Tag Archives: paper or threads

Mom

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It’s Mother’s Day this weekend (at least it is here in the US).  So, in celebration of mothers generally, I want to talk about my mother in particular, and promote her amazing business for two reasons:

  1. She’s insanely talented, and I legit think that you guys would love her work.
  2. She would never in a million years think about self-promotion, so I’m going to do it for her.  (Sorry Mom.  I know this is going to make you self-concious, but I’m going to brag about you for a little bit.)

My mom, apart from being the one who taught me how to knit, is a fantastic seamstress (sewer?) and an insanely talented illustrator.  A few years back she took early retirement, and opened up an Etsy store, Paper or Threads.

She makes bags.

Amazing knitting project bags.

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(SWEATERS!!)

But she doesn’t just make bags.  Oh no- that would be too easy.  She designs her own fabric for them.

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(SHEEP!!)

She’s got big bags and little bags.  Bags with zips and bags with drawstrings.  And, I know this sounds like I’m just shilling, but I swear to god, they’re the nicest project bags I own.  They’re made from really quality cotton fabric (that feature her own original designs… I can’t emphasize that enough), and they’re all fully-lined (which means you won’t run into any annoying fraying edges to tangle up your yarn) and last for years and years.il_1588xN.1635891553_4ld8

(GNOMES!!!)

She’s got designs for everyone- from kitchy gnomes to adorable farm animals to classy all-over prints.  (I’m a big fan of the gnomes myself.)il_1588xN.1178395020_h0c8

(TREES!!)

And, if you sew, you can get yardage of her fabrics through Snapfish!  Capture2(SLOTHS!!)

Imagine a dress made of sloths!  Or a quilt covered in socks!Capture

(SOCKS!!!)

Fair warning- I’ve been trying to get Mom to increase her prices for a while (because she seriously undercharges for her amazing bags), so if you want to grab a bag or two (and you should),  head over to her Etsy store soon!

(ALSO! She makes kids’ clothes with her designs, too. They’re too stinking cute.  Definitely check them out.)

(Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!)

Presents, Presents for my Birthday!

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It’s my birthday!  And someone around here needs to get a present!

Let’s do a drawing!

Last week, my mom generously offered up one of her beautiful yarn-themed 2016 calendar tea towels to a lucky winner.il_570xN.865351455_2ena[1]It’s time to find out who that winner is!  Let’s head on over to Random.org.

RandomorgAnd, 8 people commented on the post, so, let’s plug that in and, here we go:

8Commenter #1! Jean Valerga, you’re the winner!

I’ll send you an email this morning and we’ll get the shipping details all sorted out!

 

A New Year’s Giveaway!

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In celebration of Knit for Yourself Month, let’s do a giveaway!  After all, a giveaway is really just a present for yourself, right?

I’ve talked about my mom’s amazing graphic design talent before.  She’s the artist of the family, and designs amazing fabrics (which you can buy by the yard here), and then uses her fabric to make gorgeous little project bags, baskets and other lovely products (which you can buy here).

When I visited her over Christmas, I got to drool over her newest projects, a fabulous fabric basket:il_570xN.892993440_t1by[1]A beautiful zippered cosmetics case/sock WIP bag (I took one of these home with me.  It’s decorated with octopi.  It’s adorable.):il_570xN.883634046_5afq[1]And an adorable yarn-themed tea towel/wall hanging:

il_570xN.865351455_2ena[1]It’s printed on a really lovely cotton/linen blend, and Mom’s finished the edges really nicely (I don’t know how her hems always turn out so nice and straight.  I just don’t have the patience for that).il_570xN.865351611_8ed1[1]And here’s the best part:  You could be the lucky one to take home a tea towel of your own!

Just reply below with your favorite item from Mom’s Store, to enter, and we’ll pick a winner at random on January 18th!

(Or, if you don’t want to bother with the whole “entering a contest” thing, just pop over to Mom’s store, PaperorThreads, and treat yourself!)

(And!  Don’t forget the Petite Presents Giveaway, too!  So many Giveaways!)

Project Bags!

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My folks came out to visit me last weekend (Hi Mom! Hi Dad!) and we spent three days exploring the Puget Sound, riding the ferry, and eating too much good food.  It was great to get to spend time with them without having to worry about doing all the holiday stuff that comes with visiting at Christmas or Thanksgiving (not that I mind making Christmas cookies and eating green bean casserole).

And not to sound too materialistic, but Mom brought me a present!  An adorable little project bag, perfect for a pair of socks-in-progress.

And, do you know the best part about the project bag?  She designed and made it herself- from sewing the bag all the way down to creating the fabric designs!il_570xN.835404308_255k[1]I know, right!  Look at those goats!  Adorable!

I will own that I’m pretty good with needles and yarn, but while I like doodling from time to time, I’m not half the graphic artist my mom is.  (She’s actually going to school for illustration and has a pretty cool little business designing fabric and paper goods)

il_570xN.835407966_lncv[1]She actually has on a whole line of knitting- and crochet-inspired patterns, and then is using them to make bags, pouches, chidren’s clothes, and all manner of useful things.  Look at this sheep/stockinette project bag.  Could you get any cuter?

il_570xN.780881295_lwek[1]And, she’s even making little hand-bound notebooks, perfect for throwing into your matching knitting bag!

il_570xN.825976551_3v45[1]I know I’m a little biased, but I think that any of these would make a great gift for a favorite knitter in your life (or me!).    If you want to take a look at all the adorable things Mom makes, you can visit her Etsy store here:

Paper or Threads

Or, if you want to make your own projects from the fabric she designed, click here:

Spoonflower