Last year I came across a Hospice in the Woodlands that wanted blankets for their patients. My mom & I will make a few 'lap-gans' now & then to send to them. A few weeks ago someone dropped off some yarn at church (it was her Grandmothers- who now has cancer). It only seemed fitting that we use the yarn to make blankets for the hospice.

Here are a few I've been working on...

A friend of mine from church has an 8 yr. old daughter who wanted to suggest that I make some headbands... so she could have a matching purse & headband :). So, I did some research- then got to it... This purse, while it may look 'big', is actually made for a young girl... with her matching headband- of course.

this is just something fun i made for a friend of mine (She's due in October)...

Drawstring bag

I needed a drawstring bag for our trip to Colorado... so i fashioned this one out of some leftover fabric- cords from another bag- and a few tricks up my sleeve... :)

Custom Orders

These were my first custom orders for Etsy. A lady wanted two different purses with specific fabric combinations.
The flower was something she had wanted- she had even found the 'pattern' for it...it was a lot of fun to learn how to make & i already have a list of things i want to make my own flowers for haha
It was fun making them- but also a bit stressful seeing as how it's for someone else... you want to make sure everything is ok... strings are cut... seams are hidden etc.
hopefully she will enjoy them :)
and yes... the flowers are supposed to fray.

sewing extravaganza

Fran & I decided to take a trip to the fabric store- what started out with me making 2 purses... turned in to 5.

For two indecisive people- it took forever to figure out what fabric we wanted...

The wristlet (right) is for her daughter- along with the orange purse... the blue purse is one for Fran herself.

I'm about to start on the last project- a knitting bag.

I decided to make myself a 'beach bag' (as though I don't have enough bags haha)... i found a pattern online- consulted my mom- and got to work. It wasn't too bad... I added a few pockets along with a 'D-ring' closure... overall, I'm excited to use it :)

it's been a while...

Some fun cards I recently made.

I've been meaning to catch up on my card making- May is a good time for that seeing as how not much is going on at work...

so I guess this is the beginning... :)

bored much...?

I decided there were a few things I wanted to make before heading to hawaii in a few months :)

this weeks feature(s): some sunglass cases and a small wallet... I normally like to 'shrink' my wallet down when going on vacation...

all the fabrics are from the 'home decor' section at hobby lobby... that's why i like small projects- you can buy the 'more expensive' fabric haha

my next project will be a new ipod case...

Easter cards

I finally had some time again to make cards... hooray.

thanks, mom!

No matter how many times she tells me- I always have to ask my mom which order to sew things... 'when do i do the lining, the strap, how do i do the top band again?' haha

So, after picking her brain one afternoon - I came home and made this bag...

it's much like the first pleated one I made... just a bit larger, with one more inside pocket, and the top band is attached correctly :)

I really like this one- the colors are very practical...

thanks, mom! :)

Attempt at making my own patter

Well, I ventured out... I felt like trying to make my own pattern... it's not completely original haha I took various ideas from other patterns I have.
The 'new' thing for me was doing the pleat- it's not perfect by any means- but it looks like a pleat right? I think I was semi successful :)

The band around the top was also something new for me-it was an easy and different way for me to sew the straps on.

It didn't take me as long as I thought it would- so needless to say, I'm a fan of these kinds of projects :)

using fun fabric

So, you know how you walk into a fabric store and say, 'oh, that's cute! really cute! but what the hec would i use that for?' Ya, i do that a lot...

which is why i like these projects...

I wanted to make a personalized makeup bag for myself... this is my first attempt... I love that it's small enough to use the obnoxious fabrics that i like :)

I used a slightly thicker fabric to make it a little more durable...
I might try to design another style...

for the use of more obnoxious fabric :) we shall see...

'sew what! bags' part II

I don't think i was planning to make this bag right away... but i got started, and obviously couldn't stop myself until i was finished.

this bag also came out of the 'sew what! bags' book... LOVE IT! I love all the pockets it has... not sure what i will put in them... i'm sure i'll find something.

I used the cricut to cut out the butterfly for the front panel... thought it needed a little bit of flare :)

I might take a small break from sewing...

although, I'm really interested in making a 'wristlet' with some of my scrap pieces...so we shall see.

'sew what! bags'

I recently got a book called, 'sew what! bags.' It has various ideas for 'starters' to 'daredevil' bags... all of which are cute. I chose this 'cross-body' one to try first- I have to admit that the 'pro' label of it scared me a bit... I am by no means a pro- but I gave it a shot anyway.

The book is very detailed which is what I need... I read- and re-read over the directions probably 5 times :).

I think it turned out well for my first shot- the only things I would change: I need to find a way to reinforce the strap more and i forgot to put a pocket on the inside... but that's ok, maybe i'll make a matching coin purse to throw with it :) I do however like the pockets on the outside... I tried to create them the size I needed for certain objects that I always carry with me.

I might cut out something with my circut to iron on the front flap...not sure yet.