These all are (or will be) pockets for Denyse Schmidt’s shimy, shake, and bake apron. The first and the fourth ones I made with the pattern in her book, but I feel a little funny using a pattern for something that is made specifically to look unplanned and a little wonky. I can do wonky just fine on my own. So I just winged (wung? wang?) it with the other two and they came out just fine. The grey fabric was very thin and puckered quite a bit–can anyone explain to me why and how to remedy it? I don’t know if I’ll do it over, or leave it and just consider it extra homemade.

I do love me some egg fabric. I have reams of this stuff. why?

just a little pincushion (from this tutorial) and a needlebook: christmas presents for a crafty friend.  Have you started making for christmas?  I pulled out all my old martha stewarts for ideas and some unfinished christmas projects from last year as well.  I started making stockings for my family, but never finished.   And though I don’t know much about sewing now, I really didn’t know much then–so there is a lot of ripping and rethinking before they can hang on our mantle.   I’m sure you have all seen the daily gift tutorials on Sew Mama Sew (if not, go look), but did you know Jane (from janeandtheducks) is posting christmas gifts she has made everyday.  Makes me feel like I’m sitting on my ass just a little too much.  So I’m going to get up.      right        now.

I made this a few months back for a dear friend with a new baby. The pattern is from Amy Karol’s lovely book, Bend the Rules Sewing. But I made it quite a bit bigger so it could accommodate a couple diapers and a travel pack of wipes. The patchwork stripe continues around the back and the bag is lined with the same ruler print. The rest is linen. It turned out a little classy and I think that’s what you need when most of your day is spit up and mooshed carrots and dirty diapers. I got such wonderful feedback when I put the picture up on flickr, that I thought I’d share it here as well. And it would make a nice (and quick) christmas gift.

I’m trying to post everyday this month (in the spirit of NaBloPoMo) but it’s 9pm on the 4th day and I’m already sweatin’ it, so we’ll see what happens.  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

I didn’t actually notice how christmasy all this fabric was until I was checking out.  But now that halloween is out of the way, bring on the plastic glowing santas.

We are on a strict budget in these parts and impulse fabric buying sprees are not looked on favorably.  And I haven’t really bought anything in the past few months–I sure as hell have enough.  But a good friend and I went to a beautiful quilt store last weekend and I couldn’t just look at all the beautiful fabric.   It was such a treat to see all the fabric in person I have been looking at online for so long.   Though none of the ladies knew who Denyse Schmidt was and they had heard of Amy Butler, but didn’t think they had any of her prints (I really wanted to see the katie jump rope line and some of those crazy paisley  Amy Butler prints).  On the other hand, they had this amazing Kaffe Fasset shot cotton.  But I just got a couple fat quarters and remnants–to be good.   It was a really lovely trip: a huge fabric store, a friend as excited as I was, and time to look at everything without dealing with whining and boogers.

A couple days later I went to Joann’s to pick up some fiberfil (I used to get it from thrift stores, but then I found a bug in one…) and came out with a hell of a lot more. I had both babies in tow and saw a sign on all the cotton prints that said, “$1!”  I thought it was my lucky day and picked out a bunch of fabric and said a yard of each please! I couldn’t believe what a great deal I was getting and couldn’t figure out why people weren’t bum rushing the bolts.  As soon as all my fabric was cut and I was holding the receipt I figured it out.  Read the whole sign doofus–a dollar off.   But I did get some nice stuff that I wouldn’t have otherwise.  The lace print is really beautiful and the stone print has already given me a bunch of new ideas. But blew the budget.

ruffle pillow, originally uploaded by elsiemarley.

I made this a little while back from Amy Butler’s book “In Stitches.” I bought the book mostly because this pattern caught my eye. I’ve been making the same stupid ass pillow in different sizes since I learned to sew and it was getting pretty tired. This one is completely different: round, a little bizarre and out of left field, but still kind of girly and cute. My good friend laughed out loud when she saw it on my couch for the first time. It was a hell of a lot harder than I thought it would be. Turns out I have no idea how to sew on ruffles–is there a secret? I’m not in on it that’s for sure. I wrestled with my sewing machine and made it work, but it wasn’t pretty. Thankfully the ruffles and the blinding yellow stripes distract you from the actual construction of the thing. A word of warning if you ever make this little pillow: it will eat your fabric. All 3 1/2 yards of it. For one pillow. One pillow. Better get that shit on sale. That said, though, I think it would be nice done in patchwork. But then again, that’s 3 1/2 yards of scraps you have to piece together. And I’m not ready to wrestle.