What I've Been Up To

I feel like I haven't written a real post for aaaages. I had a week of giveaway posts and a week of sew-along posts (see the tab at the top for all the directions and the pattern), but no business-as-usual stuff. But Lola and I have been churning out quite a few projects (Lola is my beloved Janome, in case you didn't know). I'm going to lump some of them into one post for your viewing pleasure.

First up is a gathered clutch. I made this as part of a graduation gift, but it had a few...moments. I had the exact amount of fabric needed for the outside - that made me nervous as that's when I always mess up. Second, I had a difficult time getting the gathers to show up well - even in a photo close-up they kind of blend in.

I put a pink band across the front, but it was just kind of eh looking. I really didn't want to take it all apart, so I consulted with one of my design experts (a.k.a. Mom) and she said to do some sort of contrasting ruffle against the pink. And then I found that lovely white eyelet ruffle in my stash.

Sorry about that icky lighting. If I had more of this fabric I would have cut it so that more of the colored flower bits were visible (there's a lot more color on the back), but working with what I had this came out pretty stinkin' cute. The thank you note said "I love ruffles and pleats and pink - how did you know that?" So yay for perfect girlie gifts!

Now, I don't know where this trend started but one of the girls I make bags for (and her mom, and her sister, and a few of her friends) always request a separate cosmetic case with their bags. One of the girls recently had a baby and wanted a regular case, and then a giant one that she could stash baby stuff in. These work up so super quick it's unbelievable, and don't really take much fabric.

I like how even though the bottom corners are boxed the sides still come up straight instead of tapering down. It's not cut from a square - it's a simple pattern you can sketch out yourself for any size that you want.  My favorite thing about these 2 bags is how they nestle one right inside the other:

And finally--a few weeks ago one of my blogging buddies (Suze from Time Well Spent) asked if I'd make her a bag. She told me what design she liked, we kicked around some fabric choices (her style was easy to pinpoint from her blog) and we went from there. And last week I shipped this off to her:

This bag was a pleasure to make. I've never made it before in really bright fun prints - they've mostly been in more subtle tones - black and white, aqua, etc. So working with all this pink made me happy. And it all went together like a dream. Even the elastic pockets were easy (that probably has more to do with practice at this point, haha); and you all know how I feel about piping:

And I'm all for sunshine exploding when you open your bag (not literally, of course):

I also hemmed three dresses and three pairs of pants, but somehow I don't think you'll find those interesting.

I'm already behind on my quilt blocks for the quilt along (button in my sidebar), and I've got a quilt to put the binding on, but other than that I'm all caught up and ready to tackle my want-to-do list. Have a great Monday! I will personally spend it being aggravated at the season finale of The Killing.

Linking up here this week:

C.R.A.F.T. *** Craft-o-Maniac *** Homemaker on a Dime *** Ask Anna *** Sew Can Do *** Sumo's Sweet Stuff *** Skip to My Lou *** Sarahndipities *** Running with Glitter *** Today's Creative Blog *** Funky Polka Dot Giraffe *** Creative Itch *** Sugar Bee Crafts *** Pinkapotamus *** Someday Crafts *** Free Pretty Things for You *** Sew Much Ado *** Blue Cricket Design *** Tea Rose Home *** Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom *** Fireflies and Jellybeans *** Somewhat Simple *** The Shabby Nest *** While He Was Napping *** Iron Violet Designs *** Creation Corner *** Tatertots and Jello *** Be Different Act Normal *** To Sew With Love ***