S p a r k y J o n e s

Orchids + Oceans

2012-01-26T20:53:00.000-08:00

Like i've said before....I just ADORE Orchids!! So when i was tidying up my fabric stash....there she was...Nell's outrageous upholstery fabric - that i had totally forgotten about!!! Perfect for all these yukky winter days...a lil bright bouquet of flowers in the form of a bag:: ok now i'm giggling coz that was so supa dorky + art schooly!!
And hello Martha's tablecloth again (as in the fabric used on theback of the bag which was featured in the last couple of bags!)......its just so tactile + gorgeous, and seems to match every fabric i put with it!! Well actually its my favourite colour of ALL times...so i think i make it match everything. Its kinda the colour of my HQ's, my puffy jacket, my leather boots, my...my...my cont. - you get the picture right!!!

So have a peek a boo here....to see a bit more of 'Orchids + Oceans' in all her glory!!!

Okay i have to run....my sweetie is coming home tomorrow + i really have to clean up the place, + make it look like i haven't been living in artistic/creative chaos otherwise known as 'jj land'. To describe my beau in 2 words would be 'neat' + 'freak'....guess thats why we make a good combo!!!(wink wink...love ya sweetie!)

bye bye for now :: lil jj

Oceans + Seaweed

2012-01-22T20:42:00.001-08:00

Otto's favourite place was the beach, so much so - he up and sold everything, bought a pair of board shorts + numerous flip flops and moved to the seaside!!
So he didn't really need his trousers anymore...which quite frankly is awesome for Sparky Jones, as his olive plaid trousers made for one awesome seaside inspired hat!!!

In tones of seaweed + oceans teals, this lil hat was a pleasure to make....perhaps even relaxing..i kinda felt like I was about to go on vacation to the beach ::: giggle!!! Gots to say i miss the smell of salt water, ocean breezes and eating fish n' chips on the beach on a stormy day (bit of a family tradition ) - ummm minus those pesky seagulls tho!

I love putting the seams of the trousers in the hat somewhere's - this cute lil number has a seam on either side + on the brim. Suppose so peeps can see what this accessory used to be...and would you look at that - so full of life still !!

So if you want to see a bit more of Otto's trousers, have a look here:

bye bye for now :: lil jj

my besties

2012-01-19T22:08:00.000-08:00

Getting a lil creative with my camera - actually i ended up taking a whole lotta totally cool photos in this mirror only to find that the mirror was a lil dirty which i didn't see until i put my phots on the computer!!! eeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Anyways thats just me and my new best friends :: Cosmo Blacks + Canon Cameruka (thats before i slice my fingers up sans bandaids...but i have been eating a lot of chocolate so the cuts seem to be healing quite fast::giggle!)
So you can see my real bestie here and here - she is wearing - yeppers you guessed it....a 'Cosmo Black' too!! Actually she has a top notch noggin and fits into a Sparky small hat - just perfectly, so i'm sure you'll get to see her a lot more in the future!!
Anyways happy Friday everyones - hope you have a fantabulous weekend ahead....me....well i'm just going to be attacking my business plan a bit more. There is 30 pages of it + i think i'm up to about page 5!!! giggle
bye bye for now ::: lil jj

a touch before midnight

2012-01-18T20:23:00.001-08:00

So there i was lying in my kingsize bed - I was all cozied up in the middle, with my freshly washed flannel sheets (i love jumping into bed after i have just washed the sheets...you just know you are going to have the bestest sleep!) a big fluffy duvee and pillows on mass, knowing that it -18'c and snow covered scenery just on the other side of the wall....and i was thinking...well this life as a bachelor ain't so bad!!
TING TING TING... the dogs woke from their slumber at the foot of the bed, ears pricked up ready to pounce.......what was that noise i thought.........all of a sudden the cupboard innards and washing machine started to rumble, and the window panes seemed to become uncomfortable and then Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk - the dogs started to bark
Then the world went to quiet again
Holy diner i do believe that was my very first earthquake!!!!
I went from content to.......peeping my eyes just over the duvee waiting for an aftershock, wishing that maybe i had payed attention to all the earthquake etiquette which i had always thought of as fear mungering ways to make you build a bomb shelter in the backyard and buy 1 years worth food just in case.
But hey i was safe,if i just hid underneath the blankets i'd be alright.....+ besides anything i had just washed the sheets - i wasn't going no where !!!

from trouser to WOWzer!

2012-01-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

So you remember Ralphy's trouser?? Well look at em' now - a classy lil clutch with a whole lotta Ommphhhhhhhhh! The Kingfisher front is a supa divine upcycled silky fabric (i think it must be a fabric sampler from many many years ago! - i managed to snatch a few of these samplers ages back, but i could never bear to part with them......until....enter New Years resolutions!! YipPy!!) which makes this Bujetta look even more sophis-ti-ma-cated!! Eucalyptus green lining in the zippered pockets, handmade tasty teal upcycled bias binding, and vibrantly fresh mint and greeny teal zips.
And sorry folks but i'm keeping one for myself !! (and kinda coz it was made with all things that my GG loved in mind too) So yeppers, i transported all my goodies + lifelines (aka :: credit cards, lipbalm, notebook) over to my new Bujetta - and well now you can see my my life consists of! giggle. So now i'm feeling uber organized...enter New Years resolutions #2!!
So you can see a lil more here - if you'd like
bye bye for now ::: lil jj

ps:: so you kids got any 'out there' resolutions??

Otto's trouser

2012-01-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

Well i'm just totally in love with the next hat that is coming to the Sparky shop (i think i say that about every hat don't I!)....... But i gots to say Otto's trousers seemed to exude character, so i guess, well i had a lot of fun putting him together!
i just have to do the last finishing touches, take some delicious photos.....so they should be in the shop on monday/tuesday !!! (along with some other goodies) YipPy yo Yo!!
Today is officially Day One of sans beau......well i made it - bit quiet, annoying free, and quite frankly......a touch boring !!! I hadn't realized how much his bugsyness amuzes me - man love can come in many forms - ain't that the truth + amen
bye bye for now
lil jj

hot lil hands...

2012-01-12T21:28:00.001-08:00

Okay so even tho one of my New Years resolutions is NOT to buy anymore fabric (Mmmmm i feel like i might have said that before...weird..)...i just happened to be feeling well...a touch bluesy - you see my sweet lil beau is on a new adventure in life...called 'exciting new job..working outta town', so after i dropped him off at the airport, i came back home - paced the house, paced some more, stared at the walls... until i noticed that my 2 hairy companions were sitting there staring at me like i was completely bonkers !!
So what did i do?? Well when faced with a situation such as this....i clean!!!! Yeppers the whole house got a good going over and so did the thoughts in my brain. So after the cleanse was completed - i was off on a chilly -3'c ride to the HQ's..................AND it just so happened that i had to ride past one of my favouritest places to rummage thru vintagey fabric!! ' Oh this will make me feel better too' i thought::giggle
And boy did it ever - i managed to find a tablecloth (with a fantabulous kitschy lace trim which i can use in some up + coming sparky products!) that is pretty close to the one i used in the Sequoia range last year...
Although I think i might have to use Chesters trousers instead of corduroy...to make it more of a hat for the Spring

So keep a look out for the new Sequoia range..although i have so many hats i want to make at the moment that its killin' me to only have so much time in the day!!! Ahhhhhhh blasted life always gets in the way :::giggle!!

righto bye bye for now :: lil jj

ps:: just finishing up 2 hats and Bujetta's so i can take some photos in the next couple o days!!

Kiss me...

2012-01-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

Well Kissable Plum has returned....but as a Mae Jones....and ain't she just delightful!!!

i had snippets of that upcycled vintagey plum wooly goodness left...so i was able to squeeze 3 hats outta of my fabrics - yipPy + thanks goodness (coz i absolutely love this colour combo!!) So have a quick peek here::: to see more about 'Kissable Plum'

On another note ::: I was kinda banking on January being quiet, so i have been secretly working on my Business Plan for 2012 and some brand new Sparky products - both of which i'm feeling supa excited about...as there will be some adventures + changes in the forecast ahead!!

bye bye for now ::: lil jj

a touch of vintage

2012-01-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

A deep juicy upcycled denim fabric together with handmade retro blue trimmings makes this lil number a vintage look for both the summer + winter!!! What is simply gorgeous tho... is the unique lil flap that was made from the last morsels of Howards' tweed fabric!! (its one of my favourites, so i really have to use it sparingly to share the love:::giggle!) All topped off with a big red button for a touch of retro + a splash of excitement!!

I just posted 3 in the la shoppe...so hop on over and to have a better look!!!
bye bye for now ::lil jj
life lesson 721:: don't put too much lipbalm on...it can cause you lips to stick together and you can look very funny in photos!

In the works...

2012-01-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

So i've been thinking of my gran of late, she just loved all thing in nature...the birds, the plants, the scenery......everything seemed to inspire + excite her!So i picked out some fabrics that reminded me of her.....and Ralph's plaid trousers seemed to be the perfect fit. I'm just finishing a week of getting supa organized - so should have them done by next week...so stay tuned!!

Bye bye for now ::: lil jj

Happy New.....

2012-01-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Beginnings !!!

thats why i love coming into a New Year!!
Means starting fresh, gettin organized and feeling re-energized...bye bye Christmas, copious amounts of chocolate and over eating (although, i think i might have stretched my tummy out, and now i keep having to fill it:::giggle!)

So this is 'Tumeric + Tweed'...the latest Mae Jones......

Yeppers my very own French Connection trousers made it into the Sparky Jones collection!

There are 2 in the shop....so have a look see here::
bye bye for now - lil jj

Just picked me up some.....

2011-12-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Winter cooties!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh can you believe it...RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!....Wasn't feeling that great at the Sparky + the Urchyn Show, and then the next day = WHAMMO!! coughy, gooey achey goodness woke me up in the morning!!!! So me and the duvee/doona have had a hot date for the last couple of days!! Although i did manage to get out of my cootie-fest to eat 1/2 tub of icecream and watch some chic flicks (which my cute lil beau thought might make me feel better - i really thank god that he has 2 sistas and paid close attention to what they told him about girls::giggle!)
So after getting a dose of the 4 c's last night (Calories, Cry, Cuddle + vitamin C)..I'm off to take some photos today(hopefully) as i have a few hats lined up, and they have had no where to go!!!

Can you believe its nearly Christmas!!! I'm totally not ready!!! How did it sneak up so fast like that !!! Oh well as long as you spend it with fantabulous folks....thats what its all about right!
bye bye for now
lil jj

Sparky and the Urchyn

2011-12-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

For those peeps i hadn't got around to telling yet....Sparky Jones and Urchyn are having an Open House/Christmas Party/ Come + See the studio day.......this SUNDAY - from 3 -7pm
Alexandra - is the owner of Urchyn and just happens to be a lover/maker of felt, accessories and all things beautifully made by hand........and we share the same loverly studio!!!

So we'd love you guys to come!
For more information on the where/when/how.....you'll have to check out Alexandra's brand spanking new Website here::: with the most beautiful gallery of wares that you just have to check out!!!
Bye bye for now
lil jj

2 More Sleeps...

2011-12-08T08:23:00.001-08:00

well peeps its 2 more sleeps before the Christmas Show at Bottega!!! I'm pretty pumped - just working on a last few things +making my display even awesomER than before. I might be taking a couple o things from my etsy shop, but will still have most of my goodies up for grabs!!

On another note...my computer cable that got completely fried...well i found one in the shops at some crazy price ( now i look at things + say...okay well i have to sell so many hats to buy that), and this cable well it was worth a few hats - so i ordered one online which is only worth a portion of one hat!!!!
anyways moral of the story is:: when things go wrong it will usually be around the worst time, so always have a backup plan + a helmet!!! Ya just gots to laugh and do what you can right!!!
bye bye for now :: lil jj

What a gorgeous Picnic

2011-12-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

Now Martha had a supa cute olive tablecloth, that she just didn't want anymore, she'd moved onto to plastic....as it was easier to clean. But hey her loss.!! This Mama Jones with Martha's tablecloth is uber vibrant and full of energy 'Picnic Reds' is now available in the shop....so have a peak at all her scrumptious features!
So i'm just running on Battery right now...the cord to my computer just started Sparking, crackling + popping....so this post is short + sweet!! Better get off so i can do a minute of computering later before she really dies!
bye bye for now:: lil jj

What an Experience!!

2011-12-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

So i while back i went to the lovely Miss Kailey's baby shower.....and a Sparky Jones Mama diaper bag was amongst the mass of wonderful pressie she received!! All the Mamas in the house were.....i'm excited to say 'ecstatic'. In all honesty, i was totally not ready for all the response:: i was feeling completely trashed, my business brain..well i must have left it at the Sparky HQ's, and i had absolutely no business cards - i was just going to my friends baby shower right!!(lesson 1: always be prepared::giggle!) HOWEVER when i was departing...this totally out there Mama named Maria, hit me up at the front door and asked me if i would come to her house and join a Jewellery party that she was hosting. 'For sure..i'm in' i say...and then we had a bit of a giggle at the idea of Sparky Jones being a baby shower Crasher, to make a lotta sales!!

(miss K's bag was kinda like this one, which i'll be posting tomorrow!)
So i go to this Jewellery/Sparky party, which happens to be amongst the mansions set into the hillside that overlook one of our beautiful lakes!!. The house was ummmmm amazing (martha has nothing on this broad!)....so in i walked with my red Sparky suitcases (filled with all my goodies) - and just standing there in complete awe at the high ceilings, glamourous everything and gold glimmering christmas decorations...So i say 'well Maria i've got my suitcases..hope you don't mind, i think i might stay for a while!I had the whole front room to myself, complete with cozy luxury sofas, big fluffy pillows, a fireplace, and vintage side tables...so i called it the 'Sparky ROom' - and Maria definitely has a flare about her...so she quick as a flash set up my display which looked oh so fantabulous.
You know i didn't make many sales - did a bit of networking, alot of gossiping, a touch of eating, but most of all..i'm just so thankful that i got to have this experience - to met new peeps and do something.....that well just doesn't happen in your everyday life!!

Just working on my photography + designing the next Kepp Jones Hat
bye bye for now ::: lil jj

All things Beautiful

2011-11-26T17:29:00.001-08:00

So i don't let myself go on the Anthropologie website much as i get........very very depressed!!! All things beautiful are found here and of course i always love the most expensive::giggle!...but lil jj must keep her pennies for boring things like food + rent over this festive season

the shoes
the Cardie

the blouse

the bed

and even the bedding

I WANT IT ALL!!!!!

life lesson 937:: don't go to the Anthropologie website...you'll love it way to much

bye bye for now::: lil jj

ChalkBoard + White

2011-11-25T21:38:00.000-08:00

So it had really been bothering me of late....that the Sparky Shop is a bit all over the shop! Each photo shoot i try a get a bit better at this photography thing....but i seem to have a million different looks right now- and they kinda say on the etsy that you should keep you look constant so peeps can recognize your shop easily, i guess like the Golden Arches theory.
And since i moved from my old place the one with the dreamy light grey shed doors...i just haven't found 'IT' i guess. Until the other night i wake up from a deep slumber and i say to myself 'I've got it!'............well if i could have my dream house what would it look like (coz obviously that be a house filled with things that totally inspire me )
Well my dream house would be totally Shabby Chic - vintage white furniture (with totally colourful accessories of course!!) kitschy koo koo bits n' pieces, and chalkboards everywhere.....i'm a list writer, so you'd never lose your list if it was written on the wall!!

I seemed to have scored the bestest mirror on my last fabric hunt, i had the perfect white dress + pearls for the shabby chic...i'll i needed was the chalkboard. So off i go to the hardware shop, only to find that you can now get.....12 colours of Chalkboard paint!!! Freak OUt!!....but thats when you keep it simple right!! So black in hand....the reVamp began

And i'd just like to say...the cost of the revamp was $5 for the mirror, + $8 for the can of paint....so for a total of $13.....i'm pretty happy about that. As for the other goodies...already owned em..

So let me know what you think of the new look...and i guess i just gave you a sneeky lil look at the hats that are coming to the shop this week!!! I'm just going to be using some other Top Notch Noggins so that i can concentrate on my 'photography' a bit more!

bye bye for now ::lil jj

meet Danielle of Penelope & Co..

2011-11-22T20:09:00.000-08:00

So the other day i had this great idea....to sell my Betsy Jones earrings to this cute lil shop called Penelope & Co that i absolutely love + is conviently (as in dangerously good!) across the road from the Sparky HQ's. So, off i went with some earrings in hand - i marched on over there leaving behind my brain, any sort of plan + not one business card, luckily my earrings come on a business card!. So in i walk...blurt out all this information (@ this point i don't think my brain + mouth were actually connected) and the lovely shop owner...said ' For sure i'd love to sell your earrings in here, i think they'll do well'.

And thats when my brain started to work. So Danielle (Not Penelope as i found out...luckily before i called her Penelope!) not only stocks supa cool gifts and goodies....she is supa cool!!! Totally relaxed and down to earth, its easy to see that she loves what she does and wants our small conservative town to be funk-i-ma-fied with little pressies, accessories + decor that go outside the box!!!!! YipPy!!
Lil miss D, got the idea for the shop when she lived in Victoria, B.C (home of the scrumptious shopping possibilities for those who don't know) and with a bit of help from the Community Futures business program, set up her dream on Main St, Penticton. So where does the name Penelope & Co come from....well who doesn't love that name Penelope...its just so darned cute, warm + friendly - just like her + her shop!!

So if you are in a jam for Christmas presents - definitely take a look in her shop...she seriously has presents for everybodies...even those that are supa hard peeps you hate to buy for !!!

And check out her P & co FB page for the latest + greatest.

On another note.....just a cheeky look at the next 2 hats that are coming to the shop, with another 2 not too far behind (i'm seriously on a roll right now..I made a Mae Jones today that just wasn't quite right...so i pulled it apart - Did some mixing + matching with other fabrics, and will now have 2 different hats that are nearly finished that i absolutely adore !

Bye bye for now

lil jj

Life Lesson 517:: Sometime when you leave your brain behind...good things happen!!

Christmas at Bottega

2011-11-19T19:42:00.000-08:00

Funny how when one door closes, another one opens. I was totally bummed out when i couldn't make it to the Fabulous Finds Show a couple of weeks ago (due to the 'drama dominos effect'...good way to describe life sometimes!)

Anyhoo..i get this random email from a broad that i did a Show at ages ago at the Streaming Cafe in Kelowna ( i really want to get there for one of their Live Music Shows-they seem to have amazing peeps coming play!) (This was my stand at the Streaming Cafe Show - i'm making some improvements to my display tho!)

Inviting Sparky Jones to be a part of a totally rad Christmas Show, but not at the Cafe.....at a 'OH my GOODNESS' kinda venue. I keep having a look the the Bottega Website....because its just so dreamy + eco!

Check out their FaceBook events page to get the total scoop on the Show....But what i love about this event...is its going to be pretty awesome, music, splendiferous arts + craft...but its all really about helping peeps in need !! To participate in the show, you had to make a $50 donation to the FoodBank, and then proceeds from the show will be donated as well!!!

Here's a great shot of the venue too!!! I just can't WAIT!!!!

Bye bye for now::: Lil jj.

ps-i have 3 different hats coming to the shop this week!!!!

Fabulous findings

2011-11-18T22:46:00.001-08:00

A while back, i was doing a market and this lady was seriously stocking up on some Sparky Betsy Jones earrings...so naturally(being completely blunt as i am), i asked why she needed so many?? She replied...well these are the bestest lil stocking stuffers!!! Sometimes it takes someone on the outside to give you the most simple ideas!! So thanks a trillion random lady !! So i hunted thru my masses + yards of fabric, only to come to the conclusion that 'hey' what a splendiferous way to share my most favouritest fabrics.
So there are 9 designs to chose from::

+ rockin' retro - luscious red with embossed white polkadots
+ peachy keen - a silky checkered number in 2 shades of juicy peach
+ tangerine bliss - totally tactile + kitschy to spice up any outfit!
+ lemon merginue - yum yum yum, light + fluffy with a hint of citrus
+ avocado - healthy and lively , adorned with a lil red +
+ peppermint breeze - fresh swirls of teals, aqua and greens
+ cerulean blue - shades of the sky and mod like circles
+ choco latte - delicious hues of coffee, chocolate and crema
+ black knight - who wouldn't love going out on the town with a strong black knight

Mmmmmm Peppermint Breeze!
And another couple o things i wanted to share...was my fabulous finds!! Of course i was on the hunt for some corduroy for my latest batch of Kinn Jones hats....and i walked out with this completely kitschy koo koo number that i got for a complete steal.

And few yards of this delightful vintage blue fabric that is ABSOLUTELY perfect for the theme of my next batch of hats
bye bye for now:: lil jj

Pretty in Pink

2011-11-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

There were WAY to many gorgeous photos to choose from!!

I adorned my Bestie with a frou frou vintage oufit, red high heels and the latest Jemima Jones clutch......outcome::: absolutely stunning photo shoot and way too much fun!!!

I don't often use black, but as soon as i came across this delicious silky fabric...it was screaming classy black trimmings!! The inside is lined in an upcycled vintage pink that has lil embossed dots that glimmer in the light

AND the other most fantabulous thing about this character....its an all-season clutch!! A cozy black winter coat or a summery dress....this lil beauty is always going to stand out and scream.....'I'm a whole lotta fun':::giggle

You can have a bit more of a look see here:::

And last up...a glimpse of the next Kinn Jones hats!!

Bye bye for now

lil jj

Lil beauties

2011-11-11T21:15:00.001-08:00

Armed with the most gorgeous.... Sparky Accessories + bestest friend,

a touch of vintage glamour

and my new camera...........

well you'll just have to wait + see!!

bye bye for now

lil teasy jj

I LOVE SALES!!

2011-11-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

Everybody loves a good Sale and well Black !!
So i have some great news....this week...for the ' Can't Make it to the Show' Sale....There are 4 Lil Black Hats for Super Duper Sale...yeppers $50 CAD a pop....which i'd like to say is 'Awesome!'

City Slicker Clifford had decided that he was sick of the rat race - that he should retire early..+ move to the country (just like in all those cool housey magazines that you love hating to read!) So a pair of his city slacks + former life are just waiting to be lovingly snipped and stitched into everyones favourite...Little.Black.Hat !!.

The other great news is:

a) Lil jj has decided to make everyones favourite Sparky hat a staple in the shop! YiPpy!

b) The lining on each batch of these hats- will be resplendently unique !!!So have a look see here:

Otherwise...will be back soon!!! Bye bye for now lil jj

She's more than....

2011-11-07T03:47:00.000-08:00

Well i'm sure you have all met this character...her name is 'Bujetta Jones'- i've always called her a wallet...but of late, i've realized she is WAY, way way more than that!!!

So what do i mean:: well to be honest, i've been using my Bujetta as my everything Clutch for ages. I go food shopping...she is in my bag, i go out for a night on the town...she's flying solo under my arm.....need to find that receipt from the beginning of the month, whilst applying lipstick, whilst buying a sanity sip(coffee)...she is always with me!

I'm sure you are taking in what i'm putting down by now::giggle

she's simply - not just a wallet. Now - i know its just a word...but this is infact HUGE!!!

I'd always been limiting her to the one category...when infact she falls into many!!! Clutch,wallet, organizer, holder of everything(girlie stuff, lipstick, note pads, cheque books, pens, cell phones, and most importantly....cash + plastic!))So the long and the short of it....she's a multi-tasker for the multi-tasker.....and she looks pretty fantabulous!!You can check one out here:: + will be making some more next week...fingers x'd (my theme next week has something to do with fall !!!!)

bye bye for now - lil jj

OH NO!!!

2011-11-04T08:28:00.001-07:00

Well i had signed up for this cool lil show a while back... only to have a week from hell this week!! I was trying not to let things get on top of me - but i guess i hit the wall. My car broke down, some supplies that i needed for the show got lost in mail, yada yada - i won't bore you with the details........so i finally thought..well perhaps its best if i don't go...as i'll probably end up crying on instead of selling myself to the customer::giggle.

I thought well i have a lot of extra goodies lying around the shop now...

so::

Decided to take the downer and turn it into something Fantabulous!!!

A SPARKY SALE!!

I'll be adding some more goodies throughout the week...so keep checking back in the store

I just added 2 of these most cutiest lil 'Bowling Green' Kepp Jones hats to the shop
(i totally love this photo of jen!)and would you look at that...these lil caps match the Waste Wonderful wristlets!!::giggle!

bye bye for now-lil jj

The Box - part I of III...

2011-10-31T20:27:00.001-07:00

I have 3 wonderful stories that all revolve around 'The Box'!!!
Part I:::
So a while back...i decided that it was time i needed to expand - to learn something new, re-energize the brain cells, take on a new goal, but in order to do so....i would need to go outside the BOX!! Outside the comfort zone + routine, and throw myself into.....something that really interests moi............

And that would be Photography!!

I've always wanted to better my skills in that department, but never had the guts (as i am in NO WAY at all tech savvy ) to take it to the next level
So i sucked it up + signed up for photoshop program at the local college, and i gots to say...i had a blast. The average age of peeps in the class was about....um 70!!! So i buddied up with the other spring chicken in the class, sat up the back and stumbled my way through photoshop basics with a far bit of chit chatting + a lot of giggling!!
So next on my hit list of going outside the box...was finding a Sparky Model!(being stubbornly independant can waste alot of time i have realized!!) And funny enough I recently ran in to this loverly creative lady who has cut my hair once or twice in the past and was game for a bit of modelling !!

So we hit up the HQ's back alley for a bit of a Cosmopoliton feel....for the latest Kepp Jones:::

'Cosmopoliton Greens'

My most beautiful dress made this deep khaki beauty -all the industrial seamlines made the classiest lil Cosmopoliton Kepp Jones!! I used a yummy upcycled olive canvas that can be sneakily seen on the underside of the brim + flap on her side...and is finished up with...A MATCHING DEEP KHAKI BUTTON - but of course!!!!
The lining - well all i gots to say is it matches perfectly...and will fit comfortably snug!!
Adorned with organic + upcycled eco Sparky Jones labels....this lil number is going to be the favourite part of your day!!!! Bye bye for now
lil jj
Life Lesson 587:: When people know less about computers than you do...i can make you seem really smart- giggle!!

hot off the press...

2011-10-24T20:11:00.001-07:00

So i happened to be running DANGEROUSLY low on my Sparky big labels...and i was all outta the delicious fabric that i had used previously. No biggy i thought, i'll just jump on the net and order some similar fabric, ummmmmm not so much!! I searched high and low for beige organic twill.....and its like one of those things you see everywheres until you supa dupa need it!!!
I ended up ordering some tan organic twill that was soooooooooooooo unbelieveably scrumptious when i got it............but it was more like WHITE!!! So i investigated low-impact dyes....got the goods, dyed my yummy fabric ...a loverly shade of PEACH!!!!
So by this point...i'm really starting to sweat. WHAT DO I DO?? So what did i do...i went straight to my happy place:Value Village!
Rummaging through fabric makes me so unbelieveably happy, like a kid at christmas - i get all sorts of ideas, i see fabrics that would look great as a hat, oh that would make a nice bag yada yada, oh that would make awesome labels: LABELS....could you believe it...it was the absolutely 'spot on' coloured fabric that was 100% cotton!!! So i whip it up, run to the cash registers, yelling 'i've finally got it..i got it did you hear me everybodies!-I'VE FOUND IT!!'
So here are all 282 of em, that the peeps at Zink Print whipped up for me in a jiffy. The eco inks worked a charm on my upcycled fabric...so now all i have to do is get busy cutting and ironing them into the lil labels that are lovingly hand sewn into each Sparky character.......crisis averted!!!
bye bye for now
lil jj
life lesson 375:: never leave things until you have one left!!

Bernard + his corduroy trousers.

2011-10-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

Bernard is a shortish man who loves corduroy everything...so much so, his lovely wife of 40 years has started to clean out his wardrobe of some of this corduroy goodness to make way for a her new trend.....DENIM! So a pair of his loverly deep Olive cords, were lovingly snipped + stitched to make this Cozy Mae Jones.

'Winter Greens' is her name...she's the colours on a cold wintery day on a misty moor - deep olives, stone greys and earthy khaki. All i could think of whilst i was making her was eating my Mama's famous zucchini soup(secret ingredient = bacon! Yummo!) horseriding and strolling in the hills of the brisk Irish landscape(not that i have ever been there...just seen it in the movies!)......truth be known i'm a bit of a daydreamer and have a tiny bit of an over-active imagination:::giggle!!!
Anyways you can check her out a bit more in the 'Fancy Pants' Nogginware in the shop!!
Bye bye for now
lil jj

Just a quicky

2011-10-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

A trip i mean!!! Thought we'd better make a quick dash to the woods before it gets too cold...so we headed across the border to do some campin' n spurging! Heading into the hills, on twisty logging roads, passing by lakes and rocky outcrops...we came upon this::: a huge landscape of a past wildfire. It was oddly beautiful and sooooooo serene due to the eerie silence. The only thing that seemed to be moving around was trucks....and lots of em'.
We couldn't figure out what was going on...these pick-up trucks just kept driving by.....UNTIL we realized, these guys were shooting the wildlife too- but they were wearing camo n' guns instead of a camera!!! Aparently Hunting Season in the U.S was officially OPEN! - what a fantabulous time to go camping::giggle

my 3 mischievious sidekicks (the little devil is dressed up in the cute white fluffy outfit!!)

We spent quite a bit of time in this cutsie lil town that was totally vintage everything - shops,signs, buildings, gas stations the lot:::and managed to buy some absolutely kitschy jewellery from a flee market for a steal!!(you'll get to see that in some upcoming photo shoots!)

Went for a bit of a cruise in the forest, stopped for some supper n' scenery by the lake - on high alert mind you ...no sudden movements were made!!!

AND when camping...you need to treat yourself to a lil' MudPie and a boozy coffee RIGHT!

And check out the campsite....was such a beautiful morning, the air was still and fresh...and i was woken by the sound of gunfire!!! NO S**T!

But alas, the holiday had to end...and we had to come home, but a we are both a lil refreshed and ready for exciting new happenings.

bye bye for now

lil jj

Day Two of the Onslaught

2011-10-08T18:40:00.001-07:00

Well it continued....I came home at lunch again to check up on the villain in question, only to find he had devoured my most favourite book of all time, parts of my nerdy plant bible and the Piece de resistance ::: a whole roll of toilet paper had decorated the crime scene, the living room and the bathroom and there was not one break in the roll to be found -
But i seriously thought, well he wouldn't be dumb enough to do it twice in a row, but now that i think about it, perhaps he was the smarter one!!! Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh
Life at the headquarters is a lil more calming, so i have been busying quite effectively. I've found that if i have about 3 things on the go, its WAY more fun than ploding away at the one thing all day. So I decided today that i should call my coin purses 'Waste Wonders' coz they are just as wonderful as the 'Waste Wonderfuls' but just a lil more compact. I use mine for my few essential cards, sanity in a cup money( aka coffee)+ lipbalm

I put some vintage trim on the sides, coz i just so darn cute i had to use it somewhere...and its kinda practical ....you could say, um attach them to a D ring in a fantabulous bag or something:::giggle

And a sneeky peeky of 'Winter Greens' that is looking out the window at the gloomy weather

Can't wait to write my next post!!!! I'm on an exciting new adventure called ' You worked hard to save it....now lets spend!!' YiPpy for retail therapy....I FEEL ON TOP OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW!!!!! Who says money can't buy you happiness...giggle!!

righto will be posting my new goodies throughout the week

bye bye for now

lil jj.

He loves me....he loves me not...

2011-10-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

I have been stitching away this week + getting back into entrepreneur mode. Just finished up some new wintery Mae Jones hats that are splendifiously cozy + currently cooking up a new batch of Kinn Jones ....that i think might just be called 'Beachside Bleu'......in a colour range of sand dunes, blue skies and ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh just plain ol beachy goodness!!!
And in the meantime...these cute lil guys called "BubbleGum + Broccoli' are in production. I'm working on some great ideas for the ever nearing festive season, to make life a bit more stress free + ummmmm fun!!!
So i snuck home at lunch, only to come across this:::

A fuzzy monster that lives in my abode, had decided to pick everything off the bookshelf and shred my belongings into pieces. At least he had the decency not to nibble on my photos, but he did find the Post impressionism quite tasty in my very expensive art history book . And he even managed to digest alot of information from my Canada Lonely Planet guide book!!!!

Now let me give you the list of items lost in the war with this Tyrant:

-2 pairs of sneakers

-3 maybe 4 pairs of flip flops

-3 printer cables

and then there is the outside......well at least i haven't had to waste time pruning this year.

So i figure he either...just really loves me so he needs to eat anything i touch , or he is secretly working on my demise, so that he my have my beau all to himself (and thats when he would snicker like shifty evil characters do in the cartoons)

On the flipside tho, it really has taught me to put things away after using them!!!

Bye bye for now

lil jj

ps: Did you guys hear that fantabulous speech from Steve Jobs :: what an totally amazing + down to earth kinda character! I'm going to have to listen to that speech everytime i have the Blah's.

Just for Moi

2011-09-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

I have finally decided that i need to trade in my 3 year old 'trucker tombo'

Thought i might make me.... a lil something like this::

I have another one ordered...so i'll have just enough of Guerard's trousers for ONE MORE lil black hat!!!
(found here)

The lining... it's a SuRpriSe silly - but fantabulous as always!!!!

bye bye for now

lil jj

Update:::

2011-09-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Well the time has come....

To full time Sparky!!

As of monday the 3rd, lil jj will be in the HQ's sewing her lil heart out, dancing to the tunes, snipping to the beat + getting all those orders done for peeps who have been waiting patiently!!!

Happy Days ahead my friends

bye bye for now

lil jj

Long legs

2011-09-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Old Man Jack had theeeeeeeeee longest legs......and thanks goodness, coz i was able to make 2 of these vintagey Busy Jones handbags!!! I just posted one in the shop today, but i'm thinking i might have to keep the other one for the Craft show in Nov(the countdown is on, i'll have a little over a month to haul some ass and sew like the wind to get some product ready - still haven't got my lay-off notice from work....YowZaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!)

Anyways she is.......all shades of grey n' apricot/orange. I made her a little bit deeper than usual, and decided to try the piping(the white pipe looking stuff in between the seams) method again.....but i fear the ol' bias binding is the one for me!!

And yeppers decided against the trademark lawsuit and got a little inventive with some applique , A 'label' and some stitching!! The giggling cabbage welt pocket worked out just perfectly too!!!

just thought i'd show you guys what my wall of ever growing inspiration looks like right now!!! But funny enough i love it. Every time i look at it, my eyes find a piece of fabric i'd forgotten about...and the ideas start a whirling!!!!

And a little autumn crocus poked its head thru the soil in my garden the other day.....such a lil beauty, but a sign of whats to come................PERFECT SEWING DAYS!!!! miserable weather, hot coffee and listening to my friends on the CBC radio again!!!!

bye bye for now

lil jj

getting closer...

2011-09-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

Okay so i am getting closer to 3 things right now...
1) Back to working on Sparky full time.....in (fingers crossed 3 weeks, well its 2 n' a bit, but i thought i'd better add in a couple of days of sleeping and relaxing::giggle!)
2) the Fabulous Finds Christmas show that Sparky will be par-taking in, around the beginning of November (handmade + OOAK stuff + winery......but more about that at a later date!)
and
3) Finishing 2 Busy Jones called 'Levi + Coal'....supa cute, perfect for all seasons and only a tiny bit of floral!!!

Here is my list of things to make as soon as i finish up my grown up job!!!

(Opps minor detail - i'm now sharing my studio with another designer/hatmaker/artist!!! - you can kinda see her studio in the background,, more on that later TOO))
a glimpse of 'Levi + Coal

and the fantabulous labels from Jacks Levi jeans, that i carefully removed and re-stitched onto some...ummmm cool Sparky handbags!!!

And this is the only bit of floral on these bags(its in the welt pocket on the strap!)::: BUT I just had to use this fabric because its so funny....its actually smiling cabbages with rosey cheeks in between some roses...so kooky i naturally love it !!!

righto off to bed i go, so i can go to sleep right away and get a little closer to my 3 things!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

Some Nice-ities...

2011-08-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

Coming home to supper on the table, with a card and a stunning little pot of my fav flowers at the moment.....the Orchid (been wanting to make some fabric orchids - but have come to the realization ya can't imitate the intricate beauty of these lil guys! (Not only can i span out my birthday...i have now mastered most festive occasions including the anniversary::giggle!)

Turning around to SEE THIS::
My beau had decided to spice up my cardboardy gluten free buckwheat pancakes!!

Making my handmade bias binding in a shade of 'aubergine', as my gran would call it (saying purple was a bit beneath her - which always made us giggle!)
AND MEET:: the latest member of the Sparky Shop!! - Miss 'French Earl Grey' Kinn Jones She is simply perfect for sitting back and relaxing, whilst sipping a cup of the aromatic French Earl Grey Tea .
This lil number is shades of lavender + 'aubergine', with a tweed top + deep denim band n' brim........Urma ought to be proud that her coat from moons ago could be made into such a fine lady like Sparky Accessory!!
There are 2 left, and you can even choose your own button!!!
So look here or here!!
Bye bye for now
Lil jj.
ps:: T2 is a Tea company in Australia that has the most delicious teas and kitschy teawares! Check it out here: AND...Apparently.....Early Grey tea gets its distinct aroma + flavour from the oil that is extracted out of the rind of 'Citrus bergamia' or Bergamot Orange - a winter flowering citrus!! Fun Fact 281!!!

A letter for the creative soul..

2011-08-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

Well in light of recent events, my 'thinking cap' has ...well....been working overtime. So I have come to a conclusion....I must write a letter! A letter of awareness + truth.
Well there comes a time when your daydreams finally become your life:: you can suck up all your insecurities + fears and just totally put yourself out there....and the thing that you put out there most is YOU, (it kinda feels like ya naked I guess..in a funny kind of way!) for all the world to see and judge. It keeps you awake at night, and it drives you to get up in the morning. You push yourself harder than ever imagined and you ride a bigger rollercoaster of emotion than when you were a teenage girl (which for me....well let’s just say it the ride was CRA to the Z!) BUT all in all you have finally reached that point of success (which for me, is not a monetary value) and fulfilment and most of all proud to be yourself!! And when peeps start lovin your dream...well it’s the bestest feeling ever (kinda reinforces you that you are not completely insane!!)

Now what if someone else decides that your dream looks pretty tasty??
Well your still standing there naked aren't ya::giggle!
I guess you are never prepared for what it feels like - Someone has tried to steal your Creative Soul and take the credit for it, even tho its 150% YOU sitting right there.... BUT what I have realized in life....is people are going to do what they are going to do + they can convince themselves that they are right +true...... even if it means hurting others to make themselves feel happy (which i'm pretty sure...i'm not innocent of in this life time).

So what are the side effects of someone Xeroxing your Creative Soul:::
1) You stay awake for long hours, which makes you a) crazy, b) angry c) irrational d) angry
2) You draft letters with words of the criminally insane
3) You take all your frustration out on your cute lil Beau who has done nothing but support you
4) You have a little cry in the supermarket, isle 5...but pretend its allergies
5)your family, besties and biggest supporters become outraged - because they too have been riding this bloody rollercoaster with ya for the last 8 years, so they are involved totally on the journey until the ride stops!!
5) You try very very very hard to pretend it doesn't hurt like fucking hell

So what is the Medication::
Well finally after a few weeks of constant self counselling and eating copious amounts of ice cream...........all i've got to say is: you can carbon copy my Creative Soul, change it by a millimetre here, and centimetre there to call it your own....but you will always be missing the secret ingredient:

And that would be ME! (i thought i would use the most cheeriest photo ever!!)
Bye bye for now
lil jj
Life Lesson 741:: Thru Stress comes Strength!!

Lurking

2011-07-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

So lurking in the Sparky HeadQuarters....are a few items that i had stashed away for my Market stand................but, since i don't have anytime to par-take in the ol market scene this summer....i have some extra goodies that i can now post in my Etsy shop!!! YiPpy!!
You can have a better look-see here at lil miss 'Railway Red'.
bye bye for now
lil jj

working thru it

2011-07-25T20:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all ya support, emails and words of encouragement guys - that has been fantabulous actually!
Lil Sparky is currently working on simmering down - infact my beau has strapped me in my corner of the ring, until I can calmly put down my boxing gloves and act like the civilized business person that i should be!! giggle

Here are some photos of the calm before the storm..................................................

(actually it was kinda after the storm...but that didn't sound as good::never-the-less, the sky was supa amazing and well worth capturing)

and some cute lil flowers in my garden that managed to survive the downpour
Thanks again folks - and you guys are right!! Sparky Jones = top notch funk-i-lic-ious accessories!!!
Bye bye for now..lil jj
life lesson #126 ::: When in a complete stage of anger...wait at least 3 - 7 days to react to the situation, bit of a hard one to do, but think its for the best for all involved.........Buying a flight to a different country to give some what for in person - not so high on the agenda right now:::giggle

My new favourite Etsy seller

2011-07-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

There i am cruising on the net..............when what do i find.....a Sparky Jones Kinn hat!!! Funny enough i didn't make it!!!
So thank you lover-ly fellow Etsian seller for totally lovin my design, my passion, my jersey band in the lining and even where i sew in my labels........................Yeppers to take someones 8 year dream is....shall i say IN THE MOST G-RATED WAY... somewhat disappointing!!!

I'm heading off for a stiff drink....................

Happy Weekend everybodies - I'M JUST FINE!!!

ps:: My mumma always tells me that copying is a sign of flattery....but really when someone has come across your goods and then picked it apart to get all the minor details................ummm the word Flattery does not come to mind...........

bye bye for now

lil jj

tangerine + tweed

2011-07-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

today being saturday, is my official 'gett er' done' sewing day!!!
so check out this lil cutie::

Bea's skirt made a wonderful Kinn Jones hat of the tangerine variety....with her tweedy goodness, juicy orange trimming n' stitching and kitschy vintage floral lining :: this number is just perfect for bookworms, summer days and bike rides!!

i even spent a better part of the day making 5 kilometres of tangerine bias binding....so that i'll be totally stocked up with orange trimmings for the next 5 years.....yiPpY!!!

Infact the next SpaRky goodness that i'm going to make ...is going to be outta this deliciously
thick koo koo fabric!!!! I think its going to look fantabulously gorgeous - fingers crossed XX!

bye bye for now

lil jj

MISSING HAT !!!!

2011-07-10T16:01:00.001-07:00

Okay so long story short:
On the other side of the country(Canada) there is a cute lil girl....that is totally devasted - coz some lil BRAT.....STOLE her brand new Sparky Jones hat!!!
So i'm just putting it out there...............if anyone should see this hat 'Chocolate Sundae' Kinn Jones hat.....LET ME KNOW!!

But hopefully she will love this 'Strawberry Sundae' just as much!! Apparently she just lurves the pinks!!

Bye bye for now

lil jj

Hot Pants!!!

2011-07-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Yippy.....i am so so so happy with the way these ' HotPants Cherry' BuSy Jones turned out!! Its always a bit of a gamble when picking fabrics....what looks good in ya head....sometimes not so in the real!! But i love love love em................
This is 'HotPants Cherry +Charcoal'..................

she is about to be shipped off to a lovely new home in Australia to the Lil lady that loves reds, hot pinks and blacks !(Thanks M for the inspiration!) - i find blacks pretty hard to use...so i had to settle for a Charcoal strap and body...which in the end, worked out perfectly retro-licious!

And TaDA.........my new pockets...which i might just have to use in all my bags now...the 3 in 1 pocket extravaganza!! For all your stuff and more stuff!

I found these big kitschy snaps for the bag closure!!

and

meet

'HotPants Cherry + Bleu'

Oh to keep them retro inspired....a touch of red n' white polkadot for the welt pocket on the strap

and on the flipside............a supa cutie hot pink bubbley kinda fabric - oH and almost forgot the red n' white strap for the d-ring for ya Keys!!

Righto bye bye for now

lil jj

Anniversary at the Ashnola

2011-07-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

So the other weekend, was me and my beau's 1st anniversary....so we decided to bust outta town to celebrate.......and it was surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeee convenient that my sweetie had just invested in a camper for his truck!!! (i think its called deluxo style!)
We stopped for gas here, and i just love this pic with the the lil silver squeaks mobile in the background - everybodies just on vacation

And this collage of photos seems to capture my beau just perfectly = B.U.S.Y!!!!!! with a capital BOYSCOUT! Most peeps relax while camping...not this one!!! Perhaps just one of us was relaxing!!giggle!

A totally sexist breakie..but one worth capturing!

muttsy contemplating??

We camped right near this raging river - which was supa cool to fall asleep too...the mozzies....not so cool!! But luckily we had a bit of this goodness to numb the itching
and how could you not love these retro vixens...

And a glowing photo of whats most important:: S*%T tickets...........i never leave home without at least 3 rolls of em - you never can be too sure right!!!

And then there was the wildlife....a lil alpine aster and my favourite -serious yet totally 'South Park' looking sign about the sheeps!!! Makes me giggle everytime i pass it.

Anyways bottom line is.....this kid has kept me around for a year......i think its a good sign that i have found someone that will put up with my craziness ::: Yippy!!!

bye bye for now

lil jj

Buttons and Belts

2011-06-28T18:49:00.001-07:00

Well i have a little obsession with buttons....so much so that i always need more, i never seem to have the right button for the job - so i always end up scooting out for some halfway thru production. BUT the thing is a have tins of em....the real story is, i just need an excuse to go for a quick shop and an escape from the HQ for a few mins.
So those days are over...i am going to make do with what i have and use all those funkilicious vintage buttons i have been storing for a rainy day!! (Coz really, if i died who would end up with my cool buttons?? Yeppers they would be sent off to the place i got em, and then some poor sucker like myself would snap em up and store them for a rainy day!)

And my favourite girly frou frou thing to make.....the O.B jones obi belt, i just love em, i think i must have been japanese in a former life, as i could live on sushi, rice and kimono fabric(actually i have some kimono fabric that i ordered from Japan, that is just waiting to be made into some cool accessories one day - Oh o o an idea just popped into my head better write it down quick!)
Anyways i decided to have a SALE on them coz i just love em and i want you guys to TOO!!
Have a look see and a gander here::

And one last thing....which out of all my Sparky Jones photos do you like or attracted to most?? I am really trying to find the perfect Sparky back drop that i can stick with, but i just don't know what other peeps look for?? (so you can check out my SOLD items in my Etsy shop too, coz i have had a few different themes/backdrops!)

Bye bye for now lil jj

Life Lesson 423:: take naps!!! Its okay to!!

Day of the Red

2011-06-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

Oh so yesterday i gots home from the HQ and i logged onto etsy (like a true addict does)..................and guess what?.........Sparky was on the FRONT PAGE!!!! Although i gots to say that these days they change the front page on Etsy every 10 mins it seems like:: so really who knows how many peeps saw it! I kinda had a feeling this collection of 'Canada Day' goodies would make it - everything just looks so deliciously red, so Thank You to the loverly Etsian who made up this Treasury list.
Speaking of Canada Day (which is the 1st of July...this friday coming actually), not only do we get the day off work - YIPPY.... its me and my sweet things 1st anniversary. We could never really pin down the exact date that we 'officially' became boyfriend and girlfriend::giggle...........so we decided to pick the day that the fire works light up the summer nights sky to be.........well the perfect date (and an easy one to remember!)

Anyways enough of that mushy stuff and onto some other Sparky goodness

I'd like to say that my HQ is ORGANIZED CHAOS.....sometimes, so much so that some spaces really look like peaces of artwork..............i haven't quite captured this shot properly yet...but i'm getting there

And here is what i'm working on at the moment..........2 'HotPants Cherry' Busy Jones. I've been saving this supa vintage red cherry tablecloth for just the right occasion..........and gots to say they are working out quite nicely!

Cherry, reds and hot pinks make for one hot lil number...and i have changed the design of the pockets-which i'm really really excited about coz i had a brainwave one night on how to make one pocket turn into 3!!! I KNOW ITS CRAZY!!!!

LIFE LESSON 489:: Always remember to close/lock the back of your SUV properly, as when turning a corner, it could suddenly release/open and out of your vehicle could tumble your gumboots and your DOG!!! No Joke i was driving behind this lady....and her dog fell out and commando rolled out of the situation....border collies are quite the agile creature!

Bye for now lil jj

I'm so so proud..

2011-06-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

That i finally gots around to finishing at least one thing!!! ...well 2.....::Giggle.

I'd had these bujettas cut out for a while, i just needed to stitch them up, and i thought i'd make em a bit more exciting by making the inside an ocean teal, instead of an all grassy green wallet. I love love love making budget wallets coz each time i learn something new, get a little faster and a lil more perfect::giggle!!! And i thought, just this once i would try NOT to do something in florals(i just can't seem to get away from them - i'm addicted! Work in them all day and sew in them all night) and well i think its a nice change anyways... simple and clean yet still remaining kitschy koo koo!!

This fresh lil guy is called 'Surf + Turf' ......you can get to know him a little better here::

how do you like Alfred's curtain??

With a hint of CITRON(still loving that colour!)

g And i just love this photo...coz you get to see a bit more of the HeadQuarters!! I'm thinking i might have to take my photo sessions indoors again...after all my outdoor photo shananagans

Bye bye for now

Lil jj

lesson 236 in life:: When feeling overwhelmed in life.......learn to delegate!!!!

Oh Bujetta....

2011-06-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

I finally gots to finishing some Sparky goodies!!
I've really been beating myself up of late, coz i don't seem to have much energy left for Sparky after i have finished an 8 hour work day....Mmmmmm funny that:giggle!!! But anyways like a friend told me...................'instead of having 40 things on your list of things to do...why not try just 1??' And life seems to be a little more fun and i get more done!!!!

So whats the goodies you ask??? some Bujetta Jones Wallets that are ever so cute, fresh and lush.......I'll be posting them very soon!!! But i just gave you some hints on the colour schemes!!!

next on my hit list.................some 'hotpants cherry' Busy Jones........................a retro lil number made with cherries, hot pinks, reds and a whole lotta love!!

bye bye for now
lil jj

Back from the Bands

2011-06-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

Because i just LOVE love love to span out my birthday::giggle!!...my bday is in Jan - my pressie was actually a ticket to a Music Festival in the States call 'Sasquatch' (which was just over the weekend - hence my shop closure!)...so we packed up, drove down to the states with some good friends...., stocked up on Maple Bacon, chips and booze - and watched some really cool tunes for 4 days whilst camping amongst lots of 1000's of peeps!!.................and the best part of it all was the scenery ( I was kinda too scared to bring my camera but found this ultimately cool pic on the web)

Totally wish i had of studied up on a few more of the bands...but am a huge fan of the Local Natives from now on....and Dallas Green :: always loved the guy, but in the real...his voice is even better!!! (i'm thinking i should send him a Sparky Hat and then maybe just maybe he would write and sing a song just for me coz he loves his hat so much and i would live happily ever after!)......aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Goodnight
ps: the shop is open again!!!

a little mini

2011-05-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

okay so tho i just started a job................i'm already on Vacation!!!! Yeppers i'm leaving the country and heading south!!! I'm going to be back on the 1st June tho and i'm going to be all refreshed and happy and probably sans tan(as i'm not a tanner just a burner!! giggle)

bye bye for now
lil jj

Ummmm its pretty Nice....

2011-05-19T20:13:00.001-07:00

So this going to 'work for the man' stuff....well its kinda nice - Its been totally great to be back at my old job, getting a bit silly with ol workmates (i get to use my trucker mouth again! - that thing has been backed up let me tells ya), getting totally excited about 'COFFEE BREAK'...and leaving work at work (which is at 3 in the afternoon - hello 2 days for the price of one!!)
But never fear - i'm not giving up Sparky!!!
Infact i have a couple o things to show you...but i seemed to have had dilema after dilema in the photo shoot department, like a lot of rain and a bit more rain, the wrong time of day, grandmas with grandkids(who both stand there...stare and ask a lots o ?) and grandmas who need you to move your whole photo set up, so they can back there car out of their parking spot EVEN THO a semi trailer truck could do a 3 point turn in that same area and never hit you!!!!.......KEEPING VERY CALM AT THIS POINT....as there was a minor amongst us!!!
So here is what i can show you.........

'Tour de Paris'

a delectabley cute biking cap in ::

denim, seafoam and a hint of CITRON

and this guy

A supa special hat for many a reason....

An very inspiring broad i know - is going thru a bit of a rough patch, so to feel better...she came into the HQ's to pick out some fabrics:: and these are the wonderful morsels she chose...so.....i just stitched them together and made them awesomely scrumptious by stiffening them with organic canvas and using an organic jersey band for the lining!!
When she put on her new hat(s) she simply beamed....and the fact that she felt that her beauty, feminity and sparkyness has been lost with her hair....was really only in her eyes !!

+ Small gestures of kindness are often the greatest gift +

I've decided that i there will be free shipping on these particular hats....however the cost of how much the shipping would have been - will be donated to Cancer Research (i really hope that at least one customer lives in the antarctic!!!)

And another P.R.O.T.O Jones....a little bit different than the last one...but just as cute!!!

Better get to bed....the alarm goes off at 5!!!!! WOOZER

The latest adventure of lil miss jj...

2011-05-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

hey hey,

well there have been some new twists in my little adventure we call 'life'.....i'm going back to work full time.....TOMORROW!!! AAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Well i guess its a good and bad thing, i kinda have mixed emotions - and it sure will be nice to have a steady paycheque for a while!!! It has also spurred me on to finish my renovations in the Sparky HQ's

(i've decided that the definition for 'renovations' should actually be........a job that is never 100% completed!!! Like really who ever finishes!)

So i'm hoping to do a bit of Sparky in the PM hours and i have many a fabrics picked out to make some Bujettas and Busy's(Thanks peeps for writing to me and giving me some great colour combo ideas!).............so keep checking in.....i'm not totally giving up, just having to take a different approach for a few months.

And above i really need to remember one thing...'not to take life so seriously!' Its supposed to be fun right!!

Bye bye for now
lil jj

CITRON!!!!!

2011-05-10T07:38:00.001-07:00

So i put it out there on the facebook for peeps to suggest some colours i could use....as i'm sure everyone is sick of seeing ummmmm red, teal, green and apricot...............ummmmm my all time fav colours!!! Someone suggested CITRON............what a fantabulous colour holy diner!!! Why hadn't i thought of it before!!! So vibrant and it pretty much goes with everything...

here is a look at 'CITRON BOMB' the lastest Kinn creation!!

+ Here is the Fabric History for this lil number :
Belle had the most boring trousers i have ever seen.......Khaki with pleats to be precise - and ankle freezers, you know the ones with big thick hems on em!!! So dorky pants no longer.....and HELLO 'Citron Bomb'!!!! With a band of the most wonderful fabric in a vintage military green.....the Citron trimmings look absolutely delicious!! 2 lime, white and teal florally flaps sit on both sides of the brim and have a big lemon sorbet buttons to adorn them. The inside is just as fresh with a lime n' citron upcycled cotton and a grey jersey band to ensure a supa comfortable fit!!!
So my beau was like...............you should definitely keep one of these for yourself...its totally you!!! My reply 'well they are all totally me silly!! - i can't keep everything!'

bye bye for now, lil jj

M's Day..

2011-05-08T22:07:00.001-07:00

I finally ventured out of the sweatshop....and i have some STORIES!!!!! Life has been a lil boring of late...so there hasn't been anything to write about besides.....um.....fabric and sewing!!! Not really hot topics in the papers or in the news these days!!!
So today is Mothers Day and my lil mumma lives in a different country - she did however call ME say i could say Happy Mothers day to her (Suddenly everything becomes very clear about why i am the way i am::giggle)......................so my beau and i decided to have a 'treat yourself coz you have no kids day!'..........we went out for brekky at our fav place!!!! And the funny thing was, my parents had actually given us some $ for easter to do something nice.....so we thought GREAT what a perfect way to spend the money.....................so really...my mum ended up treating us:giggle!! ummmmm Thanks Mum!!!Then off to a plant sale!!! It was actually at this Research Station that i must have driven by a million times but never been too! (its a supa pretty place - lots o peeps get married there because of the gardens and vistas) - There were all these cute lil old gardener types there...i think i kinda enjoyed the people watching more than the sale!!!

Then off to Value Village where i got some fantabulous fabrics that i probably didn't need but had to have(like my wall of fabric isn't big enough already!!!!). We managed to squeeze in a coffee break and a trip to Costco aswell.........................so now we have enough meat and toilet paper to last us the year - Thanks goodness!!!!!

It was also great to have the day off because a)i really try not to work on sundays + b)i just had a crazy few days of sales in my Etsy shop!!!!! Which is fantabulous coz things had been soooooooooooooooooooooooooo sllooooooooooooooowwwwwwww for ages!!!!

And now i have room for some new goodies, like this one!!!

This Bujetta Jones budget wallet is called 'Ostentatious Orange'.............she is stupendously kitschy.....GOLD with an orange vintage floral pattern, a tumeric canvas body and fushcia trimmings. I'm kinda disappointed with the photos coz they just don't do this character any justice!!!!

Can't wait for this week................its going to be the week of all things.......CITRON!!!! who doesn' love citron.....or at least just saying citron!!!!

bye bye for now, lil jj

For the Southerners..

2011-05-06T07:51:00.001-07:00

So i guess the whole world is not heading into bright sunny warm days!!! I was talking to my sista the other day....and she said 'Well we need some wintery numbers down this way!'

So luckily i had 2 of these Hunter Browns stashed away.....

You can see some more info here, and you definitely should coz there are some characters on sale!!!!
Bye bye for now

lil jj

The scoop on Lil May Jones

2011-04-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

Well here she is....May Jones in the real and now available!!!

So most Sparky products are named after peeps i know that either have the same character that lies within that accessory...or they just have a really cool name::giggle! But this particular number has been named after a broad i know............She is stubbornly independent, thinks outside the box, is way too much fun, always deliciously dressed.......and without a doubt...a supa cutie...a real show stopper!

so all in all....it was the perfect name.....and really what name doesn't go with 'Jones'!!!

The brim swoops across the face and buttons up to the side...kinda retro cloche style(which is a style i have always loved, but this i guess is my version of it!)
with the ever popular same same yet lil bit different coloured band
(And don't ya love the box!!! The beau and i found this really cool shop/garage on the side of the road that sells all vintage goods...i could have spent days n' dollars in there!!!!)

And the inside....mmmmmm comfortable snug coz of the jersey band!!!

I only have 2 in the shop, so for some more pics...look here::

NOw::: onto some different news.....the new Sparky Season has brought some new changes.....and well the long and the short of it is....a while back i read a blog post by Moop(one of my favs etsy shops/blogs to stalk) which you can here::

and for those who are in business i highly recommend the read!!......it got me to thinking and thinking and thinking. Many sleepless nights ahead!!!

Then i hired a bookkeeper/lifesaver to sort out the past year of my life - which really i should have done ages ago...i'm okay to admit that i'm the creative type not the organized numbers type!! But i'm getting better and thats my new goal for 2011.....And i guess when you actually do your taxes....YOU GET A HUGE REALITY CHECK!!!! All the numbers are starting to add up now and things are not quite as i thought!!! All the columns give you a snap shot of where everything is going and where you need to be going and where you want to be going and what kind of business you really want to be!!!

Now the changes are not because of a financial freak out lets get that straight....its because...you can get a baseball cap from Walmart for $48!!! Its going to look like everyone elses, its going to fit okay and it was mass produced in a sweatshop for 50cents....And thats... not the Sparky standard!

It made me realize how unique my products actually are. i find the perfect upcycled trousers/fabrics,wash them up real good, snip n' stitch ever so carefully so you can see the details of its last life, triple stitch everything coz i'm totally AR and don't want my products to fall apart, make sure that each one is totally one of a kind, so that you won't walk down the street and see someone wearing the same thing..........everything is totally thought out and that takes time and passion............and i think that is a very cool thing/dream/standard/uniqueness(and i could keep writing things...but i better not...because i could really be coming across as being full of myself, and thats not really what i want you to think::giggle) to be able to offer peeps

bye bye for now

lil jj

ps:: i've been busy making things....you can see on the side bar hey!!!

May who?.........

2011-04-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

MAY JONES is who!!!!

She is the latest addition to the Sparky family!!!! I'd been dreaming of this character for a while.....and in and out of moving had a few spare moments to create this totally fantabulously styling lil cap!!!

I'll be doing some updating tomorrow:: in the shop and here.....just thought i'd give you a sneak peek...but in black n white, so as not to give everything away!!!!
bye bye for now
lil jj

La Tea Parties + Aubergine

2011-04-29T07:09:00.001-07:00

I'm totally in Spring mode now!!!

And what goes well with Spring...but a lil linen, floral, teaparties.......and Aubergine!!! + Here's a lil Fabric History for ya:
My cute lil Momma was organizing her own fabric stash....and thought this linen was absolutely perfect for making some Sparky goodness!! Linen, a touch of aubergine trimmings and a kitschy floral make up this summery number!! So whether you wear it with a dress, blouse or tank top....she would look superb at a teaparty with all the other ladies being completely jealous!!
The lining is a light purple and pink floral to keep it in the theme...whilst she has a white cotton jersey band to keep her perfectly snug
EACH HAT HAS A DIFFERENT BUTTON but ALL ARE MARVELOUSLY CUTE!!
You can check out the last 2 here::
Bye bye for now lil jj

The return...

2011-04-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

So quite a few peeps were wanting to see the 'Cosmopoliton Blacks' again....so there are now are 3 in the shop.....and how fantabulous is that lining fabric!!!!

you can check them out here::

The Swan......

2011-04-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

I just watched the movie 'Black Swan'

last night...lil bizarre ::: but it totally reminded me of my sista!!(Not coz she is deranged in anyway::giggle...but because she used to be a Ballerina!!)

In every way she is my complete opposite curvy blonde, blue eyes, short straight hair and used to wear point shoes for a living......Me on the otherhand:: could seriously pass for an Italian...and instead of point shoes i wore steel caps!!!

I didn't see her much when we were growing up, she went to ballet straight after school and weekends..but i do remember being totally grossed out by her beaten up ballet feet!!

So whilst i was watching the movie, it brought back all the memories of my dad snorring thru every concert, my brother and i having tantrums about going to see yet another ballet....but then the minute my sista would come on stage....my heart would race and i wouldn't be able to take my eyes off her....so proud that she was my 'famous' girly girl sista in a tutu!!!

This is my favourite photo of her...this is the coastline just south of where she lives!!!!)

So what better bit of SpaRkyness to tell you about than these frou frou lacey lil numbers!

(Yes i have posted them before....but i am seriously in love with them!!!)

'Apricot delight'

and

'Plum Delight'

A while back i had picked up this red tablecloth and it had this kitschy fuschia lace trim all around it and i had been dying to use it for ages.....when the idea for these wristlets popped into my head!!! All of the fabrics in these characters were from my waste basket, which i think is pretty nifty....and then i padded them up with a woolen blanket that i had washed and felted (on purpose) so they are deliciously thick and supa sturdy!!
And
what i love doing most when designing my Waste Wonderful Wristlets, is making the inside a total suprise...so they are almost as way out as the outside!!
Bye bye for now lil jj

ps:: i must be the most turned out gardener there ever was!!!

one lil one left :::

2011-04-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

So guess what??? I actually have a medium size 'Peppermint Breeze' in the shop right now!!!

This is what she looks like on

and this is the actual hat!!!!

(the fabric is a lil different but pretty much same same) You can have a look see here::

So the great thing about moving is you find.....this and that.....and the cool thing is, i have a couple of 'ready to ship' from the last season hats that are currently just hanging out in my new HQ's, and really, there is no point just hanging about - they may aswell be worn RIGHT!

So everyday i will add a lil goodness at last seasons prices!!!! Yippy Yo Yo!!!

bye bye for nowlittle jj

Rhubarb + Mint

2011-04-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

So i think i'm going through a bit of a girly pink stage!!!

Meet the latest Jemima Jones....her name is:::

'Rhubarb + Mint

Her Fabric History: A swatch of upcycled shabby chic upholstery makes the dreamiest Jemima Jones!!!! The handmade mint bias binding goes swimmingly with the kitschy Rhubarb + Mint flowers, whilst her fawn upcycled strap with thick mint stitching brings it all together......making her the perfect lil clutch for Spring!! Her lining - retro blue with fantabulous big white polkadots!! And the pocket...you guessed it... in Rhubarb with Mint !! And last bit of info...a mushroom zip keeps all your goodies safe inside......no matter which way you hold it!!!

You can also see her here ::

Bye bye for now

Happy sleepy sunday!!!

okay here it is!!!

2011-04-16T19:22:00.001-07:00

okay here is the story:::

(and no Danielle...you were totally way off!)

About a year and a half ago, i had broken up with the fella i had been dating for a few years, and i was not doing so good: i was pretty bummed out all round lets just say. I was like...well i'm in my 30's and my life seemed to be nothing like 'it was supposed to be', not like in the magazines, not like my friends and i certainly was no where near having the white picket fence, 2.5 kids and a golden retriever.

I loved my grown-up job, yeah i even liked my co-workers (there was this one that was a bit annoying tho! oh hi Danielle!) - but there was just something that was always missing!!

Thats when i said....F....K IT!!! You have one shot at life JJ, so you may aswell live your dream!! And who the hell cares that you don't have the white picket fence anyways?

No one except yourself is RIGHT!!!

So i made up 3 goals for myself:

1) really give my business a go, instead of just talking about it

2)make enough $ to be able to do what i want

3)have nice shoes!!

and with that...i gave up my job, caring what people thought and my pension/medical plan!!!

It hasn't been easy i gots to say...i've lost some important things along the way but i have also gained things that i wouldn't have otherwise (like you guys!!giggle)

So why is today, well yesterday so important???

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY SPARKY JONES!!!

We made it!!

I think i might add this totally shabby chic 'Rhubarb + Mint' Jemima Jones clutch to the shop tomorrow!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

Today.....

2011-04-15T18:19:00.001-07:00

Well today is a special day......

but

i think i'll tell you why tomorrow!!!

But while you are here..meet 'magnolia bliss' the latest Kepp Jones that is just perfect for the spring + summer

And yeppers those were the trousers that i snipped + stitched to make her...i figure i really should take the before and after for the 'how cool is that' factor!!

And the photo of moi - well thats how i look when i get outta bed:::YEAH RIGHT!!!

I LOVE PHOTOSHOP!!!

This is Kailey's fav photo of the bunch...so i thought i'd stick it in::: i think its a lil creepy!! so don't forget to tune in tomorrow for the gossips!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

Bye bye 243....hello.....

2011-04-14T21:25:00.001-07:00

Well i had to say goodbye to 243!!! Which was kinda a weirdly sad day ::: i had a bit of a love hat relationship with that house.....it was so retro, but..... things were really starting to fall apart- so i took lots of photos to remind me of the good stuff!!!

I had planted this Winter Jasmine last year and it had just started to bloom when i moved(good sign i think + hello spring i say!!)

My once busy and packed to the roof studio - ahhhhh i looks so naked and tidy:::giggle!!

and i think its always cool idea to leave something secretly behind - a kinda luck, peace and moving on thing....so i left this hanging in the

'fine china cabinent'

Those stinky boys probably won't even notice it!

And this was the colour i WAS going to paint the HQ's.......but after i did a quick photo in my painting grubbies...i decided that perhaps 'i wasn't as bold as the lady behind the paint counter told me i was'.............it lasted a day!!! There was no way i was going to be able to work with that all day without getting a headache and wanting to run outside for the open sky

so........

here's a little sneak peek of the colour that is totally MOI!!!

It funny coz there i was sewing away stressing about what colour to paint after the fluoro disaster - when i looked at a spool of thread and i thought....man i love that colour

AND whammo....that was it, off i went to the paint shop!!!

Ummmm so this a snippet of the next batch of Kepp Jones hats...called 'Magnolia Bliss'....they have a lighter feel to them, to bring in the spring....and are based on the colours of the beautiful Magnolia that are coming into bloom

and the picture???

Ain't it just the coolest bit of kitschy koo koo you've ever seen....picked it up for a real deal whilst rummaging for fabrics!!.....My new HQ is not just going to be a workplace.....its going to be comfortably me!!

Bye bye for now

little jj

lesson 536 in life::: ummmm if you are going to eat cheesecake everynight before you tuck yourself in.....be prepared to buy bigger jeans!!!! Another pair of jeans....busted!!!!

P.R.O.T.O wednesday :::

2011-04-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

So what the hell is P.R.O.T.O wednesday ???

Well Sparky Jones was a long time in the making....years infact.....so i have actually made bag after bag after bag + hat after hat after hat....and the thing is i kept every single prototype along the way!!! So my recent move...i found some boxes...and what was in the boxes ::: but a huge collection of these goodies!!!!

And whats great about em' is that they are supa dupa unique and took me weeks to make, as i was starting from scratch, every stitch was ever so perfect....so what i'm really trying to say....is these special little guys are bomb proof!!!

This cute lil guy is ultra retro ::: with his minty hues, vintage labels

and odd buttons ...well he is a lot of fun lets just say!!! He has a tumeric zippered pocket in the back, and a floral pocket on the inside to match, whilst the cream handmade bias binding matches the kitschy cream and navy lining to a tea!!

The Front side - well that navy with geometric red + white pattern is probably the first bit of fabric i ever bought...so its pretty special (i have a tiny scrap of it left, and i just can't bear to use it, guess it reminds me of my crazy journey and how i got to where i am today!!)

Now that i have written all that ::: i think i want to keep him!!!

But alas i can't keep everything, and not now since i'm on a huge bender of getting organized and clutter free!!!

I'll be posting him in the shop this afternoon

Bye bye for now

Little jj

where to start??

2011-04-12T21:28:00.001-07:00

well sorry kids about the MIA manoeuvre....there just was WAAY too much going on!! But i'm all moved in now - the headquarters still needs a little work, but i now have the exact colour that i dreamt of, and my workspace is getting its vibe back (i couldn't find things for a while there or my hand was reaching to the wrong tool or i was tripping over stuff, mostly my own feet)

It was actually really great to get myself organized...like start with a fresh slate...which i gots to say is THE bonus of moving!!! I got my machines tuned up, got myself a trusty bookeeper...and actually threw out some of my clutter.....and worked on some new designs ::: which i guess didn't leave me too much time or energy to blog(or make any money for that matter...but sometimes you just gots to do what you gots to do right!!!!)

But i'm back and ready for a supa fun season of creating eco - accessories!!!!

And i'm also supa excited....because i have a PHOTOgRAPHER....by the name of Kailey :::

She did a fantabulous job, considering it was a cold day, i had a serious case of pms(thus meaning i was a complete nutcase!) and we got a little bit silly!!

here is the first batch of spring time Milly Jones headbands..

and

the New + Redesigned O.B Jones obi belt........

I'll give you a bit more of an update on those lil cuties tomorrow...but you can see some in the shop

already!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

ps:: tomorrow is wednesday....and wednesday is officially going to be 'P.R.O.T.O' wednesday ::: what is that you ask??? well guess you'll have to stop by to get the scoop - oh so cheeky!!!

schedule

2011-04-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

okay today is the 4th(i was going to re-open my etsy shop today!)...and i just FINALLY got my cable hook up!!! That was seriously the longest few days of my life.....guess when you run an online shop....you suddenly realize how much you USE and NEED the internet!!!

Anyways i'm pretty excited because not only am i bringing out some new products....i have a supa spunky photographer and retro-licious model lined up!!!! LIFE IS GETTING PRETTY SWEET!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh so much to do and must get back to paintin' the new headquarters!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

amidst the chaos

2011-03-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

Well holy diner is moving ever the biggest chore....packing, cleaning, sorting, cleaning, some more cleaning, a lot of lifting and finally cleaning. Only to do it all again when you reach your new destination!!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... talk about a full body and mental (aka sanity pushing) workout!!

Although it really makes you realize how much 'STUFF' you have...and i mean stuff!!! And being crafty by nature....i can never throw things out.....coz i could use it to make something really fantabulous one day......and do I????? MMMMmmmmm - well .......

So i am making a vow today.....not to keep all those tiny bits and pieces that add to my clutter!!!(cluttered lifestyle leads to a cluttered brain i think!!)

And this is my once cute retro kitchen....turned into a demolition zone

And my new headquarters (i think thats what i'm going to call it....sounds a bit more exciting and extremo than sweatshop!!)

Yeppers i've picked out my colours...but as soon as you go to buy the paint...thats when you doubt your choices!!! Maybe its too bold, maybe its going to look different in the real...do i really love it??? Oh to have 500 shades of the same colour and only one room!!!

Anyways thats what i'm up to0 ...and hoping to have some new goodies in the shop by the 4th!!!

bye bye for now Miss Muscle, totally ripped Little jj

Pearls

2011-03-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

I just love pearls.....

.so i thought i'd add them for this photo shoot!!!!
And i finally got these classy lil numbers listed HERE

Happy saturday!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

BEEP!!!

2011-03-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

What the BEEP jj??? Man i just took all these really cool photos thru out the day...........and lost EM again!!!....i just get so excited fix the up and get them loaded......my fingers work faster than my brain!!!! RRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Anyways i guess i'll be posting these 'Victorian Teals' tomorrow now!!! Which is probably a good thing coz....i had supa scarey hair today

i like to do a bit of surprise stitching here and there too!!!

So there will be 3 of these lil beauties in the shop tomorrow..........................hopefully!!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

New stuff

2011-03-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

So i was on a roll yesterday!!!!

I'm doing a big batch of hats - i just gots to have enough to put in my shop and for this 'Fabulous Finds' market i'm doing next weekend!!!

So i decided to call these cute nearly made Kinn Jones 'Victorian Teal'............as all i can see is classy broads in the 40's sipping on tea in a Victorian styled hotel ....you know the ones with checkered floors, plants in the corners and ladies wearing pearls and chaps playing a spot of tennis!!!

Mmmmm to have an over active imagination!!!!

Such gorgeous vintage fabric!!! and of course a touch of teal (my favourite colour of all time!)
and why else i am pumped???

This is going to be the new Sparky Jones headquarters!!! (and the words are from a teabag tag that i had that morning - good sign i thought!!!)

So i'm hoping to change the flooring, paint her up and get some funky retro stuff in there...so it feels like a real Sparky space!!!

I'm supa excited and it has given me some higher goals to work towards... for the next year!!

bye bye for now

little jj

2011-03-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

So me and the beau got a great offer over the weekend...do some dog sitting up at the ski hill!!!! Ummm alright then!!! It was really great to get away actually, get some fresh air in the brain cells and to really relax - i think you just need to be away from your home to do that!!!

We had all intentions to go snowboarding....but....well ::: there would be no soft landings -so we did some 'not so extremo' snowshoeing instead!!!

And we did have 4 mutts to exercise.....

then

home to drink some deliciously dangerous coffee and watch crappy movies!!!

This week i finally got around to making some Waste Wonderful wristlets...called

Vintage Violets
A supa cool broad that i had met in the summer at the markets had contacted me recently....and she was really in the need of some purpley/bluesy kinda girly combo in the wristlet department.......so of course i said 'for sure'!!!

Well let me tells ya...when someone asks for a certain something.......nothing pops out at you....i was trying and trying....but it just wasn't creatively working - and it just wasn't her!!

But, always the way- when you are right in the middle of something else.....the fabrics pretty much jump off the shelf and then you just want to get right into it::: like RIGHT NOW!

Okay, this auto inspired supa sturdy wristlet, was actually made from a vintage curtain....Blues, purples and cars...what more could a girl desire!!! The back side is made from a kitschy upcycled bluesy plaid!! Whilst the lining - is a beautifully thick lilac upcycled cotton (Mmmm that was also a curtain!!). She is finished off with an lilac zip and organic cotton labels. Some interfacing and upcycled padding is used..to keep your goodies safe
Righto - bye bye for now

Little jj

ps::: I ended up getting my 'dreamy studio' - i'm picking up the keys tomorrow!!!!!! FINALLY the search and stress is over!!! phhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Mmmmm the latest!!!

2011-03-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

And i just had to take a photo of the inside!!!! Its just as delicious as the outside!!!

the Perfect.....

2011-03-11T14:52:00.001-08:00

Okay so i went to check out the' dream' studio today......everything was perfect:::the size, the locale, the sunlight thru the windows, the price.....like i said perfect!!!!

I decided to spruce up, you know like look professional:::giggle - so i wore my new favourites 'kitschy with a hint of plaid'....i picked up this necklace recently...it was just so glitz...I HAD TO HAVE IT!!! So knowing me i just wear it around the house...and do to the housework!!

But then, all of a sudden i felt like i was booking a flight - you know when you see a good deal, everything seems great and then you start to booking process and WHAMOooo the cost of your flight has multiplied by 10!!!! Needless to say....i'm back on the hunt for a workspace!!

So i tootled off home a little heart broken and finished off these lil guys - 'Aviator Blues' and some other hats that i'm taking to the market.

And here is a glimpse of what i'm trying to finish off in between orders, studio hunting and making extra goodies for the markets.....i think she'll be named ' in the night garden' Busy Jones - she is mainly dark: greys and blues tones, BUT then has these splashes of colour...which totally remind me of walking through a fresh spring time garden by the evening light!

Bye bye for now

Little jj

life lesson 231::: always save your photos to your computer!! That way when you have taken the most PERFECT photos.....when you press the wrong key...you won't lose them and have to take the all over again!!!

Flyin' High

2011-03-10T16:17:00.001-08:00

So i picked up this cool fabric a while back....and i thought...i just gots to use it before its summer...its WAY too cute to sit there for another season!!!!

And all i could think of was......'airports' when i looked at it - well maybe an airport way back in the day !

anyways....this cute lil character was made from Horace's trouser (Horace was a very quiet lil ol' man who liked to wear LOUD clothing....and definitely wore clothes from the era he was happiest!!)

The kitschy brim has been stiffened with layers of upcycled canvas, whilst the underside...Mmmmm a yummy upcycled thick dark denim!!

So to keep it in the Aviator theme...I made some delicious bias binding out of a deep blue upcycled linen and appliqued an retro styled arrow!!!

And the lining::: well it matches perfectly of course!!! With a band of cozy grey jersey for a comfortable fit..

Anyways will be adding a couple of these guys to the shop tomorrow!!!

Oh and i just got confirmation today....that Sparky has approval from the government to run a very small manufacturing company of one....in that studio i looked at!!!! (i'm going to look at it tomorrow again...so i'll take my camera!!)

Bye bye for now
Little jj

The Crossing

2011-03-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

Yeppers i haven't written much of late hey!!!

Well truth be known.......I have been looking to move Sparky's headquarters( plus trying to get ready for this supa cool market at the end of the month) .... so after much searching, phoning and zoning(permits that is)........i think i've found the perfect space!!!! and its just around the corner from here....which is great considering the number of trips i'm going to have to do!!!

Anyways amidst the craziness i managed to squeeze in a quick trip to the States....yeppers its my first time crossing the border (which is pretty bad considering i've been here for 11 years!)....and let me tells ya i was quite the trip!!!

I was totally pumped, not only was i going on a roadtrip, i was going to a different country and on the most beautiful day......sunny n' still (even tho i must have passed this view point a million times....i just had to take a touristy snap!-i was on Vacation!!!)

So we went to the little town just across the border for some groceries, gas and to visit the famous 'Taco Truck'. But to be honest with you....i couldn't stop laughing n' staring.....everything just seemed so different...the people even looked/sounded different(there was a lot of mullets...and not just on the men!!WOooowZa)

and as i am in love with retro...how cool is this sign....and vehicle for that matter!!!

After we completed our 3 missions, we crossed back over to Canada.. yet without ease!!! We were asked many questions, had to empty our pockets and bags and had a vehicle search. The officer came back and informed my beau that he had found something of concern in our truck!!! HOly diner that is not what you want to hear at a border crossing....and especially not for 2 little nerds like ourselves!!!!

Let me tells ya..never leave a lighter in your jacket pocket after lighting the BBQ the night before....coz when you tell an officer you don't smoke anything and then they find a lighter in your pocket......you are going to come across as a big fat liar!!! And just coz you are sweating like a maniac....doesn't mean your guilty!!!

So they had to do some tests (or should i say a tummy churning longest 3 minutes ever) on this 'illegal substance ' they had found in the truck, but the silly thing is...even tho you know there would be nothing to worry about....its amazing how many stories that an over active imagination can come up with!!!!

The results came back........................................................................................

it was broccoli!!!!

My beau had done some food shopping a while back and decided not to get plastic bags, so apparently there was dried up bits of broccoli dispersed all over the back seat!!!

I think the officer was trying not to giggle. But did say perhaps it would be better to vacuum before crossing over next time!!!!

So we drove back in a 'been thru a highly stressful situ' coma and passed that view point again........still as beautiful don't you think!!!

Just some of the loot i brought back......i think i have been in a suga hangover since!!!!

Bye bye for now

Little jj

ps::: Some 'Aviator Blue' Kinn Jones coming very soon!!!! And just to let you know they are supa cute!!!!

The new man in my life

2011-02-25T12:48:00.001-08:00

Well i have some awesome news!!! There is a new man in my life.....and his name is Everett Leif and this cutiest lil guy just had his one week old birthday!! (i'd just like to say...my prediction of a baby boy was right - Thank you and goodnight!) And the proud new parents are my bestest friends...who i think are just going to be the most chillaxed parents ever....they make me laugh with their laidbackness, but gots to say its pretty refreshing!!!

So i got busy sewing and made this Mama Jones bag for them... i had seen this 'out there' leafy jungle printed fabric...and although i had to buy it new....i simply had to have it, coz i knew it would make the most funk-i-ma-fied Diaper bag.

And the backside is even cutier - This upcycled wooly check just adds to the kitschy!

And just coz it needed a bit more colour:::giggle.....the back pocket is a joyful rose colour

And i decided to change the inside a bit...thats the beauty of being your own boss, you can always spice things up and change things around. So the inside pocket is now MASSIVE and has elastic at the top to keep all your goodies in control. And i've been wanting to use this elastic forever -it reminds me of the elastic used in retro tighty whitey underwear...so hells, why not use it as a bottle/coffee cup/water bottle holder!!!

PERFECT!

so i did happen to make 2.....you can see the other one

here

And here's a sneak peak of some goodies i'll be adding to the shop tomorrow!!!

Bye bye for now

little jj

For a Birthday Girl

2011-02-23T20:53:00.001-08:00

Okay so if you guys haven't checked out my friends photography work....you totally should!! Every session Kailey takes...i'm like oh this is the best yet......and then she does another post....and i say to myself....'oh no, no i think this is the best yet'.....but like every art/creative form - you learn, grow and get better...............I particulary love one of her lastest blogs posts....everything just seems to compliment each other!!!

Anyways it was her birthday recently too (i just had to put that in there....just to span mine out a little longer::: giggle).....and she had received a Sparky Jones gift voucher!! So after much searching through shelves of fabric and online photos....'Peppermint Breeze' was the cute lil character for her!!!

Actually i'm thinking of starting a Flickr page so its easy to see a bit more of Sparky wares and what would be supa cool is to have a section for other peeps who are wearing Sparky goodies!! (i mean everyone must be a bit sick of seeing my head and body parts:::giggle)

and about my last rant.....yeppers i gave myself a good talking too....and i'm getting back on track!!!! Thanks for your support everybodies, it was really awesome to get all those words of encouragement!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

How to make everyone happy?

2011-02-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

Well it has come to my attention....that this heading/topic is absolutely unobtainable!! BUT then you can try sooooooooooooo hard to make everyone else happy....that you realize - the only person that is UNhappy is you!!

The hardest thing for me right now is on the personal side of things. I have to say that running my own business is the hardest most exhausting things that i have ever done - especially as it has been my dream for the longest time so.... a)a whole lotta passion goes into everyday + b)there is a huge amount of pressure you put on yourself to suceed + c) your brain is working 300km/minute, 24/7...and d) you don't ever have a reliable paycheque every 2 weeks to have $ to eat and heat your house..........then because of this...it leaves little energy for personal relationships and somewhat of a life outside of work:::giggle!

So yes i have to say i'm not the bestest sista, daughter, friend, girlfriend, business person....but i'm trying and i'm on the biggest learning curve of my life and no..i haven't figured it all out yet!!

But what i have realized is that most peeps think that because i'm doing what i love and that i get to work from home + have my own schedule - that life is easy::: unfortunately this is not so......my hair has alot more grey, my 'laughlines' are deepening, i have permabags under my eyes and somedays i sit at my machine and cry and wonder what i have got myself into!!! Everyday i have to get myself out of bed + pump myself up - i have to tell myself that what i create is fantabulous and that of course people will want to buy it. I have to be the marketer, the shipper, the boss, the worker, the errands girl, the orderer, the creator, and the above all the maker all in the one day....and then wake up and do it all again the next day and for six days in a row.....................................................so that like the rest of society....i can pay my gas bill!!!

But what i really wish for is that people would respect that i actually have a job too - just like them!!....i wouldn't expect them to take the day off work for me, i wouldn't expect them to put take a few hours off from work so we could go out for coffee, i wouldn't expect them to answer my call to listen to my relationship matters whilst in work hours, i wouldn't drop by their office or call for an hour chat.......i just wouldn't..................and the most tiring thing is to constantly be assertive and hardball with people that you love - when they should be the ones that understand most!!

Bye bye for now
little jj

week of the 'Valentine'

2011-02-15T17:01:00.000-08:00

Okay so i'm always a bit late on the uptake...like Valentines Day

..BUT

to be honest with you, i was just really in the need of a lil boost...and red was just that bit of colour i needed!! I always find february is a bit tough month mentally and to make things even happier (thats sarcasm, bit hard to get that across in writing) it seems as if everyone i know, is having some kinda massive drama - perhaps its the weather this time of year giving everyone the BLAHS

SOooooo....

I decided that this week will be the week of the Valentine, red and all things fun!!!!

starting with some 'Chuckles Red' Kinn Jones hats

(i love taking photos of my work space.....i think coz i love snooping into other peeps studios...and you actually realize how much effort goes into the making of things!)

and why not wear your cute lil number kinda Kooky

and as always - you gets to choose your buttons to adorn your hat!!!

bye bye for now

Little jj

a sneak peak at the Rally

2011-02-11T16:13:00.001-08:00

So a lover-ly young lass was totally in love with the Rally Racer green Kinn Jones....but i gots to say i was a little sick of making them (i get way to pumped to create the next colour combo:::which is a bit silly coz i am using the same pattern! Guess every hat has its own character tho!)....so i thought i'd change it up...and make a Kepp Jones hat....i think it turned out quite nicely!! And the best part about her is..

..its a 4 season kinda hat!!

and then with most Sparky hats, you can chose the finer detail...like the buttons on the flaps!! I just like to create work for myself:::giggle!!!!

Bye bye for now and HAPPY FRIDAY......you should treat yourself!!!

little jj

The Winter Dorkies

2011-02-11T12:30:00.001-08:00

Mmmmm i sure did have a fantabulous summer - dresses, skirts, onesies and i even wore all those things in my closet that i was 'going to maybe wear one day'...i just needed to:

a) not to be gardening everyday and not be covered in dirt!
b) have a lil more confidence
c)have the time to pick out a cute lil outfit!!

Everyday i did my hair all fancy, put 'my face on' and felt girly great- a-licious

and then winter came!!!!

Sparky Jones was really taking off - i had less time for outfits, no time for shopping and it sure was easy to slap on a cap and get going.

My current outfit: thread covered yoga pants/jeans, a hoody, a Sparky trucker hat....and

a bit of face cream

I've managed to bust out of, rip and tear every pair of jeans i own, and the zip on my one and only pair of favourite olive green winter boots....just broke!!

basically i'm a fashion disaster case!!!

So i've been looking at Burdastyle.com to get some inspiration and ideas

love love love this oufit....or maybe it just the photo!!!!

But instead of looking cool...i've been on a roll and making lots of cool goodies,

i've just added these gorgy lil purses to the shop

And will be adding these 'rally racer greens' to the shop throughout the day

Bye bye for now

little jj

Its all about the Sequoia

2011-02-09T10:44:00.001-08:00

Okay... so yes i did hit a bit a slump, everything just seemed to be getting on top of me - this getting older business i tells ya....its funny how you become more sure of yourself: its just everything else around you gets freaking crazy (when you were in your teens n' 20's - it was definitely the other way around:::giggle!! )

...but the SPARK is Back !!!

and stronger than ever, and thats why i decided to have a week of all things Sequoia.....a supa strong and sturdy tree that inspires me!!!

There are 2 of these Organic Upcycled Kepp Jones hats in the shop,

and i'll be posting these cute lil coin purses soonish!!
I love making these guys coz i use all the left over fabrics from my main projects and creatively stitch them onto the this deliciously scrumptious Organic Hemp Linen that i can only bare to cut up into little pieces coz i love it too much!!!

And later in the week...there will be some Sequoia wristlets and maybe a Diaper bag or a Busy Jones.

bye bye for now

Little jj

ok so my lesson in life today is::: instead of getting completely freaked out about how much you have to do(i'm a 'list' writer!)......just do a little bit everyday...and VOILA!!!! it gets done, instead of sitting on the procrastination pile!!!!

the weeks

2011-02-07T20:06:00.001-08:00

Haven't the weeks just been flying!!!!

Well they have for moi and man have i ever been spoilt of late!!!

Its been my birthday recently...and being the brat that i am, it goes for the week before and the week after ::: giggle....and i even got to have a lil getaway weekend with my beau in the big beautiful city of Vancouver

We stayed downtown and even tho this monstrous bit of steel was the vista from our hotel room.............there was this odd beauty about it (i don't know if i really captured it in the photo!)

We stayed in a 'treat yourself to a great weekend' hotel, and went to this supa dupa cool cafe for a yummy Paella breakfast (i didn't want to seem like a total tourist, so i had to settle for a photo of the cute matches from the cafe.. instead of the cafe itself!)

And we ended up in this gorgeous area of the city on our last day......coz why??? Well my beau had a job interview............and really i don't think it would be too hard to live around these parts!!!

It was so lush and green, and there was even little waterfalls running besides peoples houses, did i say houses..i meant mansions.....and the best part about this place.....it has awesome parks to dawdle n'daydream the day away, the bestest donuts in the world....and 2 really cute lil shops that i can totally see Sparky Jones in!!!!

and then we had to come home to reality

BUT

luckily i had this to come home too......

bye bye for now

Little jj

Oh my Loverlies

2011-01-27T09:17:00.000-08:00

Well this is a special time of year for me!!!! And last night was a supa treat........
It started with my sweetie picking me up.... with a bouquet of fresh flowers in his arms and his going out shoes on

I wore my new necklace that is kinda like this......by 'My Sweet Muse'......a gal who comes from my home town and designs the most fantabulous kitschy frou frou jewellery!!

And we met up with my bestest friends for dinner and a show.......................

'The Good Lovelies'

A band of supa cool chicks that i heard on the CBC radio one day.....and fell in love with!!!

Not only are they talented.....they are crazy funny, love to wear dresses.....and they love the CBC too!!!

Bye bye....better get off my supa high and get to work, whilst listening to my new Good Lovelies CD!!!

Little jj

The calm.... after the Storm

2011-01-26T14:59:00.001-08:00

Well when i have a lot on my plate...thats usually when Olivia (my new sewing machine) and i have a bit of a scrap!!! I go from loving her and my dream job....to a 10 year old having a tantrum...yes there is some screaming..hair pulling and some leg kicking on ground - and some threats of...'I'll never use you again...YOU HEAR THAT OLIVIA!!!'
Thanks goodness i work bymyself::: giggle.
Anyways i finished these lil vegan (no fabrics used were derived from an animal and no yukky gluey stuff was used.....totally re-inforced with a heavy upcycled Canvas) beauties up today on my trusty old machine, who loves to do her job at a steady pace and with no fuss!!!

I snipped up Dolores's old floral dress, added some heavy stone grey canvas - and found the coolest apple n' white gingham linen to match the kitschy combo!! And the teal bias binding that was lovingly handstitched on was made by moi of course, out of some upcycled linens!!!

This one has a denim strap and base...which i think makes it a bit more playful!

And this one has a brushed black denim....making it perfect for an unserious grown up::: giggle!! And just to let everybodies know.....Sparky Jones only uses UPCYCLED FABRICS unless otherwise noted!!!
Yes, i loverly young las emailed me the other day to tell me i was advertising my products falsely and that i could have my etsy shop banned for misleading information..........

Conclusion to that story::: I'm sure the wrath of Sparky Jones was felt!!!

Which reminds me...i should write about the name 'Sparky Jones' one of these days!!!

Bye bye for now

Little jj

My Budding Buds

2011-01-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

Well this is where i live - and these guys are my bestest buds!!! I'm supa excited as there is only a few weeks to go, before my Canadian 'family' grows a little bigger, and all the exciting new changes(and all the cool baby outfits you can get these days) will brighten these wintery days!!!

And check out all their beautiful 'before baby' photos here, which are all done by a supa cool n' cute friend by the name of Kailey ::: A budding Photographer., with a lot of talent and an eye for beautiful vistas and peeps!!!

Well i'm putting my money on a boy...so i'll keep you posted!!!
Bye bye for now
little jj

Ode to the Morning Coffee

2011-01-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

So it just totally hit me!!!! Why not have a bit of a Sparky collection that has been totally inspired by CAFFEINE (one of my favouritest things in life!!! )

Check out the description of the latest Kepp Jones hats that have been stiffened with a heavy upcycled canvas:::
Coco was a classy broad!! Always in pencil skirts, heels and sipping coffee. Luckily she had to make way for new skirts!!!! This sophisicated chocolate n' black herringbone Upcycled number has chocolate upcycled cotton trimmings with a crema inspired button. The lining is a chocolate, rust and caramel upcycled quality cotton - all in all the bestest fabrics ever for a highly caffeinated Kepp Jones!!!

Also on the coffee trail....are these 3'morning coffee' Waste Wonderful purses.....

I'm a total fan of rumaging through the old grandmas laces and ribbons in the thrift shops, and i have a whole draw of these vintage goodies that i just can't bare to use.......UNTIL NOW!!!(i simply must start using what i have - as a way to make room for more right??)

All i could think of when i made these lil cuties was; lattes, mochas and espresso!!!
Have a look at the other ones here:

And i have finally got around to making some Betsy Jones earrings to match all the latest and greatest Sparky Jones Accessories!! (And yes everything i make now, there WILL BE earrings stocked in the shop!!!)
I was thinking of fantabulous ways to photograph these lil guys....and then, i remembered the coolest thing ever!!! When my mama came over to visit, she had brought along a couple of things of my Grans that she thought i might love....of course they had everything to do with SEWING!!!! So the story about this funny looking doll, is that when my Mum and my Aunt were supa little - they saved up all their money for ages, to buy this for my Gran(my gran was a sewer/knitter and the like and apparently my Gramps never wore any bought socks in his life - she knitted them all and darned them!) So this doll has a tape measure, pin holder(in the thimble) and you keep your needles safe on her apron!!!
I just love her and apparently so did my Gran.

So here are some other shots of the matching Betsy Jones earrings. I thought they might make a great present for peeps too - like a Waste Wonderful and some matching earrings - and your present shopping is done!! Actually one thing that is really important to moi...is i like to wrap all SpaRky Accessories like presents! That way, even if you bought it for yourself....its like you get a fantabulous present that you are just going to love::: giggle!!!

Anyways best be off.....gots to cut out some Milly Headbands tonight and start making some scrumptious dinner!! ( i'm planning a hot date dinner night...and i think its going to be simply delicious ::: i'm sure he'll be in love with me now!!!)

bye for now

little jj

Day One

2011-01-10T08:33:00.001-08:00

Today is 'Day One' of having fun!!!!(must try and remember this!-i already forgot this morning:::giggle!)
I kinda gave myself this weekend off.....which was great, i didn't do much, just slept and ate and ate some more and tried not to feel guilty about doin' nothin'!!(that was the hardest part!)
So today i am all pumped and ready to go.
I just added 3 of these 'Kinda Sprucey' Kinn Jones hats to the shop. I based them on the 'Sequoia Greens' since everyone just love love loved those....but decided to use another tree instead!!!
Dusty olive, teals and greens are kinda Sprucey......MMmmmm, i think these could be some of my favourite colours i have to say...i always try for new colour combos.....but by the time i have gone thru my fabric...my pile of inspiration......is always in the olive, teal n' greens range!!!

So whats great about Sparky's MADE TO ORDER hats, is you get to chose what button you would like. On each listing , the last photo... is a photo of the flap and button for that particular hat!!!!
it will appear like this!

And some more exciting news is .....last night i went to pick up one of my bestest friends from the airport (she just came back from Mexico and is......quite BROWN and refreshed looking!!!!-which reminds me i need to make some 'holiday' plans of my own!) Anyways i was a little bit early so i took a quick trip to Value Village......and found some cool new fabrics....and some pants that will make some cute lil 'HUNTER' Kepp Jones hats...that peeps just wanted more of!!!

Opps better get sewin'

bye bye for now

little jj

what happened to JJ??

2011-01-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

Okay so i haven't written anything for ages!!!! I woke up the other day and said to myself.....'what has happened to you JJ? - you are all business and no fun anymore!!!' I seemed to have put on my 'serious pants' of late and enough is enough i say!!!!
So here i am, back in the land of the fun.....and i'm kinda taking the day off (even tho i'm writing this!)
So, i want you to meet Olivia....she is my new workhorse (well i have had her for 2 months now).....but i totally love her...she is supa speedy, my 4wd (she can truck thru anything!) and really easy to use - we are still getting to know each other, but all in all - we are pretty good friends!!

ALTHOUGH - what do you think should happen when i have a million orders???? Thats right, she freaked out, i freaked out - and i couldn't for the life of me, figure out what was wrong or what i was doing wrong.....all i knew was she wasn't working!!! So i call my lifeline................my buds at the local sewing shop. Its times like this i really LOVE, love love small town living!! Wes has saved me, calmed me down and fixed up crisis after crisis - and usually for free!! (Actually he put me in touch with the guy who sold me Olivia too!). So we had a debrief of my dilema on the phone - he totally talked me thru it.....................and what do you know...i did what he said...and we were back in business!!! He might have even found me a studio to move into aswell!!!! (its nearly time to move out of my cozy lil room )

So i could finish off my 'luscious plum' Kinn Jones hats

and finish off some more hats!!!

So starting on monday, me -little jj ...... is going to put on her silly pants before going to work !!! I've also figured out how to always have cute lil hats stocked in my shop....and some of my other products too!!! yeah i know weird - like who isn't sick of looking at those headbands.....i know i am::: giggle!! (i've been finding it pretty hard to get restocked of late...guess i have been TOO BUSY which is also a fantabulous thing!!! )

bye bye for now

little jj

A serious case of the BIG EYE!!!!

2010-12-31T16:49:00.001-08:00

So i have been seriously messed up of late and why you ask??? Well i have had the BIG EYE syndrome......thus meaning........YOU SIMPLY CAN NOT SLEEP!!!! Every night i get hit with the biggest amount of inspiration and ideas!!! So i stay up thinking and jotting and so pumped up. But then what happens - the sun rises and so does my insanity levels, and i feel so incredibly crappy that when i get into my studio....i have put on my cranky pants instead of my happy go lucky livin the dream pants.
One night i thought well i'll fix this problem....i'll take some nighttime cold n' flu. Took it and got into bed a 3am.........LET THIS BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL::: always check what colour is for night time!!!! I guess i had taken the daytime...and not just one of them!!!! Lets just say i got a lot done by 7AM!!!!
Anyways just finished up these 'postal blues' Kinn Jones hats.....the other side is supa cute....check it out here.
And whats cool about these...is i stiffened them with a bit of hair canvas n upcycled canvas. I'd always wanted to try using it.....and i was pretty happy with the outcome!!!!

And just finished up this cutey today!!! a 'deliciously minty' Busy Jones handbag.....i'd had some buckram interfacing stashed away.......so i thought well it may aswell go to a good home....so this Busy is stiff and a little big bigger/deeper than my usual Busy's (my mama had suggested i tried that so you could fit a little more in- who doesn't love that idea!)

See how it fits here

And about those 'Trucker Tombo's'......................................

Well if anyone is interested.....i'll be loading 3 more in the shop on MONDAY the 2nd Jan!!!

Righto bye bye for now

HAPPY NEW YEARS everybodies....time to make those changes again hey!!!

bye bye for now

little jj

Made to Order

2010-12-26T14:31:00.000-08:00

Okay so i guess you've picked up that .....Sparky Jones was the featured seller the other day!!! YipPy - i still can't believe it and i still can't seem to get off my high (like i keep waking up a 4am supa excited to get to work....what a nerd!)
Anyways in one of my sleepless nights..i realized that what i REALLY needed to do was have 'MADE TO ORDER' listings - as that way i can actually get the numbers of each size right!! Coz if you make all one size, everybody wants one of the other sizes yada yada.

So the skinny is as follows:::
If you just love a hat that i have posted (and it has MADE TO ORDER written beside it!)
What you do, is measure your head size, check the Sparky Jones sizes and then....just say you buy this delicious lil number....you tell me...little jj, what your head measurements are and what size you think you might be in the 'note from buyer' section!!!

Yeppers its that easy!!!

From there, after your order/payment has been confirmed, it will take 2 WEEKS for production(or faster depending on how many other things i have to do)......and then time in transit(which will depend on your locale...but i'm going to say roughly a week!)

Here is my lastest 'MADE TO ORDER' listing :::
There are 4 of these 'Trucker Tombo' Kepp Jones hats
I decided to make some hats similar to my very own work hat that i wear on my tomboy dirtmonkey days, coz so many people always comment on it (which is weird coz its always dirty and covered in vegetation). But i guess after a couple of years getting beat up...its still looking pretty good!!!!
Also i've been trying to be more resourceful and using what i have (coz i have a lot of fabric!)
so these guys have been reinforced with an upcycled heavy cotton curtain, to make them supa sturdy and uber eco!!!
Now everybody has been emailing me about the 'Sequoia Greens' Kinn Jones......I don't actually have enough fabric left to make more...BUT i have some colours that are pretty awesome together and look kinda similar.....I'm thinking of calling them 'Kinda Sprucey'!!!

Hope everyone had a fantabulous christmas!!! Mine was great...i actually got some sleep!!!!

Although i did miss my lil sweetie(My beau had chrissy with his family)...i told him i had to stay behind coz.......... i was about to get famous.::: giggle!!

bye bye for now

little jj

Must....keep.......going!!!!

2010-12-23T22:38:00.000-08:00

Okay i have totally been MIA for the last 24hours.....i've been swamped with emails, convos, sales and more sales......................and right now...its 10:30 at night and i'm swimming in packaging tape!!!.....yep thats what it feels like ::: but all in all

I'M HAVING A BLAST!!!!

I'm trying to get most of the packaging done and shipped before christmas...not that it really matters - as the goodies won't reach their new homes before santa does..................I think its just :: i like to set myself unobtainable goals!!! I think its a woman thing!

Anyways can't wait for christmas....can't believe its so soon - how did it sneak up like that!!!
I'm just going to sleep i think........i don't think i have slept for a good week now and lets just say....................i'm not 20 anymore (remember those days when you could party all night, work a double shift the next day and feel fine and look fantabulous? - giggle!!!)

righto nighty nights and i better double up on the anti-wrinkle cream tonight....its not a pretty site (i have been going to the coffee shops and post office totally stealth these days...hat, dark sunglasses, and a hoody!)
little jj

FEATURED SELLER!!!!!

2010-12-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

Well i finally made it!!! 9 months in business, and i was picked to be a feature seller!!! This is HUGE...and man have i ever worked my butt off, especially in the last couple of weeks!!! (so much so...i have some stress cooties, like a cold/sinus infection!!!)
Anyways check out the article and my shop...............
and check back soon as i have some fantabulous new ideas on how to go about selling my hats!!! Of course the great ideas hit you when its too late!!!

OH MAN I AM SO EXCITED I AM JUST SPINNING AROUND MY HOUSE TRYING TO FUNCTION AND SEW SOME HATS.......but achieving nothing but the dizzies!!!

Poinsettia Osettia

2010-12-19T01:31:00.000-08:00

Better late than never i say!!! I've been thinking about making these headbands for a while....and i finally got around to making them!!! I wanted a lil frou frou for the winter, and what better way to do it than wearing a Poinsettia (the plant that seems to adorn most living rooms in the winter/festive months) in your do.

These delectable eco - accessories are made from either purity white, rockin'ruby or vivacious red::: recycled pop bottle felt and each one has a different vintage button - thus.....making them totally OOAK(One Of A Kind)!!! And the comfortable elastic band fits 99% of heads!!!

Purity white

Vivacious red

Rockin'Ruby

and i package them in the cutiest lil kraft box, with upcycled sewing pattern tissue and all wrapped up in a bow

righto, bye for now

little jj

where's da brakes!!!

2010-12-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago when i picked up my Mama, something went a bit awry with the brakes in my car. I said " Don't worry Mama we just have to drive 5 hours through the mountain passes to get home - we'll be fine!!!' . We both nervously giggled and then there was silence........but as we made it home, got busy and funds were limited - i decided to ignore the fact that i had no brakes....i would just use my gears!!!
So i'm driving along the other day and there was a line up of cars in front of me, so i start gearing down 50m's ahead of my target stop, and as i neared the bumper in front of me, applied my brakes - there was nothing, the car kept going even tho my foot was thru the floor - SHIZA!!!! All of a sudden my Ebrake light came on and my trusty stead had applied its back up brakes (i think, well i don't really care where the brakes came from....the point is...i stopped just in time!!). So i thought well that was a close call.....its probably about time i had my brakes checked.
I hate dropping my car off, its like going to the dentist - you know they are going to find something and it sure is going to cost ya !
Apparently - they said ....You are totally missing one back brake althogether...like it had fallen off somewheres, and he gave me a lecture of keeping things in order on my car, so that i wouldn't have a near death experience again. I felt like saying...."yeah for sure - i'm going to floss everyday until my next visit!!!"...you have all intentions to, but you know you won't!!!

And let me tells ya, Sparky is getting busy.....somedays i'm like - 'where's da brakes'......Everyone is doing their last minute, freaking out christmas buying, so i've been sewing like a maniac, packaging, and running to the post office (i've finally learned how to use online shipping tools - so much easier and faster!!)
And just managed to finish up these ' Citrus n' Plum 'Waste Wonderful wristlets......totally love em, coz i needed a little brightness and warmth in my days

Description: morsels of oranges, corals and florals make up this cheerful Waste Wonderful!!!(just what we need for the gloomy winter)The back side is made from a beautiful thick upcycled denim!! Whilst the lining is a kitschy upcycled orange n' white gingham cotton with a deep plum zip to oddly match. She is finished off with an orange strap and organic cotton labels. Some interfacing and padding is used.

And i'm going to be adding a NEW NEW NEW product to my etsy shop today.......they are cute lil headband for the winter called 'Osettia Jones'

bye bye for now

Little jj

Sometimes you gots to lose a little

2010-12-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

Well last week not only did i lose my Mama (she went back to australia after being here for the coldest 3 weeks in BC ever!!) but i lost about 100 pounds!! The day before she left, i woke up ready to start my day and things started to turn.... and mainly in my tummy. So off to the washroom i ran....and managed to squeak out "Mama get me the bucket!!!" And the games began!!! I spent the day either in the washroom or passed out in my bed exhausted from my experiences - but thanks goodness my Mama was there to make me cups of tea and change the channel for me(Those things can be slightly irrating with all the chat but can come in handy in these circumstances...giggle)
I managed to pull myself together the next day, as Mama, my beau and I were off to Vancouver, for quick trip to visit family, see the international departure terminal and staying in a fancy hotel in the city. All went well, minus one hiccup in the morning and Mamas flight being delayed until 1 am - the hotel was a little bit of a dissapointment too......it was a bit of a shoe box that was painted green!!! BUT
there was a free breakfast......and even tho i paid for it in the hotel room rate.....it said 'complimentary', so i signed up naturally!!!
As i perused the buffet...my lil tummy started to turned...and i went for the fruit platter - the bacon, eggs and greasy sausage for some strange reason was definitely not appealing to me.....So basically I paid $100 to eat bloody fruit!!!! what a let down.
So my beau and i decided to cruise over to Deep Cove and get a coffee before we left the city. Oh man was it ever beautiful over there - i think its was i always imagined Canada to look like. So we gots a coffee and a huge donut from a cutesy lil coffee shop(i didn't eat the donut but i had to try it.....it weighed probaby 1 kg!) and there was a cool boutique nextdoor which i totally fell in love with - i think i can see a lil Sparky in there one day!
So it was there and then i decided to start saving some cash, so i can have a weekend in Vancouver, visiting coffee shops and boutiques and actually EATING....

and speaking of budgets...i just finished up these 2 Bujetta Jones ::: 'Tealy Greens' (which come to think of it...was probably the colour of my face that day, giggle)

Heres a lil description of them:

Tealy Greens is just so fresh n delicious, with her front flap that is made from Hetty's old dress - a minty number with kitschy koo drawn flowers! Handmade apple green bias binding that encases the tealy canvasy wallet body. The backside has 2 olive and 1 aqua coloured zips - ....which makes the most perfectly odd combination!!! The Sparky Jones labels.......organic cotton of course!!!

and some fancy photography!!!

So So check out my shop....i've been adding lots lately ::: i guess the thing about being sick, is when you feel better.....................YOU FEEL FANTABULOUS!!! And skinnier - giggle

bye for now

lil jj

Oh Canada!!

2010-12-06T23:08:00.001-08:00

Well i think the fact that my Mama has been here for the last 2 weeks and has learned the whole Canadian anthem (yes its hockey season again - thus meaning the anthem is played on the radio/tv over and over and over again) and sings/whistles it constantly - was what inspired me to make this bag !!

cute cream vintage buttons hey!!!

i'm totally in love with the back....cranberry zip, plaid trimmings and delectable rusty plum wool

and yes i do have some more pictures here !!

and i'll be posting some of these gorgeous lil tealy green Bujetta Jones wallets in the shop in the next couple o days!!

Bye for now

little jj