On a scale of 1 to 10 ...

I rate this project a 14 for cuteness :D

The project is a Boxy Bag - tutorial by Patchyapple. I was using stash fabric to test the project - I didn't use fleece in mine (for stiffness) because I thought it would make the zipper hard to install. I used very thin interfacing - a heavier weight would have worked out better, I think. I may try one with flannel instead of fleece, and the thicker interfacing - I bet that would be just right :)

The project was quite easy to make - the fiddliest part was installing the zipper, and if you use a zipper that's a couple of inches longer than your fabric, that will make it TRES easy to install ;) Mine finished to 11" long X 5" wide x 4" tall :)

I had to redeem myself :)

After my faux pas with the cabana project, I decided I better work on and FINISH something - you know - get right back on the horse! ;) I whipped up a couple of make-up bags to go with a tote I made earlier this week - I did learn not to use the really stiff interfacing on them (it makes them very hard to turn right sides out, especially with my flakey hand), but they turned out quite well. I changed the ankle (is that what it's called?) on my Husqvarna to one I found in my stash --- the old one was a low shank one but it slid onto the foot instead of snapping on - not all standard low shank feet would fit on it. I happened to come across a spare ankle in a box and wondered if it would work - it did, and now I can use more standard snap on feet on the Husky! YAY!! That meant I was able to use my regular zipper foot, which is much easier to use than the Husky zipper foot. It's always a good day when you learn something new and make your life just a little bit easier! Here are the new make-up bags with the tote bag that I made earlier this month - I'm very happy with them :)

Eye candy (to me, anyways, lol) - Zoomer kept me company in the studio all morning while I was sewing - here he's holding down Nick's quilt so it doesn't accidentally fall off the table by itself!!! :D

DOH!!!!!

I just spent 45 minutes sewing together the cabanas and palm trees - got the whole row finished and then cut out the sand to go at the bottom of the row. Oh wait - what's that? You see something wrong with the photo? Really? Hmmmmmm what could it be? Let me look closely - nope - I don't see anything wrong. Let me get a magnifying glas ... oh. OH! Now I see it!!! Hmmmmmmmmm something doesn't look right!!! The sand row (cut to the length specified in the pattern) is a foot or more LONGER than the cabana row??!??!!? How could that happen? OH!! Errrrrr. I FORGOT TO PUT SPACERS BETWEEN THE BLOCKS!!! Yep - every other row has spacers between the blocks - I even have the spacers cut out - I just FORGOT TO USE THEM!!!

So now I have to completely rip apart the row (of course, it was sewn using stitch length 1.5) and resew it with the frigging spacers :D

Looks like I have some froggy stitching to do!! Even my cat was less than impressed!

Make-up bags and shopping lists :)

3 more make-up bags finished, and since Fabricland's 50% off sale starts tomorrow, I bagged up some projects that are unfinished until I get "stuff" for them - this way I can take the bags to the store with me and match fabrics/trims etc :) There are make-up bags, hotpads and a baby quilt in those 6 bags, lol!

Under the ziplock bags you can see my New England Patriots quilt - that was a gift for my 20 year old for his birthday ... in January *blush*. I've pulled it out to get it finished - it's the #1 UFO on my list right now! #2 is Cabana Bois, but I have until summer to get it finished :D

Lemons :)

This morning I used up the last of my lemon fabric and made a couple of make-up bags to go with the tote I made several weeks ago. Both of the bags are decorated with rick rack ... one of them has rick rack on the inside lining as well - that was a design decision - I didn't accidentally sew the trim to the wrong piece - no way - not ME!!! ;)

Dinner is served :D

I paper pieced a couple more kitcheny blocks today, for my "secret" project. Bella knows!!! ;) I got my potato fabric from ebay and appliqued the taters onto a paper pieced block :D The cake block is from Annette Truong. The bowl was from Cups and Saucers from Maaike Bakker :)

Fabricland's 50% off sale starts on Thursday so I can get the other goodies I need to complete this top secret project - just looking at those damn chicken drumsticks makes me laugh, LOLLLLLLLLLLLL.

It's fruity time :)

Another completion - a tote bag and matching make-up bag - both bags are tarted up with rick rack (hard to see in the photo) - the tote has a row of it across the front (near the top), plus the handles each have two rows along the length. The makeup bag has two rows near the top of the front - I've been collecting a nice little stash of r.r. and now I'm having fun using it wherever I can! The tote is 15" X 13" x 4", and is lined with a white/black cherry print. There's a zippered pocket inside the tote. The makeup bag is 6" X 7", lined with the same cherry print.

Just so you know - when you read a tutorial on making make-up bags and they tell you to open the zipper before sewing the bag/lining together, what they REALLY mean is ... OPEN THE ZIPPER BEFORE SEWING THE BAG/LINING TOGETHER! They mean business!! I'm sure most people who sew, know exactly what I mean, LOL! All's well that ends well tho - both bags turned out very nicely :)

My UFO Challenge :)

My friend Bella and I both started a project several years ago that neither of us ended up finishing. I know, I know - who starts something they don't finish - it's unheard of in the quilting world!!! *falls on the floor laffing* :D We decided earlier this week that we're both going to get the project done and ready to hang by summer. The challenge starts today - appropriately - the first day of spring! The project is Beach Cottages Quilt by Piece by Number.





Pictured - the pattern, the top as assembled so far, the blocks I still need to assemble, and the fabrics I have to finish the project with. I have a LOT of work to do yet - yikes!

1. Assemble and add row #4 - the cabanas
2. Add sand strip
3. Assemble and add row #5 - ocean waves
4. Add ocean strip
5. Add inner border
6. Add outer border
7. Add embellishments
8. Layer, baste, quilt, bind, label, add hanger, HANG!

Bella - let's make this interesting - if one of us doesn't have the project completely finished and hung by the first day of summer - June 21 - that person has to send the other one a summery package - a summery fat quarter, a quilty notion or pattern, and some summery embellishments!!! Deal? :)

Just for fun ...

I sewed food :D I have an idea for a project, but I can't complete it until a cute little ebay purchase arrives, and until I get some other parts from Fabricland during their 50% off sale (next week). I dreamed the project up all by my lil ole self - I think it's going to be adorable, if it works out :)

These paper piecing patterns were from Four Twin Sisters -- they have such fun patterns!

Two more totes :)

I finished up a couple more totes last week --- I had a brain fart and totally forgot to put any pockets in the dark patchwork one, but the lemon bag has a neat pocket - it's two pockets in one - a zippered area and then the regular pocket behind it - I enjoyed doing that, and will do it again (the top picture is a close-up of the zippered pocket) :) Lemons is 14W X 12L X 4D ... patchwork is 15 X 14 x 4. I have such fun making these!!! I have matching makeup bags cut out to go with each one - I got the zippers today @ Fabricland so hopefully I can get them done this weekend. I even found some yellow rick rack to slut up the lemon one :)

Why don't you build me up - build me up - buttercup baby ...

This is what I'm working on this weekend - isn't it pretty? I'm making it in summery Hawaiian type fabric. I'm working on it with a friend who coincidentally picked out fabrics almost exactly like mine - isn't that a hoot? My fabric is on top, Julie's is below - obviously we're both anxious for summer, I'd say!


Here's my finished bag --- uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh it is TINY!!! TINY TINY TINY!!! It's only 7" tall and 11 1/2" wide - as you can see it's not much bigger than my wallet! The pattern designer said to print the pattern "Fit to Printable Area" - I think I need to pretty much double the size to make it work for me - this is too small for anything I would need a tote for. It's such a lovely, feminine pattern, but not too practical for my purposes :)

OOOoooo Julie's bag turned out beautifully - is luv-erly!!!!!!!!

Come on over for tea and ...

Banana Maple Bundt Cake with Walnut Praline Swirl - I spotted this recipe recently and had to try it out. We'll cut into it tonight when the guys get home - if it tastes as good as it smells, it'll be divine!

A few hours later - yep - it was DIVINE!!! Soft, moist, delicious - 5 stars!!!

When life hands you lemons ...

make a prism makeup bag!!! ;) Here's the tutorial, and here's my first attempt :) I didn't find it as easy to do as all the comments might lead one to believe - I found adding the fabric tabs to the zipper ends was VERY fiddly (and that was the first step, lol) and lining up the pieces was fiddly. The instructions are actually QUITE clear and easy to understand - I read them over a couple of times and knew exactly what I was doing - I just found it a bit difficult to actually DO the steps. The bag looks great but I don't like how bulky the corners are - the bulk is hidden between the outside and the lining fabrics so it's completely invisible - it just feels bulky. I'll try the bag again and be more aggressive when trimming, and will see how it turns out. It really is a damn cute bag, so maybe I'm just being a bit too picky!

One thing I did differently than the instructions, was to use iron on interfacing on the outside fabric - that gave it a bit of body - I'll do that next time as well, as I like the look.

Not bad for a first attempt at a new pattern!

What's purple and floral and pretty?

MY TOTE!! I finished the tote yesterday, and today I used up the last of the floral fabric by making 2 little zippered make-up type bags to go inside :) The tote isn't from a specific pattern - it's size was determined based on the size of the pieces of fabric I had on hand :) It's lined with purple TOT (tone on tone) fabric, and has a little pocket inside made of the floral fabric. The makeup bags are from the delightful Corinne @ Heart of Mary - she did such a great tutorial for these sweet little bags! My goal is to finish 10 of these simple totes as donation items - I think I have 5 done so far :)

Chicken - it's what's for dinner!

MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmchicken - baked to perfection! Chicken and Dumpling Bake - great recipe! I want to try her Bacony Chicken and Rice Bake ... and my SIL tried her Baked Chicken with Honey Orange Glaze and pronounced it awesome! Have a poke around the site - I bet you'll find something delicious to try :)

Brrrr winter has an icy grip on us!

The cold weather is making me long for spring ... so I made a spring tote :) I have another tote planned ... a FANCY one ... cross your fingers for me :D I'm doing a bit of a "sew along" with a buddy - we're both going to make the tote at the same time. When her schedule permits (she works full-time), we'll get started. I can't wait - I may even go out and buy new fabric for it, even tho I have lots, lol.

February was a month of ...

PSORIASIS HELL!!! I'd post a picture of how bad it got but it's ugleeeeeeee. I had to make an emergency visit to the specialist, and am now on 4 different medications ... some parts have improved, others have gotten worse, so I can't tell if the medications are kicking in or not. I think maybe they're starting to work a tiny tiny bit - I hope so. It got better for a few days in a row, but today it seems to be getting a bit worse. Same old same old - I'm getting used to this pattern of progress, sadly!! 'nuff about that :)

I did manage to make a tote bag and matching make-up bag today - I wasn't able to sew much in February, and I had an urge to sit down and actually finish something. They came out quite nicely - I busted a bit of stash getting these done :) The tote is 15 X 13 X 3, fully lined, with a small pocket inside. No pattern, just created "on the fly". The makeup bag is about 7 X 5, and fully lined. I have lots more of floral fabrics to use up, so I'm going to bag up some "kits" ready to work on when my hands are in good shape - then I can just grab a bag and go to town!

Church fundraiser ...

Still having fun making totes!! This one is for a friends' church fundraiser. It's lined with the floral fabric that's on the outside and handles, and it measures 18 x 11 X 4. The pattern is the Charm Party Tote by Penny Sturges. I'm going to make a couple of little bags to go inside, with some of the scrap fabrics :)

Happy Valentines Day! Hubby and I don't really do the V-Day thing, but we're ordering Chinese food for supper - so I guess that's my present, HAHA.

New tote ...

More stashbusting = a new tote and matching little "wallet" :) The tote measures 15 x 13 x 3 ... and is lined with the cream fabric that the little wallet is made of. Notice the tiny little yoyo on one strap, just for tarting up purposes ;) The little wallet (4 1/4" square) is pinned to the tote for the photo shoot - I'll tuck it inside as a little surprise :) I got the idea for the wallet from the delightful Mary Grace @ Hooked on Needles - she just made a few herself - aren't they adorable? I *really* love the fabrics she used - this little project would be a good excuse for picking up a couple of really special FQ's! The pattern is available from here :) Thanks for the idea Mary Grace --- it's a very sweet little project! I can see it being used as a mini first aid kit ... or to hold some bus tickets/tokens ... for a credit card and a few dollars ... to hold a little container of pills/medication or a couple of wet wipes for those accidents that life hands us ... a little bit bigger and it would be great for carrying a couple of "feminine supplies" ... the uses are endless! Make it in denim and guys (and wimmens too!) could use it to hold condoms ;) Go ahead, ladies - make one and find a cool new use for it!

Nope - not liking my faux box ends :D

I've long been convinced that this method of boxing bag ends, was a trick - it looks like it shouldn't work, and in my case, it didn't! LOL! I may not have sewn the ends 100% accurately - they're close, but the sides may be a bit unequal - perhaps this explains the wonkiness of my results. The pattern came from Corinne @ Heart of Mary - I think I would have liked the "soft" boxy corners if mine had worked out better. I like this bag and will try it again - next time I'll MacGyver square cut-outs for step 10 and see how that works. I really should try to practice the faux technique so I can get it to work, but sometimes you just want to get a project finished, rather than learn a life lesson ;)

So - I give the pattern an 8/10, and I give my sewing skills, for today, a 3, lol. I blame it on my hand problems - of course my stitching would normally be perfect. *cough* *cough* *choke* *choke* *wink* :)

Tote finished :)

My hands were feeling better today (can you say ... CAPRICIOUS!!!) so I got off my duff and made a tote bag - I have just enough of the black floral left over to make a little make-up bag to go with the tote, but I need a zipper to make it. It's in the To Do pile now :D The tote measures 14" X 13.5" X 5" - I sized it to use up the floral. It's lined and has a little pocket inside. I may add a yoyo out of the salmony print, just to tart the bag up ;)

Tote is based on this pattern :)

I'm a winner :)

The delicious - and FUN!!! - Barb over @ So How Was Your Day? recently had a giveaway for some tea mats she had made - and I was one of the lucky winners! Check out the fabrics she used - absolutely frigging CUTE! Thanks for a fun giveaway Barb - congrats to all the winners ;)

I found another cute tutorial the other day ... a soft sewing bag ... from the same lady that posted the makeup bag tutorial - Corinne from Melbourne, Australia :) I studied the instructions last night and I think I'm going to give this a try - it looks like fun! My psoriasis is in overload right now so hopefully within a few days I'll be able to get some sewing done! This is what the project looks like - - I'll post a picture of my own project when I get it finished :)



And since I don't like to post without photos ... this is what I made my SIL last year for Christmas and for her birthday - I call it the Punta Cana bag as I made it for her trip to Punta Cana last month :) The little bags were to go inside the big one - maybe now I'll make her a makeup bag too! ;) As you can see, my Zoomer enjoyed the bag making process ;) (Tote is from the Charm Party Tote pattern designed by Penny Sturges)

Fabulous zippered bag tutorial :)

Thanks to Miss Corinne in Aussie,I've now learned how to make a sweet lined and zippered bag where NO raw edges or seams show - it's frigging AMAZING! The whole thing takes under half an hour to make - it really is incredibly simple! The tutorial is here - I'm definitely going to try the version with the strap, when I get the hardware. Sweet project, Corinne - thanks so much! I'm typing this post on the dinosaur computer in the studio so I'll get a picture of my two bags and upload them from the laptop upstairs :D

Most of the zippers I had in my stash were too short to use for this project, so I had to use whatever I could find --- I didn't want to use "special" fabric until I made sure I could make these with no problems. I've already pulled out some nice fabrics for which I'll get matching zippers - I'm already planning on making more of these little pretties!

Pizza Bites!

Hubby made these little morsels of deliciosity - I made a batch yesterday with one bag of pizza dough, and he made the other batch today with the other bag of pizza dough. THEY ARE YUMMY! Recipe found here - thanks Katie @ Chaos in the Kitchen - this is definitely a new family favorite!

Haiku 'n stuff :D

Psoriasis sucks.
Capricious, painful, PITA.
No more cane for now!

Things are looking up right now, so I'm happy, and not limping much, wooooohoooooo - and enough about THAT! :)

A late shout-out to our oldest son Nick, who turned 20 on January 29 --- I wasn't able to post about it - I wasn't even able to make his special birthday dinner! Sorry about that, shorty! Love you lots, very proud of you, happy belated birthday :) (and sorry your Patriots didn't make it to the playoffs!)


Tried some new things with Miss Husky - freemo quilting on her is a DREAM! I just taught her how to paper piece (some veggie blocks for future hotpads), and now she's learning how to make strip blocks with decorative trim (stash busting trim I received from freecycle). She does everything she's asked, and doesn't complain. Best damn $45 I've ever spent!

Happy belated birthday too, to my sister's sweetie Barnie ... he turned 112 yesterday - Happy Birthday Pickle Dog!!! Picture blatantly stolen from my sister's blog - if she wants it back, she can come to Toronto and GET it!! ;)