AMY BUTER COSMO BAG

I found Amy Butler's newest release STYLE STICHES and it won my heart.  Oh, it is full of fun ideas and colorful pages.  Love the visuals and the oh so pretty patterns.  The COSMO BAG seemed like a bag everyone of all ages would want for their own.  It is a BIG bag so a strong durable fabric only made sense. 

Amy Butler's Style Stiches

My fear of curves had to be overcome so I approached this project w/ an open mind that I would take my time and try to do it as carefully as possible.  Needless to day, I am pleased with the results.  It turns out to be a bag that can be used for overnighters, (daughter already used it twice), traveling (perfect size for a carry-on), beach, sports games, picnics, and the list can go on and on!  The pockets on the inside is way cool and I especially love the xtra deep side exterior pockets! 

Deep pockets on both sides

Nothing, I don't think, can ever fall out of them ever so deep pockets!  This bag will hold A LOT of "stuff". 

Front view of Cosmo Bag

Back View of Cosmo Bag

This bag is really cool, don't ya think?

CATCHING UP

First of all, Happy one-day-after Valentine's day!  It's been busy in our hmble abode and have a few minutes to do this quick post 'cause I'm just so proud of myself....



Well, my hubby officially banned me from the fabric store.  You see, we cleaned out our little storage shed that lives in our backyard, only to find seven large bins of fabric (large bins----oooooops!).  I found a bunch of unfinished projects and thought to tackle them, one by one....that leads me to this post.



About six years ago, a good friend of mine announced that she was expecting her first child.  I thought to make her a baby blanket and bag as I found sewing to be a zen for me and wanted to do something special for her  Well, it got over my head and basically got overwhelmed by the project.  It was put away temporarily thinking it would get completed sooner or later.  Guess it was later than sooner instead.  Here it is, six years later:

I got the idea from some magazine out of the doctor's office.  Guess it pays to sit and wait, and wait and wait 'till the doctor is ready to see his patient.



My inspiration for the bag originally came from a gift I rec'd from my first child.  It was such a simple gift that I used over and over I kept the idea of a tote and blanket  in the back burner.  The tote idea pattern came from this Log Cabin book. 

Best thing about it is that you can see the design from the layout pages before the blocks are sewed together.  Okay, I need an expecting mother that will appreciate the HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS I had no idea it would take to finish this (sigh!).



Tote interior large pocket



Tote interior small pocket

Yep, this is that famous clown fish from that popular movie, uh, SIX years ago.  I'm not crazy about the color and value combination.  I think I'm a little better today with putting fabrics together, just a little.  I'm still learning.

I had enough xtra blocks from both the tote and blanket to make two cute little pillows.  Just hafta "stuff" them later.

My favorite of this project was the bag.  Little "b" chose the log cabin design out of the book.  I think she made a pretty choice!



Close up of them little bitty strips that was so time consuming (for me) but I feel great that I finally finished this project.



Ya think she'll want to have another baby so I can finally give her this?  Okay, I hafta call her.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!  And as we say it here in Hawaii, "Hauoli Makahiki Hou!".  Last night my family and I stayed home and enjoyed our quiet night alone to avoid the New Years Eve hustle, bustle and traffic.  We celebrated New Years with our own fireworks and fun.  It was great for a change to just stay home and relax after a busy, busy holiday season.  Every New Years Eve,  I cook up an Asian noodle dish as I have learned it represents longevity which may have proved to be as my dad lived to be 103 years and six months young with no illness and a mind still as sharp as a pin so I carry that belief w/me for my family.

Okay, on to New Years Resolution.....I pulled up my list from last year (Goodness, I've got go get with the program!) and crossed off those that I accomplished:

1.  Start the completion process of my VW Van wall quilt.
2.  Start the completion process of Gail Pan's Christmas BOM wall quilt  (pattern came from here)
3.  Start the completion process of Gail Pan's Christmas pattern (pattern came from here)
4.  Start a selvedge edge project (potholder and/or totes)  (see here)
5.  Do a Which Witch Halloween wall quilt (similar to my Which Elf wall quilt)
6.  Dust off and start at least two quilt patterns I haven't touch yet from my quilt pattern box (would you believe some of them are as old as m 15 year old son?)
7.  Start my VWBug BOM wall quilt
8.  Make Mahalo (Thank you) totes for my kid's teachers, coach mom's etc. (an idea I got from my ever so talented cousin on Oahu, let's just call her "Aunty Holly")   I don't have a pic of this as they were Xmas gifts and had to send them off but they were from  http://www.ellenmedlock.com/
9.  Start the slip covers for my sofa (I finally found more fabric and actually starting cutting them...yay!)
10. Last but not least, give my husband, son and daughter all the love support they need from me and hope I am able to deliver only the best to them.  DONE, DAILY.
Three out of Ten,,OK, no excuse now 'cause if these projects are still incomplete next year, then I just don't know what to say.  Hope the procastination bug don't bite me this year.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  I wish only good things to come for everyone.  Peace on Earth!

What dish did you cook up for New Years and what does it represent?

THANKSGIVNG

Wow, Thanksgiving already! I can feel the holidays spirit in the air....Every holiday, I decorate our home with decorations my children made throughout the years. While we've shared a bunch with the grandmas and grandpas and other family members, I've kept a few for our family. This is a little something my son made when he was in the first grade. It is a Thankful book that consists of eight construction paper pages, indicating on each page what he is thankful for.  As each page is turned over, it will seem like you are peeling off a layer of the landscape.

I am thankful for.....

The green grass



The good earth

The tall trees

The clear cool ocean



The high mountains

The warm sun



The blue skies and you!

 Here's wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

I am always thankful for……

(unknown)

For the wife who says it's hot dogs tonight because she is home with me and not out with someone else,
For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato because he is home with me and not out at the bars,
For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes because it means he is at home, not on the streets,
For the taxes I pay because it means I am employed,
For the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends,
For the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat,
For my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that needs cleaning, & gutters that needs fixing because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government because it means we have freedom of speech,
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking, & I have been blessed with transportation,
For the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear,
For the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear,
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been capable of working,
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means I am alive,
And finally, for too much e-mails because it means I have friends who are thinking of me

MY CASA BELLA

A blog that I frequent is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100th post......You can find it here.  I found this blog after admiring her work on flickr.  I just love the way how she combines fabric together and create spectacular totes!  When you have a chance go and visit My Casa Bella.  Have a wonderful day!

Simply Style Tote Round 2

Remember my Simply Stylish Tote I made some time ago.  Well, a good friend of mine admired it greatly and actually place my first ever order.  She had a few specific requests so it took some time to shop for that perfect handle and fabric color. 

This was my first time working with store-bought handles.  It was quite a challenge considering my handle tabs were cut a little too short and I just got too lazy to cut longer ones and was determined to make this happen! 

Finally, a few months later, it's done!  I'm calling her my Rita Bag made with cotton canvas, faux suede and natural fiber handles.

Thank you Rita for your order.  I hope you enjoy the bag as much as I enjoyed making it just for you!  You think she'll like it?

Little Details

After making a few things out of Sweetwater's pattern, I seemed to like their easy to follow directions and simple projects that really can be even more special with a few creative twists.  My next project I'd like to share with you is Sweetwater's Little Details bag.  Such a cute bag that don't take much fabric. 

These Little Details are made with canvas and little bit of extra fabric from previous projects.  The linings are the same fabric as the exterior print.  I even gave the crystals from Creative Crystal a try.  Love how they turned out and best of all they were ever so easy to do!



Peace Little Details



Rolling Stones Inspired Little Details



Heart Crystals Little Details



Little Details

It's such an easy project that really can be made a bunch at  time!  Surely this Little Detail is age appropriate for all occasions and definitely all ages! Would you?