Sandra sewed - here are some recent finishes :)

Sewing kit lining - DS print from Joanns on clearance for $3/yard!  These bags measure 9"w x 4.5"t x 2.5" deep :)

Sewing kits (I made them as zipper bags) from a TartanKiwi tutorial - these are Christmas gifts :)

Floral boxy bag (a Christmas gift).  This bag measures 9.5"w x 3"t x 3.5" deep - the fabric is a patchwork of 3 3/4" squares (set 4x4, 3/8" seams) :)

Another angle for the boxy bag :D

Oliver + S bucket hats, size small (12-24 months) - Christmas gifts :)

Sometimes, we just need to smile :)

8 videos that will make you feel better about everything :)



If you play it here on Blogger (or in a reader) you'll see clips from each of the 8 vids, one after the other.  But if you click on the player and watch it on Youtube, you'll see the full version of each clip (about 3 minutes each), and you can pick which clip you want to see.  I started sobbing about 2 minutes in and still haven't stopped, lol!  This is a fantastic collection of feel good videos - I even sobbed during the American national anthem because of the basketball player that came to the young girl's aid [last video]!

(Should the video not play, the youtube link is here)

First Nadia bag :)

I'm participating in the Happy Little Pouch Hop for the next 2 weeks, so I got my butt in gear and tried a pattern I got a while ago - the Nadia bag, by IThinkSew.  I increased the size of the bag piece to 11" x 13" (instead of 10.5" X 12"), and constructed the handle a bit differently (one piece of fabric 3.5" x 8").  I would do the zipper install differently next time, and I zigzagged the seams inside instead of covering them with bias binding - the rest of the construction was pretty much as per the pattern.  It worked out quite well, IIDSSM!  A few more pics:

The completed 11" x 13" QAYG block

Close-up of the QAYG quilting

Completed bag

The Warm and Natural batting gives it just the right amount of body :)

"During construction" photos :D

During construction ...

Almost finished (this is the lining side).  Both fabrics are from Joanns :)

Here's a project I worked on yesterday (free tutorial here) - I haven't taken a picture of the finished item, but will soon.  I'm almost finished another one as well, in a different colour range :D  Actually I have quite a few little finishes downstairs but I haven't felt like getting the camera out and blogging! 

Sewing away in my dreary little dungeon studio :D

In this dreary grey weather, my sewing studio is dreary as well, since it's the room in the basement with no window :D  Work still manages to get done, though :)  Some of it can't be posted until after Christmas, but here are a few little finishes that won't ruin any surprises :D

Use-up-scraps tall zippered pouch :)

Christmas gift bag (In Color Order pattern)

Christmas bibs :)

Drawstring gift bag :)

Cute lil 'phib!

Lil 'phib :)

I finished this little guy today - he's a Christmas present :D  When I sent his picture to [relative of recipient] their response was ... "Cute lil 'phib!" -- LOL!!!  Sure put a smile on MY face!

The pattern is from fleecefun.com - they have a LOT of fun patterns there - and about a dozen fun hats, sized from baby to adult!  Pattern for Lil 'phib is here :D

RANT: "Sponsored posts" - GRRRR!

Rant #1:  earlier this week I unsubscribed from a crafty blog I had been following --- I'm not highly bothered by appropriately themed sponsored posts - cooking supply ads on cooking blogs, online quilt shop ads on quilty blogs, or even, blog-related giveaways provided by a sponsor.  The other day I stumbled upon a sponsored ad for TARGET. The store. On a personal craft blog. The sponsored post relayed a clothing shopping trip to the store. Power of the veto - exercised by using the unsubscribe button. 

Rant #2:  I've started unfollowing pinners who consistently repin without checking links - I'm tired of having to hunt and search for specific posts when people take the easy way out and just repin, instead of following the link to make sure it's a proper link instead of a keyword search on a blog, or the main page of a blog.  Today I came across a pin with a yummy photo of a cake - the pin read ... "Greatest cheesecake recipe in the world!". It lead to a picture on a (weird) site, with no information or clickable link to get to the recipe.  ARGHHHH!!

Now - just so you don't think I'm a total curmudgeon (yes, I think this post will ruffle a few feathers, lol) - here's some eye candy - g-nephew Shawn (2!) wearing the Oliver and S bucket hat I made him for his birthday :)  WHAT A DOLL!!!

ETA clarification:  I'm referring to blog posts where the blogger is PAID to recommend or mention products that have nothing to do with their blog - i.e. clothing shopping @ a specific store on a craft blog, car parts on a cooking blog - etc.etc. :D

Flexing my ... frames :)

Christmas sewing - YAY!!!

Small flex frame bags (4" x 6.5")

Jeni/In Color Order drawstring gift bag :)

Last finishes for October :D

2 sets of fabric airplanes - Christmas gifts

Jeni drawstring bags - 3 Everything bags and 1 Project bag (tutorial here, but I bought the pattern for the extra sizes)

5 large Christmas bags - the ones in front are upcycled from a thrift store tablecloth (NIP) :)

Christmas ladybug taggy, based on this tutorial

Try something new - stocking zippy inspired by a pattern I saw on Etsy - this is just a trial run to test out the sizing and stocking shape

Drawstring gift bag