A sequel...

In honor of my original post, MEN, from exactly one year ago, I give you...

MEN, PART II

For this past Christmas, I decided to make a little more permanent of a man for my dear sister. Of course those gingerbread men are fun and biting their heads off will never go out of style. I honestly look forward to the day I have a teenage daughter going through her first heartbreak. I can put my arm around her and lead her to the kitchen, comforting her with the words "let me show you how to deal with this". I will teach her a valuable lesson in making men, decorating them to relieve her frustrations, and the final step of enjoying every last bite.

I digress...

THIS past Christmas, I came across the absolute best pattern ever on the web and decided it was time for me to be a little creative and crafty. I pulled out the old needle and thread and whipped up a man for the new decade. A man who will come back, year after year. A man who likes nothing more than hanging around - just being in the room with his lady, or waiting for her return. It doesn't bother him. He doesn't say a word and never gets in the way. This kind of man is just the kind that pops into our minds throughout the year and we look forward to the day we can help bring him out of his box and spend some quality time together. This man is guaranteed to bring a smile to his lady's face. But be careful, your girlfriends might want to steal him for their own. I must admit I thought about keeping him for myself instead of giving him to my sister. He is quite irresistible...maybe he has a cute older brother???

Finally!

Once upon a time, a girl named Megan bought a pattern and some fabric. Megan thought the fabric was so nice and pretty and could not wait to turn it into a beautiful dress. Unfortunately, the project was pushed to the side in order for Megan to make gifts for everyone for Christmas. Once the holidays past, she was finally able to cut out her fabric and start working diligently on the dress. She thought she might reach her goal sooner, but many obstacles, states, months, gas prices, etc., came between her and the final product. Until...

TODAY.


It is finished!!!!

Still working on it...

back to sewing

Okay - The needle is not jumping yet, but do you remember that dress pattern and fabric I bought a while ago? Quite a while ago. This one. Well, today I finally got around to cutting it out. We had an interesting moment when we didn't think the pattern was going to fit onto the fabric. Luckily that problem worked itself out. Now it's on to the fun part! Putting it all together and making the dress! Hopefully the finished product will be fantastic and I will be proudly posting pictures on my blog.

Gifts

Before Chrismas gets too far away I want to post pictures of some handmade gifts I gave this year. Giving handmade gifts this year was fun because I was able to personalize the gifts to fit the person. I enjoyed putting the thought into it and was excited on Christmas morning to see the reactions the gifts got.

First I made this purse for Stacy: I used the same pattern as my corderoy purse that she liked. I really like the material in the lining and she has a green coat I thought it would match nicely.
I also made a purse for Mom. It was fun to make one for her because she taught me how to sew and this would be my first project that she couldn't help me at all on (because I wanted it to be a surprise). I bought the fabric in DC and had to work on it in secret - like after she went to bed or when she was running errands. It was the first purse I made without a pattern and it was a good experience. A few things did not work exactly as I had hoped so I had to modify and adapt, but I am pleased with the final product. Mom was shocked that I had pulled it off without her suspecting a thing and she loves the bag - success!

Lastly, I did this cross-stitch verse for Ben and Jen. Since they are newly married and moving to a new place I figured they could use something to hang on their walls! After sewing a lot, cross-stitch seems to take forever to finish! I had it framed at a place in town and I am happy with the outcome. They both seemed to like it and I'm sure it will find a nice home in Montana.

the traveler returns

I am finally back home after what feels like my tour of the eastern U.S. Before Thanksgiving I was in Myrtle Beach, Thanksgiving was spent in Pensacola, Florida. Just after Thanksgiving I went to New York City for a few days, followed by a few days in Washington D.C. where I saw the first snow of the year.
This past weekend I ventured back to the south to play with the Knoxville Wind Symphony in Tennessee. There I met up with old friends and got to play a holiday concert (which also reimbursed me for all of the traveling I have been doing - whew).

I had decided that I would spend today at home, working on Christmas gifts like the Santa's elf I am becoming! Everything was rolling right along: itunes pumping out some tunes to keep me happy, sewing machine speeding over the fabric, iron steaming up a storm; things were looking good until....

SNAP!!!

Well, there's not much I can do with a needle that looks like this: and my expert sewing helper is not home, so I guess it's time to move on to something else for the afternoon....

Let the Christmas Season begin!

My latest finished project: the felt "joy" wreath. Time for some holiday cheer!

projects

I haven't been sewing a whole lot lately. I have been working on my felt Christmas wreath and it is almost finished. Finally! I haven't actually been working on it that long, but I bought the kit several years ago. Once I get going on something I am in good shape, but it's hard to get started sometimes! I'll get some pictures on here of that later.

I have a pattern for a dress I want to make. I want to make the "B" version. I am excited to get started on it, but I also see Christmas lurking around the corner and I have several sewing/craft ideas that I want to do for Christmas presents. I should probably get those done sooner than later. Otherwise you will see me "burning the midnight oil" the week before Christmas trying to get things finished. Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time and surely won't be the last. Last year I had to give a WIP slip for a Christmas gift. Ooops! Sometimes things take a little longer than expected. I'm new at all this - cut me a break!
Well, back on topic of my dress! I already have the material and everything! The print is for the main part and the navy solid is for the trims and midsection. Sorry the picture is a little dark, but the print has a shine to it that just doesn't work with a flash. I think the dress will go well into spring since it is lightweight, but I need to get it finished before it goes out of style! Oh, fashion!

Where are my glasses?

I had some sewing productivity last night!! I had started my eyeglasses case several days ago, made from the same material from the corduroy purse I made last month. I got stuck for a little while trying to decide what I wanted to do for a little "something extra". I decided to appliqué some flowers from the lining onto the outside. I'm learning new techniques and becoming a sewing 'machine'! Mom's glasses jumped in there for a picture. They just couldn't resist!

I have several projects in line:

• felt Christmas wreath
• Christmas gifts for family (mentally organizing that now)
• several cross-stitch projects
• dress from new pattern and material
  

completion

My kidney is so much better and I am ready to make up for lost time. Today was a day of finishing things! I started the day finishing the book I have been reading, Bill Bryson's delightfully entertaining, A Walk in the Woods. I really enjoyed this book as it provided me with both history and humor of the Appalachian Trail. Makes me want to put on my walking shoes and get out there and hike! Of course, I could never make it 2,200 miles with a huge pack on my back, but that's okay! I'll stick to the backyard.

ALSO - I finished another purse! This is my "fall" purse. My sewing skills are progressing! Here is a view of the purse from the outside:
And now a secret look at the inside, where all the excitement happens!
Now isn't that cute??? You must love the pocket.

This makes me happy....

And here is my coffee with my new potholder/hot pads!!!!

New Projects

I have a couple of new sewing projects in the wings. I have started my first quilting project - making these cute nine-patch potholders. Got to use the rotary cutter and everything today!

I should be able to finish this up pretty quick and then it's back to purses! I got this new fabric at JoAnn's today to make a brown corduroy purse with a flowered lining. I am going to try a new pattern this time! Fingers crossed for the best!

Sewing!

Here I am working hard on my sewing machine! I am so glad that I am learning how to sew. What a useful thing!
Update on my purple purse: it has a new owner and has moved to Florida. I think it will be put to good use. Especially the pocket!

Purses!

The purse bug has bitten! My first bag was a success, so I decided to try another one! I had a lot of "support" from Mom on the first one, so I had to try it again on my own. I am happy with them. The red/cream was first. The purple "suede" bag has the addition of an inside pocket and will be great for fall! I am learning a lot about sewing and having a bit of fun while doing it!

Fun Day

Had a good day! Stacy's car needed to be taken to the shop, which happened to be by the mall - so it was a girls shopping day! We ended up looking around a few stores, trying on clothes (some of which were disasters) and all getting our hair cut. It was fun for all three of us to have our hair cut at the same time. We were each in different chairs with different stylists. The store wasn't busy, so we would talk to each other and joke about having a contest to see who would have the best haircut at the end. Amazingly, we were all happy with the way our hair looked after the cuts. 3/3 is great!
I bought a pattern and some material for a bag I am going to make. I am going to try the tie top first. Time to try my hand at sewing - now that I've had my machine for a few months. I have only used it to sew up the sides of a shirt for work so it would fit me. I am excited about getting it started. I hope I stay excited through the whole project!