Pretty Pony Emma Purse (ChrisW Designs)

One of the fastest (and cutest!) patterns I have in my stash is the Emma by ChrisW Designs! It got reworked a few years ago and the flap option is really awesome!

Shortened strap for a small child sized!

WIP Thursday - Slow Progress is Still Progress!

I was doing great this weekend, getting through my list and almost caught up! Then I got hit with a doozy of a headcold that turned into a sinus infection.  Thanks to some good antibiotics and 2 days of rest, I'm on the mend, but I didn't get nearly as much finished as I wanted! 

To save the easily offended, Baby covered up the bad word.  :p

WIP Wednesday - October (Cue Evil Laughter)

Mwahahahaha!  Although for me, the evil laughter has a slight tinge of panic in it.  My youngest is the only one that still gets/wants to wear a costume to school, and she hasn't decided what she wants to be yet...granted my usual costume plan involves them picking a costume in September, changing their mind 7 times, then settling on an obscure one in early October so that I can order supplies and procrastinate until the weekend before Halloween and then forgo sleep in an attempt to finish it. 

Large Hosta Hobo in progress

Emma Sew Along, Final Stretch!

This was a quick sew along, so I hope everyone had a chance to at least get started!  There are only 2 more days for it, but you are of course welcome to make and post your creations at any time in the ChrisW Designs Facebook page!  We'd love to see them!

Black fabric with purple ruffle side

WIP Wednesday - Another Month Bites the Dust!

Totally not ready for it to be December tomorrow!  I managed to finish a few things over the break, but not as much as I hoped!  Once I get the sewing explosion cleaned up, I can focus on finishing up all the odds and ends of projects that got stashed and lost over the last few months...I think my January resolutions will involve the 'finish 2 UFO/WIP before starting something new' challenge I gave myself a few years ago...and there may be a fabric diet...

I'm pretty sure December will fly by 20% faster than November did...

WIP Wednesday - Sleep is for the Weak.

I keep telling myself that I can function on less and less sleep since I have too much that keeps getting added to my list to waste time 'sleeping.'  Soon I'll move from giant cups of coffee straight to the caffeine patches.  I wonder if they come in flavors?  Perhaps this is a sign I'm already sleep deprived?  I do get a bit loopy around 4 am...

I'm Batman.  And also a little crazy, but we knew that.

WIP Wednesday - Serendipity Hip Sew Along Week 1

I'm going to try to keep on track with this sew along...I may even try to cut 2 out at once, to see if I can stream line anything.  It may end up that I just have twice the number of pieces to lose...BUT I think I have a new method for keeping track of my pieces!

I recently purchased some numbered pins (for quilting according to the package) but I think I can use them to mark my pieces instead of using chalk that is impossible to write with (it's a giant triangle...) or pens that the ink disappears when you iron (but they come back in the freezer).  To keep track, I printed out the cutting list and put numbers next to each piece.  Now I just have to make sure I don't lose that piece of paper...  I could also try sticky notes, but those end up not sticking if I have to move them, and I usually pin them on anyway.  I won't pin the vinyl (avoid extra holes!) but those pieces should be obvious!

At least they are nice looking pins!

WIP Wednesday - Time To Kick It Into High Gear!

I really want to get my pile of projects down to a manageable stack, plus get started on all my other planned ones...but instead I signed up for a spring tote swap and to lead the next ChrisW sew along.  Yeah...I'm slightly insane...Or maybe I need a Time Turner like Hermione had in Harry Potter...I would only use it for good, I swear!

Dug out my youngest child's bow stash so I could take pics for Etsy...she has a lot of bows!

WIP Wednesday - Feeding the Stash Monster

I admit, I'm addicted to fabric.  It's so pretty, with all the colors and patterns, and then the textures - soft, satiny, rough, cuddly...  I figure it's better than being addicted to a controlled substance!  And since I spend my money on fabric, I'll never have money for drugs anyway.  ;)  I am trying to at least start cutting into and using my pretty fabrics, instead of just putting them into stacks everywhere around my sewing area... but they are coming out with awesome new stuff faster than I can sew it up!

This pretty princess sketch is new at Joann's.  I think it needs to be a purse or 2!

WIP Wednesday - Some Days It Doesn't Pay To Get Out of Bed

This last week has been pretty random...I wanted to finish the matching Harry Potter Always wallet, plus I had an order for a party's worth of pony ears.  25 sets of ears later (and only a slight high from all the glue - ventilation is important!) and I was ready to go back to the wallet.

These at least seem to be ok...

WIP Wednesday - Hey, Guess What - One Month to Christmas!

Did you realize Christmas is in one month??  I didn't until someone pointed it out this morning.   Uhhhhh....time to start just chewing espresso beans by the handful, no time to wait for it to turn into coffee!

I could use a pair of wings right about now...if they made me sew faster!

WIP Wednesday - This and That

The last week brought a lot of random things to my list...My Little Pony patches, MLP ears, crochet hats, procrastinating on sewing purses...

Pick-A-Pocket Wallet - Sew Along Starting Next Week!!

It's time once again for another sew along!  This time we'll be doing the Pick-A-Pocket Wallet by ChrisW.  This one will be run a little differently, Christine is going to post the steps on her blog and I'll be leading the sewing in the FaceBook group.  This was my tester version, so I can't wait to try one with the real pattern!

 

Pattern Testing - Pick a Pocket Wallet by ChrisW Designs

Once again I was fortunate enough to test Christine's newest pattern - The Pick a Pocket Wallet (releasing today!)  and this one is another great pattern.  The wallet has a TON of pockets - the version I made has 1 zippered pocket, 4 large slip pockets, 12 card pockets and an ID pocket.  (and I didn't melt it this time!)  I chose a fun My Little Pony patterned fabric for the outside, along with one of my hoarded MLP snaps...I only have about 50 left! 

Embroidered Hobo Bag - Laney by Swoon

Finally more pictures of the Laney Hobo bag!  This was a fun pattern that came together very fast!  The curve sewing was a little tricky, but using ALL the pins I own on it seems to help!  If I had stuffed it full to the brim, I bet it would have taken a much nicer picture, but I didn't want to lug everything we own outside for that!

(Finally something to use my stockpiled My Little Pony fabric on!)

WIP/UFO Wednesday - Planning for My "Next Big Thing"

I am soooo close to having the My Little Pony hobo bag finished, I just need to add on some snaps, try to iron it one more time, and take some (much) better pictures!  Then I can finally mark it off my list from sometime last year...

(Front of the Laney Hobo bag by Swoon - Free pattern!)

Giving Birth...to a Purse. Almost As Painful as Real Labor.

When you are almost finished with a purse, there are a few different ways to attach the inside to the outside.  One method is called "Drop in" where you put one inside the other and VERY carefully sew over lines you have already sewn, usually having to do some hand stitching to close where your machine refuses to reach.  My hand sewing is...special, so I prefer other methods where I can hide my stitching.

Another method I call the "Birthing" method.  It involves sewing the right sides together, leaving a small hole, and then forcing the purse right side out through that hole.  Usually the hole is in the lining or on the top and it will be closed with either hand stitching or top stitching.  And of course the hole never seems quite large enough.  For the latest purse I'm working on (The Laney Hobo bag by Swoon) I think I made the hole even smaller than I was supposed to.  Usually I measure and mark so I leave at least as much as they recommend, but not last night...

(about 5 minutes into the birth)

In The Hoop Embroidery -- Who knew embroidery machines could do so much??

I really love my new embroidery machine.  Have I mentioned that this week?  REALLY love it.  Really really REALLY.  Besides doing awesome designs, I discovered that it does this neat thing that the 'professionals' (what I consider anyone who has been doing a skill long enough to know more than me!) call "In the hoop" projects.  Mine is only a tiny hoop, so I can only do small projects, but there are some out there that can make purses entirely on their embroidery machine!  With zippers! (insert amazed face here)

Even limited to my 4x4 hoop area, I have still managed to make some fun bows from the Bobbin for Appliques patterns.  I planned on making a few for the etsy store, but so far they've all been claimed before I could even get that far! 

(My first one, using some felt I stole, er, borrowed from my oldest)