Etsy Shop: Patchwork Fish

I'd just like to share a little project I've been working on for the holidays- fish ornaments! More specifically, Patchwork Fish Ornaments, made mostly from my scrap fabric collection. 

 The fish, of course, are modeled after my Hanging Fish Wall Decor- same size, same raw edges, same button eyes. But each fish has a bit of twine in its mouth, to hang on a tree or door or anywhere else needing a bit of decoration.

 They measure approximately 6 inches long and are made using anywhere from 5 to 6 different scraps of fabric. This was such a fun project and a great way to use up some of my growing scrap fabric pile! (Which I can't bear to throw away!)

Please visit my Etsy shop to see these and more cute fishy projects!

Everyday Tank Top

 Voila! My newest creation: a tank top in a lovely polka dot print! What do you think?

The pattern I used was the Everyday Tank pattern by Indygo Junction. The pattern itself was fairly easy- until it got to the part about adding the bias trim- then, it was nearly impossible to make sense of- but I think that would be true of any pattern company trying to describe something that you really need to SEE in order to understand. Thankfully, Indygo Junction had a very helpful video tutorial on their website here. 

The fabric I used was an out-of-print cotton lawn that I happened to find on Etsy: Cotton + Steel's Sunday Dress in Navy. 

I love the tiny little pleats at the neckline and the fit is very flattering. I really enjoy making my own clothes! I still consider myself somewhat of a beginner at garment sewing and this pattern was a good way to advance my sewing skills. I think I will be trying more patterns by Indygo Junction in the future!

Buttons and Rainbows

Just a quick post today to share photos of my vintage button collection- I love these buttons! They're so pretty and colorful. I can't decide if I should use them or sell them: I can't quite bring myself to use them: you know how it is- you're waiting for just the right project...

xo- Havilah

Etsy Shop Giveaway!

I love giveaways! So, to celebrate the 100th sale in my Etsy Shop, I'm happy to announce that I am currently hosting a giveaway for $20 to spend at Darling Savage! Here are a few items from the shop that the winner can put the money towards:

Drawstring Pouches

Hanging Fish Wall Decor

Zipper Pouches

Here's how to enter: just leave a comment below in the "comments" section of this blog- tell me which item you like best in my etsy shop. I will use a random number generator to choose the winner. Please, US residents only (although I love my international customers, I really do!) and you must be 18 or over to enter. I am running this giveaway through the long holiday weekend so you have until 11:59pm on July 4th to enter. **The contest is now CLOSED. Thanks to those who entered!**

If you are so inclined, feel free to check out Darling Savage on social media- it's not required for the giveaway but here's where you can find me around the web:

ETSY SHOP: http://www.etsy.com/shop/darlingsavage

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/darling-savage-114931286033/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/havilah_savage

PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/darling_savage

INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/havilahsavage

BLOG: http://darlingsavage.blogspot.com

EMAIL: darlingsavage [!at] hotmail.com

Good luck! -Havilah

Darling Savage

Let me tell you a little bit about "Darling Savage". I chose this Etsy shop name because my last name is Savage and, well, I like it (I even kept it after getting married!) But since the word "savage" usually conveys a negative perception, I wanted to soften it up a bit: "darling" sounds sweet and affectionate. So I created the oxymoron, "Darling Savage". A little bit sweet, a little bit wild.

I currently sell two different types of items in my Etsy shop: gift bags and Hanging Fish Wall Decor. The Hanging Fish have become my signature item- they were even used as a prop in a Pottery Barn Kids catalog (yay!) Although I had originally intended for them to be displayed in any part of the home, most of my clients have used them as decor in a nursery or small child's room. So, in turn, my marketing strategy changed a bit- so now my target audience is primarily new moms and those looking for a unique baby shower gift. Here are a few recent pieces I've finished:

The gift bags are a fairly new item for me- I really like the idea of gift-giving without the waste of wrapping paper, so I thought I'd try to make some reusable bags in really cute fabrics. (I actually stole the idea from my mother-in-law who used to make & sell reusable bags several years ago- she was ahead of her time!) So far, the gift bags in my shop are all tiny (about 3" x 4") but I will also be offering larger sizes very soon. The small ones are great for gift cards and small item storage:

Lots more new items coming soon, including holiday-themed gift bags and felt fish wall decor- I will share these items as I add them to the shop! Thanks for reading my blog!

Back in the Saddle

Hello blog! I've missed you. Looks like I haven't posted in four years... and let me tell you why. I had a baby, got married, had another baby and guess what- babies take ALL of your time! Even though they are two and three now, they still require constant attention- and since my husband and I decided that I will be a stay-at-home-mom until the kids go to school, I really don't get a break from the munchkins. I honestly don't know how working mothers do this (I bow down to you). 

Now, I have a confession to make- I don't intend to make this blog into one of those "mommy blogs". To be frank, I don't like "mommy blogs". I don't enjoy reading about women gushing over their little "darlings" who can do no wrong (when you know the actual truth is far different. All children are d**ks sometimes.) In fact, I intend to make my blog about my passions outside of motherhood- sewing, crafting, photography, art, cooking- basically, anything creative. Here's a tidbit for women who have not yet had children- if you have any hobbies or passions such as mine, they get put ON HOLD in early parenthood. Unless you choose not to sleep. And I don't recommend that. 

Another confession- you can't help but resent your kids a little bit when your passions get put on hold. It's just natural. I guess I could rephrase that a little- you can't help but resent your decision to have kids a little bit when your passions get put on hold. It's not your kids' fault that they exist- it's yours. And I love my kids like crazy but I often feel trapped by them. Although, as they get older, it is getting a little easier day by day to partake in my hobbies here and there: after they get put to bed, during naptime (IF they happen to nap at the same time!) So this blog will be an outlet for my creative side- though I will probably mention my kids from time to time, it can't be helped. 

One last tidbit about motherhood- you always hear that being a mom is the hardest job in the world- and I have to admit, I had always been dubious about that. But it's absolutely TRUE. And I have done everything from blue-collar physical labor to a white-collar desk job. This is by far the hardest one.

I hope to create a blog post at least once a week but we'll see. I've recently re-opened my Etsy Shop and I've been doing some art and sewing projects so I will post about those in the coming weeks. And I will be having an Etsy Shop giveaway so stay tuned for that! 

xo