The Slouch Bag in Aviary II

Happy Friday All!  I have been saying I wanted to sew up a new fall bag, so I found some time this week and did just that!  And I love it!!!  The pattern is by Ali Foster and is called The Slouch Bag (find it here).  Super simple to sew up - 3 pattern pieces that come along with detailed instructions in a PDF file.  I love the patterns you can find from independent designers - they are so creative!

I made a couple of minor changes - I added a pen pocket by just sewing a straight line up the original pocket piece after it had been sewn to the lining.  I eliminated the magnetic snap because I don't like them in pocketbooks.  I also changed the opening in the lining to the bottom, instead of the side like the pattern instructs. 

The pattern calls for canvas to be used to interline the main bag body - I didn't have any plain canvas, but I had some left over from this project, so I used it and you can't see it a bit :)  The exterior fabric is Bloom in Granite from the Aviary II line by Joel Dewberry and the interior is Lodge Lattice in Vintage Yellow also from Aviary II.  I'm loving the grey and yellow combo! 

  

All in all, I highly recommend this pattern.  It's super simple (would be great for beginners!) and it makes a really cute and functional tote.  Happy Sewing!

This Week

Hello friends!  This has been a busy week, so no sewing done, but I do have a make-up bag cut out and ready to go.  I love this Amy Butler print and it pairs perfectly with black and white polka dots :)

Speaking of make-up bags, Marybelle was the winner of the giveaway on dianapantz...her package is en route to Australia as we speak!

I was in desperate need of zippers - got a great deal on these from zipit on etsy, and the shipping was so fast!  Definitely recommend if you are looking for some zips :)

Found some Spring Blossom salt and pepper shakers - they are so cute! 

Hope everyone had a great week!  Here's hoping some sewing happens around here soon!!  :)

Things I Love...on Pinterest

{Here}

{Here}

{Here}

New Purchases

I've bought some new fabric and patterns recently and I just can't wait to get started!!  I mentioned the fabric in a post last week - here are some of the prints that I am dying to cut into:

{These prints are from Joel Dewberry's Aviary 2 and are available here}

I also bought these 2 patterns.  I have been waiting for this bag pattern since it was first mentioned here and I bought it the second I saw it was available!  I'm hoping to get some serious sewing done tomorrow so make sure you check back!!!

{Available here}

{Available here}

A (Mostly) Successful Day

Hello there!  I had a pretty successful day off today - I say pretty successful, because dinner was an epic fail, but I had a few successes :)  I put out my fall decorations today and my little nest is looking so good!  Then I decided to try a twist on brownies that I had seen on facebook - I substituted fat-free Greek yogurt for the oil called for on the box.  They came out more like cake than brownies, but still good (I ate 3), so they are a pretty good treat if you are trying to be healthier!

I also got some sewing in!  I made up this wristlet using a pattern from Jennalou Designs.  Simple and fabulous!  The fabric is Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt.  I need to get more of this before it's too late!  I found these great swivel hooks on etsy (shop here) - they are a gunmetal color which I just love!  I need some silver ones too, but I'm loving the dark metal look right now :)

I don't have any pictures to show from dinner as it was a fail!  I found the recipe on a crock pot site on facebook - it was Bacon Ranch Chicken served over egg noodles (sounds good, doesn't it???)  I lightened it up and it just was not that good.  My boyfriend ate it and said he liked it, but I had 3 bites and moved onto the brownies :) 

Super Quick Fall Breakfast

Good morning folks!  Fall is in the air, although it's actually pretty warm here today.  The rest of the week is supposed to cool down though.  I thought I'd share the breakfast I am having this morning, as it's quick and easy and pretty good for you too :)  I found this smoothie recipe years ago in Prevention magazine and it's like drinking a cold glass of pumpkin pie :)  I'm having it with a nut and granola mix that I found at the store, but I'd like to try making my own trail mix.  I'm sure I have some recipes saved and I'll share it here when I finally try it out!

Prevention's Pumpkin Smoothie

1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup crushed ice
1/2 cup vanilla soy milk (I used unsweetened plain almond milk and it works just fine - I'm sure the vanilla would give a nice flavor though)
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Put all the ingredients in your blender and mix together - enjoy!!!

Giveaway!

Hello there!  Today is an exciting day!  Diana, of dianapantz, is hosting a giveaway on her blog of a make-up bag and earrings...made by me!  Check it out here and if you are visiting from dianapantz - welcome!  I hope you take a look around :)