Sweet Bee Buzzings

A Few for Friday - #20

2013-05-16T23:05:00.000-04:00

Do you realize in six more weeks we'll be halfway through the year already? That's crazy town. That can't be real. That also means my youngest nephew will have been here for a year. I mean....geez. What the hell?

This was a bit of an off week. Mentally I was very preoccupied. Nutritionally I ate a lot of doughnuts. Emotionally I fired off an angry email to a web-store that I have finally had it with. And creatively I made a bag. But I mucked it up from the get-go and had to finagle a work-around. I'll show you as soon as I get some pictures. Speaking of pictures, I have one photo for you this week. Skimpy, I know. But it's a good one.

The fake swans they have in the retention pond at work are meant to scare off the geese. It's been working for the most part, except for these two. My boss figured they must have laid some eggs they weren't going to leave behind, and it turns out he was right. I think the little orange flag marks where a sprinkler head is, but from this angle I like that the third gosling looks like he's carrying it.

I'm hoping next week is a bit more inspiring, and that my eyes are more focused outward instead of moodily dwelling on things that one cannot change. Cheerio!

That's Not How Your Grandmother Does It

2013-05-16T00:20:00.000-04:00

I was digging through my pattern drawer looking for something (duh, right? Why else would I be digging through it?) when I happened upon something from several years ago that I kept only because my mother said I should. I'm glad I did as I do like looking back at things I made when I was learning and seeing how much more I know now. Anyway, it was the very first quilty thing I had made ever. A very sad quilty thing.

My grandma makes all her quilts by hand, and makes it look quite easy. You go visit her and she's all "Oh, I did this, and I needle-turn appliqued that, and I made six of these for gifts" and she's quite amazing for a gal in her eighties. About six months after I had my very first sewing lesson, we were out her way for a visit and I decided I was going to home and make a quilt, by hand. Just like that. Because, you know, I had made a t-shirt and a skirt so I was obviously armed to the gills in knowledge and experience. I scouted around online and found a pattern for this candle mat, which was going to be one of many blocks, harharhar:

Somehow I managed to cobble this thing together. I had a bag of fabric scraps and pulled out the pieces that had maroon (because that would be all that mattered, obviously). I ignored the fact that sometimes triangles take convincing, and that y-seams might exist. I somehow made things fit, but how I did so is not in my memory. I'm sure I cursed, because I don't do much without doing that, but I don't remember what would have been frustrating to me and how so. When you look at the piecing, it doesn't look awful for a first crack. I have now come to know that pressing is essential to quilting, so let's just ignore that aspect of it.

That part's not the terrible part. It's the quilting part that's very funny. I had no idea how you quilted anything --the only hand-stitching I had ever done was to sew on a button or fix a hem. Running stitches sounded like a jogging ailment, and burying the knot was a phrase I had never heard. I just thought sewing was sewing, so I threaded my needle and went up-down-up-down-up-down in the ditches of my patchwork masterpiece. It took me a few nights, and fingertips worn away enough that I could have committed a crime and touched everything and they wouldn't get a print.

When I finished, and was turning it over and over to examine it, my mom said "Did you finish? Let me see it!" I had a major WTF look on my face, because this was not my grandma's quilting, but I meekly handed over my square thing. And she said "This can't be right. What did you do to it?" So I told her. And she said "I was wondering what you were doing over there stitching like that. When your grandma stitches you barely see her hands move." Thanks for saying something three days ago, Ma. But she was right. This is definitely not how you quilt:

So I spent a few hours with Google (is there anything you can't find there?) and came away armed with the knowledge necessary to not do this:

Normally I would have quit. Why bother? I was obviously terrible at it. But I love(d) quilts. I loved seeing what my grandmother created, and imagining pretty color combinations of endless bolts of fabric. So I had to keep on. I researched, I practiced, and maybe a month or two later I had finished a fall table runner for my mom (which I cannot find the picture of right now, so here's the Christmas one that followed):

I prefer to do all my quilting bits by machine now, when I can eek out the time to do so. I'm much too impatient to piece and quilt by hand (except for the binding...sometimes) but I didn't learn to do any of that until after I had a very bad go at hand quilting. But one must start somewhere, right?

What about you? Have you saved any early bits that you look back on now and chuckle?

Join Me In June!

2013-05-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

Ahoy ahoy! Happy Sunday to you all! In the past month or so, I've posted a few zip pouches I've made (see here and here). I was asked about tutorials for them, so instead of telling you "Yeah, sure!" and then making you wait forever (which we know will happen :) I decided to dedicate each Sunday in June to a different style zip pouch (kind of like how last year we made four different totes). Zippers aren't as scary as you may think they are, and you'll be able to modify the sizes of the patterns to make whatever size you want. So what are we going to make?

A straight-sided, flat-bottomed makeup pouch.

A double-zip wristlet. And, I don't have a picture as I haven't made it yet :) but a pouch just like this only with a single zipper across the front and nothing across the top.

And a 3-D boxy pouch (EXCELLENT for makeup and travel bits).

Zips aren't scary, though I get why people are nervous about them. Little purses and bags like the above are a great way to bone up on your skills without needing huge amounts of fabric. I buy my zippers in bulk from ZipperStop, but ZipIt on Etsy is a great shop as well. To complicate matters, when I use zippers I buy these so I can replace the original pull with one a little larger (that I can also put a piece of ribbon through if I feel like it). This also enables me to get a couple zippers from one big one--you cut off the ends, pull the old pull off, and put the new one on (it's a little tricky of a process to get used to, but I can do it with my eyes closed now). This doesn't work with Coats & Clark brand zips, but it works a treat for YKK brand. Just something to consider. Otherwise you can buy zips and use them without changing a thing. Lots of rambling there, just in case you were wondering why my pulls don't match my zips.

For all the pouches I'd recommend twelve-inch zippers, except for the 3-D boxy pouch for which I'd get sixteen inches. They'll be a liiiiiiitle long, but I find zippers easier to work with when they're a little longer than necessary. Hope to see you in June!

"A Bag for All Reasons" Review and Project

2013-05-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

I have had this book for a year. For reals. I should be ashamed that I haven't had the chance to use it until now, considering that I have a mad, crazy crafty-crush on its author, Lisa Lam (of u-handbag fame). As tends to happen, I had put it on my shelf, and then experienced a case of out of site-out of mind. A few other delightful books have been suffering the same fate, so my goal is to sew something from each book and then review that book and show you my project.

I reviewed Lisa's first book here. It is chock-full of tips and techniques for sewing and designing your own bags, but also comes with patterns in case you're feeling timid on the design front. I still highly recommend it. While that one is more technique-oriented with projects interspersed throughout to practice what each section covers, this one is definitely more project-oriented. Let's start at the very beginning, then. A very good place to start :)

This book is spiral-bound, so it lays nice and flat on your table so you can easily follow along. Instead of holding down the corners with anything heavy enough that's laying nearby,

The book is divided into three sections, as shown above. I'll be honest on this part--the techniques sections are much beefier in the first book, whereas here it's enough to get you through the patterns. This is probably more of a publishing limitation, though. If you're looking to have the directions all laid out, go with this book. If you want to learn techniques to design your own, go with her first book.

There are three large sections in the back that pull out to open up to full-sized pattern pieces that you can cut apart and use right away--no tracing because they overlap, no enlarging. It's ready to go. I love this feature.

And these are the projects--pretty, purposeful things for carrying things. There are simple totes, a tech case, a kiddie version and a grown-up version of a backpack, a wallet, a bicycle bag, a train case, and more.

And if you buy from her shop she'll even sign it for you :)

So what do I think of this one? It's put together well. The pictures are good. The directions are clear. I personally would have liked more pictures. I'm a visual learner, so I love pictures and videos, but the directions are clear enough to get you through the project (even though you may have to read one or two a few times). Again, I think that comes down to limitations from the publisher--you only have so many pages to fill and it's a fine line between too many directions/not enough projects and vice versa. As a stand-alone bag book it might be a little difficult to follow if you've never sewn bags before. But if you've made a few you should be quite all right with this one. I think both are worthy of having in your library.

I skipped right to the end and chose what is probably the hardest pattern in the book, but it's something I've wanted to make for a long time so it seemed a natural choice--The Train-Style Vanity Case. I made it in sewing-themed fabrics as I was making it as a sewing case instead of a cosmetics case. I think it came out pretty good for a first crack:

The top and bottom are rigid, but the sides aren't. I'd like to figure out how to make the whole thing rigid without driving myself too insane in the process.

The handle is a super cute knotted bow--you'd see it better if I had used a different fabric, but I think it's my favorite part of the whole thing.

You're looking at the two things I would change (that I did--not that were in the directions). I used a dual-direction purse zipper, and it did save some time in making one out of two regular zippers, but it's wider than a normal zip and makes things a bit stiffer. Also, I would use thinner piping cord as I think it would be easier going around the curves.

The directions for this hinge were crazy. Not crazy to figure out, but in seeing where she's going with it. And then poof! All is well.

I hate when black fabrics are completely different shades of black. Anyway, where the lid and base attach to the body there are raw edges exposed that are hidden with bias tape. My preference is for seams and not bound edges, but I suppose there is no way around some things. I sewed this on as if I were binding a quilt--I stitched it down by machine, and then tacked it down by hand for a neater appearance.

This pic makes it look like the lid is too small for the giant case, but it's just the angle it's taken at. I've been giving my sister some sewing lessons, and it holds the stuff she practices on perfectly. Much better than the Ziploc bag she's been stuffing things into.

So that's that. I've had a flip-through the other patterns, and I can guarantee they're all easier than this one. Of course I'm going to make another one. Red and yellow popped into my head so we'll have to see what I can dig up. See you tomorrow when I tell you what's in store for June!

A Few for Friday - #19

2013-05-09T23:18:00.000-04:00

What a long week. We had some training we were doing at work all week, along with the regular stuff, so my brain never settled into work mode but was more in a here-and-there sort of mode. I had a few sewing projects lined up that I wanted to do, but only got two of them done--one was this zippy wristlet, and the other I'll show you on Saturday as I've got a book review I'm going to do with it. That one took me three evenings. Three!! But when it's a first-time project with lots of bits I've never done before it usually takes me longer anyway. It turned out really cute or else I'd be annoyed at all the time invested. But that's for another day. I need to trot to bed so I'm going to pop these pics up here and mosey on :)

Things are no longer so much like this--the blossoms have all started on their 'snowfall' to the sidewalks below. I do love the flowers--I wish that was the ordinary state of trees, but I do suppose I might appreciate them less if their presence wasn't so fleeting.

The weekend had beautiful blue skies and sunshine glinting off the leaves. It was warm in the sun (almost too warm) but quite cool in the shade.

When you make Babycakes smile he likes to show all his teeth, of which there are eight.

The eyes. Just...the eyes.
Side note: Lest you think I only have one nephew, the other one is now of the age where, when the camera is pointed at him, he says "Could you not?"

My mom's boss gave her staff trays of cookies. My mother does not like frosted novelties, so she went for the chocolate chips and I went for the iced frog. And the iced flower the next night. They were quite delicious and, in retrospect, I wish I had shown a little more discretion as I really want one right now.

Pop back Saturday so I can show you my latest project that has my fingers sore for the hand-stitching I did on it. And then I'm going to share my June sewing plans with you. Remember how last June I did a month of easy tote tutorials? It might be something like that...

Happy Friday!

Double Zip Wristlet

2013-05-06T23:42:00.001-04:00

This may be a bit muddled as I sat down to write this before "Hawaii Five-O" came on, but then I got involved watching it, and any crime-oriented shows that have anything to do with horrific things happening to children worms into my brain and stays there for a bit. I really should just not watch those particular episodes. Plus I've got to do some speaking tomorrow at work, so my brain is now taken over with things not related to anything I'm going to say from this point forward.

OK, so last week a friend of mine at work asked me to make him a clutch. Yes, you read that right--a clutch. And him. He wanted it in all black, and I didn't take any photos as I can never get decent photos of black fabrics. So I made a different version tonight to share with you (hence the crappily lit photos). So here's my double-zip wristlet in 'Washi Tape' fabric by Rashida Coleman-Hale:

I love the muted tones of this fabric, yet it's still bright. I tested out a few zipper colors before I settled on yellow--it looks better when it's not blending in with my cutting mat. I had a 22 inch zipper that I cut in half, and attached two new zipper pulls to so they would match. I didn't attach any fabric to the pull as I think this already had a lot of things hanging off the side of it.

The 'male' version :) of this one had a magnetic-snap pocket on the back that gave me fits (I only included it as he specifically requested it)--I didn't included it on this one as I thought it made the clutch quite bulky (even more than it already is). I was so focused on how many pieces I'd need to cut and what would be showing where and what was going on with raw ends that on the original I didn't line the front pocket fully. It's one of those things that only the maker notices, but I made a mental note and remedied that situation as it would have been more obvious on something that wasn't all black.

I have one more project in mind for the washi tape fabric, so I mixed the pocket fabrics up a bit to make sure I had enough. They're so funky and different and eighties (according to my sister) that it works. The inside is all triangular confetti, and has no other pockets or adornments--

I cut my pieces to start thinking it would finish up at about six by nine, but it ends up not as wide as that as the bulk eats up some of it. It still finishes at a nice size--larger than an ordinary wristlet but not so huge that it's cumbersome.

Off to bed. See you later!

A Few for Friday ~ #18

2013-05-02T21:48:00.001-04:00

I got a new phone this week. I didn't realize how slllooooowwww my old one was until I got one that wasn't slow. Plus things work on it!! I can use my phone for everything! But I'll probably still use it just for games and texting. I ordered a deliciously cute new case for it that I hope comes soon as I'm petrified I'm going to drop and smash it. I didn't have a super busy week, otherwise. I sewed my first murse. It was a simple black clutch that I didn't take pictures of since I hate photographing black fabrics, so I'm going to make another one, clearing up the one little thing that bugged me, and then I'll show you that one, okay? Plus I haven't forgotten the makeup case/giant pocketed zipped purse tutorial--that's coming too. And now, here are some pictures of other random things.

Yummy....I don't know if this is some kind of gimmick for something fairly mundane, but in my mind it works the opposite--I have no interest in finding out what they're selling as I can't help but take this sign literally.

This plumber's shop is on my way to work. He's got four toilets and two sinks arranged along this wall just like the aboe. I swear one of the toilets and sinks is the very same model we had in our bathroom for ages. It was a shade of mint green that earned the room the name 'The Green Bathroom' (ignoring the fact that the dominating feature was ugly black tile). The other bathroom, BTW, was christened 'The Pink Bathroom.' Anyhoodle, when my dad put in new fixtures he didn't know what to do with the sink and toilet so he put them out with the garbage. They took the sink, but not the toilet. They left it sitting in the curb, much to my amusement and my sisters' utter and complete mortification. You've got to take those things to the dump yourself, apparently. I told my mom she should use it as a planter. She sneered. But I suppose it's interesting marketing if you're a plumber. Or at least you have an excuse for funky flower decor.

I aged yesterday. I'm smack dab in the middle of my thirties now. I chuckled when I saw that the Google Doodle was the above--I thought it was a funny coincidence and pretended it was in my honor. When I moved the cursor over it to click and see what it linked to, that little note came up. I had forgotten I was signed in to my account. This amused me so much I had to email my sisters immediately and let them know. Kinda fun, eh?

So that's been my week. Fairly quiet and lazy. Which is nice. I've been sewing like a mad woman, so that one easy project was a nice change. Have a happy Friday!!!!

Entrelac Go Bye-Bye

2013-05-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

Remember how way back in January I decided to make a Tunisian entrelac afghan? And how it took me forever to get it started right? And then I had to take it apart and start over because it was doing this?:

When I started again I figured out how to make larger squares and was quite pleased with me:

Well dad-gum and blast it all if I didn't have the same problem again. I was about a third of the way through when I laid it out and saw the same tapering issue happening again. A little more gradual than the other, but happening just the same. After a pep talk of sorts from my mother, we commenced frogging. Since this style of crochet isn't worked back and forth we could each unravel at the same time once one person was a few blocks ahead of the other. We made short work of deconstructing this.

I wasn't a lick upset, for a few reasons. First, the taper would have irked me no matter how gradual. Second, there was an odd loopiness happening on the back side of this that I wasn't fond of. It looked like it was begging to be pulled into obscene dangling loopiness. And third? I wasn't having any fun anymore. I began to dread working on it, as it was work--there was no enjoyment or relaxation about it. And when it's a hobby--what's the point of going on like that? It had taken me months to get not very far. That's not how I like my crochet to roll.

So I started again with the same kind of color scheme in mind, but with a much simpler, much more satisfying granny stripe. I am flying through this as I've only been working on it a little over a week and not even every day. There's no crazy wonk to it, which is delightful. Wanna see what I have so far?

I really wanted this afghan to not be crazy with color, and I think the tan is toning everything down nicely, even though the colors are bright. I'm excited to see it much further along to get a real feel for it. But no matter what--it's not coming out again. No sirree. This is it.

Nice neat edges, eh? I finally figured out where my issue was coming from with the other method. In a traditional afghan you work back and forth, turning the work at the end of every row. Even if you have a tighter hand, the pull on each edge will balance out. When you do Tunisian crochet, you don't turn the work. You go all the way across, cut the yarn, and start over at the other end. Your tension never gets balanced out by an equal pull from the other side. At least I'm thinking that's what it is because I've never had an issue like that with my afghans and that's the only thing that was different.

I dig the look of this stitch so far and it's so simple you can do it by feel (which is helpful when my shows are on). I'm excited for this one to be done, though--I'm kind of getting tired of looking at these colors.

And now that I know I'm pleased with how it's going I can work in those ends so I don't feel like crying when I'm finished.

If you're still with me here--have you ever had misadventures like this where you had to just throw in the towel on the original plan? I feel like I'm getting to be too good at that particular skill....

What's Funny About Cylon Toast?

2013-04-27T23:57:00.000-04:00

Sorry, Big Bang Theory moment. It kept running through my head when I was making this. This what? This toaster cover for my sister. She's been trying to brighten up her home with simple touches---changing the pillows, curtains, etc. And she "let" me help because I sew :) She wanted some splashes of red in her kitchen to give it a bit of a vintagey look, and I was asked to make a new curtain and a toaster cover. Since the fabrics are one of my favorite combos ever I was only too happy to oblige.

I have a confession to make. This isn't the final version. The final version is on her toaster, fitting over it nicely. I didn't take a picture because it looks just like this one, only bigger. Like big enough to fit and not sit on top of it like a top hat of sorts...a top hat that doesn't fit. Know what dumb-dumb here did? Or did NOT do for that matter? Add in extra room for ease. So I basically handed my sister something in the same exact dimensions as her toaster. At no point did it cross my mind that wiggle room is necessary for such items. She even flat out asked if I had left some room, and I told her yes, of course, because why wouldn't I have done that? I've made these things before, and I usually add too much ease. Talk about a total brain dump. But like I said--delightful fabrics, and an easy thing to make when you do it properly :) Plus I got to use my ruffler foot to make the gingham ruffle:

A ruffler foot is quite a delightful attachment, though a pricey one, so if your machine model has one that would fit and you'd like to ruffle up some stuff then it might make a nice gift request. I don't use it often but I do love having it available. I also popped it onto my machine to make this matching curtain:

I had made her a curtain like this a few years ago, and she told me she wanted the same exact thing. 'Same exact thing' enters my brain and swirls around and comes out of my fingers as 'kind of different.' The shape is the same, but I hadn't written down every detail so I think it might be shorter, but it's also wider so it's much more ruffly. She loved it and said it looked perfect so I'm not going to overthink it. I will never get tired of this fabric combo. Ever. I had no idea how I was going to photograph a curtain as I couldn't find a spare rod, but I found a long metal rod piece thingee in the basement that goes to the grill but never gets used so it was still wrapped in plastic so I used that as a makeshift rod propped up on dining room chairs that I cropped out of the picture and wrote a really long run-on sentence about. Got all that?

Curtains aren't the most fun thing to do--it's a lot of pressing and pinning and straight-stitching, but I am always gratified by the results. Hanging some oversized rectangles on a stick can sure do wonders for a room :)

A Few for Friday ~ #17

2013-04-25T22:03:00.000-04:00

I feel like I missed this week. I can't believe Friday is here already. I did some sewing, had a headache that didn't want to quit, gave my sister a sewing lesson, and here we are. I took off from work tomorrow to get some stuff done that I never seem to have time to do on the weekends, and then I'm planning on sewing up a diaper bag this weekend. I used to think old people (aka grown-ups) were crazy when they talked about 'Where did the time go?' and 'Time flies' and all that jazz. Time used to drag. And now I'm all what the hell? It's almost May?

Anyway, since most of the week seems to have eluded me I've only got a few pics to share.

Do these colors look familiar? This is take three. And I do believe it's the one that'll stick. More on that to come.

THAT is the cutting mat I just got for Christmas. I thought there was a tiny scrap of fabric that I kept trying to flick off, but upon closer inspection I saw this. Talk about aggravated. I immediately hopped online and went to the company website. I filed a warranty claim (since on the site it says this is covered by a lifetime warranty) and, according to the email I received, I should be receiving a new mat shortly. I have no clue how this happens to an allegedly self-healing mat, but I'm hoping it's just a fluke.

I drive by this board for a breakfast and lunch truck every day on my way to work. And every day that misspelling of you're shrinks my soul. I want to pull over and say "Honk if my hungry what? Finish the sentence!" I know it's kind of ridiculous and I've been a grammar and pronunciation police captain since I was about four years old, but does this irk anyone else?

And that's it for now. A co-worker turned me on to the show 'Hannibal' and it starts in about thirty seconds so I'm off. Happy Friday!!!

Buggin'

2013-04-23T22:22:00.000-04:00

Here's how it usually goes down. Someone asks me for something simple in an odd fabric or two, or with added features, or something that makes it stand out. I make it and deliver it. Then everybody wants one. Hence my frame purse making frenzy while some of you may have been sewing handbags last week. That plain old makeup bag I made in pickle fabric? It got noticed, and I got an order for another one in ladybug fabric. I thought this was going to plop through the mail slot over the weekend, but the postie let me down and I had to make this up last night as there was a bit of a deadline with this one and I wanted it out of the way (good thing I got it done, as tonight I've got a headache and my next few evenings are iffy for sewing).

Anyway, it came out really cute--the pics aren't great as I took them on my phone. At work. Because I forgot to take some last night.

I have every color of zipper imaginable, except the ones I need, harharhar, so I had to pick up a few at Walmart (thankfully they had the color I needed). I usually use YKK brand zippers, and it's very easy to take the pull off and replace it with a larger one. With this one (Coats and Clark brand) that wasn't happening, so I couldn't do my usual zip pull tab. I frantically searched for ribbon or trim or something to use, and thankfully I managed to find this red and white ribbon that had been eluding me in a box of random junk (which is good, because I would have used it all previously and had none for this).

I've been super well-behaved at using up things in my stash. I did have to order a fat quarter of the ladybugs, but I used every square inch. I didn't think about the lining, though. Luckily, I had the without-a-doubt most perfect coordinating lining for this one--

It's red--my phone camera is making it look pink. It's so reminiscent of the ladybugs on the outside that they seemed made for each other. Sometimes when I find a perfect lining I practically wriggle with excitement until the customer opens it and sees it. They usually don't share my glee as I'm a fabric geek and most people aren't....

My favorite thing about this bag is that you can make it in any size you want just by sketching out a simple pattern. A few people commented on the pickle bag post that they would like a tutorial, and I promise I will get that together for you in the near future.

But for now I must head to bed before this headache splits my skull in two. Ewww, gross.

Make It With Me - Drawstring Handbag Part 4

2013-04-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Alrighty, my dears. Grab the exterior pieces of your bag that have been patiently sitting by, because now it's their turn to get all prettied up. We're going to start off by inserting the grommets. I'm using grommet pliers, but the tools and a hammer work just as well (I just find that the people around me get annoyed with the banging, for some reason). Remember if you're using the hammer and tools to protect your work surface! OK, let's get moving.

Insert the Grommets
1. Grab a ruler and something to mark with. All of our markings are going to be made 1.25 inches above the seam line that connects the top band with the main panel. You're going to make four markings on both exterior pieces. Make one 2.5 inches from the edge, and another 4.25 inches from that mark (NOT from the edge). Use the same measurements to mark from the other edge. Repeat for the other outside piece.

I like to center my grommet over the marking and trace the circle as a snip guide.

2. Take your seam ripper and insert it on one side of your circle, coming out the other side. Make a clean slice with it.

3. Use your scissors to trim that little circle. It's better to start small and go bigger if you need to, as you can't put back what you've cut off. Snip until the grommet fits through the hole. You want to poke it through to the back, so the flat part is against the front of the bag, and the other part is sticking through the back.

4. Take some of those fusible fleece scraps and cut them about 2 inches square (you'll need 8 total). Cut a hole in the center and place it over the part sticking up in the photo above--this is giving us a double layer of fleece so that our grommet will really be stuck down firmly.

5. Put the washer over the grommet end, and use either your grommet pliers or your tools to get it firmly in place. It should not be able to wiggle around at all if you've got it in good.

From the outside.

From the inside. Trim down some of that excess fleece.

6. Repeat for all of your grommet markings. Make sure you've got the 'working side' on the wrong side, and the business end looking nice and pretty on the outside.

Make Up the Outer Bag

1. This will be very familiar as it's almost exactly how we assembled the lining. Line up your pieces, right sides together, and sew all the way across the bottom using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press that seam open. Sew up each side, and press those seams open as well.

2. Create the flat bottom for your bag using the same exact steps used for the lining. Due to the bottom band being in the contrast fabric, it makes it look like we've inserted a separate bottom piece.

Haha--I took this picture after the fact, which is why you're seeing my steps in the background instead of my sewing table :)

3. Now we're going to make the bottom of our bag nice and sturdy, and anti-sag by inserting a bag bottom into it. Turn your bag inside out. Measure the bottom seam and knock about a quarter inch off the measurement. We know our flat bottom is five inches deep, so knock a quarter inch off that as well. If your stitching matches mine you'll need a piece of plastic that's 11.75 by 4.75 inches. Cut that piece out now.

4. To keep the plastic from sliding up the sides of your bag we're going to sew some stitches through it into the seams. Thread a needle, tie a knot, and tack it on down. I stitched the center of the piece of plastic through the seam a few times. It doesn't need to be super sturdy--we're just trying to keep it from shifting.

It should look like this when you're finished:

Turn it right side out. You should have a nice flat-bottomed bag exterior with grommets along the top.

5. NOW grab those straps, those straps that have been waiting so patiently. Measure in 4.25 inches from the side seams, and pin/clip your straps in place. You'll want to make sure the piece that we folded and sewed when making the strap is facing up.

6. Stitch it down about 1/4 inch from the top edge. I like to go over these a few times to make sure the straps are secure as that's a major stress point in a bag. Repeat for the remainder of your strap ends, taking care not to get them all twisted.

Make the Drawstring

1. You should have two long, narrow pieces left at this point. We're going to sew them together as though we're making bias tape so there's no bulk. So take those pieces, and lay them perpendicular to each other, right sides facing (unless you're using a solid, and then it doesn't matter). Draw a line as shown in the picture below, then sew on that line.

2. Trim that down to about 1/4 inch seam allowance, unfold, and press the seam open.

3. Trim the strip so that it measures 54 inches (with your seam in the middle).

4. Remember how on our straps we folded in our short ends to hide the raw edges? Do that again--press in the short edges about 1/2 inch each.

5. Now we fold it in half along that loooong edge and press. Unfold, and press the raw edges towards the center fold. Then fold and press in half again.

6. Trot on back to your sewing machine, sew around the perimeter of your drawstring, about 1/8 inch from the edge.

I picked out those wayward stitches after the photo was taken :)

Insert the Drawstring

1. Figure out which side is the front of your bag, as this will be where our ends will be.

2. Take one end and feed it through your grommets, starting with one of the more central grommets, and feeding it in and out, around the bag, coming out next to the grommet where you started. If you goof this up just pull it out and redo it.

Here's what the outside looks like at this point.

Finish It

1. Take your exterior bag, and slide it inside your lining so that the right sides are facing. Fiddle with it so your seams match, and pin everything in place. Make sure your straps and drawstrings are in between the two layers and out of the way of your stitches.

2. Sew around the top using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Carefully reach through the gap in the lining and pull everything out so that the yucky parts are hidden, and all you see is your beautiful bag and the lining. Gently poke out the corners so they're nice and crisp.

3. Stitch the gap in the lining shut, then push it down into the bag, neatening everything up.

4. Neaten up the top edge (I use pins or clips to keep it in place) and topstitch about 1/4 inch from the top edge, going all the way around. Watch out for the drawstring. It'll want to get in the way.

5. Trim any dangling threads, give it a press, and tie your drawstring into a bow. You have finished, my dears.

Recap

So how'd you do? Hopefully you learned a bunch of new skills in this sew-along, but if you already knew everything I hope you enjoyed yourself anyway and now have a delightful new handbag to show for your efforts.

Please please please stick them in the Flickr pool (link in the sidebar) so we can all ogle some fabric and handbag yumminess!

A Few for Friday - #16

2013-04-19T23:44:00.000-04:00

With all the sew along business (how are you coming through, by the way?) I forgot about my Friday pics until my mom reminded me ("Hey! You didn't do your Friday photos that yo do!"). So as it's still Friday for half an hour more, I figured I'd share a few bits of my week that made me grin amid the horrors that happened around the country (what IS it with this week in violent history?).

Every year on the last weekend in April there is a Civil War reenactment not far from my house. Every year it's a different battle. This is my dad's favorite weekend. You could cancel Christmas, but not this. He finds out what battle they're doing, then researches it. The reenactors dress in period clothing, and set up camp for the weekend. There are sutlers tents wherein they sell clothing, food, and other stuff, as well as artifacts and souvenirs. I come by my geekiness honestly :)

There were a couple of these giant birds flying around outside of work. They were so large they were distracting so I figured I'd take a picture so they'd fly away (isn't that always how it happens?). And they obliged.

I can't be the only one who thinks 'Superhero Lollipop' when they unwrap one... I was jonesin' for some sugar, and it was the last one otherwise I'd never have chosen chocolate. It's not a satisfying superhero color.

Since I emptied the jar I had to refill it. So I picked pretty colored wrappers. We made short work of these. I think there are maybe two left.

I spent the week working on some orders for frame purses. This is the lining of one--the stripes lined up to make little chevrons so I had to capture the happy accident.

Hopefully your week had some pleasantries amidst the never-ending news coverage. And if you live elsewhere and don't know what I'm talking about--be glad about it.

Now get back to your handbags so you're ready for the finale on Sunday.

Make It With Me - Drawstring Handbag Part 3

2013-04-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

'Allo! If you're just arriving to the sew along, you can find the links to the intro and parts 1 and 2 by clicking the 'Sew Alongs' button at the top. Everything will remain available, so if you need to take your time do so. But if you're caught up, let's get cracking on finishing the lining!

Insert the Magnetic Snap
Before I start I just want to say that this is how I insert my mag snaps. Some of you may shudder and twitch as I don't follow the directions on the package as I've had snaps come loose that way. But ever since I've done them 'my' way I haven't had any issues. So, yes, this is different from other methods you may have seen, but it works.

1. Cut two pieces from the scraps of fusible fleece I had you save when we did the straps. Make them about 1.5 inches by the width of your scrap. On the wrong side of each lining piece, make a mark two inches down from the center. Iron your fleece over those marks (this gives some security as a snap can be quite the stress point).

2. Place your lining pieces right sides together and pin around the edges to keep it stable. Take one of your washers (the holes are very handy marking places). Place it two inches down from the top center. Make markings in the slits.

Note: I'm doing this on the fabric side instead of the fleece as the markings are easier to see in photos.

3. Take your seam ripper, and verrrrrrry carefully make two slits that correspond with your markings. Go through all the layers, but be careful not to slice too much. Doing it this way ensures that your snap will line up properly. You can take out your pins now.

4. Take one of your mag snap pieces, and poke the prongs through the slits you cut so that the snap shows on the right side of the lining and the prongs are poking through to the wrong side. Put your washer over the prongs.

5. Instead of pushing the prongs away from each other, I push them towards each other, i.e. over the center of the snap. Use a scrap of fabric (so you don't scratch the snap) and some pliers to get a nice firm squeeze.

6. Cut another scrap of fusible fleece, and lay it down over back of the snap. You may need a pin or two, but do it from the right side of the lining so you don't sew over them.

7. Go to your sewing machine. Place this right side up with your presser foot touching the edge of the snap. Sew a nice neat square around the snap. This keeps everything secure and cuts down on a lot of the stress on the lining.

8. Repeat for the other side of the snap and lining. You can trim some of the excess fleece if you like, but it's not necessary.

Make Up the Lining

1. Place your lining pieces right sides together (you can click the snap shut if you want :) Sew the bottom seam with a 1/4 inch allowance, leaving about a six inch gap in the middle for turning. Press that seam open. Sew your side seams (1/4 inch seam), and then press those open.

Now we're going to create a flat bottom for the bag by boxing the corners. This is what will give our bag some dimension.

2. Stick your hand in the bag and push the corner out and flatten to create a triangle. You can take a peek inside the bag to make sure the side seam and bottom seam are lined up one on top of the other (this takes a little wiggling).

Inside view of how your seams should stack up.

3. Grab a ruler and measure a line five inches across. You want the 2.5 inch mark to be directly on the seam line - this may take some maneuvering, but it makes for a nice even bottom. I usually have to play around with it a minute or two to make sure everything is lined up. Once it's all set, put in a few pins to keep it from wiggling out of place. Sew along the line.

4. Repeat with the other corner. Trim off the edge of the triangle about a quarter inch from your seam line. If you turn the lining right side out you'll see that you now have a nice flat bottom.

Recap

As of this point, we have our straps made, and the lining finished complete with two pockets, a nifty magnetic snap, and a flat bottom. Next time we'll be inserting our grommets, sewing down the straps, and making the drawstring.

Make It With Me - Drawstring Handbag Part 2

2013-04-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome back! Today we're going to work on the lining of the bag. I know, a bit of the reverse, but if zippers scare you it's best to get it out of the way, yes? Yes. So get your lining pieces, your pieces for your slip pocket, and your piece for your zipper pocket. Oh, and the zipper :) We'll do that first, so take a few deep breaths if you're feeling nervous. But I promise--though it doesn't look it this is one of the easier zippers to install.

Make the Inside Zipper Pocket
1. Center your pocket piece on the lining piece, right sides together. Place the top edge of the pocket piece three inches down from the top center of the lining. Make sure it's centered and straight.

2. Draw a line across the top of the pocket piece 3/4 inch from the top edge, and starting/ending one inch from each side edge. Draw a parallel line 3/8 inch down from this first line. Draw some edges so you have a long skinny rectangle. Draw one more line cutting this rectangle in half longways. Draw the little lines you see in the second picture below from each corner towards the middle line (they make the little triangles you see) - I make mine about 3/4 inch long.

3. Pin in place around the rectangle, then sew around the outside of the rectangle.

4. Now carefully cut along the center line from triangle point to triangle point. Use a seam ripper to get started, then switch to scissors. When you get to the triangle tips, go out to the corners, getting as close as you can to the stitches without cutting them.

5. Pull the pocket piece (all of it) through the slit you just made. It will now be on the wrong side of the lining, and look quite messy. This is where you press it into submission so that you get some nice neat corners and a delightful rectangular slit.

6. OK, get your zipper - don't get nervous now, you already did the hard part :) Lay it down right side up and center the slit over it. If your zipper is going to need trimming later you need to make sure your pull is within the slit so you don't sew off access to it. Put a few pins in to hold it in place - you want it to be centered between the top and bottom so that you're sure to grab the entire zipper tape.

Note: I was using the end of a zipper from another project, and a pull from another zipper, hence the mismatch.

7. Now stitch about 1/8 an inch from the edge. I don't use my zipper foot - I just put the zipper towards the left of my foot and sew, using the coils of the zipper itself as a seam guide. Pivot at the corners and keep going all the way around. You may need to move your zipper pull out of the way at some point. I only pin the top edge to get started - when I turn to come back along the bottom I keep everything positioned with my fingers because that works better than pins (for me) for this part at keeping things straight. Do what feels comfortable for you. If you like a zipper foot use it. If you like lots of pins, pin away.

Check the back to make sure you caught all of the zipper tape. If you missed anything restitch.

8. Fold the bottom edge of the pocket up to meet the top edge. Pin and stitch (1/4 inch seam). Make sure you have the lining tucked out of the way of the needle and that you're just stitching the pocket. Then pin and stitch the sides. Be careful of any metal zipper bits that might break a needle. Trim any excess zipper if you need to. Give it a final press (and then peek inside at your lovely new zipper pocket).

Make the Slip Pocket

1. Take your two pieces and slap them together right sides facing. Sew around the perimeter with a quarter inch seam, leaving a gap for turning along the bottom. Trim the corners diagonally to cut down on the bulk.

2. Turn it right side out through the gap. Poke out the corners. Tuck in your raw edges and press the whole thing.

3. Center your pocket on your remaining lining piece three inches down from the top edge. Make sure the gap you left open is towards the bottom. Pin it in place.

4. We're going to sew close to the edge of the pocket around the three sides that aren't the top (obviously, or we couldn't put things in it). BUT we're going to sew about three stitches at each top edge near the corner. And then we're going to reverse, go forward, reverse, etc. a few times--this keeps the pocket edge nice and secure, and keeps it form pulling away from the lining. Then, pivot, go down the side, across the bottom (closing the gap at the same time), up the other side, and at the top edge do the same three-stitch maneuver again.

5. Draw a line up the center of the pocket. Starting from the bottom, stitch towards the top. When you get to the top, pivot and then go forward and back a few times to secure that part of the pocket.

Recap

Ok, I think that's good for today. Especially if any of you are still skipping around the room because your zipper looks smashing :) So now we've got our two lining pieces with pockets in each--one slip, one zip. Next time, we'll insert a nice secure magnetic snap and put the lining together.

Make It With Me - Drawstring Handbag Part 1

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Are you excited? Are you ready? Good!!! But before we sew we have to cut and fuse a few things. Sorry, but it must be done :) But it's all rectangles so there aren't any pattern pieces to fuss about with. If you're just arriving you'll want to read this post for the materials list. Wanna see the version I made for a little bit of inspiration?

My camera did not want to pick up that beautiful pinky-red properly, so when you see fuchsia throughout this sew-along, just know that it's really the color above.

OK, so grab your rulers and your cutting supplies and we'll get started.

From your main fabric, cut:

Two pieces that are each 18 inches by 8 inches (be careful if it's directional fabric)
One piece that is 10 by 12 inches (for the inside zipper pocket)
Two pieces that are each 5 by 9 inches (for the inside slip pocket)

** If you're making the patchwork version cut 42 squares that are each 3 inches square. Sew them together 7 squares across and 3 squares high with a quarter inch seam allowance, pressing the seams open. You should end up with a piece that is 18 by 8 inches when pressed nice and smooth. **

For your lining fabric, fold it so that the selvages meet and the raw edges are on the sides. Then cut the following:

Two pieces that are each 5 inches wide by the width of the fabric (for our straps and tabs)
Two pieces that are each 2 inches by the width of the fabric (for the drawstring)
Two pieces that are each 18 inches by 13 inches (for the lining)
Four pieces that are each 18 inches by 3 inches (for the top and bottom bands)

Here's a view of how I laid out my cuts for the contrast/lining. Those pieces that have the rings on them were cut off the ends of the strap pieces (we'll get to that soon--I took the picture after I made the cut) but if you've got your yardage folded as I suggested you can get all your pieces cut out like the above.

From your woven interfacing cut:

Two pieces that are each 18 inches by 13 inches
Four pieces that are each 2.5 inches by 4 inches (for strengthening our tabs)

From your fusible fleece cut:

Two pieces that are each 18 inches by 13 inches
Two pieces that are each 2.5 inches by 29 inches
You'll have some scraps--save those. We'll be using them.

Please note a few things: you must backstitch at the beginning and end of every seam, otherwise your pieces will start to fall apart; I'll tell you the seam allowances as we move along as they vary here and there; and you should read through the directions before you sew (as with any pattern).

Make the Outside Panels
Since fusible interfacing needs time to set after ironing (especially the fleece--not so much the other stuff) we're going to make the outside panels first so we can fuse them and set them aside for a bit (just in case you thought I was losing my mind and going crazy out of order on purpose :)

1. Take an outside piece, whether it's plain or patchwork, and two of the contrast bands. With right sides together, sew one to the top (along the 18-inch edge) and one to the bottom using a quarter inch seam allowance. Press your seams open.

2. Once you have that, take your woven interfacing (or craft-weight if that's what you're using) and fuse it to the wrong side. Let that cool while you repeat the process for the other outside pieces.

3. Once you have that done, take your fusible fleece and fuse it to the wrong side of the outside pieces (right on top of the woven/craft you just fused down). Make sure you get a nice good press around the edges. Set those aside to cool, and we'll work on the straps.

Make the Strap Tabs
1. Take one of the pieces you cut for your strap. Trim the selvage if necessary. Cut two pieces off the edge, each four inches long (don't cut the folded edge!!). Do the same to the other long strap piece. You should have two longer pieces and 4 short pieces.

2. Take those four pieces and iron them in half so that the five inch edges are touching. Unfold, then press the edges towards the center fold (just like making bias tape).

3. Down the center of each piece (using your folds as a guide) iron your little fusible interfacing pieces you cut.

4. Press again along your original folds (they may have flattened a bit during the fusing). You should have four pieces that are each 1.25 inches wide by 4 inches long.

5. Now we stitch (those raw ends will be buried in the bag so don't worry about them). You need to stitch as close to each edge as you feel comfortable--I find that 1/8 inch is usually doable for most people. I added a few extra rows of stitching because I like the effect--you can do the same or leave it out. Just make sure you stitch the same distance from each edge.

6. Grab your rings. Feed the tab through and pin the raw edges together. Then sew a little less than a quarter inch from the edge. You should now have four strap tabs. Set them aside but not too far aside :)

Make the Straps
1. Take those 2 long pieces you have left after cutting off your tabs. Trim them so that they are each twenty-nine inches long. Fold in each raw edge (the short ones) about a half-inch (we need to conceal those raw edges).

2. Now fold those long edges together and press down the center (as we did for the tabs). Then fold the edges towards the center fold and press again.

3. Take one of the fleece pieces and line it up down the center, making sure the edges are tucked under the fold (you'll have to trim one of the edges, but keep the scraps of fleece you trim!).

4. Fuse it in place--I usually do this by folding my fabric back in place and pressing, and then flipping the whole thing over and pressing to get a really good bond.

5. Press back in half so you have a piece that is 1.25 inches wide by about 28 inches long.

6. Hop back over to your machine and mimic the stitching you did on your tabs, whether it's just stitching on the edges, or adding a few extra rows. I did not sew around the perimeter of my straps--I simply went from end to end.

7. Get your tabs and rings. We're going to attach the straps now. Feed one end through the ring, and fold it up two inches. Pin it in place.

8. Sew a nice boxy stitch to keep it all secure. This is kind of thick, so take your time and adjust if you need to.

9. Repeat for the other end. Make sure the strap isn't twisted and the folded edges are facing the same way. Repeat for the other strap.

Recap
Ok, that's it for today. Let's sum up what you should have at this point.

All of your pieces should be cut out. It helps to label pieces if you might lose track of what's what.
We've got our two outside panels stitched and fused.
We've attached our tabs, rings, and straps.

"I Love" Giveaway Winner!!

2013-04-14T09:04:00.000-04:00

Good morning, dears! I had 39 comments for this giveaway bundle:

So I plugged those numbers into the random number generator and it spit this back at me:

Which matches with this comment:

Congratulations, Rebecca in Maine! Please send me your address so I can get your goodies on their way! Thanks, everyone, for commenting. Happy Sunday!

Butterfly Kisses Diaper Bag

2013-04-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the nauseating title :) It's been a while since I've made a diaper bag. I think it's been since last year when I made a half-dozen it a fairly short time. A friend at work asked me to make one that he could fill and give to a friend for her pending bundle. I haven't worked with wee 'un prints for a while, and I didn't have anything else going on so I said yes.

I headed to Joann's to get the fabrics. I've seen them so many times I could sleepwalk to them. So of course they're rearranging the entire store and I felt like I was dropped down in the middle of a foreign county after being drugged. I was so very out of sorts and lost feeling. I commented to a staffer, and they told me it would be like that for a while. I'm not entirely unadaptable, but they had some things here, some things there, and no organization whatsoever. I felt like I was digging through clothing racks in a thrift store to find what I needed--I had to look at each and every bolt, as each and every fabric genre was jumbled together. The fun part was that I had no idea if they even carried what I was looking for anymore, so I did an internal happy dance when I found the goods.

Three nights of cutting, fusing, stitching and pinning and I've got this to deliver:

It came out a little taller than I anticipated, but I had jotted down two measurements in my notes and went with the larger one. I must now cross that one out.

I could look at that piping all day, and I'm not a using a literary device to exaggerate my love. I really think I could. I used it in an almost-exactly-the-same bag last year.

I pulled up the lining a little bit to do some faux piping for the top edge (I was having a bulk situation) so this was a cute remedy.

Pockets a'plenty. Each side has three, so there are nine pockets in this bag. I think I'd be so organized I wouldn't know where anything was.

This bag uses a lot of fabric (three yards!), with not much left over. This is how I've made them since I started, but I'm thinking of a slight redesign with the handles. Those handles take a LOT of fabric as they have to be long to run up and down the bag exterior. I don't know that the pocket they're on the side of gets used much so my internal debate is should I nix the straps and the front pocket and have the handles come out of the top of the bag? It would cut some bulk in the bottom seam and save a lot of time and fabric. But I don't know if it would lose some appeal. What do you think?

A Few for Friday - #15

2013-04-11T20:56:00.000-04:00

Ahoy ahoy! Pretty quiet week here. The weather was in the eighties for a couple days (I know I wanted warmer weather, but I didn't want sweat weather just yet) but now it's dropped way down and is quite chilly outside. Outside it looks like nature hit the snooze button for the last time and realized just how late it was and it was going to need to get a move on if it was going to provide bloggers with obligatory springtime flower photos :) But seriously--almost overnight it went from bare, leafless trees to all kinds of greenery and blossoms, and I mean that literally. Anyway--I've got very little to share this week. I know you're all making such sad faces right now :)

I love soft pink blossoms. I wish trees had those all the time.

I took this one mostly because I loved the yellow against the gray wall (the gray wall that I normally abhor, but in this case will tolerate).

Lots of pinning and pressing and stitching and ruffling to make a pretty kitchen curtain for my sister. This is one of my favorite fabric combos ever. I'm trying to think how I'm going to get a good picture for you to see all the ruffly goodness...

And that's it for now. Don't forget--the sew along starts Monday!!! And the giveaway ends tomorrow! Check out both posts for more info. And now I must tappety-tap on my keyboard to write up a certain set of instructions for a certain lovely group of people :)

Pick a Peck of Pickled Purses

2013-04-09T11:55:00.000-04:00

OK, it's not a peck. I don't even know how much a peck is. I think it's half a bushel. So when you love someone a bushel and a peck I think you love them one and a half bushels worth. Of what, I don't know. But I don't have to worry, I don't have a peck--I just have one.

A few weeks ago I got a message on Facebook requesting a cosmetic bag made of pickles fabric. I verified that the asker was NOT under the influence of anything and told them I would, contingent upon me finding the fabric. I found it, not so far away (which is weird, because for odd things I usually have to have it shipped half a world away and pay a gazillion dollars in shipping charges). The bag itself was simple--a larger-than-usual makeup bag, with some pockets on the inside. I whipped it up the other night, and I'm not embarrassed to say that I like it, but I am surprised that I do. I thought it would be weird, but it's so quirky that it's fun.

That's quite the love of the humble pickle. It's so bizarre that it's pretty nifty.

Flat bottom, sides even with the edge of the purse.

I had a really long zipper I shortened for the top, and used the remainder for a zip pocket on the inside, along with a dash of pickles for a cell phone pocket.

Obligatory hardware close-up.

I do enjoy quick little projects using fabric that are quite different than anyone's norm. I sent a message back saying "I have something for you....." and without even seeing a picture she was all "Gah!! Yes, I'm excited!" (or something akin to that). I'd be curious to see people's faces when she pulls this one out.

The "I Love" Giveaway

2013-04-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

I love when you give your mom a hug and her perfume gets on you a little and you can still smell it later on and it reminds you of her. I also love when you hold a baby, and baby scent gets on you and you can still smell that, too. I love when you're looking for a certain thing and you find something else instead--something you had given up on finding. I love when the wind is blowing just right so that you can drive with the windows down and not eat your hair. I love when your eleven year old nephew still likes to sneak a snuggle on the couch while you're watching TV (well, MY nephew, not yours, because that could be weird). I love when you forgot your coupon, and someone in Michael's gives you theirs that they didn't use. I love the smell of gravy simmering on the stove, and the prospect of gooey, cheesy stuffed shells for dinner. All simple things, all things that make up life.

I also love:

Red and white polka dot anything (in this case--notecards).

Useful things made pretty.

Frivolous things you need to have because the packaging is cute.

A pen that 'means it' when you write with it.

And a delightful book to jot your thoughts down in.

This happy little bundle could be all yours. All you have to do is leave an "I love..." comment. It can be a simple pleasure, a guilty pleasure, a luxury, anything that makes your heart grin. Please leave a way to contact you, because if I can't I'll have to pick another winner. I'll use the cold and impersonal random number generator to pick a winner on Friday, April 12th. I'll ship these goodies anywhere, as I'm feeling like supporting the post office :)

Ta for now, and good luck! THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Let's Get Ready to Sew Along

2013-04-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

When I make promises to have a tutorial/sew-along for you guys, let's assume a lengthy lead time will be involved. I thought I'd have this done for you a while ago, but time flies and life happens and here we are in April already. But I made the bag and took the photos today, so now I just have to write up the instructions and we'll be all set to make one of these:

The version we're making is the above, but if you want to make yours patchworky--

--I'll tell you how big to cut your squares so the measurements work out the same.

In this sew-along (which I'll break into manageable parts, posted every other day) you'll learn:

how to insert a magnetic snap securely
how to insert grommets
how to use rings for your purse straps
how to insert a bag bottom to give your bag some support, and
how to insert an internal zipper pocket

The best part is that this bag is indeed quite simple and will give you some skills you can incorporate into other creations. Also--no pattern pieces. We're working with all rectangles and squares. So that I have time to write everything up and you have time to get things together I'm going to give you the supply list now so we'll be all ready to go (but of course everything will be available to you if you can't join us right now but still want to sew the bag--all the info will be on the sew-along page).

You're going to need:

1/2 yard of focus fabric for the outside panel and the inside pockets (because contrast is fun). If you're making it patchworky, you will need a total of 42 pieces that are 3 inches square, plus some larger pieces to use for the inside pockets. I'm using quilt-weight cotton.
1 yard of contrast fabric for the lining, straps, drawstring, and the contrast pieces on the top and bottom of the outside of the bag. Again, I'm using quilt-weight cotton.
2/3 yard of 45 inch wide fusible fleece (I use Thermolam Fusible, but use what you can get your mitts on)
1 yard of 20 inch wide woven fusible interfacing. If you can only get the craft weight of interfacing that will work OK too--just don't get one that's too heavy. Also--if you're using a heavier weight fabric you can omit this.
a nine inch zipper to match the lining (or to contrast with it, because that's nifty looking)
four rings that will hold a 1 1/4 inch strap
one magnetic snap
#8 3/8" inch grommets and tools to insert them. I am using a pair of grommet pliers, but the grommet tool that you whack with a hammer works just as well. I don't have that so I won't be able to show you but everything else will apply, and the directions are usually on the package.
a gridded bag bottom (I use a piece of plastic canvas--you can get a couple bottoms from one piece).
basic sewing stuff: coordinating thread, scissors, pins, hand sewing needle, something to mark with, seam ripper, ruler

UPDATE: I bought everything at Joann's, so if you've got that or a Hobby Lobby near you, you should be able to find what you need.

UPDATE #2: What, you want finished measurements too? :) It finishes up at about 12 inches wide, about 10 inches high, and 5 inches deep.

I have two simple rules before we start. First--don't laugh at the sad state of my pressing surface. You'd never believe it was sparkling clean a few weeks ago, but it's all discolored now. Second, you have to accept my apology for the sorry state of my nails. I didn't realize how badly they need tending to until I was looking at the photos. Also, the pictures aren't as grand as I thought they'd be in my head. My sewing area does not have good lighting (even when the sun is shining, which is the lighting I was waiting for to take these photos), so while the pics may not be pretty they're totally functional and show everything you need to know.

Now, get going! The first set of directions will be up Monday, April 15th. Please join in the fun, and spread the word. See you then! Thought I won't complain if you come back and visit before then :)

A Few for Friday - #14

2013-04-04T23:22:00.000-04:00

'Allo! Can I just say that I am LOVING your comments in the last post? It seems that the consensus is that we all love designer fabrics but few of us can really justify the expense of just using those (but Katy's right in her comment--if you're a sleuth about it you can score some great deals online). I adore designer fabrics, don't get me wrong. I often pimp some out here on my blog. But I don't view them as a 'must' or a 'should,' but more of a 'wishful thinking' sort of thing. I guess what it comes down to is that no one wants to be judged for something as superficial as a fabric choice, especially when we're all in it for the same thing--the calming motion of needle and thread, piecing together tiny parts into a big beautiful whole whether it cost a small fortune or was bought on a budget.

OK, I'm climbing down off my soapbox now as I feel I'm about to cross the line into judging people who DO love and use designer fabrics exclusively as though that's wrong. It's not. It's just that no one should feel bad about something that is kind of silly in the grand scheme of this crazy crazy world. OK, NOW I'm climbing down and sharing some pics :)

This was on the cutting table this week. I'll never tire of that striped piping. I also hemmed and mended a couple pairs of pants but who wants a pic of that?

Not quite sure what the hell, but it feels more like winter is on the way instead of spring being here.

I took Z-man to baseball practice tonight. He reminds me more and more of my brother as time marches on. He dwarfs some of the kids on his team, and I fear it won't be long until I'm looking up into his gray eyes instead of down into them. It was stinkin' cold!!! I felt like I was shoveling snow instead of sitting at a practice field.

There are no green things to be found unless you look indoors for the store-bought variety. I've seen a few crocuses, but that's it. Usually by now the trees are budding and everything is just beautiful. It still looks like the bleak midwinter outside.

We hid this picture in my sister's bed last week. She gets freaked out by weird stuff like this, and Isaac from 'Children of the Corn' is definitely weird.

Z-man is spending the night tonight and his main goal was to scare the crap out of Alicia. We convinced her he wasn't here, he hid himself in her room, and then she spent the night on the sofa. He eventually got bored and crept into the living room and scared her there. Gee...I wonder where he gets it from :)

Musings on Fabric Snobbery

2013-04-03T23:30:00.001-04:00

I happened across a link that shows where Joann's is going to be opening new stores. It's right here if you're interested in seeing if one is coming to your area. There just so happens to be one opening about ten minutes from my house. This same store is five minutes from my work. I foresee a problem with cash flow--too much of it is going to flow away from my wallet and towards their cash registers. But then I'll be saving on gas as it won't be about forty miles round trip like it is now. I should just get a part-time job there so at least I'd score an employee discount.

There I am with my project list and sewing bits :)

I do have a question for you folks, though. Have you ever encountered...I'll call it 'fabric snobbery?' It's when you tell someone that you bought a beautiful fabric at Joann's or (gasp!) Wal-mart and their nose wrinkles and they say "Oh" with such a disappointed tone that you'd think you've told them that you like to punch babies and puppies. It's that idea that one should only buy super-expensive designer fabrics all the time and you're just cheap and tawdry if you do otherwise. My favorite interaction is when you say "I usually get my stuff at Joann's unless I need something very specific" and they chuckle and shoot glances at each other (this requires two people besides yourself to be in the conversation) and say "Hehehe...we don't buy anything there. It's junk."

This kind of appalls me as a person who likes to shop with coupons and as a creator of things. My personal belief is that you should buy the best you can afford. If you sew only a couple things a year designer fabrics will probably fit into your budget. But if you spend a ton of time in front of your sewing machine that adds up so quickly and can make what should be a delightful hobby worrisome. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have sponsors or affiliates who supply them with fabric goodies and extra money to turn around and buy new fabric with. Are these people (myself included) not to create because we need to keep some of our paycheck to live? Are the things we create less worthy of admiration because there's not a fancy name attached to it?

Some of the most beautiful creations have been made from scraps of fabric pulled from whatever wore out to a size too small for anything else. There was beauty in reusing, in looking at something and saying "That used to be pajamas. That was a work shirt. That was my old apron." It didn't come from quilts made of fabric so expensive you'd be afraid to use it. I think that's why I love scrap quilts so much--like this string quilt I made. I know what each fabric was used for before it ended up here.

I admit it--I splurge. I buy designer fabrics that I fall in love with. But most of my purchases are not that (and when I do spend I try to forgo something else to set my mind at ease). And I certainly don't sneer at those who say "Oh, I found this at a flea market. I don't know what it's made of but it was pretty and only cost a quarter." I kind of think that's awesome and secretly feel jealous that I never have such luck. I know that the argument for designer over 'other' is that the thread count and dye-fastness is better, but I've never really experienced negative effects with cheaper fabrics (maybe three or four times over five years and tons of fabric? It's bound to happen but it's not rampant).

Have any of you ever encountered such attitudes? I don't feel like I could be the only one. And when I do I try to think of my grandmother, in her recliner hand-stitching every single one of her quilts (usually queen sized!!!!!) and saying "Oh, no, I hardly ever buy anything at the quilt shop. Who can afford that?" I'd love to know your thoughts. This 'issue' really irks me but doesn't influence my buying habits. It makes me wish the dollar store sold fabric so I could say "See?? Haha!!!! I didn't need to spend $12/yard!!" Am I overreacting? You can be honest. I can take it.

All Good Things Must Come to an End--So They Say

2013-04-02T23:37:00.000-04:00

I'm going to start thinking it's me. Every time I like something it gets discontinued. Like L'Oreal Quick Stick foundation makeup. My absolute favorite makeup in the history of the world, and they discontinued it. I have yet to find something that comes close to it. It's been about ten years and I'm still not over it, such was my affection. Also? Maybelline's Lash Expansion mascara. Wonderful stuff. Great brush, lush lashes. Gone. Basis Face Wash. Bye-bye. And now? Google Reader.

I'm sure you've heard by now that Google Reader will cease to exist as of July 1. I thought it was a wonderful Google product, and I cannot fathom why they would do away with it, but they are. At least they gave us plenty of time to find other reader services, as well as to alert our followers that things are changing. I don't know if this affects Google Friend Connect and thus what shows up on your Blogger dashboard. I hope not. Anybody know?

Anyhoodle--I've been on the lookout for other reader services that I like and can share with you. You can already follow me via GFC (which will hopefully stay put), or via email. I've got a way for you to follow me via LinkyTools in the sidebar, but I've never checked out that service as a reader (and to be honest I only added it as an option once GFC wasn't going to be available to non-Bloggers). I signed up with Bloglovin' (you can follow me there via the button in the sidebar) but as a reader I'm not entirely thrilled with it. It was insanely easy to import my info from Google so everything shows up nice and tidy. I'm not crazy about the format, though.

So I've tried something else called Feedly. They also make it insanely easy to import the blogs you follow from Google. The reading format is very nice, and their mobile app is glorious (at least on my Android phone it is). Bloglovin' has an iPhone app, and I think I found it on Android but it got very low ratings so I passed on it. The only negative for me (and I'm sure they'll get to it once the mass influx to their site calms down) is that they don't offer a 'follow me' button that you can add to your blog. I like when a blog makes it easy to find a follow option, so I try to provide the same ease to my readers.

Have you been looking into new readers? Anything I haven't mentioned that you think is good?