Handbag Heaven

Over Christmas, I ventured to make my first handbag as a gift for a dear friend. I watched a class on Craftsy and voila! Instant gratification... Turned out to be easier than I thought.

Sssnake!

Although I have been absent from posting here, I can assure you I have been quite busy sewing up a storm! 

In October, my son, having received a leopard ball python for his birthday, decided he absolutely needed to be a snake. He and I exhaustively searched online and could only find mascot costumes or snake ninjas (what snakes and ninjas have to do with each other, I just don't know). Upon coming up empty handed, we looked at each other and knew it was time for a project!

Between his imagination and my sewing machine, we got a little carried away. It turned out to be completely impractical for trick-or-treating the steep hills of San Francisco, however, it was an awesome sight to behold. And there is something really special about a homemade costume...

I created a jumper, which I attached the back of the snake to in an effort to distribute the weight. I also created a cap and chin strap not he base of the snake's head. The pattern down the back was inspired by my son's real snake.

It wasn't just a costume; it was lifestyle...

10 Kinds of Crazy

I have to be honest. When my son asked me to make him a quilt and insisted it had to contain dinosaurs, Transformers, Spiderman and Big Hero 6, I did what any mother would do. I told him I would get right on it and secretly dreaded making this quilt. Over a year and infinite patience on his part later, this monstrosity was born. I couldn't reconcile all the different themes and different components. 

What surprised me the most was how much satisfaction I would get watching him snuggle up with this. He absolutely loves it. Most of my quilts have been given as gifts so I haven't watched anyone actually use one. Post facto, I am now kind of in love this with. And at least it's done...

Below are the materials used:
     
Dinosaur side
     Fabric.com: Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton Solids - Chartreuse   
     Fabric.com: Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton Solids - Navy 
     Fabric.com: Robert Kaufman - Amy Suther - Toyland
     Hawthorne Threads: Michael Miller - Mod Prints - Land of the Lost
     Hawthorne Threads: Michael Miller - Mod Prints - Dino-Mites
     Fabric.com: Kanvas - 10,000 B.C. - Just Hatched
     Hawthorne Threads: Aurifil - Spring Green #1231 in 50 wt

Superhero side
     Fabric.com: Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton Solids - Navy
     Fabric.com: Disney - Big Hero 6 - Character Toss
     JoAnn Fabrics: Springs Creative Products Group - Spiderman Photo Burst
     Fabric.com: Hasbro - Transformers Prime Badge Blue
     Hawthorne Threads: Aurifil - Very Dark Navy #2785

Kindle Cozy

After my son went to sleep last night, I was reading my Kindle and realized I didn't have a case or any protection for it. Since I treasure my Kindle as much as my sewing machine, I decided to whip something up using scraps from my stash. This is what I concocted... Since I used only scraps, I cannot provide a complete list of my fabrics.

I began with an A4 envelope liner template from Paper Source which I happened to have on hand. I added an extra 6 inches to the bottom so I could fold it up, forming a pocket. I added in some decorative strips, cut it back to size, quilted and bound it and voila! A cozy was born...

Silent Film

This is actually the first quilt top I ever made but I never finished it as I got distracted by bigger and pinker things. This quilt was inspired by Cluck Cluck Sew's Strip and Flip Baby Quilt. This is the quilt top that turned me into a quilter and a year later, it's finished...

I had one set of strips left and I decided to cut them into triangles for a little fun on the back.

Below are the materials used:
     Hawthorne Threads: Robert Kaufman - Kona Roll Up - Silent Film
     Fabric.com: Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton Solids - Black
     Hawthorne Threads: Aurifil - Black #2692 in 50 wt

But I digress...

I didn't have much time to sew over the Holidays, however, I did manage to make my family new stockings. After randomly assembling stockings over the years for everyone, it's nice to finally have a cohesive set. My husband chose the fabric and I'm really happy with how they turned out. And they were very simple to make. So if we get bored of them in a few years? I'll just make them again out of a different fabric!

Pattern downloaded from here:
http://inmyownstyle.com/2012/12/merry-bright-christmas-stockings.html

Below are the materials used:
    
     Hawthorne Threads: Robert Kaufman - Suzanne Ultman - Kokeshi Fat Quarter Bundle
     JoAnn Fabrics: Kona Cotton Solids - White (for lining)
     JoAnn Fabrics: Home Decor Trim - Conso 1-3/8: White Fringe Ball
     Hawthorne Threads: Aurifil - White #2024 in 40 wt

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form of Flattery

While surfing quilting porn one night, I stumbled across this super cute pennant quilt from Emily Schildhouse. Check it out:

http://emmmylizzzy.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-pennants-in-quilt-form.html

And bless her, she told exactly how she made it. When I heard a friend of mine was going to have his first son, I decided to give it a shot. I had also recently fallen in love with the Wee Wander line from Sarah Jane. I didn't end up using all the fabrics that came in the fat quarter bundle due to contrast issues. And a cute quilt was born...

Below are the materials used:

     Hawthorne Threads: Michael Miller - Sarah Jane - Wee Wander Fat Quarter bundle in       
                                         Twilight 
     JoAnn Fabrics: Kona Cotton Solids - White
     Hawthorne Threads: Aurifil - Medium Teal #1320 in 40 wt
                                         Aurifil - Light Turquoise #2805 in 40 wt
                                         Aurifil - Light Jade #1148 in 40 wt
                                         Aurifil - Loden Green #2840 in 40 wt