Checking In . . .

How did I fare on January's goals . . .

I nailed my goal to exercise at least 5 times a week.  The only days I didn't work out were the 4 days of the Houston Half Marathon weekend when my family was in town to run.  I upped my exercise goal to 2 hours a day.  I mostly succeeded on that also.

How did January end up in the sewing department?  Well, I made 42 items.  There was one reusable grocery bag, 4 zippered pouches, 1 wallet, 13 bucket bags, 1 adult hoodie, 1 kiddo hoodie and 21 doll clothes for an 18" doll.  I sewed on 22 of the 31 days in January.  My great niece asked me if I would make her dolls some clothes and that's what started the doll clothes sewing frenzy.  I had no idea it would be so much fun and that I couldn't stop.  Sewing small is a little tricky, but I'm enjoying the heck out of it.  Instead of using Velcro, I am using zippers in the dresses and hooks and eyes in the tops.  The pants are all elastic waists.  I'm totally scrap busting on these projects.  Whoop Whoop!!

What's been going on in February so far . . .

I'm still maintaining my exercise goal.  I've been trying new classes and one of the classes this week  kicked my butt.  Muscles ache but I'm still getting after it.

I've made 3 doll outfits and one woman's top so far this month. I downloaded the pdf top pattern, Sabalito from Itch to Stitch and I made it yesterday out of blue polka dot linen blend fabric.  The pattern calls for woven fabrics, but I think the linen blend fabric is too stiff.  There is a ton of ease in this pattern so I may size down and make the next one out of knit fabric.  We'll see.

Have you guys heard of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)?  It takes place in November each year and it's where participants attempt to write 50,000 words in one month.  Well, I got to thinking why does it have to be in November for me?  I'm not working; I've got time; I like to write . . . hey, why don't I write a book in February??!!  And so, that's become one of my February goals.  I'm writing a research non-fiction book so it should totally be doable.  It will not be 50,000 words as I'm trying to make this an easy-to-use reference guide.  Stay tuned . . .

So, how's it going in your creative world these days?  Hope everyone is crafting away!

Happy sewing!

Bag Loving . . . 

So, I enlarged the bag pattern and now I've ended up with three (3) different sizes.  Of course, I had to sew up the other two sizes and they did not disappoint.  I think they're cute.  What do you think?  I still need to add the closures to these bags, but that's a project for another day.  For now, I'm just going to admire the dots.  They make me happy!

Can you see all three sizes?

 Inside of bags with pockets

These bags are addictive!  

Even though I have plenty of polka dot fabric, I just had to get out the llama fabric and make up another bag.  This is the largest size.  I'm thinking I could go even bigger at some point.  I'm giving these away next weekend so we'll see what the recipients say.  Fingers crossed they like them.  What's not to like, right??!!

Happy Sewing!

The Hoodie Love Continues . . . 

Did I tell you that I made 30 hoodies in 2019??  Yepper, I did.  There were a couple for me, but the rest were given away.  It turns out that hoodies really aren't that hard to make and I can bang one out rather quickly.  Looks like I'm on a roll with the 2020 models also.  Here are the latest makes.  There are six (6) hoodies for kiddos and two (2) hoodies for adults.  All of these are gifts and will be given to the recipients in the next week or so.

What do you think of the purple animal print hoodies?  They are a mother / daughter twinsies set.  I think both girls will look stunning in these hoodies.  Have you guys gotten on the animal print train yet?  It was BIG in 2019 and I don't think it's going away in 2020.

Happy Sewing!

Another Fun Day . . . 

of designing and sewing.  Yesterday I whipped up a couple of zippered pouches using a new method and I like the way they turned out.

Today I went back to the sewing machine and sewed up a reusable grocery bag complete with a zippered pocket.  And then I got busy on sewing up the Small Canvas Tote Bag from So Sew Easy.  This tote is super small because the 2" x 2" square was not any where close to 2".  But, I wanted to sew it and see how the construction on it was.  I did not follow their instructions on the pocket or the lining.  I think it turned out super cute and is perfect for a little girl, or maybe the little girl's dolly.  I plan on drafting a "normal" size tote as I think it will be a perfect bag to take to the beach.  If I make it big enough, it could hold a towel, book, sunglasses, phone, sunscreen . . . you get the idea.  What do you think?  Liking it??

Original Tote from Sew So Easy

 My test version

There are two pockets on the inside.

Shopping anyone?

Stay tuned for the next iteration of this bag.  If the larger version turns out okay, I may try to make it out of some faux leather.  What do you guys think?

Happy Sewing!

And we're off and running . . . 

Yesterday I had an idea to create a combination zippered pouch / wallet.  So, I set about making me one.  Guess what???  After I was finished with it I had a couple of thoughts:

1. Is it useful?
2. Would anyone want one or be willing to buy one?

I think in order for it to be useful I need to turn it into a wristlet.  I also need to work out the dimensions better.  But for a first try, it's totally functional.  Would anyone buy one . . . that I do not know.  Would you guys buy one?

 Zippered Pouch

Inside View

Then today I woke up and had another brilliant idea . . . how about a straight up wallet?  So, I got busy designing one of those.  I think I had better execution and proportions with this one, but there are still problems with the magnetic closure.  My original marking was correct, but I doubted myself and moved it down just a bit.  Big mistake! 

Completed Wallet

 Inside view

Outside flat view

What do you guys think?  I'm going to keep working on this pattern.  Do you guys like the binding on the wallet, or would you prefer no binding?  Let me know.  Maybe in the next iteration I'll put the zippered pocket on the outside.  We'll see.  I'm sure there will be many more versions to come because you know what . . . I've got a lot of free time these days!!  

Happy Sewing!!

Goodbye 2019 . . .

It was a year of change for me.  I've held a full-time job since I was 18 and other part-time jobs prior to that.  I worked full-time as I got my undergraduate degree and as I completed my graduate degree.  My job was tiring and stressful . . . really stressful.  But this year I said goodbye to the steady paycheck and welcomed my new normal.  So far I am liking it just fine.

My creative endeavors have always kept me grounded and this year I managed to eek out 415 sewing projects.  Most of these projects were sewn after I early retired (314, of which 285 were napkins).  The rest of the projects were mostly garments for both adults and children.

This is approximately 120 napkins; the rest of the 285 have been gifted.  Anyone need any cloth napkins?  Let me know.

My list of 2020 projects is long and varied.  There are sewing, crafting, painting, drawing, writing, exercising, organizing, etc. goals.  I do not think that I will be bored in the coming year.

And so, I hope that 2019 has been good to all of you and that 2020 brings you health and happiness with a good dose of creativity thrown in.  Happy New Year!!  Let the FUN continue!!

Updates . . . 

So, it's been a couple of weeks and I have sewn up over 200 napkins.  I went to Kansas for Thanksgiving and ended up giving away almost 100 of the napkins.  Whoop!  Whoop!  Anyone need cloth napkins??!!

Yesterday I branched out from cloth napkins and made a matching apron.  Next up . . . potholders perhaps?!

I haven't just been making napkins . . . before that I made a slew of hoodies.  Oh my word, did those turn out cute!  I made most of them in kids' sizes and gave them to the Kansas kiddos.  So cute!  There was also a pink stretch velvet with rose design that was made for one of my adult nieces.  The hoodies were a hit and I came back with a list of others who'd like one.  I've managed to sew up three more kiddo sized hoodies that need to be mailed off.  I still have a couple more kid sized hoodies to make and at least 5 adult sized hoodies.  They will be pretty easy to sew up once I decide on what fabric to use.

Now that I'm feeling better, I've been able to do more exercising.  There's been a variety of gym workouts, road biking, exercise bike biking and treadmill running.  So far, so good.  Yay!

Currently working on drawing and painting my Christmas cards.  Each year I hand draw my cards and paint them.  It's a lot of work, but I totally enjoy it.  I always wonder if these little hand drawn cards end up in the trash . . .

And that, my friends, is how I'm keeping busy without a job.  It was my choice to "retire" early, and it definitely was the right decision, but retirement is HARD!!  Most days are fine, but some days I wake up and question what's the purpose and meaning now.  It was super easy when there was a defined schedule and I worked my butt off for 10 hour days for days on end.  I would dream of the day that I got to enjoy just not working; no schedule; no stress.  Well, that day is here and for the most part it is good, but I wonder how long I can keep sewing and drawing and reading and writing and loving this new life.  Hopefully for a very long time!

The Napkin Project

What to do . . . what to do . . . when there are bolts (and I mean bolts) of cotton fabric sitting on the shelf and need a reason to be used.  I needed something that used up fabric and was relatively quick and easy to sew.  (I won't always be looking for the quick fix, but for now I need to see the "stash" start to make a decline.)  I have entire days now to sew (or do anything I want) and I need to see progress and instant gratification.  Add to that the fact that I've been sick so I really needed something easy.

And so, the napkin project began.  It's November and that means Thanksgiving, which means BIG family dinner and with every dinner we need NAPKINS!!  Maybe it's the fact that I no longer have a paycheck (does that sound scary to anyone else??!!) and there's the whole environmental thing, that I have decided to cut back on the paper towel budget and see if this cloth napkin thing can take hold.  Pretty sure I can go sew up a few napkins every day before each meal, but that sounds ridiculous even as I write it!  So, the plan is to sew napkins for the BIG dinner and to give napkins to any family member that may want a set of them.  So far I have sewn 78 or more, but who's counting?

 Sorry for the picture quality (taken at the end of the day)

Before I started The Napkin Project, I finally took some time to get out my serger booklet and look at all of the options I had.  And then I got busy learning how to do the rolled hem on it.  Easy-peasy as it turns out.

So, what do you think . . . at least one napkin a day for 365 days?  Can it be done?  Uh, no, it cannot.  I have vacation plans in the near future and I have no intention of carrying my Bernina with me.  So, let's just set the number - "365" and see how long it takes before I reach it.  Whoop!  Whoop!  Who's with me here??!! heehee

Let's go have some more FUN sewing, shall we!!

Wow!  It's been awhile hasn't it?  I took a break from blogging, but I did not take a break from creating.  That would be crazy talk!

I have made so many things and recently I took up garment sewing again.  Whoo Hoo!  I had forgotten how much fun sewing clothes was.  And so, I went a wee bit overboard and tracked down free patterns and bought a few patterns, used some fabric I already owned and then bought more fabric because you know, it's just too much fun not to!  I was obsessed with just sewing for the sheer joy and pleasure of sewing.  I made a lot of garments in a few short months.  (It's now a year and half later since I wrote this and I've made a LOT of clothes and bought a LOT of fabric!!)

I got hooked on You Tube videos with the Me Made Movement and I know, it sounds crazy, but watching people unbox fabric and model clothes they've sewn is unbelievably fun.  Who knew??!!
I'm not especially interested in the nitty, gritty details of EVERY little thing on a garment and I have to fast forward and just look at the pretty stuff.  "Too Many Words" is my motto with some of these people, but it's still fun to look at all the lovelies that they make.

I've walked away from my working world and it feels good.  Well, I'm sure it will feel good once I get over being sick and can actually appreciate the fact that I no longer have to commute to my job and tolerate the ineptitude and laziness of certain coworkers.  Is it just me that wants people to do a good job or at least try?  Is the new norm really all this laziness I see with no one even trying?  It was definitely time for me to go.

So, what's the plan, you ask?  Well, maybe you didn't ask, but I'm here to spill.  My immediate plan after leaving was to get busy with the new exercise program.  I'm still rehabbing my knee after surgery a year ago.  It's been an unbelievably long and painful recovery.  So, needless to say, there were a couple pounds put on and now it's time to get back to business . . . which would be great if I were feeling well, but alas, I am sick.  On the mend, though.  Fingers crossed.

And there will be plenty of creating.  I feel like all the boring corporate tax stuff in my brain just needs to step aside and make room for all of the creative stuff that's muscling for space.  In the past I've had to keep it at bay, but no longer.  I have made lists (who doesn't love a good list or two . . . or three) and I'm going to conquer the fun!

Stay tuned and let's enjoy this new journey together, shall we?

Let the Fun Begin!

Okey, dokey . . . here's a picture of various wristlets that were made during the course of my 58 day challenge.  If you are interested in any of them, just leave me a comment with the one you'd like.  I would suggest stating what Challenge Day the wristlet was made on since a couple of them are similar.  If the number of comments exceeds the number of wristlets, I will have to do a random drawing and pick 15 winners.  If there are 15 comments or less, everyone's a winner (you just may get a different wristlet than you picked).  It's not a perfect system and I have no idea if anyone even wants the stuff I made, but we'll give it a go and see what happens. 

What's your favorite?

 

I'll pick the winners on Saturday and post another giveaway on Sunday.  Sounds like a plan anyway.



 

Let's Try This Again . . .

 

Oh, my goodness!  I can't believe it!  I'm finally able to load a picture.  WooHoo!!

 

This is what my days look like:

 

 

It's tax season and it's only going to get worse!  I do corporate taxes so the deadline is not April 15, but rather September 15 and then it can drag on until November 15 when the last state return has to be filed.  Usually everything is ready to go by Labor Day, but we've had some turnover the last couple of years and consequently I've had to work a bit harder than I'd like to!!  I had a nice 5 year run with a team that ran very smoothly.  For the past couple of years . . . not so much.  Every day is a new day with new problems.

Which is why I'd rather be doing this:

 

or this:

or this:





But, heavy sigh . . . for now, I must forge ahead with my day job and do my other fun activities when the sun has set and if I have any energy left.  My 58 day challenge was AWESOME!  Tomorrow I hope to post the first giveaway.  Today was Day 38 of my 2nd 58 day challenge.  I have run at least 1 mile every day for the past 38 days.  I don't think it was my most brilliant idea to start this challenge in the heat of summer, but I am enjoying the challenge of running in heat, wind and sometimes rain.  Hopefully I'll be primed when half marathon training begins in August.  Yowsers!

So, now that it looks like I'm back up and running, tomorrow I will take some pictures, post a giveaway and see if anyone's interested.  Thanks for playing along!

Problems with Blogger

It turns out I finished my 58 day challenge just in time.  I have not been able to add pictures on my blog for awhile now.  I'm going to see if just plain text will post.  Is anyone else having this problem???

How Did it End???

I know, I know . . . I haven't posted the end of the 58 Day Challenge.  Yes, I did make it.  Yay me! 

On the last day of the challenge I started off with making this:

 

And then I was detained for a bit while I played with the kiddos (great niece and nephew).  Later on that day I pieced together a very scrappy quilt top.  Sorry, I haven't taken any pictures yet.

It's amazing how much fun it was to either get up early in the morning or when I got off work at night to head off and do something creative.  I enjoyed the creative habit a LOT!  On Friday I started a new 58 day challenge, but I think I may have missed the mark on this one!!

I have decided to run at least one mile a day for 58 days.  Sounds easy enough, I know.  But, here's how it goes.  I like running, but my knees are wounded and therefore running is not the best idea.  So far I've completed 5 days and I've run more than a mile each day.  I'll have to do some planning on some of the days as I do longer runs on the weekend and the knees may not be ready for the increased pounding since I've been running on them every day.  Also, it's HOT here.  This morning would have been a good morning to go do my run, but I just ran late last night.  So, I'll have to do my run tonight when I'm guessing it will be hotter and possibly more humid.  I think I should have saved this challenge for the fall.  But, we'll see how it goes.

And that my friends, is how I did my 58 Day Challenge.  Stay tuned . . . as soon as I organize everything, I'll start the giveaways.  Unfortunately work is busy, busy, so I will probably have to do this on the weekends. 

Here's to "hump" day . . . Go have some FUN!!!

We're Almost There . . .

One more day and the 58 day challenge is over.  Just in time since I have to go back to work on Monday.  Ooh, sad face for sure.  Today I spent most of my time cleaning up the sewing space and putting everything back where it belongs . . . sorta.  There's just so much darn stuff.  I have a couple piles of "stuff" set out for tomorrow's project.  I don't know what I'm making yet, but I've got a ton of scraps screaming "pick me!  Pick me!!".  So, hopefully most of them will get "picked" and something wonderful will get made.  High hopes for sure!  That's how I'm rolling these day.

Nothing earth shattering here, but these bags sure are fun to make.

Challenge - Day 56

This challenge has kept me busy, but I haven't blogged everything that I've been making.  I've made a couple quilt tops and quilt backs this week and it's only Wednesday.  I've made more yoga bags that I haven't photographed and I've been busy painting and drawing in my art journal.   And, of course I've been making the last of my challenge projects.

Today (day 56) I quilted up a couple of fat quarters and made this lovely number.  It reminds me of those molded plastic suitcases that were made for Barbie doll clothes.  My version is smaller and made of fabric, but I think any little girl would love this.  And I'm sure there are some big girls out there also who would love to hang on their arm for a trip to the mall or out on a date.  Come on. . . I know you want one!

I found this little beauty on Etsy after I had already made my bags.  I guess I wasn't the first one to dream this design up!  Here's my version:



 

And that, my friends, is Day 56!  WooHoo!!

55 Down, 3 to Go!!

Three more days . . . are you excited or what??!!

The other morning I woke up and I had an idea brewing in my mind.  Today I put my idea into action and made this little beauty:

 

 It's just so darn cute.  I was limited in the size due to the size of the scrap material.  Now that I know the concept works, I'll make a bigger one.

 

There was also some art journaling painting happening and consequently it was a very HAPPY day!  Everyone - go CREATE!  It'll make you happy, I promise.

 

 

It's All About the Scraps!

This is what happens when you take those leftover charm pack squares that didn't make it into the original quilt.  I found I had several squares from various charm packs and it was time to get rid of them.  Hence the following:

 

Tomorrow I'll try to get it on the longarm and quilt this little "charmer" up.  I also spent a bit of time painting some art journal pages this morning.  I'm really liking my paints.  Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Challenge - Day 53

Today's project included working in my journals.  A few weeks ago I bought some new watercolor paints and today I tried them out.  Love them!  I also got the acrylic paints out and did an art journal page with acrylic paints.  Lots of fun!  Can I do this every day please?

The giveaway project for today (day 53) is the following:

 It's the opposite of yesterday's project.  Pretty, huh?

 

Inside

 

 I'm hoping when the 58 days are over, people will be interested in the giveaways.  What do you think, any interest out there?  Here's to a great week everyone!