the latest

over the hill...

Nope, this is not an allusion to my ever increasing too-many-years-to-mention!


This menacing chimney of black smoke could be seen literally "just over the hill" yesterday afternoon! Apparently it was some plastics factory that was up in flames (which must have smelt BAD), and luckily everyone was evacuated in time and no injuries reported. Pretty spetacular I thought...



Getting back to Katsai chit-chat, been a busy week this week again!

More listings and two more sales...

Recent additions to the shop include these two...


Plus, I succumbed to a much enjoyed trip to the fabric shop :) , so I now have some gorgeous new fabrics you'll no-doubt see here soon!

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...

HOLA! ... from over-optimistic little me

Well. As you probably guessed, the "finally" in my last post was a little premature!

Ever optimistic I, assumed that moving house and getting phone, internet and new studio up and running would be a matter of "a couple of weeks". OK, go on, feel free to laugh! In hindsight I don't really know what i was basing my calculations on, but hey, now that the moment is Finally-Finally here, all I can say is I'M SO GLAD TO BE BACK!!

So, what'd I miss? :)


I have so much to catch up on (read between the lines here that i've felt completely lost without internet for the last couple of months...). So many friendly blogs to browse, forums to frequent, groups to greet and news and novelties to discover that I can see myself sleeping little the next few days....

I WILL try to contain my new-found internet freedom, however, atleast for a bit, as I'll be updating my Etsy shop with a swish new look (!) and fresh goodies in the coming days! ...Its been so sad to see my shop front so empty.

All thats left to say, really, is again, thanks to any who contacted me, called by and commented here or elsewhere, or just generally wondered where I dissapeared to while in my isolation. I hope to catch up with you all next time you call by!

Ah, nearly forgot - in all the excitement - here's a sneak peek at the new "Katsai HQ"!!


Still a few more tweaks and tidies to be done, but overall I'm thrilled with my new organised studio space :)

PS: the photos in my last post ARE the views. Fresh air and green... as much as anywhere that can be found in the city. I'm loving it!

FInally!!!

We're moving house!!!!

Its been a long haul to find a place (hence my lack of activity here online the last couple of months) but now the time has finally come, everything's nearly boxed up and time to move on.

Once settled in to the new place -with a great new studio space- I hope to be back on full steam to fill up my etsy shop and catch up on everything I've missed!

It does mean I'll be without internet for the next couple of weeks (...fingers crossed it doesn't take longer!) while phone lines and broadband etc are activated. So 'til then take care all... and wish me strength for hauling all the boxes!!!!