A small Christmas finish :)

I got a Christmas gift finished this month - I know the recipient doesn't read my blog so it's safe to post it, even with the initial on the bag :D  The apron is the largest size of this pattern, the tiara is from here, the drawstring bag (in the middle) has been appliqued with the recipient's initial, and the superhero cape (in ladybug fabric!) was made with a Georgia Leigh Designs pattern from her Etsy store.  There's also a penguin zipper bag for the package, but I forgot to include it in the picture - I blogged about it here :) 

I'm posting this set to the April Ho, Ho, Ho and On We Sew linky party, here :)

Catching up on photos ... and a shark fail :)

For your viewing entertainment ...a shark fail :D  I was trying to make a shark hooded towel.  Apparently, my hand towel wasn't the same size/proportion as the one in the tutorial, as this is what I ended up with - quite unusable!  I asked DS1 to model it for me, and he was upset that I wouldn't let him take it home with him, lol.  I need to keep it until I get the sizing right, so I'll have an example of what size NOT to use - he can have it when I get it figured out :D  He may look grumpy in these pictures but he wasn't - he thought my end result was ridiculously amusing :)

Monster drawstring bags - 10" x 17" :) 

Christmas drawstring gift bags :) 9.5x18, 14.5x20, 9.5x18.  HAHA oh no - I just noticed the "type your text here" watermark - I have no idea how I got that there, LOL!

Drawstring gift bag 9x17, made from a Joanns FQ :)

My version of a project I pinned - I like theirs better, LOL.  My scale isn't as nice as theirs!  Denim is from a pair of DS2's worn out work jeans :D

Drawstring gift bags made from Amy Morinaka's Zakka Handmades book :) - I upsized the pattern by about - IIRC - 50% - mine measure 7.5"w x 9"t :)

Use-up-the-last-bits-of-fabrics pillowcases :)

Michigan - a very lovely state!

Hubby and I just got back from a long weekend trip to the lovely state of Michigan - we went to visit my friend Allie (and her mom - hi Pat!), and to do some shopping.  Joann Fabrics was having their annual Daffodil Dash, so I decided this was a perfect time for a road trip ;) 

It was fantastic meeting up with Allie and her mom again - I think it was 2 or 3 years ago that we saw them last?  We had a great time going from store to store, we had a lovely lunch at a Red Olive (great restaurant - I wish we had them here in Canada!) and our late evening ice-cream run to Cold Stone Creamery (requested by Pat, who was having a dessert craving, LOL) was a blast :)  I think that the annual Daffodil Dash should now become the annual Allie and Pat and Dennis and Sandra Do Novi trip :) 

I unloaded my new goodies onto my kitchen table this morning, and got a few pics to share (pix edited with Fotor) - I think there are a few items missing, but this is most of what I bought ;)

The large photo is pretty much most of my crafty/fabricy purchases.   Clockwise, from bottom right:  fabrics I bought just because I liked 'em, notions, my favourite fabrics to have on hand (including my favourite tone on tones), fabrics I bought with specific projects in mind, and the two new patterns I bought :)  

I think I may just have enough fabric for now ... but ... I'm not betting the farm on it ;)

I hope this makes you smile - it sure worked on me! :)

I love this guy - I'd give him a big hug too!!  (If the link embed doesn't work, here's a clickable link to try)



Notice how most of the men actually pick him up? LOL!  Adorable!  BOSTONSTRONG!  :)

April sewing - several finishes :)

Drawstring gift bag - 10" x 17" - birdy applique from Shiny Happy World :D  The pink gingham seersucker was from remnants given to me from someone's auntie's sewing room clean-out :D  I have enough to make another 4 or 6 bags :)

Co-ordinating aprons for 2 x 3 year old BFFs - these are the largest size from this tutorial, and are part of a Christmas gift set.

Ladybug superhero capes (the gingham print is the lining).  These are size 4 in the pattern from this Etsy store - both are gifts :)

Christmas gift tiaras from this tutorial - note the Santa jingle bell embellishment, along with the "jewel" bling :)

Tall pouch made with floral fabric from the auntie's fabric clean-out :D 11"w x 9.5"t x 3.5"d

A rocket zippy!  A ROCKET! LOL!  My first attempt at this new-to-me pattern - it didn't work out completely perfectly (I cut the vinyl window too small and then I accidentally melted the seam allowance with my iron, oops) - my next ones will be better :)  Fun pattern!  Including fins, it measures 9"w x 6.5"t :)

Handled boxy bag (10"l x 4"w x 3"t) made with sushi fabric :D  I took a closeup picture of the zipper pull - it's an owl jingle bell so it doesn't match the sushi theme, but it was the right colour for the bag, so I added it for fun - I don't think anyone will complain :)

ETA:  Rocket zipper bag uploaded to the "New to Me in 2014" linky party @ Celtic Stitches - here :)

Tassimo and Penguins :D

When I came downstairs this morning, this is what I found in the kitchen - a carefully arranged stack of Tassimo coffee/tea disks, perched on my microwave. I don't drink coffee or tea - this was done by my husband. He drinks coffee and tea, our youngest son drinks coffee and tea, and our oldest son was coming by this morning and he drinks coffee. I think between the 3 of them, they certainly had their choice of items to drink! I stick with Diet Dr. Pepper, LOL!

Here are a couple of penguin zipper bags I finished yesterday - they're part of a Christmas gift for 3 year old BFFs - I'll probably tuck some little bubblebath or lip balms inside for fun :)  The pattern is by StubbornlyCrafty (NAYY) :)  I'm posting these to the Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew linky party :)

Bye Bye Slobalt :)

Our youngest son has traded in his old car - Slobalt the Cobalt - here he is changing the tires out before taking it to the dealer for the big switcheroo.

While we have Slowbie out posing for photos, here's a little gifty I whipped up yesterday for part of a birthday gift - Scottie the Scottie (a new to me project from a free pattern here) :)

 OK - time to leave, Slobalt - it was nice knowing you :)  Good luck in your new driveway - be good!

Bye bye!!

No wonder the Slobalt is leaving - look how dirty the snow is around here, lol!

A few hours later - Slobalt 2 - aka a new 2012 Honda Civic SI (187 kms on it) - has arrived and is now gracing our driveway.  Scottie (now wearing his new jingle collar) wants to take the car for a spin :D

Checking to see if there's enough trunk space :)

Where are the keys, human??!!!

New car adventures now await my young man :)  BTW - the Honda only stayed home for about 30 minutes so he could show it to his brother and I - it's now off on the previously mentioned adventures, lol :D

It's been a pretty good day for a happy 23 year old!

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 :)

Crowns and tiaras and aprons - oh my! And don't forget the gift bags :D

It turns out - making crowns is a lot of fun, lol. Tiaras too!   This tutorial is what I used to make the first tiara, then I changed her velcro closure to elastic for the rest of them.  I liked the shape of this one, so I bought the pattern and will try it next :D  I also like these ones and want to try them as well - I think there are lots of crowns and tiaras in my future! 

Tiaras and a crown - tutorial here :)  I changed the velcro closure to fabric covered elastic for these - I think it works better for kids (and their moms!) :)

Toddler aprons - the one on the left is a birthday gift, and the one on the right will go to Blue Hills :)

Fabric gift bags - 7" x 9.5" - I forget which size pattern I used but these bags were modified to use up some scraps I had :D   Pattern here :)

I try to use as many fabric gift bags as possible - at Christmas I noticed I was short on smaller bags, so I've started making some.  This design is from Jeni at In Color Order - she has a free tutorial on her website, but also sells the pattern with cutting directions for bags in different sizes.  I like the free tutorial but I didn't want to do the math for the other bags, so I bought the pattern :D

(BTW - when I post a link for a $ pattern it's usually one I've bought myself for personal use.  I don't advertise, and I don't do affiliate links.)

There's a major late winter storm headed our way ...

so I ran out to the front porch and took a few pictures while I still had sunshine :D

Gong Gong wearing his blinged out tiara - very regal :)  This was my first attempt at a crown - I'm not too fond of the velcro closure, and will do elastic next time around.  Tutorial here -  IIRC she doesn't say what size this is or what age it's for, so I'll test drive it on my neighbour's 2 1/2 year old little girl :)  If it fits her she can have it, and I'll make more!

My first penguin pouch, pattern purchased on Etsy :)   This one measures 9.5" wide x 6.5" tall - it'll hold LOTS of goodies.  More of these to come - this was fun to do :D  The pattern designer - Lisa @ Stubbornly Crafty - is designing more patterns so "watch this space", lol!

A "use up the scraps of this owl print" tall pouch :D  Measures 9" wide by 10.5" tall x 3.5" deep :)

Getting through the bunny list :D

Mesh and zipper bags, to go with the beach bag I made earlier:)  Mesh bag (for seashells) is 11x15, and the zipper pouches, made with scraps from the beach bag, are about 8.5x9.5 :)

A few more Lil Blue Boo bunnies, along with their gift wrap (aka the drawstring bag) :)

The last batch, at least at this point, lol, of Lil Blue Boo bunnies for Easter gifts :)  Now that all the bunnies are stitched I'm making gift bags for them :)

Happily, the worst of winter may finally be over, although I'm sure we're going to get hammered at least once or twice more before we can count it as done.  The sun is shining ever so brightly, and the snow has started to melt, but oh my it's muddy and dirty out there.  I took these bunny pictures on my front porch a few minutes ago - it's windy and the wind was actually holding the bags in place, LOL.  Suction wind!

More February sewing

Sewing tends to ensue when weather conditions include words like cold or blustery or snowy or bone-chilling - that's a good thing ;)

Another batch of Lil Blue Boo's bunny zipper pouches for a brother/sister/brother combo ;)

**New to me project - drawstring gift bag from Zakka Handmades by Amy Morinaka :)**

Toddler apron - the smallest size (they say it's size 3-5, but I say it's more 18m-2T!) - a gift :)

Superhero cape (sz. 4) and matching zipper bags (using up the scraps) :)

Superhero capes for a gift - sz. 6 :)

Beach tote :)

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