Summer Pinterest Challenge - Ruffled Headband

I love headbands!  They are so quick and easy to make and are great for keeping your hair out of your face in the summertime.  This tutorial was super quick - it only took about 20 minutes from start to finish!  I will definitely be making more of these!!

Source: punkinpattern.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Here is a link straight to the original tutorial :)

Summer Pinterest Project - Moustache Ditty Bag

Source: keykaloupatterns.com via Katie on Pinterest

I'm a huge fan of Michelle Patterns (formerly known as Keykalou Patterns) and have made up a bunch of them and still have a bunch I need to try.  I've had my eye on the Ditty Bag pattern and when my boyfriend requested something made for him in moustache fabric, I thought this would be a perfect match.

The pattern was quick and easy and comes in 3 sizes (this is the Large).  At some point I'd like to make a set of all 3 (for me!). 

Summer Pinterest Challenge -- Circle Zip Ear Bud Pouch

I have had this little guy saved in my Sewing Inspiration Board for a bit - I even read over the tutorial and printed out the pattern pieces, but since I lost my sewing motivation, those pieces have sat on my desk and not moved.  I wanted something quick and easy to jumpstart this little challenge of mine and I thought this would fit the bill :)

Source: erinerickson.com via Katie on Pinterest

I used my favorite owl fabric and some red dots for the lining.  Start to finish, this took about a half hour.  I skipped the top-stitching around the circle because I tried it once, it didn't come out good and I knew it would frustrate me!  I love this little pouch though, I think it looks like something you would see in a Japanese sewing magazine :)
Here is a link directly to the tutorial - if you click on the pin above, it will bring you to my Pinterest and you can repin it there - the link provided also leads directly to the tutorial, so it's ready for you to repin if you want to give it a try :) 

Owl Pouch

My first sewing project of the New Year!  This fabric has been in my stash for ages, I just love the little, winking owls :) 

I used the Zip Pocket Pouches Pattern by Keykalou and made up the Tall size.  I wanted this pouch to hold my iphone, but it won't fit with the cover on it.  And I love the cover so much there is no way I will take it off!  It's so cute....see what I mean?

haha anyway, this pouch will make a great wallet - it's got a zipper pouch inside it too....

And, I got to use my new labels!  Love them :) Hmmm...not the best picture, I'll have to find another pic...

So, do you like this little pouch?  Well, guess what?  I'm giving it away - along with the earrings pictured below!  Go check out Gentri's blog and enter to win right here :)

New Sewing Pattern Review - Krissyanne Designs Ruffled Bow Cosmetic Bag

Hello there!  Today I have a new sewing pattern to introduce!  This cute little make-up bag is from the talented Kristin at Krissyanne Designs.  She has created her very first pattern and I was lucky enough to be a tester for her! 

As you can see, the Ruffled Bow Cosmetic Bag Pattern creates the cutest little bag!  This little guy is about 7 inches tall, 4 inches deep and 2.5 inches wide at the bottom of the bag.  The instructions were very clear and the pictures were super-helpful.  I really liked Kristin's zipper instructions and I'm hoping she'll provide a little tutorial here in the future :)

Recommended fabrics are quilting cottons and the interfacing is fusible fleece.  I used a linen for the exterior and Denyse Schmidt for Joann fabric for the bow and liner.  My favorite part of this bag is the bow - it's adorable!  Purchase your own pattern (currently available at a special discounted price!!) in Kristin's Etsy shop here, check out other item's she's made here on Flickr and like her on Facebook!!

Don't forget to check out the 3 giveaways going on right now!  See here, here and here :)  Have a great day!

Pleated Tote Bag

Hello there!  I know it doesn't seem like it, but I have been sewing :)  I recently finished this bag and it came out awesome!  It's all I can do not to use it myself, but I really want to make a few tote sized bags to sell and this is the first one!  I've used this pattern before (it's an OOP Simplicity) and it's a quick and easy pattern to sew up.  I've made it before (here and here) and I will definitely make a few more of these.  It's lined in chocolate brown and has one patch pocket.

I'm trying to be better about my photographs, too.  I have no patience though!  I took a few photos and when I put them on my computer I knew I had to take a step back and try some different lightings - the original pics I took were SO BAD!! 

 The first photo above is in my bedroom, in the morning, with lots of natural light.  I like taking the picture with my dressform, so that you can really see the size of the bag.  The second photo is in my bathroom, no natural light at all.  Not too bad, but I think I like the first one better.  I guess it's true, there is no substitute for natural light!

Next up, I will be working on a ton of custom ordered make-up bags.  I've already made one up and it came out really cute :)  I also made some Oreo truffles that came out soooo good!  I have it Pinned on my Yummy board and will post about it tomorrow!  Hope you are all having a lovely Thanksgiving weekend :)

Girls Best Friend Wallet

I took a break from sewing for the upcoming purse/jewelry party to make up this wallet for my best friend.  This is the Girl's Best Friend Wallet pattern from Jennalou Designs, made up in an awesome, mustard-colored fabric from Joann's.  It's lined with a chocolate brown Kona cotton. 

This was a tough one.  I sewed and resewed the zipper.  Then I had to cut all new pattern pieces for the zippered pocket and try one last time.  I have a zillion links saved under sewing tips, so I finally went through them and found one for inserting a zippered pocket.  Check it out here, it saved me!

As you can see, the zipper did come out good, although I put it in backwards!  I didn't have it in me to take it out again, so it stays that way!  Hopefully she won't even notice :)  I also struggled with the top-stitching.  I think next time I would square it up, so that I wouldn't have to sew around curves - I had to rip it out several times before I was satisfied with it.

All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with it.  If I could do it over again I would line it in gray, as there is a bit of pale gray in the flower buds and I don't love the contrast between the yellow thread and the brown fabric, but it does look pretty good.  This is not a pattern I would recommend to beginners, but if you have experience (and lots of patience!), give it a try :)  The Girl's Best Friend Wallet is available as a PDF downloadable pattern for purchase here.  

Sewing! Little Pouches and Make-Up Bags :)

Finally!  These 2 Little Owl Pouches have been done for a week, except for their straps.  This is a super-cute and simple pattern from Keykalou Patterns that is only available as a lite pattern here on her blog.  I also made  a pink owl print pouch up, but it did not come out so good, so no photos!

I also made up 2 more make-up bags using this pattern by Studio Cherie.  This is fast becoming a favorite!  I especially love the fabric on the second one, it's a mini-chevron print that reminds me of the famous print by the fashion house, Missoni.  I got the fabric on clearance at Joann's and I like it so much I'm going to have to find more!  I got really lucky with my zippers, they match the fabrics perfectly!  And, I already have another make-up bag cut out and ready to sew - told you I love them!

Lately

Hi there!  Been doing some fun stuff lately - including making this delicious soup and grilled cheese sandwich for lunch.  I also made chicken lasagna the other night, sooo good!  Try these recipes!!

I found a piece of Pink Daisy Pyrex!  Actually my Mom found it, I went right by it!!  Good catch, Mom!  The new one is the one on the bottom, I already had the 043 - building that pink collection!!

Picked up a Dream On inspiration vintage sheet for $3 at Savers.  Perfect condition!  What should I make with it??? I'm thinking beach bag for next summer.  Even though I don't really go to the beach :)  Maybe a pool bag!

Also picked up this adorable (and huge!) owl printed reusable bag for 99 cents!!!  Check your local Marshall's :)

Did a little bit of sewing, including this make-up bag and a glasses case (for me!) using this tutorial...

Lastly, check out my interview on dianapantz right here!!!  Thanks for reading :) 

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!

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 :) 

Finally - Some Sewing!

I hadn't sewn a stitch in 2 weeks!  It was becoming like torture to me, so when I had some time off mid-week, thanks to my new work schedule - I got to sewing :)

First up is another (!) Basic Wallet made up in Denyse Schmidt for Joann fabric.  It's lined with the blue sateen underneath it.  This is easily my favorite, quick to make pattern - always a success!

Next I made some Pleated Pouches in Erin McMorris' Weekends bicycle print.  The tall size is perfect for an iPhone/iPod Touch and the small size is just right for a digital camera :)  These are both lined in the flower print below (also from the Weekends line).  This line is one of my absolute favorites - I need more!!

I also completely binged on online fabric ordering - it should all be arriving this week, so pics to follow :) 

Wednesday

Hello there!  I have been sewing up a storm lately!  Above you can see all of the items I have made for the party I'm planning - not shown some earrings I made previously.  I'm going back and forth about including them at the party, since my friend and co-hostess makes jewelry.  But, these are different than what she makes and there are only a few pairs, so I will probably include them.

I finished up the set of notebook covers I was planning - each in a different colorway of Darla by Tanya Whalen.  Love this fabric and love the pattern!

I've also made up a few more key fobs.  I had a hard time with these, attaching the hardware can be tricky, but these one's came out ok.

Here are a couple of sets of magnets that I whipped together - super cute!

And lastly, two large pouches.  These are so cute and they hold a bunch!  Both are lined in black and white polka dots.

Notebook Cover

I have 4 words to describe this pattern by Keyka Lou Patterns - cute, simple and totally awesome!  I bought 3 of the smaller size Moleskin Cahier notebooks and whipped this up in an afternoon.  The exterior fabric is Darla by Tanya Whalen and the interior is a red pin-dot from Joann's. 

I'm happy to note that my slip-stitching and top stitching have been improving with each project!  I hope to make 2 more of these this week, both in different colorways of the Darla fabric.  :)

I Love Basic Wallets

Yes, another one!!!  I can't stop sewing these!  I promise the next sewn item I show here will be something different.  I swear!