Etsy Stock Take - Week Forty-six

Popular last week: Swarovski Drop Earrings at 925maille

Etsy Stock Take - Week Forty-six - Sunday Linky Party

Hi guys,

We're moving! We're moving house! Off we go to Delft in South Holland. Ohhh, lots of new adventures await us.

This does mean that blogging might have to take a back seat in the next weeks. I will try and keep up with the Etsy Stock Take, but I'll be promoting it less. That means that you linker-uppers might wanna promote it a bit more (pinning, tweeting, blogging, Etsy teams, you know the deal...) so that you get the best out of this exposure opportunity.

Also I would like to start a new feature where I introduce some of you Etsy Stock Takers personally. You might have already read about this in the regular email. I already have a couple of takers. If you are interested in getting involved or being featured, please drop me a line. 

I hope you have had a lot of crafty sales this week. Please show us what you have in your shops!

Shoppers of handmade stuff:

Scroll down for some more beautiful products made by some of my readers. Please visit their shops on Etsy and consider buying something! You'll be glad you did :)

Etsy Sellers:
Please, no holiday items, let's keep this a Halloween and Christmas free zone!

Link up your items to get more exposure for your shop. You might be featured in the Best of the Week or Best of the Month features (and then you'll be tweeted and pinned!). Vintage is welcome too!

You have 2 options:

1. Bloggers:

Write a new post on your blog (telling us about your new items), mention the Etsy Stock Take and link back here so your readers get a chance to find the link up list (or add the button above).

Then link up using the Linky widget (where it says 'click here to enter') at the bottom of this post so we can find your blog.

2. Link up directly to your Etsy shop:  
Post a link that goes directly to your new items in Etsy using the Linky widget (where it says 'click here to enter') at the bottom of this post. You can put up as many as you want and we will see your images nice and big.

If you have problems with linking up, please let me know and I will give you a hand (my email).

Everyone:
It'd be lovely if you took a moment to go and check out some stuff that others post below - go shopping!

Ciao!

Katz :)

PS: If you enjoyed this, please share it with your twitter followers:         Tweet #etsystocktake


If the list at the bottom of this post is closed, link up with a live list anytime, click here and choose the latest Etsy Stock Take...

Classic Cars in Hamburg: BMV Isetta

My favourite classic car of the moment: The BMW Isetta

I saw this going down the road ahead of me not so long ago near Klein Flottbeck and I was thinking 'oh please stop, please stop'. I had never seen anything like it ever before and was eager for a picture!

It is the BMW Isetta. It was mass-produced in the 50's in Germany and made the car accessible to those who had not even imagined they could afford one, let alone a BMW. Based on the designs of an Italian car company, Iso, with a few modifications this car became really popular.

The front opening BMW Isetta (next to a 'small' modern Fiat 500 for scale!).

After mentioning this to a friend, he wanted to see my pictures. It turned out that he had owned this car! He told me that it opened at the front. I couldn't believe it, but when I looked again more closely, I could see how it worked. Wow!

Hurrah to micro bubble cars. It reminds me of when we had a Smart car. But that's another story...

Check out the video for more info on this fabulous little car! I think it's eclipsing my love for the original Fiat 500. Oh uh!





This is part of my photography project: Classic Cars. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of vintage cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

1. Mini Cooper in Hamburg
2. V.W. Beetle in Hamburg
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis in Hamburg
4. Mini Cooper in Hamburg
5. Vintage cars in the UK Winter 2012  
6. Renault 5 in Hamburg
7. Classic cars in Sylt in Germany Spring 2012 
8. Classic American in Hamburg
9. Fiat 500 in Liguria in Italy Summer 2012
10. VW Beetle Convertible in Lausanne in Switzerland Summer 2012 
11. Mini Cooper in the Hafen City in Hamburg 
12. Mystery Blue in Hamburg

LOVE classic cars!

PS. Like to buy handmade? Check out amazing stuff in the Etsy Stock Take. If you sell your craft on Etsy, please come and join in :)

Classic Cars in Hamburg: Mini Cooper in Hafen City

A couple of months ago I had to go to the Hafen City Zoll (Customs Office) to collect a parcel (an Etsy purchase!). On the way back to the station I walked past this little chesnut. I loved the building it was parked next to too.

Looking at this photo is like a glimpse of a moment from another era. The Hafen City is an area of Hamburg's working harbour that is undergoing intense redevelopment, with impressive modern buildings designed by world famous architects going up. It's special that I found this little vintage corner.

This is part of my photography project: Classic Cars. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of vintage cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

1. Mini Cooper in Hamburg
2. V.W. Beetle  in Hamburg
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis in Hamburg
4. Mini Cooper in Hamburg
5. Vintage cars in the UK Winter 2012  
6. Renault 5 in Hamburg
7. Classic cars in Sylt in Germany Spring 2012 
8. Classic American in Hamburg
9. Fiat 500 in Liguria in Italy Summer 2012
10. VW Beetle Convertible in Lausanne in Switzerland Summer 2012

LOVE classic cars!

PS. Like to buy handmade? Check out amazing stuff in the Etsy Stock Take. If you sell your craft on Etsy, please come and join in :)

Vintage Cars in Hamburg: Classic American

American Auto outside a retro mechanic in Osdorf, Hamburg

This is part of my photography project: Vintage Cars in Hamburg. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of classic cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

1. Mini Cooper
2. V.W. Beetle 
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis
4. Mini Cooper
5. Vintage cars in the UK Winter 2012  
6. Renault 5 
7. Classic cars in Sylt, Germany Spring 2012

LOVE classic cars!

PS. Like to buy handmade? Check out amazing stuff in the Etsy Stock Take.  If you sell your craft on Etsy, please come and join in :)

Vintage Cars - Sylt Spring 2012

Very posh Jaguar in Kampen. Can't find my notes where I wrote down the model...

VW Beetle Soft Top in a garden, also in Kampen.

Another car in Kampen, probably antique, not vintage! Make and model also gone off with the fairies...

Good old VW Beetle in not so posh Rantum by the sea. This is a fisherman's car me thinks.

This is part of my photography project: Vintage Cars in Hamburg. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of classic cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

1. Mini Cooper
2. V.W. Beetle 
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis
4. Mini Cooper
5. Vintage Cars in the UK Winter 2012  
6. Renault 5

LOVE classic cars!

PS. If you are an Etsy Seller you can promote your items on this blog right now for free in the Etsy Stock Take. Please come and join in :)

Handmade Cotton Kimono

A finished sewing project - a handmade cotton kimono!

I used a sewing pattern by AtelierJoy based in Paris. It's a great pattern, simple for advanced beginners like me and well illustrated with pictures all the way through. I adapted the length so that it almost reaches the floor. I am pleased with the result and love hanging out at home in my new kimono :)

Details

Fabric

I had a question about how much fabric to buy (as the pattern was set up in inches/yard but in Germany sellers use centimetres/metres). This is the answer I received from the helpful Joy (at AtelierJoy):
 
The width of the fabric you buy will be either 115 cm (45" wide) or 150 cm (60" wide)

for 115 cm wide fabric
short kimono: purchase 3 1/4 meters
long kimono : purchase 4 meters

for 150 cm wide fabric
short kimono: purchase 2 meters
long kimono: purchase 2 1/2 meters

I bought 2.5 metres of a butterfly and flower print cotton in the Wednesday morning fabric market in Altona, Hamburg for EUR3.75 (bargain!)

Thread:

I used a spool of vintage cotton thread (Dewhurst's Sylko). I found this lovely magenta colour spool in a box of threads that I inherited from my grandmother. I've had the box for about 15 years and I'm always excited to pull out and use a little treasure from inside. It was still wrapped in its plastic! I used almost the whole spool of thread for this project.

French Seams:

I love the french seams! It was the first time I had sewn them and they were easier than I expected. In fact, the inside of the kimono is as neat and tidy as the outside. It's amazing! Very satisfying to see such a clean finish.

Hem tucks neatly into the bottom of the collar

Finishing:

As well as the French seams, the finishing for the hem and collar were very nice. A deep hem adds some weight improving the drape of the kimono. It tucks into the bottom of the collar piece like a dream, no unfinished edges anywhere! 

Tip:

I discovered that masking tape is my friend. I used it to help mark out my measurements (the majority of the pieces in this pattern are rectangle so you can simply measure them, there is only one paper piece for the curve of the neck). I also used it to label pieces so that I could put my hands on them quickly when sewing them together. It didn't leave any sticky residue, but a little test should be done before using it on delicate fabric.

Are you an Etsy seller? Have you linked up to this week's Etsy Stock Take? Do so, it's great exposure for your new items! 

Vintage Cars in Hamburg - Renault 5

 

Vintage Cars in Hamburg - Renault 5

Today I have great pleasure featuring a little old Renault 5. I spied this out while driving in the Flottbeck area of Hamburg and managed to snap it while stopped at a red light.

This was my first car! In exactly the same colour! I had adventures in that car.

-Driving to a party with the heated curlers still in my hair...
-Locking the key inside and having to hitch a lift to get the spare from home...
-Finding out the hard way what to do about the choke and flooding the engine with petrol...
-Reversing into a lamp pole after checking out a possible wedding reception location with my mum...
-Wheel spinning on gravel and being too chicken to do hand-brake turns (if I could turn back time!)...
-Leaving the lights on and Petie teaching me how to recharge a car battery (Thanks for all the great car stuff Pete)...
-Seriously considering pouring porridge oats into the radiator to seal a crack (yea really!)...

Oh the things I learnt! Shame you can't just open up the hood and fiddle with cars these days. I liked getting my hands dirty. Now you just have a computer to deal with. Can't argue with progress though, at least my current car ALWAYS starts in the morning!

Chilli Muchacha was a sweetie, until someone rammed into the side of her and that was that...

My mum also had a little black one. Good times :)


This is part of my photography project: Vintage Cars in Hamburg. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of old cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

1. Mini Cooper
2. V.W. Beetle 
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis
4. Mini Cooper
5. Vintage Cars in the UK Winter 2012 

LOVE vintage cars!

PS. If you are an Etsy Seller you can promote your items on this blog right now for free in the Etsy Stock Take. Please come and join in :)

Vintage Sewing Machines - Top Tips

I was in the UK last month. One day my mum took me to a precious little shop called Fabric Corner in Bournemouth, Dorset. It was full of vintage sewing machines! I love vintage sewing machines!

The owner, Stanley, is very friendly and helpful and loves having a chat. We spoke about the machines in his shop and I told him about my vintage Bernina. I had some questions (I don't have the user manual) and he had some tips.

Stanley's vintage sewing machine tips:

• When threading an old Bernina, start with the foot up. Pull the thread down (into the tension shaft) and up into the next bit. Hold your spool so no more thread comes (with your right hand) and give a tug on the cut end of the thread so that it fully engages with the machine. Then let the foot down and finish up.
• When threading a sewing machine needle, hold a piece of white card/paper behind the eye so you can see it clearly. If you have persistent trouble threading the needle, use some hair spray on the end of the thread and it'll be easier!
• Always use the same thread in the bobbin and the spool.
• The best thread, in Stanley's opinion, is Güttermann, a German produced thread.

  

By the way, I recently discovered the brand new vintage style Singer 160 sewing machine. Isn't it stunning? Beauty and function hand in hand. I like!

PS. Are you into buying handmade? Yes? Then you should check out the amazing stuff in the Etsy Stock Take. If you sell your craft on Etsy, please come and join in :)

Vintage Cars - UK Winter 2012

My FAVOURITE: Ford Capri

Mini Cooper

Citroen 2CV6 Special

Mint condition VW Camper Van

I was recently in Dorset in the UK visiting family. While I was there I noticed so many nice old vintage cars. I couldn't resist snapping some shots.

This is part of my new photography project: Vintage Cars in Hamburg. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of old cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

1. Mini Cooper
2. V.W. Beetle 
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis
4. Mini Cooper

LOVE vintage cars!

Etsy Stock Take - Week Ten

Etsy Stock Take - Week Ten

Tweet #EtsyStockTake

UPDATE! Don't post your links here anymore, please click on the link to go over to the latest Etsy Stock Take! I plan to do this at the end of every calender week, so please look out for the newest post!

I've made something new and surprising. A metal brooch. Well, not totally surprising, after all it's still crochet!

I recently got my hands on some high quality metal wire (usually used for scientific experiments - yes, I have my sources...) and decided to see if it would allow me to crochet it. So far so good. I made a granny square. After my first attempt at granny squaring ended in disaster, I'm quite chuffed with how this came out.

Very sweet. Rather vintage, in a modern way. Do you want a close up?

Until next week,

Kat x

Join me:

I hope that you fellow Etsian's will join me in showcasing your new items each Sunday (or anytime after that really!).  Let's blog hop!

You have 2 options:

1. Write a new post on your blog (telling us about your new items), title it Etsy Stock Take and link back here, using the Mr Linky widget (where it says 'click here to enter') at the bottom of this post.

2. Post a link that goes directly to your new items in the Mr Linky widget (where it says 'click here to enter') at the bottom of this post (you can put up as many as you like!).

I will list the links to each week's stock take on my Etsy Stock Take page. Please go and have a browse!

It'd be lovely if you took a moment to go and check out some stuff that others post below. Let's show our support for each other craftwise!

I'm hoping that my goal of listing one item a week will be a powerful motivator and a source of promotion for us all...

Vintage Cars in Hamburg: VW Beetle

Vintage Cars in Hamburg: VW Beetle

Look at this baby! 

I saw this last week in the Eppendorf area. In fact, I saw it a month or so ago and regretted not taking a photo of it then, so I was really happy when I passed by again and it was in practically the same spot!

I really like the moss green colour against the winter trees.

This is part of my new photography project: Vintage Cars in Hamburg. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of old cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

For more in the vintage car photo collection:

1. Mini Cooper
2. V.W. Beetle 
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis

Any nice cars around your way?

Vintage movies for everyone!

Hepburn images and fashion.

Do I love old films? Is it snowy and cold where I am? Do I feel the need of a hot drink, blanket and an old movie? 

Yes, yes and yes!

Well then, I need to sit back and peruse the Entertainment Magazine's Free Movie Catalogue. 

This is a collection of films which have made it into the public domain in one way or another. You don't need to sign up with the site and you don't need to download anything. All the films are available immediately for streaming straight to your computer.

If you can hook your laptop up to the TV you're laughing!

I recently watched Charade. It's just so lovely. French Alps, Parisian apartments and a good dose of murder mystery. And at the centre of it all Audrey looks so innocent.

What will I watch next? Where's my easy movie knitting?

A big thanks to Mimi for bringing this site to my attention x

Vintage Cars in Hamburg: Mini

I saw this little cutie parked in Eppendorf last Friday. 

Just thought I'd share... I love vintage cars, they make me happy. 

So maybe I'm going to start a little collection of photos. 

I'll take photos of old motors when out and about and update my blog with them... 

Yay! *Big smile*

For more in the vintage car photo collection:

1. Mini Cooper
2. V.W. Beetle 
3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis

New Vintage Cape

Are capes still in?

I hope so because I'm finally getting round to wearing mine!

This was my fist BIG knit (ie. not a scarf!).

I chose to knit a cape because there would be no sleeves to fight with. I love it particularly because I knit it from a vintage pattern - it's the one on the left below.

Even better, I was able to find the actual suggested bouclé vintage yarn in a very nice lady's stash in Ravelry. How great is that?! So I'm snuggling a cape that was super trendy 50 years ago in wool produced 50 years ago. 

So is my cape new or vintage?

Ravelry project details.

Oh, and for the pros and cons of cape wearing, this is a must read! 

 For more vintage stuff you might like:

• Vintage Leather Colour Blocking 
• Vintage and Yarn Shopping 
• Vintage Car Photo Project

Vintage Leather Colour-Blocking

Skirt from F.Kids, blouse and jumper from H&M

Here I am rocking my vintage leather skirt! 

It's comfy and very warm and has roomy pockets which is always a plus! 

I thought it was ideal for trying out a bit of colour-blocking, something that I've recently discovered (although as I rarely wear black I think I might be a natural colour-blocker...?!). 

Turquoise and purple. Does it work?

For more vintage stuff you might like:

• Vintage and Yarn Shopping 
• New Vintage Cape

Vintage and Yarn Shopping.

Oh I had the best afternoon yesterday!

Me and Mimi did a little vintage and yarn shopping in Hamburg. First we found an amazing vintage boutique in Altona, called F. Kids, we had wandered past previously and then returned to investigate. It's a treasure trove of good condition, clean and fresh vintage clothing and shoes, mixed in with a few new handbags and a smattering of handmade jewellery and other little delights. We spent a while in there chatting with the owner (in English and German) and I tried a few things on. This is what I bought:

It's a buttery soft calf-length real leather skirt. It's perfect, no stains, holes, lining is intact. And look at the colour! I loved it the moment I clapped eyes on it. And now it's mine and I have a feeling that I'll be wearing this for years and years and forever probably.

 Then off we happily skipped to Mylys, near Sternschanze. Now this is a shop that I could quite easily live in. I say that because not only because it is a bright white environment which holds tons of glorious, squashable, huggable, breath-takingly coloured yarn, but also because it has a cafe where you can drink hot chocolate and eat white-chocolate cheesecake while admiring the glorious, squashable, huggable... ok you get the idea! The owner, Naima, is very friendly and helpful and also speaks English very well. Thumbs up from me!

So, here I bought this for Marmee's waistcoat (hope she LOVEs it... holding my breath). 100% pure new wool. Yummy.

 

 And this is for Mimi's little cocktail hat that I'm working on (mostly in my brain at the moment, I'll have to do some work so I can feature it in a future post):

See how it shines? That's cos it's pure silk. Ohhhhh.

If you want details of the yarn, check it out in my ravelry stash.

Been shopping recently?

For more vintage stuff you might like:

• New Vintage Cape 
• Vintage Leather Colour Blocking
• Free Vintage Movie Streaming