WIP Wednesday - Hey, Where Did November Go?

I keep trying to go to "Today" on my calendar and arguing with it that it's not November yet, and especially not over halfway through November...I'm not ready for it to be this close to Christmas!

Still picking out buttons...

Actually A Mermaid Purse - True Story! The Sandra Saddle Bag by Swoon

I have started collecting embroidery files along with fabric and purse patterns...and most of them could coordinate to make some awesome purses!  When I have no projects in the "MUST FINISH ASAP" pile, I'll randomly browse my Pinterest boards for inspiration.  (I try to pin every file I buy, but I'm sure I missed a few...hundred?)  Or I sit in front of my fabric stash looking for inspiration.  Sometimes both!  This time I decided that the first thing that caught my eye would be the inspiration for my next project.   The applique is from Bobbin For Appliques, and was so clean and easy to stitch!  I knew I had mermaid fabric, but for embroidery to really pop, it needs to be on a less busy fabric...or REALLY bold!

My standard tree pic...If we ever move, I'm going to have to find another tree!

Doctor Who Campfire Messenger Bag or, How Much Awesome Can One Bag Contain?

I've been dreaming of an awesome bag for myself that shows my love for the TV series Doctor Who, and now that Joann's Fabric FINALLY carries some of the licensed fabric, my dreams came true!  I'm pretty sure I could have squeezed in a bit more, but I also wanted to finish the purse eventually!

 

WIP Wednesday - Prep for the Serendipity Hip Sew Along!

Somehow Wednesday snuck up on me again!  It keeps showing up like a bad penny...  The only good news is that Thursday and Friday seem to quickly follow!

Anyway....sorry for the rambling, this is some pretty good cold medicine!

Finishes since last week: 

(Under the front flap - pockets with appliqued vinyl Weeping Angel and Adipose)

 

WIP Wednesday - Moving right along

Last weekend I finally got moving on the new purse, it's all cut out and about 1/2 finished!  For the front pockets I appliqued on some Doctor Who images in vinyl, but it turns out they are slightly off center.  Oh well, it's for me, I'll live with it!

(She can't look at how off center it is, it makes her weep!)

Mug Rug Madness

My new favorite thing to sew is mug rugs.  They are like mini quilts for your desk!  I received my first one last Christmas as a swap gift and it has been gracing my home work desk ever since.  Before that time, I’d never paid attention to them and thought they were just fancy giant coasters.  They are SO MUCH MORE!!  They catch coffee drips from my youngest using the spoon to have her “little tiny taste of coffee” and condensation from iced coffee.  They are perfect for a pile of crackers or cookies (yes, I eat piles of cookies.  I can tell you are jealous).  They are easy to throw in the washer to wash out the remains of said cookies and crackers and coffee drips.  I am a new quilter, so they are also a good way to practice techniques.  Binding seems confusing and intimidating?  Not if you are only doing about 30”!  I can hand sew that in less than time than it takes me to watch a movie! (probably faster if I wasn't watching the movie...)  Worried about quilting?  If you screw up a mug rug, it can mysteriously disappear and no one (perhaps a spouse…) asks where that giant pile of expensive fabric went.  They are quick, so it’s easy to spend a few hours and make one!  Or if you are speedy (not me!) you may even be able to finish one in less than an hour!  I suspect those people who claim to make them in only half an hour are related to the elves in the North Pole.  Or magic.

Here are some of my creations.  An Owl mug rug for one of my BFFs.  I paired with some instant mocha mix and she said it brings a happy spot to her desk at work.  This was my first attempt at applique and it turned out pretty cute, even if I do say so myself.  Not perfect, but that’s the beauty of ‘handmade’ gifts!  I machine stitched the binding on this, so it’s a little wonky.