Packing like a rock star: yes you can do it. What is a well organised travel bag? It’s a bag quick to pack, where you can easily find your stuff and that you can repack in a breeze.

You want to pack in such a way your stuff travels safely snuggled in your bag and is wrinkle free when you reach your destination. You also want your luggage to be well organised so you don’t need to rummage through it to find what you need. Last but not least your want the re-packing to be hassle free. It is bad enough holidays are over, you don’t need to add any packing stress to it. Here is how to get there in three easy steps.

1 – Smaller items

Compartmentalise

When you pack you have your clothes and the rest. All the rest can be categorised into several families: socks, underwear, shoes, toiletries, tech accessories, toys, entertainment things, sports clothes, etc. The trick is to have them organised into separate bags where they can live for the length of your holidays.

Easy unpacking

This is useful for packing but also for when you get there: you just need to take the bags from the suitcase to the drawer. That’s it, you’re ready to enjoy your well deserved holidays. No need for hours of unpacking. Consider what you’re packing when choosing the type of bags you’ll use. Too many plastic bags will make for a noisy trip when you’re going through your stuff. But products that may leak like shampoo or solar scream must be kept in resealable plastic bags.

You’ll need empty bags

You also need to pack a few empty bags. They will come handy for your dirty laundry or to pack all the new things you’ll get during your stay. Pick a selection of sizes and materials: large and small bags, some fabric pouches and a few clear zip plastic bags. To save you more time you can even leave those in your travel bag at all time so you don’t need to hunt them down each time you’re packing.

For the travelling family

Compartmentalising is really a life saver if several people are going to pack their things into the same suitcase. To make things easier, think about code colouring the bags or having a way or another to identify which is whom. If travelling with young children or a baby, put together a bundle of essentials for each day (for example: pair of socks, pants, bib, etc.) and pack them individually.

2 – Clothes

Let’s talk about your clothes now. You need to store them in such a way they take as little space as possible and they stay as wrinkle free as possible. In that matter there are three ways of doing things: folding, rolling and bundling. My personal belief is that you need a bit of all.

Rolling

Rolling allows you to create an even layer at the bottom of your suitcase and helps keeping the garments wrinkle free. Even better: roll them up in a sheet of tissue paper to keep them neat. Most tops can be rolled up. Skirts, everyday dresses and most trousers can too.

Bundling

Bulkier items like jumpers and jeans later don’t do rolling so well. They need to be folded together in such a way they form an even bundle to be added at the top of your roll layer. This is when you put your puzzle skills to good use. Keep the more wrinkle-prone items on the outside of the bundle.

Folding

Delicate or formal items like evening dresses or suits are to be folded. Turn suit pieces inside out. Store evening gowns in their own plastic pocket or bag.

3 – Filling it up

Shoes first

Believe it or not, order matters when packing wisely. First up are the shoes. Put them on the wheels side of the case or at the bottom of a soft bag. Fill them with some of the smaller items that you may not need urgently, like socks or toiletries.

Clothes in layer

Next are the clothes and here you’ll work in layers. The first layer is made of your rolled up clothes. You’re building an even foundation on which you can add your bundles of clothes. Folded garments come on the top of your bundle. As you go and between each layer of clothes, use your bags of smaller items to fill in the gaps so each layer is even and ready for the next one.

The pyjama trick

Keep your essentials on the top of the travel bag. Pyjamas and toiletries need to be easily accessible when you get to this hotel room in the middle of the night with a bunch of exhausted children hanging onto you. Anyway your suitcase is so well organised that you can leave the unpacking until the morning, it will take you only a few minutes. Who do you thank now?

Now you have it. I’m not making this up: these tips work. Please tell me what you think or if you can do better. I’m always looking at growing my packing goddess skills.

If you’re looking for cotton bags for your underwear, check out my lingerie bags. They come in various styles and colour. I also offer personalisation options.

Fellow crafters you know it too well: coming up with a new product involves a prototype phase. Which is a glorious mix of planning and talent and chance. By documenting integrally the process, designers/makers can save a lot of time and some of their sanity (for those of us who have any left).

Prototype. Sometimes it is the short and polite name for “try a bit of this and then a bit of that and then try again until you get it bloody right”. This can be a painful process but by some kind of magic all frustration disappears once we’ve reached the end of it. It sounds pretty much like giving birth if you ask me.

So much that we’re happy to forget all about it. Until we need to do it all over again, because we want to amend the design or use it as a base for a new one for instance. This is when the wise designer/maker stands out. To save yourself from another round of hair pulling, each time you go into prototyping phase get into the habit of:

• Keep all original art and drawings. Yes, even the ugly ones. There may be something here, even something tiny, that you may need to go back to at a later stage.

• Time stamp everything. So you know when you first worked on something. And you know which version predates which. On top of the date you can add a version number or sizing information (S/M/L, 100%/150%/180%) if applicable. It could save you much recalculating in the future.

• Take notes on the making process as you build your prototype. Keep track of how you did what and in which order. Update the document as the process changes. So when time comes to make another one you won’t waste time guessing what the next step is.

• Be as exhaustive and detailed as possible. Document colour codes, tool sizes, material references, etc. The idea is to not have to check supplies and tools again and again to figure out what to use.

• Store it all at the same place. A good storage option are transparent pockets gathered in one big binder. Use a system that makes sense to you: should it be ordered by type of product, by name, by size, by colour, etc.?

Next time you reach for your prototype binder you can pat yourself on the back. You’ve just avoided some nasty time wasting and trouble. And if you have any more prototyping documentation tips, please feel free to share in the comments below.

Today was shooting day. This is the way it works now in the studio. With new products to shoot all the time, I have decided to take pictures only once a week because of all the moving around furniture it involves. So at the beginning of the week, I set up the photo gear (have a look at my Instagram to see what the set up is like). My beloved lavender sachets deserved a makeover, so I also shoot them today, along with some new bags soon to be added in the Etsy shop. When I took them out of their storage box I got overwhelmed by the beautiful lavender scent and I thought: “If only I could share this scent on the blog!”. But I can’t, so here are a few pictures!

These lavender sachets smell so good because they are filled with 100% dried lavender and nothing else. Would you believe this lavender was organically grown here in Ireland? A friend of mine got so much lavender in her garden last year (do you remember this amazing summer?) that she very nicely gave some to me. The scent is very strong and this is definitely the one of delicious lavender. Slipped in your drawer, they will infuse your linen with the delicate lavender scent.

Lavender does not only plainly smells good. It can also repel bugs, the kind who like to live in closets and eat clothes. Yes, lavender just rocks like that! These sachets have a loop so you can hang them in your wardrobe to protect your garments.

Lavender is also known for its relaxing effects. These sachets can also be slipped under a pillow so everybody has a good night sleep.

As you know my love for colours, I have made these cottage shaped lavender sachets in four bright colours: pink, orange, blue and green. They all have golden accents for the cottage details like windows, door knob and roof tiles. I can’t even tell you guys how much I love them.

They are available in my Etsy shop by the unit or as a bundle of four – with the unit price working out a bit less expensive of course! Each cottage lavender sachet is 7 x 8 cm (2 3/4” x 3 1/4”) and they are 100% handmade in Ireland.

What do you guys use lavender for? And how? I would love to hear about it in the comments!

Let’s pretend you want to publish a call out for newsletter subscribers on your Facebook page. Maybe you don’t have any time or no graphic skills, but still want to make a visual impact. We have you covered: with Canva, you can easily create a professional looking design.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:

• Pick an existing (free) design,
• Amend it to fit your brand identity,
• Save it on your computer or mobile device.

Before you start:

First, figure out the text you want to display in your post. This will help you to select the right design.

1 – Go to Canva

Here it is: https://www.canva.com/

You’ll need to create an account, but now worries: this is free. Note that you can also log in with your Facebook or Google account.

2 – Select a type of design

On the first page, click on “Facebook post”. It will set up a template that has just the right dimensions for Facebook.

3 – Pick a design

You can now chose between many designs. The free ones show a little “Free” label in the bottom right corner. To make up your mind, think about how your message would fit in the design. Remember: you’ll be able to edit the text and modify the colours. If this is your first try, I advise you select a design as simple as possible.

On the left hand side of the page, scroll down until you find the one. Click on the design and you will see it appear on the right hand side of the page, ready for you!

4 – Pro tips: how Canva works

Here is what you need to know before we go any further:

Selecting items

Clicking on an item (text or graphic) will select it. For each one you will see the relevant toolbar appearing in top navigation bar.

Saving your work

On Canva, you don’t need to save your work. It automatically saves quite frequently, so hooray for peace of mind!

In case of mistake

There is a “undo” functionality. It is available in the very top navigation bar (blue background), on the left hand side, quite close to the Canva logo.

5 – Modify the text

Double click on the bit of text you wish to change. It will show as selected, you can now type your own text. The new text will replace your selection.

6 – Change the background colour

This is done in 4 steps:

1 – Click on the background,

2 – Click on the colour square in the top toolbar,

3 – Click on the “+” sign,

4 – Click and drag the colour picking dot around until your design displays the right colour.

To close the colour picking tools, just click anywhere outside of the design, on the grey background. You’re done with the background!

7 – Move, resize and rotate

Click on the item you want to resize, rotate or move around.

• To move it, point your mouse on the dashed outline until a cross appear. Then click and drag until the item final destination.
• To resize it, click and drag to dot appearing at each corner.
• To rotate it, click and drag the circle arrow showing at the bottom of the selected item.

8 – Retrieve the final image

Are you done and happy with your design? As it is saved as you go, all you need to do now is to download the file.

A click on the “Download” button in the toolbar at the top of the page will open a dialog box.

First, you need to pick your file type using the drop down menu. Pick JPG or PNG, these are the two formats used for images.

Then click on “Download” and the file will be saved on your mobile device or computer. You see a dialog box offering to share the image on social media but this is not mandatory: you can just click the “x” in the top right corner to close the box.

Hot tips, to go further:

• To change the text colour, click on the bit you want to modify, you’ll see a colour square appearing in the top toolbar. Select the colour just the same way you did for your background.
• This also works with some icons or graphic items colours (like the leaves in our design). If you click on them, the colour picking tool will appear in the top toolbar.
• You can change the font face too! Click on the text block. In the top toolbar, you will see the current font name at the very left. Click on it to pick a new one.

Here, you have it. Now you know how to edit a Canva design to add your own text and colours. And it took no time, did it? Canva offers many more options like importing your own images or adding many graphic details. So play around: Canva is quite easy to get into. And remember that if you ever need help, you can ask Canva.

Who knew one could crame that many yummy words in one single book title? Look: handmade, bags, natural, fabrics – isn’t it all a girl would dream of? Anyway that’s what went on in my brain when Tuttle Publishing asked if I wanted to review the book. I said something along the lines of: “Are you kidding me? Of course I would!” Or so. The bottom line is: this book didn’t disappoint, au contraire.

Emiko Takahashi has put together a lovely collection of totes and purses in the newly published book “Handmade Bags in Natural Fabrics: Over 25 Easy-to-Make Purses, Totes and More“. What strikes first is the soft rustic-modern look and feel of the 25 sewing projects offered here. We’re talking about beige, soft greys, vintage blues, powdery pinks, pastel yellows. There is an old French cottage atmosphere in the pictures, with the use of worn out pieces of furnitures or traditional French linen as photo props. And this is all very poetic and comforting, a great incentive to get a closer look at the book.

Projects are sorted into three categories: shopping bags, everyday bags, fashion bags. The shopping bags are meant to house your grocery shopping and are therefore very roomy. There are some clever pieces of design that are worth looking into: the two way bags (2 sets of handles), the checkout basket bag (used to line your shopping basket when shopping) or the eco bag (folding down extra roomy tote). The everyday bags series features some very easy projects, that are really a good idea for the beginner: the shoulder bag or the flat bag are simple to make but can still look super good with a creative choice of fabric. Good idea: the instructions to make the flat bag and the fancy purse are detailed in two pictures rich lessons at the beginning of the instruction part of the book. Now the fashion bags are truly inspiring. With all these lace trimmings, clasp frames and creative embellishments they are a real treat to the eye.

Now you know this book has really pretty projects. But what about the making part? The average level of project is easy to medium. This book is not about complicated designs. It is about the joy of hand sewing simple projects. Because the author designed this book for hand sewing first. Surely enough, you can still machine stitch them. But if you go down the hand sewing road you’ll get a chance to get caught in the happy and quiet meditation that invariably comes upon me when hand stitching. Behind this book is the idea that lovely bags don’t have to be complicated, a wise choice of fabric and trimmings goes a long way.

Instructions are based on clear drawings and each step of the construction is detailed. However not all actions required are explained and it can take a bit of guessing. That’s why if you’re a beginner I would recommend to start with the two detailed lessons mentioned above (the flat bag and the fancy purse). Just so you know what it takes to make a bag and then you can give a go to other more complex projects. Special bonus points for the focus on interfacing: the author details all the types used in the book and how they work (interfacing can be such a daunting material!).

To sum it up, I definitely recommend this book. With the C******* word coming up very fast, you could pick a couple of lovely and quick projects to give to friends and family. And as far as I am concerned I’ll pack a bag project when I go home for a family Christmas during which I’ll probably need some alone meditation time.

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This is not a sponsored post. I didn’t buy the book but remember I only review interesting stuff and always tell what I think about any product I review. However I am part of the Amazon Associates Programme. If one of my readers clicks on the amazon links (first link of the post), I would earn a percentage of their purchases with Amazon.

The Thelma vs. Delphine give away is now over. Over two weeks, you people have been picking your favourite design to enter the giveaway. At stake was a personalised lingerie bag of your favourite design. Now the response has been so overwhelming that I have decided to give away not une bag but… two bags!  Join us after the jump to find out who are the lucky winners.

First I need to say it seems almost impossible to pick a winner design. Among your answers, almost 50% picked Delphine and a bit more than 50% picked Thelma. So thank you all but I still don’t know which is the best one. I guess it means I’ll keep both of them in my shop

Now for the winners:

• Winner of a Delphine personalised bag: Heather Medeiros
• Winner of a Thelma personalised bag: Brid Flood Moran

Congratulations guys, I’ll be in touch to confirm with you your choice of design and text to print. And thank you for entering the competition, it has been amazing.

Do you wear underwear? I do. The thing with underwear is: it is small so it is prone to creating mess. Don’t get me wrong, I love my knickers. So much that I want them to feel safe anytime. And I want to be able to find them when I need them. That’s when my lingerie bags come in handy. And they look great, don’t they? If you’d like to win one bag with your name on it, read through for the Thelma vs. Delphine give away guidelines.

This is a drawstring bag featuring a hand printed knickers design and personalised text. Ideal to pack knickers, panties, lingerie, bras, stockings etc. and travel tidy. Thanks to the customised text, the embroidered pouch is also an ideal gift bag for some lingerie!

– 23 x 27 cm (9”x11”).

– Closing with cotton draw string which makes the bag extra light, it won’t add any weight to your luggage.

– The bag is made of 100% medium weight unbleached cotton.

– Care: machine washable 40 C / warm. Do not bleach. Do not tumble dry. Iron on reverse of the fabric using cotton settings.

– The text is hand printed by me with solvent free and water based ink on a fair trade cotton bag. Please be aware that the longer the text, the smaller each letter.

To enter, go to the giveaway page and follow simple steps: share the giveaway with your friends and tell us what your favourite design is. Then your name will be entered in a draw, the winner will be selected at random.

The giveaway is open worldwide (we’ll ship anywhere in the world, we’re cool like that) from 6th November. It closes down on the 20th November 2014 at 5.00 p.m. (GMT time, Dublin Ireland). Winner to be announced on 22nd November.

Good luck guys!

Stud pumpkin

Katie at House of Four made this super cute pumpkin as part of a challenge. I love the rock n roll looks on this stud pumpkin.

Rhinestones pumpkin

We all love a bit of bling don’t we? I think pumpkins are no different. Better Homes and Gardens share this tutorial for a faux web pumpkin made with rhinestones.

Coastal pumpkins

Now I love the looks of these pastel papers. They work very well with the pumpkin don’t you think. This is a brilliant idea from Courtney at Crafts by Courtney.

Simple patterned pumpkins

It took only some paint and some sharpie pens for Sara to achieve this bright and cheerful look. She tells us how she did it on her blog Confetti Sunshine.

Easy no carve ideas

I had to mention this post from A Beautiful Mess packed with easy ideas, none of them including any carving, yeah! Stencils, leaves, studs, paint, ribbons, you’ll get lot of inspiration from this!

Not sure which idea I’ll try first (though I have a slight obsession with studs lately). So what do you plan to do with your pumpkins this year?