Learning to love patterns

I’m always said I couldn’t really follow patterns, so I never bought them. I just kind of got an idea in my head, made the item the wrong way a dozen times till I figured it out, and just sort of learned it on my own. 

But the other day I went with a girlfriend who was going to buy some at Joanns when they were 5 for $5. So I figured, what the heck, I’ll give it a try. For $1 it won’t be too much of a waste if I ditch the project. Well low and behold it turns out that reading a pattern is a lot easier than looking at something and trying to engineer it in your mind. 

Needless to say, I’ve now become hooked on patterns. And knowing that the patterns will get as cheap as $.99 or $1 keeps me from buying them at a full price of $15.95.

While it’s been fun working on different projects, I must say all the snack bags sitting in the workspace that should get done and posted to the shop are still just sitting there.

Fancy Flowers

My girlfriend Emily sent me a photo text a while ago with pictures of flowers. I was a bit puzzled by it at first until I called her and discovered she had made them as hair accessories! I quickly informed her I must have a few, and here’s one of the ones I received! She really is the best and this adorable flower really makes for a chic hair accessory for any occasion. I'm trying to get her to so a tutorial for any followers who want it, keep watching!

Diaper Bag on the Go

So as Little Man has gotten older I have returned to carrying a purse and relinquishing a diaper bag. While it has been most liberating in some ways, I must confess I miss the ability to hold an entire world in my diaper bag and every now and again I am caught somewhere on the go without adequate supplies. 

While this new phase has been most fun in the purchasing of large totes and hobo bags that will be more of a modern mommy with enough space to house a diaper, wipes and a couple kid essentials, I must say those little diapers can get awfully wad up quickly. 

So when I saw this Simplicity pattern for his and hers baby items that had a diaper case pattern I had to get it, especially with it being on sale for $1.99! I began to venture forth and make my case, and quickly realized the pattern doesn’t call for a lining and the handle strap is made of ribbon that attaches to the fold over section of the case rather than the body of the bag. Bummer for me, I hate things without a lining. 

After a few hours of figuring out how to improve it to my high standards I finally came out with a finished product! My version of the bag has a magnetic snap vs. a Velcro closure, the hand strap is made of fabric and interfacing vs. a ribbon. I’m even contemplating putting a pocket on there somewhere, we’ll see if that happens ☺ 

New love for corduroy

For years I’ve never cared for the corduroy material. Not sure what it was, perhaps I wore too much bad corduroy as a child, who knows. Lately I’ve come to appreciate the fabric much more. Not only is it quite sturdy for projects, yet it’s also not too thick when you sew that the fabric becomes unworkable. And with a few of the best embellishments, corduroy has come back into my life with some style!

New year, new things

I changed the little avatar and headline of the shop from owls to the little poppy seed trees. Not sure if it was needed, just felt like a change. 

Since my business cards ran out, I ordered new ones, and I even got some really cool little discount cards made up for customers when they purchase something. So excited to get them out there!

Personal Day Project

A couple of weeks ago I took a personal day. More like a mental health day. One of those days for me to just relax. While after realizing I am no longer able to just lie in bed all day anymore, I got working on one of pattern projects. 

I started working on a shopping bag holder for when I do groceries. It didn’t turn out too bad for my first pattern project.

It’s actually been quite helpful in the store, I don’t forget my re-useable grocery bags anymore, plus I have a handy place to stick my coupons and I even throw in a small snack for little man and my keys in the other pocket. If you’re interested in doing one I used the Simplicity 2664 pattern.

Carry all for the pens

So after I made personalized pens, I realized I needed something in the shop to add to it, as pens aren't really a big seller in the shop. So after some shopping, research, consulting with friends about what they did and didn't like about other padfolios, I came up with this one.

 

I've also been making the sets for birthday and holiday gifts for friends. So far the girls have been loving the gift and using it for shopping lists, receipts, etc. 

Project on hold

Ever get all the materials for a project and get excited about it only to find that you can't get the courage to go through with it? Well I guess for me, it's not that I don't have the courage, more that I know what I want in my head to make and am a little scared I'm going to screw it up and spoil my perfect project idea.

I need to suck it up, carve out some time and just make it. What is it? A Chalk-Mat Travel Doodle. Kind of like the Aquadoodle my son has that has lost the novelty. Maybe playing with the chalk marker instead of the water pen will excite him for a couple weeks :)

Be checking back to see if I make it!

Personalized Pens

These are a new add to the shop. It's always fun to get a new thing to make and spruce things up. I also really enjoy making things for people that are personalized for them or a friend.

Liam and Josie

Some new babies were born and in need of Woobies. So here a couple of pictures of the blankets their mama's and friends asked to be made for them. So nice to make things for little ones and then see them around with their special loveys. :)