Creatives Box Swap Reveal

I recently signed up for the Creatives Box Swap hosted by Bev from Linkouture and Dean from Mrs AOK.  The whole idea of the swap is to encourage creativity by sending your partner something to encourage them to try a new craft they've been wanting to try or spur on more creativity in a field they already like.

 I was partnered with Echo from The Mad Mommy.  Echo is a Midwestern girl too who blogs with a great voice and blogs about parenting, travel, health, cooking and more.  We both love Caribou Coffee and coffee in general.  Echo loves adult coloring books and I mentioned that I love office supplies and wanted to learn crochet.

Well, here's what she sent.

Awesomeness from Echo

My heart skipped a bit when I opened this up!  It was so me, so perfect!  I can't wait to use it all!  First off, we have a teach yourself crochet kit.  I can do a chain stitch, but that's about it.  This will help me learn to make rows and do crochet in the round which is essential for Granny Squares.  I love the look of Granny Squares, and told Echo this, and she sent me a guide to do those as well twelve projects you can make with them.  I love this cowl and think it will look great in some strong colors.  I think I may have to try it, once I figure out how this whole crocheting thing goes.

Granny Square Cowl

She also sent me some spunky pencils that say things like "DON'T FORGET" and "TO DO LATER".  Love writing utensils!  The cute little notebook has a dot grid inside and says "WAKE UP AND BE AWESOME" on the outside.  AND... she sent a gift card for Caribou Coffee!  I love Caribou.  Every time I go to the city I have to stop in and get a dark chocolate mocha.  Yum!

So, I pretty much got totally spoiled by Echo and you should really check her out to see how awesome she is.  And if you want to see what I sent her, or what everyone swapped, check out the link up here.

"Design It, Stitch It: Hand Embroidery" Class Review

I enrolled in Craftsy's Design It, Stitch It: Hand Embroidery(affiliate link) class in January as part of my goal to learn how to hand embroider.  I grew up doing counted cross stitch so I knew it wouldn't be that hard, but I wanted tog get a good foundation instead of just winging it.  I jumped in with both feet, with a trip to Hobby Lobby o get embroidery floss and patterns and I started the lessons.

Jessica Marquez from Miniature Rhino is the host.  She's young, cool, and makes you feel like you can create all sorts of cool things that you'll actually want to make with embroidery.   There's eight lessons, and within these she goes through more than two dozen different embroidery stitches.  She also shows different methods to do the same stitch.

The first six lessons focus all on stitches.  Jessica and Craftsy give you a sampler pattern that you can make to practice all your stitches and then assemble it into a cute little quilt, but I wanted to makes something more practical, so I just used an iron on pattern I found at Hobby Lobby and embroidered a dish towel.  I love embellished dish towels.  (If sewing is more your thing, check out this tutorial for freshening up your dish towels.)  I didn't try out all the stitches like I would have if I had made the sampler, but I managed to squeeze the stem stitch, lazy daisy, satin stitch, french knots, fern stitch, and a few others into my little project.

Finished Project- Embroidered Towel

The last two lessons are about embroidery on knits and designing your own patterns.  It was pretty interesting and I really learned a lot.  So why did I wait so long to tell you guys about it, if it was so awesome?  Well, because I'm a constant unfinisher.  I was nearly done with this towel.  All that was left was a few lessons to watch and about half an hour of embroidery.  And it sat on my desk. Languishing away.  Thank goodness Craftsy access never expires! 

I'm not sure why it sat for so long, other than it got warm and I was spending more time outside.  But, since I made June my "Month of Finishing", I decided to get it done. So, today, I did.  And now I'm all amped up to make more, but  think I'm going to make myself finish up a few more of the unfinished projects before starting another.

Love the fern stitch on the purple flowers on the right, and the French knots on the right.

Have you tried hand embroidery before?  If you have, what's your favorite stitch?  And if you haven't but would like to, check out Jessica's class on Craftsy.  (Craftsy links are affialiate links, but all thoughts are my own.)  It's on sale right now for only $19.99.  And like I said, access never expires, and you can watch the videos whenever you want, at your own pace or even skip around if you like.  It's totally up to you. 

Unfinished Business... or Things I Should Have Finished Months Ago

Am I the only one that puts off things that has to be done, but then feels really good when I finally do it?  There's some things I just hate doing, so I let them hang around like a rain cloud, always waiting for me.  So, a couple Wednesdays ago I decided to tackle all this stuff that was hanging over my head- financial paperwork for my home loan, made appointments to get my car realigned (something I was supposed to do after I got new tires at Christmas time), get the oil changed, and set up with a new provider (mine moved) for my yearly physical.  And to cross all this stuff off felt great!  Afterwards I decided to reward myself with a trip to the greenhouse to buy some flowers and herbs, and I planted them that very evening, and then mowed the lawn.  It was a super productive day of crossing stuff off. 

But, it got me thinking, how much stuff do I have hanging over my head in other areas, weighing me down.  I decided to focus on my hobbies. 

And that dear friends, is what brought about this picture:

This is most of my unfinished sewing projects, and all the books I've started but not finished.  I'm guessing there's three quilts, a shirt, a dress (that showed up in very near the same state in a similar post nearly three years ago!), several tote bags, and an apron.  There's five books that I'm reading.  Some haven't been picked up for months. 

And... there's Craftsy.  I love Craftsy.  I've learned how to make homemade bread, how to cook hearty vegetarian, and how make fettuccine from scratch, but I have a tendency to sign up for classes and be all gung-ho, but then not finish them.  So, I have a handful of Craftsy classes I would really like to finish too.

So, I decided it's time to finish what I started and get through some of these projects.  It will clear out space in my craft room, clear out mental space to tackle new projects- because lets me honest, it's no fun to sew in a room full of half finished things staring at you.  It makes me feel like Santa and the Island of Misfit Toys.  And as for books, if they're not that good, I should just get rid of them, and if they are worth my time, finish them.

How about you guys?  I can't be the only one with a crazy amount of works in progress, can I?

On Adult Coloring Books

So, last summer I bought my first adult coloring book.  It was just a little book of flower pictures.  Kind of had this Art Nouveau theme to it.  But, it was pretty great.  I like to color with crayons.  It doesn't give you the control that colored pencils do, or look as wall worthy as some of the finished projects I've seen online, but there's just something about the waxy smell of crayons on paper that I love.

Then, I got the opportunity to review a coloring book for Blogging for Books.  They were going to send me The Time Garden by Daria Song, but due to a shipping delay, they sent me Outside the Lines, Too also.  They are both adult coloring books, but there are definitely some differences.

The Time Garden  is almost a story book, with text and a story throughout.  The pages to color look similar to something from The Secret Garden by Johanna Basford's style.  Lots of small areas, lots to color.  If that's your cup of tea, then you'll probably love this coloring book.  A lot of the pictures spread across both pages.  Some of the pages I really like, like the ones with just a ton of different stars, or flowering tree branches, or balloons.  But others not so much, like the watch cogs, or a bunch of buildings.  It's a sturdy book complete with dust jacket,

Example of a page from The Time Garden

But, this really isn't my style.  I prefer a more traditional coloring book style.  I like a big picture to color with lots of areas for inserting color and my own style.  So, Outside the Lines, Too, was great for this.  In this book, the pages are totally random.  There's everything from geometric prints, animals drawn in cartoon style, a page of just different types of apples with the names of each type written next to it, to ocean waves.  It's got a little bit of everything.  It's a couple hundred pages long, but the pictures are only on the right side of the book.  Flip the page over and you'll find the authors name, work's name, and author's website address, so if you want to frame any of your masterpieces, you can do so without ruining another picture.  The pages are perforated too.

Example of a page out of Outside the Lines, Too

In the end it really comes down to a personal preference.  What kind of coloring do you prefer.  And if you think adult coloring books are immature and a waste of time, well, I think you're missing out.  How much time do we waste watching t.v. or scrolling through Facebook feeds?  Adult coloring books give a little creative outlet, and really are relaxing, without requiring much time commitment or a lot of supplies  There's just something about picking up crayons and just focusing on what to color first that ease away stress.  I think if you're looking for a fun little hobby, buy yourself a book, and a box of crayons (or colored pencils, or oil pastels, or whatever you're into) and just get lost in some coloring- especially if you're the type that doesn't like to devote lots of time to learning new skills or having to purchase a bunch of supplies to get started.

Both these books were provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

DIY Coffee Scrub

Looking for something to help smooth out rough skin and wake you up in the morning?  The answer is in your kitchen!  Coffee scrub is easy to make, smells great, and is an awesome way to pamper your skin in the shower.

Here's what you need:

• 1 cup of coffee grounds
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
• Honey
• Clean jar or container for you finished project
  

1. Mix coffee grounds with salt.  
2. Add oil and a swirl of honey.  
3. Stir until combined.  Mixture will resemble an Oreo crumb crust.
4. Spoon mixture into your container and add lid. (I used a 1 pint mason jar, which actually requires more than a single recipe.)
5. Enjoy!

This scrub works great after gardening.  I prefer to use it in the shower, because it is a little messy, but that's just me.  To use, just take a little of the scrub in your hand, add water and smooth over needed area.  I've seen coffee scrubs marketed as cellulite reducing scrubs, due to the caffeine in the coffee, but can't really vouch for that.  I like to use it on elbows, knees, and feet.  It's going to make your shower smell like you're bathing in a giant latte, which I think is a great way to wake up in the morning.

Tips

• I look for cheap coffee.  The Starbucks I used was marked down to $2 a bag because it was outdated.  (I've also heard you can use already used coffee grounds, but have not tried that myself.)
• You can use salt, brown sugar, or white sugar.  I usually just use whatever I have handy.  
• Don't have sweet almond oil?  Any carrier oil will work- jojoba, avocado, etc.  You could even use olive oil if need be.

I'm in Love (With a Tank Top)

I have this dream of having a minimalist closet, with only a few items of clothing, but that I love every item and wear them all regularly. They're all in a similar color palette and all fit perfectly, and most of it is sewn by me. I love tanks, because I can layer them under long sleeve shirts when it's chilly, or wear them alone when it's muggy and hot out. I buy knit tops from Kohls, but I really like woven tops because they look dressier and they can be hard to find in cute patterns and/or at reasonable prices. So, yesterday I was scrolling through Craftsy looking for a tank top pattern that had some fit to it but wasn't too tight or two low.  Enter the Ella Tank from Liola Patterns.

It had only a few pieces, two darts, and a small gather in the back.  It looked promising.  I bought the PDF and got started.  It went together fast and was super easy, but the end results were pretty amazing!  It fits like a dream, flares just right and is gorgeous.

The fabric was this swiss dot, bird and flower print I bought last summer intending to use the pattern I showed in this post but after I finished my wearable muslin, I decided I didn't like the pattern.  It was cut really big and looked like a swimsuit coverup, not a shirt to wear out and about.  So the fabric has just been sitting in my stash waiting to be used.

Liola is an indie pattern company and you can find their patterns all over online.  Craftsy carries six patterns for women's tops and after trying this one, I can't wait to try some others.  This pattern came in four sizes.  I cut the large and sewed it up within a couple hours.  I don't really think there's anything I'd change about it.  In fact, I plan on making more.  The recommendations for for lightweight fabrics, but I have some Anna Maria Horner quilting cotton I want to take a shot at.  I think it would work, just probably lose some of it's nice drape.

If you're looking for a fast project and have at least basic sewing skills, I'd really recommend this pattern.  Do you have any Indie sewing companies you really like?  Leave me their name in the comments.  I'm always looking for new companies.

This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

May 2015 Giveaway Day

It's SewMamaSew's official Giveaway Day!  This day only comes twice a year!  You can blog hop a ton of crafty blogs and enter to win great prizes.

 I'm still working on down sizing my sewing supplies so I made a fun little gift pack out of a bunch of my extras.  Here's a picture of what I'm offering up:

This includes:

• 42 square charm pack with fabric from Amy Butler, Cloud 9, Anna Maria Horner, and a bunch of others- 3 squares of each deasign.
• 6- 9" zippers in a variety of bright colors
• Pack of 2 tea towels, brand new in the package.  Perfect for embroidering, or embellishing with fabric.

Looking for some ideas of what you can make with charm packs?  Check out Moda's Bake Shop.
You can also see my favorite way to spruce up tea towels right here!

So, if you want to enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below to do just that.  This giveaway is open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
And don't forget to check out all the giveaways over at Sew Mama Sew!

Pattern Review- Travel Craft Bag

One of the things I wanted to do differently this year was to make most of my birthday gifts, especially the ones for female friends.  (Men always seem harder to craft for.)  So, my first challenge happened early in the year.  I have two friends and two coworkers all with birthdays in the first two months.  I've managed to create something crafty for all of them, but since I haven't seen some of them to give them their gifts I'm not going to show them all to you guys yet.  :)  And as a side note, is it just me or is like everyone you know born in February?  Anyhow.... on to craftiness.

So, today I'm going to show you the Travel Craft Bag I made with a PDF from Craftsy.  The pattern is from Stitch by Stitch and free so if you think you want to try it out, go for it!  I think Travel Craft Bag is kind of a misleading description for this little treat.  I'd call it more like a basket with handles.

Crafty Basket filled with Goodies!

 Here's what I liked about the project:

• Minimal amount of fabric needed (like 3 fat quarters and that is all)
• No zippers, snaps, or closures to mess with.
• The whole thing can be cut with a rotary cutter and mat.  No pieces to pin and cut out.
• Small pattern pieces makes it a good chance to use up extra pieces of interfacing.
• Finished project is cute and functional.  It's about six inches deep and can hold a magazine or some hand stitching fabrics or embroidery projects.  The pockets are great for holding your supplies (or chocolate).

Here's what I didn't like:

• The instructions state to cut the interfacing 1/2" smaller than all your pieces, but when using Pellon 808 (my interfacing of choice for baskets and bags) I don't really have problem with seems getting too bulky, and cutting it the same size alows it to be sewn into place giving it some extra sturdiness.  (The exception would be the pockets, which are not lined.  The folding the seam allowance down over the interfacing produced nice clean results.)
• I found the instructions on the pockets confusing and it took me a while to figure out what I was doing, and even so, I managed to goof up the sizes of the pockets.
• The instructions for the straps have you cut two pieces of interfacing for each strap and make it much more complicated than it needs to be.

Overall, I like the boxed effect.  I think the final result turned out well and I wouldn't hesitate to make another one.  I would make the straps the way I'm used to (or maybe even eliminate them all together- they aren't really needed.) And I would cut the interfacing the same size as the fabric (except with the pockets).  But, it's super cute, and goes together relatively fast.  My coworker loved it.  And hey, the pattern is free, so you really can't complain. :)

If you want to find other great indie patterns on Craftsy, just  click the pic below.

There's stuff for sewers, knitters, and crocheters.

(Links to Craftsy in this post are affiliate links to Craftsy, but the review is all mine.)

Friday Finishes- Simple Dish Towel Spruce Up

What do your dish towels look like?  If you're like me, they are stained, dingy, and old.  I was thinking back to when I bought most of them, they're mostly from when I first moved out of my parents house- 10+ years ago!  The majority of the remainder came with my husband when we got married, which was almost 8 years ago.  There's a few here and there that I got as gifts or picked up on clearance at Target or something.  But anyways, the majority are old and dingy.

Why do I keep things that are old and dingy?  Dish towels don't cost that much to replace.  I use them everyday.  Why am I keeping something ratty and discolored when I could have something nice and fresh for minimal investment.

So, I bought some colored tea towels and jazzed them up with some fabric out of my stash.  I just cut a strip about four inches wide and the width of my towel, sewed it down, topstitched all four sides and ta dah!  New dish towels, with a personal touch.

Out with the Old, In with the New

As for the ratty old ones, they're in the rag bin for dusting.

I'm rereading Simple Abundance this year, and one of the things they constantly stress is taking joy in the small things in life.  You need to indulge in simple things: buy yourself fresh flowers, don't save the good china for just when company comes, contemplate life over a cup of tea.  I think making something pretty just for yourself (not for a gift, not because you have to, just for you, just because) is also a way to be joyful in small things.  I know I like looking at my new towels much better than the old ones.

What's something you can do to spread a little joy in your life?

Craftsy's Big Fall Sale is Happening NOW!

Have you heard Craftsy's BIG Fall Course Sale is happening now? Learn from the world's best instructors in the comfort of your home, when you shop up to 50% off ALL online classes! Once you enroll you can watch your classes anytime, anywhere, forever. Hurry, offer expires September 22, 2014 at 11:59 PM MT. Shop Craftsy's BIG Fall Course Sale and save. 

I finally broke down and bought the Homemade Italian Pasta class.  It was half price and with winter coming soon, I figured it was the perfect time to learn to make pasta.  And I can finally try out that hand crank pasta machine I got at a garage sale this summer.  Hurray!

So if you want to learn a new craft, now is the time to enroll.  Learn at your own pace in a supportive community with great instructors.  Whether it's cake decorating, quilting, Thai cooking or something in between, Craftsy has a class for it.

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Note: As an affiliate for Craftsy, I do receive a commission for any classes bought through my referral links, but I only endorse products or companies that I myself would use.  I'm a big fan of Craftsy and highly recommend them.

Dog Days of Summer Craftsy Sale!

We're officially in the dog day so of summer.  Here in Wisconsin, it hasn't been too bad.  I think we've only had a handful of days where we were above 90.  But that's okay by me, usually there's a stretch of a week or two where we are in the 100s with crazy hot humidity and no relief unless you're indoors in air conditioning.  So, I'm not complaining,

But if you live somewhere hot and humid, never fear!  Craftsy is having a "Dog Days of Summer" sale and all classes are 50% off!  Seriously, if there's any class you've had your eye on, now is the time to sign up!

Last week I found a manual pasta maker, that looked much like this, so now I'm seriously considering signing up for the Homemade Italian Pasta class.  Yum!  Homemade pasta all winter long?  Yes please!

You all know I love Craftsy.  My favorite out of the classes I've taken is  their Artisan Bread Making class and still make homemade bread a couple times a month.  If you're still not convinced an online class is for you, check out my post Craftsy 101.  It explains how you can learn at your own pace, rewatch videos as much as you need to, and the instructors are all great!  And I said it then, but I'll say it again.  If you aren't sure you want to spend the money on a class, there's lot of free ones on a variety of topics that will give you a little taste of what you're in for.

But hurry, because this sale ends on August 11!

A Peek into My Life

A few weeks ago, my friend Christy asked me if she could come photograph me working on projects and such.  She's a great photographer who specializes in weddings, engagements, and the like, and she wanted to come and just play around with me in my work space.

Photo Courtesy of Christy Janeczko Photography

So we got together last week, and earlier this week she posted on her blog about her visit.  I was sewing some grocery bags and making homemade bread (post coming on that soon) at the time of her visit, and she just took pictures while I worked and we visited.  It was really fun for me to see how my office looks through someone else's eyes.  She picked out things I hadn't really thought were very cool and she made them look interesting and awesome. 

Photo Courtesy of Christy Janeczko Photography

Of course, my cats had to show off for her.  They really are like little kids sometimes.  Here's HB mauling a ball of yarn.

She also gave me some great photography tips and taught me a little about using natural light and what settings I should be using on my point and shoot to get better pictures.

 So, check out the post on her website: Christy Janeczko Photography.  And I highly recommend her if you need a photographer!  She takes gorgeous pictures that are natural and relaxed and beautiful.  She's done family pictures for my side of the family and my husband's.  I would have had her shoot my wedding, but she was my maid of honor. 

A Few Favorites: Jan 19

Here's what I'm hearting this week.

1.  These Clothespin Wrap Dolls are super cute!  I'm thinking they would be great to make and put in my Operation: Christmas Child shoeboxes this fall.  Pinned it for future reference.

2.  I love this Dandelion Wish Necklace from Etsy.  It is super cute!  I love silver jewelry and the little teardrop bottle holding the dandelion seed is so cute! 

3.  Heidi Shaulis's whole Etsy shop is adorable, but I really love this print, called The Rescue.  There's just something about the whole painting that is nursey rhyme-esque, but I just love it!  I would hang it up in my office without a second thought.


4. This Stars in Formation quilt was featured in the latest issue of Quilty.  There's about three quilts I really like in this issue, but this one is the easiest level.  Since I've never actually made a quilt, I figured if I do get around to it, I should start with an easier one.  The sawtooth star is a traditional design, but I really like this layout, and the contrasting colors.  It's pretty awesome.  Plus, I think I could use up quite a few scraps with it.

Crochet is MacGyver

A few months ago I enrolled in Craftsy's Knitting Lab (affiliate link) and Crochet Lab (affiliate link). I can cast on and do a row of either one, but that's all the farther I can go.  I always thought knitting was so elegant and beautiful with fine stitches and cables and patterns and colors blending so effortless.  Crochet was more like the frumpy aunt that makes you bulky, itchy sweaters.  It wasn't until I really got searching for crochet projects on Pinterest that I realized all the awesomeness you can create with a crochet hook.
Yesterday was Lesson 4 in Crochet Lab and I'm so excited!  I can actually "do" single crochet now!  It's not pretty, but the principle of how it's done has finally clicked!  I like to practice with variegated yarn.  That way you can see your past row a little easier and see your progress.

I started a Pinterest board of crochet projects to try.  I've found such a variety of goodies- from winter scarves and hats, to amigurumi (which I was always under the impression was a knitting thing), to delicate flowers, fun granny squares, garlands, afghans, lacy shawls.  Here's some of what I've found so far.


It's pretty awesome!  Crochet really is a MacGyver of fiber arts.  So, if you have any cool projects that you think I'd like, post the link below and I'll check them out!  I know it'll be a while before I'm doing any really detailed projects, but a little inspiration never hurts.

Zip Pouches from Michelle's Patterns

So last week, Michelle's Patterns (affiliate link) released a new pattern for cute zipper pouches, but these have a sweet little button and sideflap detail.  It comes in three different sizes.  I bought it last week, but finally got around to trying out the pattern today.

I had bought this whale fabric at Joann's a few months ago, the beige fabric I used for the accent and lining came in a fat quarter bundle I bought around the same time and the buttons are from an Etsy shop.  I decided to make the tall pouch. 

This pattern goes together very quickly, and only has two pattern pieces per size.  It's labeled as intermediate, but if you know how to install a zipper, you shouldn't have any problems.

The tall is about 2/3 the size of a school notebook.

I like to make zipper pouches because they go together quickly and are super practical.  But, the little button detail on this one gives it a little something extra.  Michelle's Patterns are great to sew with because you just purchase them, download, print, and go.  Her directions are always clear to follow and often she gives several different size options.

Don't mind my sloppy top stitching.

You can add as many or as few buttons of you like.  I plan on using a crochet flower instead of a button next time.

This picture, from Michelle's Patterns, shows all three sizes.

I think these will make great Christmas presents and I love all the ways you can customize them. 

Friday Finish- Infinity Scarf for Fall

It's been a busy week.  I haven't spent nearly as much time crafting as I wanted to.  I woke up today to a drizzly, cold, rainy day.  So I decided that it'd be the perfect day to stay inside and craft something before I had to go to work.  I pulled up my Crafty Little Things board on Pinterest.  Sifting through for a nice easy project.  I found a pin from over a year ago for a quick and easy spring infinity scarf.  Since it's meant for spring, they recommend using a voile, but I thought I could use a woven just as easily.

The tutorial is from The Cottage Mama and you can find it here.  The instructions are very clear and easy to follow.  I dug in my stash and found this houndstooth fabric that I have had forever. It's a heavier weight and a woven, but it has some stretch.  I think I must have gotten it at a thrift store or garage sale or something.

Of course HB had to check out my fabric after I had cut it into two pieces of 12 inches wide by 60 inches long.  Luckily, he approved.

Then came the sewing.  This is a great project for a new sewer because there is very little sewing to be done.  .  I didn't even bother to pin my pieces together.  I just fed them right on through.  Follow The Cottage Mama's tutorial and you'll see how easy it is.  Best of all, there's only a little hand sewing required at the end to finish up your scarf.

In about half an hour from start to finish, I had my scarf.  It goes great with my poor eggplant colored coat with the too long lining.  (This is the one I talked about in my Favorite Colors Swap post). 

And here's a close up of the fabric.  I think it will be great for fall and probably even winter.  It's warm, but not too tight, doesn't itch, and it's a classic pattern.

So, if you need a project to get your creative mojo going, this could be the one.  I kind of want to make a bunch more of these in all different fabrics and prints.

A Few Favorites 9.22

This week has flown by!  I'm working seven days in a row at the hospital and we've been busier than normal.  I come home wide awake, hungry, and exhausted.  Not a good combination.  It felt relaxing just to curate this list before getting ready for another day of patients, call lights, and paperwork.


Here's what I'm loving this week:

1. My mom sent me this pin (via Pinterest of course) and it pretty much sums up my feelings towards life.  I'm not big on tee shirts, but I think it'd look super cute under a cardigan.  You can find this tee at WordBrand.

2. White chip macadamia nut cookies from Julia's Album.  These only make about a dozen cookies, but they're pretty tasty.  Oh yes, and be sure to toast your macadamia nuts before using them in the the cookies.

3.  Catnip filled mice tutorial from Craftster.  These are super cute, and predominately machine sewn.  I was looking for a tutorial that didn't involve all hand sewing.  I think these are going to be adorable!

4.  Fall is coming, so that means you're going to need a lovely cowl to keep your neck warm.  This one is from TinySheep on Etsy.  I have one in charcoal and I love it.  Her prices are super affordable, her craftsmanship is awesome and the cowls look great with a jacket, just a sweater, a cardigan, whatever. 

So there you are.  I'm hoping for a more productive week next week, with new things to craft and cook and maybe even a book to read.

Craftsy Sale is Ending Soon

Just a reminder that Craftsy's big sale runs through Saturday and then it's done!  So what did I find that I couldn't live without?  I managed to pass by all the fabrics, but I did enroll in two more classes.  I have tried my hand at knitting and crocheting without much success, so I decided to give the Craftsy beginner classes a try and enrolled in Crochet Lab Class and Knit Lab Class.  Both teach the foundations of their respective field and I'm hoping to get more proficient this winter when Wisconsin is buried in snow.  Both classes were on sale for only $9.99 each, so I think it will pay off since I seem to do better with video lessons than with books.

I love that I can watch the videos for class when I want, at my own pass.  My access to the classes never expire and the PDF handouts are super handy to refer back to without having to fast forward through the video.  So, just wanted to remind you all that if you were thinking of trying any Craftsy class, now is the time.  They're almost all on sale and Craftsy does have a 100% guarantee that you'll be happy with your class.  I've always been happy with everything I've gotten from Craftsy and I really think you will be too.

Finished Projects and Revitalization

I made it back from my retreat.  And it was pretty awesome!  I walked nature trails, I read, I sewed a lot, ate delicious food, slept in bunk beds for the first time in years (and got a top bunk- what what!).  I just feel so refreshed and energized!  I didn't realize how much I needed to just unplug for a few days, get away from work and home and recharge my batteries.

So how did I fair on all those projects I took along?  Take a peek.

Folk art animal apron made with SeeKateSew's pattern

This is my second go at SeeKateSew's apron pattern.  I used some newer fabric in my stash and it's bright and colorful.  I only bought a yard of it, and now I'm kind of wishing I would have bought more.  I goofed up my ruffle on the neckline, so I just left it off.  I think it's just as cute without the ruffle.

Close up of the fabric.  It's pretty cute!

I made all four of the Michelle Pattern's (affiliate link) grocery bags that I had cut out.  Here are the finished projects.

This bag is a cute navy blue fabric I got at Joann's.

The lining is a pale beige that kind of has a birch pattern to it.  It's been in my stash forever and I finally got up the guts to cut into it.  Do you ever do that?   Hold off on cutting into fabric you really like?

Here's a closer view of the fabric.

I didn't take either of these first two projects home.  They were claimed by friends I was with, so I made them model to earn their finished projects. :)

Here are the other three bags.

The third and fourth picture are of the same bag, it's just reversible.

Some of these are made with fabrics that have been in my stash forever!  (The blue floral in the second picture and the purple gingham in the third are both some of the oldest fabrics in my stash.)

And finally, my most proud finish...

The Alice Bag

 This is a bag made from iThinkSew's Alice bag pattern.  I had found this quilt top at the thrift store for a couple bucks.  I loved it, but wasn't sure what I would do with it.  I had made an Alice bag a few months before that and loved the simple but unique design, decided the quilt top would be perfect and proceeded to cut it out, as well as the lining, interface the exterior with some fusible fleece, and then stick it aside for at least a year.  I threw it in with my projects to take on the retreat at the last minute and I was so glad I did.  It literally took me less than an hour to finish it and I love how it turned out.  You can see the quilt fabric is fragile and I don't think this bag will last forever, but I'd rather use it until it wears out than leave quilt top stuffed in a bag somewhere never used.

I was pretty happy with all I got done, and I'll talk more about the retreat later in the week, just had to show off my finished for now.

A Few Favorites 9.15

Usually I list a couple of my favorite things I've found on Pinterest on Sundays, but this week I'm changing it up.  I decided to list some of my favorite blogs.  I read a lot of blogs.  I use Bloglovin' to keep track of all of  the posts and it makes it so easy.  I can pick to only reads only certain blogs posts, read them in chronological order, read by each blogs' focus.  It's great!  So, here are some of my favorites and the links to them.

I found Beth's blog, Living a Goddess Life when she was my swap partner for the Local Flavor's swap.  She is a lot of fun and we have a similar tastes in a lot of things.  Her blog focuses on book reviews, crafty things, beauty tips, music, and just what she likes and what's going on in her life.  I always look forward to reading what she has to say because she rights engaging posts and is just so open.  I feel like Beth is comfortable in her own skin.  She who she is, and she's pretty awesome.

I don't even remember how I found Sew Caroline but I'm so glad I did.  She focuses mostly on sewing clothing, but occasionally posts on other things too.  She writes high energy and always motivates me to get going on my stash of fabrics and to make cute things.   I love her taste in fabrics and sewing patterns.  Caroline is great for when you need a little motivation to get a project finished (or started).

Flamingo Toes is another blog I've been following for a while.  Bev always has the best craft tutorials.  She sews, makes jewelry, embroiders.  She also hosts an awesome Pinterest  feature each week as well as a "Think Pink" link party each week where you can show off your projects.  I love her tutorials.  She writes clear instructions and makes everything look so easy.  Go search her blog if you're looking for some project inspiration.



One last sewing blog.  Even Artichokes Have Hearts is ran by English girl, Skye.  I found her blog when I saw here tote bag companion pouch featured on a sewing blog.  She doesn't post much more than once or twice a week, but she is always working on something cool.  She quilts, she cooks, she reads.  She's a girl after my own heart.


So there you have it, my four picks for blogs that may be new to you, and are worth checking out.  Have a great weekend and see you all when I get back from my crafting retreat.  Hopefully with lots of finished projects to show off.