My Needle and Thread Christmas

I feel, as I'm sure you all do, that this past month flew by... I guess it's even

more evident now that we have a little girl. I'm reminded of what someone told me right

after L'bug was born. "This will be the shortest year with the longest days."

Boy were they on the money!

December is the month when I'm busy making gifts :) and so now that all

of the presents have been opened I can post the pictures of my latest works.

Thank You to all of the people that ordered items!

And now for the pictures -

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I had no idea how much people would like those felted hair pins I posted a couple of weeks ago.

Here are a couple more, plus in my shopping travels I found a holder for them and

I couldn't wait to make one myself.

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I think my most gratifying thing to make is a speciality bag.

One, because there are no other bags like them... and two, because I know that the client

will really be able to get a lot of use out of it. This first bag is a "super bag."

My friend, N, asked me to make her a bag that would hold... are you ready for this...

[cloth diapers, a child's toy, her camera,

medicine supplies, her laptop,

and her regular purse items (wallet, lip gloss, keys, and cellphone)]

Basically - everything!

:)

Here is what I came up with.

It has three separate compartments. The purple zipper area is for her purse like and medicine items. The larger middle red zipper area is for her diaper bag stuff and camera. The back teal zipper part is for the laptop. All the compartments are lined. The front and middle areas both have inside pockets, there are three front pockets, and there are two side pockets -

(hmmm....wondering if I could think of another sentence to use the word pockets....)

She can carry everything she needs and then some, plus to make the bag more durable I put two straps on it to help distribute the weight.

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This bag was a treat! I love suprises - especially this one. A friend's mom emailed me and asked me to make her daughter a sewing bag to hold her sewing machine as well as some notions.

One side has an area for scissors as well as smaller notions, and the other side has a pattern holder and a round pin cushion.

The side has pockets for fabric. I wanted to make it so that she could pick up her bag and have everything that she would need to sew right there in one place.

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Here is a fabric teddy bear - I used the same pattern as before, however this client asked if I could embroider "Avery" on the leg. I wasn't sure how the dark/light contrast of the fabric would look when I cut out the pattern, but I'm very pleased with the "retro-ness" of it all.

I'm also so excited when things just work out - example:

I was sewing this foot together and when I turned it inside out I saw that there was flower in the center of the footpad! Totally not planned!

Well I hope you all had a great Christmas season - and in a couple of days - a Happy New Year! As always, feel free to email me if you have anything that you'd like me to make. I'm looking forward to another year of blogging. In the fall and winter months I crochet, but in the spring and summer I'm all about sewing - and sewing this coming year will be fun!

L'bug will be wearing regular clothes rather than onesies all of the time - and I've been doing some of online research and I have a lot of things that I'm very inspired to make. I found a fantastical French website that has free children's patterns. The site was very vintage meets Heidi of the Alps, meets home-maker! In other words - Amazing!

Again, thank you all for following my crafts and randomness!

sing_82@yahoo.com

Pattern Collector

As the days grow closer to Christmas I find myself enjoying projects that I can get done in a couple days or two. I like the instant gratification... As a crafter I am always looking for different patterns - printing them out - and filing them safely away for a rainy day. I looked at my shelf of several binders filled to the gills with patterns, and realized that it would take me a life time to do all of those projects! LOL

I didn't know I was a pattern junkie, but I have all of the symptoms and tell-tell signs... my sewing room and computer are stuffed with them. So, to justify my "collection" of patterns I decided to make a few items - to make myself feel more like a "do-er" rather than a "horder." I'm not even going to tell you how much yarn and fabric I have - not that obsession I get from my beloved mother (love you mom!)

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*Leg Warmers*

I've seen them several places, but they are just too expensive for me. Call me cheap - but $12 for one pair of leg warmers is a little much... so I made some. At Target you can get three pair of woman's socks for around $7. Each pair of socks makes one pair of leg warmers. You simply cut off the foot part and finish it off. They are really cute and they work great for when L-bug is rolling... no crawling yet, but all in due time. I'd make them for $5 a pair if anyone wants them. :)

*Pacifier Leash*

I found this pattern at Hook Candy.com and had to make it because it looked so easy - the pattern also happened to be free. I have since made like seven of them! I use the leash all the time. I hook it onto those connecting or magic rings {that was for you MW} and then connect the rings to her car seat or her jumperoo. I realize the concept of the pacifier leash isn't a new one - but the crocheted aspect of this one was what got me. The leash also gives L-bug more to hold onto and play with - which she quite enjoys :)

*Wash Cloths*
After I made my own laundry detergent I was thinking of other ways to get more "green."
Ok, I also had some time to kill while I was watching sports center with my husband so I made some wash cloths. I actually really like them. They soak up water well and the stitches make for good scrubbers. I have been doing things the old fashioned way with L-bug's diapers... I use cloth diapers and a wash cloth to clean her rather than wipes. The crochet cloths have been good to clean her with because they are soft.

*Felted Hair Pins*

I'm not a Black Friday shopper, however I did go out this year. Granted I didn't leave the house until 1:30pm and by that time all of the crazed shoppers had gone home. [If you just so happen to be one of those shoppers please do not take offense - more power to you!] While shopping with my mother-in-law I found these amazing felted hair pins! L-bug has lots of hair, but it is really fine and normal clips don't stay in - but the felt holds onto the hair without pulling it. The clip that I bought was $8 per clip - expensive! So I went to Hobby Lobby, got some felt, and made my own. And, without tooting my own horn - I really liked the way they turned out!

*Raga-Muffin Doll*

I was making a doll from a book pattern that I had. I was happily crocheting along when I looked down at my work and realized that the pattern that I was following (to a T) was looking horrible! The doll was supposed to be a teddy bear, but it didn't look like a bear at all... So, I improvised. I made up my own doll and the outcome was the Raga-Muffin.

I'll keep you posted as much as I can thoughout the holidays - but if I get too busy with all of the festivities...then Merry Christmas everyone!!

Afternoon delight

I originally thought of these "scarf/hoodies" about two years ago when I was brain-storming for St.L Fashion Week, but I never had the right scarf to do it with. I love hoodies - they are warm, easy, and go with I'd say a good 80% of my regular attire.

(my thought process in black and white)

*I like hoodies / sometimes it's too warm indoors for a hoodie / but I like them / hmm... / you wear scarves inside / why do I like the hoodie / the hood of course / but I don't wear the hood unless it's raining / it's not raining indoors (thoughts digressing.... ok, back on track) / take the hood which I like add it to the scarf which you wear inside / presto*

Smells of Home - Bread and Laundry

It's now been raining for the past 2 days and the forcast is for it to continue...

What to do......

Make stuff!

I know it's not a sewing or crafting project - but I wanted to fill you in on what I've been doing for the past couple of days. At the moment I am working on some really cute crochet items, but they aren't finished - or I would totally post them.

What I do have finished is bread and laundry soap.

My mom gave me her bread maker - which I LOVE! It's just so easy, and by all means - I am not Paula or for that matter - Paula on an off day - I am a crafter...

Cooking comes second - it actually kind of makes me nervous to cook. Getting everything to be timed right and not burned - Not my thing. However, the bread maker does it all for you. :) How much easier could that be?

*A peek into my present moment*

{I am listening to "Don't stop till you get Enough" by Michael Jackson / sitting in the kitchen - online of course / and waiting for my dough to be done... all while the L'bug is sleeping.}

:)

Laundry Soap

(picture from Meet the Neebs )

A friend of mine told me about making your own laundry soap - I would highly recommend anyone trying it! It's not hard. It's cheap. And part of me just wanted to do it to prove to myself that I could.

http://meettheneebs.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/homemade-laundry-detergent

Bowling Bags & Other Friends

A couple of weeks ago a girl friend of mine asked me to make her daughter a

"sleep over / going to grandma's house" bag. She wanted something that little M could grow up... something that was a large enough to pack for a couple of nights, but it also needed to be managable for a 3 year old little girl to easily tote around.

I had a vision for a cute "retro bowling"type bag that I wanted to make and so this was a perfect opportunity!

The bag is approx. 18" x 8" x 15"

The top has a 12" zipper.

For the photos I put 5 large bath towels inside of it to bulk it up and there was still plenty of room so I'm sure little M will be able to fit all of her special goodies in there :)

I put two pockets in the back for quick access to VIP furry friends as well

The handles are in a back pack style to make it easier for her to carry around.

Here's a shot of the inside.

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If you have been following my blog you may recall the Lamby that I made of fabric - then you are going to love the cuddle bear that I made.

He's made in a patchwork style with one crochet ear. He's also joined (his arms and legs move.)

I think all teddy bears of this type need to be joined - they are more apt to play dress up, tea party,[if he were made in boy-ish type fabrics] or cowboys and pirate ships.

He's approx. 8" tall from ear to toe :)

The client had requested a heart be on the tummy so I made a red crochet one. I wanted it to match with the ear and with it being crochet it also gives the bear an neat texture.

Fabric Bear $20

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This next toy is one of my favorites - He's L'bug's first toy. It's a organic wool bear that my mom knit when I was pregnant. L'bug's only 4 months old and she's just now starting to notice toys so it might be awhile before she plays with him. For the time being he patiently waits on her dresser next to her night light though :)

As always I hope you all enjoy the posts! If you'd like anything please let me know :)

sing_82@yahoo.com