A Day Late

I know in my last blog post I told you to check back the next day (yesterday) to see what I've been working on lately. The post is a day late though because I got a bit distracted by being offered a JOB!!! A job I didn't even apply for, and the best part? It will be the first job I've ever had that didn't require a food handlers permit =/ I'll have a desk and everything. Plus, no customer service. So that's a definite plus. ANYWAY... on to the actual post =)

First up is my Pay It Forward gift for Christine. I have made several things for her already, so I wasn't sure what to send her for this. I decided on a ruffle clutch and I really hope she likes it. If not, she has an adorable little girl who might like it for dress-up =)

Here's a picture of the inside. I like the little pocket and I'm thinking I might make one for myself.



A friend of mine is having a birthday soon. She loves comic book characters, especially Wonder Woman. I made another version of this clutch using a fabric with Super Women on it. This time I made it without the ruffle, as this friend is slightly less "girly"...

Without the ruffles or the wrist strap, I think it makes a great oversized wallet.



My dear friend, Lizze, and I have a monthly swap that we do together. Up until last month we have both been really good about getting our stuff done and sent off. July was a little crazy for us both though and I didn't get my swap item out in time. We decided on swapping pillow covers and I though a Swoon block would make an awesome pillow.

Here's what I came up with. I never did get a picture of the finished pillow cover, but I quilted it and used a black Kona on the back. I also made her a little zipper bag and a set of 3 magnets for a belated birthday gift, which I did not get a picture of.


I have been having a hard time keeping up with sewing obligations lately and I wonder how I'll ever keep up working full time outside the home. I will just have to say no to swaps, I suppose, and sew for the shop or myself when I have spare time. How do you juggle work, kids, housework, and sewing?!?!

Swooning (Slowly) Along

You may or may not recall my post awhile ago about the practice Swoon block I made, but I have since cut up all of my Meadowsweet fabrics by Sandie Henderson and have pieced together two of the four blocks I plan to  make. I know 4 blocks doesn't sound like a lot, but each block in this quilt pattern is a whopping 24" square!

I'm not super happy with the first one. There isn't quite enough contrast between the two fabrics to make the pattern really stand out. I like how the second one turned out much better.

It was a bit on the windy side here today, so getting this picture was more difficult than you might imagine.

If you really want to be inspired to take the plunge and start one of these beautiful quilts, check out this Flickr group for some serious eye candy!

Gettin' my Swoon on

I have had the Swoon quilt pattern by Camille Roskelley for a long time. I have been rather intimidated by it, but I finally gave into the Swoon.

A Flickr group was started awhile back for a Swoon-a-long by the lovely Miss Katy. Seeing all of the finished blocks and beautiful quilts gave me the push I needed to get started. I have a big empty wall over my stairs and I thought a smaller version of the Swoon in bright, happy colors would look great there. This pattern is great because it gives you the number of pieces you need for just one block. Most quilt patterns just say to "cut _ pieces of color #1" etc... to make the whole quilt.

I got out a couple of fat quarters and decided to make a practice block first just to see if I could do it without too much frustration. After a few hours (yes, it took me that long) I had this beautiful block: 

It was time consuming, and I did get confused quite often with the color 1 and color 2. But that was my fault for not paying close enough attention. This block is huge. Each one measures 24" square. I'm going to use this practice block as a mini quilt.

I gathered together my bright, cheerful fabrics and I'm all ready to go!

A Break From Sewing and Back Again

I have been in a serious sewing slump lately. Until yesterday, it had been over a week since I had even sat at my machine. I had been absolutely uninspired.

During that time I did teach myself to knit. My daughter, Alice, wanted to learn so we watched a few videos on YouTube and within the hour we were knitting.

I still can't actually make anything in a shape other than a square or rectangle, but I'm working on it.

Over the weekend Ben was in a play at school called 'The Wiz of the West'. It was put on by the Missoula Childrens Theatre. The kids all have an audition on Monday, and if they get a part they practice all week long and have their performance on Saturday. They don't allow you to take any photos during the performance but I got some cute ones afterward and I bought a DVD copy of the play. Here's Ben in his tarantula costume hanging with his sisters after the show:

I have my first craft fair coming up in a couple weeks, so this break from sewing was really poor timing. Yesterday I still didn't feel like it, but I decided I needed to force myself to just make something. ANYTHING. Pinterest is a really great place for finding inspiration (and wasting several hours on the computer) when you have lost your mojo. I got on, determined to find something simple to make, but wasn't feeling the urge to make any of the things I found. I ended up making my own pattern and these are what I came up with:

They are cases for iPads. I thought they might sell well at the craft fair, especially as Christmas gifts. The first 3 I made were from beautiful fabrics I received from my lovely friend Rebecca. They reminded me of fall. Originally I was going to make placemats with them for my thanksgiving table, but I couldn't find a coordinating background fabric I liked to go with them.

The fabric line is called 'Swoon' designed by Melissa Averinos. I just LOVE it.

After I made these I made a few more. I was kind of addicted after I made the first one. I guess you could say that my mojo has been found.

Also, my Misfits hoop is Finished and has been sent to it's new home. I want to show it SO BAD, but I don't want to give away any surprises. I hope my partner loves it (and the special extra goody I made to go with it). As soon as she gets it, I will definitely be posting pictures for all to see!