Strawberries and farm animals and vinyl flexation :D

Strawberry zipper pouch - tute here :)

Here's a new to me (19 of 52 in 16) project that worked out so nicely that I decided to put it in my Christmas box as a gift :)  It actually has red seed bead "seeds" but I couldn't get a clear photo of them - they do give the bag a pretty little glitter!  I think I'll tuck strawberry lip gloss and Strawberry Shortcake stickers inside, making it a a sweet gift for a young lady :)   The tutorial for the bag, along with the strawberry applique pattern, is from Jennifer Heynen (aka Jennifer Jangles) @ JenniferJangles.com :D  The little inset picture on the right, is a close-up of the strawberry zipper pull ;)

Farm finger puppets - tute here :)

Another Christmas gift finish --- this was a tiny little finish, but it was the last item I wanted to make for this specific gift, so I'm really happy to have all the pieces completed, ready to be "bagged and tagged"  :D   The pattern for these little farm finger puppets is here :)

The gift consists of a Cargo Duffle bag with some goodies tucked inside.  There's a set of farm animal hand puppets and a book to go with them ... they were posted here.  I made a drawstring bag to hold the puppets and book ... it's posted here. The finger puppets are ^^ above ;)  What do you think - is this a cute gift for a young lad?  I think (hope) so :)

Oh!  One last new to me (18 of 52 in 16) project for June - a vinyl flex frame bag!  I've made vinyl bags, and I've made flex frame bags, but combining the two - that's a first!  The tutorial is here - I have more of these cut out already - they're a great way to use up fabric scraps!  Next time around I'll put a gentle curve in the bottom - it was impossible to get the square corners completely turned RSO :D



Posting to:
New to Me for June 2016 and Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew for June 2016 :D

Happy Fishy Drawstring Bag Day!

Friday was Pineapple Day, and today is a new and fun theme day, lol.  Did YOU remember to celebrate Fishy Drawstring Bag Day today?  No?  Well then pull up the tutorial (which was created to take care of an UNtutorial problem :D) that Caroline from SewCanShe.com was sweet enough to write for us - and make yourself a fishy bag :)

I made the simplest version with no embellishments - I wanted to try out the pattern and wanted instant gratification, LOL.  It worked out perfectly, and it's a SIMPLE sew.  I used about .8m fabric, and 2m rattail (instead of fabric drawstrings) - nice stash busting!  It's unlined, so I zigzagged all the raw edges to give it a nice finish.  I appliqued an eye on either side, so it's reversible ... in a manner of speaking, haha.   I'm SO very pleased with this bag, and glad that it was chosen for May's Untutorial project - I voted for it myself :D THANK YOU CAROLINE for your work and for sharing it with us!

Bonus points for me, as it counts as #17 in my quest to try new designs in 2016 (52 in 16) - plus I'll be able to post it to Fiona's New to Me for June - I am ON A ROLL :)  I'm going to print off the pattern at 50% to see how it looks as a smaller bag --- this one measures about 28" long from mouth to tail, and about 18" wide, so a half size bag would be cute to hold a kiddy item :)

Posted to New to Me for June, @ Celtic Thistle Stitches :)

Happy Pineapple Day!

Pineapple zippy - front :)

Pineapple zippy - back :)

If Pineapple Day isn't an official holiday, it should be ... to honour my latest finish :D  Tutorial is here - pattern is here :)  I did change the pattern up a bit - I quilted the outside in a cross-hatch design (which doesn't really show because of the zigzag print, hehe) and eliminated the embroidered design from the original.  The bag worked out perfectly, and tomorrow she's headed via snail mail to ******, who has a birthday coming up :D  I've tucked a little notebook, a key cap cover and a book of stamps inside as a bonus :D  I already have 2 more of these little sweeties cut out ready to make!  This counts as #15 in my 52 in 16 attempt :D

Pocket Tote Library Bag

Here's another new one from this week - a simple Pocket Tote Library Bag.  I spotted the tutorial online and thought it might make a good stashbuster project - making bags to send to the counselling center, with the added bonus of busting some fabric :D  I used leftover corduroy for this one and decided to quilt it. Next time, self, don't quilt corduroy.  That was definitely not necessary, and made for some mighty thick seams, lol.  I'll be making more of these - it's a simple bag, and very cute :)  It's fairly small, though - 12.5w x 11t x 3.5d - that would suit a younger kid.  I'll upsize a couple of inches in each direction to make it more versatile, for older kids.    Yay for #16 in 52 in 16 :D

Here's part of a Christmas gift I got finished earlier this month - I made it to hold the farm hand puppets I made last month.  I tucked an Old MacDonald book inside, and I have some farm finger puppets printed out to make, which will finish the gift off.  When I get them done I can post this to June's Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew linky party :)


Pineapple bag posted to Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me for June :)

Ho Ho Ho --- covered now for May ;)

Thank goodness for deadlines - I tend to get things done last minute when there's a firm and definite deadline :)  Here are a couple of projects I finished this month that were planned for May's Ho Ho Ho linky party :D  The duffle bag got finished this morning, but the puppets were finished a while ago - I just hadn't gotten photographs :)  Both of these items are for Christmas gifts, so into the gift they're going :)

First up is a set of Old MacDonald puppets, plus the book I bought to go along with them :)  I'll do a drawstring bag (appliqued with farm bits and pieces) to hold the puppets.  I may also do a couple of finger puppets to go in the bag - and I was thinking I could maybe find a farm colouring book as well :)  The free tutorial is here :)

Next up is my newest completed Cargo Duffle bag :)  I took pictures outside this afternoon but it was so bright and sunny (YAY!) that the colour washed out.  I grabbed a couple more pics down here in the dungeon - the black background isn't faded like it is in these pictures - this is lovely Japanese canvas fabric but I'm an inept photographer :D

Here are some close-ups of the fun zipper pull I got on Ebay - it works perfectly with the bag - and both sides are perfect for the space/robot theme :)

[X] Cargo duffle gift #2 - completed :)
[X] Old MacDonald puppet gift set - completed :)

Posted to May's Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew linky party :)

May owls ... and things :)

One of my goals for May was to use up 5 owl charms I've had in stash for a while. Mission ... almost accomplished :D  I did get 5 bags done, but I still have one kitted to use the last charm - I had a brain fart and used a wood bead zipper pull for one, lol.   5/5 done ... but not quite as planned ;)

I got some flickies done for Nancy ...

15 flickies :D

... a humbug/triangle bag finished (for Blue Hills) ...

Ladybug humbug bag (pieces cut 5.5" x 10.5") - note the cute gold birdy zipper pull - a great find from Ebay :)

... a rocket drawstring bag completed (to go in my gift box) ...

Rocket drawstring bag

... two Pokemon bags finished for my neighbour's daughter and her BFF (note the zipper pull I used, indicative of the purpose for the bags :D) ...

Pokemon Shark Week Bags :D

... and last, but not least, another New to Me project - a "Jungle Jalopy" zipper pouch.  I simplified the pattern by putting the zipper in the middle of the back, instead of on the curved top.  I think it needs button tires, and I'm going to pick some up for the next bags :)  Posted to May's New to Me linky party :)

Jungle Jalopy :)

I still have a few projects in the pipes to work on in the next few days, but hubby and I are going to Pennsylvania on Friday for a few days, to visit Mickie and her delicious poodle Seamus, and hopefully her husband ... aka The Phantom :D My hubby suggested the visit 2 months ago so we got our passports renewed and we're heading out :D  There will be some time @ Joanns - guaranteed :D

Cargo Duffle #3 :D

Here's what I'm working on this month - the goal being for it to be completed in May.  It's going to be a Christmas gift.  It's a Cargo Duffle (a free pattern designed by Anna Noodlehead Graham) - I've made 2 already, and am FAR from finished with this great design, as I have fabrics picked out and zippers bought for several more of these bags :D  So far I have the front and back quilted and prepared, and will be working on the zipper gusset next :D

Cargo duffle under construction - this is a photo of the large charm I found in stash to use for a zipper pull on the bag.  I bought about 5 of these on Ebay a few years ago - isn't it adorable?!  It's not a tiny little thing - it's 2 1/4" tall x 1 1/4" wide - the duffle bag needs something substantial for the zipper pull, and this will be perfect. 

Here's the reverse of the charm - look how well it matches the design in the fabric! 

Here's a bigger photo of the fabric, quilted - it's a Japanese linen/canvas - I believe it's from Lecien.

Cloud zipper bag designed by Cloud 9 Fabrics :D

Here's a bag I forgot to post when I finished it - it's #10 in my 52 in 16 personal challenge - a cloud zipper bag designed by - who else - Cloud 9 Fabrics, lol!   This lil gal will be posted to Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me linky when it opens this month :)

What are YOU working on today? :)  I have ladies coming over tonight for a crafting evening ... which generally means that we're going to sit and talk and carry on and get very little actual crafting done - HA!!  :)  ETA, later in the evening:  yep very little crafting got done - we didn't even PRETEND to do any.  I did make Nancy put the zipper pulls on 14 "zipper by the yard" zippers (similar to this) I bought - 2 heads per tape - my fingers couldn't handle the work, but she did a great job, LOL.  Thanks Nanc!

Pink Tease - The Finale :)

Inspired by Anne's version @ Play Crafts, I whipped up this doxy bag :D   When I saw Anne's finish I fell in love with the idea :)   I have to boast ... when stitching sections of foundation pieced blocks together, sometimes your sections don't match perfectly.  In this instance, with the blocks positioned in opposite directions and with the areas to match not easy to access because of batting, I managed to literally (I measured!) come within 1/8" of a perfect join :)  I'm posting this to May's New to Me linky party :)

As Anne mentions in her post, the block is from a book called It's Raining Cats & Dogs, by Janet Kime.  Bag #13 of 52 in 16 is now complete, and I believe that there shall be some frontback cat bags forthcoming from the Dungeon of Sandra :D

Hehehe a freebie for your viewing and listening pleasure - I originally posted this in 2012 and just came across it again :)  Check out the other videos in the series - too funny :D

Pink Tease, part deux :D

Pink Tease, part 2 :D  

Yesterday I posted a teaser photo of a small project I have underway.  Here's the second part of the block - it didn't take me long to realize that I really should have drafted the entire block before stitching.  Between (enlarging the block by 50%) + (cutting the block in two [but not in half]) + (adding to the block size to frame it and make it bigger) - there was a definite need for pattern drafting before I started cutting and stitching :D   Valuable lesson learned!  I worked around the problems ... and hopefully tomorrow will have a finish to post :)

Pink Tease :D

Here's an in-progress picture of the project I'm working on today.  This is part of a new-to-me project - I've done lots of paper piecing before, but this project has a bit of a piecing "twist" to it.  I'm foundation piecing it - thanks to the lovely light table my hubby made for me it was easy enough to trace the pattern onto an old sheet, but the block construction and then it's insertion into the actual project, is something I haven't done before.  If it works, I can see at least one more application for it!  I'll post another picture when I get the other part of the block done ;)

Pink tease :)  BTW - the white foundation is showing in parts only because I left myself almost 1" borders, to allow lots of fudge (room for error and angles) when assembling the project :D  I didn't come up short anywhere - a common problem with paper piecing and angles, lol

On an unrelated note, who else uses the OneNote program?  I really just started using it a few days ago on my Win10 laptop - I didn't look into it until I got more comfortable with Windows 10, then decided to try it.  I like it!  I had to get a Microsoft account to use it, and then Microsoft hijacked my laptop signin and changed it from a password I had chosen ... to the Microsoft password.  It took me a couple of days to figure out how to undo that --- how about, Microsoft, we opt in instead of having to opt out, hmmmmmmmmmm?  Hijacking is rude! Now I sign in the way "I" want to, and I'm having fun playing with this program.  It's good for me because I can easily share information between my two laptops :)

How NOT to make a vinyl bag :)

I picked up some vinyl recently and decided to try out this new-to-me tutorial to make some drawstring bags.  It's helpful to read through the instructions and at least half-a$$edly follow them - who knew?!  If you don't, you may mis-cut one of the fabric pieces and end up with a misshaped miscreation that is literally and physically, trying to implode upon it's own self.  And it's doing it while leaning.  NOT pretty!  Top left you can see that the scale of the fabric/vinyl is off - that's because the fabric is cut to HALF of the correct height - that's where the problem began.  Because that piece wasn't tall enough, the bag wasn't able to draw together properly and the implosion began (bottom left and center).  Bottom right shows my fix - I cut off the mis-sized part, recut a new one in the right size, then stitched it back on ... resulting in the picture top right.  SUCCESS :D  It pays to pay attention to measurements, and bag #12 of 52 in 16 is completed :)

Nailed. It. :)

Earlier this month I completed my first Cargo Duffle - a free (YAY!) pattern designed by Anna Graham (Noodlehead) :) There are lots of blog posts about this project on the interwebs - sew alongs, hacks and modifications - the pattern looked VERY detailed and scary to me so I did a lot of reading, decided on some simplifications, and then I jumped in.  I haven't taken proper pictures of it because it needs a good pressing to be camera ready, but here it is pre-pressage.

First Cargo Duffle - a New to Me finish :D

I didn't like the pockets on the original so I changed mine to a simple slip pocket.  I QAYG'd (quilt as you go) the outside and lining with a layer of medium weight sew-in interfacing along with a layer of quilt  batting - that's the "recipe" I use for my Retreat Bags, and I love the finish.  After a press, I'll likely be using this bag myself - maybe for hubby's and my Joanns runs ;)

I was so excited about how well #1 turned out, that I started a new one almost immediately.  I have a bit of a stash of Japanese canvas that I purchased from a local quilt store last year when it was on sale for $8 per meter cut.  I bought about 10 meters, mostly boy prints - I believe it's Lecien.  It's PERFECT for this project.  The inside raw edges are bound with the lining fabric (you can see this in the photo below).  It looks lovely inside, IIDSSM.  I changed out the pieced/quilted straps from #1, to webbing (thanks to my friend Nancy for the idea :D), and changed up the design of the slip pocket a bit.  I found a cute 3D car keyring in stash and used it for the zipper pull.  Presenting ... Cargo Duffle #2 ;)

My 2nd Cargo Duffle - nailed it!  :)

This one is a Christmas gift so it will be posted to April's Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew, along with the New to Me linky.  I have one other gift underway that I hope to get finished in the next few days, so I can post it as well.  But I couldn't wait to show off my duffle!

ETA:  OH!  I forgot about my 52 in 16 plans - the green one actually counts as #11 of my attempts to try new designs this year --- #10 has been finished as well but I haven't taken a picture yet, lol.  11 done in 4 months - I think I'm falling behind schedule if I want to get 52 done for the year!

It's raining cat and dog :D

Time for a puppet show!  Here are a couple of hand puppets I finished this week - Portland Puppy and Zoomer Kitty :)  The tutorial and patterns are from Larissa @ just another day in paradise - available here :)   She didn't provide JUST a cat and a dog - NO!  She provided an entire Old MacDonald series, including a horse, a cow, a cat, a duck, a chick, a dog, a lamb, a pig, and Old MacDonald himself - lots of fun!  I'm planning on making the entire series, but for now, I just wanted a couple of critters to send out for a little gifty :)  Thank you Larissa, for sharing this awesome project!

Cat and dog hand puppets - tutorial here :)

A couple of last finishes to post for March --- a tic tac toe zipper bag, which turned out very pretty, so is now residing in my gift box :)  Note the (faux) Mother of Pearl zipper pull I added for fun - I got several of these at Joanns in Florida a couple of years ago - it isn't a flimsy little bobble - it's a nice substantial (for it's size) piece - I'm quite glad I grabbed it :) 

Last up (oddly, Blogger won't let me left justify this paragraph - odd!) - a boxy bag to use up some fabric from a long-ago Joanns purchase - I had just enough to make 2 boxy bags once I added the black/white gingham (also from Joanns) zipper edge :D  The quilting runs in the same direction as the zipper - that was a brain fart on my part, because orienting the quilting in the other direction gives the bag better shape-keeping capabilities, lol.  Hopefully I'll remember to orient properly when I make the second bag :D

Happy birthday Allie -  I hope your day is filled with fun, family and cake ;)

I had a whale of a time ...

... and I should get kicked in the hiney for that pun, lol.   A while ago I pinned a whale stuffy, and recently decided that it looked more like a zipper bag than a stuffy, so I opened up the novelty pouch factory and made a new-to-me - this is what I ended up with :D


Eye close-up - layered buttons :)  This adorable girl - I call her Hermione - went right into my gift box for Christmas, and she shall eventually have some brothers and sisters :D  Not only is she new to me and a Christmas gift, she counts as another 52 in 16 zipper bag design - she's a THREEFER :D

Here's another Christmas present done and dusted - I had a little scrap of the car fabric so I pieced on some more scrap fabric, and added a really REALLY cool tab pull on it :)   This too went into my Christmas gift box because it's VERY adorable (IIDSSM) :)

Close-up of the tab pull :)

Another close-up of the car :D

I made a bunch of finger puppets for Easter for the kids in the family.  I posted some of them here, and here are the rest I finished up.  No dent was made in felt or feather or pompom stash ;)

And a last new-to-me finish - I've made humbug/triangle bags before but a friend recently sent me a link to a tutorial for making them with no raw edges.  I gave it a try, and it worked perfectly, so I whipped these up for the little girls next door :)

Here are the zipper pulls
I made for the pouches :)










This post will be linked to Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew (car and whale bags), and New to Me (whale pouch, and new-to-me no raw edges finish), for the March linky parties :)

DS1 found the "Easter eggs" I left him :)

DS1 just emailed me about what I left on his laptop, HAHAHA!  Here's what I did:

Part 1 -  some fun homepage links - http://suddenlysandra.blogspot.ca/2016/03/more-dolphins-plus-rude-mom-behaviour-d.html
Part 2 - the desktop picture - http://suddenlysandra.blogspot.ca/2016/03/rude-mom-part-deux-d.html

He must not have noticed the desktop photo - I just got this email from him.  LOL me?  Creepy?  Not creepy - 12 year old boy-iffic!!  I do love it when a plan comes together :D

"So I just opened the laptop. You have some rather disturbing tabs there. "Fetish sex goldfish bacon", "reverse mortgage - aka how to screw your children", "swinging for old people and "singers conventions?  I sure do hope that was meant to be seen because if not, holy *censored* creepy."

It's these kind of things that make motherhood worthwhile :)

The good, the bad, and the bent :)

The bent:  when your sewing day starts like this, you know things are going to  get grim, lol.  Just kidding - this happened a few days ago and I kept the pin as a reminder to remove them before stitching over them - I don't always do that, and this is the result :D

The bad:  here's a new to me bag (#7 in my 52 in 16 evil plot) - it looks fine in the pictures, but it's not how the bag was meant to turn out.  I decided I didn't need to read the directions in full, and cut the boxes double the size they were supposed to be. The bag should be larger and flat - mine still looks OK (although - the handles don't look good with the size I ended up with) and is completely useable - it's just not what I wanted.

Here's what the straps look like - they actually look cute in this picture but they're just not right. Pay attention next time, Sandra, lol!  I link to the tutorial in the paragraph above this one - it's a free pattern from Craftsy.com, but you do need to have a (free) membership :)  NAYY!

The good:  on to a new-to-me project that DID work out - quite well, in fact!  I've had this pinned for a long time and got to it yesterday.  It's going in my gift box :D  YAY #8 of 52 in 16 :D

The good, part deux:  here are some finger puppets I finished this month- they were free patterns.  The bumblebee and elephant were from goodcritters.com (but they came as part of a newsletter so I don't know if they're still available) and the bunny is here :)  The bunnies are going to houses with very young kids so they didn't get pompom tails, but I have more cut out and they'll be tailed ;)

The good, part three:  one last photo before I run upstairs to get supper started - I made the rocket zippy in this photo, last month.  This month I made the drawstring bag to use as the gift wrap for the gift, which will be the rocket zippy with $$ inside, and some rocket finger puppets :D  The applique is from fourwisemonkeys.blogspot.com but it looks like the site is now private.  I must have printed the pattern before they privatized :)

Will post the mis-sized boxy and the monster zippy to New to Me for March, when it goes live :D