I have been spending the day in my sewing room putting the finishing touches on some things for the handmade event on Saturday. I need a nap!
Category Archives: purses
Finishing Touches
I have been spending the day in my sewing room putting the finishing touches on some things for the handmade event on Saturday. I need a nap!Flaunting It
I have been very busy in the “sweat shop” for the last couple of weeks trying to get some things made for Flaunt, a handmade event sponsored by Karen Gray Design. It is from 10-4 on October 23rd at Reynolda Village. I start working at furniture market at the end of the week, so it looks like it is crunch time. I’m not much for pulling all nighters like I used to, so I have been trying to stay focused during the day to get things done. That means staying clear of the internet, phone, t.v. and anything else that could distract me, which trust me, is not hard to do. Hopefully, I’ll sell a bunch of stuff, but if I don’t, look for a long overdue update to my Etsy shop. Sew Cool
Totally Cute, maaan!
(say it like you’re Cheech Marin)
Tote Bag Tutorial
Hi All! As promised, I put together a tutorial for the tote bag that I made for teacher’s gifts. It is really simple to make. I put the tutorial together kind of quickly, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes. Also, usually it is just easier for me to do something than to actually try to explain how to do it, so let me know if there is something in the instructions that doesn’t make sense.I hope you all enjoy it! Just click here for the tutorial or you can find it on my sidebar, as well.
Sunday Sewing
My friend needed gifts for her son’s teachers and she asked me to make some tote bags for them. Things have been busy around here (as usual) and my goal was to get these made today. It has been a while since I have spent the day in my sewing room working on sewing bags and it was kind of a nice change. Now that these are finished, I can focus on getting ready for my exciting trip. My boss lady is taking me with her to Minneapolis this coming weekend for Quilt Market! (Jealous much!?!) I can’t wait. I have never been to Quilt Market or Minneapolis before. We have big plans. Now all I need to do is figure out how I am going to pack everything in a tiny carry-on bag!Some Sewing Has Taken Place
Things have been busy here, but I did get these made before I started working at market. I always just love the way these purses turn out. They are one of my favorite things to make. I have a few more cut out and ready to sew. I have a whole list of little sewing projects I want to make. Hopefully I can pick back up on the sewing momentum I had before market started and got some things made.
Keeping Busy
Sewing has really consumed be lately. I feel like I have really been getting these UFO’s of mine checked off my list. I got this purse made over the weekend. I plan on making a bigger version of it soon. (Hopefully sooner than later.)
I’m teaching a class on this purse tomorrow, so I thought I would make up another sample as kind of a refresher before I teach it. It has been so long since I made one, I needed to remind myself how it was done. It is Anna Maria Horner’s Ruthie Clutch pattern.
I also got this Amy Butler Big Sky Hat put together. I am planning on having it as a class at Karen Gray Design in March. It goes together really nicely and makes me feel like Spring is just around the corner. Even though I am getting a ton of sewing done because the cold weather, I am ready for the cold and snow and rain to go away.
Can I just tell everyone what a great husband I have. I taught class tonight and when I returned home late this evening, he had Fletch all ready for bed. He had also gone to the grocery store (which I hate doing almost as much as I hate cooking dinner, maybe more) and he had the 5 or so baskets of laundry I have been ignoring for the past week folded and put away. What could be better! Love Him!
Ruffled Wristlet Giveaway!
How about a giveaway? Sounds good, right! It will be simple. Just leave me a comment for a chance to win one of these Ruffled Wristlets. If you become a follower, leave me another comment and you will have 2 chances to win. If you are already a follower, leave me another comment to let me know and you will have 3 chances to win. Easy enough, huh! How about we end this thing on Monday, February 8th at 12:00pm. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you. Good Luck!
New Purse Pattern
If you haven’t seen them, Pat Bravo has come out with some new purse patterns. I ordered one a couple of weeks ago and this weekend I got to put one together. This is the Verona pattern. I think her patterns are great. They were easy to follow, and she really spells every step out, so it is a perfect pattern for beginners. 
I haven’t made any progress in getting the 9-patch I made at the first of the year and the Love quilt quilted. I did get the borders put on the Love quilt, but I was lazy about getting a picture of it. Finally, today I got my husband to hold it up for me. The lighting in the basement doesn’t do much for the quilt.(It’s been raining all day here, so I couldn’t take my usual outside pictures.) I’m not loving the border fabric I choose, but it is what it is, I guess. I wish I had used fabric with more of the aqua color in it instead. That’s what happens when you don’t take your quilt with you to the fabric store to pick out borders. Maybe this week I will get at least one of these quilts done. (Not making any promises, though. I’ve been kind of lazy lately.) I have several projects on my “to do” list besides the 2 quilts. I would like to make a couple of gumdrop pillows for the living room. I also got fabric in December to make some pajamas and I would like to get those done, too. I am always thinking about the next quilt to start, of course. I have a couple that were started last year and never finished. I should be a good girl and get those finished before I start another. (In a perfect world.) My great, great Aunt called yesterday. She received the quilt I made her in the mail and she was so excited. I could tell how much she appreciated it and that made my day! It makes you feel good when you can tell someone really enjoys getting a “handmade gift”. (Not everyone does.) Let’s see, what else… Oh, I have really been working hard on my applique quilt. It has only taken a solid year +, but I finally got the main part put together. Yes, I said year. Don’t judge. Now I have to work on the border, which in theory sound simple. Like, “yeah, I just have the border left and I’m finished.” But not THIS border. I’m pretty sure it will take me another year just to do the appliqued border. Ahhh… applique. What was I thinking? I let a friend borrow it, so as soon as I get it back, I’ll post some pictures of it so you can all be amazed at my awesomeness. (hee, hee)
And finally, I just have one thing left to say, “Brett” .
Good Folks Love
I lusted after Anna Maria’s Good Folks ever since it came into Karen Gray’s shop and I said I wasn’t going to buy anything new, but I gave in. I am making another disappearing 9-patch for my class out of it. I mean I had to get it for my class, right? It was for class, not for me, for class. Right!?!
And every season calls for a new handbag. So really I was saving money by making one and not buying one of those expensive ones I would have normally bought. Right. Totally justified. Yup, totally justified!