KONSTANT KAOS

I had some library books to return, so I thought I might make a Tote to carry them to the library. This is the second Tote that I have made, this time the bottom is shaped, the handles are more heavy duty and there is a front pocket.

Konstant Kaos Tote

As you can see, I tend to work in bold colours rather than in pastels. The Skull love heart fabric is a Michael Miller Patchwork Cotton. Very high quality. The lining is a red homespun 100% cotton as well.

Tote - Lining

The next tote will probably have a zip and maybe an inside pocket. I generally find that it takes me 4 versions of product development before I actually get a design that I am happy with. If I wait for the “perfect design”, it takes me ages to decide where to start. So I just hop on the machine and see what my Janome produces!

A customer wanted something cute for their little grandchild (0-6months), I presented her with a selection of fabrics and she chose a pirate theme. I have used this fabric in the past for bibs and changing mats, but it looks cuter on shoes! I now make my shoes with natural fibre batting and the heel of the shoe has my logo embroidered up it and the size embroidered on the inside. Every batch of shoes that I made improves and looks more professional.

Pirate Shoes

I have often dreamt of doing a range of pirate wear clothing. I can imagine my daughter running around in a little wench outfit or a little pirate outfit. I keep on thinking that my sewing possibilities for her will open up when she starts to walk around. At the moment her clothing is horribly practical as anything too loose will hamper her ability to pull herself up on furniture and any skirts are just so impractical.

In other news, I have my first retail order for 6 pairs of “bat” shoes. Three shoes in 0-6 months and 3 shoes in 6-12 months. So the last week has been spent getting packaging and marketing materials together so that my product looks professional.  The process for making the shoes has become more streamlined and I have tops, soles and heels sitting there waiting on being sewn together when an order comes in.

Packaging Version 1

I never really knew what a bunting bag was exactly before I took on this custom job. It is very much an American term used to describe a travel garment commonly used in prams.

The client wanted a bunting bag that would suit the personality of the recipients. We discussed some ideas, I sent back a few sketches and then I did some embroidery samples. Decided that the embroidery would look better on red rather than black and then started to sew. The end of sleeve mittens were the trickiest part of the project and I am sure if I made one of these again, I would do it the “easier” way. I want to make my little girl one for next winter in purple with little bat embroidered on it.

Anyway, onto the technical stuff! The Bunting is made from Arctic Polar Fleece, PolyCotton Tartan and Wool Wadding for extra warmth. The brief that I was given was “warmth”. The Bunting has a custom Wolf Howling embroidery done on my trusty Janome 350e and the “tags” with Konstant Kaos on them are also done on the Janome (how I love my Janome).

Bunting Bag

Close up

For more images of Konstant Kaos creations, check out my livejournal scrapbook.

A few months back I met Rosemary in my doctors surgery. My daughter had a fever and we had to get her to the doctors.

Rosemary wanted a tartan pram blanket like the one that I had made for my daughter. I made Tori a Pram/Picnic blanket after a trip to the Convent in Abbotsford. I took a picnic blanket separately and thought it would be a great idea to have a pram/picnic blanket combined. Rosemary was very patient as she waited for her products. I rang around and couldn’t get a hold of some red stuart tartan, so got some black stuart and lined it with some red polar fleece.

Pram/Picnic Blanket Folded up

The Pram/Picnic Blanket opens out and then you “fold” the baby into it. The nylon straps give you some flexibility on how you can wrap them up. For example, my daughter does not like her feet covered. So I can wrap her up tightly and leave her toes peeping out the bottom.

Pram/Picnic Blanket Open

Once the straps are unclipped, it is easy to get your baby in and out of the pram.

Picnic/Pram Blanket Closed

The clips do up securely for a snug ride.

Tartan Baby Slippers

As a “reward” I also made her a set of tartan baby slippers for her niece, she was stoked

A friend’s son had his first birthday, so I made a bib set from some “boy” fabric that I had. Both items have a waterproof lining sewed into them.

Introducing … my first official sale and the happy customer (with receipt!).

The “Urban Tiger” Bib has a waterproof lining so that when bubs drools, it doesn’t go completely through to the other side. The back side of the bib is an absorbent terry toweling so that the bib can be used to mop up spills before going into the wash. Snaps at the back rather than velcro which can sometimes irritate delicate skins. At $13 a bib, this is great value!
Watch this space for more designs from the “Urban Tiger” range …

I made the following set for a friend for her baby shower a few months ago.

The materials are a beautiful candy striped flannelette material, the backing is an absorbent toweling and there is a waterproof lining. The baby wrap was extra large and was hand stamped with stars matching the colours of the material used for the bib and changing mat. The Baby Wrap was the second wrap that I hand stamped. I had a lot of fun and made lots of mess!

For a long time I have been thinking about starting my own business. Ideas come and go but it was never the right time. I have two passions in my life, teaching and sewing. Sometimes the two meet, but often I have to choose between one or the other. Since the teaching has been put on hold, the sewing has been taking over.

I am scheduled to go back to work (teaching) next January. At the moment I am on maternity leave and whilst looking after a 10 month old is exhausting, I am finding myself starved of challenges. So, let’s get this party started.

This is the blog for my business, and through time there will be an online store, but at the moment, just the blog!