... I'd hate to be left without, as it really is one of my faves too ;P

the latest

una docena

Slowly but surely I'm managing to restock my shop... upto a dozen items already (not counting the recent sale)!

New additions include: a new version of the Militario top...












...and this new bag featuring fabric with a particulary laborious printed design I made recently.

I love the mix again of elaborate and geometric!

sweet Militario

The in-the-works top of the last post is finished!

I did the button-shopping mentioned, and found these really cool dark blue ones that are just perfect. Its a shame there were only these six left... as I'm desperately fighting the urge to make myself one just like this!

Also, thanks to this latest project I now know the lady who runs the local "merceria" (sewing shop?) too, which is great, as I have a feeling I'm going to be popping down to visit her a fair bit now we're properly settled in the neighbourhood. Great to know theres a shop-load of buttons, threads, zips and other goodies just round the corner ;P

EDIT: sold! ... To say I'm thrilled is an understatement!

this next

This is what i've been working on today. Its still just the front piece, and pinned together, but hopefully you get the idea?



Its another new pattern idea that I've been toying around with of late, mixing contrasting styles: military with the baby-doll, or harsh geometric with soft flowy, etc.

We'll see how it turns out!

Hmmm, may need to do some button-shopping in it's honour ... What d'ya think?

Congrats to TortillaGirl, fellow European Street Teamer!

Well, that what I said!
Becky, the hands and heart behind Tortillagirl, made Etsy stardom just recently as the Featured Seller on the Etsy front page! Great stuff! Read the full interview here ... and where do I leave my vote for the currency-converter on Etsy too?!

You can check out more fantastic European shops by visiting the EST (European Street Team) Blog here.


As for Katsai, I'm not managing the item-a-day I'd hoped to be listing on my return, but the shop is slowly but surely filling up again :) This dress is the latest addition.

UFO/WIP no-more :)

So knitters speak of WIPs and UFOs... and what might these be, you ask? And what do they have to do with Katsai?!

During the packing/unpacking stages of the recent house move, I realised I was accumulating a suprisingly extense collection of WIPS ("works-in-progress") and UFOs ("unfinished objects"). Pair this up which with my slight "hoarding" affliction (ie: never throw away what you could find useful in the future), and you get the embarrasing situation that my fabrics/clutter/recyclables/tests/prototypes/small family of mannequins, etc. were possibly the largest chunk of volume in the removal van!

Hence the title of todays post: one down, just a "few more" to go!

As you can see, I recently finished the top I had planned for the fabric printed (and blogged about here) way back when, and i must say i'm over-the-moon with the results!!

I'm really quite taken with the finished piece, and it seems I'm not the only one, jeje... I listed the top in my shop just 10 days ago and it has already been honoured with 26 (yes, 26!!) "hearts" all awarded by generous Etsy folk!

Truely encouraging stuff! WHat can I say? It really gives me the enthusiasm to continue with my vow to reduce the rest of the UFO casualties lurking in my studio. Thanks to all who shared their Etsy-love around!!

stocking up.... after a little hiccup

Well the first few items are now up for sale in my shop!

Its been so long since I last listed anything that I'd forgotten half the steps and info needed on Etsy ...and also how really BAD i am at the descriptions!

Aside from from re-listing a couple of my old favourites, I also added a brand new tote and another version of my Urban Chic jacket.







The "little hiccup" mentioned was being left without internet AGAIN for a few days. The new router broke, can you believe it? And after only like 3 or 4 days of use... Maybe, in our desperation after such a long wait, we burned it out! Luckily we've still got the old router from the last ISP/flat, so we've hooked that up until they get round to replacing the "new" one.

Its at times like this that I'm pleased I hang on to so much clutter...

A little peek behind the scenes...

The latest addition to my shop is this "built from scratch" autumn/spring jacket. I'm extremely pleased with how it has turned out, and am already planning making more when the new season's fabrics are in the shops.

I'd actually made the pattern and done a first mock-up way back in the spring, but then the warm weather came and I couldn't get my head round doing "wrap-up" wear!

Now with the cooler weather last week I got to work again on perfecting the cut and the details, and making the final garment.












Here are some behind-the-scenes shots at varying stages of the construction :)











Lined tailored jackets have to be one of my favourite things to make ... although there are a number of nerve-racking moments that I could do without!
The point where I have to cut into the piece to construct the pockets, for example, which i imagine must be a bit like the feeling a knitter has when they have to cut at the "steeks"? Or, last of all, when I have to cut into the otherwise completley finished garment to make the buttonhole ;P Talk about scary!

.

Who needs a "new black"?!

Heres the latest addition to my shop...

I'm hoping to be starting a new part-time job soon, so i've had on my mind alot lately that I'm probably going to have to dress more seriously (in my last job I was often told I looked like I was going down the beach in the summer months!). So, I adapted my tunic design to work with this gorgeous black flowey fabric I bought recently. Smart and comfortable... perfect!

The listing in my shop is for a made-to-order (ie. in your size) version of this same top!

goings on...

The first big news of the last few days was a real suprise and of much excitement for those of us Etsy sellers who are members of the newly formed European Street Team I spoke of in my last post.

Last Friday (well, for part of it), THIS was the home page over at www.etsy.com!

All creations shown in this feature are made by European sellers on Etsy... thanks to the lovely "Treasury" list put together by Pamela Angus.

Personally, this was the first EVER time that one of my creations had been featured on the home page (see fabric bangle at bottom-middle ;P) and its just great that we, Ye Ole Shop owners over on this side of the lake, got such excellent coverage during a few frantic hours :)

All artists featured enjoyed extra visits to their shops and a few new 'favourites' awarded by generous etsy shoppers and browsers. Lets hope we get more exposure for more of the European shops back up on the Home Page soon!






Aside from this I've been busy working on, and listing in my shop, a number of new summer tops in different sizes and original bags and totes :)

... I'm really getting into this fabric-printing lark!

Where did Spring go?!

So as of a week or so ago we're officially in Springtime, right? So what happened??!

A month ago we were at around 20º each day (ok, so not "normal" either) but now we're back to wearing scarves while at home, picking up the brolly on the way out just incase, and only dreaming of flip-flop-weather! Moan moan groan..... ;P

Been busy, as ever, and here's some of what i've got to Show & Tell:

Started knitting some toed-socks so i can still wear my beloved flip-flops even if it is just round the house ;P I actually finished the first one already, now i just have to make it to completing the pair.










And two new tunic tops hot off the manequin and listed in my Etsy shop :P

...Just for the record, i FROZE taking these pics!!!







edit: links to patterns used for toed socks...
GEISHA SOCKS from Spun Magazine
TOE-UP "SOCKULATOR" from The Knitting Fiend