Five for Friday

I've hit a personal sewing record this week! Last Saturday I started cutting out fabric for totes and by Friday I had completed five of them! I don't expect a repeat of that this week, but I am definitely feeling better about the small stash I'm building up for Patty Fair. The one above was made mostly to satisfy my Halloween spirit, but I think it will find a proper home in December at the show.

I will have to work out a better system than photographing only on the weekends (I've grown accustomed to updating this blog more frequently than once a week), but for the next couple of weeks that might be what I have to do.

I have a ton of stuff scheduled for the next two weeks including Xander's fifth birthday and my brother's first annual Home Brew Fest. The birthday will keep me busy, and I have to work on some design materials for Home Brew Fest and Patty Fair this week. It will give my sewing machine a little time to rest.

:: grey canvas inside with key chain and two pockets ::

:: no outside pocket on this one - I didn't want to interrupt the pattern ::

:: linen lining with two pockets ::

:: I love this bright fabric ::

:: denim lining with two pockets ::

:: birdie tote ::

:: key ring inside. wood grain trim ::

:: a little extra detail on the tag ::

:: matrushka doll tote ::

:: red pockets inside ::

Crafting for Home

I took a brief break from sewing for Patty fair to do a little crafting for home. I picked up this reversible spider web fabric a few months ago not knowing exactly what I'd do with it. I had already made the kids trick or treat bags last year, so finally I decided on this table runner.

Xander just loves it. It's great to have a kid who really likes my crafting work. Every time he sees a new tote or handbag in the morning, he'll comment, "Nice one, Mom!" Or something like that.

And speaking of totes and handbags, I've made a few this week. But I don't have any good photos. Now that it's October it's barely light out when I leave for work, and it's almost dark by the time I get home with the kids at night. I hate using the flash, so I'm going to have to figure out how to take photos of all those projects that I usually finish up at 1 a.m.

Totealicious

Things are back to normal this week now that training is over. I even have enough energy to sew. So I whipped up this Autumn tote since I thought it was time to start carrying around something new.

I was really happy with how this turned out and plan to make a few for Patty fair. Patty fair. Six weeks until Patty fair. Wow. I had better get cracking.

:: Inside trimmed with a band of purple fabric and has an inside zipper pocket ::

Modern Jax

A bunch of us girls took a trip down to southern Ohio today to see
Beth and her little cutie Jaxon.

Beth gave us a tour of her home and it put me to shame. I swear, every room had something handmade in it. And I'm not talking wee bitty wall hangings either. I'm talking linens. Linens! Dear lord! I am humbled.

The kids had a great time. And even let the adults talk for long stretches at a time without interruption. Bonus.

:: Quinn is my little art girl ::

Finally Autumn

Has it really been a week since I've posted. Wow, sorry about that. I was in training all last week and fell asleep exhausted every night. Didn't turn the sewing machine once.

At least we got out this weekend and enjoyed the autumn weather that finally arrived this week. Crisp air. Cool temperatures. Ahhhh.

:: Quinn's always ready for anything ::

:: X and Q take a hayride ::

:: Xander is about to plunge into the hay pile ::

:: Giant pumpkin playin ::

Fast Forward

It was 90+ degrees all weekend, and it's making me crabby. Since working on a bunch of fall related projects last weekend wasn't enough to coax actual fall weather in, I decided to fast forward a bit this weekend and get started on putting together my Christmas card.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It's a bit obnoxious to be working on that in October, but my friend Ray was available to take photos, and I was looking for an excuse to keep the kids indoors for a few hours.

Ray got some great shots, and I've spent several hours already today working up some rough comps.

:: The kids cooperated! ::

:: To be honest, they were bribed a bit ::

:: and it worked ::

I also finished up another messenger bag and put it in the bin for Patty Fair before I was tempted to load my stuff up in there and take it to work with me tomrrow.

:: zipper pocket inside ::

Birdie Bags

These two birdie bags took a lot longer to get done than I anticipated. My machine started protesting with the weight of all of the interfacing, and I wasn't able to get out and get some denim needles until the middle of this week. But here they are. Elisa already bought one of them, and was nice enough to get me an advance copy of her new CD, Compass and a Pen, (it's really good) too. The other one is going into the bin full of bags for Patty Fair.

Kevin and I have a sitter tomorrow night and are heading out to see a movie. Not sure which one yet. We've been hitting a lot of movies lately (gotta love Netflix) and really laughed at this one, got depressed by this one, and surprisingly (at least to me), really enjoyed this one. But tomorrow, I think I'd like to see Across the Universe.

I also want to take the kids to the pumpkin patch, but it's supposed to be 90 degrees all weekend. I'm so over it.

I also have another messenger bag that's about half completed that I'd like to finish up, plus a commission for a friend who needs a gift for his wife that needs to get wrapped up next week.

I had better try to not stay out until 3:00 am tomorrow night.

:: The dark version of the birdie bag ::

:: Complete with inside zipper and magnetic snap ::