an indulged interlude...

In between my own designs it’s nice to do something custom made for someone else! This little purple number was a request from my mum, a little evening number…

So this is the result, ella & jaks Purple Jewel.

Don’t forget that if there is something you would like, I am more than happy to indulge.

Cheers
Sandy
xx

nifty networking...

There is something really special about embracing social media, online networking and the like. When you run a business from home it becomes a great sounding board, a place to make contact, source information and generally make friends and acquaintances!
I have been lucky enough lately to be found by a lovely lady who has created a wonderful site, full of information to enjoy anytime, grab a cuppa sit and indulge. I especially love her entry dated 22 Oct 2009 regarding self-esteem. I am sure that it will resonate with you too! Please check it out! Phillipa also creates her own range of ladies t’s…

http://www.everydaywoman.com.au/

She has also been kind enough to feature ella & jaks!

We are lucky ladies…
xx

something for me

As it is with any trade, craft or otherwise, you never end up doing anything for yourself… I always start a bag with the intention of using it myself and then when it’s finished, I think ‘no, someone else will love that’ and there it goes…

But this time my current bag was getting a little too large for me, needed to downsize and get something fresh, so this is what I came up with, and so far I must say it’s working for me!
If you would love a new little number, then let me know…

xx

this is anja...

I had the chance the other day to catch up with some friends of ours that we hadn’t seen in ages; in fact worked out that it had been 2 odd years! And whilst we don’t see each other that often we are still able to begin where we left off… such lovely times…

But I digress, it also meant that I was asked to create a design for her mum’s next birthday… brief was something quite neutral, zip to fasten, inside zip pocket, leather base…

So I introduce to you - ella & jaks Anja! She turned out rather lovely and know that she will enjoy toting around all that she is required to!

If you have a custom request don’t hesitate to get in touch…

Cheers
xx

OMG! where does the time go?

Ahem, so I notice that it’s been a while, a while since I have visited my blog… honestly I didn’t realise that those months had slipped by! Mind you I have still been busy, been busy sewing bags, but with the cooler weather I knit and crochet at night… These are just a few of things completed… loving my new slips, wear them all the time!

But as I say I have been sewing, so please check out my site, will be back here again tomorrow too to show you a couple of custom made bags I have been doing for clients.

Till then, take care
x

Ahhh, the joys of kiddies

You know when you are single or just a couple, the two of you, it’s sooo easy to plan. Then you have kids and that goes totally out the window. Not for the life of me can I plan with any certainty how my day will go. Take last week for example, one has a head knock, then contracts gastro. She then passes it onto her younger brother, who not only has it for longer than he should, he kindly passes it onto me! So whilst I still feel like I am in the thick of it I have managed to take some piks of the two new bags completed before all of this occurred!


ella & jaks Tangerine Tango and ella & jaks Round in Circles (which is just how I have been feeling…LOL)











In the meantime I have been tinkering more with my crochet hook… tis the season!

Sandy
x

the cooler weather

Oooh, here comes the cooler weather and of course that brings the cooler colours and textures of winter.

These are the two new bags, a tote and a handbag, just launched on my website; ella & jaks Peacock Blue and ella & jaks Kylie.

But as usual at this time of year I get the knitting bug and then end up having three or four knitting projects on the go, whilst still finding time for designing and sewing!

Here is one of the projects completed for my little nephew, just turned three, living in Tasmania!

So, now every night I can be found clicking the needles whilst watching TV, much to my husbands amusement! LOL!

I have a white shrug, a burnt orange headband and an orange shawl vest on the go, will show you the piks when they are finished!

In the meantime, take care, keep warm and go create!

Sandy
x

Hello again, my goodness, don’t the weeks just blitz passed. However, I must say it’s been a rather productive blitz! Here are two of my new designs, ella & jaks Toffee Swirls and ella & jaks Retro Weave. Both feature inside zip pockets and zips at the top to fasten all your goodies inside.
It hasn’t all been sewing and no play, managed to whip in and make a carrot cake with cream cheese icing this morning, making my cup of coffee all the more enjoyable…. ahh but no rest for the wicked, I must be off, I can hear the fabric calling me…

Till we meet again, ciao.

Sandy
x

cookies, not handbags

So I started the day ready to tackle the computer tasks ahead of me; finishing off an ella & jaks article I had started ready to distribute on the web, make some changes to the ella & jaks website and blog layout… etc etc, however the prospect of no morning tea to go with my morning coffee was too much to bear… here are the fruits of my labour.

Whilst I am happy to say that I have now completed all the tasks I had set, I also enjoyed some choc-chip cookies with my coffee! A good day so far all round I might say…

Mmmm, the sewing desk tomorrow!

Cheers
Sandy
x
PS for anyone who wants the easiest yummiest cookie recipe let me know, along with the secret ingredient!

commission of a laptop bag

This is my latest commissioned piece, a laptop bag to the specs of my client. This ella & jaks laptop bag features cream leather sides, black leather base, three inside sections all padded with wadding and quilted with seriously stiff interfacing. It has an open inside pocket (for pens & things) and a zipped outside pocket (for your keys and phone), and fastens with a magnetic clasp. The strap is adjustable and is secured by antique brass notions.

It was a pleasure to make for my client and equally pleasing to see the end result. So if you have something in mind, be it a laptop bag or something else remember that ella & jaks would be delighted to create for you!

Sandy
x

poetry in sound

I am an avid listener of new music, my friends will not have any trouble telling you that Triple J is my favourite radio station! I am also a fan of listening to the words of songs, and the latest addition to my music collection is no different. For my birthday, March 8, my lovely husband and kiddie winks gave me a copy of Ben Lee’s ‘The Rebirth of Venus’. I have now listened to this album on high repeat and am so enjoying the lyrics… I do suggest that you give it a whirl… ella & jaks recommend Ben Lee!

Sandy
x

knitting for a good cause...

So I am sitting on Friday night, watching Better Homes & Gardens, much to my husband’s delight…. LOL! And it’s been some time since I have had the inclination to lift the knitting needles but the plight of the recent bush fires is surely awful. It was then at Tara Dennis’ encouragement I grabbed out my size 4 needles, scrounged around for some long forgotten balls of wool and proceeded to knit away. It was the least I could do…

So if you find yourself at a loose end in the coming days, consider picking up the sticks and gartering for a good cause. Details are at the following site -

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/better-homes-gardens/11300/knitting-for-a-cause.

Happy knitting
Sandy
xx

There has been great success with ella & jaks Trees are Brown, and now I have created a new version, this one is called ella & jaks elegance. But I have to confess that this first one is now comfortably slung over my shoulder, so should you wish for me to create one just for you please email me. For now though there are a few on the cutting table, all of the fabrics will be different, combined with soft leather…

Cheers
Sandy
xx

introducing geisha

ella & jaks - Geisha

Whilst keeping with the one-off designs concept I am introducing my first collection, Geisha. This wonderful combination of blooms and stripes has been used to create these four styles, with a few more to come. Keep an eye out for clutches, different handbags and perhaps a purse or two.

Best get moving on that then!

Cheers
Sandy
xx

messenger bag has arrived...

Another bag finished, another new design! Am rather chuffed at the outcome here, shall get in and make some more… this one the ‘ella & jaks candy shop poppies’.

Best go and get back to the sewing machine!

Sandy
xx

from start to finish

It’s not very often that I take a pik at the beginning of a project, but this time I wanted to remember my colour layout… But when I looked back at my photos it made me realise what a good feeling it is when a project comes to completion and you are happy with the result! The time taken is worth it

So now this new number is listed and ready to go, please check him out, he’s ella & jaks suede swatches. Many more to come, have started the next bag, with others already floating around in my head, LOL!

Sandy
xx

new things to try...

Hello again,

Following on from my previous post and my fabric haul, I have been able to use this festive season to experiment with a few new designs, piks included here: ‘ella & jaks - Sunset’ and ‘ella & jaks caramel gathers’. So much fun it is… the only dilema is which fabrics to choose…

I am also part way through a number of cushion covers, (nothing like doing many projects at the same time!) and I will post piks as soon as I have them completed!

I look forward to bringing you many more creations…

Sandy
xx