Member Spotlight: Priddy Creations

Name: Amy Priddy
Store: http://www.priddycreations.etsy.com
Web site: http://www.priddycreations.com
Blog: http://www.priddycreations.blogspot.com
What three words describe your design style? Whimsical, bold, crisp
What's your favorite thing to sew/create? I am HUGELY addicted to boutique and custom bags. That is what I enjoy the most. My problem is that I want to keep everything I make. LOL!
How did you get started crafting? I actually started scrapbooking when my almost 9 year old was born. That led me to custom jewelry and the boutique clothing community. Seeing all the beautiful creations and fabrics really gave me the itch to create for myself and my kids.
What inspires you? I would have to say my kids most of all. However, lots of things inspire me. Bold colors in artwork, scenic landscapes, beautiful fabrics and textiles.....the list could go on and on.
What craft have you always wanted to try but haven't? Designing my own fabric line. I love the graphic aspect of it. And of course all the beautiful things you could create with your final project.
What's your favorite thing about being a part of Etsy? The simplicity. With my busy schedule, I love the simplicity of Etsy. I have also met some really talented and fantastic friends through Etsy.
Check out Amy's featured listing (shown above), Custom Removable Pink and Brown Damask SLR Digital Camera Strap.

Monday Madness

It's Monday again and that means another Monday Madness sale!

This week AbbyChase Designs is having a Buy Two Get One half off sale! Buy any two items at regular price and get the third half off!

Shop today until midnight Tuesday night and mention that you saw it on the Trendy Textiles blog and you will receive a revised invoice for your purchases.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16522367

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=16012581

Wacky Wednesday......

Today's Wacky Wednesday promotions come from

Chubby Cheek Boutique

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16194999

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16223611

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16223976

and WonderMommy

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15169932

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15169808

Monday Madness...........

It's Monday and what better way to start the week than with a SALE!!

creationsbyrachel is having her anual OBX sale, so stop by her store today and start your week off right!

Here is just a sampling of the wonderful things you will find in her store today.

Lollipop Designs........

Our first featured blogger is Eloisa from Lollipop Designs aka Natitys Designs.

How long have you been blogging? April 2007



What do you love about blogging?I love to share thoughts and anecdotes, all my products have a purpose, and a story, how I came up with the idea, why this product is meaningful, and I love to share that information with the readers, I don't just "make stuff" there's a reason for everything I do and this is what I try to explain in my blog.





Does blogging help with your business?Yes, because readers know I really put my heart on all my designs. And a lot of thinking comes with everything I do. It helps me connect with clients, colleagues and also parents.



Tell us a little about yourself, your blog, or your business. I'm a Navy wife, I have 2 little girls, and I design and create baby, children and mommy items like Nursing Covers, Car Seat Covers, and accessories. I love to blog about my ideas, my kids, my friends, my new products and everyday life.





Eloisa has been kind enough to offer all of our readers 10% off their purchase. Just use the coupon code TT10 when you check out.

Visit the Lollipop Designs Blog today!

Wacky Wednesday

Our new Trendy Textiles promotion, Wacky Wednesday, launches today! You won't want to miss these great deals -- especially because they end today. Check out all the listings here!

Member Spotlight: Abby Chase Designs

Name: Mandy
Store: Abby Chase Designs
What three words describe your design style? Fun, sweet, innocent (all the things that describe children)
What's your favorite thing to sew/create? My favorite thing to create is definitely children's clothing. I love the creative design process, but I what I love even more is the look on my girls' faces when I ask them to try it on. It is the most rewarding part of designing.
How did you get started crafting? It runs in my blood. I have been crafting since early childhood. I have always been drawn to handmade items. I started designing clothing and accessories a few years ago, when I was expecting my fourth baby. It was very inspiring and helped take my mind of the pregnancy.
What inspires you? My children and my surroundings inspire me. I have four girls and they are ever changing. When they are drawn to certain colors or textures, it inspires me further.
What craft have you always wanted to try but haven't? Smocking has always been something that I would love to try, but I haven't found enough brainpower left over after the day to learn something new.
What's your favorite thing about being a part of Etsy? The community on Etsy is my absolute favorite. There is no other community like it!
Check out Mandy's featured listing (shown above), Playful Petals.

Halloween Lane on Trendy Textiles

Whether you are looking for the perfect costume for your little one, some fun Halloween decor, festive accessories, or a fun little Halloween outfit for school, you've found the right place. The designers at Trendy Textiles have some of the most amazing Halloween customs around.

Visit the wonderful designers of Trendy Textiles on Etsy today for all your Halloween needs.

flowersandbutterflies

Mimisgirls

SurferMomKelly

travelinlight



littledaiseydesigns


PinkLemonadeBags

iwantedtowonder

Doodlebugbaby

Treasury time

Check out some of the great items in our Etsy Treasury!

Looks Like Fall

There's been a little chill in the evening air here, which has me excited about fall, which is where I found my inspiration for this week's Friday Five. Read on for more of the latest and greatest listings from the Trendy Textiles team!

Brown and aqua are among my all-time favorite color combinations, so it should come as no surprise that this purse from PrettyinPink320 made this week's list. I'm totally digging the cascading ruffles! The tooled faux leather is such a great accent and really brings a touch of sophistication to this great purse. It's incredibly roomy, too, which I'm finding is really a must for me these days. Snatch this one up while you can because I'm sure it won't be around long!

Looking for a little home decor to add some fall flair inside your home? I Wanted to Wonder has listed a set of three stuffed fabric pumpkins that are guaranteed to make the season come alive. The petite trio are made with a subdued plaid fabric that will fit right in with today's neutral home colors. Check out the listing here.




Who needs a boring camera strap when you can have one with flair? Priddy Creations has a great selection of camera strap covers but this Zen Multicolored Strap really caught my eye with all that aqua, red, black and white. No more basic black for me! The strap just slides right over your existing SLR camera strap -- which means you can get more and change them out whenever you want. Be sure to take a closer look!



Who says fall has to be subdued? The bold colors of Anna Maria Horner's Garden Party line of fabrics make quite the statement in this pieced purse from Boutique Nutmeg Designs. It's the perfect size to tuck under your arm and go, whether you're wearing jeans and a turtleneck or your fave fall suit. There's even a removable flower pin! Read the full listing details here.



If a trip to the pumpkin patch is on your agenda, then you'll want to grab this festively fall twirl skirt from Wondermommy. Patchwork squares from Tula Pink's Nest line of fabric are layered in cascading tiers for maximum twirlability. Best of all, it's ready to ship -- immediate gratification! Grab it while you can.



There's lots more from Trendy Textiles on Etsy, so be sure to check it out!

Interview with the Nancy Langdon

Over the summer one of the Trendy Textiles members did an interview with the amazing Nancy Langdon. For those who love Studio Tantrum, you deffinately know who she is.

Mellissa, from WonderMommy did the interview and has so kindly allowed us to paste a copy of the interview here on the Trendy Textiles blog!

So, on with the interview: (Me, Nancy)
Introduce yourself.
I’m Nancy. I have two children. I have the privilege and greatfortune to straighten ballet tights, cheer soccer jukes, listen to“Kitten’s First Full Moon” read to me, proofread class reports,pack lunches, make teddy bear pancakes, smear sun screen on fidgetynoses and referee squirt gun battles. I have the best job in theworld. I’ve seen a good deal of the world, but my favorite way tosee the world is through these kids’ eyes.

How long have you been sewing?
I have not sewn very long with this regularity. I learned watching mymother, who sewed quite a bit. As a very young child, it took me awhile to learn that you could actually buy the clothes in adepartment store. Usually, I would shop with my mother and say, “Ilike this, but in blue” and over to the fabric section of MarshallField’s we would go. She sewed for me all her life. Mom came of agein an era when even everyday dresses were tailored (think “I loveLucy”) and a decent dress cost $50 or $100 back then. Sewing wasmuch more commonplace. And Mom could do it all: Welted pockets andbutton holes, steam-formed shoulders and blazer collars that laidlike they were part of me.

What/Who first got you interested in sewing? What interested you indesigning children’s clothing patterns?
I’ve always liked clothes. Not fashion, but clothes. I can look atan Armani cocktail dress at the Barney’s or a 50s swing coat at thesecond hand shop the way some people look at a Vermeer. And then,with Anna, I really just wanted some clothes for my daughter similarto the kinds of clothes the kids had in Europe. Children’s clothesdon’t require much fabric, so why not sew up a few? I dusted offMom’s old Bernina and cut up some fabric with the lines and styles Ihad seen in Europe. At one point, I came across Sabine Pollehn’sforum, klickundblick.de and I said, “I want clothes like that.”When I began posting some of my items, other people started saying“I want clothes like that” about my clothes. And that was thestart of the pattern thing.

What is your favorite sewing tool?
Good question: Probably a Sharpie pen and paper. It all starts with apiece of paper. I like my seam ripper that’s like a knife, I thinkit’s sold as a “serger” seam ripper. A good pattern sure takes a lotof the guesswork out. The pattern is one place I don’t like toskimp. If the pattern has been hand-drafted by a coutureprofessional, I am ten steps ahead. If you have read this far, maybeyou’ve sewn Farbenmix and studioTANTRUM/fledge and maybe you agree.And that tape measure: Measure thrice, cut once. And measure,measure, measure as you go along.

Do you have any advice for beginner sewers that you would like to share?
Sewing for children is a good way to start sewing. First, it doesn’trequire a lot of fabric. Second, children always need new clothes asthey grow. If the sewn item isn’t perfect, no big deal. They willsoon outgrow it. And fudging is allowed. Appliqué is the French wordfor “covering up wonky seams”, I’m sure of it. Also, in sewingchildren’s clothing, you learn the basics of clothing construction,upon which you can expand and improve. Once you have make a basicjumper, there’s not much to hold you back from making adouble-layer jumper with a scalloped hemline. And choosing a goodpattern is also a good way to start. If the seams match up nicely, ifthe fit is comfortable and flattering, and if the form is catchingpeople’s attention, well, pretty soon the sewing bug will bite you.And just wait for the first time your little one puts on that twirlydress you made her and she spins herself dizzy and lands in a heap ofgiggles. Or your somewhat older girl shops with you at the fabric store and sketches up adesign she wants, when she eschews mass marketed brands and wants todetermine her own style. That’s what it’s all about. Andremember, with the Internet, you are never alone! It has been myexperience that sewists are not only some of the most creative peoplearound, but also some of the most helpful and generous. Do you have aquestion? Is there a term you don’t understand? Do my patterninstructions require the Rosetta Stone to decipher? There are tens ofthousands of sewing enthusiasts sharing their knowledge and arepleased to help. Wondermommy is a great example of this.

When did you make your first pattern?
That would be REDONDO. That was in May 2005, I believe.

Did you go to fashion school or are you self-taught?
I have no right to do this: I have no background in fashion designwhatsoever. There is a tiny bit of me channeling my mother’s abilities. My dress-up clothes as a kid were like a lesson in 20thCentury fashion design: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s—all rightthere. Mom could sew, but you should also see the fashion art shepainted and drew. I’m hoping my sister still has some of her art,because I would like to make a few copies.What is your biggest inspiration?
Inspiration, I think, just pops up at you out of the blue, don’tyou think? Some of my patterns have come by just looking at a solidform and thinking, hm, what if that hubcap were made of fabric? Howwould it fall? I’m always looking at seams. That is the alchemy ofdesign. I’ll watch an entire movie and not know the plot, becauseI’ll be concentrating on the costumes.

What is your most favorite pattern and why?
The next one. Always the next one

How long have you been in business?
I’ve been distributing Farbenmix and studioTANTRUM/fledge in theU.S. for over two years. Time flies!

What made you decide to go into business?
Sabine Pollehn asked me. No huge plan to conquer the world onesewing pattern at a time. But it seems to be happening! And it willbe your—you and sewing enthusiasts everywhere—fault! Really: Ihave a really lousy Website that has only been up a couple of months.I don’t have a big company behind me with a PR and advertising staffto call magazines and promote the patterns. I’ve never been to“market” and only recently understood what “market” meant. Thesepatterns have sold in the thousands, because somebody posted afinished garment on a forum somewhere and somebody else recommendedit and somebody else posted something on a blog…I’m veryembarrassed at my lack of professional marketing. On the other hand,I am proud of the fact that these patterns have sold withoutadvertising. They have sold through word of mouth and forum and blog.I probably should have it another way, but I am rather pleased thatthe sewists want these patterns, despite the fact that the packaging isn’t very fancy and the trancing requiressome concentration and some of the designs really are a leap of faithin terms of construction (think “LAGUNA” ;-).

What can we look forward to in the future from you and your company?
Nancy action figures? I don’t know: What do you want? There areareas in this corner of crafting to which my colleagues at Farbenmixand I could really add something new. We have the ideas. But we arereally just working from our homes between packing lunches, searchingfor lost shin guards and sitting through music lessons. I have beenworking on some clothes for myself that I like and maybe I’ll trymy hand at women’s patterns. But I want to know what you want. Iknow you want more patterns translated. And I am the bottleneck. I amso very sorry for that. I have a couple of wonderful womentranslating with me. But it takes time. And I’m looking into Frenchand Japanese versions. It takes time. For all other things, I’mopen to ideas and criticisms!

Is there anything else that you would like to share with theWondermommy readers?
Well, really, I would like to know what makes you sew. Why sew? I’dlike to hear how other people came to the sentence, “And so, Ibegan to sew.” A friend recently wrote to me that starting a newproject was “like falling in love, like a twist in my stomach”.That is what I would like to know.
What I do want to share is my great appreciation. I want to thank youfor sewing these patterns. I want to thank you for spending yourvaluable time with these ideas and for sharing them with yourchildren. I haven’t made my favorite versions of my designs, somebodyelse out there has. It warms my heart. It really does. I’m humbledand honored.

If you want more of Nancy, here are a list of her sites:
Mother of Invention Blog
Studio Tantrum
Fledge Flying is Easy

Thanks Mellissa, for allowing us to share this on our blog.