Completely Awesome Etsy Purchase: Custom Journal from This Old Hen House

A few weeks ago, I contacted Miss Amanda from ThisOldHenHouse about making a custom notebook for me. Of course, being the picky person that I am, I had about a million requests when I was asking for a custom notebook. I wanted something earthy, but not cartoony and paper that was heavy enough for sketching but not too heavy. Well, lo and behold, Miss Amanda let me choose from a bunch of different paper choices for the cover of my journal and enclosed just-the-right-weight of paper between the covers. A super affordable Paypal bill and a few days later, I got my journal in the mail.


I have been using it like a madman since and carrying it with me every day to class. (Please excuse the odd usage of phrases like "madman" - I've been reading Catcher in the Rye for about the 10th time.) I am a compulsive list-maker, and it's so nice to not be constantly losing them from writing them on random little bits of paper.

I am constantly getting ideas for new projects, ways to improve my shop, improving costs and shipping for customers, etc. Now that I have my handy-dandy little book, I am finally keeping them all in one place.





I also purchased a set of the little matchbook notepads that she makes. They make such cute and unique promotional freebies to throw in with my sales.


So, my friends, I encourage you all to go check out Amanda's papercrafts shop, and her awesome jewelry shop! You won't be sorry. :)

For the Birds

I have a confession to make:
I hate birds.

Given this random tidbit of trivia about me, I hope you can understand why the bird CRAZE in crafting is driving me CRAZY. I swear, you could slap a bird sticker on a Kleenex, list it on Etsy, and sell it for $15 plus $4 shipping.

Don't get me wrong - some people make really amazing crafts and incorporate birds into their themes in some way or another. I'm not trying to put anyone down. Just birds...ew. I don't like them (except ducks), and I will be more than happy when this trend is over!

That being said, I really need to spend a lot less time browsing around Etsy and getting annoyed at all the bird-crafts and spend a lot more time doin' my own thing. :)

I *am* out of the creative funk that I mentioned in my last post. I'm almost finished with a new apron top, and I listed these fun little wallets in my shop over the weekend:

Creative Funk

I am in one of those creative funks. I get them every so often. When they are over, I usually come out of it invigorated and making things better than ever. I just hate waiting it out.

I wanted to finish up a custom top for a customer today, but the working conditions in my apartment weren't exactly prime for creating. It seems that spring is gone and summer is here; it was in the upper 80's today and humid. To top it off, my air conditioning wasn't working. My thermostat was reading 93 degrees (inside).


It has finally dropped down to 80 degrees in here (at 1:00 am), and I can bare sewing now. So, I'm going to be up finishing that custom top for the next probably 2 hours then I have at least an hour worth of homework to do for my Native American Culture class. If I can be in bed by 4:00 am, I will be a happy camper.

My Boys

This is what the male half of my household does while I am up late at night sewing. :)

Two New Mushroom T's

I listed 2 new mushroom T's in the shop today.
I just love them. They're fun and funky and fresh. It doesn't get much better than that. :)

The Mushroom T

Awesome addition to my new line of T's. The mushroom T! This one is a size Small and in the color "Stone."

Guest Bloggin'

Just wanted to let you all know that this week I'm a guest blogger for Nourish Boutique!
Some of my sweetheart style apron tops and knee-length patchwork dresses are for sale there.
Go check it out if you get the chance. :)

The Tree T

The first of many more to come in my shop, I present to you...
The Tree T!

Musician Inspired Jewelry

I decided to try something a little different for the store - Musician Inspired Jewelry. Each piece is inspired by a beloved musician or band. I started working on these new pieces while I was sick and didn't have the strength to sit up at my sewing machine for long periods of time. Jewelry is great that way - I can sit in my giant old recliner and work on it, even if I'm tired or not feeling great.

Goals for the Musician Inspired Jewelry line at Banana Pants Clothes:

• Offer affordable jewelry to those who live on a budget but still want something beautiful. I try to keep my prices low but still incorporate beautiful things into each piece - such as real jasper, amethyst, or jade.

• Express my appreciation for the beautiful music that inspires me to create.

• Help my customers incorporate functional art into every aspect of their lives - clothing, gift giving, jewelry.... I still have so many more ideas that I hope to explore in the coming months as well!

Musician Inspired Earrings - Neil Young (Prairie Wind)

Musician Inspired Earrings - Jimi Hendrix (Purple Haze)

Miss Jade and Sunflower Fields

I have been sick this week, so unfortunately, little has gotten done. I've been working on a custom skirt as well as a custom top that need to be done and mailed out by Monday and Tuesday, respectively.


Since I've been feeling so funky (in a bad way), only one new item got listed this week in the store. A necklace I call Sunflower Fields. I was working on it when I was up late one night, unable to sleep (which is like most nights). Having tons of creative energy is a blessing and a curse at the same time!

I think I'm going to start making a lot more jewelry. Not really as a money-maker, but more of an up-all-night craft. Sewing is not a great outlet for creative energy late at night for several reasons:
1) My serger sounds like a freight train, and I don't want to wake up my hard-working man at 3:00 in the morning
2) I sewed through my finger once when I was sewing late at night. (Here's a tip, kids - never sew when you haven't had enough sleep! It's dangerous!)
3) The later the hour, the more crooked my seams get.








This weekend I am going to try to take a lesson from my cat, Miss Jade. She is probably the most uptight and skiddish cat in the world, but even SHE knows how to relax when she really needs it!

An Overdue Thanks

I owe a giant thank you to someone in my life who helps me run this little business of mine - my man, Brendan. He is so supportive of me in my artistic endeavors.

Brendan is also the main post-office runner for Banana Pants Clothes. To those who don't run an online store, that may no sound like that much. But, for those of you who do, you know it's a HUGE part of the work! This is a man who works 40 hours a week, goes to school full-time, and still never complains when I ask him to make a run to the post office after a long day so my awesome customers can get their creations in a timely manner.

So, if you've ordered an item from me and got it an exceptionally short of amount of time, please send your good thoughts to my love, Brendan - he works hard to get handmade love into your mailbox as soon as possible! :)