Monday Makers! #40 :)

Yay a fun finish to report! For Monday Makers! #38 I started a pillow project, and finally got it finished :) I did this guy a bit differently than the tutorial - I used a 20" pillow form instead of stuffing it, and I quilted the legs instead of stuffing them.  It turned out pretty cute!  I did have problems with the leather nose, but you can't really notice unless you get up really close to that area - and who gets that close to a polar bear's nose?  ;)  This is a new-to-me project that's also a Christmas gift  :D
 

For next week's Monday Makers! I plan on getting this project done - a drawstring gift bag (top) (that rattail is red, not orange :D) and a zipper pouch (bottom) - these are 2 pieces of a gift set I'm making for a June birthday. 

These are the scraps I picked for a strawberry pouch - I'm going to make a 9 patch block for the front with the 2 strawberry prints, and the pink gingham is for the back (I haven't picked the lining yet).  I have strawberry charms to use for the zipper pull ;)

These projects are being posted to the following linky parties:
Monday Makers! #40 (the pillow and strawberry bags)
Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me for May (the polar bear pillow - and wow it was easy to make!)
Celtic Thistle Stitches and Mud, Pies and Pins'
Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew for May (the pillow)

Monday Makers #38 :)

Presenting ... pickle bag!  This is a gift for our oldest son's girlfriend - her birthday is coming up :)

Note the zipper pull charms - she's a hairdresser, so I thought these would be appropriate :D

Here are some Flickies (the official name I made up for them :D) I made for a friend's daughter - she wanted something for the kids at camp to help them focus, and asked if I could make her some tiny taggy type pillows - these are 4" square (except for the mutant one top row middle, where I discovered I was very bad at eyeballing square size, and used 6.5" squares instead of 5" squares, lol - maybe she can use it as The (Booby) Prize of the Day :D) :)

I picked up a mesh laundry bag from the $ store and added a carabiner at the top - I thought this would be a great way to carry and store the Flickies @ the camp, and they'd air out each time they're stored :)

And now, for this week's Monday Makers!  I'm going to try out this Polar Bear Floor Pillow - I picked up a 20" pillow form @ Walmart and have lots of chenille fabric in stash - it looks like a fun project! If it works out nicely it will be a Christmas gift :) (Sorry about the horrible picture - that blob of black in the front didn't look as bad in person as it does in this photo - UGHHH!  It's only a tiny part of the project, but it surely is adding a lot of ugly to the photo, lol.

Posting to Monday Makers! #38  (if I'm on time!) :)

Monday Makers! #37 :)

I haven't been able to do the Monday Makers linky for several weeks now.  Nurdan is a great cheerleader for getting people to get cracking, so I'm glad I was finally able to sit down last night and start a project for the party.  It's only a simple zipper pouch but I need to get it done soon as it's a gift :D 

Construction ... commenced :D 

Posted to Monday Makers! #37 :)

P.S.  Here's one of the goodies that I bought to go inside ;)  What a world we live in when something like this is available to the general public, LOL!

Pickle duct tape from Amazon, LOL (NAYY!)

Monday Makers! #32 :)

I'm not starting something new for this week's Monday Makers! - I still need to start (and finish!) the basket set I've been planning for 2+ weeks to get cracking on. The fabric is still hanging, untouched, on a ruler on my sewing table, lol. I did finish all the bunny treat bags I started last week - they're filled and tucked in a basket ready to be gifted :)  Easter sewing is DONE :)  I didn't do all the projects I wanted to do, though.  I Amazon'd 2 of the kids an Easter book (plus I mailed them an Easter card) instead of sewing and mailing them a gift - at this late stage of the game, I can't trust Canada Post to deliver on time.  For the handmade items I did smaller, simpler projects than I originally planned, but reality -- "done and ready" trumps "bigger, better but incomplete or late".  I'm sure all sewers and crafters know THAT feeling :)

 Posted to Monday Makers! #32 :)

Monday Makers! #31 :)

Well - I was 50% successful at completing the projects I picked last week to do for this week - I give myself a 50/100, LOL.  I didn't even touch the roadway fabric that I want to use for a basket set :/  Oh wait - I lie - I moved it out of the way so I could do other things on the table - I think right now it's hanging over top of a big ruler, LOL!  I did get the bib 'n taggy set done, and it is CUTE :)

There are 4 meters of ribbon in that set!  Each bib has 3 pieces 11" long, and there are 20 X 3" pieces in the taggy :D  Good thing I have a few more yards to use up - right, Baye?  ;)  BTW - this bib set hasn't been washed yet - after I wash/dry it the quilting will shrink up a bit and it'll get that soft, lovely crinkled look :)

Last night I kitted up projects to work on this week - I want to get the rest of the little bunny Easter bags finished for the kids.  I have 8 done so far more are kitted ready to stitch.  These are my Monday Makers! project for this week :D

4 bunny bags for the girls ...

2 more bunny bags for the boys :D

I have one more piece of fabric picked out for another bag, but I need to dig around for a piece of fabric I think I have somewhere that will be perfect for the lining :D  I'm pretty sure I can get these bags finished this week, and hopefully I can get to work on the baskets from last week :)

Posting to Monday Makers! #31 :)

Monday Makers! #30 :)

For Monday Makers #29 I posted 2 projects I had started, with plans of getting them done last week.  Happily I got both items completed, YAY :)

Dinosaur themed fabric baskets (7", 6" and 5" size from this pattern)

Easter bunny pouches from this tutorial :)

 I really like the bunny pouches so I made another set of them, and have several more cut out to make for this coming Easter :D  I'm going to tuck a little Easter chocolate inside, and give them to the greats when we see them for Easter dinner :D  I may even make some for the neighbour  kids because they're so quick and easy - and CUTE :D  I did modify the pattern a bit - I increased the fabric to 6.5" squares to make them easier to stitch, and I added a pompom tail for extra bunny-ness ;)  Oh - I also used rattail for the drawstring instead of fabric ties - rattail is slippery so it's much easier to thread through that tiny little casing :D

For the coming week here are the projects I've started and would like to complete:

Future bib and taggy set :)

Future fabric basket set :)

Close-up of the cool road/town fabric I chose for this project :D

Posted to Monday Makers! #30 :)

Monday Makers! #29 :)

Here's the project I started for MM #28 ... and here's the completed project :)  This was a new to me project from Fast Fun & Easy Critter Bags (NAYY) - next time around I'll rejig his face a bit - this looks more like a zombie duck than a cute Easter duck - his eyes need to be closer together, and his face needs to move down his body a bit, LOLOL.  He's cute - but he can be cuter!  ;) 

For Monday Makers! #29 I actually started 2 projects - that's just how I rock ;)  I'm sure I'm not the only one that sometimes just wants to start something new rather than finishing something UFO! 

This is the beginning of a set of 3 stacking baskets from the Nesting Fabric Bowls pattern (NAYY) from Nova @ a cuppa and a catch up :)  The pattern has multiple sizes and designs - it's quite thorough!  I cut out the 7", 6" and 5" baskets to work on.  I have more dinosaur fabric (which I believe is still available @ Joanns, as is the green polka dot fabric from their Christmas line, that I chose to go with it).  This basket set is destined for a little one for Christmas ;)

Once I got Christmas cut out, I decided to cut out Easter as well!  :D  These pretty in pink fabrics will hopefully morph into 2 little bunny treat bags - the multi-coloured poms at the top are just for show.  I'm fancy that way, when I remember to attempt to be so :D 

I had some more pictures to post but the colours went REALLY badly in the basement - the white background turned blue, and the yellow caught on fire and melted - it was pretty ugly.  Will see if I can get outside tomorrow to take some photos - I want to show you what I did with a bunch of ribbon I received recently from Ebay - it took weeks to arrive from China and arrived sporting a disgusting and strong petrochemical smell.  I hung a bunch outside to see if I could destink them - they look pretty cute out there, truth be told, lol!  Maybe the snow (of which we have MUCH!) will absorb the stinkies :D

Posted to Monday Makers! #29 :)

Monday Makers #28 :)

I forgot to post this yesterday for Monday Makers! #28 but fortunately Nurdan lets us link on Tuesdays - very helpful for people who have memory lapses - like me :D

Yesterday I cut out another bag to try - this is from the Fast Fun & Easy Critter Bags book that my pig zipper pouch is from :)  It's certainly a book with many fun ideas in it, although it's not a book I would recommend for new sewers - it's not exactly big on instructions or details :D  I mainly go by the pictures and the pattern pieces, lol.  I'm doing the bag the way I normally do drawstring gift bags - fully lined, with no raw edges - the one in the book isn't lined, and I prefer a more finished look most of the time ;)

A couple of days ago I posted a picture of some bib and taggy sets I had completed for Blue Hills.  I washed the sets after taking pictures - most of them came out fine, of course, but one set - OOPS!  I noticed the velcro seemed
"off" when I was attaching it, but I had no idea it would do this!  I'll remove the velcro from all 3 bibs and redo it with different velcro - I guess I got a bad batch.  I'm glad I caught it before sending the goodies to BH!

I found something in stash this morning that I forgot I had - a while ago I bought some ceramic beads from ebay, with the intent of using them as zipper pulls.  Here's one I found that can now be put to good use - it's perfect for the project, lol!


Posted to Monday Makers #28 :)

Monday Makers #27 :)

I didn't get a chance to post to last week's Monday Makers - I was working on a project for a neighbour and haven't had much blogging time.  I'm mostly caught up on reading, but haven't been able to comment like I normally do.  I hate getting behind! 

I did get a birthday gift done in time to deliver yesterday :)  I bought the TMNT fabric last year at the Ogdensburg, NY Joanns.  The set includes an earbud pouch with $$ tucked inside, a zippered pouch for books etc., turtle stickers (wasn't able to find TMNT stickers) and a set of bark coloured pencils :)  Happy 7th birthday tomorrow, Matteo :)

Today I started a new little project in time for Monday Makers #27 - it's a zipper pouch that has a bit of embellishing on it - I had enough of the fabrics to cut out 2, so both will likely go to Blue Hills :)  This will count as a new-to-me project (hi, Pam!) and as an unofficial non-entry to the
Sew Your Library linky party :D  I already participate in several linky parties so I just follow along some other ones and don't actually post to them.  There isn't enough time to do them all, and I'm not one of those people that can take on dozens of challenges and remain unstressed and sane :D

I went out with my friend Nancy this morning to Aquafitness.  While we were sitting in her car waiting for the ice on the windshield to defrost, we noticed the temperature was -33C with the windchill.  That's a bit nippy - hopefully it warms up soon!

ETA:  I just realized something - according to Nurdan's MM guidelines, my Monday aquafitness class counts as a Monday Maker as it's something that I do on Monday that makes me move and be active and creative (I'm very creative at getting out of some of the harder stretches, LOL) :D  Gotta tell Nancy that she's been participating as well ;)

Loins girded, and big girl panties on :D

I pulled this long-planned project out on Monday to post to Monday Makers! - I started stitching it Monday or Tuesday, and got the piecing/QAYG'ing finished on Wednesday.  Then I got nervous about the binding (those are quite acute curves!) so I didn't even turn my sewing machine on on Thursday or Friday!  Today - as per post title - loins were girded, big girl panties were thrown on, and project was COMPLETED :)  I got one tiny tuck on the bottom curve - that's far better than I was expecting :D  It's done, and it's CUTE!!  It measures 34" long including the carrot tops ... 29" long without them, and 15" wide at the widest point.  It actually worked out well enough that I can do what I had hoped, which is to gift it as a surprise Easter gift :)  I'm so glad I got off my duff and got working on this!  I think I need to make more of them, lol!  Free tutorial and pattern here, if anyone else wants to try it :)

I think I need to make some prettier tablecloths :D

Posting this to Monday Makers! #25  and Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me for Feb. 2015 :)

Monday Makers! #24 :)

Here I am, posting MM on a Monday for the 2nd time in a row - my efficiency is starting to scare me :D  I'll be up @ 6:30 a.m. to get ready for Aquafitness, so my butt should already be in bed, lol.  OOPs! :)

Here's the project I started today - it's a carrot tablerunner, free tutorial here.  You do need to sign up to allpeoplequilt.com but it's free and I haven't noticed any spam from them.  I think I'm going to use green ribbon for the carrot top instead of cutting it from fabric - I think loops of pretty grosgrain would be really nice :)

From Monday Makers #23 I started 2 heart zipper pouches and 2 boxy bags.  I didn't get them all done ... I did 3 heart pouches as I didn't like the "scale" (zipper placement) or tag on the first one (the one on the bottom) so I finished it but made 2 more that worked out much better.  I got one of the oriental bags done, and will post it later.

Posting to Monday Makers! #24 :)

Monday Makers! #23 :)

And posting on Monday - aren't I just the fancy one!  ;)

Hubby and I went on a Joanns run this past weekend - he offered, I accepted, we had a lovely time :)  I managed to pick up about 25 yards of fabrics on sale, and thanks to a couple of discount coupons from a lovely niece (thanks, Cassendra!) I got an even further discount on quite a few of them - SCORE!  Colour me happy :D

2 yard cuts of these prints - I bought them to make donation tote bags :)  My favourite is the pink elephants!

2 yard cuts (plus about 1/2 yard of each that was an end of bolt remnant) of a couple of my favourite Joanns fabrics - sharks and lime green polka dots - you can never have enough of these in stash, as far as I'm concerned ;)

More stash fabrics I always have on hand - red, and black, tone on tone prints :)

These Halloween prints were on sale for half price, so I picked up 3 yards of the bats and a yard of the dots - enough for 3 pillowcases for next Halloween :)

4 of 5 sub-sections :)

Here are a few things I've started or that I've been working on :D  This free paper pieced block caught my eye so I decided to make one to embellish a tote.  I had forgotten how much fabric gets wasted on these acute angles - it drives me crazy as I really REALLY hate wasting fabric :D   The pattern is very cute though, so if I must waste, I do, after all, have enough fabric for all those angles ;)

 Here are the projects I started for Monday Makers! #23 :)  At the top are 2 heart shaped zipper pouches that I'm making for my little neighbour girls for Valentine's Day.  Bottom row are the pieces all cut out for 2 Oriental boxy bags - the Oriental print and the green batik print, were remnants from a local quilt store - I was able to cut 3 boxy bags from the fabrics (one is already completed).

 Here's a close-up of the threads I used for the first Oriental bag - gold for the (very simple) quilting, green for the rest of the bag.  I have gold dragon charms picked out for zipper pulls for these bags :)

For fun, I'm adding jingle bell zipper pulls to the heart pouches - I have lots in stash, and I found several that had pink in them to match the fabrics I picked :)  These should be fun for the young girls!

 The pink monkey jingle bell I found in stash - I need to get more of these - they're quite adorable :D





I got my Monday Makers! #22 project finished - it was a set of 3 bibs and a taggy.  I just have to throw the pieces in the washing machine before taking a picture - I want to make sure all the seams and ribbons are secure :D  I melted a couple of the ribbons on the taggy when I was finishing it - I had to do a lot of froggy stitching, cut the bad ones out, and add new ones!  Lesson learned - I'll be more careful next time, lol!

Posted to Monday Makers! #23 :)

Monday Makers! #22 :)

BRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr it's a sunny but cold day today here in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) --- current temp is -9C, feeling like -15C with the windchill.  Brass monkeys beware!  ;)

Here's my completion from Monday Makers! #21 - a Berenstain Bears library tote with matching zipper pouch :D  The BB print was a scrap I bought at the local quilt store, and the rest of the fabrics were from stash :)  This will be a gift for a young friend whose parents and grandparents love reading :)

Here's my new start, for MM#22 -- to use up the last of these 2 stash flannels (both from Joanns), I'm making bib and taggy blanket sets.  I was able to kit 8 bibs and 3 taggies, with the possibility of making one extra bib if I have enough scraps :D  These will all be going to Blue Hills when completed :)

Last week I got to hen party (sew) with 2 buddies - No Blog Amanda, and Miss Nancy :D  Miss Nancy brought me a lovely surprise today - I know she'll understand when I don't explain what it is :D  Thanks Nanc - my kitchen looks quite amazing now!  ;)  Anyways - we whipped up (well, Nancy did far more than I did, lol) rice heating pads for the kids at Blue Hills, to warm them up after skating :)  We ran out of rice mid-stream and had to make an emergency rice run into town to replenish our supply, LOL.  Miss Amanda, I do hope you'll remember to butter tart us at our next hen party!  ;)

Posting to Monday Makers! #22 :)

Monday Makers! #21 :)

Monday Makers!  This is a project I've had in mind ever since I picked up the Berenstain Bears fabric you see in the photo - it was a small 8" X WOF remnant - I knew almost from the beginning that I wanted to make a kids library book bag with BB as the focal fabric :)  I had just enough to do a wide pocket in the front, a smaller pocket inside, and one zipper bag to go with the tote.  Everything is cut out and ready to sew - I'll get started on it tomorrow :D

Last week I started a couple of penguin pouches - I got get them finished then realized that they're made from the same fabrics as the 3 bags I finished last year as Christmas gifts for our oldest son's little neighbour girls :D  Since I could get two of these bags out of one width of fabric, I kitted a second pouch for each of the main fabrics - and now they're all finished :D  I have some penguin charms coming from Ebay so when they arrive, I can tuck the bags into my gift box :)  Pattern is available from stubbornlycrafty on Etsy (NAYY) :)

Here are a few use-up-fabrics projects I've completed recently:

Flex frame bags (5" x 5") to use up the last of that truck fabric (which was a remnant of a FQ from our local Fabricland).  These are going to Blue Hills :)

Donkey bag and two blue zipper pouches - these are going to Blue Hills :)

Drawstring gift bag using the last of the raindrop fabric (that co-ordinates with the donkey fabric in the previous picture - both are by Laurie Wisbrun) - this one is going in my drawstring gift bag bag 

:D

 I have a stack of projects downstairs to photograph but it's so cold outside and so dreary inside, that I keep putting it off - winter doldrums, I think!  At least I'm still sewing, even if I'm not posting :D  I hope everyone is staying warm and safe, and enjoying some crafty time!  ;)

Posted to Monday Makers! #21 :)

Edited Jan. 31/15 - I'm posting the penguin bags to the January Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew linky party - I thought I would add a photo of the penguin pendants I bought to use for zipper pulls!  They haven't arrived yet but I'm sure they'll be here soon - NAYY :D

Penguin pendants purchased on Ebay :D I'll add small gold split rings and hang these from the zipper :)