Purple Haze

BAM!
I decided to just hit you with it all at once!

BAM!
There it is again!  The purse I made!

Entirely my own creation!
Purple wool exterior.
Lined in purple printed cotton.

Bamboo handles.
(I didn't make those, but I did buy them and attach them!)
Removable flower pin.

I wanted something structured, so I used a firm interfacing to give it body.  This baby stands up!  ... you know, if the weighty handles didn't pull it over.  But it's seriously structured! 

...AND going to a good cause!
I made this for an upcoming art/craft auction. 

The shape had been rolling around in my head for a while.  I started another one first, but realized that what I'm doing with THAT one was going to take me quite awhile.  Lots of sewing, quilting, color changes.  But I still wanted to use the same shape for another bag.  I decided to part with some of my dear, purple wool tweed that I was saving for another project, but this structured bag called out for a suiting fabric, and who am I to argue?


*** New:  This bag design has a name now.  Meet Dolores.  She's a bit retro.  A bit glam.  A bit feisty.  And all lady.  ***

I *heart* You People ...

Wow.  To paraphrase misquote Ms. Sally Field:
"You like me, you really like me!"

Check it, peeps!  I hit over 5,000 page views today!

So, thank you to all of you (yes, you!) who read my blog regularly. 
It's nice to know there are some folks out there who like to see what I'm making or what randomness I'm spouting off about ...

You all rock!


xoxo
Amy

Chips, Dips, Chains and WIPs!

(Okay, if anyone gets the reference, I'd love to see a comment!)


I've got WIPs coming out my ears! *

I've been neglecting the Sew-A-Long.  Some of the past few weeks of projects weren't really my "thang" so I've skipped a few things.  This week's one looked fun, but I just didn't have the energy or the interest to do it.

BUT I've got projects "on the needles" (knitting, for those who don't know), "on the hook" (crocheting) and a couple sewing things kinda hanging out in my head and on my table.

Here's a current crochet project I'm excited about!

It's the Sardinia Sweater from Rowan's Summer Crochet booklet.  I fell in love with almost every pattern in this booklet!  I decided to start with this one.  I ordered the yarn from Knitorious.  You know, the place I spend a bit of my time ... fondling--er, I mean SELLING yarn.  It's Rowan's Cotton Glace in Winsor.  Ain't it pretty?!?!


I've also finished a little DIY sample for an upcoming thing at the Community Crafts Studio.  Check THIS out:

A little notebook made from repurposed cardboard with a touch of scrapbooking paper,  yarn, a button ... fun and easy!

So, you can see I've been doing stuff.  Honest!




* For those who don't know ... WIPs are Works In Progress.

Scrap Happy

Okay. 

It turns out I REALLY like making these scrappy pins! 
This is numero three:

So much fun!
You can sort of see that I tried out a different stitch on my machine - the fun little diamond thing going on there at the bottom.  Who knew, eh?

Anyway ... this is a little thank you for a rule-breaker I know.
A misbehaver after my own heart. 
A rebel with (and sometimes without) a cause.  
Someone who says "I see your rules and I will break them all!"


Wait. 
Am I talking about her or me now?
Whatever.
Hope she likes it.

And I hope I didn't get her into too much trouble.  ;)

Zakka Style Sew-A-Long: Week 13

PATCHWORK POT HOLDER

I skipped the project for week 13 because I don't really need pocket hand warmers.  Besides, usually when I'm in need of something to keep my hands warm, I'm not near a microwave.  (The hand warmers require you to heat them in a microwave.)

Anyway, I DO need week 13's pot holders!  Who doesn't need pot holders, right?  (Granted, I'm only showing you one of them.  I haven't bound the second one yet, but I will.)  The project calls for nice, even strips of fabric. 

I can never follow the rules.

I love making wonky strips.  I think it's more fun!  I pulled together some various fabrics that all had the same colors, some of my favs.  I used Osnaburg for some of the solids and for the binding.  I made the pockets on the back in the same.  I didn't photograph that because it's not very exciting.  But it turned out well!  Trust me!

I quilted the lines to follow some of the seams.  And then did a few repeats inside some of those lines.

Seen to the far right of the potholder is one of my tea towels.  Ooo...pretty, huh?  I think I'm going to use some of the wonky scraps to edge another tea towel or two made of Osnaburg.

The blue magnet/bottle opener is from Bard's Beer.  They make a pretty tasty gluten free beer that Chris likes.  I like it, too.  It's pretty darn good!  He won a contest and they sent him that bottle opener and a Bard's tee shirt.  And here he is wearing it!

Maybe we should've ironed it first ...
Oh well!