Climbing with the Polka Dots!

Hurray! Let there be DOTS!

Guess what I found at my new supplier, today?

As you may know, I've made two different versions of the popular Polka Dots cycling cap. Of course, no longer available due to discontinued fabric from my supplier. It's difficult to obtain the red dot pattern fabric. I'm thinking most fabric designers are not in tune with the Tour de France.

Today, Richard and I was about to leave the fabric shop with our notions when I saw, from the corner of eyes, the familiar red dots on white. I immediately zoomed onto it and purchased as much as I could.

I love it, it was meant to happen since I didn't find what I first was looking for. Next, I will wash the fabric and rework the design because the fabric seems like a lighter cotton.

This will be fun project!

Emily's Quilt

At the beginning of Summer 2010, our friend Guy (the other half of the 3b's) announced that he was going to be a dad. With this wonderful news, this was my chance to make something for the new baby. By September, I realize that I had to make something special that Richard can partake in. That's how the idea of the babies quilt came to be. When Guy announced that it was a girl, I was so excited to make the quilt very girly-girly. I made the design in Illustrator and scanned Richard's Campagnolo chain ring to keep a cycling twist to the girly-girly quilt. I realized, even with Richard's help, and juggling the business that the quilt would not be finished until after the baby is born. We were so busy with the business, I even forgot to photograph the beginning stages of the quilt.

Ready to sandwich the bamboo batting

between the quilted sides.

This quilt was a journey, and self-taught. It really opened my mind to the vast world of quilting. I remember my Ma Tante Phonsine quilting away at night. Small pieces of fabric that she lovingly assembled by hand. Pure Magic!

Quilter's safety pin...

with a bend.

These days, quilters have a vast variety of tools to choose from. Safety pins, a simple material, is specially designed for the quilter. Who could ever imagine that! 

My first overstitch of hearts & flowers...

8 more to go!

I never did applique until now. So, I don't even know if this was the proper way of doing it ...but I love the result.

Making a pattern for the Scallop Edge...

sure helped!

When I first designed the quilt, I didn't know I was going to make a scallop edge. I was online for help on how to finish the edge and saw someone making a scallop edge. What a perfect way to compliment this quilt.

Front...

the girly side with the large E for Emily!

Back...

complete Campagnolo chain rings.

No quilt shall go into the world unsigned.

I'm extremely happy with my first quilt. Without Richard's help of cutting and prepping everything, Emily would probably not have her quilt until she starts to walk. It was fantastic to complete it and a joy to present it to Shelly & Guy and to see seven month old Emily happily rolling on it! What a happy family!

Burn Rubber Baby!

Well stock of Piccolo Pouches & La Piccola Wallets.

With the upcoming craft show season about to start... let there be rubber!

We're getting ready producing more recycle rubber inner tube pouches and wallets. It's hard to evaulate how many to make because we have only one show under our belt. Each show is so different from one another ...we can only guess.

It's in my nature to over prepare for any situation. So, I figure I've made enough and can make a last minute rush if need be.

So far we've made over 200 Piccolo Pouches. There's a major learning curve working with rubber. And, I'm happy to say that my confidence is high producing these little gems.

This year our goal is to participate in craft shows. We started off going to many to scout them out. It's a jungle out there. The amount of craft shows has exploded. From sustainable, farmer markets, festivals there's many to choose from. What's more amazing the cost can start at $25 to over $1000 for a selling space. Richard and I navigate through this maze and booked ourselves for the Summer. It starts this early June right through to November.

Some of these shows are very expensive and in order to participate we have partnered with our friend Helene. She is the Sewing Goddess and we're happy to be co-partnering and look forward to be working along side her.

For more details follow my Galstudio Facebook page!

The Rubber Traveler

The one of a kind

rubber inner tube custom bag with recycled

pop bottle felt liner... 

I just made a 'custom special bag' for one of my friend's who's off to Thailand next month. He's requesting a bag with adjustable detachable straps for his Netbook.

If you remember, I used to have a laptop sleeve made of recycled rubber inner tubes on my Etsy shop. The bag is a cross between my SoMa iPad Envelope  and the Laptop Tube.

This Netbook has specific dimensions: 10 1/2 X 7 1/2 inches tapered at the front (1/2" thinner at the front).
The rubber is inconsistently crooked to begin with, difficult to have a completely flat sheet. It's not perfect.
And the only way for me to figure it out is to make a 3D model in foam core.

As much as I love to work with rubber, it is challenging to work with. I find that I can't impose my ideas onto it. Often the first idea changes. I have to constantly adapt my design to follow the natural movement of the material. But when it works, it's fabulous.

I'm very happy with this design. I love working with the imperfections of the rubber. I'm in the zen of sewing taking a flawed material working with it to make a wonderful final product!

Velcro closure...

First time I used metal clasps!

Stretching My Rubber!

Richard with the new Musette de Ville bags...

We've been very busy! And, I have gone crazy developing new products with the help from Richard. Our new 3 panel caps were just the beginning...

Our new SoMa Rubber iPad Envelopes. 

I woke up with the idea of the envelope and put it to paper, make the pattern & the prototype. I just love when it goes together, smoothly.

A few days ago, we discovered a new supplier of fabric. I couldn't find this fabric until now. It's called Ecospun felt, made from post consumer pop bottles. Not too thick but the perfect thickness for the
SoMa Rubber iPad Envelope. I don't own an iPad, but I tried my prototype envelope at the local Apple Store. We couldn't be more excited when we touched the iPad. I'm in love! I turn towards Richard and declared, "I want one!"

It was the perfect fit and I knew I didn't have to re-adjust it . We took it back to the studio and started production. Richard got busy washing all the inner tubes and had them all dry for me to start. I like the different colors of felt on the inside and it's so beautiful.

This is our 2nd generation of musette called Musette de Ville. The first musette was more simple like the classic design except for the added zipper. We felt that we needed to redesign the strap. Everyone prefers to wear it at a certain length. So, we made the strap adjustable and we designed a stronger strap with fabric & rubber inner tube. It was Richard's idea to have the musette match the 3 panel caps. I added the stripes & corner tabs to solidify the bottom of the bag. It's stronger than a typical musette bag but lighter than a messenger bag. It's the perfect day bag on or off the bike.

I'm so proud that our two amazing products are now on sale on Etsy & available at  Bird On The Wire Creations in Vancouver!

Red Fabric Love!

Galstudio's Spanish Lover Cycling Cap.

It all started a few months before Christmas. Galstudio sold out on the Vuelta cycling cap and sadly we found out the fabric was no longer available. It had to be retired. We had requests for a red cycling cap so we set out in search of red fabric.

The perfect red fabric was a challenge to find. In fact, we discovered fabric that was too thick, too thin or not the right shade of red... until now. About three weeks ago, there it was, a beautiful cotton twill in the perfect shade of red. I love working with cotton twill and it's a fabric that is so suited for my cycling caps.

Richard suggested the name for our newest cap, The Spanish Lover Cycling Cap. It's a wonderful name, and so much easier, than Vuelta, to pronounce!

Big Chief Heating Pad

Hot nite with the Big Chief!

Once in awhile, all you need is to cuddle with your heating pad. I had a week from hell but to be able to go to bed with my heating pad is wonderful.

I discovered my heating pad years ago but I hardly use it. I don't know if it's due to the weather getting colder here in Vancouver, but I now use it every night. Now, I've ad-Dressed' it. Richard had an old shirt that was too large for him. I always love this shirt and I wasn't ready to let it go. 

So, I decided to recycle this wonderful design to wrap my naked heating pad!

Notice I kept the 'Indian' label!

Getting Cozy!

In my previous post, it took Galstudio by surprise how the Inner Tube Cafe Racer Cozy are selling. I have been using the Cozy everyday since last Spring. Part of the morning routine. Now, I'm putting more on to the Etsy site and the rest will be on sale at the Bird On A Wire store.

Using a felt liner in between inner tubes proven to work really well as an insulator. I practice so much with the overstitching that I'm getting better at it. I'm having fun creating simple, geometric lines.

The winter here is all damp & grey. So the solution, get COZY & sit down with nice hot cups of coffee!

Introducing Galstudio's new generation of

 Inner Tube Cafe Racer Cozys!

Moo and improved!

New & Old...

My new Moo cards have finally arrived. I'm ecstatic.

The newly re-designed 'G' works very well. It means business. The font is easier to read and the overall look is cleaner. The back is simple with lots of space on top to allow for product description labels. I think it's a winner.

I have a tendency to be over perfectionist. For the first time, in memory, I'm 100% satisfy on how well the card design turned out. Most of the background pattern remains the same but, of course, I added a few more.

20 Moo cards...

Richard and I are working hard for the upcoming Make it show. Products need labels and we're busy tagging them all. I'm working on more wallets & Scoula, too.

One thing, as the fast approaching show is upcoming, it's always hard to determine how much stock you need. So, I'm making sure to that we have enough stock available.

Moo cards allow me to exploit my creativity to the max. Thumbs up to Moo!

Richard hard at ... MOO!

Talkin' Turkey & Inner Tubes

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day than talking turkey and Inner Tubes. It's the long weekend and we're sharing it with Turkey and busy producing winter cycling caps & wallets/pouches.

For many years in the past, I was a vegetarian. I always felt there was something missing, the tradition of Autumn the harvest season. Without the smells of roasting turkey it was not quite the same. Most often, we make a 15 pound turkey and we have plenty of leftovers. But, the most important factor is to share it and we do and that's where it counts. In my case, I'm far away from my Quebec family and I try to create my own tradition with friends.

Richard cut about 150 tubes and they're destine to become wallets. In fact, we're getting excited for our first craft show. We figure it's better to make more than be stuck with not having enough. There's been a huge demand for our winter cap's and I anticipate an even bigger success at the show. No one else makes this type of winter cap. With the weather cooling down I'm sure every cyclist will appreciate one of them.

Free Scuola for School!

Scuola is back!

I started to make my Piccola pouch for awhile now and people love it. Customers have asked for a longer version to hold glasses & pencils. People have ask me to customize it to their size requirements. I produced 10 new pouches called, 'Scuola pouch'. I just sold 3 in the first week. So, I went back to making more.

Living close to a school, I'm ready to hear the kid's run past my patio door for another year. I enjoy the familiarity of the kid's as they run past screaming & laughing. I don't have kid's of my own but I enjoy hearing them. You might say school is back. And, I thought it was the perfect idea to offer a Scuola Pouch for Galstudio's Labour Day Back to Scuola Contest. Scuola is Italian for school.


HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A FREE SCUOLA POUCH:

Leave a comment on Galstudio's Facebook page. And share one favorite moment when you went to school.

On Tuesday September 7th, I will choose the Scuola pouch from my new collection. And, the winner will be chosen by Random.org

Thanks for entering & good luck to all!

The first glimpse of Winter...

It's Summer but it's already time for Winter cycling caps!

It maybe August but we're already getting under way for new winter cycling caps. Todays a good day for it, rainy around 16 C and feeling like wet Vancouver. Perfect for Richard to come up with three new names for the new fabrics.

I bought the fabric a few weeks ago, washed and dried it and about to begin cutting. So exciting going to my suppliers and  hunting for fabric/colors for new caps. I have fabric from last year and plan to re-introduce two previous models. There's demand for solid colors and something may come from it.

This is just the beginning...

Going back to ... Scuola!

The new Scuola (Italian for School) Pencil Case.

Today, we're introducing the Scuola Pencil Case.

Made from recycled bicycle inner tubes it's hardy for kid's storing their pens & pencils and anything they can hold in there. It measures 3" X 8". And, if it gets dirty it can be hand cold washed. Each one has a zipper and overstitich on the inner tube matching the interior fun fabric.

Of course, if school is not where you're at, it's versatile capable of holding a multitude of stuff. It can also hold a pair of your favorite sunglasses. Due to demand for something a little longer than our Recycled Piccolo Pouch we've gone longer!

The new La Piccola Wallet!

The new La Piccola Wallet...

Fun, practical, & handy!

You know, after producing this new product, my excitement has grown more intense. I'm talking about Galstudio's new La Piccola Wallet!

This is our first run and we made 20 of these cute little guys and I kept the first one. We first made three prototypes to fine tune them. Working with rubber seems to have it's own mind. I really have to work with it within the constraint of this material. Rubber is not easy to work with but I find it rewarding when I can make something I truly love. Simple details happy fun fabric wrapped in inner tubes is the perfect handy wallet to hold 8 cards and a few bills. It can probably take a few more cards but that's to the owner's discretion.

I had left over pieces of fabric and I used it in the wallets. So much fun just choosing from the funky bright fabric designs. I'm having a lot of fun creating new designs with inner tubes and I hope people will enjoy them as much as I love making them!

Sushi anyone?

Both images by Galstudio.

More corset's for a good fit!

My messy table is crowded, in a good way, with additional Inner Tube Corset's. I have only one left on my Etsy shop and I realize my friend Jean ask me to keep him one. So I spent the better part of Sunday afternoon producing more of them. The weather's been lousy and with the help from Richard we finish them today.

I just sent one to the States and the feedback was wonderful! The feedback is so important it's the the pat on the back that makes a home business hum. It makes it all worthwhile. I'll post them probably tomorrow. So I'm working on a new design for a new product. And, I must say since Richard's been on board with me I don't seem to have enough time designing new products. It's a good thing because we have to generate more work between the two of us. Production has gone up. If all things go well, I'll have a prototype ready by the end of this week. Cross my fingers!

My Quest for Polka-dots

The polka-dots in action, 1978 Tour.

From: Richard's archives.

I'm in the quest for something special. Even the climbers of the Tour de France are in search for it.

Last year, I can't believe I had at least a full roll of the perfect size red polka-dots. It is so brilliant to choose a bold design for the race leader of the climbs. I can thank Richard for the idea of the polka-dot cycling cap. It sold out last year and it's time for it again. The problem is it's not so easy to find. So I'm still looking for it. And the Tour is coming up in 3 1/2 weeks.

It will return...

Galstudio's Polka Dot Cycling Cap.

My quest started after Christmas. My suppliers seem not to have it. I've waited for an order I placed and nothing. The effort's there, what I found online was too expensive and not cost effective. So I'm planning once again to go see my suppliers.

Here's an historical background to the Tour de France polka-dots that I so love. The King of the Mountains was awarded to the best climber first in 1933. The beautiful polka-dot jersey was introduced later in 1975. Those good looking red polka-dots were decided by chocolate maker Poulain to match one of their products.

The first French sponsor of the polka-dot jersey.

Introducing two new classic cycling caps...

La Doyenne Cycling Cap by Galstudio.ca

I'm so happy to introduce two new cycling caps with a classic twist. When I went to the fabric store I had a gut feeling when I saw it. That feeling without words.  I just have them. The green is 100% Cotton Twill and the plaid is Polyester/Cotton. I quickly rushed home.

After my last stitch, I was so amazed with the results. These caps go beyond cycling and right into urban fashion.  So far, I'll be bold here, they're right up there in my top five favorite caps.

They are named, 'La Doyenne' after the oldest and most prestigious classic race  Liege-Bastogne-Liege. And, 'Ardennes' after the three classic races in Holland and Belgium. I feel they emanate a freshness and joyfulness of Spring. I love both!

Ardennes Cycling Cap by Galstudio.ca

Up for the new Classics.

This is an example of the Marinoni old script I saw...

taken from Richard's 1987 bike!

Well, the classic's have ended for the season. My two new cycling caps, in production,  reflect the Ardennes  Classics with the hint of the forthcoming Spring. The Ardennes Classic races are exciting even for a newbie cycling fan like me. I'm looking at it from the historical point of view which grabs my attention. Of course, my partner is a cycling maniac and he always has something new to say. It's one of those finer details in the microcosm of the cycling world. So diverse yet  beautiful. Like a subtle flavour in wine. The more you understand it the more you can appreciate it.

I even spotted a Marinoni bicycle as we walked down the street.  It literally jumped out at me. Many folks can spot a Ferrari sports car, it's not everyone can spot a beautiful Marinoni bicycle. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera. Even Richard  passed  it without noticing. And, I guess I'm getting better my spidey bike sense was tingling. The color was metallic purple with the old Marinoni script. One thing's for sure I wouldn't have left this classic bike unattended and casually locked beside a parking meter.

Plunging into Perfection.

I once again learned something valuable. It was yesterday while designing and producing my new Cafe Racer Cozy. Made from, of course, recycled bicycle inner tubes it's not always the most easiest material to work with.

Perfection. Hmm. I thought I knew how to deal with my overly perfectionist tendency. There it was. It showed it's ugly face while I was working on the cozy. My thoughts on perfection is that you can be professional yet it doesn't mean you have to be perfect all the time. For many years, I stopped myself to be creative. Thinking if you can't do something perfectly... just don't do it at all!

It's in the process that perfection will eventually arrive. You have to be aware during the process of making. So every attempt goes closer to perfection. Every person has their  own idea of perfection. I won't get into that.

When I made the first prototype for the cozy, it was sleek, racy with a grey stripe in the middle ready for action. It was perfect. But on the practical side, it wasn't nice. The reclaimed plastic made it stiff and hard to wrap around the coffee press. It looked perfect but that's where it fell short. Frustrated, I went back to the drawing board with close consultation with Richard. And we both decided that the grey plastic strip was  a no go. Our idea is to keep it like our Piccolo Pouch. We tried it and we finally go it!

Yesterday was a day from Hell. Probably not the day to redesign a cozy prototype. The inner tube challenge my patience. But I love a challenge and with perseverance I produced seven refined coffee cozies.

Life is beautiful this way. It always offers you the possibility to better oneself. The true challenge is to stay in the process of learning everyday!

20 steps to my cycling caps!

Getting ready to sew the darts.

I mentioned to Richard the other day about our cycling caps and wanted to know how many steps it takes.  Every hat maker has their own method and not to mention standards. I thought it would be fun to compile a list. Here goes…

1.              Designing the cap.

2.              Finding a name & description

3.              Buying the fabric & trim

4.              Washing all fabric & trim

5.              Cutting the fabric & interfacing

6.              Assembly of darts.

7.              Ironing

8.              Tucking in all the loose threads

9.              Assembly of all panels

10.          Finishing  the inside cap

11.          Sewing the stripe on the cap

12.          Assembly of the brim

13.          More Ironing

14.          Sewing the inner band

15.          Sewing the Galstudio logo

16.          Trying the cap for size

17.          Sewing the elastic

18.          Finishing the inner band

19.          Threading

20.          Putting on the hang tag.

 After all those years as a production manager, I still think in terms of breaking down a project into shorter tasks. It comes in handy as I now have Richard in production!

Oh, and let's not forget. The secret ingredient that is part of all the steps in making a good cycling cap...
LOVE!

Finishing the Orangeman!