Stamptastic!

My BFITWWW (Bestest Friend in the Whole-Wide-World) from high school lives a mere mile from my house. Do I ever see her? No. Well, hardly ever. We do get together at least once a year for her birthday - when she has a Stampin' Up party! The friends who craft together, stay together. :) In any case, she is a member of a "stamp club" and I get to crash on occasion. Last night was one of those nights, and I just had to share the card I walked out with! It is so NOT my style, and I would never have made it on my own, but it's lovely just the same. And, of course, I dropped some major coinage on stamp sets I will maybe use once. (But this year's Christmas Cards are going to be SO CUTE!!!)

Duvet-o-Rama

Have you been looking high and low for that perfect duvet for your bed? Disappointed with the selections in your local home stores, and even in the wide world of the internets? I know I have been, and so was a friend of mine. So, to make her transition to her hip and cool Uptown apartment even more awesome I sewed up a duvet cover for her. (I apologize for the photo quality -- cell phones are meant to be phones, not cameras.) IKEA had some great new fabric in a bright citrus yellow with dandelion-ish white explosions. I bought a little over 3 yards (queen size quilts at IKEA run 86" square) because I wanted to be sure to be able to center the pattern, and at the time thought I might make shams as well. (Overly ambitious of me.) I bought 3 yards of a heavier white fabric to the top and bottom, and a queen-size flat sheet for the back. After I confirmed the width of the yellow fabric, I figured out how wide the top and bottom panels needed to be (I shortened the top to around 12" and made the bottom panel around 20" -- for visual interest?) I trimmed and sewed, then had to figure out where on earth I was going to find 8 square feet of space to lay it out and pin it. But it happened. Then I sewed the top and sides, and the bottom leaving 36" of space for the quilt-insert opening. But how to close it? I wasn't about to try button holes, and I didn't want to leave it all gaping open... so I thought "Grommets! Grommets and grosgrain ribbon!" And so it is. It turned out great! And now I wonder why I never made one for myself.

6-Year-Old's Birthday!

I've been lucky enough to be blessed with an invite to a fabulous birthday soiree, which will include not ONLY a pinata, but also a bounce house! (I hope I get to play, too!) So what does one give to a 6-year-old princess? I'm embarrassed to say I did some internet research to see what the kids are into nowadays... but I settled on something that I think I would have enjoyed, and also inspires the imagination!

Making it productive!

Okay, so maybe you don't *want* your vacation time to be productive. But, if you DO, I suggest: bringing SO many projects that you can't help but be into working on at least one of them. I'm spending a few days on "the North Shore" (of Lake Superior) and I brought with me: (3) cross-stitch projects, (3) books, and (2) skeins of yarn for crocheting. And some magazines. And my laptop. It was total overload, but hopping from one to another was sort of therapeutic in a way.

Not dead!

Oh my, but the ol' blog has kind of fallen to the wayside with the craft show preparations, and then the Etsy shop opening, and now "The Nightingale" at SteppingStone... So sorry! Here's a little taste of Raven and my booth at Crafted Togther:
It was, perhaps, not the most successful show monetarily -- but I thought it was a great experience regardless. Depending on where it's held next year, I think I would participate again!

Preparations!

So... ultra-cool apron for change, and dollars, and pens, and etc. (in an adorable fabric given to me by Raven!) and then an interesting attempt at stenciling on a t-shirt with bleach. It didn't turn out too bad! But next time, it will be better.

Check out the bleach stencil tutorial here!

It's OPEN!!!

My Etsy Store is open for business!!

Snaggletooth Stitchworks ahoy!

I'm super excited and super scared!
Not as scared as I am about Raven and my FIRST CRAFT SHOW!
This Saturday!!

http://www.craftedtogether.com

We're going to be AWEsome.

Something new...

So I picked up a pattern a few weeks ago... It looked pretty cool, and I gave it a try last night/this morning. Man, it was hard. I mean, not hard... but it required a level of accuracy that I don't always bring to patterns. I'm kind of a "oops, let's see how we can make that work now" kind of person. This bag was no different. Firstly, cutting out those handles! Ick! Ick ick ick! Then the side panel didn't match up with the outside, and the bag at the end result is actually about 2-3" shorter than it should be because of "adjustments." :) But it is pretty darn cute. And with my "adjustments" I think it might be doable -- I think I may do away with the full-length handle detail though. Just for my sanity.

Totally hot!

I've been waiting to sew this bag for EVER! I knew there'd be enough to line the pattern up nicely, and it is SUCH a cute bag. I just don't even know how I'll bear to part with it.

I'm Dotty!

Thank goodness this one went together more easily than the last one. The fabric was lighter, and I did use a denim needle... so we'll say I tipped the odds in my favor. :)

@#!!&%@

You know how sometimes you start sewing... and you're all, "hmm... this isn't quite working out right. This is kind of difficult... but I can do this. I can do this thing." And then you're sewing, and the fabric layers get *really* thick, and you're struggling and you break a needle, but it's cool, but then you break another one, and it's not as cool, and then you break the third, and you start cursing (aloud) and then you finally get that last stitch in....

....and then you see that on one of the seams you missed 1/2" and now you can't sell it.

....and you're kind of excited, because you haven't had a bag yet that you can call your own...

.... but you kind of wish you didn't hate it so much.

Back in the saddle...

I feel like I haven't really gotten a chance to sit down and get stuff done for a while! So This morning I hammered out a few kiddie aprons... Cars, Pirates, and Rocket Ships! I keep running out of ribbon in the middle of things. I think I need to track down a wholesale supplier if this is what I decide to do. I can't keep running to JoAnn and Michaels all the time to pick up another 3 yards.

A little Amy Butler...

I acquired some small scraps of Amy Butler fabric the other day... not really big enough to make a project, but definitely cute. So I was thinking back on all that I've read about craft fairs since Raven and I got the good news about our debut, and they mention having something fairly low-priced and accessible. I'd read a tutorial at Whip-Up for these travel-size tissue covers that are super cute! I'd been wanting to give it a try for a while, so here goes!

How cute, right? Right! I did have to make some adjustment (apparently travel-sized tissues in Australia are a different size package than here in the US) and I'm using bias tape instead of ribbon. But this is my first time using Wunder-Under, and I love it!

We're... Comin'... Out!

Make sure to join Raven and Me in our Craft Show Debut!!

We (Snaggletooth Stitchworks and Etherea) will be taking part of Crafted Together on Saturday, May 30th in downtown White Bear!

We are super-psyched! And super-freaked-out!!!!

More details to follow as they are available!!

A Green Gift... and Just a Regular Green Bag

So the first bag here was a present for my good friend (who had a birthday recently) because she finally picked a MN RollerGirls team to support: the Garda Belts! The second was inspired by some outdoor clearance fabric at JoAnn (again -- why do I even walk through the clearance area? I always find SOMEthing I shouldn't buy!) Green seems to be the color of the hour! Must be my continuing hope that spring will come eventually. Waking up to snow this morning was NOT cool.

PS - I was perusing the Crate & Barrel "Best Buys" catalog, and lo ad behold: on one of their outdoor furniture sets they are selling cushions with the self-same green vine-y fabric! I have to get in on this Crate and Barrel action!

Apron-O-Rama!

It was an apron fiesta this weekend. It started out with the dino fabric. I couldn't help but buy it. And then the hearts -- so sweet, and on clearance! The aliens I had already, so I only had to buy lining fabric. *sigh* Even when I can't buy anything I buy things.

Mmmmm...

Some of the "forbidden" fabric... I'm doing pretty well with getting the fabric I buy made into bags quickly. This must be what it's like to buy fabric with an exit strategy. :)

Dos Mas!

So the first... meh. It's okay but nothing inspiring. I mean, it's a really nice bag, and the blue lining is cute... but it's not my favorite or anything. The "button" bag is way cuter, I think. A couple snazzy cushion covers from IKEA and a cute bag! It was suggested to me that I might want to think about sewing a couple of real buttons on it!

Magazine Review: freshHOME

So, here's the deal: I love magazines. The only thing I love more than a regular magazine issue, is a PREMIER magazine issue! There are many favorites that I've purchased over the years. Some, I've watched grow into full-fledged established magazines, others I have watched struggle to build an audience, then fold, much to my chagrin.

The most recent addition to the list of premier issues is that of freshHOME (freshhomemag.com). On a recent bookstore trip, I spied the title with the tagline, "Easy ideas for Hands-On People." I like easy ideas! I am a hands-on person! I could have easily holed up in the store's coffee shop, perused the mag, and quietly ditched it for an unsuspecting employee to stumble upon. However, I couldn't do that. Well, I could've easily holed up, perused the mag, and ditched it. However, I would have ditched it in its home in the home improvement magazines, as karma would have taken its toll had I left the periodical for one of the clerks at the bookstore. Enough about that, the magazine made its way into the small pile of purchases I made that evening.

Fortunately, the hubs drove me home, as I couldn't wait to dive in. With the overhead light illuminating my purchase, I dove into the pages. The publication got immediate points for an opening ad by Elmira Stove Works. One day, when I am wealthy and living in my dream home, I will own their vintage inspired pieces. The fact that the ad featured one of my favorite colors was just icin gon the cake. I forced myself past the ad, and continued on.

A favorite point was the key to the projects contained within. Each project contains not only the price it will cost to DIY (do it yourself) it also contained the price to BIY (buy it yourself), along with where to find the piece. As someone who looks at many items in the marketplace and knows I could make them myself, it is refreshing to see if it is worth it to make it myself. After all, my time is worth something. Finally, each project lists the skill level, and about how long the project will take. All this information makes it much easier to decide which projects are worth the time, and which I should just drive to the store for. In some cases, the stores are on my blacklist, which makes it a no-brainer for me to either build it, or live without.

For a premier issue, I found freshHOME nicely balanced between basic information to get one started, and generally useful information. For instance, the listings of basic tools one should own was more basic than I need at this point (thanks Dad!), however, I loved the pages on making one's curb more appealling, and making the maintenance simple.

This issue, available until April 27th, offered articles for seasoned craftspeople as well as the novice. I look forward to the next publication to make a better assessment of how useful it will be.

Please note: This review is completely voluntary! I happened upon this magazine by chance, thought it was interesting, and am offering my perspectiv on it for those who are curious. I am not being compensated by the publisher, nor am I receiving anything for posting this.

Bye Bye Plastic!

As if my making reusable bags will somehow help me remember to bring them into the store, not leave them in the car. Anyway, this is one of the new patterns -- I reduced it, which makes this size that's good for a quick run, but not so much for serious shopping. I'll have to give the big one a try, too. I'm thinking about buying some snap tape, because they fold up so nicely. Perfect for sticking in your bag!

2-cute!

I'm still unsure about this fabric in general, but the bag turned out pretty cute!

Meh.

I was pretty excited about finally getting to sew something out of this fabric... It was kind of an odd-sized scrap, so I didn't get to be too choosy about how the pattern was used. I guess it's okay -- a *great* red color, that's for sure.

My goal this weekend is to try out one of my two new patterns from last weekend -- maybe there will be more pictures to come!

A Sad Story...

Well I love* this fabric, but it was a bit too much for my poor machine to handle. It was pretty thick, kind of a tapestry-style material. After I got it assembled I noticed that it has a flaw on the front panel and pocket, and it fell apart a little when I flipped it to finish it -- but it's still pretty nice.

From Naughty to Nice!

So here's the first bag from my forbidden fabric purchase of last week. I really* really like it. It's got this faboo teal lining, and the upholstery fabric makes it so nice and sturdy! The next bag should be completed tonight... Excitement!

I'm naughty!!!

So, I had to drive to Elk River today... and I was ahead of schedule... and maybe I didn't HAVE to drive by SR Harris, but there was a reasonable route that would take me BY there... and I didn't think that they would be open at 9:30, but they were...

I only shopped the remnants!

I only stayed 20 minutes!

I only spent $20.

I know I broke the code -- but I think they'll make some snappy bags!

A couple newbies...

So I re-created a bag I gave as a gift, and then tried out a leafy-pattern as well. The scribble works out so great when matching the pattern up -- I think the leaves might be a little too large of a pattern for a bag this size.

Two more!

So a couple more bags here... the first I really like, the second I'm a little disappointed in the pocket fabric placement - as far as the pattern goes. I should have gone for more leaf action on there. Ah well, maybe next time.

I *heart* Bags!

Three more bags! I am really loving this pattern -- maybe too much. The crazy black and white fabric is from some IKEA product -- I cut the zipper off! The wild "jungle-like" one is actually a sofa cover from IKEA. I think I like it better as a bag.

Vogue!

So I had this Vogue pattern, and I thought one of the bags was SO CUTE. So I diligently cut out the pattern pieces and WOW -- it's HUGE! It's like 2 feet x 1 foot! And that is way too much bag for me. So I did a little alteration. The "practice" bag (in the black/twig pattern) I thought I'd do without interfacing -- which was okay, but it's slouchy so I went back in and added it after the fact. It's okay, so I'm keeping it for myself. The lime green lining is H-O-T! The other two I followed their direction more completely, and I'm pleased with how they turned out!

Stitchin' Up A Storm

I'm really trying to get a bunch of stuff ready for my inevitable Etsy store opening... but gosh darn it if things just keep getting in the way! I was on a pretty good streak there for a while. Anyway, another placemat bag -- I love its simplicity, and the handles are cool, and the placemat's pretty structured which I like. As for the kid's apron -- I mean, who doesn't love hippos? Especially on lime? Awesome.

PaperCrafts!

So, because I fancy myself a crafter... and creative, and thrifty... I couldn't just go out and buy Bridal Shower invitations for my sister. Oh, no. I had to MAKE them. Which, of course, meant I had to dig through the closets and the basement to track down all my paper crafting STUFF. And then I had to go to various crafting stores to purchase things to fill the "holes." In what I had. Thankfully, my dear friend scheduled an all-day craft day in celebration of her birthday and I was able to get nearly everything done!

Or I could have spent $12 at Target and bought some.

Not as fun.

Kid Apron #1!

My first kid apron! I just copied one I already had. I did it double-sided because the fabric I used was a little thin. I thought about a pocket, too but got carried away and didn't want to add it later. (Or cover up any adorable animals!) I'm hoping to adapt my other apron pattern that I like to a kid's size. I think it would be super cute.

Today I got a pattern for neckties.

Sweet.