I forgot how to math :D

Here's the shark zipper pouch I finished up today - a new to me project :)  When I saw this shark applique pillow tutorial it occurred to me that the applique would be great on a zipper bag as well :D  Other than the bad math that had me cutting the denim too small (and the fact that I forgot to give him eyes!) it worked out pretty well :)  I didn't applique any of the fins down - they're attached to the body, but flapping in the wind (a nice touch, if I do say so myself) :)  I'm not going to give this one as a Christmas gift because it's not quite as nice as I would like ... plus he's occularly challenged - the next one will be properly scaled and eyed ;)

And another new-to-me project - I tried this pattern a few days ago - it worked out rather well, however it came with a side order of gumminess due to a problem with my iron, LOL.  I put on my big girl panties and tried again ... and again .... and again and again and again and again and again.  With much success ;)  I use the tutorial pattern, but I don't really follow her directions - I do it my own way.  Each one has a different charm - great way to bust charm and zipper stash, hehe.  These will be Christmas gifts, and I'll tuck a box of crayons or a box of pencil crayons into each :)   Not sure if I'm supposed to use these as I don't tweet or FB, so I'll just copy and paste  @CrazyLittleProjects #SewCrazyChallenge :)

One last photo - a couple of Michelle Patterns Zip Pocket Pouches (phone pouch size) I finished earlier this month - I love this pattern, and have put these two in the Christmas gift box :)

Posting these to linky parties:

New to Me in August 
Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew
Sew Crazy Challenge:  Back to School

This is why I love my neighbour :D

One Pot Chili Mac & Cheese

My neighbour emailed me a link to this recipe this afternoon - holy macaroni chili Batman, that's my kind of meal!    10 minutes later she called me on the phone and told me to meet her at our shared fence :D  I ran outside and she handed me the bowl over the fence, lol.  Believe me - it's as good as it looks - it gets thumbs up from the 3 of us!  I'll make a pot of it this weekend so I can send some home with DS1 the next time he comes over - thank you Maria!!

Here are a few finishes from the last couple of days - first up is a denim zippy, made using a pair of hubby's worn out work jeans :D  The stitching on the back is something I've started doing on some of my zippies - very random and organic :D

 Here's a tall zip pocket pouch from Michelle Patterns - I love this pattern (it comes in 3 sizes) - it's quick to make up, and very useful :D   I've made quite a few of these :)

I don't know why the background of this picture is so yellow - the other basement pics I took are different - very strange :D  This is a 10" x 16" lined drawstring gift bag I made using some seersucker fabric that was given to me by a friend :)

New to me projects for March :D

March was a good month for trying out some of my pinned projects, and even a few patterns and tutorials I've got stored away :)  I bet I'm not the only one that feels somewhat guilty about buying or finding projects to do, then never getting around to trying them out :D 

 I should have started making these AGES ago - they're sooooo cute!  Princess tiaras - I changed her velcro closure to an elastic band :)

Earbud pouch (I've made many of these), and heart zippy - the heart is the one I haven't tried before :)

Upcycled bibs embellished with lace and trim :)  I pinned the project a few weeks ago but didn't pin the original url, unfortunately, so I don't know which Etsy shop posted them first.  Here are my versions, made with denim from our youngest son's worn out work jeans :D

Michelle Patterns coin pouch (NAYY) - I bought the pattern a while ago and finally made it!  It's very small - 4"w x 3"t - I made a little error when I was cutting the pieces, so mine may be a touch smaller than it should be.  Not difficult to make, just a tiny bit fiddly because of the small size + my tetchy fingers :)

Bunnies!  3 different bunnies, just in time for Easter :D The bunny on the left is actually made from Lil Boo Blue's bunny zipper pouch pattern - it's 6"w x 9"t.  The middle bunny is Basil, from retromama on Etsy - this one is 10w x 12t - I'm not even going to admit how long ago I bought the pattern :D  The bun on the right was made from a pattern I found and pinned - it was just what I wanted for a baby for Easter - he measures 8w x 9t :)

Drawstring bags - made from a book, Fast Fun Critter Bags (which I bought in 2011!) (NAYY).  The blue one is 7w x 13t, and the orange one is 8w x 14t - I enlarged her to use up a specific piece of fleece I had in stash :D  Great book - I'll be making more goodies from it as time progresses :D

I pinned a monster drawstring bag photo recently because I thought it was adorable - I decided to give it a try, using a pattern I already have - the face from monster bibs by stubbornlycrafty (I've made many of those :D)  This bag measures 11w x 15t - it'll be a gift (a gift that the recipient gives away, hehe) :)

Here's my entry for the Sew Crazy "It's in the Bag" challenge that's running this month over at Crazy Little Projects. I wanted to have several of these done - a huddle of penguins, if you will!! - but alas, time got away from me. I'm very happy with my first one though, so into the contest he goes! [He was originally posted here, but I wanted to showcase him on this page of new to me and contest entry projects :)]

I love this penguin zipper pouch - I'm glad I bought the pattern - I can't wait to see what other designs she comes up with :)  Pattern is f/s on Etsy :D

 Linking up to New to Me in 2014 (March) from Celtic Thistle Stitches :), and the Sew Crazy It's in the Bag March challenge from Crazy Little Projects :)

Photographic evidence of productive snow-days :D

The weather has been crappy - cold and snowy and polar vortexy - I've gotten a lot of sewing done, but hadn't felt like doing any photography because it's just so dark and dreary.  The projects were starting to pile up in the dungeon basement sewing room so it was time to get out the camera so I could put them away!  Also - I made a few new-to-me items (either from pins, or from patterns) and wanted to boast share :D  I actually tried a couple that turned out so badly (user error, not designer error) that I threw them in the garbage, and will never speak of them again ;) 

Christmas pillowcases using Dr. Seuss fabrics bought on sale from my favourite Toronto quilt store - Sew Sisters :)  This project posted to the Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew linky party here :)

My new addiction - bunny zipper pouches - free tutorial from Ashley @ Lil Blue Boo :D 

Reacquainting myself with a project I first tried a few years ago - the Ditty bag by Michelle Patterns :)  This one is a size medium :)  (NAYY)  Finished to 7" tall (excluding handle) x 6" wide x 1.5" deep.

(Collage photos were made with Fotor)

**New to me project - double zip pouch - free tutorial @ Sweet Bee Buzzings :)  Finished to 8"w x 6.5" t.  Thanks Bethany for a great tutorial!**

Suzy's Sack - (NAYY) - another new to me project :)   I made a few mistakes during construction but I really like the pattern, and I'm sure my next attempts will go more smoothly :D  Finished to 4.5" wide x 6" tall (excluding strap) x 3" deep.**

Yet another new to me design - a monster pouch!  HA!!!  This guy is so cute - I pinned this a while ago and finally got around to trying him :)

And just for fun - our oldest lad one day last week when he came by for supper - he was very happy about the Cranberry Awesome Cake I made him :)  He's being goofy in that picture - he's not actually constipated :D  He's also just gotten to our house after work, so that's why he's  filthy :D

**Linking up to New To Me in 2014 over at Celtic Thistle Stitches **

Lots o' January sewing :D

It's so damn cold outside - what else is there to do?  Housework?  NO!  Sewing?  YES!  Most of these items will be going to Blue Hills :)

Brrr! by Laurie Wisbrun -- 2 boxy bags - 9w x 3.5t x 3.5d and 11w x 3.5t x 4d :)

Fabric airplanes :)

Ladybug boxy bags - 10w x 3.5t x 3d :)

Use-up-the-toile-fabric pouches - 7.5w x 6t and 10w x 10t x 3.5d :)

Michelle Patterns Zip Pocket Pouches (size medium) - mine measure 6w x 4.5t (folded) :)

Earbud pouches from this tutorial - the hexy shapes were made the same way, but using my acrylic hexy as a pattern :D

Use up the last of this pretty fabric zipper bag - 9w x 10t :)

Fabric basket with handle (that one handle won't unflop!) - 12w x 5.5t x 5d :)

Basket without handle - 10w x 5t x 5d :)

Superhero cape made from Thread Riding Hood free tutorial - this one is a size 2.  Pattern was lengthened by 2" :)

After Christmas Sew Along 2014 - week 1 :)

The lovely and talented Karen from Sew Much 2 Luv is hosting the After Christmas Sew Along 2014 (ACSA 2014) throughout the month of January :)  The first line of the "rules" states:  "Sew anything you like." - now how's THAT for a sew along that will suit a wide variety of tastes, eh? LOL!  I knew I wanted to join, so I made a list of projects I wanted to complete, and got several items finished and uploaded to the flickr group :)

Kids aprons - small and large - tutorial here :) Finished measurements:  small = 13.5"w at bottom, 7"w at top, 17" long at center.  Large = 17"w at bottom, 9.5"w at top, 18.5" long at centre.  The small was made for a 2 year old, the large for a 6 year old.  Hope they fit!

Aaaaaaaah Michelle @ Michelle Patterns designs such great goodies!  These bags are from the Zip Pocket Pouch pattern - the blue ones are the size Medium (4.5"t x 6") and Tall (5.5"t x 4.5").  I have shark and flower charms coming to make zipper pulls for the shark and flower bags :D

Princess cape - fit for a princess!  Tutorial here - I made the small size, as this is for a 2 year old :)  Finished measurements - 22"w x 19.5"t (measured at widest points) :)

Pre-Christmas gift sewing :)

 Here are some Christmas gifts I finished in the last few weeks of December :)

Nesting baskets - based on this tutorial.  Largest = 8"w x 5.5t x 5.5d. Smaller = 6w x 5.5t x 5.5d

Zaaberry messenger bags - 9"w x 6.5t x 3d

Earbud pouches :)

Corvette pillowcase for the neighbour's 12 year old son - his dad bought a 'vette this past summer ;)

iPad pouch for Star Trek loving neighbour :)  (fabric is from a Joanns trip last year!) - 9.5"w x 11.5"t

Puppy themed pillowcase and 8"w x 6" zipper pouch :)

Close-up of the zipper pull on the pouch :)

Shark pouch - pattern is Michelle Patterns Zip Pocket Pouch, size medium :)  Folded = 6"w x 4.5"t

Inside of shark pouch

I have a few more shark pouches planned so I ordered some shark charms from Ebay last week - I'll make zipper pulls when I get them, and add them to any sharky pouches :D 

Birdies and hexies and quilties ... oh my :D

Lots of sewing got done in July - most of these items are going to Blue Hills for the kids :)

QAYG baby quilt done with alternating pink and red blocks.  Backing and binding is a pink print with accents of red.  Finished to 36" x 36" - for Blue Hills :)

Whale bib and killer whale zippered pouch - for Blue Hills :)

Kristin Link (Sew Mama Sew) zippered iPad and pencil pouches - tutorial and sizing info here :)

Zip pocket pouches by Michelle Patterns - the one in American flag fabric is my new cellphone pouch for the cellphone I use when we go Stateside, and the other two will go to Blue Hills :)

4 little birdy pouches - for these bags, I tried to do more "boyish" designs.  These are from Amy Morinaka's Zakka Handmades book (which I LOVE - NAYY!), and will be going to Blue Hills :) 

Well THIS is a fun design - a hexy zipper pouch!  I used a 4" hexagon template to make mine - the tutorial is here - these will be going to Blue Hills :)

More goodies from Zakka Handmades!  Here are 10 pencil pouches I made for Blue Hills - mine are a bit larger than her instructions, which made them a bit easier on my fiddly hands :)  (collage created @ fotor :D)