Not Sewing!

Even though I actually have two more finished AK bags (one for my sister-in-law and one for me for autumn), I don't have pictures of them yet. Instead, I painted these refrigerator magnets as party favors for my 2-year old's birthday party this morning (I've spent the last three days painting them; the party was this morning). I really enjoyed the change of pace, too! They are prepunched chipboard shapes and painted with acrylic, and are all about the size of my palm. I had so much fun mixing the bright colors, and playing with texture and shape. I think I'm going to do at least a few more for those random kids I need to make presents for but haven't known what to make.

And, on another note, I officially threw my first kid's birthday party! We didn't do one last year for Rhys's first birthday, but I wanted to celebrate this year. We had so much fun! It was a pool/play party and nothing was planned except eating cake. We moms hung out and talked while the kids played- and they played so well! Rhys had a blast- so much so that he promptly crashed after everyone left and took a nice long nap. Ah, to be two!

Zucchini cake (as opposed to carrot cake- we have a lot of fresh zucchini from the garden) with cream cheese frosting and fresh raspberries. Delish!

Grey AK Bag

A good friend of mine's birthday was... well, it was quite a while ago, actually. Katie (Thoughts During Walks) is a talented, artsy/craftsy person, so I agonized about what to make her. I finally decided on this:


It's another "Amy Karol" bag and a matching doily zippered pouch. I hope she likes it!

Awesome Placemats

I finally got the placemats and napkins finished for my swap partner last week.


She said she liked earthy colors, so I used these yellows, reds, and greens. The fabric is April Cornell and had some great turquoise in it, so I also used turquoise. They're a set of 6 with matching napkins. The napkins ended up a little smaller than planned because I didn't calculate quite right, but I was out of money for this project so that's just how they are. As I'm obsessed with reverse applique, I added the leaf shapes so I could have something to applique. I finally figured out why I love reverse applique, too: when cotton is done this way and then washed, it frays and wears wonderfully at the edges. It reminds me of the look of the look of holes in those old, loved jeans we all have. Apparently, I associate worn, frayed material with love...


And- yippee- I got my placemats in the mail today! I love them! They're wonderfully bright and fun. And now I want new dishes to match! Here they are on my dining room table with fresh flowers from the garden:

Not Your Grandma's Doily

Actually, not mine, either.

I've inherited a bunch of hand crocheted, tatted, and machine-made lace and doilies from my great aunt Muriel. I'm very excited about them- I'm not sure others always understand why, especially when they look at me with a funny look on their faces. I'm just convinced that there are new things to do with all these wonderful handmade lacy pieces of fabric, and I am determined to use them. It's not usually fashionable nowadays to have little doilies sitting around the house, but there are literally hundreds of thousands of them floating around, stuffed in boxes, hidden in the back of drawers, or otherwise being stored all over the country, I'm sure. Some of us are unwilling to give up this craft of our foremothers due to sentimentality, and others just want to get rid of them and move on. And here is where I fit in: I'm trying make them useful again!

My newest projects:

A doily pillow.

Zippered doily pouches.


I'm already using one of the pouches as a wallet of sorts and I love it!

I should also note: I inherited some doilies, but they are currently still in Colorado at my parents' house. These doilies I picked up at a garage sale: a dozen for 50 cents. What a bargain!

The Amy Karol Bag

So, someday, if I have a small crafting/sewing business.... I'll offer the "Amy Karol" bag for sale. Of course, I'll have to get Amy Karol's permission, etc., but I'm naming this bag after her because of the inspiration I got from making a couple of the Pleated Beauty Handbags from her Bend the Rules Sewing book and bag swap. I modified the construction and size, and added exterior pockets, but I'm very proud of the final product! It is the right size for carrying a good hardback book and a nalgene water bottle, without being too big or floppy. Or I can carry a two-year old's water bottle, a snack, and a couple of play cars... and a good paperback book and a nalgene water bottle.

My Amy Karol bag: wild and crazy, mismatched lining, handles, and pleats! An exterior pocket on both front and back, and much of it made of sturdy cotton duck. I absolutely love it!



And, the Amy Karol bag I made for my cousin, Katie. Somehow, she's always seemed like a perfect purple to me. So, he bag is certainly purple! On hers, the lining, handles, pockets, and pleats are all the same fabric. It has only one exterior pocket, but I also added a magnetic clasp to the main compartment.



If I ever get my business going I'll have to find a cheaper source for magnetic clasps- I think the clasp cost (at Hobby Lobby) as much as all the fabric together for the bag.

Mother's Day Apron

My mom wanted an apron for Mother's Day, so I made her one. She will get it this week when we go to visit my parents this coming week.

It is based on the Emmeline Apron from Sew Liberated, though I have some changes to make if I do it again. It was really fun to figure out, and I used up some more of my stash of fabric that I've had for years. The Emmeline is reversible; this one is almost: I had to add the front pocket because the long darts in front poinked out instead laying flat. I suppose I could have added a pocket on the back and it could have been reversible. How funny would it be to have an apron that was reversible but looked the same on both sides!

I picked up the dress form at a garage sale for $10 a few weeks ago. I love it!

New BTRS Swap

Oh, and I entered the new Bend the Rules Sewing Swap, which is for a set of place mats and napkins. I can't wait to get my partner's info so I can start working on it!

For more information click here.