artsy-crafty babe

one down...

One thing can be crossed my to-do list - the Amy Butler stitch-along clutch!  Now I am finally a legit participant :)

Man, this is one whoppin' big clutch!  There is no way that I see myself carrying this around in my hand, so I had to add some straps.  I like it.  After reading the other participants reviews, I didn't even fool with the divider insert.  Actually, I didn't even read the directions.  I like to wing it.

If you're curious, the fabric used is the leftovers from a skirt I made last summer.  The lining, straps, and flap are from a heavy twill I found on the bargain table of wally world.  I also used a magnetic snap instead of velcro.  Oh, and I'm a cheater - that big button isn't even sewn on.  By the time I got it all sewn up last night I wasn't in the mood to do any hand sewing.  Good enough to call it done.

so much to do...

Feel free to move on to the next blog, this is just one of my ramblings about all that I'd like to accomplish on the crafty front in the near future.  **pictured above are the new fabrics I recently purchased from Sew Mama Sew.

In Stitches, March.  I am the suckiest participant ever.  I've been proudly displaying that banner over there in my sidebar for almost three months now, but have yet to make one single thing.  Nothing.  Yeah, I suck.  I have 3 days to make this one right.  I can do it!

Tie One On, March/April.  Another stitch along I've been neglecting.  I haven't made an apron in a year.  A whole freakin' year!  I have my apron designed and my fabric & rick rack bought. Thank goodness I have all of next month to finish this one up.  This one is moving to the bottom of the list.

Fat Quarter challenge.  Something else I'm sucking at.  I have some ideas floating around.  I think I'll tackle this one this week, or next.  I hope my kids feel like going to bed on time.

Easter stuff.  I have high hopes of making Alex a pair of shorts and Lily a dress or skirt.  I *think* I can swing this one.  I already have the pattern for Alex's shorts cut out, and if I go with a skirt for Lily, that shouldn't be a problem.  I'll save this for the Friday before Easter.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute!

Two more custom orders.  Oh yeah, I forgot about those.  I'll fit that in somewhere, I think.

Okay, I think that covers it.  Now I need to get busy!!

something else finished

Here is the finished product of that patchwork I showed way back when.  I really like how this bib and burp cloth set came out.  This was made for a baby boy born not too long ago.  I have a hard time coming up with cute things for boys, so I'm quite proud that I was able to make something work.  For the terrycloth backing on these I used a super soft, thick, hand towel I found at the Dollar Tree, of all places.  I never see things like that there, so it must have been a fluke.  There were only a few available, so I bought them all for future projects.  I ended up not using nearly as much patchwork as I thought I would, so I have plenty left over.  Who knows what will become of it, though you can probably guess there will be some sort of patchwork bag in my future!

more black & white

Wow, thanks for all the bag love this weekend!  Isn't it funny how a fabric can totally make an item?  I think anything made in that black & white fabric would rock, whether it be a skirt, handbag, or wristlet.  Yep, I said wristlet - I couldn't help myself!  After staring at that black & white bag and wishing that I had enough fabric to make myself one (to match my skirt, of course), I dug up my scraps in hopes that there was enough to make something.  Lucky for me, I was able to squeeze out a few wristlets from my odd shaped scraps.  I do believe I've used every single inch of that fabric!!  I am so in love with these!  I'm keeping one for myself, but the other two will be up for grabs in my etsy shop.

Some of you asked about that fabric, I wish I some answers.  I bought it a few years ago to make a skirt (yes, it took me two years to get around to it).  It's a cotton lycra blend.  I have no idea who made it or where I bought it.  I wish now that I had bought more of it.  Oh well.

finished projects and a wip

It's been a pretty blah week here at chez artsy-crafty.

We've dealt with strep throat, cranky kids, and a non-sleeping baby (did I mention I've been up since 3:30 am?).

Despite all that, I did manage to complete a few custom orders, with a few  more in the works.

TGIF!!!  Tonight, it's drinks and dinner out with the girls.  I sooooo need it!! 

Have a great weekend :)

momentous occasion

I've been holding out on you guys.  Something marvelous has happened in my home.  I haven't mentioned it earlier because I didn't want to jinx it, but Alex is potty trained!!!  Yes, I do believe I hear trumpets sounding and angels singing.  I'd love to attribute this to my stellar parenting skills, but honestly, it was all Alex.  Late one night about 2.5 weeks ago we found Alex in his closet changing out of his diaper into big boy under wear.  He would NOT take them off.  He would NOT go to bed unless we let him sleep in under wear.  Because we were all tired and wanted him to GO TO BED, we let him.  Yes, it was a leap of faith.  Rarely had he ever gone longer than a few hours in under wear and we had never witnessed him wake up dry before.  You can imagine my utter *shock* when he woke up dry the next morning.  He hasn't worn a diaper since.  We have had a few accidents, but nothing to complain about.  Wahoo!!!  I am so very proud of my little man!!!

**next post, back to regularly scheduled programming - I promise to talk about something crafty**

wearing of the green

We had a great weekend.  Beautiful weather. St. Patrick's Day fun.  Crawfish boil.  Good times with friends.  Here's a few highlights, more here.

I told you there'd be more...

It's only mid March, so I guarantee that there will be many more to follow.  With this beautiful, warm spring weather we've been having, I can't hep but wear skirts!   I'm beginning to think that I need to add a "skirts" category. Here are my latest two, both made from the Cute Skirts pattern, bringing my grand total for 2007 up to 3.

Version #2, made from an Amy Butler print.

Not nearly as stunning as the black & white version.  I'm kind of so-so on it.  At least it matches perfectly with a top I already own.

Version #3, made from a very boring khaki stretch sateen.

This fabric wasn't at all what I thought it was when I ordered it.  For one, the stretch went down the roll, as opposed to across it.  This wasn't a problem because I was making a skirt, all I had to to was turn my pattern pieces so that the stretch went across the panels as opposed as the length of it.  Also, there's this kind of sheen to it.  Not a normal sateen sheen, but more crisp, kind of hard to explain.  I did not like it at all, but once the skirt was made up, I don't find it so offensive.  In fact, I hardly notice the sheen at all.  As boring as it is, I do believe this will be a wardrobe staple this season.

As much as I love the Cute Skirts pattern, I'm starting to get a little bored with it.  I think my next versions will be simple A-line skirts.  You can't go wrong with that!

cocktail anyone?

Thanks for all the bag love yesterday!  I don't know what's gotten into me, but I am on a serious bag kick at the moment (just warning you).  When I came across these adorable cocktail kitchen towels I knew that they MUST be turned into bags.  Aren't they fun?

Wouldn't this be a cute accessory with a little spring dress?  I do believe I'm in love.  Thanks Martha for the inspiration (and all the great kitchen towels)!

This one will go in my etsy shop when I get around to uploading it.

some bags

See?  Lily wasn't the only one who was productive this weekend.  I worked on some bags (of course!).  I did a little tweaking on my pattern and tried something new.  I really do love working out a pattern to get it just "so", that's often when I find myself in the zone.  Since my last version, the way I sewed my straps had been on my brain.  I had the bright idea that rectangular rings would work well to attach the straps to the bag.  It was a good idea in theory, but I wasn't pleased with my execution.  That's how the fabric covered buttons on the floral bag came to be - I had to hide my not so perfect stitching!  It worked out okay in the end because it incorporated a bit of the lining fabric.

I've been making an effort to use the "good stuff" in my new bags.  Boy, does it make a difference!  I don't know why I have such a problem cutting into my good fabrics.  There will always be pretty fabrics to buy, so there's really no need to hoard what I have.  I guess I'm just greedy!!