The Good News Is...

I get to keep the purse. Over the summer I bought some Alexander Henry fabrics-intending to make a bag for myself. Several months went by until I finally decided to make my bag. It turned out beautifully! I was so pleased with it that I felt guilty keeping it and decided to take it to a couple of craft shows to see if I could sell it. Two craft shows later and I still had it. I decided to take it for a test run...still love it and I've decided to keep it. The bad news--it now has coffee all over it, hence the keeping it. You can't see the stain at all, even if you know it's there but I could never in good conscience sell a bag that had something on it, right?! ;)

 

Now for a list of my works in progress:

 

How Far Will You Go QAL-need to make the last 3 blocks then start on the layout

Super Penguin QAL-need to make the blocks from Set 4

Easy Street QAL-halfway done with Part 1, then need to start Part 2

Francine the Fox-DONE!  Ready to be shipped to Sew to Speak

Crocheted Fedoras-I've started over on these several times trying different things and I'm not happy with the results.  One more try and I'm giving up.

Grandma's Rooster Project-need to add borders, quilt and bind

25 Days of Cross Stitch Project-about 1/3 of the way done.

Swallow Sign-need to hand quilt around the letters

Pervalong-need to finish quilt top

Long Weekend Bag-exterior is pieced and lining is cut, I just need to sew it together

Halloween Quilt-need to finish piecing the back, then put it all together

 

And a list of my projects that are in the planning stages:

 

Custom Order Wallet

Custom Order Diaper Bag

Carseat Canopy for a baby shower gift

Custom Order Journal

Christmas Stockings

Wall Hanging for Dad's Christmas

Wine Tote for Brother's Christmas

Wine Tote for Mother's Christmas

Purse for Aunt's Christmas

Wall Hanging for Cousin's Christmas

Mug Rugs for Co-Worker

Isosceles Triangle QAL-will be our family Christmas Quilt

Reindeer PP Pillow-made to match the above quilt :)

Star of the Sea QAL

Curve It Up QAL

Value Added QAL

Quilted Lunch Box (for me!)

Tote for collapsible clothing rack pieces (for me)

Welding Drawstring Duffels for Dad & his co-workers

Log Cabin Mug Rugs using Spoonflower Charms

Sugar Club QAL-starts in January

UR Priceless Pouch

 

***I realize a lot of the QAL have already passed the deadline for linking up but I still want to make the quilts.***

 

For those of you that have left comments saying that you like tutorials (and really, who doesn't?!), I have one in the works so bear with me.  As soon as I get somewhat caught up on the above list I will start putting it together :)

 

Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

  

Busiest Time of the Year

I would like to start by saying hello to all of my new followers - - I'm so glad to have you!  I also really appreciate hearing everyone's input on what makes a blog successful and what stocking stuffers they are likely to give this year.  Please be assured that I did read the comments pertaining to blog layout, content, etc. and will be working to change mine to reflect my readers' preferences.  It may take a while, so bear with me :)

Don't forget that the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaways are still underway!

Most of you asked for lots of pictures...well here you go:

Saturday was my last craft show of the year.  I didn't have a lot of sales, but I made back my booth rent and gas money so I'm happy.  The people that hosted the event were wonderful so I will definitely consider going back in the spring.  Even though my booth was very cluttered, it was definitely my favorite set up so far and gave me new ideas for future shows.

 

I got quite a bit accomplished this weekend.  I whipped up some OSU booties for my cousin's baby that's due at the end of the month.  I was planning on making several pair in different colors.  The pattern wasn't hard to follow or complicated but it was difficult to sew due to the size of the boots.  I hope she likes these because I'm not doing any more :).  My Etsy shop has been busy but I managed to get caught up (for all of about 30 minutes before more orders came in), yay!  And I was thrilled when Kristy at Quiet Play asked me to test another of her patterns.  Remember those little pinecone guys I want to make?  Two days later, at my craft show, I came across a booth selling mini pinecones - - it was meant to be!

 

My grandmother has a thing for roosters.  Her kitchen is covered in them.  So when I saw this rooster fabric (background), I knew I needed to make her something with it.  I went online and found a lady that teaches a class on paper piecing roosters (who knew?!).  She doesn't have her patterns up for sale commercially but she agreed to sell me one.  It turned out to be much larger than I anticipated, 18" x 20", but now I can make ... what can I make?  A lap quilt, a wall hanging?  I'm open to suggestions!  I'm not a rooster person and it's not my style of fabric, but this little guy is really growing on me.

Next up was my little Songbird Block.  I still haven't managed to make my Chopstick Block into anything yet so I definitely wanted to be able to show off a completed project this time.  I settled for another Open Wide Zippered Pouch.  My zipper (from zipit) came with this little charm attached and it went with my pouch perfectly!

 

I finally got started on the Easy Street QAL.  I won't lie, mystery qals make me nervous.  Without being able to see the design and layout of the finished quilt I always second guess my fabric choices and which color to put where. The fabrics I picked were originally for another qal but a last minute change left them up for grabs.  I decided to start the qal by only doing half of the recommended blocks.  If I like how its looking and I have enough fabric, I may go back and make the full size quilt. There is quite a gap between the quilting and the linkup so I should have time.

 

Another WIP is this adorable little cross stitch pattern I found here.  They have the cutest patterns and I couldn't resist.

 

I didn't have one of the colors so these are not completed yet :)  I toyed with the idea of somehow making it into a quilt but then I came across the Isosceles Triangle QAL.  Now I'm thinking it should be a wall hanging.

 

Last but not least...

 

 

Our first Christmas pictures!

 

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday.

 



Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day #1

I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to do for Sew, Mama, Sew!'s Giveaway Day. If you found me though their page, then I'm glad you stopped by and hope to hear from you in the future.

First, a little about me. I have a wonderful (nearly) 9 month old little boy that I have lovingly nicknamed Squeak, two fur babies, and a supportive husband, and I love anything to do with crafting!

Just so you can get an idea of my style, here are a few of my recent finishes:

Now, what you really want to know...

I decided to have two giveaways. One for handmade items and one for supplies.

This post is my handmade goodies giveaway. In this giveaway you will get three of bestselling items from my Etsy shop:  a Large Curvy Clutch, a Keyring Clutch, and an Earbud Pouch - all made from my precious Vera Bradley fabrics.

To enter simply leave me a comment telling me what kind of stocking stuffers you are getting for your loved ones this year.

Followers get an additional entry. Just leave a separate comment to let me know you follow my blog :)

International entries welcome!

Good luck everyone, don't forget to check out all of the other giveaways out there, and I hope you get lots of goodies!

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway #2

I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to do for Sew, Mama, Sew!'s Giveaway Day.  If you found me though their page, then I'm glad you stopped by and hope to hear from you in the future.

First, a little about me.  I have a wonderful (nearly) 9 month old little boy that I have lovingly nicknamed Squeak, two fur babies, and a supportive husband, and I love anything to do with crafting!

Just so you can get an idea of my style, here are a few of my recent finishes:

Now, what you really want to know...

I decided to have two giveaways.  One for handmade items and one for supplies.

 

This post is my supplies giveaway.  In this giveaway you will find several different Alexander Henry fabrics in various quantities (half yard to remnant sizes) as well as some Spoonflower charms.

To enter simply leave me a comment telling me what attracts you to a blog.  Is is a certain layout, a blog that has tutorials, or simply one that is your "style" that you can draw inspiration from?

Followers get an additional entry.  Just leave a separate comment to let me know you follow my blog :)

International entries welcome!

Good luck everyone, don't forget to check out all of the other giveaways out there, and I hope you get lots of goodies!

November Recap

Looking back at November I feel I got quite a bit accomplished.  Here are a few of my favorite things:

1.  Scrappy Stash Quilt  2.  Etsy Orders  3.  Earbud Pouches*   4.  Snowman Wine Tote for the Sew Seasonal Blog Hop  5.  Zippered Pouch for the Travellin' PicStitch Blog Hop  6.  My booth at a recent craft show  7.  Coffee Sleeves  8.  Tula Pink Sew Along Pouch  9.  Super Penguin Blocks - Set #3

 

*Apparently I never did a post about these--just trying to restock after the craft show :)

 

I had a bunch of other small and/or partial finishes this month and tons of WIPs.  Hopefully next month will be very productive.  I am off to another craft show today so more booth pics to come :)

 

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day and Small Blog Meet at Lily's Quilts for the first time.

Travelling PicStitch Pouch

When I saw the Travelling PicStitch Blog Hop I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to try out English Paper Piecing. I don't do much any traveling...ever, so I picked a photo from the internet that inspired me.

 

I still hate hand sewing :) but I love the way it turned out. I wasn't sure what to do with my finished piece and although I hated to cut it, I decided to do a quilted version of Noodlehead's Open Wide Zippered Pouch.

 

I didn't have a big enough zipper to do the sizes on the tutorial so I just used their method of installing the zipper and winged it from there.  I did straight line quilting on the front.

 

And decided to try wavy lines on the back.

 

The lining.

 

The measurements are a little funny:  6" tall x 5" wide x 2 1/2" deep but it makes a cute, functional pouch.

 

Really Random Thursday

Never in my life would I have imagined that I would be asking for an iron for Christmas, but that is exactly what I am doing.  Mine is being very temperamental at the moment and is on the verge of being replaced. 

On another note, I managed to whip up a cute little Quilted Wine Tote for the Sew Seasonal Blog Hop. I wasn't sure what I was going to make when I started piecing Kristy's Snowman Block but I love how it turned out!

 

I didn't have any pieces of fabric big enough for the entire tote so I used the scraps left over from my Vintage Holiday Quilt.

 

I saw these cute little guys on Pinterest and decided that I MUST make them!

 

Linking up to Really Random Thursday at Live A Colorful Life.