C is for Crafty

MiniMe loves this pocket purse idea from the good things for kids Winter 2008 issue. You've got to click on that link to see a lot of cool crafts for kids. We have plenty of old pant pockets. I think we can jazz it up with some cool vintage buttons or iron ons. The Thrifty Piggies and Crayon Blocks are cool ideas too. Check it out!

If you're wondering why I've been absent, it is because of this:



We were visiting DisneyWorld! MiniMe was in heaven. She was in her element--pure princess mania. Visiting DisneyWorld with a young girl is like experiencing Christmas with kiddos when you're an adult. You realize just how magical the place can feel again. You get those butterfly feelings and want to do everything to make her time so memorable. This picture captures her face as it was most of the day:



I've got a lot of blog reading to catch up on!

The Quilt Project (that never ends!)

Who knew that a quilt was such an undertaking? Everyone but me apparently. Why didn't anyone warn me? No, it has been fun but quite the project. I can see why quilts are so precious and such a keepsake. The quilt came back from the stipple process and now I'm hand-sewing the binding (you can see it unfinished if you look at the whole quilt pic). And here I thought I'd have finished pictures. Ha!

It's a fun change for me. I am anxious to be done though! Soon, soon.....

Bibs

Here are three bibs from Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing. I think it is much easier to find fabric for a girl. Although this fabric will do, I'm going to keep my eyes open for boy fabric that is more classic. Remember the Dick and Jane books? I found some cute Dick and Jane-type fabric with dads and boys fishing. That is more in line with what I'm looking for.

What I love most about these bibs though are the size. They're perfect for full coverage yet not overpowering so that my son's arms can't move about freely. So, if you are thinking that you'd like to personalize some bibs, this is the perfect pattern. And I love the whole "bend-the-rules" concept. Amy's directions call for you to trace out the pattern with right sides facing and rather than cut out the pattern, you just sew and then cut afterward. It is fast, easy, and fun. I love instant results.

This pattern was also fun because I went out and bought a snap tool. I've always sewn snaps on. This time I actually bought the doohicky that allows you to hammer snaps on. Instant fun!

Elefante-No Head

Here is Elefante (work in progress) without his head! I have been working on the little legs and planned on casting on the body at some point in time but then MiniMe asks so sweetly, "When can I hug my elephant Mommy?" I decided that it was time to actually finish a project for her. So often she has seen me knit or sew things for others. When we go into my LYS she bring over every skein of pink yarn and asks me to make her something. The girl deserves an elephant!

Elefante is a pretty fast knit. I think if I were to make it again I would probably steer clear of the stripes. I think they're adorable but I do not like weaving in ends! Although the pattern does give the ok to tie knots. What a wonderful little creature. Hooray to Susan! More pics when he has a head.

I FINALLY got my Ravelry invite. I'm all about organization but in the time it would take me to enter all my stash info, I would wonder why I took the time. I think I'm one of those knitters that has a stash but pretty much buys what I need for each project. Weird, I know. But back to Ravelry....what a great idea for a site! I found several images of some of my purse patterns. How cool is that? And I love how you can enter all the projects you want. I keep that stuff in a folder but when you find something online, that is more difficult. Love it! I still have much to learn about the site's functionality.

B is for Bailey

Heather Bailey that is. I love, love, love, Freshcut. Who doesn't, right? These are fat quarters of every colorway of the Freshcut collection. I scored these on Ebay! I'm going to use them for my Amy Butler quilt I mention here.

I've started the cutting though I'm going very slow because I have to cut 198 4 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch "bricks." I think I figured that I need to cut 5 bricks from each colorway. I love Amy Butler and I feel a bit guilty that I'm not using her Lotus fabric but I couldn't find any in mass quantity on Ebay. I got so lucky to win this instead. I had to set my alarm to get up and bid on it! And believe me, I wasn't alone.

I've taken my orange and brown quilt to be stippled. I've decided I love quilting but I just don't think I have it in me to hand quilt the last phase. It is a patience thing. I want instant gratification. Baby steps. Maybe I'll get there. For now I enjoy the cutting and piecing. For this Amy Butler quilt, maybe I'll attempt a stitch in the ditch or something easy. Can't wait to show pics of the completed brown quilt though. It should be ready in the next two weeks.

And no, I'm still knitting faithfully. I just completed a new purse design! I was surprised how quickly it came together. It was one I had in mind for awhile now. I'll post pictures of it completed soon.