My new backpack is coming along nicely :D

 A few days ago I posted about a new backpack I decided to try.  It's coming along nicely.  After all the trick or treaters have been treated tonight I'll go downstairs and start on this guy's arms and legs :D This is the quilted lined front, with the zipper installed.  You can see he comes pre-loaded with Wonky Vision 101 ;)

 I whipped this up one day after seeing it's doppelganger on the internet :D  (OK, mine is the doppelganger - I pretty much copied nini.stoff's stitch by stitch :D)

 Christmas sewing!  My last shark gift set is now almost completed - I need to make the stuffy, and the book I bought to go with the set is back-ordered on Amazon - it may have to be sent separately.  But I have all the rest of the sharky goodness ready to pack when the stuffy is done :)

Here's a bit of a close-up of sharky's 3D fin - I love that detail on these bags :)




I hope everybody that celebrates it, has a wonderful AND SAFE!!!  Halloween :)  If the weather holds out, we'll probably get about 100-110ish trick or treaters ringing our doorbell - we're ready :D

Posting to the October Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew linky party :)

Monday Makers! #10 :)

Last week I decided to try a duct tape project - I hadn't worked with duct tape before, but judging by the pins I see online, it looked like it would be a fun craft. And - it is :D My first one was rather wonky so I kept adding layers of duct tape to hide my mistakes, HAHA. I also discovered that while you CAN sew a zipper to duct tape, it really does gum up your needle and requires frequent cleaning of said needle :D  Next time around I'll try alcohol on a cotton ball to clean the needle - I read somewhere that it will help with the gumminess :) 

Here's the zipper pull I added - I thought the skeleton was rather appropriate ;)

I recently bought a book called Sewing Stylish Handbags & Totes, because it had a monster backpack in it.  The book, despite the crappy pictures in the Amazon preview, is chalk full of fun and kitschy projects, so it turned out to be a great buy :)  The pattern pages are awful, though - two monstrous sheets of paper with pattern pieces overlaid on each other - dreadful.  The instructions don't tell you what to cut for each bag, or which pieces to use, nor are they very detailed.  I certainly wouldn't recommend the book to a beginner, but someone with some sewing knowledge would be able to figure things out.  This is officially my project for Monday Makers! #10 :)  It's going to be way too big for the little kids I want to make backpacks for, so I'll trial run the large version, then I'll probably shrink the pattern by 25(ish?)% for the kidlings.  Hopefully I like it better than the one I posted about last week, LOL.   A few more pics:

Bag top - outside (quilted) and lining (interfaced)

My new book - VERY cute projects!

 

I'm doing a simple version of the monster bag on the left - mine won't be reversible. 

Posting to Monday Makers! #10 :)

Monday Makers! #9 :)

Oh my - fancy me being on the ball and posting this on Monday instead of Tuesday, LOL!

Last week I started a backpack - it was a trial run to see if I liked the pattern.  It worked out OK, but I'm not thrilled with it.  I did make a major change in the pattern - I quilted the outer pieces onto batting - that changed worked out well, and my quilting looks quite lovely (IIDSSM) :)  Unfortunately the snap closure (I only had black - it would have been so much nicer in white!) doesn't work right - I can't get it open - a small piece inside cracked when I was trying to put the 2 pieces together, and I'm not sure I can get it to work *ughhh*.  I think I'd like to try a different backpack pattern next - I'm just not in love with this design.  I'd like the straps to be adjustable, I'd like a tab on the back so it can be hung on a hook, it could use a pocket or two, and I'd really REALLY like to have the lining fit better :D 

I was busy today so I didn't have much time to sew - I did start a new project for week #9, using a craft supply I've never tried before - duct tape!   I got a roll of tape @ the $ store - for 2 bucks I get to play with something new :D  This will hopefully end up being a kiddy wallet!  :)

And one last photo - this is a pouch I made for my SIL - she wanted a bag made with fabric related to walking, to hold her techy toys for her walks :D  I didn't have walking fabric per se, but did find these in stash - they're Laurie Wisbrun prints, lol.  The finished bag measures 9"w x 7"t x 2.5"w - as per her request :D  The measuring tape tab on the side is a reminder of the miles/kms she walks :)  I think she liked it - who wouldn't like donkeys in rainboots, LOL!

Posted to Monday Makers! #9 :)

Monday Makers! #8 :)

Hehehe another Monday Makers being posted on Tuesday - the Tuesday timing seems to work well for me :D 

Here's the project I started for week #7 - I got it completed a few days ago.  It's part of my 3rd (and final) shark gift set, and will be a Christmas present.   I posted about it here. 

This is my project for week #8 - an Edan backpack (NAYY) from I Think Sew - I want to make a couple of these for Christmas gifts so I need to do a trial run first, to check out sizing etc.  The original is lined, but I'm going to quilt the outside of mine for extra body, so I need to make sure everything works with my change ;)  I got some adorable fabric on the weekend for the gift versions - Smurfs (from the Ogdensburg NY Walmart) and pretty owls (Ogdensburg Joanns) - they should work well for the backpacks :)

Here's shark gift set #2 that I finished recently - it has now been packed up and will be delivered to the recipient in the next few weeks.  The set consists of a pillowcase (top), stuffy, measuring tape bag, cookie cutter, book, pencil box, stickers and water squirters - I think this is a pretty cute gift for a 3 year old :) 

One last finish from last week - a Halloween pillowcase that I need to mail today so it's recipient gets it before Halloween - I hope (s)he likes it ;)






Posting to Monday Makers #8 :)

Venison and ... spetzle? spaetzle? and limburger, oh my!

Heard on the news station as I turned on the TV this morning @ 7:00 a.m.:  "Something smells good in the kitchen (referring to the kitchen in the studio where I guess they have guests cooking sometimes)!  What is it?"  Chef replies:  "Thanksgiving dinner!  Venison and spetzle!"  I look at the TV and see 5 bottles of wine on the counter where they're cooking.  *chat* *chat* *chat* *chef pulls out LIMBURGER cheese* *Sandra changes the channel because UGHhhhh, lolol!  Heather - please don't make us eat venison and spetzle and limburger on Sunday!

 Here's the shark bag that I started on Monday for Monday Makers! #7 - I got it done yesterday - it's cute :)  It measures 9"w x 12.5" t - the royal blue shark print at the top/left is the lining fabric (purchased from Joanns).  His fins are 3D for extra fun :) Shark gift set #3 is now officially underway, lol!

Monday Makers! #7 :)

This week I'm a bit more organized, and am actually posting to the linky party, on Monday instead of Tuesday :D 

Happily, I finished my shark stuffy (NAYY) from week #6, and that was the last item I needed to complete this particular Christmas gift, so I'm VERY happy about that :) Those seashells are from our trip to Florida last year :D

I got two of the 4 drawstring bags completed, and will finish the rest this week as I need to pack them up soon.  My friend No Blog Amanda had a peek at them a few days ago and wants to make some, so we're going to have a gift bag making hen party :D  This will involve junk food, much talking, not much sewing, and general mayhem and hilarity - the perfect recipe for a hen party! ;) 

New make for this week - I cut out a new shark applique bag for another shark gift set :D  I'm only picking one project this week as our Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend, and we'll be heading to Osgoode to visit family, and to EAT TURKEY, yay! 

Posted to Monday Makers! #7 linky party @ Hug-a-Bit Quilts :)