Life-long Crafter?

I don't recall being too interested by crafts or art or projects as a child. I decided to start quilting when faced with a 3 week vacation from work, thinking I should have something to show for my time off. I started to scrapbook when I had children and became convinced that every moment was too precious to simply live, I needed to document how cute and cuddly the kids were. I have no good explanation for the dabbling in jewelry or card making or sewing purses. I like the feeling of having something I made myself. It's all in good fun. This plate drawn by a much younger me proves I am not striving to express innate artistic ability.

None of the Above

After gathering fabric choices, posting a pattern sketch and opening the selection of the next purse look up to the masses, I made something from off the list. My rationale is that so few people voted in my poll related to blog postings January 14 and 15 that few would be offended when I ignored their guidance. Besides, the orange lining I used for my latest purse was beckoning to me from the very windows of my sewing room.

Check out the details of this purse made from the still-puddling curtain fabric waiting to be properly hemmed. Fabric-covered button details and handles knotted through grommets give a fresh and spring-like look to the versatile denim body of the purse. Now if the weather would only warm up some...

Free Find

I've been thinking that a clothes-drying rack would make a good fabric-display system for the wall. Ideally, something that was mostly or completely wood appears crafty and utilitarian. This morning as I cruised around in the minivan running errands, I spied just the item. It's trash day in my neighborhood, so draw your own conclusions. I think the drying rack folded flat and hanging on the wall of my sewing room fits the bill exactly, and the price is perfect.

Silver-lined Bead

These earrings are a birthday present. They contain silver-lined clear beads. I don't know if they will tarnish on the inside over time. Black-lined clear beads would be pretty, too.

Zippies

At 15-20 minutes to make, these little zip pouches are quick to make and cute as can be. As it turns out, I really did need 25 zippers in a variety of colors. It is entertaining to dig through my fabric to find the perfect combination of outside, surprise lining and colored zipper. K and R have ordered their custom zippies. Readers of this blog might as well, too. You are all surely to receive a zippie even without asking for one; it may as well be in the colors you favor.

Zipper Bonanza!

I have been loitering at the mailbox, even in these frigid temperatures, in anticipation of the delivery of bulk zippers. 25 multi-colored zippers arrived today, just in advance of the long holiday weekend during which there would be no mail. Lucky me! Aren't they lovely? K and I sort and rearrange them; they are brimming with potential.

What Is It For?

I played around with making my version of a zippered pouch I saw online. I'm afraid it might lean toward the difficult-to-open-lunchsack look, but the fabric is certainly pretty. I know a boy who is eying this pouch as a scooter bag. A little velcro to attach the thing, and he's there.

Viewers' Choice

It's time for another poll. Vote early and often for your favorite fabric combination for the purse I sketched yesterday. I may even make the winning combination first.

Proposed Pattern

I spied while wandering the internet a purse I think I'll make myself. It's a solid canvas body with a patterned lining that folds down to make a cuff. The handles are made from the same patterned fabric and they are attached to the purse by knots through large grommets. The base of the bag is squared off in the standard way--sewing triangles across the flattened bottom seam. But, to jazz up the base, fabric-covered buttons adorn the triangular folds. Cute!

Not Quite Enough

I ran short of the turquoise beads I wanted to make a bracelet from, so I threw in a few black beads. The project was very quick, and I won't feel bad if I elect to cut the bracelet apart later and use them another way.

Rings on Parade

As soon as the glue dries on these rings, my fingers will be adorned. The yellow button and antique green stencil bird bead ring is my early favorite. I plan to hold off making any more rings until I can fieldtest the glue.

Photos From Arizona

In addition to the many hundreds of photos I took of the kids in Arizona this past October, I also attempted to artfully photograph the desert. The result is three pictures, one of cacti at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, one of Superstition Mountain and one of bluffs outside Sedona. They finish off the new less-cluttered-with-toys look of the family room and remind us of a great vacation.