Why I will never work on an assembly line

Doing the same thing over and over just isn't my thing...but I did make 13 cup cozies for the teachers at my daughter's school. She doesn't have all 13 teachers, being seeing as how Jed's the pastor, we wanted to appreciate them all. We put a gift card to Starbucks in each one with a "thanks a latte" note. Cheesy, but cute.


In other sewing news...
I made this backpack for our friend "B" who turned two. No pattern used, but nothing fancy either. His sister was the recipient of the purse in the post below.

A dress for Ali:


A taggie blanket for Sy:

I have been looking through my copy of Weekend Sewing (part of my mother's day gift) and attempted to make the wrap skirt. The skirt is cut, and I learned about french seams (which I really like, by the way) but I'm glad that I made a muslim first. The skirt is way too small and will be refashioned into something else (either an apron or some other thing that I haven't decided yet)

Also, I'm trying to come up with good ideas for the creative activities for my MOPS group next year. If anyone stumbles across this blog and has any great ideas, please let me know!

My newest projects...a giveaway and a great idea

You know, I would love to come up with cute, creative titles for my posts, but some days I'm just not that creative. But, here are a few new things I've been doing.

The apron I made for Jenny (Jed's Office Manager). It's the Full Contact Apron from Seams to Me.

This little bag (from this tutorial) is for "A's" birthday. A is a family friend who turns five this weekend. Her little brother ("B") turns two on the same day. I'm making him a little backpack.

My friend Tracey over at Itching 2 B Stitching is having a fat quarter giveaway to celebrate summer. Leave a comment here telling about your summer plans and you are entered.

Tracey is also hosting a summer Not swap. See here for details. I think it is a great idea!

We are back!

The family and I were on two week post Easter vacation to Kansas (to visit my family) and to Texas (for the wedding of my college roommate). We saw lots of family and friends and had a very relaxing time.

The fabic I showed in the last post (Hoffman California "Reflections") was used to make placemats, napkins and coasters for the newly married Johnsons.

I also finished up my item for the We the People swap and packaged it up without taking a picture. The apron is done as well, but I need to take a picture of it and give it to the new owner.

Next on my list...birthday presents for a five year old and a two year old...any ideas?

Still working

Yes, I'm still here (since I'm sure so many people are paying attention). I finished dress one and will post pictures once the camera is charged again. I've been commissioned by Jed's secretary to make an apron for her, so the fabric is cut out for that. I've also got the fabric cut for my current swap...no pictures of it until I send it though.

But to leave you with one picture, I am making something with this fabric...stay tuned to see what it turned into.

On a separate note, I also enjoy cooking quite a bit. For Christmas I got Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything. I highly recommend it. It gives basics on just about anything you can imagine. I used it today when I made hard boiled eggs and they are perfect..no green ring in the center and not overcooked. It's also helpful when you want to try something new (like parsnips, which are great, by the way). So, if you are looking for a general, all purpose cookbook, this is the book for you!

So excited....

That is how I have been feeling lately.I love getting mail and have been waiting for what seems like forever for these books. They finally came yesterday and I'm loving all three. They have some much great stuff in them, I don't know where to start!

This is the bag I got from the We the People Swap. I love how it goes great with the jacket I just bought!


My other projects, in no particular order...
A tunic shirt for my daughter. She picked out the fabric and was very proud of that fact. She wore it to church last Wednesday and told everyone that she had picked it out.

The project that is currently waiting for me. The pieces are all cut out, I just need to start the sewing. I'm making the version on the live model. My newest bag...the "Swing Bag" by Amy Butler. I really like the blue on the inside of this one.
My next dress. I'm making the green and white dress with no jacket. The fabric is washed and is waiting for me, but one dress at a time is about all I can handle right now.


A gift bag for a present. Now that I know how to makes this, I may never use wrapping paper again! (Well, not true, but you know what I mean). These bags are so fast and easy and the person getting the gift can use the bag for whatever that want!

Coasters I made for my MOPS group. I'm including two tea bags with them and giving them as table favors at the next meeting. These are the coasters from this tutorial. They are fast, easy, and fun to make.

I also made some camo PJ's for my husband, but I haven't snagged a picture of them yet. I'm trying to decide what to make for my son (he's only five months, but I don't want him to be left out). I thinking some blocks, or the ball in "Seams to Me". Right now, that is on the top of my list for him.

Working away

I've been working away on various projects, with pictures soon to follow. I've completed a pair of PJ pants for Jed (that would be my husband), a shirt for Ali with fabric she picked out, as she told everyone today when she wore the shirt, another handbag (they are my favorite to make!). I'm also busy making a favor for everyone in my MOPS group. Finally, I have the patterns and fabric for two dresses for myself. They are next on the docket, but they make me a little nervouse, so I just need to convince myself I can do it!

Hopefully pictures will be up in the next few days, but I wanted to update my progress!

How I've spent my time

Since Christmas, I've been on a bit of a sewing kick. I'm really enjoying it. It's nice to be able to make something and then use it right away. Here is what I've done so far:



This bag is Amy Butler's "Nappy Bag". I really like it and it was super easy to make. I did not put the cell phone pocket on the outside and only put pockets on one side of the inside. It's big enough for my stuff and the kids stuff.



A smock for my daughter, Ali. She LOVES it. I love the fabric. The pattern is from Bend the Rules Sewing.



A baby blanket for a friend. It is fleece on the inside with a barnyard print on the outside. It even has a hood in the corner. It's big enough to wrap my big four month old in, so most babies could use if for a while. It's from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. The book has you adding buttonholes to slip a tie through, but I'm leaving them off. I'm using the same barnyard fabric to make a changing pad for another friend.



A dress for Ali. This is my first clothes sewing venture in probably ten years. It's a Simplicity pattern from their Project Runway line. Ali's love purple right now, and she really likes the buttons on it. Go figure.



Another dress for Ali. This one uses the JoAnn's fabric that only requires one seam. I added the ribbons for some fun detail (and because I just can't give my two year old a strapless dress. I didn't have one until my wedding.)

My next project is this:
Another bag out of these fabrics....I've got lots of other things in the wings; we'll see. I have to start Ali's Snow White dress before too long!