Aus der Versenkung

Hallo Welt!

Etwas schwierig diesen Post zu beginnen, zumal ich im November 2013 das letzte mal etwas hochgeladen habe…

Seither ist viel passiert, viel hat sich verändert, viel hat sich erledigt, Neues hat Einzug gehalten, darunter ein Kind und ein zweites unterwegs. Frau kann sich also vorstellen, dass die Zeit für Krimskrams knapp bemessen ist.

Fast hätte ich Mad Tea Parties aufgelöst und ins Grab geschickt. An irgend einem Punkt habe ich nur noch produziert und zwar das was sich sicher verkauft. Ich fühlte mich gesteuert, unwohl und konnte nicht mehr richtig hinter meinen Produkten stehen. Kopien schossen wie Pilze aus dem Boden, da die Cliptaschen, Blumenohrringe und der Shabby Chic hierzulande nun auch endlich angekommen sind. Und ich merkte, dass ich die schlimmste Kopie von mir selbst geworden bin. 

Ich entschied mich zum letzten mal an einem Weihnachtsmarkt teil zu nehmen und fing an in den Haufen von Materialien zu wühlen. Ausmisten, umräumen, aufräumen, doch von einem Moment auf den anderen konnte ich mich vor Ideen kaum noch retten. Also. Stop. Einen Fuss vor den anderen.

Ich kann nicht aufhören damit.

Schön und gut.

Ich dachte an meine ersten paar Kollektionen. Ja, am Anfang habe ich sogar noch Kollektionen gemacht. Nicht nur einen Stoff und dann den nächsten verarbeitet.

Eine der schönsten fand ich nebst Granny's Best und Helena (für Helena Bonham Carter) die Katrina Kollektion (für Katrina van Tassel aus Sleepy Hollow).

Ich entschied mich als Einstieg ein Katrina Revival zu starten, da ich mit diesen einfachen und tollen Stoffen einfach noch nicht fertig war.

Katrina Sunday

Damals habe ich fünf Stück der grossen Tasche produziert. Eine wurde in der Schweiz an einem Markt verkauft, drei gingen nach Deutschland und eine nach England….das geht runter wie Öl, nicht! ;-)

Jede sah etwas anders aus. Deshalb fand ich es legitim diese Kollektion zu neuem Leben zu erwecken.

Und hier präsentiere ich euch Katrina Sunday Reloaded. Der Stoff ist fast aufgebraucht, es wird also auch jetzt aller höchstens zwei Exemplare der grossen Tasche geben und jede sieht ein wenig anders aus. Es sind also alles Unikate.

Katrina Sunday Reloaded

Katrina Monday und Wednesday werden in nächster Zeit folgen.

Ausserdem habe ich mich entschieden lieber ein Stück zwei weniger zu produzieren oder zu verkaufen, dafür dem Mad Tea Parties Stil treu zu bleiben. Aus dem Raster fallend, grazil, sperrig, aneckend, fliessend, verspielt, klar, verrückt, Mad Hatter mässig quasi. Dafür freue ich mich auf das Leuchten in den Augen derer, die IHR Produkt an meinem Stand finden und es nicht mehr hergeben wollen.

Hier noch einen kleinen Einblick in mein Sortiment am kommenden Sarganser Christchindlimarkt im Städtli Sargans (Infos folgen): 

Des weiteren werde ich, wie ihr bemerkt habt, meinen Blog auf Deutsch weiterführen. Einerseits, da ich nicht die Zeit habe zwei zu führen, andererseits, da nun im deutschsprachigen Raum die Blogs doch auch weiter verbreitet sind als zu meinen Anfangszeiten.

Einige meiner altenTutorials werde ich auf Deutsch übersetzten und neu posten, somit läuft hier auch wieder etwas mehr, wenn das zweite Kind meine Zeit zusätzlich einteilt.

Hiermit ziehe ich mich in mein geordnetes, kreatives Chaos zurück und wünsche allerseits gutes Gelingen, Spass und Freude und bewahrt euch euren inneren Freudenfunken. 

XXX

Dina

Zum Schluss noch dies: wenn ihr euch Inspiration bei anderen Künstlern, Produzenten etc. holt, benutzt es doch auch im Sinne einer Inspiration. Seid kein Abklatsch, keine Kopie eines anderen. Seid ehrlich und euch selbst doch so viel wert. 

Back on Track

Good Morning World,

it's been a while!
I'm back with some impressions of new products I'll be presenting and selling at the christmas Market in Sargans (Switzerland).
Unfortunately I wasn't able to realize all of the projects my busy brain came up with this year but I'll give my best to catch up!

I also was working on a lot of furniture but I haven't been able to take reasonable photographs due to a huge mess taking over. BUT getting there step by step. ;)

Here we go...

Much love!
Dina

Deer Purse

Yes, I'm still alive...at least half way sometimes...being all over the place, working, thinking, creating....
In between all the markets and being excited about the first snow, I manage to show off with just a little bit of my material online.
Matching fall and winter I decided to use this deer graphic of Karen's Blog again, but on a purse this time. I just printed the graphic onto a linen fabric and sewed it on.
Feel free to have a look at it.

And another thing I'd really like to share with you: I finally got my own stamps! Aren't they cool?

If you would like to have your own stamp visit Avie-Art. (This is not a sponsored post! I'm just really happy with their products and service and I'd like to share this.)
Ok, unfortunately I have to get back to business but I hope you'll have a great rest of the day.

Love, Dina

Some Impressions

So much going on I never had the chance to show some of the products I made for the shop in Düsseldorf (Germany).

Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to take a picture of every singe piece but I managed it to shoot some impressions.

Voilà...

Purses

Clutches and Handbags

Necklaces and Pocket watches

And Abby thought it's ridiculous to make such a big deal out of a little bit of fabric and some metal.

Much love,

Dina

My Fair Summer

It's been a while...again.
Life is crazy right now!
A load of my clutches, purses and necklaces arrived in Düsseldorf two days before the re-opening party of "Das Pinke Zimmer" and I thought that's it for a while...but...no. I had to hurry up for the next market date was close and I hardly got done, but I got done :)
The market in Zug (Switzerland) was a great experience although the weather was slightly humid and the visitors rare. But I've met a lot of beautiful and interesting human beings and had a lovely helper by my side!
For the last two hours the sun came up and we enjoyed some more visitors.

Even these two "guys" got soaking wet

My booth

Our direct view from the market

Cleaning up

Afterwards I caught a big, fat cold and my husband had to get surgery on his back, so I was home alone with two grumpy dogs, missing Oliver and dealing with all of it by myself.
I could not work on anything but on a little bit of cleaning.

These days I often have a quick look at my atelier and all the new fabrics lingering for me. I hardly can wait until my head, throat and lungs are getting free of all of this...waste...to go back to this new material waiting.
I also already have my mind set on christmas and the christmas markets but first I'd just enjoy this wonderful summer weather! It's exactly the temperature I prefer for this time of the year (not too hot!). I'll lay back, at least a little, before I have to make decisions, cut some strings, open new doors and live up to all of the new things that will come.

Much love, Dina

By the way: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWITZERLAND!

Mad Tea Parties Retailer

Das Pinke Zimmer
New Mad Tea Parties Retailer!

With good news I'm coming on today and I'm really exited to let you finally know!
Almost three weeks ago Heike and Sarah of "Das Pinke Zimmer" (the pink room) in Düsseldorf (Germany) asked me for a couple of items for their boutique.
The two girls are designing and sewing dresses and I just love their style!
Since their business grew they decided to move into a bigger location and increase the product range.

Heike and Sarah of Das Pinke Zimmer painting the new location

I'm happy that Heike and Sarah decided to ask me for bags, purses and necklaces! So there's the first retailer of my products in Germany. :)
If you live close to Düsseldorf you might would like to visit the re-opening party of "Das Pinke Zimmer" on Saturday, 14th of July. (More infos here)

I'll come up with a couple of new designs and fabrics, so it'll really be worth it to visit. :)

Have a great weekend with much love,
Dina

Das Pinke Zimmer

Das Pinke Zimmer

Das Pinke Zimmer

Das Pinke Zimmer

Helena Bonham Carter and the Rockabillies

Good Sunday evening to all of you, I hope you had such a wonderful fall weekend like I did. It is cold, stormy and wet since yesterday and our house smells of cinnamon, vanilla and coffee. Can it get any better?

Since it is fall my creative energy goes nuts and I can't help myself working even if it's weekend.

So I finally started on the "Helena" collection which I was shoveling around in my head for such a long time. In my opinion it fits fall pretty well.

This collection is inspired by Helena Bonham Carter (great actress and beloved fiancé of even more beloved Tim Burton). It's the first part and there will be many more of them.

Originally I thought about doing a collection for some of the characters she played such as "Miss Lovett" in Sweeney Todd or "Bellatrix" in Harry Potter. But my point of view is that Helena herself is such an interesting woman with a unique style which made me come up with "just" a plane "Helena" collection.

Ok, I guess you all got that I'm totally in love with her ;) So here's the first part of the collection:

And next to it I finally, finally finished the second part of the Rockabilly collection (The new Generation)

Here we go:

Reserved

If you are interested in one of the pieces feel free to contact me on here or on Facebook. 

For now I will cook a great sunday's fall dinner and just be happy livin' :)

Much love to all of you,

Dina

Old treasure and belated spring accessories

Some of you know that I tried to get in contact with a lovely friend of mine for a long time: Jessi from Coiffeur Phoenix in Glarus.
Right at the beginning of Mad Tea Parties she helped me out, selling some of my pieces at her coiffeur salon and she asked for more and new pieces in spring. I did a lot of new bags, purses and jewelry and we tried to get together since but it just did not happen.
Today we did it! I got a new haircut and Jessi got the new items to present at her salon. :) FINALLY!

Some weeks ago I was thinking about the first purse I ever did, remember? This one:

I thought it was kind of sad that I didn't own it anymore because I gave it to Jessi with the first load of purses to sell. I thought it would be wonderful to still have the first one I've ever made.
But when I arrived at coiffeur Phoenix I discovered that it was still there! I was so happy about this fact and I took it home with me and pinned it on the wall next to my sewing table so I can see it.
It is crappy and not well done compared to the ones I do now but it just makes me giggling every time I'm looking at it! ;)

Now Jessi got new stuff and here is a sneak peak. These are all available at coiffeur Phoenix in Glarus (Switzerland) but if you see a piece you'd like to have and you don't live that close to Glarus, just let me know and I'll see if I still got the material to redo it for you.

Love, Dina