sewn fresh daily

two are better then one.

2009-06-05T09:59:00.004-04:00

a week of non-stop cutting and sewing has created an explosion of bags unlike any the workshop has seen...

after months of staring at folds of gorgeous canvases on the workshop shelves that i never seem to get to, i decided to dive into the stacks... armed with a simple idea that just made sense... classic and perfectly practical totes with an added feature - make them reversible for double duty.

sometimes i have such trouble picking fabric to line a bag - never sure if i really want to relegate it to a hidden life inside, or save it for a life of glory on the "outside". these totes give the fabric a little of both, and the fun of two options to compliment your mood or outfit ;)

reversible totes available at cipollashop.com

happy weekend!
♥m.

three days knee-deep in bags.

2009-04-30T08:16:00.005-04:00

come see cipolla at the toronto clothing show this weekend.

we've got a booth full of new bags at awesome prices!
great options for a unique mother's day gift too.

this friday, saturday, and sunday (may 1-3rd)
at the better living centre, exhibition grounds.
- more info here - www.theclothingshow.com

it's a massive show you're sure to get lost in,
known for fabulous pieces and good deals.

happy weekend!
♥m.

a new namesake.

2009-04-06T21:01:00.007-04:00

i'm so excited to introduce one of my new 09 bag designs for cipolla, it is my favourite bag right now! the generous round body of this new bag gathers at the opening to create a beautiful bulb-like shape... which is why i've dubbed it the onion.

i've been wearing mine for months now and i adore it. it's super roomy without feeling cumbersome and hugs your shoulder feeling so comfy... like a pillow under your arm ;)

i've been sewing up a storm all new year to prepare a fabulous spread for the shop, including these and more:

back to the machines...
♥m.

vote cipolla!

2009-03-31T19:31:00.008-04:00

★ i got news today that a cipolla item has been
selected as one of etsy's top fall fashion items ★

our super soft cotton plaid hipster scarf is competing against other lovely handmade goods in an online poll that asks etsians to reccommend one item that our comrads in the southern hemisphere shouldn't live without this fall!

come vote for cipolla's comfy hipster scarf here

hooray!
♥m.

it can't be march already!

2009-03-03T10:10:00.010-05:00

okay, so cipolla has been a little neglectful on the blog front this new year, but we're back! we've waded through a post-holiday mess in the workshop, caught up in custom orders, created a pile of spring designs, and finally now sat-down to tell you about it all.

we had a most fabulous year in 2008 thanks to all our lovely cipolline. a big huge resounding thank-you to you all! we can't wait to show you our new creations in the coming weeks.

right now though, take advantage of mad sales in our shop -
cipolla is moving in a couple months and we hate carrying boxes!

which means that you can find amazing bargains in the shop... many items are marked down 20-70% off the regular price, as well as a free shipping offer for orders over $100.>

quick link to the special sale section of the shop here.

scarves for $18.50, cowls for $21, bags at half price, & more!

♥m.

strike a pose.

2008-11-27T22:00:00.009-05:00

cipolla's first photo shoot!

yes, one where i'm not snapping the shots
and the camera is larger then a pack of gum!
why talk when there's pictures waiting! ...

cipolla reversible cowls

cipolla plaid scarves

cipolla flannel forest scarves

♥m.

softest!, coziest!, snuggliest! [that's a word, right?]

2008-10-20T17:27:00.009-04:00

i've finally taken photos of my new line of brushed cotton scarves. these were so popular at the puces pop market in montreal earlier this month that i returned home out of stock and had to busy myself in the workshop to get a collection ready for the shop.

they are finally here! photographed, listed, and available in a variety of colours. these really are the softest comfiest material you could want to have snuggled around your neck.

this scarf will become your new favourite item of clothing,
and your best friend on a chilly day waiting for the bus ;)

they are a large square shape - so that they can be folded, draped, twisted and slung in various trendy ways. a great unisex piece, and the perfect combination of style and warmth.

vic and i are already addicted to ours... running to the corner for a coffee is a happy excuse to wear it.

anyhow... back to the machines...
♥m.

puces pop 08!

2008-10-04T08:41:00.006-04:00

we're in montreal this weekend for the puces pop marketplace!
saturday & sunday, 11am to 7pm
St Michel Church Hall, 105 St Viateur Ouest

i've been busy sewing up some fresh goods,
especially new fall & winter scarves...
come find our table and mention this post,
we'll be happy to hand you a free sewn fresh daily pin ;)

happy weekend.
♥m.

drumroll please...

2008-09-30T09:46:00.004-04:00

cipolla's newsletter draw has come to an end!
four lucky subscribers have been pulled from the hat and will soon be hearing of their fate...

of course, thank-you to all our lovely subscribers!
you'll be seeing the new issue of sewn fresh daily within a week or so, announcing the winners as well as loads of other fun info.

ciao for now!
♥m.

only three more sleeps...

2008-09-27T01:00:00.019-04:00

a bonanza of cipolla goodies is on the way!

in just three days i'll be pulling a few lucky names out of the proverbial hat... four sewn fresh daily subscribers will win some fab cipolla loot! [including scarves, bags, hankies... and more!] there will be one grand prize worth over $100 retail, as well as three smaller prizes.

if you aren't already on cipolla's mailing list, what's the delay?!
i'll be drawing names on September 29th at noon... so if you're keen to compete, get your subscribe email sent before then ;)

to join the mailing list and receive cipolla's newsletter
(sent out every few months)
simply email sewnfreshdaily@gmail.com

all will be announced in the fall issue,
good luck to all you lovely cipolline!

♥ m.

the first bunch.

2008-08-31T12:29:00.006-04:00

i'm pretty sure that there's nothing better then crunching into a carrot freshly picked from your own garden. once washed, they didn't last twenty minutes on the kitchen table.

now i'm staring with lust at the onions... willing them to grow wide enough to justify finally picking one. they must be the slowest growing veggies. seriously, i think they like it - smirking to themselves when i walk by.

okay... enough embarassing garden babble... back to the machine ;)

happy labour day!
♥ m.

behold...

2008-08-16T14:57:00.013-04:00

i am beyond smitten. past obsessed. i'd call it a complete consumption. i've never been happier to be sewing until 2am. for the first three days i went to bed still smiling and hearing the hum. i woke-up dreaming we were streaming through long lines of thick stitches through layers of stiff canvas...
[insert heavenly choral sound here]
so it's been over one week since i brought home my baby. my frustration level has never been this low. i'm kicking and cursing only occasionally. it's true! needless to say, the workshop is both a happier and more productive place. i can't wait to dig into my pile of winter scarves. i'm hoping this year will be much less stress crazy. but then, that wouldn't really be cipolla... ah well.

fresh off the new machine, a batch of pencil/gadget cases just in time for back-to-schoolers. listed in the shop today.

happy weekend.
♥ m.

cipolla's got a new look!

2008-08-06T04:18:00.010-04:00

after months of countless doodles and doubts, i'm finally happy with a new look for cipolla.

we've got a new logo, new packaging and tags, a new shop addy [www.cipollashop.com]... and of course, new items!

... now if only i could find the time to get our website up and running.
- but for now, we of course love and adore our fabulous Etsy shop ;)

let me know what you think of our new onion!

♥m.

the comfiest hobo

2008-07-24T20:16:00.007-04:00

for months i've been staring longingly at the stacks of beautiful japanese fabrics on my workshop shelves, waiting for a break in the pile of to-be-sewns beside the machines...
this week the moment finally arrived. i was at last able to let my hands, scissors & needles go crazy on some beautiful cotton damask prints. and what fun i had!... making a flurry of gorgeous soft and comfy hobo bags in a delicious assortment of colours...

this is a new cipolla design [one i've been carrying around with me for six months to test out - and i love it!]. it's the ultimate hobo bag... large and cushy... convenient and stylish bubble shape... complete with zipper closure, two roomy pockets and a key clip.

these bags, and more, listed in the shop this week.

back to the machine for me...
there's always more fab fabrics waiting on the shelves...
♥ m.

accessory necessities...

2008-06-18T14:43:00.015-04:00

lately i've been sneaking away from the sewing machine to take some time in the sunny backyard and finally have some fun with the assortment of findings I've collected over the past year or so...

new in the shop this month, we've got a nice mix of hair clips and other unique and lovely accessories.

glass owl earring studs - $5.75

fresh leaf hair clips - $5.00

as with all cipolla items, these pieces are handmade in small batches with love and care. they feature unique and/or vintage parts that i find while taking a break from sewing to indulge myself in a little shopping. and they're not just for girls! i've been working on some pins / tie clips... like this compass pin.

directional brooch or tie pin - $5.00

more to come, including cuff links and perhaps some jewellery.
though for now, back to the machine...
♥ m.

one year and counting...

2008-06-13T09:24:00.003-04:00

for those of you who haven't been to the shop lately, now's a great time to drop by and peruse the "aisles"... we're having sales all month in honour of our shop's one-year anniversary!
a big, huge thank-you to all our etsy customers
- it has been a fabulous, fun year!

♥ m.

nel giardino...

2008-06-08T12:04:00.008-04:00

my facination with container gardening is stronger then ever this year... from lettuce and cayennes to zucchini and spinach.

and while it's so muggy here in toronto that i begin to wilt after just a quick walk to the cornerstore, the garden is holding up well... the cipolle are six inches and counting!

♥ m.

the new girl.

2008-05-28T15:33:00.006-04:00

i found this most fabulous old dress form on ebay (yes, i was finally lured to the dark side... but i swear it is just a quick flirtation, I won't make it a habit). as soon as i saw it i was convinced it was exactly what the workshop needed. it's looking so mechanical and uninspiring here these days... we needed some character.

the seller just happened to be in toronto too, so within a few days she had arrived... lovely and inspiring in the workshop window. she's made of wood and cast iron, with a papier mache neck and an old hand sewn cover - great details that make me feel a little connected to previous owner(s) who seem to have loved her much. and she really helps to bring out the amazing victorian details in the room... somehow the molding seems brighter, the stained glass glows. ha! i'm such a sap.

(fyi... the fab purse she's wearing now is a newer cipolla hobo design in the amazing new echino fabrics... you'll see them in the shop in the coming week or so).

♥m.

setting up shop.

2008-05-12T17:07:00.006-04:00

im reporting back from the first days of the move. i was so excited about the new space for the cipolla workshop that i couldn't resist a little doodling of what i'd soon be setting up.

here's what it actually looked like that first afternoon...

oh the workshop it will be! i am often catching myself standing in the doorway... staring though to the window at the end of the room... smiling in a sort of day-dreamy way. the plants are loving it too.

i'm gradually un-packing more and more, adding shelves and such, neurotically organizing bits into containers and baskets... hopefully to be done within the next week or so. in the meantime i better put what's there to use, the shop is beginning to look a little empty these days...

cheers!
♥m.

packing up.

2008-04-28T12:21:00.008-04:00

we're moving house!
and that means cipolla is moving too (to a bigger and sunnier workshop, hooray). so i'm cleaning, purging, and packing us all up... fun! (and i'm not being sarcastic, i really do love the purging and packing part).

for any interested cipollini - this means that all online purchases made this week will not ship out until monday (may 5th), when i've had time to settle in and find everything!

thank-you for your patience.
♥ m.

we're back!

2008-04-21T15:58:00.020-04:00

my hands are back from vacation and my machine is back from the shop (apparently i over work it...).

ahh yes, that familiar mess surrounds me... doodles and to-do lists taking over the worktable, pins and fabric scraps under my feet, bits of thread on my pjs... the workshop is busy again!

as for our vacation this past week... whether i'm in algonquin park or at the beach, i always seem to spend half of my vacation taking photos of the local creatures. on this trip i was particularily obsessed with the birds.

this sleepy seagull was especially adorable.

why not, amuse yourself with a few more of my faves while i get back to work...

♥ m.

hanky love.

2008-03-25T14:03:00.010-04:00

we're having a happy hanky sale at cipolla!

hankies in the etsy shop are on sale for as low as $7.50 each.
I'm making room for new hankies in the coming months,
so now's a great time to snatch up a bargain!

handkerchiefs are indespensible little tools - not just for sneezes, but for spills, hot coffee cups, funky pocket squares, and more.

they make fab gifts - pretty and practical, and eco-friendly too :)

chocolate cream trio - $22.50

vintage prints duo - $15.00

asian scenic hanky - $7.50

cipolla hankies are made from prewashed, 100% cotton. they are two ply, sewn carefully and topstitched for extra durability. washer and dryer safe. and damn cute!

hooray for hankies!
♥ m.

good eats.

2008-03-18T09:18:00.008-04:00

waffles are one of my favourite things to make on a weekend day at home. i like to make a plate of them and snack while we putter around the house.

then we throw leftovers in the fridge and pop them in the toaster for a quick breakfast or snack during the week. easy and delish workshop fuel ;)

i like an eggy batter and milk chocolate chips - edges of the chocolate will get crunchy while inside it's melty and goey... seriously good eats.

back to work.
♥ m.

etsy fraud squad.

2008-03-13T12:35:00.021-04:00

well, yesterday was quite the day here in the workshop. in the morning i found out that a new online "shop" had appeared, claiming to be a collective working with designers to sell handmade handbags. funny thing was - the bags were Cipolla's bags! images and descriptions taken right from my etsy shop (as well as from two other etsy shops). after i got over the initial disbelief - it was so weird to see everything arranged in a shop, even using the cipolla name, and me having no idea - i became horrified, nightmares of being associated with a scam that was at best collecting handmade prices and shipping out factory knock-offs & at worst taking the money and running. yikes.

i found out about this from a fellow victim who had been alerted to the shop through google alerts (i hesitate to give google even more promotion, but i have to say yay! for this service). immediately i emailed every contact addy i could find - but surprise surprise, they didn't work. i then emailed the host service, a marketplace similar to etsy without the handmade focus, and waited for a response.

but as i attempted to get back to work i couldn't stop thinking about it. i was worried for sure, but i was even feeling a little scared - i'm not very internet or e-commerce savvy - i felt a little helpless, not knowing what to expect or what i could ultimately do. the fellow seller who had also been used said she felt violated, and i think that's actually a good description. then i thought - i should post this in the etsy forums! i rarely go into the forums these days, but when you need advice or support, it seems that fellow etsians always come through. what harm could it do? i posted the issue and went back to the sewing machine for a half hour.

when i returned the thread was like 25 pages long! people expressing outrage, support, and best of all - doing detective work and sending off emails of disgust. by mid-day staff from the host service had found the thread and - though they never did answer my original email from the morning - promised to look into it immediately. etsy staff jumped right in too! and it was fabulous to know they had our back even though this was something happening outside of etsy. man, did the three of us feel the love! by the afternoon i had been contacted by the CEO of the host service and by the evening the "shop" was no more. i hope we caught it in time, before anyone had made any "purchases".

sometimes i forget that etsy is more then just a network of artists and shops - it can be a family. seriously, i'm not usually one to get too involved in the forums and i've never even been in the chat rooms, but it was amazing to read and feel the genuine concern and real efforts to help that poured out from everyone who posted yesterday. so thank-you all, you rock!

all in all it was a surprising, horrifying, frustrating, informative, and ultimately victorious and uplifting day.

not bad for a random wednesday in the workshop ;)
♥ m.

oh, and through it all, i even got my work done!

a new batch of favourite bags was finally finished and will be posted in the shop over the next few days.

opera shoes.

2008-03-06T18:50:00.016-05:00

this december my family pooled resources and floored me on xmas morning with two tickets to the opera - fabulous, ridiculously expensive seats and a classic italian work: tosca. over the past year i have been daydreaming aloud about going to a show (after all, i pass the opera company building almost every time i take the tram). of course, it was one of those things that i didn't expect to make happen any time soon - so when i opened the gift i was so surprised i actually teared up (which of course just made my brothers' smiles even bigger as they watched).

so as i waited for the months to pass (the performance was in february), i prepared. i treated myself to new moisturizer and lip gloss at the pharmacy (so indulgent, i know!)... oh, and another round of black hair dye too. i had a great dress that i bought in the fall... but i dragged vic out for a few hours of shoe shopping. i wanted to really make it a big deal... i even wore nylons! and then a few days before the show i resolved to make myself a new bag - i often feel like the cobbler who's kids don't have shoes, so it was a fun change in the workshop.

i made myself this purse and wallet (below) from a fabulous plush velvety silvery remnant that i picked up at a local fabric shop months ago. i made a few extras for the shop too, so go check them out if you're a fellow fan of silver-grey goodness.

i wore a simple black 1950's inspired sweater dress, and my shoes made me happy with their fab little cut-outs and just the right amount of toe cleavage. vic was in black as well, wearing the silver poppy tie that i bought her from fellow etsian toybreaker (favourite!). we were sharp and shimmery in our fab black and silver splendor, and the cutest little femme/butch stereotype couple you ever did see! we were feeling so indulgent we even splurged on surprisingly delicious coffee and cookies at intermission. all in all it was a most fabulous night.

much love to the famiglia.
♥ m.

i ♥ emma.

2008-02-13T12:01:00.009-05:00

a couple of weeks ago i stumbled upon fellow etsy shop emmaklingbeil and fell in love with many of her paintings.
never being one to resist an impulse buy, i bought my favourite one heart strings (above) right away and impatiently waited for it to arrive.

and the wait was worth it. opening the package was like opening one of those great xmas gifts that you knew was under the tree - unwrapping slowly, savoring each new peek of it before you tear another strip off.

her paintings are moody and lovable. they're creepy and cute, gloomy and fantastical (hmm... this is sounding exactly like how vic describes me...) - they make me grin and imagine things. and many of them, like this one, have a fabulous little frame and shadow painted around the edge that i just adore.

this has got to be my favourite etsy purchase to date!
i am so happy with it, i can't say enough about it. i already have my eye on another one. and at under $60 for an original piece, what more can i say?

so go on and check out her shop!
emmaklingbeil.etsy.com

♥ m.

finalmente.

2008-02-10T21:38:00.000-05:00

yes it's true, i'm finally getting to work on a new batch of bags for the shop. this weekend i finished a few with my tree applique. this one is my favourite of the bunch - i love the blue/grey and caramel colour combo, and the soft corduroy combined with the sharp embroidery. yum.

keep watch this week - as i finish more bags, i'll be listing them in the shop. i'm determined to get to some swallows, and sea creatures...

night.
♥ m.

balcony inspiration.

2008-02-05T12:14:00.000-05:00

i've been having trouble these last few months finding time to sit down and draw up some new appliques. batches of zombies, crows, and trees are keeping my fingers busy.

one thing i've been meaning to do for a while is a little homage to the squirrels who hound our back balcony, feasting on the scraps vic's always putting out for them and keeping me company while i take my coffee breaks in the kitchen. they're so cute they almost make me forget how they tore up my garden each morning this past summer.

a few mornings ago i snagged a pic of this little guy.

he definitely made my morning - looking so content with his food find, depite the cold and horribly windy day it was. i took a few minutes to plan a new squirrely inspired item. i had a few yards of a fabulous cashmere blend on the workshop shelves, leftover from my batch of december scarves, it was a dark chocolately brown that seemed perfect.

the result was a cute and cozy new scarf, available in my etsy shop.

back to the machine!
♥ m.

stamped.

2008-01-29T14:22:00.000-05:00

i love stamps. i love drawing little images for them, i love carving them, and i especially love pressing them down on the paper (or fabric) and seeing the result.

i'm an instant gratification girl and this is instant gratification in the best way. in less then an hour you can go from a doodle on your napkin to a fun stamp you can use for almost anything.

this weekend i was a hermit in the workshop messing around with new stamps i had made friday night.
yes, i stayed home friday night and made stamps.
moving on...

here's what i made this weekend - love to the hanky!

[above] the heartfelt hanky is red eco-friendly ink hand-stamped on crisp white cotton. it is available in my etsy shop now.

and you can wrap it all up with a gift wrap and card pack that i make with a smaller heart stamp.

♥ m.

valentine treats.

2008-01-21T17:27:00.000-05:00

i've just completed a few batches of valentine inspired goodies. some not-so-conventional items that are a little less sappy and a lot more fun.

if you're planning to buy a treat for your valentine - forget the hallmark trademarks - go for something unique and unexpected that's sure to make them feel special.

available in the shop today.

Zombie's need love too. Gray cotton duck pillow with black Zombie applique and red velvet anatomical heart.

Thief of hearts. Gray cotton duck pillow with black Raven applique and red velvet anatomical heart.

In search of love. Gray cotton duck pillow with black Zombie applique and red velvet hearts.

you'll find these pillows, plus more
freshly sewn goodies in cipolla's shop.

♥ m.

zombie army.

2008-01-14T10:47:00.000-05:00

couldn't resist a pic while working on a new batch of zombie goodies this weekend.

soon you'll see where they end up -
for now, back to work...

♥ m.

wool and windows.

2008-01-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

seems i jinxed things with my last icy post. everything has melted in toronto and i was quite comfortable in an unzipped hoody on my walk to the post office this afternoon. but enjoying this warmth makes me feel so dirty...

i ♥ wool.

if you're a sewn fresh daily newsletter reader - you know i have a weakness for wool and other gorgeous natural fibres in traditional tweeds, herringbone and houndstooth...

sewing up scarves is really just an excuse to spend time fawning over these fabrics. though i'm in wool shop withdrawel lately - since the workshop shelves are still full from stocking up before xmas i haven't needed to explore the stores.

so i'm pushing through the last of the fabrics, if only to have an excuse to go buy more ;)

new in the shop today - classic black and white houndstooth scarves in either crow or spider applique:

drop by the shop to take a closer look at these and other cipolla appliqued scarves.

♥ m.

winter

2008-01-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

it's now definitely winter here in toronto. january has brought the familiar cold that i was happy we missed out on in december. not that i can complain. after all, i get to stay cozy inside and appreciate the beauty of icy workshop windows. not having to schlep to and from work diffuses a big chunk of my hatred of winter. kudos to all you who make the trek to your workplace each day.

january also means playing with the goodies i got in december. and since i'm a december baby i get double the presents this time of year, so there's plenty of fun stuff to amuse me during the new year's months when i avoid leaving the house. here are some of my favourite december acquisitions...

bret and jemaine are my sewing buddies.

my brother introduced me to them and now i'm totally hooked. i've already been through the season once again since getting this under the tree. i love this show so much vic has developed a jealous twitch whenever i mention jemaine. i should make a foc inspired applique... hmm.

my new cipolla coffee cup.

i can never resist buying stuff for myself at a show. i bought this adorable cup from fellow vendor little flower designs at bust magazine's craftacular. check out her site here.

geekery indeed.

this wiimote pillow was actually a gift to vic from me. i bought it from fellow etsian zelas, and it has a permanant place of honour on our couch.

best mom ever.

wishlists do work. this painting was in my etsy favourites, though it sold shortly after i added it. turns out my mom was paying attention. she had it wrapped and ready for me to open at my birthday lunch. how fun to be surprised by something i had looked at for so long on the computer screen. the painting is by laurali, and is perfect wall candy for the workshop admist the predictable scratchy newsprint sketches and notes to self.

skin sos.

i bought several of these lotion bars as gifts for family, and of course kept one for myself. they're the perfect remedy for my painfully dry hands this time of year. you can find these (and many delicious soaps) at 4th ave soap co's etsy shop.

too pretty to eat.

vic is dangerous in a candy store. this is just one of the goofy goodies she bought me this xmas. it really is too pretty to eat, though i hate keeping chtotkes so i'll dig into it soon. perhaps on a late night sewing binge - it's bound to inject a little life into me [insert bad joke womp-womp sound here].

you must watch this.

i watched this entire 4+ hour series yesterday while doing computer work (in theory anyway). i barely got anything done and instead found myself totally amazed by the camera's detail. i am a major nature geek and i love spiders, so this series was a fatal combination for me. but i think anyone will be enthralled. bbc's life in the undergrowth.

sewing porn.

the newest addition to my unintentional collection of sewing books, quilt national 2007. though all this inspiration can become a little overwhelming when trying to fit some new design sewing time into cipolla's schedule.

though it doesn't photo so well,
this quilt by Anne McKenzie Nickolson is just wicked.

cozy feet.

netamir rightly calls these slippers walking in a blanket. she handmakes them to order in your own size and colour choice for $39 and just a couple weeks wait. i put them on as soon as i got them and if it weren't for the snow i would have even considered keeping them on when i left the house.

guilty pleasure.

i have a lot of embrassing secret loves and guilty pleasures...
from madonna's horribly eighties disco ball album to doritos.
but it all pales in comparison to my addiction to king of queens.
kevin james causes irrational fits of laughter that can make me sew crooked lines.

hope your january is filled with fab goodies.
♥ m.

back at the machine.

2007-12-14T00:37:00.000-05:00

we're back from our nyc city show and i'm back at the machine cramming in a few more days of work before i break for xmas.
... must ... finish ... my own xmas gift list.

so the show was awesome indeed. but more then anything it was all an excuse to get to spend a few days in new york and not feel guilty about spending money (and time). our hotel was on the edge of little italy, and i couldn't resist a cheezy but fun walk around what's left of the area. at the corner of mulberry and grand there was an italian sweets vendor cart where i bought some of the best torrone i think i've ever had. (and that's saying a lot since i've eaten a lot of torrone!) my only regret is buying just half a pound - it's half gone already.

[insert fabulous sugary almond vanilla smell here]

♥ m.

freshly sewn in NYC

2007-12-05T13:39:00.000-05:00

i'm making my way down to new york city for bust magazine's annual craftacular this weekend! i am functioning on two weeks of four hour sleeps and blistery fingers so i'll wait until i'm back to babble on with details and feelings and such...

of course, come by and see me if you're in the area!
saturday december 8
10:00 am – 8:00 pm
the metropolitan pavilion
(125 west 18th street, nyc)

♥ m.

tag your it...

2007-11-28T21:38:00.000-05:00

okay, so a while back i was “tagged” and i really did mean to play along but then never got to it… then i was tagged again a few days ago and this time i promised to do it. so i’ve taken a quick break from cutting scarf pieces.

here are seven random facts about me…

1 – cutting wool drives me crazy.
it’s like nails on a chalkboard… just thinking about it makes me shiver & clench my teeth.

2 – i don’t like to sleep.
i think its a waste of time and i resent that i have to do it.

3 – i am in love with jemaine from flight of the conchords.
and i think it makes my gf a little jealous.

4 – i don't make friends easily.
i often come across as a bitch though i don't mean to (or i guess i do if i'm aware of it... oh well). and i'm terrifyingly moody.

5 – i love to organize but i am horrendously messy.
i also love to make soup (i think it's related).

6 – my brothers are more important to me then anything else.
i smile like a delirious idiot every time I get to see them.
(miss you matt ♥)

7 – if i was rich i’d have a vault like scrooge mcduck and roll
around in the contents all day -- except it would be filled with
fabrics not coins ;)

♦ ♦ ♦

i was tagged by:
wire tree
crafty peeps

the rules: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I’ve tagged:
Lost Button Studio
Cheshire Kat
Rainy Day Art
Wolfie and the sneak
Bead On A Wire
Living in a knitters paradise
Tethyis’ Dreams

back to work!
♥ m.

a pinch of salt, and a smidge of cipolla..

2007-11-26T18:24:00.000-05:00

catch a glimpse of cipolla's goodies on Smidge, a fabulous canadian site that strives to showcase and network lovely handmade artisans (and their supporters).

okay, so i want to sit and sip coffee and write a huge long entry today about the stress and excitement of the holiday rush... but my stack of to-be-sewns is so tall it keeps falling over. it'll have to wait to january. for now, i'm off to... well you know...

much love. m.

my favourite tree.

2007-11-21T11:47:00.000-05:00

lately i've been having a lot of fun bringing my tree drawing to life in fabric and thread. my newest favourite is this yummy dark chocolate brown scarf. i'll definitely be sewing up my own personal batch for a few gifts on my list ;)

this scarf, and others, are available in my etsy shop.

back to work... though not at the machine. today i've promised i'd clean up the workshop... there's fabric covering every surface - i had to move a pile just to find room to work at the laptop this morning!

have a great day.
♥ m.

jealous yet?

2007-11-19T20:09:00.000-05:00

now this makes sewing until 3am seem like a pleasure.

i make the best stove top cappuccino.
you should come over and have one sometime ;)

♥ m.

seriously too cute.

2007-11-14T19:02:00.000-05:00

i just finished a batch of hankies using the most adorable print ever. vic and i found it while browsing the len mills shelves at the creativ festival last month. and although it was a little overpriced and perhaps more then a little cheezy, i couldn't resist! the most lovable little squirrels, chipmunks, racoons, rabbits, and birds in a winter holiday theme. i immediately thought it would make painfully cute hankies for xmas stockings and such.

i set a few aside for me, vic, and gifts.
and i'm on my way to list the rest in the shop.

this guy is the best. just try to resist him.

♥ m.

home at last

2007-11-07T16:52:00.000-05:00

my baby has been gone since friday. but after four trips to the repair shop, she’s finally back at home today and there’s one hell of a pile of pinned pieces waiting for her to chew through tonight.

as you can imagine i’ve been nervous and moody (yes, even more then usual!) since dropping my sewing machine off at the service shop. true, it is partly my fault. i haven’t had it serviced since i bought it over a year ago, which is a big no no for someone who uses their machine as often as i do (if you’re an avid sewer, go get yours cleaned every 6 months to a year). so perhaps predictably, on friday morning it finally complained, and while sewing the headings on a batch of cipolla newsletters it started to groan. i went crazy with a can of compressed air, but it was indeed too late. i changed out of my work clothes (some call them pajamas) and jumped onto the tram for a trip down queen street to the service shop.

but i must say that although i was a stressball these past few days while she’s been gone, i actually got a crapload of non-stitching work done in just a few days that i would have otherwise done in bits and pieces over several weeks. i even joked that maybe i should send her away to visit with family once a month to force myself to catch up on some other work.

i know, it sounds crazy, but it did feel a lot like picking up a family member or friend from a hospital stay, i even took the car this time. infact, the toyota’s seat belt alarm beeped the entire ride home – the weight of the machine on the front seat signalled a passenger that should be strapped in. i laughed at that the whole way and thought about writing a little something in the blog when I got back to celebrate her return.

okay enough embarrassing myself for now.
i can once again say, back to the machine ;)

♥ m.

meet grr bear...

2007-10-30T19:20:00.000-04:00

i don't usually go gaga for stuffed animals, but when i stumbled upon this one in Jellibat's shop, he haunted my thoughts until i went back to get him.

i bought grr bear as a treat for myself after my first three months on etsy and have been infatuated since his arrival. what can i say - i think the pic here tells it all. he's super soft, sorta scary, and just the right amount of crazy. as my brother tony put it when he came for a visit and found grr bear sitting on a living room chair, "he's you."

the hands behind Jellibat, Angela, is located in australia, but you can visit her etsy shop at www.jellibat.etsy.com

a handmade holiday

2007-10-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

buy handmade this holiday season... and beyond.
here's some of my reasons why :)

as a buyer seriously, nothing beats that feeling that you are supporting someone who is supporting themself with their art or trade! handmade items that are one or a few of a kind mean the receiver is getting something unique (not to mention the personal touch behind each creation). your gift is something that you specifically chose for that person and their interests or personality - it's not something that's being pushed as the must-have item this season ;)

as a seller myself it is just fabulous to be able to support yourself with your own hands and on your own terms! (a huge thank-you to all cipolla customers!) and it's an awesome thrill each time someone writes me about how they love their goodies.

click on the above graphic to visit the handmade pledge site if you'd like to sign up for the pledge, and/or add the button to your own blog or site :)

♥ m.

zombie a la carte?

2007-10-21T21:33:00.000-04:00

liana from hawaii has included my zombie messenger bag in a great collection of creepy halloween inspired goodies. check them out on her lovely indie shopping blog mixed plate.

i'm off to think of costume ideas...

♥ m.

arachknits!

2007-10-15T18:09:00.000-04:00

these fab knitting needles were custom painted for me by fellow etsy seller arachknits. seriously, i love love love them. so much so that i haven't even untied the cute little black ribbon she sent them with. since opening the package (3 days ago) they have sat on a work table where i keep looking at them and smiling, lol! the little spiders are awesome, even better then i imagined when i described to her what i wanted. and at $20 for the pair, the detail is just amazing. great idea for any of you who might need a gift for a knitting friend.

ciao for now.
♥ m.

cipolla's spread...

2007-10-10T23:11:00.000-04:00

our table at puces pop montreal this past weekend

vic and i had fun and met some great people at pop montreal's craft fair this weekend. like fellow etsy seller allison's photography - check out her cute coaster sets.

oh, and best of all... we got to eat real montreal bagels once again. heaven.

thanks to everyone who came out, and if you picked up a cipolla goody while there - i'd love to hear from you and how you're enjoying it ;)

cheers!
♥ m.

patti smith and freshly sewn goodies

2007-10-05T01:27:00.000-04:00

cipolla is off to montreal this weekend for pop montreal's puces pop. if you're in the area, be sure to come out and say hi!
we'll be at the arts and craft fair both saturday and sunday at the Canadian Grenadier Guards Armoury (4171 Ave. de l’Esplanade).

will be back with pics on tuesday :)
have a great weekend!

♥ m.

it has arrived...

2007-09-30T21:50:00.000-04:00

sure it looks awesome, but is it?

ok, so the crop-a-dile arrived last week and i said in an earlier post that i'd let you know how it performs. so i will.

after all the hype i'd heard about it, including a plug in the latest issue of craft, it was disappointing overall. it definitely does small grommets/eyelets well (emphasis on small), and punches through surprisingly thick stuff. but if you're looking to use it for snaps don't bother. and i know that i have very small hands, but the handles are seriously huge and wide - it was a struggle to try and hold them in one hand and even harder to apply a good amount of pressure, definitely not comfy. although i can imagine that they could be comfortable in a larger pair of hands, since they have nice cushy handles.

of course, whether it's worth your money depends on whether or not you have a lot of projects requiring little eyelets and novelty snaps (and perhaps whether or not you're a shorty like me with elf hands). all in all, definitely not for cipolla.

there's my two cents worth :)

♥ m.

bottoms up!

2007-09-25T17:17:00.000-04:00

a load of lovely grape tomatoes that i picked while watering the garden this morning. i had begun to get a bit sad at the prospect of winter and the subsequent goodbye i'd soon be saying to the garden. but today's hot sun made it almost unbearable to stand out there long enough to take pics of my new totes... so it seems i'll be harvesting new goodies for a while longer still.

cheers!
♥ m.

knitting novelties...

2007-09-19T13:18:00.000-04:00

these awesome little glass stitch markers arrived in the mail yesterday and i'm in love! could they be any cuter?
seriously, there's even a tiny little detailed head of garlic. ahhh...

i bought these guys from fellow etsy seller DragonLadyDesigns. if you like to knit, check her out - she has tons of different glass lampwork bead stitch markers to choose from. beware though, you'll definitely fall in love with something!

♥ m.

daily swank!

2007-09-17T18:27:00.000-04:00

just stopping in again today to share a little newsbit... one of cipolla's tony booklets was chosen as today's "daily swank" by the lovely folks at vintage indie.

check it out here :)

♥ m.

cotton lovelies for your nose

2007-09-17T13:49:00.000-04:00

just in time for my own cold, cipolla hankies are in the shop.

after finishing up a stack of hankies this weekend i noticed i seem to have my own case of the sniffles... a perfect excuse to make one of them mine! - my last one has been lost since the move from montreal.

these hankies were inspired by the ones i often made for myself and vic years ago... the first one i ever remember making was a red flannel one with a print of hammers and wrenches on one side. i loved that ratty thing for years and years. i think i creeped out a couple people with it... and then juice chewed it to bits. (i actually still have it as a sort of memory keepsake of juice actually). anyway, later, when i met vic, one of the first of many handmade gifts was a hanky made with a dorky cotton print of little white ducks on blue. awww... how cute was i!?

this time i've made them strictly out of new cotton. more durable than flannel, and light and natural feeling on your nose. many of them were made from reproduction print fat-quarters that i bought this past year at craft fairs and little quilting shops. i think these vintage-inspired prints go especially well with the old school feel of a hanky to begin with. then add a cute applique and it's almost irresistible...

fun and functional... my favourite!

back to the machine.
♥ m.

I can almost smell autumn...

2007-09-14T15:34:00.000-04:00

this is one of two scarves called morning ashes, to be listed in the shop soon :)

it's been a bit cooler, and quite windy here lately - invoking thoughts of autumn. and although I dread the subsequent thoughts of winter, i really am looking forward to the cold crisp feel (and smell) of fall.

fittingly, i have become addicted to etsy's hand spun yarn artisans. i can't get enough! i've ordered over 20 different skeins so far from at least five different shops... in all kinds of great colours and shapes and materials. seriously, you haven't lived until you've seen and felt some of these amazing yarns.

this one i'm calling dear violet,
it was knit from snowberrylime's yummy provence yarn.

knitting has been a great way of pulling me away from the machines. and for more then just a few hours sleep, or a quick meal. in fact, lately i've spent entire evenings away from the workshop. vic is in shock that she's had me on the couch beside her for a few nights.

i think it grants me back a little bit of my sanity. and it couldn't have been at a better time. lately i've come dangerously close to smashing the computer, i've exhausted my will to curse and swear at the sewing machine (which is quite significant for me) and even contemplated giving up on a few custom orders...
but it all had come through, and now that i've finished just about all the custom orders, i have a free weekend to play around at the work table with some new ideas. (and then relax a little with the new yarns that just arrived!)

these two skeins arrived from twirlgirlfibers this morning.

most of these knits will soon be listed in the shop, since vic and i only need so many scarves... and i'm excited about supporting fellow etsians by creating items with their amazing spinnings. it can seem a bit pricey for a skein that will make just one scarf, but it's definitely worth it. i used to hate yarn because i always found it to be scratchy, but these yarns are soft and fluffy and... okay enough gushing.

here's one that i don't think i can part with, knit from insubordiknit's awesome art yarn vitreous humor.

pics can't do that one justice. it's simply awesome.
a bit pricey at $46 for a skein (makes one medium-sized scarf), but definitely something you won't see anywhere else!

if you knit yourself, go check some of these (and many more) spinners out on etsy.

if you don't knit - well keep an eye on the shop ;)

ciao.
♥ m.

spaces for spectacles...

2007-09-07T15:13:00.000-04:00

a batch of eyeglass cases will soon make their way into the etsy shop. of course, i made a few cases from two of my favourite japanese fabrics... the spider web cotton and the "cat-thedral" dobby cloth. mmm.

it was fun to play around with them, making something so simple for once -- no fussing with pockets or zippers or appliques. though i did fuss around a bit with the closures, making some with velcro tabs, some with snaps...

and then my snap/grommet pliers bit the dust!

the stupid things bent -- i couldn't believe it!

but then i smiled, cause they had always been crappy and left my hand in pain after a batch of snaps. and this meant that i could go get a pair of the ones i had just read about in craft magazine.

so at about 2am i found them online and now i sit patiently while they ship out to me. seriously, i can't wait... grommets and snaps without a swollen palm afterword... lovely!

i'll let you know when they arrive
and how they live up to their promises.

now stop distracting me!
i have to get a load of custom orders done. sheesh.

love.
m.

school treats

2007-09-05T22:33:00.000-04:00

check out my fishy clutch in zestyb's back to school treasury.

♥ m.

it doesn't get any better than this...

2007-09-04T01:04:00.001-04:00

drinking coffee made in our camping percolator
on our ranger cabin's little propane stove
hundreds of kilometres north of toronto.

it really doesn't.

a pic from our little slice of algonquin last week. i must have taken a hundred photos of our little "dock" and view of the lake.

so much to say, and nothing seems to describe it well enough!

suffice to say that i now understand why you can barely get a cabin, even when calling five months in advance. but if you ever have the chance, jump on it. they are surprisingly affordable - our cabin was $80 a night and could have easily been shared by four people (4 single bunks in two "bedrooms") - perhaps more if you wanted to camp out in the main room.

though the campsites are also beautiful... everything is so well spaced out. we didn't see another human (except while canoeing) the entire time we were there. awesome!

though we did see a lot of chipmunks, mice, rabbits, blue jays, hummingbirds, magpies, ravens, and one very vocal squirrel who wasn't happy about us encroaching on their space.

we rented a canoe - you can't stay at algonquin without one - and took a trip around rain lake (vic's first time in a canoe!). we stopped to take pics of some very cool trees and go for a swim. the water was gorgeous... crystal clear and warm and amazing. again, you really have to go!

predictably, i was almost in tears when it came time to leave - vic had to drag me into the car. thankfully i was already in sewing machine withdrawal, so the drive home - though full of promises that we'd be back soon - was happy and hopeful... i really was anxious to get back to cipolla.

speaking of which... time to get to bed.
orders await me in the morning.

♥ m.

fall browns

2007-08-29T20:51:00.000-04:00

just a quick post tonight as i sneek away from the machine for a few minutes.

here's my favourite of the newest batch of bags i've been working on since returning from vacation. see the shop listing here.

i love these spindly, bare brached trees. i love drawing them, but especially sewing them... the fabric and thread really making them pop. i'm sure they'll be a recurring image for cipolla this fall.

back to work!
♥ m.

aqua love

2007-08-26T10:51:00.000-04:00

i was up sewing until early morning hours again.
which means that when i logged into etsy for a quick peek,
there was space for new treasuries...
i threw together a collection of yummy blues,
including this awesome yarn by haptotrope.

view the entire treasury here.

these bright blue colours make me nostalgic for summer already -
but at the same time look forward to winter.
they're so crisp against the white backgrounds and accents.

love it.

♥ m.

garden goods

2007-08-23T17:23:00.000-04:00

i am buried so far deep under one of my infamous to-do lists that i'm sure i won't be playing around with the pics from algonquin for many... many days...

so here's a quick garden pic instead - a lovely little pile of grape tomatoes that were ready for picking when we got back yesterday evening.

i'm in love.
♥ m.

i've got new glasses! oh, and a bunch of clutches too...

2007-08-16T18:49:00.000-04:00

the first batch of the new cipolla everything clutch is finished.

these were first inspired by back-to-school time. and originally, i wanted to make something a bit thinner, strictly thinking about pencil cases.

but then i thought about all the things i used to cram into my cases... scissors, tape, glue... kool-aid packets and sour balls...
a pack of cards for a game of asshole...
-- and then suddenly i had decided to make a clutch type case instead. a simple, sturdy design that could work for myriad uses.

looking at them is making me happy. they look so cute!
it was exciting to finally play with all the fun cotton prints that i picked up at the creativ festival this spring.

plus, the prospect of such organization... well if you know me, then you know i'm grinning like an idiot thinking of all the things you could sort and separate and delegate to each pouch... (i'll stop before i give away too much crazy).

i went downtown today and picked up my new glasses!
i love them so much i even used them in the pics i took for the new clutch listing! they go well with the baby bananas i think ;)

now i have a shitload of work to do before vacation, so ciao!
♥ m.

Dust and Shadow

2007-08-15T12:59:00.000-04:00

I've finally created an etsy treasury!
Including this lovely print from phantomwise.

View the entire treasury here.

♥ m.

Cipolla Summer Sale

2007-08-13T20:18:00.000-04:00

i'm not usually a fan of sales, I like to set prices fairly and stand behind them...
but a little sale once in a while can't be a bad thing!

i have been working hard these past weeks to create some new items with the back to school season in mind... messenger bags, pencil cases, lunch bags, and such. so in order to clear the etsy shop out a little, we're having a sale on some of this summer's items... pouches, tank-tops, and a few bags... for $1-7 less then their regular prices.

Come by the shop to check-out the "Summer Sale" section.

now, for me, back to work!
♥ m.

pistachio tree

2007-08-12T01:22:00.000-04:00

yay!

two of my new messenger bags are featured in an etsy treasury.

view it here.

♥ m.

100 pencil cases...

2007-08-08T23:01:00.000-04:00

behold a scary stack of fabric.

oh yeah, i keep forgetting that it's only scary to me.

ok, so i hurt my thumb when i cut out 200 suede patches for my promos on monday night. don't know how i hurt it exactly. though it might have been from holding onto my tiny pair of applique scissors for so long...

woke up tuesday morning and the top of my thumb felt numb - you know, all pins and needle-ish. funny thing is, it didn't look hurt - not red, not swollen, not bruised.
and the funnier thing is that it's still numb now...
think i'm going to have to call the clinic tomorrow.

happy to report though - no injuries today while i cut what can best be described as a shitload of rectangles. 100 to be exact. they'll sit waiting on the shelf as i try to make my way through them over the coming weeks.

this is for a batch of my new pouch design in various prints, inspired by the back to school crowd (pencil cases) and the fact that the pre-xmas craft show season is looming ahead.

now to cut the 100 pieces of interfacing,
and 100 matching pieces of lining ;)

but they will be oh so cute!

♥ m.

it's that time again...

2007-08-06T12:52:00.000-04:00

i think it's time for another shot of the garden.
i was out there this morning watering,pruning, and of course drinking coffee. i couldn't resist taking yet another batch of pics.

news in the garden...
• the cucumbers are huge, there's at least a half dozen that will soon be ready to pick.
• i've got so much basil i'm going to have to start hanging it up on the clothesline to dry.
• the onions are being dug up by squirrels or raccoons or some other annoyingly cute creatures almost every night - but almost every morning i snuggle them back into the soil and re-cover the bulbs. the crappy part is that they don't even eat them, just dig them up to get to bugs or something else delicious (at least i hope there's a reason to it, other than tormenting me).
• the grape tomato plant is growing like some sort of virus... the branches reach way taller then me, or at least they would if they weren't too heavy to support themselves. i've had to rope them up with twine attached to the top of the porch... it looks like some sort of jungle plant puppet, hilarious and effective.
• oh... and craziest of all, the rosemary is actually growing, a lot!
perhaps the curse has been lifted (as long as i didn't just jinx myself).

for those of you in ontario... enjoy your holiday monday.
i'm off to make messenger bags for the back to school crowd.

♥ m.

sewn fresh daily on it's way to your door.

2007-08-02T13:38:00.000-04:00

my eyes are fried, my fingers will never fold again, and i should really be getting a discount from canada post...

yup, the newsletter is done and on it's way tomorrow morning!

i know, you can't wait, right?

a little peek...

... when i first started cipolla, i immediately new that i had hit the mark. i instantly felt at home. like i had made it to that place i had daydreamed about while sitting bored at office jobs, or cursing snobs with their little dogs in the service industry...

if you'd like to join the mailing list, look on the right →
just drop me an email ;)

now to finally get some time on the sewing machine. aaaah...

♥ m.

fun clothes for curvy girls.

2007-07-31T15:32:00.000-04:00

♦ new tops in the shop, listed this afternoon!

i am actually really excited about the prospect of being able to offer fun/funky clothes in larger sizes for girls out there that i know get frustrated with the lack of options in the stores that surround them.

i will definitely be working on more things... clothes made from scratch, "used" items that get spruced up...
fun!

♥ m.

more fun than a drunken game of cheat!

2007-07-27T15:46:00.000-04:00

this is the first batch of tiny cipolla plastic zipper pulls and i am in love. shrink plastic is the new subject of my dreams.

i know i'm like decades behind, this stuff has been around since the seventies or something. but seriously, it rocks!
and if i didn't know about it before, maybe you didn't either.

here's the deal:
• get your hands on some sheets of shrink plastic somehow.
• sand one side of the sheet with a fine grit, in a criss-cross fashion.
• draw your image onto the sanded side - for the zipper pulls i drew one main image, then traced it over and over again to speed it up (i used translucent shrink plastic so i could trace easily).

the piece will shrink to about 1/3 of it's original size (different brands may vary... my pack said 40%, but it was much smaller then that).

• colour in image if desired (i used pencil crayon!)
• cut out however you like.
• bake at 300-325º celsius for a few minutes - i put mine on parchment paper on a baking sheet, and found that worked well.

while they are shrinking they will probably curl up and/or bubble... at first i pulled them out right away and tried to flatten them out, but they looked warped so i put them back in. then i realized that you just need patience (hard, i know, trust me) they will eventually shrink evenly. they may be a bit curled or something, but this is easy to fix with a bit of coaxing while they are still hot (before you pull them out of the oven for example, flatten them all down with a quick press of a dish cloth).

my kitchen was a hot horrible place, but it was worth it.
serious fun to see the adorable results!

these will be used as zipper pulls on cipolla bags and pouches.
but i have plans for future bits like buttons and key chains... yay!

we also used this shrink plastic to make slate a couple tags for his collar (he is constantly losing his).

have fun and good luck if you plan to try it!

♥ m.

bottoms up!

2007-07-23T21:22:00.001-04:00

taking a quick break for a coffee refill and a quick post about this...
a frightening stack of bottoms. (though i suppose it's only frightening to me, who knows what must follow).

but while shopping for fabric bits this morning i picked up the book on tape of anna karenina, so bring it on!

actually, it's exciting (the batch not the book, well the book too).
- thinking of all sorts of images to patch onto these guys -
there'll be zombies (yes zombies!) for sure... hmmm.
maybe something inspired by hours of tolstoy
(who knows what that would be!?).

a new batch of cipolla classic tote bags on the way!

back to the machine,
see you after i've sewn the last stitch.

♥ m.

an apple a day...

2007-07-19T21:07:00.001-04:00

stitching around the little seeds may be tedious, but i love this apple applique. especially in a crisp green granny smith.

featured item!

the apple version of the Sunday Market Bag was picked as a daily dittie on the indie shopping website wickedlychic.com

view it here (scroll down to see it since it was featured early in the week).

exciting!

♥ m.

verdure e caffe

2007-07-16T16:12:00.000-04:00

the cucumbers are crawling, the tomatoes are popping up, and the basil has flowered. there isn't a better place to sit and have a coffee.

love for the garden!

i could do without the ironing!

2007-07-14T14:04:00.000-04:00

i've been working on a fresh dozen of sunday market bags. here's a shot of the pile of straps i made for this new batch.

a peek into the process.

1 cut long and thin strips of felt.
2 cut longer and thicker strips of fabric.
3 iron strips of fabric, carefully fold/iron fabric around the felt, pin.
4 repeat 23 more times.

(i don't mind cutting, but sometimes i look at the iron and cringe.)

keep your eye on the shop, i'll be listing the results over the next few days.

♦ m.

arachnid love

2007-07-12T09:07:00.000-04:00

my sprawling spider
messenger bag is featured
in an etsy treasury.
view the entire treasury here

the other spider-themed bag in my shop has sold (cut from that great japanese cotton print I ordered). Don't despair... I have more of it! I'll be sewing with it soon.

plus, you know i will always be making special spidery stuff.

front page material

2007-07-10T12:57:00.000-04:00

i'm on the front page of etsy this morning with this item... toting crow.
view it here

the entire treasury is beautiful.

♥ m.

cipolline

2007-07-09T17:41:00.000-04:00

the wreckage after thinning out my onions in the garden yesterday.

in the back are leeks, in the front a mix of yellow and red onions. (we'll be having onions with our meals for the next few days.)

too cute!

taking the night off

2007-07-06T17:13:00.000-04:00

after sewing pouches (these are just a few) for the past 36 hours... not only are my eyes and fingertips fried, but i need to get out!

off to my mom's house to give the cat his insulin shot, then relax for a night of extreme geek board games and pizza with the boys. yay!

cat-thedral

2007-07-05T17:01:00.001-04:00

i can't get enough of this fabric! (infact i have a recurring nightmare about when i run out and can't order any more).

here it is in two new bags - a tote, and a favourite bag (the latter is already listed on the site).

houndstooth + swallow = 1950s

2007-07-03T15:03:00.000-04:00

the entire time i was in montreal i kept thinking about this unfinished tote sitting on my ironing board. finally reunited last night, here it is... finished and posted on the site today. love it! m.

la belle province ... literally.

2007-07-02T22:56:00.000-04:00

vic and i dug into a classic belle province poutine yesterday, and it was everything we'd been dreaming about since we moved away last year.

jealous!?

finally being in montreal again was wonderful and weird. when i drove through ndg to get to saturday's poker party at nancy's, i drove past our last apartment and the bakery i used to visit every week for a delicious challah, i didn't feel as nostalgic as i thought i would. perhaps it's because i haven't been away long enough, or because i'm happy where i am right now... or it could be because i'm a cold fish.

i usually am insensitive about this kinda stuff. i don't tend to miss things much and can easily say goodbye to people, places, and things. i like to think that's a good thing, but sometimes i wish i could recall memories with a sharp feeling or some such other movie-like moment.

as for the rest of the trip... we had a quiet, relaxing time. unfortunately i didn't make it downtown. besides poker, we stayed with vic's family the rest of our time there. although it was nice, i think the ride back was actually the best part. we took the scenic route and made many stops along the 2 ... for coffee and photos. (those pics are coming as soon as i have time to organize them.)

sweet dreams.

toting crow

2007-06-28T03:00:00.000-04:00

drawn from a generic pic of a crow...

(everything looks so much better in fabric and thread!)

made fresh this morning.

48 hours later...

2007-06-27T21:05:00.000-04:00

well, i didn't go to bed last night until 3:30am...

but they're done!

sometimes i wonder if they're more work then they're worth... what with the batting, pockets, compartments, and handmade straps (and the fact that i am the most easily frustrated person alive!). but, like all projects, when everything's finished and i'm clipping threads and attaching tags... i'm beaming like an idiot.

i love them all. and am tempted, as always, to keep one for myself. but all four of these will be put in the shop (considering that i already have two!).

gotta say though, that the nautical star bag is especially awesome! i had fun making the star applique, complete with five black triangular shadows. (though it was a great test of my patience.) and am so happy i found a sweet place for the cute nautical print that i bought months ago.

now... back to the machine to make a custom bag for Mely.

night!

favourite indeed

2007-06-25T12:22:00.000-04:00

a pic of my workshop and a quick post before i'm chained to the machine for the next two days.

lately i had been focussing on making a few new styles of bags. people especially had been asking for smaller, "going-out" purses like clutches and wristlets. so i had fun with those for a while and made some cute new items for the shop.

like this most recent one... the Elementary Crush Clutch

but it seems the favourite bag is living up to its name and the shop is selling out.

so the stack of fabric i've set aside for new favourite bags has been staring me down...

i'll be behind the machine for the next days.

we're off to montreal for the weekend and i won't be in any mood for family or poker if i haven't gotten these guys done. and i've got to maintain my card shark rep. ha!

sunday market bags hot off the machine

2007-06-24T12:19:00.000-04:00

these guys are popular. which is awesome because i carry mine with me whenever i'm shopping, so i know they'll be loved even more as they're used.

now, no more machine for me. i'm off to meet vic downtown for pride. but when i'm back at my desk it's applique time - which is the best time of all! two of them will be onions (as per requests)... but what about the brown one?

parkdale giardino

2007-06-23T13:43:00.000-04:00

one day i swear, i will have a little backyard where i can pay homage to the italian family gardens of my childhood.

for now i make due with a back porch in parkdale.

nel giardino...

2007-06-22T16:12:00.001-04:00

if you know me, then you already know that people like to tease me by calling me a nonna. (inglese : grandmother... in this case a little old italian one who makes everything from scratch, dotes on her family members, and smiles in her garden).

i fully embrace my nonna-ness.
i'm happiest when feeding my brothers homemade pizza in my little back porch giardino.

which brings me to the reason for this post... the pics from my garden that i just have to share. (yes i am smiling ridiculously) every morning while watering i have to stop myself from taking more pics.

i have limited myself to photos only when things have significantly grown.

i've decided to take a break from sewing market bags and post some of my favourite pictures.

though i can't stand lettuce, i planted a bunch anyway. you can't have a backyard italian garden without it. it's the one thing i remember most in my nonno's garden when i was a kid.

cipolla indeed! i'm growing four different types (if you count leeks).

clockwise starting with bottom left... leeks, spring onions, yellow onions, red onions.

and of course a few herbs.

basil, lemon thyme, and a tiny rosemary that's quite suicidal. damn i'm cursed when it comes to growing the stuff...

back to the machine for me.

nella cucina di nonna

2007-06-22T14:44:00.000-04:00

they were tedious... but damn do they look cute!

does this mean im a blogger now? cipolla's first post.

2007-06-20T19:46:00.000-04:00

ok. so today is the day. the first official post. that’s a lot of pressure.

however, with the day i had today, it had to be. to use it as a catalyst to push past the intimidating empty page display and that little line reading "0 posts". so... ahem... now the way is clear for future pages of posts...

tomorrow marks cipolla's etsy shop two-week anniversary

today i sold two more items in the shop. yay! they got in just in time to make the grand total of 7 items in the first two weeks. not bad for a start. according to other etsians in the forums, that is well above average for a new shop.

but perhaps even more newsworthy... i was on cbc radio.

for those of you who know me, you know that it is extremely out of character for me to do something so keener-esque as calling into an afternoon radio show. but it was fate! (well, if i believed in such a thing that's what i would exclaim now).

the host was speaking with a woman who had organized some sort of museum exhibit of purses, and invited callers - as the cbc seems to always do - to share their "purse stories".

at that very moment, i was standing in front of my ironing board sketching an outline for the black ribbon spider legs i was about to appliqué onto a grey suede messenger bag.

i thought to myself (probablly even said it aloud)... this is one of those movie-like moments where i should feel like the radio is speaking TO ME directly... like this was a defining moment in my life.

no, i didn't feel all of that, just thought it. (i know you know what i mean). but then i also thought - if i don't call in i may think back to this "moment" in the months to come and wonder... why had i not taken the opportunity to plug the shop. sheesh, what if i could give out the site address and reach people that would never have otherwise known about my lovely spider bag, or etsy, or handmade lovelies at all?! so i did it.

the next time she read out the number asking people to call, i did. the person who screens the calls asked why i was calling, and when i said that i was just in the middle of making a bag, she put me through right away.

yes, right away! unfortunately, i had counted on waiting on hold for many minutes where i could decide on something fresh to say. so i will spare the gory details about how my voice was embarrassingly shaky, and how i stumbled when asked to describe what a "messenger" bag is. oh... and how she got my name wrong (surprise surprise) and called me monica.

but after all this i got to give out my shop address.

(plus a little plug to etsy and all of us who make handmade goodies. )

after calling vic, my mom, and then posting about it in the etsy forum (holy balls i am such a geek now) i checked up on my shop and hooray! i sold two more items... the cipolla sunday market bag and the "chill" version of the favourite bag.

i sold the sunday market bag to an awesome sounding woman in san francisco who was looking for a cool alternative to the boring canvas bags we always use for eco-friendly grocery shopping. (you know the ones i mean... usually free at some fair or conference, covered in logos). yay! i love this bag design. now to make more of them.

i sold the chill bag to a repeat customer. yes, that's right, i said repeat. already! i've got the warm and fuzzies just thinking about it!

amazing really... i've been getting rave reviews from customers who have received their items. and it's not just a simple rating and thank-you, but some of them have taken the time to send me an email. (not to mention come back and buy more!)

wow. i don't know what to say except that i have been in the clouds all afternoon. i can't stop smiling. this is really the best part! hearing back from people who really appreciate the time and detail that went into the item, and really love it once it is in their hands.

and it couldn't have come at a better time. my desk was not a happy place this morning...

many needles broken

pins spilt on the floor twice

stitch ripper used to take apart one whole side of the spider bag

photoshop slow as hell

nx (sewing machine nik) spit thread up in disturbing bubbles while i quilted potholders that took so long to finish that im making sweatshop wages

veggie burgers burnt.

but i can't stop smiling now.

and the spider looks fucking awesome!

hope your day is just as rockin'.

love.

serene workshop pic

2007-06-01T17:30:00.000-04:00