no time

I have sooooo many things I want to make not only for my shop (just in time for xmas) but also for the new little creature that lives with us. I have loads of new totes I want to get done by the end of October so my shoppe is good and stocked. Also I am almost ready for Elliott to start sleeping in her crib so I need to finish her quilt before it starts getting cold. I am getting better at putting her down and thanks to her new baby bjorn seat we can hang out so much easier without having to hold her... oh but I love holding her! Wish me luck!

39 weeks and still baking

I sure am glad that I was able to have a nice cool summer for the most part during this pregnancy. The past two weeks have been almost unbearable as the temperature and humidity have been working together to make me as miserable as possible lately. Thankfully the soon to be gramma and awesom-pa have a lovely pool that I can go jump in any time I want.

We are eagerly awaiting for this little nugget to show her self. I am trying to stay close to home as my mom recently revealed that both my brother and I came in to the world pretty quickly and really without much warning. Our hospital bag is packed and the car seat is about ready to get buckled in to my back seat.

I probably could use more time to clean the house and really get the house ready but at this point all I want to do is lay down and watch lame internet shows. I do have a lot of work to do with her quilt but at least I finally have all the pieces, they just need to be all stitched together. I am excited to share photos but for now I will just have to tell you it will be all vintage floral fabrics in strips down the front, some lovely 100% cotton batting, and a repurposed white sheet for the back. If I get really cutesy with this project I may even do some ribbon embroidery on the white side so it can have a decorative look too.

38 weeks and counting...

So here we are at 38 weeks. Miss Luna could come at any time and we are just barely ready for her. Bags are packed, we have to get her car seat in the car, I finally finished her crib sheet, still working on her blanket, still not on maternity leave, but all in all her daddy and I are very excited to meet this little one. Below is some artwork our friend Ilan made to congratulate us on our new addition, a large version is hanging over her crib. We love handmade gifts and look forward to buying and making her lots of handmade goodies during her lifetime.

In the shoppe

New summer totes posted at danikai with more on the way!

deeelightful summer totes

I have more totes to post for my shoppe but here's a little preview to hold you over until I get them all photographed. For these three totes, I used reclaimed and vintage fabrics. The two leafy looking ones are some beautiful cotton prints, one even seems to be hand stamped. These prints are from Finland and I got them at a garage sale along with a whole bunch more of these unusual Marimekko pieces, all from the early 90s. I can't wait to make more from this special find! I hope you enjoy these simple summer totes, more to come!

shop preview

Just wanted to share these cute little totes that I will be posting in my shoppe in a few days... just waiting for some good light and my new labels! I am starting to get back into the swing of things here in my little sewing room. I got two gift stacks of fabric from Todd and my Aunt Susan this past week which means I better get busy and start making stuff. I think I finally settled on the fabric for Elliott's bedding so I will be starting that project soon too! I may also venture out and try making a funky little ragdoll for her too! xo

Pillowcase dress

I found these really pretty cloth napkins and since I have about a million I already use in the kitchen (I haven't bought paper towels or napkins in 8 years thank you very much) I decided to use these to make a little dress for little Luna. Here's what the fabric looks like but I will get a nice shot of the finished dress when I am all done. I might also have one for sale in my shop soon!

way behind and some exciting news!

I am soooooo behind it is not even funny. I have tons of new bags and other items that need to be photographed and posted at my shop. I haven't been posting as much as I'd like to be mainly because we don't have the internet at home anymore. sad face. I do have some exciting news however... we are having a baby!!!

I am also supposed to be getting ready for the South Park Walkabout where I will be selling my goodies at South Bark Dog Wash on March 27th. I have yet to come up with a pet related item but I have made cat toys in the past for friends so I think I might go in that direction. Anywho that's a little tidbit of what's going on, hope to see you at the Walkabout!

oh and p.s. check out my friend Chris awesome art at here at his new blog

on sale!

danikai on sale and model wanted

I just posted new photos of my bags. I am always experimenting with light and I think I found the perfect spot in the house for taking my photos. Natural light pours in my south facing bedroom window all day long. This allows for the most perfect bright photos. Good thing Todd has taught me so much about photography or I wouldn't know what I was doing. Just in time for the holidays and in an effort to make room for new stock, all my bags at the shop have been discounted up to 30% through the new year (1/1/10), enjoy!

Although I have become fairly comfortable behind the camera, I am still thinking that my photos are missing something so now I am looking for a model. If you or anyone you know is comfortable in front of the camera and is willing to trade a days worth of modeling for a bag of their choice and lunch or dinner let me know. We will most likely take photos here at my house and the park across the street. I am hoping this will give potential customers a better idea of proportions rather than just having the measurements listed.

We tied the knot!

Todd and I are married... happiest day ever! I am still on cloud 9. We are moving into our new home this weekend and I cannot wait to get all my sewing and art stuff back out. I have lots of new ideas for bags and also I might be at a farmers market near you! Stay tuned!

The big day is almost here...

Sorry I have been absent from the blog and my shop but I am oh so busy with the wedding planning! For a low key couple we sure are doing it up for this big event. Hopefully after the big day, and after finding a place to live I will be back in action sewing up a storm and just in time for the upcoming holiday madness.

New this Fall will be some awesome grocery totes made from upcycling discarded coffee sacks. We have some friends here in San Diego who are coffee roasters and are kind enough to let me have these huge sacks. I will be pulling them apart and reconstructing them into uber handy, simple, lightweight totes for all your grocery needs. I am pretty sure you know someone who still is using plastic or paper bags... let them know how uncool that is and tell them about reusable bags!

See you in mid October!

New Addition

I have quite the collection of fabric scraps from making all these bags and instead of dumping them I figured why not make something useful?!? So here we have the first of many creations that will be made using that wonderful fabric. What a fun way to dress up your next tea party or picnic!

Your Favorite Bags.

So for the last year I have been making these beautiful custom bags with this most wonderful fabric and these are the last two I will be making....Although there may be one more at Mog & Rue. Enjoy!

danikai in the Arcata Eye

Mog & Rue

These bags are on there way to Encinitas for their debut at Mog & Rue. This cute little shop is located at 937 South Coast Highway. Stop by and say "Hi" to the new owner Kristen and be sure to check out these one of a kind bags made with beautiful vintage fabrics from danikai!

Sneak Preview

Here's just a small sample of some of the new bags you will
see at Snip & Stitch and also at Mog & Rue.

About half of my new one of a kind bags will not be posted on danikai because they are headed to Encinitas for their debut at Mog & Rue and the rest will not be posted until after the July 26th craft extravaganza. I will have some new stuff too for sale at the craft fair like scrap fabric banners, more drawstring bags, wine gift bags, fabric organizers and even some little freebies! Just for fun I will have my stash of vintage fabrics at the craft fair for my lovely customers to create a custom order design of their own. Danikai gift certificates will be available too for those of you who are looking for a gift and not sure exactly what to get for that special someone. Down in the depths of my stash I found some of my uber popular ZEBRA print fabric so you can expect a couple of those bags to make an appearance soon too.

Come pick out your custom fabric combination for your new bag!

OOPS!

So I totally messed this bag up in a good way... My bobbin was loose and I didn't realize it until it was too late and I was finishing the top hem and the inside stitching looks crazy and not at all something I would sell. This one of kind gem turned out to be even more spectacular then I imagined however so I am keeping it for myself. Normally when I fudge something up I give it to a friend or sell it at a consignment store for like $5 but this purse is too good to pass up. I love it! You can't really tell in the picture but the fabric is super shiny and has a gorgeous floral design. I was doing some "market research" (that little drawing a week or so ago) and discovered that most people like my purse style the most so you will definitely be seeing more bags just like this one made from my rare fabric finds.

Ch- Ch- Ch- Chaaaanges!

Hello friends!

Many things are going on here with danikai and I want to share with all of you lovely people out there who have inspired me to continue sewing and sewing and sewing :)

First of all I am slowly but surely moving danikai over to danikai.etsy.com. Bookmark this page and share it with your friends! It will just make things SO much easier. No more confusion about the whole oceangrrl thing. Don't fret... oceangrrl has plans of her own and she will do amazing things too! For now I am posting one item per day until all of my bags have made the move. I am hoping this will allow for some good exposure over a longer period of time rather than changing the site in one day.

The next big news is that danikai will be available in Mog&Rue around mid July. This is a little shop in Encinitas California and I will have some one of a kind purses there on consignment. I am SO excited about this and want to send a BIG THANK YOU to Kristen, Mog&Rue's new owner.

And as if July couldn't get any better... I will be at the Snip+Stitch Craft Extravaganza July 26th on the Plaza in Arcata! OMG you know you want to be there too! The Ian Fays and The Monster Women will be there to provide you with entertainment along with some amazing shops selling our handmade goodness.

Phew! Did I forget anything.... oh ya, have a wonderful holiday weekend and be safe! Todd and I are celebrating our four year anniversary! I am such a lucky grrl.

love,
michelle

And the winner is....

Congratulations to Shelly
at Joyful Girl Natural
She won a bag of her choice from my shoppe!

Thank you to all who entered, I am looking forward
to another drawing at the beginning of Fall.