artsy-crafty babe

s-l-o-w

Slow can be good.  This is a lesson I'm just now learning.  I'm slowing down, trying to learn to enjoy the ride.  I don't know how I ever got on the fast train in the first place, but it sure was wearing me out!  Guess what else?  I'm sleeping!  Going to bed early is a good thing.  Especially after a little reading and knitting a few rows.  Yes, I'm still sewing, just not as quickly as I have been.  I'll sew a seam here, a seam there, but there's no rush.  I have two bags in progress now.  I could have killed myself to crank them both out in an afternoon, but I chose not to.  I've also been working on patterns.  My pleated purse pattern is in the hands of my pattern testers at this very moment, and I've been working on the patttern for this one, which will be available for pdf download very soon.  Hmm, maybe I haven't slowed down all that much, but it sure feels like I am.

obsessed

As usual, I had a whole list of projects that I wanted to complete over the weekend, I always do.  And, like always, I don't get near as much accomplished as I think I can.  I have a good reason this time - I am OBSESSED with knitting.

This is Ms. Marigold, started on Friday night.  I have to say, I'm enjoying this one more that the other. 

As much as I wanted to knit some more last night, I didn't.  I switched gears to make some bags, one a custom order (the blue one), the other a prototype using my printed pattern.   The pattern seems to go together okay, so now I need to work on the instructions, which, to me, is the hardest part.

Okay, there's a few minutes before Ava's speech therapist arrives, so I had better get to knitting!  I'm obsessed, I tell ya!!

some late night sewing

Last night I gave up a little sleep to make myself a new bag.  I've been carrying around this bag for a few months now, and it's just too small.  I'm a big bag girl at heart!  I need room for a few notebooks, my camera, my wallet, and who knows what else.  I've tried the little purse thing many times, and it just doesn't work for me, so a big bag it is.

I'm pleased with this.  There are a few things I'll change the next time I make it, if there is a next time.  This was made using the the lining piece of my pleated tote pattern (which needs to be redrafted - it's kind of crude!!).  I sliced and diced the pattern to do the piecing.  Forgive me, but I'm not sure if I made the pattern bigger than it is, I think I may have made it a little taller.  I did change up the bottom darts, making them a little wider and longer to give the bag more depth.

I think this bag will carry me through the rest of summer just fine.

sewing the day away

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the summer top love! All weekend long I thought about making another, but I never did get around to it. I did, however, manage to wear that top twice - worn, washed, then worn again. I wish I could make one for every day of the week. Anything that can accommodate my boobs, hide my ginormous muffin top, and not look like a total tent is a winner (shh, if I am sporting a tent, don't tell me, I like to live in denial).

I had high hopes for cranking out another one yesterday.  My sweet husband took the kids away from the house for a few hours to give me some sewing time.  Before I could start on another top, I wanted to finish the three black & white bags I had in the works for my shop.  I honestly thought I could knock them out in no time.  I grossly underestimated how much work I had left to do on them.  I ended up spending all my "free" time along with a big chunk of "after kids go to bed" time to finish these bags.  But now they're done, and no longer taking up any brain power - I can move on.  You can bet that I'm moving on to another top for moi!!

**these will be in the shop shortly, er, probably sometime this week, I'm not making any promises!!

black & white - revisited

I'm so happy to have gotten around to finishing something that really, really like!  I had planned on making this for the shop, but ended up donating it for the Baton Rouge Little Theater silent auction.  This is the first time that I've done anything local, so I wanted it to be good.  I want to make a good impression, ya know?  Lucky for me (or you) I have just enough fabric left to squeak out another one.  Hmm, decisions, decisions!! 

black & white

I'm trying to tap into the urge, though all I managed to do was cut out a few bags.  That's as far as I got.  Can you see a theme there?  I seem to be into black & white at the moment.  (Ha!  I'm even wearing black & white today)  I did that two nights ago.  Last night I planned to cut out the linings and interfacing, but my dryer broke, so went out to dinner.

Dinner was a total disappointment, so then I really didn't feel like working on any sewing projects. We all watched a movie instead.

Interestingly, while I was looking for the dryer manual I came across this old thing.  I think I could have some fun with this.  It sure brings back memories.  If I don't get around to my sewing projects any time soon, at least I have something new to play around with (you know, while I'm not doing any laundry!!).

d-o-n-e

Well, I faced the beast and conquered Butterick 4560.  I'm embarrassed to admit to how long it took me to complete this, but is was many, many hours.

I'd like to burn this pattern.  It wasn't particularly difficult, it just took f-o-r-e-v-e-r.  All those freaking pockets!!  There are no less than 8 pockets in that thing. 

If you want a huge diaper bag with a ton of fussy pockets, then this pattern is for you.  Personally, I'm not a pocket person.  I lose things with too many pockets.  Also, the strap is way too long.  I reduced it by 6" and it's still too long.

I did it, it's done, and I never want to do it again.  Now that I'm done with it, I do think it turned out pretty cute, just not cute enough to attempt it again!

day 23 :: happy

Finally, I'm happy with the shape, size, and construction! TGIF :-)

day 15 :: gift

From me to myself.

***Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes yesterday.  You sure know how to make a girl feel loved!!  I had a wonderfully fabulous day full of good food (of course) and sweet gifts!  It was perfect, I couldn't have asked for more ;-)

day 12 :: results

the product of my "me time"  (soon to be added my etsy shop)