My last finish of 2009! So excited to have created my own design - I know I didn't exactly reinvent the wheel here, but it's all mine. Straight out of my head and onto my hip! I picked up some gorgeous plaid wools up north with the sister and am looking forward to making more just like this in the plaid. Customers have been asking me for a mid-size bag and also neutral colors, so this pretty much fits the bill. The interiors will be where the color is, and maybe I can begin to make a dent in my stash.



















No New Year's Resolutions, but some goals for my personal life as well as my business. Posting tomorrow with those...

Farewell 2009!

Getting there

Well, the knitting came along fairly fast once I decided on a new pattern - Embossed leaves from IW's favorite sock book! I literally started this one 3 times and ripped it out before finally getting it right. Not crazy about the twisted rib cast on, but I love the twisted rib cuff. Loving the yarn as well, Smooshy by Dream in Color in Lipstick Lava. Right now I am trying to rebuild a section of lace that somehow got dropped. Arghh!!!

On the sewing front, I finished up 4 bags over the weekend and will be listing them in the shop this week. I have had these cut since before Christmas, so I am really relieved that I still like the color combinations and fabrics. It wasn't until I had them all done that I realized every one of them is an Amy Butler print. Maybe I am getting a bit predictable?

So, back to reworking lace and hopefully a shop update tomorrow.

We Have Monkeys!

Excuse the crappy pictures - this is after editiing. I was thinking the contrast of the warm socks against the snowy backdrop outside my window would be all artsy and cool. More like overexposed and not visible. Anyway, these are the monkey socks. This is the pattern that made me want to learn how to knit, so I am feeling particularly proud. I will probably knit another pair right away. These flew off the needles and I have been wanting to make socks for my best friend for a while. I have been a pretty selfish knitter up till now and my goal for 2009 (not a resolution, a goal) is to knit more for others. My youngest has been waiting on a pair of mittens for a while, so that might be up next.

I am hoping for a productive day today, I am home with the youngest - he is sick, not just pining for those mittens - so I have extra time to sew/knit. Hopefully, I will have more pictures to show tomorrow.

Farmer's Market

A great day with the boys. Still feeling our way around this summer thing. It's been a few years since I have been home during their vacation, so we are all adjusting. I did get some work done this morning:

Another Messenger bag for my etsy shop. Made from recycled wool slacks and the lovely Amy Butler fabrics. I really love the way the fabrics came together on this one. And I am loving this pattern again. After making a dozen custom orders for the teachers, I kind of needed a break, but now I am loving it again. The pattern is by the lovely Meg at SewLiberated.com.

I also finished another project that has been on my to do list forever:

A lunch tote made with a vintage pillow case. So cool! My first time working with iron-on vinyl (the interior) and also insulbright which will help keep the temperature stable inside the bag. That's assuming I put it facing the right way. I will definitely be making more of these. Pretty quick and stinking cute!

Took/dragged the boys to the Farmer's Market as well:

First time to bring all of them and it was really fun! They enjoyed picking out the veggies, all the free samples and the strawberries! So good. We'll definitely do that again.

Beginnings

First day of Summer Vacation for the boys, first day of blogging for me. The end of the school year is always so chaotic for all of us, but #1 graduated from 8th grade and that meant even more events and gifts. We have been so fortunate with the school and staff here in town and I know my son is feeling a bit sad about moving on to High School. He is going to do wonderfully and I am so excited for him.

I finished a project last night

and got all the sheets cut up for the vintage sheet fat quarter swap. Elizabeth over at Oh, Fransson! is generously offering her time to sort sheets from 80 of us and redistribute them. I also included a little gift for Elizabeth in my swap package:

The criss cross coasters from Allsorts made from the scraps of the vintage linens I cut up. I had several large pieces left over from each sheet and cut them into 5" x 5" squares thinking to make a quilt, but I was so glad to discover another use for them. I have a craft fair coming up at the end of July and was trying to come up with some ideas for small items. These will be great and use up some of my copious scraps.

I hope to be posting several times a week and will post pictures of my projects as they are completed.

See you tomorrow!