Giifting

Just finished the purse for the hubby's coworker. Hope she likes it. 

-Biird-

New Year, new bag for the Biird

Wow, just realized that I'm averaging 1 post every 2 months ... how rude of me! I plan to be better this year. And to start it all off ...

I made a new purse to start out the new year. And, as I do when I make a purse, I made a bunch of accessories to go with it. I used batiks since they are my current favorite.

Starting with the little stuff (and I get nothing for endorsing/linking the things and places that I link except for the joy of sharing something I like) ...

I made 2 zipper pouches from Atkinson Designs Cash and Carry pattern.

Also seen in the above picture is the pouch I made for my glucose testing supplies out of pet screen. Better picture here:

Using this Mega Credit Card Wallet as inspiration (and a base) I made a card/cash/check wallet. I made two of the insert/card holders and put them in check book cover type of shell (a pocket on each inside). Added 1/4-inch black elastic to keep the cards in - LOVE IT!!

And, as I'm trying to get better about journaling my food as well as keep track of my glucose readings, I had to have a cool notebook or datebook. Found one on sale/clearance and made a cover for it. Got a little crazy when making the cover and got it a bit tight (should have made it about half an inch taller as well as half an inch wider) and I had to trim the plastic cover on the 3 non-bound sides in order for it to fit while being able to open it easily. Even made an attached book mark to make it easier to find my page. Other than that, I have absolutely no complaints. Even the crappy free motion quilting came out cool looking. :)

As for the purse itself, I only made a couple of minor modifications from the Baby Sister Purse pattern by Whistlepig Creek Productions. (I've also made their Sweet Retreat Bag and Leyvie Bag. Can you tell I really like their stuff?)

My minor modifications include a longer zipper with a ring stitched to the purse under the tail end to clip my keys onto and my purse handles are approx 1 inch wide instead of 1 & 1/2 inches wide since I made mine differently. (As a general rule, for strength and heft, I cover cotton strapping with fabric and top stitch the crap out of it - at least 2 or 3 rows of stitching the length of the strapping.)

And for my next trick, I have a checkbook cover to make for one of my local baristas as well as another purse (the same pattern as my sewing notions purse - Pink Sand Beach Designs pattern Bermuda Bag) in browns and greens for one of the hubby's co-workers. I've got everything cut out and together, just need to sit down and make it. I might even throw in a zipper pouch or card wallet, who knows. :)

And on other notes, as I'm now at a point of not accruing vacation time again, I'll be taking Fridays in January off from the office and attempting to dedicate them to the sewing machine ... who knows? Maybe this will get me motivated and in the right mindset to give in to the "encouragement" I've been getting from all over the place and start making things to sell (other than the occasional baby quilt).

-Biird

It's another BABY!! (quiilt and bag)

Joy's baby shower was Sunday. She's due the end of January and is enjoying being pregnant

I was the only person who made her gift. Going with her robot theme I made a quilt and bag.

Front of quilt.

Orange minkey and this on the back:

And this freakin' HUGE bag (23x18x6)

I've decided I love the bag. :)

-Biird-

Sewiing is moving up!

The kid moved up to UC Davis over Labor Day weekend.

I'm taking over his room.

I've got new shelves up and bolts of fabric on them. I've got a stand built and put under the TV he left. I've got my glider and ottoman moved into the room already. Now to get fabric, blu-ray, books, patterns, sewing machine, table, the other two shelving units, computer stuff, and everything else needed to sew moved upstairs. NOT a daunting task at all. :) Fortunately, I'm not trying to do it all at once, although I'd really like to be able to snap my fingers or wiggle my nose and have it done and ready to use.

I'm thinking about getting a futon to put in the new sewing room. Then it would double as a guest room if someone comes to visit. Provided they don't touch any of my sewing stuff. :)

I'm looking forward to getting it done so I can work in it. I've got a couple of baby quilts and some actual QUILTING that I need to do. And I think the new space will give me someplace I can do quilting using the quilting frame I have to use with the sewing machine. And with the glider (and possibly futon) there, I might actually do some hand quilting or dig out some hand embroidery or possibly even some cross-stitch.

( many days later ... )

Lots has been done:

• futon has been purchased, built, installed
• sewing desk purchased, built, ready to roll
• books are all moved (with a few minor exceptions)
• fabric has all been moved
• some bits and pieces set up around
• blu-ray player moved and set up
• 1 hanging beer light replaced and new hanging light installed (not sure when the 2nd beer light will be replaced - hopefully soon)

But there is still lots more to be done. Some more bits and pieces to be situated, rulers and templates to be put in their new location (which has yet to be determined), fabric sorted and organized better (some got mixed in the move upstairs, the majority of the rest wasn't organized to begin with.)

I'm getting settled in. I've already spent a couple of evenings on the futon watching tv and reading with the dog and cat.

Pictures of the new space (some good pictures, some not so good pictures):

books books, and more books ...

patterns, glider (OMG it's older than Nick ... I've had it FOREVER), shelving for random bits and pieces and project boxes ...

computer desk, tv, and shelf space under the tv for dvds and blu-rays ...

bolts of fabric and bolts of quilt tops behind the tv ...

futon with Fractured Funny Farm and accompanying filled pillow cases and throw pillow (batting rolls will be hung on the wall over this and the entry to the nook where the fabric bins are) ...

nook with fabric bins on rolling platforms lining both sides with the new IKEA lamp hanging overhead with daylight bulbs for better fabric viewing (hmmm, should I be watching out for Hoarders to come for me?) ...

new seing desk/table that opens out a bit sitting on the new area rugs ...

bolts of large cuts of fabric behind the door and perpendicular to the shelves with quilt tops on bolts, ironing board hanging on the back of the door ...

random bits and pieces hanging out on the shelf below the window ...

much larger open space where I'll set up the ironing board or large fold-open cutting-pinning-sorting-whatever table when needed ...

the view behind the sewing desk/table looking at the glider ...

and if you look close, behind the tv you can see finished quilts on the top shelf and bolt-rolled quilt tops on the lower shelf. (Yep, that's one of Uncle Jack's ducks on top of the tv - it's mate is on the shelf over my desk in the office.)

As you can see, I've been busy and still have more work to do. I'll do a little more organizing and moving of things, maybe one or two more nights worth, and then I need to jump into a couple of baby quilts tout-suite. And then dig back into the glam'ing up of the sewing room:

• make curtains (already have a style and some colors/fabrics in mind)
• make a cover specifically for the futon (colors decided on, fabrics still to be chosen)
• pillowcases to match futon cover and curtains
• pillowcases for large throw pillow forms to match futon cover and curtains (colors decided on, some fabrics in mind)
• batting rolls to be moved from den to sewing room ... although the more I think about it, the more inclined I am to leave them in the den

After looking at all the pictures, can you tell what I'm watching while working in the new digs? Eureka knows, but he's not telling ... :)

-Biird-

Update : ruler and template storage added. 

Easy Liike Saturday morning

Did some more sewing this weekend. Last night I made a card wallet. Made some modifications to a tutorial I found online and ended up with this:

This morning, to go with it I made a purse from a pattern I've been trying to find the right fabrics for for a very long time. I did some fussy cutting and piecing where it doesn't call for it in the pattern. I ended up with this:

I decided that I wanted to use it as my everyday thing and that I needed a change pouch. So, using the same fabrics from the others, I made this:

I'm thinking about finding a good checkbook cover pattern and making one out of the same fabrics. Still in the thinking stages on this one.

Here's what the whole set looks like at the moment.

The Kid's girlfriend was awestruck that I'd gotten so much done in such a short time. She's so cute. :)

-Biird-

P.S. Almost forgot, in addition to all of the sewing this morning, this afternoon was spent at IKEA and Target getting household goods for the kids' apartment at UCDavis (where we're moving them to next weekend). Tomorrow is a major CostCo run ... (rolling eyes) I can't wait ... ;)

P.P.S. Just made a checkbook cover to go with everything else ...

outside:

inside:

What else do I need to carry in my purse that I can make something out of these fabrics for? ;)

-Biird-

Siinging again

And speaking of concerts, tonight it's Brad Paisley, Chris Young and Lee Brice. Can't think of a sexier line up. (Unless Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, George Strait, and Toby Keith were to tour together.)

And they aren't just eye-candy. They have all got some serious vocal/musical talents. But sometimes you just have to step back and enjoy the view ... :)

Sigh ...

-Biird-

Song Biird

One of the things that we do every year is buy what's called the Country Mega Ticket. It's all of the country concerts at the local amphitheater. This year it was 8. The last concert was Luke Bryan, Eli Young Band, and Kacey Musgraves. EXCELLENT concert.

We chat with the folks who bought the pairs of seats on either side of us. This concert the spousal unit and the husband of the couple to the left were having a little more fun than usual.

-Biird-