Caity ▫ Did tote

When Stephanie at Loft Creations was looking for someone to do a pattern review

 for her~ I leaped! LOL Really! A leap! :-)

Ok, maybe only my heart leaped, but still~ that's a leap!! I was really

excited when she emailed me!!

I have followed Stephanie's blog for quite some time, and I love

her style!

She was looking for reviewers for her newest pattern~

Caity ▫ Did.

Isn't that a fun name? I, um, borrowed this image from Stephanie's blog because

my printer would not print out the cover in color nicely for me. First I ran out of blue ink. Got that, and then the red ran out! :-o Argh! Some days are just like that.

Ok, I know you want to hear my review~ so here we go~~~

I loved that this pdf pattern was only 5 pages = the cover plus

4 printed pages. Easy right?  

You also get a few choices in the Materials List.  I like that because

if you don't have ribbon for the weaving, you can use fabric~ and she tells you how! 

If you don't have one kind of stabilizer, she gives an option there too. It makes

it really easy to gather your supplies and get to work!

The cutting directions were very clear and concise.

I didn't really like that I had to flip through the pages to find the diagrams,

 but they were clearly labeled. And if that is what was needed so I didn't have to print out umpteen pages, then I am fine flipping pages. :-) One of the diagrams didn't really look like 

what we were told to do in the instructions~ the weaving was missing.  Since

I don't know how diagrams are made, I'm not sure if that could be changed to match the over/under weaving or not. Otherwise, the directions were spot on!

Here is my bag~

 

 

The only thing that made me cringe a little was the step that said 

'machine quilt as desired'.  Do those words strike terror in your heart?

They used to paralyze me!  :-o  But not so anymore, I guess I've been a quilter long enough to 

just take them in stride. :-) 

I followed some of the woven lines out to the edges and then mimicked them on the back~ 

quick and easy.  :-)

 

Inside, I made my pocket a little bigger. (I hadn't intended to, but DH was talking and I was 

cutting and I cut it too big- I could've cut it down, but decided to just go with it and sew a seam down the center). :-)

I know most people wouldn't offer to review a pattern when they are in the midst of 

gift making~ BUT, this is going under the tree for my DD.

The Australian postage stamp fabric has been living in my stash for some time, and I 

know she will love it!  Now I just need to make a bag for me! LOL

This is one pattern you could make lots of times and not get bored. :-)

And I do think it is easy enough for a beginner with basic sewing knowledge.

One last thing that was pretty cool?~ Stephanie has a lot of tutorials on her blog,

even ones very specific to making bags. Like how she does handles, and how she squares the

bottoms of her bags. She gives the links in her pattern, so if these things are new to you~

you just need to hop online and its like having someone

hold your hand through those steps. Pretty cool, right?

Thanks Stephanie for taking a chance on me! I loved making Caity ▫ Did!

And my DD is going to love it too! ;-) ;-)

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!!

Sewing.. Sewing.. Sewing...

The weather outside might be frightful, but the mess I am making inside is nothing less

than frightful too!!  LOL

But, I'm whittling my projects down. :-)

I can give you some peeks, but not everything... not until

after the holidays.

Let me show you some of the grands gifties~

A nap sack for our DGS. He is a little past naps,

but he loves the idea of camping and sleeping bags. So I thought this would be perfect

for book reading and TV watching.

The pattern is in the newest issue of Quilts and More. It folds into the

attached pillow making a little back pack.

DGD just turned one. She is very petite,

so I am hoping the little big works just right for little snacks and teething troubles.

My kids had cloth books when they were little and dragged them all over the house. 

I thought her parents might like them too.

So easy~ no torn pages and they are washable! :-)

What have you been sewing on?

I still have lots of things to do, but I know they might be spotted here~

so mum's the word!! ;-)

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!

Bad Blogger!

I am so sorry!

I don't intend to be a bad blogger, but sometimes whittling out computer time

is really difficult for me! :-o 

Especially this time of year! I have been making gifts all year~ but then a magazine comes out with the 'perfect' idea for someone on my list and off I go!

Now I find myself so far behind that I must sew. Every day! And all day every day would even be better, but as we all know~ that is a dream. LOL  So I find that I sew instead of visit the computer~ but then I get to missing all my blogging friends. Its quite a circle, isn't it? :-)

I really can't show the gifts I've made yet, but I can show you that when I finally sit down in the evening, I still keep my fingers busy.  And they have been so busy that I developed a callus on one finger~ from needle sticks! :-o LOL  But its ok as I have more hand stuff to do. ;-)

But for today~

TaDa!

Merry Merry Snowmen is finished! 

My rod isn't big enough so I will have to enlist hubby's help to fix that.  The pattern is by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs. And my fingers are sore because I purchased her embellishment kit of teeny buttons

for the eyes etc. Sewing all those on was quite challenging! I think even more so than the wool applique~ which, by the way, I am now totally hooked on! :-)

I hope you are having some fun behind your sewing machine and enjoying 

this festive time of year!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!!

Busy Times...

Call for drastic measures! :-)

Are you making gifts for Christmas?  Every year I tell myself I will start earlier, but it never happens!

And just to keep things really busy, LOL, I also had a swap

that was due last week.  ;-)

We made string blocks. I had 17 swappers, and the color choices were

all fabulous! It makes me want to do 17 more swaps so I can request every one else's

color schemes! :-o  But I won't... at least I don't think I will. ;-)

I need to work on my Christmas gifts!! :-)

I had the great idea to lay out each swappers blocks and take a few photo's~

well, sigh, that did not happen. :-o

But I can share a photo of my blocks!  I asked for Shabby Chic-like

blocks and am thrilled with the array of blocks I received. These will be at the top of next year's list to get sewn together and quilted! :-)

I hope you are having some quilty fun too!

Until next time~

Happy stitchin'!

A Little Fun~

Last week was my birthday~ another year older, more projects to do. LOL I met at friend at the Sewing and Quilting Festival for a day of shopping fun! Oh yeah~ we had some fun!! :-)  I went to this particular festival last year and noticed it had wool vendors, and hand embroidery vendors, and lots and lots of quilting vendors. BUT, I was looking for wool! And I went to the right place. :-) One vendor had these cute stuffed carrots~ and look at all the wool scraps I got out of one!  I love it!  Lots of bits and pieces for those fun little projects. :-)

I took my newest tote~ 'That's How We Roll' by Kati Cupcake and it worked out perfectly! :-) The tote is made with a jelly roll and a little extra fabric. It has some wonderfully big pockets inside. And the handles were very comfy on my shoulder.  I had bits left from two of Sandy Gervais's Awesome and Grand Finale jelly rolls and I love how they look together.  This is the perfect tote for shopping! Or if you have a lot of things to take along on a trip~ magazines, your laptop, they would all fit.  :-) 

I hope you've been having a little fun too.
Until next time~
Happy quilting!

A Secret Revealed~

When Jennie of the wonderful team of Clover & Violet asked if I'd do a little bit of pattern testing for them~ I leaped at the chance! :-) I love the challenge of sewing a new pattern!  Jennie and her Mom, Clara are a great team. They design wonderful bags that are stylish and versatile~ and completely machine washable!

As a mom to little ones, Jennie definitely understands the need to be able to wash your purse when a little oops happens. :-)  And she also understands how little time you have to sew when you have little ones. So if you find your time is crunched, but would like to be creative and make yourself a purse~ this is the pattern for you! And you can get started right away with a pdf download from their shop! :-)

The inside features a zipper pocket and an open pocket. The top has the option of a zipper closure, or not.  The zipper insertion was really easy~ so if you have never sewn one before and need a pattern that is easy to understand~ try the Penelope Purse. Seriously~ it is easy. :-)

And just so you don't think I'm saying these things because I was a pattern tester, I'll tell you I'm not. This is my honest opinion and I wasn't compensated for it or asked to write nice things. :-) Its all me! LOL

Until next time,
Happy Quilting!

I'm Either Way Behind, or Not?

First~  Veteran's Day blessings to all our service men and women, those who served, those who are serving, and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our many freedoms. (hugs)

Second~ I think its the first~ I am way behind! LOL  October went by in a flash!  It didn't help my sewing that I ended up spending way too many days on the couch sick, but I am finally feeling almost back to myself. I would say normal, but those who have met me know, that would be a stretch! :-D LOL

I did do some Christmas shopping~~

But now I need to do some Christmas sewing! :-o Eek! How many days do I think I have!!??  I got a bit
carried away, so if you don't see me posting much. Just imagine this lady with her hair sticking out in all directions and wild eyes, sitting behind a sewing machine! LOL

Until next time~
Happy quilting!!