Category Archives: sewing

My infomercial for the week

Usually I’m a tad behind in my Google reader, and I end up missing some fun sale, or giveaway or contest or something. But it was my lucky day when I was on Twitter and saw Keyka Lou say she was having a sample sale for a laptop sleeve.

Now I already own most of her patterns, but I didn’t have a laptop sleeve and could totally make myself one, but this fabric was cute and it’s made by someone I admire so much. Of course I had to buy it!

The photos are Michelle’s, they’re way better than I can take right now in the scantily lit Canadian winter.

Friday Create Along

Ok I’m not entirely caught on on previous projects. I’ve still got my slippers to crochet and my little sewing thread/scrap catcher thing to make but I did get to this lovely embroidery. And I’m sure glad I did.

I did some things differently, mostly because I was sickly on the couch and didn’t want to get up for anymore colours or to Google a certain stitch . . . I mean I took some artistic license.

I was pumped to try the whipped backstitch but my outer circle ended up a tad wonky so I decided to go around another time in an effort to even it out. Thanks to Nicole for having such an awesomely cute pattern. I proudly showed my hubby “Look!” and he looked and said “What is it?” and even as I started to answer I realized how silly it was sounding in guy speak, “It’s a hedgehog! In a tea cup! Floating . . in the water . . . nevermind.”

So onto this week’s project, the convertable clutch! The PDF pattern is available here on Etsy or here directly from the LBG site. And of course I do have 1 to give away. The lucky winner is . . . .

Ellen!!! (email sent!)

So congrats and I hope you have time this week to get sewing!

My zakka style

I mentioned yesterday I got a copy of Zakka Style just before the holidays. So far it has been responsible for intriguing me enough to actually try making hexies (I had an idea for how to use them) and I managed to sneak this project in on Christmas day. You know, between the chaos of presents and packing and leaving for a trip, I had a few minutes to kill.

I wanted to take the book, my idea notebook and some pens with me on the trip. I couldn’t just take them in some silly plain old pencil case, I *had* to make this cute one. Plus that cute piece of fabric has been begging to be turned into something for quite a while.

Wanna make a clutch/tote?

A while ago I purchased this great pattern and once again, I have permission to share. Coincidentally Vanessa also won a spot in my January ad giveaway and so her cute little button is over there ->

This will be my Friday Create Along project and to let at least one person play along with me I will give away the PDF pattern to one lucky winner on Friday. So leave your name here and I’ll announce a winner on Friday when I reveal my late assignments for my past Create Alongs and put up the details for this one.

I’m at it again

I’ve been making these little pouches again. I love that I can just use up all sorts of odds and ends I have lying around to make them. Have I mentioned how much I love Keyka Lou’s patterns today? Funny thing is I even used some of the scraps I bought from her Etsy shop. I had taken some of my stuff into work before the holidays and the ladies I work with ended up buying almost everything. So now I’ve got to get sewing and build up a new stash!

I did a lot of cutting but these are the first ones to get sewn up.

Productive procrastination

The other night while I was avoiding some of the things I really should have been doing I decided to sew this little guy up. It’s one of Keyka Lou‘s free tutorials. I know I go on about her patterns a lot but I’m totally smitten with them and they’re fun, easy and lovely!

Here’s my Moleskine cover, it’s full of mushroomy goodness.

I even made use of one of my SewTara buttons for the first time. Just in case anyone isn’t sure who’s ideas are inside the little notebook in my purse, now they’ll know!

Get your own personalized buttons here.

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!! Part 2 of 2

Here’s my scrap goodie bag giveaway! Cup cozy giveaway is here. Feel free to enter both. Sorry, giveaways are all done.

One lucky winner will get 10 ounces of fun scraps from my stash! I’m sure I’ll toss in some other fun goodies too. Picture below is just a random scrap photo I had, actual scraps will vary.

Leave a comment and good luck!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!! Part 1 of 2

Yipee!!! It’s here again! Sorry this giveaway is all done.

Here’s my handmade item my I

Perfect to keep your hand nice and cool while you enjoy your favourite warm beverage.

I’m also giving away 10 ounces of fabric scraps, enter that one here. I have a bit of an addiction and I’m sharing it with you. Here are some of my recent scrap acquisitions, you’ll get a random surprise pack made up of this and that (possibly with bits and pieces of what’s below)

Amazing scraps!

I was really on the ball and packaged up my scrap swap packages quick and even ran off to the post office instead of leaving them in the car for days. Then on the weekend I popped over to my friend Tabatha‘s house where we did a little swap of our own. It was supposed to be my yellow wood grain for her green wood grain but when I got there she couldn’t find it. Instead she let me pick some pieces and then she let me raid her ‘scrap bin’ which I have to say looks way better than my fabric stash! And it’s her scraps!! Pieces she doesn’t even really care about anymore!

Part of me felt bad that I hadn’t gone there before I made my packages for the swap. Then part of me was happy because now I get this cool stuff to play with. Yeah, I’m selfish like that, mostly when it comes to beautiful fabric.

Create Along Friday

Wow, so I guess I was busy this week. Friday is now my full day at work, thanks to this whole day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 thing we do in my school board, and I realized as I was drifting off last night that I hadn’t actually written today’s post. Then of course a day of work, a busy evening and last minute craft show prep has kept me from actually posting it. But here is my dumpling pouch a free pattern from my pattern selling friend Keyka Lou. **Her patterns are still just $5 until November 27th**

I love the fun rainbow/froggies in the rain print. For the inside I just reached into my scrap stash and grabbed something.

The pouch opens up ridiculously wide, it would be great for lots of little things like make up, art supplies, or crafting stuffs. The zipper goes in really well once you cut the little notches in it and my dumpling is only a little bit wonky on one side.

Just tilt your head a little and it looks like a really good pouch. Now I have no idea what advice to offer to get this side looking good. Maybe “close your eyes”?

I have absolutely no stinking idea how that happened and I’m stumped on how to fix it. I’ve turned the pouch and tried to resew that seam and every time I turn it back right side out that one corner is all stupid. Soooo oh well I’m just going to have to live with it. However, I will be trying again once I had some spare time! But if you don’t look to hard, or need the pouch to stand up on it’s own it looks great!

For my next trick I’m going to be sewing up one of these handy things. I’m usually fumbling for my headphones in the car to use my phone, or they get all tangled up in my purse or gym bag. I’m hoping this little friend will solve all those problems. Plus it’s got no corners so I can’t really mess it up too much!