And the winner is...

Tanya from San Diego! Congratulations! Check out Tanya's Etsy store Weebeaks here. Thank you to everyone for your sweet comments. I had so much fun visiting your blogs (haven't quite finished visiting all of you yet, but look forward to it). You all are a talented bunch! Be sure to check back for future giveaways!

May Giveaway!

First of all, thank you to Sew Mama Sew for supporting a blog giveaway day! And, thank you for visiting my blog. I wasn't sure what to do for my giveaway - but I finally decided on this darling little number. The pattern is the "Coming and Going Bag" by That Darn Kat and fabrics are from Patty Young's Andalucia collection. The interior has one pocket and it has a magnetic snap closure. Purse measures 14" W at widest, 9" H at center of purse (not including strap) and strap has approx. 10 1/2" drop.

I would love to continue quarterly giveaways on my blog. I would do monthly giveaways, but honestly, I don't trust myself to have sewn enough to promise that!! Maybe some day... so if you are in for that, please let me know! I typically have a stash of fabric scraps, extra supplies or projects that I've completed and maybe don't think are quite worthy to put in my shop. I have learned so much from all of you creative bloggers out there, I would love to give back in some small way.

So, if you would, leave a comment below and you will be eligible for this giveaway. I will randomly choose a winner on Sunday, May 31st. I will announce the winner via blog post later that afternoon (we're getting back in town that day). But, make sure I have a way to get in contact with you (either blog info or email) so I can let you know if you've won. And since I'm new to blogging and need some more blog friends, feel free to follow my blog too! I do feel a need to give a special THANK YOU to those of you who have left your sweet comments to help me get going!

Making Gifts

I absolutely love making things for people. My poor friends though, they don't really have a say in the matter - they pretty much get what I envision for them. I made this bag for a friend of mine for her birthday this week. I'm pretty sure she told me at one time she liked the colors brown and green and she wanted something with polka dots. I actually started on a bag for her for last year's birthday but just didn't like the way it was coming out, so... it's still sitting in a WIP pile somewhere. As I embarked on this year's attempt, I blocked "polka dots" out of my mind and picked out the fabric and bag that I thought suited her. Never mind that it might not be anything like she really wanted, but I have to say, I just love the way it came out.

This is Amy Karol's bag pattern from her book Bend-the-Rules Sewing and I LOVE how massive it is. It doesn't look this big in the book photo, so honestly, I thought I did something wrong. But, even if I did, I like the way it turned out. A couple of things I did differently: I put a magnetic snap in, although I wasn't happy with the placement (I would have put it a little bit lower). And I had to piece the straps because I didn't have enough fabric - but I actually like the way those came out as well. I also interfaced the exterior fabric with a cotton drill fabric and then used the fusible fleece for the interior interfacing. The bag has a really nice weight to it.

I would love to figure out how to make a zippered version of this - it would make a fabulous travel bag (carry on or my "car" bag that I shove in anything I forgot to pack). And because of the size, it actually put a dent in my fabric stash. I believe I will be making one of these for me very soon.

Giveaways sound like soooooooo much fun so I've decided to take part in Sew Mama Sew's May Giveaway Day, which will start on May 27th. There will be bunches of giveaways from all sorts of crafters, so be sure to head over there on May 27th for your chance to win. For more information, please check out this post at Sew Mama Sew.


I haven't decided yet what my giveaway item will be...hmmm. And I'm not sure if it will be something I've already finished or if I'll be inspired to make something new. Well, I still have a week or so to decide. I'm looking forward to it!!

I'm a Proud Mama!

I am just so proud of my little girl! We attended an art show this evening where she's been taking some after school art classes. The students had to submit 2 of their pieces for the show. She has never been to an art show and she was excited to show us her finished pieces (I had seen them but her daddy had not). We arrived and were looking around when I noticed a little tag next to Emma's floral mosaic...1st place in the Youth Visual Art category!! She was so surprised and we are SO very proud! They announced the winners, read what the judges said about the winning pieces and gave the younger students a fun prize (she won a stained glass craft kit). (sorry about the blurry photo...taken on my cell phone since I didn't think to bring a camera)

After we left E. said to me "Mom, I've never won anything - I mean, I just thought I was doing it for fun". I reminded her that when we do things we love to do or create things we love to create and have fun with it, it shows. Did I mention that I'm so proud?

Because you can never make just one...

Since starting one oldest daughter's crochet blanket, of course I had to start one for younger daughter as well. My 9 year old will make sure I complete hers first, but honestly, this one is going much more quickly. I am a bit wiser after starting the first one and am using much looser stitches on this one. I was a little too ambitious on the first and started with my stitches too tight and they keep getting looser as I go...good thing our kids don't really care if the edges are even. I'm pretty sure it will end up as some unidentified geometric shape. I've learned my lesson and this one is much better. I'm also going to use it vertically like this and it will be more of a throw vs. bed blanket. I'll post the finished projects when I'm done!

Happy Mother's Day

to all you moms out there! I haven't read The Middle Place yet (on my list), but I absolutely love this clip of Kelly Corrigan talking about her mom. Enjoy and have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!!

One down...

and a bunch more to go (unfinished projects that is). I was a little motivated to finish this bag when I saw today's post from Sew Mama Sew. I really adore these fabrics and I think they lend themselves well to this bag pattern (by Artsy-Crafty Babe) - don't you? I do need to confess however that I'm not 100% done with this one...I still have to sew up the hole in the lining and press a little more. And add a bag bottom...hmmm...I'm still noticing a trend here with me not being able to quite finish up a project.

I did it again...

I just couldn't help myself. I just ordered this pattern from Artsy Crafty Babe and this fabric from Pink Chalk Fabrics and I did it...I started another new project. I have a million unfinished projects (okay, not quite that many, but enough that I shouldn't be starting another one)...but I just couldn't help it. The fabric and the pattern were just calling out to me, begging me to start ironing, measuring, cutting, sewing. The problem is, I honestly cannot sit down and make a bag from start to finish - I make too many stupid mistakes because I'm trying finish it too quickly - knowing that it will end up in the WIP pile if I don't. But, after I ripped out a seam because I failed to look at the instructions, I decided to call it quits for today. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can show a little tenacity and finish this one up!