Here are a few reasons why quality handcrafted products matter and why you should support handmade:

1. Handdcrafted products are unique and not mass-produced in some factory overseas

2.  Handcrafted products are designed and made by a small business owner who is also the marketing and shipping department.

  3.  Handcrafted products are proudly made in America from American components such as Pellon interfacing and YKK zippers

4. Handcrafted products make great gifts for people who appreciate fine craftsmanship and a special gift for that special someone

Sewing is all about having the right tools for the job, whether it is one of my 4 sewing machines or something else!

I have a lot of scissors in my collection, including 26 pairs I inherited from my late mother-in-law:

Rotary cutters are one of the greatest sewing inventions ever:

these Wonder clips in both mini and regular size are much easier than pins:

And Bobbin Savers really keep all those bobbins neatly organized:

Blue happens to be one of my favorite colors, so if you take a look at my MakerPlace by Michaels shop, you will find plenty of blue to choose from!

Here is a favorite blue Blackbirds Calling mini-pouch with a handy-dandy split ring to attach a set of keys or to clip onto a purse strap:

This is a new fabric called Sun and Moon Galaxy

And also a lovely Cobalt Blue Elegant Stripe zipper pouch

I made up a few new mini pouches in the last few days.

All of them are either rare fabrics that are no longer available or the last of a newer fabric, like this Magenta Scatterec Petals batik:

This Yellow Feathered Friends fabric has been out of print for many years, and it is lined in a soft yellow gingham check that i inherited from my mother-in-law (probably from the sixties)

This is another unique "braided" batik strip design that I had made up for another project a while ago:

And I have always liked this raven print fabric on a deep magenta purple background:

What can you put in a long pencil  pouch?

Here are 5 ideas to get you started, and there are many more:

-Pencils and pens
-Markers
-Art supplies and brushes
-Jewelry
-Cosmetics

I have been making these long pencil pouches for a while now, and they seem to be particularly suited for a larger scale print fabric, such as this one:

or this bird print fabric:

or perhaps a large-scale floral print