and another...

You can read about it by clicking on the photo.

Another Tote

I made this one yesterday. I'm trying to use what fabric I already have on hand. This took a while to make. I think next time I'll make them smaller if I use this quilting technique again. I have two more small kid size totes ready to sew this morning.

Sorry if I don't respond to your comments. I'm trying to get as much made as possible (which means staying off of the computer) before April 8th. If I don't sell anything and you know me in real life, guess what you'll be getting for your next birthday, Mother's Day and Christmas?

Zoom. Zoom. Off to work.

Birthday Present

We have a birthday party to go to tonight. Yesterday Tootie and I picked out fabric and I quickly put this together. I kind of made it up as I went along. It's a traditional tote design with one handle like a messenger bag. I boxed the corners wider, about 3.5". I used interfacing on the sides and bottom only so it's a little stiff yet you can still fold it flat.



I want one for myself now.

Bibs and Fabric

I made this bib on Saturday intending it to be a part of a last minute baby shower gift. I had also intended to make a stroller blanket but thought I'd be pushing my time limits. That and not really knowing the mother and her taste I chickened out and bought a gift instead.

I'll still add a stroller blanket to my list of things I want to do. I've never seen one in a store or anything. I kind of patched one together for Tootie when she was little. What I did was add ties to the top two corners of a small blanket. You then tie these to the sides of the stroller so it doesn't keep falling down.

One of my friends from the baby shower invited me out to the quilt store where she works. Oh. My. She introduced me to this lovely line. Wicked. I love it but wouldn't use it solely. I think it has to be mixed up to make it a little more designy. But, I have to admit it's pretty drool worthy. I brought home a couple treasures.

More is More

I'm normally in the "More is Less" camp of design and thinking. The art school I went to had a very strong Bauhaus leaning towards design in which "Superfluous features are taboo". This new tote I just finished would definitely get the big ole hairy eyeball from my instructors. Working at Oilily has had a big impact on me and sometimes more is MORE. So, the tote.

I'm thinking I should have added ruffles to the top. I mean, heck, it might as well be over the top. The fabric I used is all donated fabric. I'm trying very hard to use up what I have even if it's not my first choice. It's a challenge to make Waverly fabric less, well, Waverly looking. Does that make sense?

I'm pleased with it for being my first tote. The top seam where the lining was sewn in is a little wonky but other than that it'll do. Next time I will make the sides stiffer.

I'm feeling much much better thank you very much. Amazing what a round of antibiotics will do. I've been doing teeny crafting inspired by Molly Chicken . Recently she had a tutorial on how to make patchwork bracelets here. I saw a similar bracelet in a Japanese craftbook (sorry, for the life of me I can't remember where. Maybe on Crafting Japanese?). I printed off some very fuzzy directions in Japanese and posted it on my wall as a "todo". Then Molly Chicken posted her own version so I just had to try my hand at it as well.

I'm tired of the white, black and red fabric and want to move on but my work ethic is preventing me until I complete EVERYTHING I STARTED. This is my own personal rule and I really try to follow it dammit. I have 4 more to go.

I've also been playing with fabric brooches. Coincidentally, Molly Chicken yet again had a tutorial on a version. They're rather fun and quick to do. Although mine are turning out a little too country for my taste (as well as the bracelets)...it's the fabric I'm using.


Here's a peek of my work table. The magnet board is clippings from the Boden catalog. Love it. Wish I had money to love it in person. On their skirts are little flowers like the ones from Molly Chicken and some funky ones. I'll try funky next.


Totally unrelated, my best childhood friend gave birth to a daughter yesterday. A whooping 9lb'er on St. Patty's day! I couldn't be happier for them. I only wished we lived closer.

This Past Week

I'm sick.

Tootie's birthday was yesterday. She is officially three.

The other night I told her the story of Noah's ark. Once I got to the part where it floods and all the animals and Noah are in the ark she asks, "Then Jesus walked on the water to them?"

Every night she asks me to tell her a story about Jesus. I'm starting to run out of easy to tell stories I can recall for her. Seeing me flounder she suggested, "Mom? Maybe there's a book with stories about Jesus in it that you can read to me."


Don't mess with the queen.

Flower Hairpin Tutorial

I use a spool as my guide. I trace on the wrong side of the fabric.


Follow the line as a guide.


cut the circles out leaving about 1/8" - 1/4" allowance.


Cut a slit on the back so you can turn the fabric. If I were making a big flower, like as a pincushion, I would have left an opening when sewing. This will give you a consistant edge.


Stuff tight.


Sew shut. You might want to use matching thread.


Use 2 strands of embroidery thread, double over and knot. Push through so needle comes out the front side. Loop around to front again. Pull tight. This will make a line.


Continue and space equally. I usually make 5 to look like a star.


Add beads to the middle.


Push bobby pin through thread loops on back.


You're done!

One Project Down

I've finished with these hair thingys. I think I'm done making them for a while. On to other things.

Hey, Look at Me! Posting a Recipe!

I made this last night and loved it so much I had to share.

Cuban Chicken and Black Bean Soup

2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic (chopped fine)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 leftover rotisserie chicken (at least 1 cup) torn into bite-sized pieces
1 can black beans drained
1/2 cup red bell pepper chopped
1/2 tsp salt
2 generous dashes of Red Pepper or to taste
1 can chicken broth
dab sour cream (optional)

Heat olive oil in saucepan over medium-high heat until hot. Cook onion, garlic and cumin in oil for several minutes until onion is soft. H doesn't like the smell of cumin. He calls it armpit.

Add remaining ingredients except for chicken broth. Saute several minutes then add chicken broth. I didn't add an entire can. I wanted it to be a little thicker since I was serving over rice. It all depends upon your taste.

serve over rice or just as soup. Add sour cream to individual servings.

Here's a picture of leftovers today. It was even better after it sat overnight.

SPT - Time: week one

No pictures. You're just going to have to use your imagination.

6:45am Tootie's up. H gets her and plunks her down in our bed.
6:48am I'm awake. Tootie's back to sleep. I watch her for several minutes before getting up.
7:45am give Tootie a bath. Chased her around as I got her dressed.
8:40am drop off Tootie at pre-school.
9:00am Home. Check email and message boards.
10:00am shower.
This is riveting isn't it?
10:10am work on flower hairpins
11:20am pick up Tootie and drop off H's lunch
12:23pm home. Fix snack for Tootie. Call it a snack so she will eat it. She won't eat it if you call it lunch.
12:50pm Watch Tootie pour water onto craft table. Discipline for said action. Tantrum ensues.
1:30pm Tantrum in full force.
2:50pm Tantrum still going but lay her down for a nap.
2:55pm Toots asleep. Go back to work on hairpins.
5:00pm H home. Tootie calls for me.
5:10pm Tantrum #2 begins over being denied candy. Screaming (hers, not mine) escalates so I throw away every darn piece of candy in the house.
5:20pm H and Tootie watch The Simpsons while eating a healthy snack of apples and crackers. I start dinner.
6:00pm dinner. Cuban chicken and black bean soup served with rice. Tootie eats 5 whole bites.
6:15pm We play a rousing game of Hungry Hungry Hippo.
6:45pm I go back to work on the hairpins. Tootie and H play.
7:30pm Chase Tootie around while dressing her in her PJ's. This takes both of us.
8:00pm I've developed a sore throat and decide to take my sewing upstairs to bed. Watch Idol and House. H comes to bed. I head back downstairs.
11:08pm Finish writing this exciting post. Throat's still sore.

Portrait by Tootie

Tootie's portrait of me. She made sure to point out, "This is just a drawing of candy, Mama. You can't really eat it."

just playing

Little Things or Widdle Tings as Tootie would say

These are some of the items that have been taking up my time the past couple of days. These are all for the craft show I mentioned in my previous post. Below are the hairpins I finished last night. Tootie thinks they look like lollipops. I have another 30 on deck for finishing tonight. I'm not sure how many I should make or how well these will sell and exactly what the price points will be.



Off to work my fingers down to little stubs.