Happy Birthday Personal Shopper!

Here are the cupcakes made for my Personal Shopper’s birthday! I decided to attempt animal print as a sort of inside joke, as she’s a wild party animal. Not really, but that’s why it’s an inside joke.

The cupcakes were supposed to look like zebra print. I used black jell and white icing on top.

The tags had tiger print that I found online printed on the bag. For some reason I didn’t think to print a front page and a back page and glue them together like I had done in the past, so you could see the tooth picks that I had glued on the back to hold it in place. I used Elmer’s glue because it’s non-toxic.

All in all I think they went well. Happy Birthday Personal Shopper!

Seriously?

Apparently the news didn’t get out that I was though with animal visits. This is what was found next to our front door. (No telling what the pizza guy thought.)

If you need explanations go here and here.

In bloom

Message for the 4th

I hope that it is ok that I share this with you. I tried to find a copy on the website, but could not.

Dear Friend of the USO:

A few days from now, Fourth of July celebrations will be held in smalltowns and big cities all across America. Bunting will be everywhere.Parades will feature bands, antique cars, kids on bikes, and veterans ofmany conflicts... all marching proudly to show their patriotism and loveof country.

At the same time, halfway around the world, 170,000 brave young men andwomen will demonstrate their patriotism in another way: by putting theirlives at risk to defend everything America stands for.

As we gather in our backyards for cookouts and picnics, our troopsoverseas will grab an MRE and head out to patrol crowded streets andback alleys where insurgents continue to lurk.

As we play softball or watch a parade, they'll spend their afternoons inharm's way: a "place" where rounding any corner can mean a deadlyambush... where stopping any car or passerby can trigger an explosionand sudden death.

As we "ooh" and "aah" at fireworks displays, they'll duck live roundsand remain alert for the sudden rush of an incoming rocket-propelledgrenade.

Today, the nation's economic concerns continue to push the ongoingviolence in Iraq and Afghanistan off the front pages; some Americans mayeven have forgotten about the brave men and women who are doing theirjob overseas, but counting the days till it's their turn to share thehome-town celebrations with their loved ones and friends.

However, the USO hasn't forgotten; we've already geared up to provideextra services to our troops... not just for July 4th, but throughoutthe weeks and months ahead.

As Americans, we count on them. They count on us. I hope we can count onyou.On behalf of those we serve,
Sloan D. Gibson
USO President

Happy 4th

Library Bag

After I made the Party Bag, I was thinking about making a book bag for us. I started thinking about the perfect bag to take to the library. See I always take my books back late, mainly because I can never remember when I am supposed to return them. It’s ok with me though, because the fines are low and it is a very small town library. I thought the best bag for us would be one that had a pocket on the front so that we could put the little slip in it that you get when you check out books. That way when it’s time to make a trip to the library I will have a list so I can make sure nothing gets left at the house. Also, I will always know where to go to check on the due date.

So here it is, a revamp and much larger version of the Party Bag.

I decided that I wanted the final size to be 12” by 14” which I decided was the best size to hold library books. I cut out two pieces of fabric 13” by 16”. The straps I decided to make from denim so I cut out for 3” wide strips and sewed two of the strips ends together to make two very long straps. I then folded those in half; good side folded in, and sewed down the side. Then I turned it out, which took FOREVER.

When I made the pocket, I just cut around the back pocket of my jeans. I then sewed some left over bias strip from the Sling Sack onto the top. I laid it onto the top of one piece of fabric and decided where I wanted the pocket to go and where to place the straps. I sewed down the inside of the straps and that is what attached the sides of the pocket. The bottom of the pocket was attached when the bottom of the bag was sewed together. I thought that the heavy weight of the denim pocket made the bag pull down to one side so I decided to add a layer of matching brown fabric to the inside of the bag. I didn’t exactly add a liner as just added an extra layer for weight. I also sewed little corners in the bottom to make it hold books a little easier.

Here is the gratuitous sew in the pin shot. I used Barn Dandy’s by Robert Kaufman, old pants, left over brown fabric, and a very bright yellow Gutermann’s thread Color 1661. And there you have it!

Tomato Bloom 3 Ways

Sling Sack

Here is another bag I actually finish! And it only took me a couple of hours! It is the Sling Sack that is pictured on the cover of Sew What Bags by Lexie Barnes. I actually finished this bag before I made the Party Bag using the Tiny Tote pattern. I surprised myself because I didn’t notice that the Sling Sack is a pro skill level. Really it was pretty easy. It did take me a little of adjusting because of the fabric cord. I decided to use my 1” bias seam maker to make the cord. That might not have been the best route but I liked the results. I also adjusted the pattern by making the outside pockets large enough to hold sippy cups. I wanted a bag that would be pretty hands free that would hold the essentials like keys, diapers, snacks, etc. without taking the whole bag. If I had it to do all over, I might make the straps long enough to go across my body instead of hanging off my shoulder. I’m short folks and it still hangs a little high. But oh well, I think it would work. Love the fabric. Both came from remnant piles!

Party Bag

We got to go to a sweet little man’s second birthday party this weekend. There was bubbles, pizza, a little jump house, a sand box, great cup cakes, adorable gift bags, and loads of fun!

I was a little nervous before we left because I had had sort of a hard time thinking of an appropriate present. I didn’t want to give a toy, because, well there are always toys. I wanted to give something creative. I thought about making a felt board, but decided that since the Mommy was a kindergarten teacher that it might be a great idea. It didn’t seem original. I didn’t want to make a crayon roll, although I know they are very popular homemade kiddy gifts. It just didn’t seem like a fun present for a two year old. So I decided on a little man sized tote.

I had planned on making fabric balls ages ago (but they didn’t turn out like I had hoped so I never finished them), and so I had the perfect fabric on hand. Go Dawgs! So here is the finished project.

I had usually used the Tiny Tote non-pattern from Sew What Bags by Lexie Barnes. (And if you go the book's website and click on sample, you can have the instructions for free!) The problem that I ran into is that the instructions call for one large piece of fabric folded in half, which I couldn’t do because one side of my bag would have been upside down. I decided on making it a little larger too, because I wanted it to be able to hold Little Golden books. I first cut out two pieces of fabric 10”x9”. I also had to make my straps longer than in the book because my bag was going to be larger. I ended up cutting two long trips 3” wide using my rotary fabric cutter and a ruler. I cut each strip a complete length of my fabric, made the straps, measured them to the bag to the size I wanted, and the cut the excess. I like the bag being a 9” width, because it made it easier to find the perfect placement for the straps. I laid the main fabric on my blue cutting mat and measured it out. The finished straps measured an inch wide so it was 2” fabric, strap, 2” fabric, strap, 2” fabric. My weird Monk mind loved that.

I really liked this idea because I didn’t have to worry about wrapping the presents. I just filled it with goodies and put in doggie pawed tissue paper. Perfect! I think it went over pretty well too. When little man’s Mommy asked where I found the bag and I answered that I had made it, I got a few whiplash looks from the other mommies. That’s a pretty good compliment right?

Bounding Bunny Pin

Back around Easter I made this Bounding Bunny Pin from Allsorts. I know, I’m way behind. This was really easy and fun to make. I think I will try to make a few more . . . hopefully before next Easter. Also, I was able to make this all out of stuff I had on hand. That was the great part. No more shopping around to three different stores to find supplies. Even better!

Maters!

It's in the Bag

Remember this post and this post. Well I finally finished the bag. Yes, that means that I have been working on this bag for two months. It’s a little wonky and has some puckered places, but I finally finished it. I used this Tote Bag pattern from JCarolineCreative. I thought this was going to be an easy pattern, but it was not. It probably would be for a more experienced sewer. Probably the hardest part was trying to maneuver the stiff bag around my machine. I do like the feel of the heavy interfacing though. I just think it might have been easier if I used the same kind, except the one that you can iron on.

I did learn a lot. Actually this was the first time sewing in a zipper and I think it went pretty well.

Here is the part where I sewed the needle to the bag. Classic!

I know I have another bag pattern already cut out, but I’m not sure that I will make it the same way. I think it’s going to be a project that I’m going to put off for a while anyway. I will have to find something else to make with the beautiful Moda Wonderland Tea Time that I have. At least this project didn't turn out like this one.

Hootie Whoooooo

This was made completely by hand, with no pattern. Thus explaining the wonkiness.

I had a great time!

Guess where!

Fabulously Frugalicious: SewMuchDetail Keylette Giveaway!

Fabulously Frugalicious: SewMuchDetail Keylette Giveaway!

Trina at Fabulously Frugalicious is sponsoring a giveaway in honor of her birthday. (Happy Birthday Trinia by the way!) It’s for your choice of two Key Fobs from SewMuchDetail at Etsy! There are a ton of great choices that it is super hard to pick two . . . I ended up picking three, Wildwood Yellow Orange Trees, Pretty Please Blue Lime Pink, and Sweet Frogs Lime Pink.
So if you enter and win I call one! I need it because I can never find my keys. Speaking of . . . .