A purse and a finish

First of all .. I know you may be sick of seeing the christmas tree placemats, especially since it is only September. But, they are finally finished!! So I will show one to you for the last time. I have a couple of other things in the works for my partner too, which I will show a peek of later.



I am pretty happy with them. I really hope my swap partner loves them too!



I also finished a bag or purse ... not sure what to call it actually. I don't think I would use this as a purse, probably more in addition to my purse when I had lots of stuff to carry!! I am really happy with how it turned out!

I learned a new technique for this bag. I put in grommets for the first time, and let me tell you, punching holes right in the middle of the fabric you just spent time sewing together is mighty scary. I put on leather handles that can be removed and put to another bag. Or at least that's how the lady at the store convinced me to buy handles that were ridiculously expensive!!

If I were going to make another one for someone else, I would have to come up with a different solution for the handles. They cost more than the material. That seems a bit crazy doesn't it?

Well ... I am off to sew : )

Quilting the placemats and a sleepy visitor

I am almost finished quilting the placemats. I decided to use the Essex Linen on the back. I hope it isn't too plain, but it's too late now! I didn't take any pictures of the back, but here are some pictures of the front.







Now I just have to pick the binding material. I am thinking this print by cosmo cricket. What do you think???





So, yesterday, while I was inside sewing, my dog started barking like a crazy freak. Now he occasionally barks at the odd dog walking by, but this was crazy barking. So I went outside, and saw this little fellow snuggled in the crook of the tree. Murphy really wanted to eat this raccoon up, not realizing that raccoons can be vicious fellas. I am glad that he was safely up in the tree!





This raccoon slept up there (and it was really high - like 30+ feet high) for the entire day. I can't believe it didn't fall out. He must have really wedged in there.

Hope you have a great day!

Potholder pass anyone??

I love the idea of a swap .. and I have joined up in two so far. So, when I saw this new swap starting up for it's 5th round, I jumped right in!



The idea on this swap is to make two potholders, and a christmas ornament for a secret partner. I can't wait to get started!

Just as an aside, I don't understand why some pictures get chopped off a little on the right hand side. Does anyone know how to fix that?

I won't be getting my partner info until next week, but I have created a mosaic to inspire my would be partner. I am still working away on my swap items for the savy seasons swap, but I am getting closer to finishing those off. I will show more pictures of those soon.



For some reason, the description linking to the owners of these pictures is not coming up properly - but if you click on the picture, they should show up. Not all the pictures are of potholders, or of ornaments, but it sure puts me in the festive mood!

More progress ...

I have been working on odds and ends today, and have made a little more progress on the placemats for my savy seasons partner. I had someone ask about how I made the trees, and I will try my best to do a little tutorial soon. I just didn't really take any pictures when I was doing them, so it may take me a few days. That being said, I should give credit where credit is due!! I did use the idea from the little forest quilt over at the purl bee (although my sizes are a little different, it's the exact same concept so they deserve the credit!).



At this point I can't decide what fabric to use for the back. At first, I was going to use a fun Christmas fabric, but now I am leaning towards more of the Essex Linen that I used on the front. I am going to sleep on it for a few days. The deciding factor may end up being if I have enough of the Essex Linen for the backs of 4 placemats.

I also worked a little on a "mini" Christmas tree skirt. I got this tutorial over at the Moda bakeshop. It ended up a lot bigger than I thought it would, but hopefully it will still work. I am having sooo much fun making these Christmas items for my partner.



I would love to give a HUGE thank you to Ruth at Sew Love Fabrics, and also Rachel at Stiched in Color, where I won this awesome 1/2 yard bundle of Christmas fabrics.



See you soon ...

TA DA! Christmas trees

I know that you knew they were Christmas trees, but I thought you would want to see them.



It took much longer than I thought it would to finish these little trees. There was lots of finicky trimming to make sure they were all squared up, and all the same size.







It was totally worth it. I love these little trees. Now, off to make them into something.

progress ...

Well ... a little progress has been made. Can you tell where this is going??



My partner in the Savy Seasons swap has a Christmas theme, so I am thinking these are going to turn into some placemats. I have lots of other ideas too, but not sure if they are going to come to fruition. I will be sure to show you when/if they do.

I actually created a mosaic of the things I liked for my secret partner. Pretty cool stuff huh?



There are so many talented people in this swap! I have to say it is a little intimidating at times. I want to make sure that I make something that my partner is happy with, but that isn't too much out of my comfort zone! I think I have a pretty great partner, so I am hoping to make them something they will enjoy and use!

Anyway, other than this, not much going on in my little crafty world. With the kids heading back to school, and sports starting up again, my sewing time is disappearing!! I am missing the laid back easy going non-schedule of summer already.

I really good when I have a purpose.

Or even better, I am really good with a deadline : )

I joined a swap called "The SavVy { Seasons } - a modern Swap" on flickr. This is the second swap that I have joined where you make something for a "secret" partner. The first one that I joined was a pillow swap.

I must say, IT IS SOOOOO FUN! It challenges you to work with someone else's likes and dislikes = which may or may not be the same as yours. And you also get a surprise in return. How cool is that???

I got my partner info today, and the stalking (in a good way) and the sewing has begun!! My partner opted for a Christmas theme. So ... I have started with this:



Did lots of slicing, and now I have this:



Stay tuned!! I see lots of christmasy fun coming!!

Done!

Hey!! I finally finished something!! From start to finish, without doing anything else!!

I used an Oliver + S pattern called "a day in the park backpack tote". It makes a fun little bag. It can be used as a tote, or as a backpack. It has two pockets on the inside, one of which has a zipper. I love it!! I have to say that this pattern was so easy to follow. Sometimes when I follow a pattern, I have to read each step over and over and over, and still kinda wing it. NOT with this pattern! It is written in a language I understand.







I had a little helper ...



He slept beside me pretty much all day in a little patch of sunshine.

dots are fun ...

I started working on another new project - because who doesn't need even more wips?? I was flipping through the book called "make" by Cath Kidson, and got inspired.

I have never done applique before, but it seems to be working ..







I just have 30 or so more to sew on ...