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My Birthday Boy

Birthday Boy...I love you so much.  Love that smile and those freckles.  Love that laugh, it is precious. 

You know, after looking at these pictures...maybe the dog does think you are tastier than the rest of us.  He is always trying to give you extra kisses.

You are getting so big.

Who likes a project that takes less than 2 hours? This gal!

I had some scraps left over from my Birdie Sling bag.  :)  I love scraps.  Makes me feel economical, thrifty, especially when I find some THIS cute to make with them.  Somehow I stubbled up on this tutorial by Noodle head for this cute little clutch.  It has these cute little pleats...they are hard to see in the picture.

Now I will admit it took me about 2 hours to make my first one.  I think it would seriously take less time next time and it would help if I wasn't on the phone for most of that time as well. 

It has cute little credit card slots. 

It has this divider, but mine came out more like a wet noodle shape....not too dividey...any ideas. 

As suggested, I used a bigger seam allowance on the lining (an extra 1/4 of an inch)...but it still is a bit flimsy in there. 

In other news....lookie what the mail lady dropped off at my house! 

My package from the bag swap.  My partner was Michelle of Shee Designs.  She designed this bag herself.  Isn't the design cute?  I love the 2 tone strap.  It is perfect and exactly what I wanted...a cheerful purse.  Michelle runs an internet shop of these homemade goodies.  If you are in a pinch and need a cute present, you should head over there.  She also has a fun blog.  Thanks, Michelle.  I sure enjoyed this swap.  She also made me a cute little notebook and a bit of fabric.  It is super cute.

If you are wondering where your bag package is, as of this morning, I still have 5 bags that have not been sent yet.  I know the deadline is just days away on Saturday and I have sent reminders.  I have been reassured by every swapper that their bag is going out this week, so feel assured yours will be in the mail on time.  I have heard of several that shipped over the weekend and yesterday, too.   And, I hope to hear from 2-3 people that they shipped today, that was their hope.

Moda Bake Shop Project with mom

So I helped mom make this Moda Bake Shop table runner last week I was visiting.  Her quilt shop had the materials, even batting, kitted up.  I recognized the sample right away.  We had a good time playing with her new machine, Janome 6600.  BTW, if you are planning on buying a new Janome...you best run their prices are currently shooting up.  I know my LQS is leaving the old pricing until they run out and have to order more. 

We did make our own pattern for the applique flowers.  We wanted something a bit bigger.

This was made using Eden fabrics by Lila Tueller of Moda.

Whimsy Bag in Early Bird fabrics by Cosmo Cricket

It was too tempting to make this Whimsy Bag in Early Bird fabrics.  I just love how this came out, don't you?  This is for a friend's birthday.  It was quite quick to whip up.  Although, I must admit that I did alter the end of the pattern and inserted the lining into the main bag a bit more traditionally.  This would make a great bag for teachers.

I love the 6 roomy pockets.

Flickr Group for Summer Tote Bag Swap

Hey ladies!  Our deadline is quickly approaching for the Summer Tote Bag Swap.  You have one week left to get your bags in the mail.  I have heard from many of you that you have sent.  Please let me know if you have done so already. 

Also, everyone is anxious to see the finished bags, so I created a flickr group  called Summer Tote Bag Swap.  If you do not have a flickr account, but would still like your bag posted just send me an email with the picture as an attachment and I can post it for you.  In the meanwhile, keep checking the flickr group as people post on it. 

Thanks!

A fun day of sewing

My mom, our friend, and myself get together every now and again to sew.  This time, I hosted.  Unfortunately, my dad ended up sick this time, so my mom at the last minute was unable to come.   Judy and I had fun, though we missed mom.  We went to a couple of quilt shops, despite a terrible rain storm, found lots of new fabrics, and managed to get in some sewing, too.  We kept hoping mom would still be able to make it, but the situation just got a bit worse.

We still did a lot of sewing, Judy was making her tote for our swap.  This is a Lazy Girl design called Whimsy Bag.  Didn't it turn out cute?  She used Verna fabrics by Moda.  It has 6 great pockets on the outside.  Who knows swappers, maybe this cute bag will land in your mailbox!

She also made this little card keeper/wallet (the pattern was called Little Wallet by Valori Wells Designs).  I just love that little Dritz button we found at Joanns. 

I worked on my Amy Butler Birdie Sling.  I used Eden fabrics, which I found for 50% off a while ago.  Isn't it cute?  It might be for Buddy's teacher for Christmas.  Or, it might be for me.  LOL.  The lining is in green, and I like it a lot.

Anyway, that about wraps it up.  My dad ended up in the hospital, which is unfortunate that he feels so poorly.  I am going to be spending some time with family this week, so I'll ge back to blogging in a week or so.

Pinwheel Quilt Along Finished Top

I spent a long time on this today.  If you remember, I had my blocks done.  I was inspired by this quilt.  But I didn't have scraps left over.  So, I bought a charm pack, cut the charms in half, and made a scrappy border from those instead.  I also added a 6 inch border of white.  I really like it.  It is quite big though.  I'd guess about a 72 inch square, doesn't look like it in this photo though.  Makes me really nervous to think about quilting that myself.  I will have to think on it a bit or start saving my pennies for the long armer.  A big thanks to Rachel for her tutorials on the quilt along!  I had fun. 

I am really glad that I made 4 of those blocks with the border though, because I think it helped balance the quilt versus one.

I used Boutique by Chez Moi of Moda Fabrics on this quilt and the background material was Kona Snow.  You can still find the quilt along directions at PS I Quilt.  She has all of the blocks listed on the side bar of her blog.

A Big Thanks to Mo Bedell and Fat Quarterly

Have you been to Fat Quarterly's blog?  It is a really nice blog.  They feature lots of new fresh fabrics.  A lot of times you see projects done in the fabrics.  I find it very refreshing.  I bet their e-magazine is equally as nice.  Anyway, about a month ago they had a giveaway for 11 fq + 1 yard of hexagon cheater cloth.  I really REALLY LOVED it.  Guess what?  I won!  You probably knew that, as I mentioned it in my last giveaway.

Mo's fabric is fresh and a bit vintage and I just love it.  Her line is called Party Dress.  She also has a nice blog, which can be found here.  

Here are some photos that I borrowed from Fat Quarterly (I couldn't get a good shot, it is a bit dark here today). 
I can't decide which print I like best although that navy one is certainly high on the list. 

Did I mention that I love them?  That usually means I hoard them for a long time before I cut them.  However, I have been considering what to make out of them.  I could make a Schnibbles, or this would be pretty, or I probably could make a couple of bags, or definitely some wallets.  Gee!  I guess I just don't know.  What would you make?

Don't forget to go check out Fat Quarterly and Mo's blog. 

And for inquiring minds, I did a little search for the fabric (I think I might buy some yardage yet)  I found it at Hawthorne's fabrics and Above All Fabric and Sew Mama Sew.

Schnibbles Contest- McGuffey

That's 3 goals down.

Phoebe Bag done

So, I tried a new pattern with some of my fabric I had set out in my goals.  It is a cute little purse.  I guess, given the dimensions, I just had it bigger in my mind.  They look bigger in this photo than I feel they are.  Still, they turned out cute, don't you think?  I'm setting them in the finished bin for Christmas presents. 

Here is the web address for this free purse pattern, I am a bit hesitant giving it.  I felt the directions for sewing on the handles and the snap flap were a bit lacking.  So if you are a newbie to bags, I might pass this one up for the time being.  Otherwise, it is an easy bag.  I really like the darts on the bottom. 

That's 2 goals down people. 

faq and something exciting in blogland

f.a.q.

I have had a lot of questions regarding the fabric in this picture.  It seems a lot you love that same retro goodness that I do.  Isn't it yummy?  Well gals, this fabric is called Early Bird by Cosmo Cricket for Andover Fabrics. 

Where can you find it, you ask?  While I was busy playing BINGO at In Stitches, the wonderful ladies there blogged about this new fabric they are carrying for $7.99 a yard.  So, I bought it up.  You can find it there.  If you look at the top of the home page at The Quilte Shoppe, you will also find a code for an extra 10% off your purchase right now.  It is very tempting. 

Since making my purchase, I also see that our dear friend Sharon, is carrying this same line at her shop, Daisy Cottage Quilting, so you can also find it there. 

In other news, have you heard about summer camp?  Pretty cool.  Lots of designers with cool tutorials featured.  Check it out!

Last, I would like to share a personal story with you. Picture it.  9 AM this morning.  Buddy and I are having a leisurely summer morning.  I am working on my first cup of coffee, my hair is spilling out of a pony tail, we are both still in pjs.  Buddy is watching cartoons, and I am doing a bit of blogging.  I hear the horn of our postal worker.  Great, don't I look lovely?   I bolt to the door, surely this is my package of fat quarters coming to make my day.  I run outside.  It is not fat quarters.  It is my husband's stupid Cabela's catalog.  You know, the big one in the hardback book that I will stub my toe on in the bathroom for the next year.  What a disappointment that was!  I'm sure the look on my face was priceless.  The poor postal lady probably was wondering what the crazy lady was scowling about.

Koin Keeper- it's a keeper

I tried a new pattern today and fulfilled one of my goals.  The Koin Keeper. 

I really liked this pattern, it was quite fast.  I think the part that took the longest was turning it right side out.  The zipper was a snap, and I don't have a lot of zipper experience, but felt pretty positive about this one.

Here's a picture of my complete SWAP package.  I will be shipping to my partner this week.

Charming Girls Goals for July and August

Seriously, I have so many things I want to get done in July and August that I doubt it is humanly possible!  LOL.  But, all the same, I am going to try.  At least by over goaling, it leaves me some options. 

Goal 1-  Finish quilting my Schnibbles for the contest and put the binding on it. 

Goal 2-  Make another Camielle's Bag this time out of LOVE by Amy Butler.  EDITED 7/1/10:  I may opt to make a Phoebe Bag instead.  It is a new pattern I'm itching to try.  It is free and you can find the link here.

Goal 3- Make 2 bags of my choice out of this new fabric I picked up.

Goal 3- Get the quilt top done for Plan C out of Attitude Girls. 

Goal 4-  Sew on my sashing and border strips to my Pinwheel Quilt Along.

Goal 5-   Make 2 Birdie Slings one from Moda and the other from Free Spirit.

Plan 6- If Baby cooperate, finishing the center square and putting the blocks/borders together for this baby quilt. 

Goal 7:  Make this little wallet (Koin Keeper) for my bag partner.

I hope to get a head start on some Christmas presents here, as you can see. 

We also have many fun family events planned:

1.  Buddy gets to go to 2 days camps (one is a camp I attended as a kid, the second is a soccer camp he wanted to go to).

2. I am going to help my mom a bit with cleaning out my grandmother's house.

3.  We hope to go camping if things work out. 

We've already had quite a bit of family fun this summer:  the boys went and watched Karate Kid, Buddy and I went and watch Toy Story 3, Buddy and I are working on our own version of a children's picture book, Buddy and I have went to Splash Village twice, and we had a great time watching fireworks last night.