Thank goodness for deadlines

I did it!
I actually used my January Pattern.
Woo Hoo!

Okay here goes, first you should know that I'm one of those gals that clearly needs a plan or I'll just ramble on and on and on (gee, bet you had never noticed that). So from here on out whenever I'm talking about the monthly pattern project I'm going to put it into two categories - 1) Reviewing my own work and 2) Reviewing the pattern.

Alright, January 2009's pattern was Vintage Potluck by Favorite Things


Personal Review: I give it a Cute.

First things first, out of all the options, I only made the pot holder and a matching tea towel. This was because I was under a time constraint but also because I didn't want to make the apron (we'll talk about why later). For the fabrics I used, I chose to make it with an actual tea towel cut down to size and some vintage reproduction fabric. I also used the left over tea towel fabric as the inside of the pot holder because I didn't want to waste it.

The one thing that I wish I had done is use the yellow bias tape on the towel too. The matching bias tape would have made is look much nicer and a little less "home made". All in all, I think it turned out cute (my friend liked it) and I'll probably make this again. It's a nice quick gift that does look sweet when finished.

Pattern Review: I give it a Meh.

Basically this was one of those patterns that you get and then realize you didn't actually need the pattern. I mean, the wavy-ness of it is super cool and I probably couldn't have created as nice of results on my own. But the whole construction stuff was pretty simple. The one big outright complaint that I have is that there were not enough pictures. I need lots and lots of pictures in my patterns (and tutorials). Right when you think you may have crossed the line and become insulting with your use of pictures/ diagrams...well, that's were I'm happiest. I need the pictures for the "ah ha!" moment where it all falls together in my mind and I see how it all works. Otherwise I will simply curse your good name, get frustrated and possibly quit.

The other thing I didn't like was that there were no pattern pieces for the apron except for the bottom scalloped edge. They just gave the measurements of the fabrics to cut. I know, I know, it's not cost effective to create patterns for large rectangles but... and this is simply a personal issue but if I just paid $12 for your pattern, I should get all the pattern pieces.

I feel like this is a very simple beginner type pattern but since the directions weren't really easy to understand, I wouldn't recommend this to a first time sewer. But anyone with any experience sewing wouldn't really need the pattern so I wouldn't recommend it for them either.

Okay, this pattern reviewing thing is hard! I'm totally the kind of person who prefers to only say really, really nice things especially about small companies that are making a business for themselves. But I've also got to be honest so here it is.

February 2009's pattern is going to be The Swing Bag by Amy Butler.

Now it's your turn to dish! What have you been working on??

Christmas Re-Cap - take 2.

Okay, all previous bitching about the husband who screwed up my plans is now null & void. Especially since he was nice enough to help me! So here we go, round two of attempting to show of stuff I gave people for Christmas:

The first is a tree skirt I made for my mother-in-law. About a year ago, she gave me a whole bunch of her old fabric & patterns (argahhh!). In the boxes, we found some fabric that had been her mother's. Some of it had all ready been cut out in the shape of a tree skirt. So I just finished up that project.

I used that nifty printable fabric & made "gifts" with every one's names on them. Then I stitched them & a ribbon on using a zig zag stitch. I wanted to line & quilt it but then I realized it would be really hard to make any additions or changes to the family so I just trimmed the whole thing with bias tape & voila!
Another project that I'm pretty happy with is Arlo's Robot backpack!! This was made without a pattern, people!!!! Seriously, just stuff in my brain came up with this and it actually turned out cute!!
I also lined it & put in a magnetic snap!

Miss Bitty Baby got a last minute, Christmas Eve made present of a mattress, pillow & blanket. All I can say is thankgoodness I had some vintage reproduction hankies laying around that were the perfect size! And yes, Mrs. Claus actually got all the credit because she's the one who does all the sewing for Santa -- "not you, momma".

And here is Arlo's scrap quilt. A simple nine -patch that I just adore. It's sashed with flannel so it's extra cozy. The boy seemed pretty happy with it, his exact words were "alright! A blanket!".

All in all, I think Christmas went pretty darn well. I like making both of the kids quilts and probably will for the rest of their lives.To the naysayers that say "yeah, that's just what a 16 yr old wants for Christmas"...well, that just inspires me to make some freakin' awesome quilts that 16 yr olds WILL like! Ha!

So...what would be a freaking awesome quilt?
Personally, I'm trying to figure out how to re-create the Millennium Falcon.
What about you?

Project 2009 - Patterns, Patterns, Patterns!!!

Okay, so here's my dirty little secret... I like to buy patterns. I buy them on sale, with gift certificates and occasionally, if I just have to have it, full price. As dirty little secrets go, you're thinking "oh, that's not too bad", well, here's the bad part- I've never actually used any of these patterns. I collect them like trading cards. Things to simply look at and admire but not to really use and that's just darn wasteful.



For 2009 I have decided to end my wasteful ways! Each month I am going to make something from one of my 12 patterns (and yes, i have waaay more than 12 unused patterns but I'm just going to give myself a break and only tackle 12). I'm also, in the spirit of ending wasteful ways, going to attempt to use most of my fabric stash in this endeavor. Wish me luck! Here are the patterns in no particular order....

1. Vintage Potluck by Favorite Things 2. Simplicity 4111 by Built by Wendy

3. Simplicity 2921 by Funky Friends Factory 4. Midwest Mod Pillows by Amy Butler

5. The Swing Bag by Amy Butler 6. Madison Bag by Amy Butler

(um, yeah, can you tell someone went a little nutty over the Amy Butler Patterns?)

7. Nappy Bag by Amy Butler (ahem) 8. Granny Squares Quilt Pattern by Barbara Brandebury

9. Little Smarty Pants by Favorite Little Things 10. Dolly Dress- Up by Indygo Junction

11. Spot and Barney by Cotton Ginnys 12. Sister Smocks by Indygo Junction

13. Little Hip Skirts by Favorite Little Things

And yes, I know that I have 13 patterns listed but that's because The Dolly Dress - Up and Sister Smocks kind of go together & I'll probably make them for Maisy's birthday or Christmas depending on how smoothly things go.

January 2009's Pattern is:

Vintage Potluck by Favorite Things

So anyone else have some patterns they need to work on??

Any one else have this pattern & want to make it?

You can tell me, I promise not to laugh.

Or look at you in shock & disbelief like, um, someone I might know.

2008 in pictures or just call me unoriginal

So last night was a total bust. I attempted to upload pictures of christmas projects and Arlo's quilt to no avail. Actually, I'm quiet calm about it now but dang, if you had talked to me last night...you would have gotten an ear full without a child safe word in the bunch. But today is a new day and I'm not going to let the trials of blogging get me down. Today you will get some of my favorite pictures taken by Matt in 2008. Somedays it's good to be married to a photographer and well, when it's late at night & you're trying to figure out the new photo editing software because somebody got rid of the one you actually knew how to use, it's not so hot.


But today I am grateful because I have these:

I call this one "Life with a Photographer"

Too much sass for one child.

This is her "nice" pose.

A perplexing gift.

Watching Santa be rescued from the top of Weavers.

Yay, that gross carpet is no longer in my house!

For all of this and more, I am eternally and completely grateful.

Yep, this is pretty much how I feel.

So I've been meaning to write something here for...well, for a really long time. But you know, stuff happens and you fall asleep at 8pm.

But there will be new and exciting posts about all the stuff I made for christmas, my adventures in writing for a magazine and my very LARGE goal for next year (it's big. I got a "oooh" out of Lori when I told her).

Here's to a creative 2009.