I'm back

Please excuse my bloggy break last week. We were visiting family, so I let blogging slip to the back burner for the week. Since I didn't make much while we were gone, I thought I'd share a couple things I made recently and haven't shared yet. Although I did pack some fabric and even contemplated bringing my own sewing scissors. Hah, am I going crazy? Maybe.

Anyway, I made this clutch for my mother in law's birthday.

I would love to add a clutch to my Etsy shop next...that is, as soon as the magical time fairy visits to grant me a few extra hours one day!

 Aaaand a picture of the inside:

Now for Mother's day presents. I forgot to take pictures of the presents I made for my mom. Oops. But here's a picture of me modeling the apron I made my mother in law.

We gave it to her a few minutes before we left this weekend so I didn't get to see it in action.

Hope everybody had a good week!

Check out my Checkbook

Could a title get more corny? Probably, but I won't go there tonight. I'm here to share my new and improved checkbook cover. You tell me which one is cuter (don't worry, I gave you a little hint).

If you guessed the super duper cool plaid one, you'd be correct! You won't be disappointed by the inside either.

Sorry if you feel like you're not getting the whole effect. I just didn't feel like putting all of our bank account information on display. The fact that I got to show off the new nail polish I got today too is just a bonus : )

And I bet you'll never guess where I got the fabric (unless you've already scrolled down...).

That's right. A pair of shorts. Those shorts gave me a few good years (ok probably more like several at this point, they needed to be retired). I wasn't loving them anymore though so they were in the formerly Goodwill, now potential sewing project pile.

The pattern, which I actually followed almost exactly, is from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. This is the first thing I've made out of the book, but there are other things I'm looking forward to trying like a giganto purse (my title, not hers), an apron, and pj pants.

I picked the book up at my local library and it even came with patterns! So if you haven't already, head to your library and see if they have any sewing books. I'm very happy that ours carries a few sewing books, with patterns, that were written in the last 5 years (read: the patterns are for things I would actually use/wear rather than for items like an embarrassing jacket with shoulder pads). That kind of makes up for the fact that our even localer (localer? hmm probably not a word...it's closer to our house) library is only open 2 days a week for 4 hours...or something like that. So I have to go to the not quite as local library for books.

Hmm that last bit took me a little bit off topic and made it harder to end the post.... You should check your checkbook to see if you can deposit some more style in it. Go ahead and roll your eyes, I know it that was pathetic pushing it. I hope your week is off to a good start!

Hello Bandwagon

Can I jump on?

I was kind of overwhelmed by all of the chevron patterns taking over. And theeennnn I joined the crowd. Way to be original Susan - not. Oh well, I think I should get bonus points for construction even if a million fifty other people made chevron projects this week.

I started with some extra placemats and the vintage fabric I won from Country Chic Cottage a couple weeks ago.

Since I'm boring I like making clutches, I decided to make another one. After a little creative cutting and piecing and I had the outside.

Lucky for me, the fabric was already interfaced! I assembled the clutch and then thought it needed a little something extra on the front so I added a ruffle. I hand stitched it on since the clutch was already finished and I didn't want the seam to show on the lining.

So the moral of this story is - if life gives you stripes, you can make chevrons. Also, in this case the lemons were free so I paid $0 for my new clutch!

New Purse

I finished a purse for myself this weekend! You might have been thinking I had kind of given up on making things  (or maybe you didn't even notice because you read so many other blogs like I do), but I promise I've been busy. I've made a few gifts that can't make their bloggy debut until the person actually receives them. Ok, technically they could, but that might ruin the surprise.

This post may end up sounding like one giant disclaimer, but oh well. The idea for this purse came from Noodlehead's new 241 Tote, which I love. Really love. I kind of prefer bags with two straps though and I wanted to make sure the dimensions would fit my laptop so I decided to make one similar to it on my own.

See my beautiful sketch of what I wanted it to look like?

Bahahaha!  I'm lucky it turned out slightly better than my sketch! You don't have to tell me not to quit my day job, I know drawing is not my forte. : )

I'm happy with how it turned out, although as Hubs pointed out the fabric is pretty "loud," which is out of character for me. I originally wanted the side pockets to hold a water bottle too but due to a slight miscalculation they're only big enough for a cell phone or keys. Oh well.

Lipgloss also fits, but I rarely wear or carry it...there just happened to be a tube sitting next to my picture-taking spot.

I'm happy to report the waterbottle measuring fiasco did not affect the purse's ability to hold my laptop.

Fits like a dream...or something that implies it fits in the purse well. Yes, there's a ping pong ball in my purse. Just in case.

Why did I crop my lovely head out of the photo? Because I haven't mastered taking a picture without making some kind of awkward weird face. Nor have I mastered moving the DVD case for Tangled and the box of Wheat Thins out of the shot before I take pictures. Oops.

I hope you like it. I'm just excited all of the pieces fit together! Hubs couldn't stop laughing when I told him I used the Pythagorean Theorem to figure out the size of the triangles. Am I really that nerdy? How else do you make sure all of the sides are proportional? Feel free to laugh along with him because I guess I am that nerdy. So here's what you do after you finish laughing:

1. a - Don't hate me for making something similar to something someone else made, I'm not trying to steal anyone's thunder I just needed 2 straps.

1. b - Leave a comment telling me you don't hate me / you don't think my purse looks as bad as the sketch of my purse.   
2. Go order Noodlehead's 241 Tote Pattern so I don't feel bad about not buying one you can make your own that looks more professional and can carry more than lipgloss in the side pocket.
3. Have a wonderful week!