Busy table and week....

Ok, so by now you know that We are not going to be an everyday poster. We are just getting started and having to balance working, with mommy things, wife things, house things, and life things in general, so blogging is not going to happen every day. I'm hoping for maybe three times a week.

Last week was good, busy good! Kins and I had some time to work on some things we got in the plans for the Etsy shop. We worked with some beads to come up with some test pieces. We planning on bookmarks, came up with some good layouts for the beads, figured out some issues with length, how to finish them off. All in all it was a good crafting day spent with a good friend.

I finished my dear MIL's bag! WHOOO HOOOO, it is done and in time for her birthday at that, which is amazing if you know me at all!! (I am almost always late with birthday cards and gifts) I have to admit, I had an idea in my head of the fabric I wanted to use and could not find exactly what I wanted. She really didn't care, other than she wanted blue to match some existing stuff, it had to have a closure to keep the weather out and be big enough to be used as a briefcase type bag. I found some fabrics, I liked them, but didn't love them. I knew that MIL would love them, but I just wasn't feeling it. So it took awhile to work up the layout, then I had to work up the courage to cut the fabric! OH My, that is one of the hardest things for me, because I'm never really sure of myself, Yikes what if I screw up. I know measure twice, cut once!! But still I knew if I messed up the fat quarters I had that I would have to stop and redesign the bag layout. So I cut, quilted, started feeling the groove, started liking the fabric. The pattern is great, makes putting in zippers really easy. The bag went together really quick once I got going. After I got it all done,

I love the bag! I don't know MIL D you may have to get another one, I like this one too much now. I'm not posting the whole bag because after all it is a birthday gift, just a sneak peak.

After that I was on a roll, I put together this little (NOT) clutch/handbag from a Amy Butler pattern (http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/main.php?fl=0), it went together in a day!!! I was amazed how easy it was once I got started, I kept thinking while I was pre-reading the directions, this is going to take forever!!! But it didn't, it was really quick. I started cutting it out at 10 am, stop for a phone call (30 min), stop for lunch (30 min), then stop to get ready for work at 3 pm and all I had left to do was put the strap on!!! Go Figure, I must be getting better at something, or it was so simply anyone can do it. I love the fabric, so springy/summery!! I would change a few things, like adding pockets to the inside, making it a little stiffer or something (it slumps in the middle now that it is filled) BUT it is so darn cute!!!I got the fabric at Joann's. I am in no way a fabric snob, I use anything and I happen to thing that Jo-Ann's fabric is nice (not Moda nice but nice) plus it is affordable. Price some Amy Butler fabric and you will know what I mean. Well it is done and it is HOT (as my friend C says).

Well what else got done this week besides the boring stuff in the house and home like mowing the yard, which you should not have to do the first week of APRIL!!! W hung my window, I so love it there!!! Got a blank canvas to start work on another wall hanging, this time going to try mixed media see how that goes. Ripped apart my kids old jeans, thinking that they would make a lovely tote bag. Even kept some of the holes intact thinking that I'll put fabric behind them. Have to wait and see about that one till next week, it is on the table for tomorrow!!!

My DD K wanted to make some button earrings (my MIL (notice I left off the wonderful this time ;) gave her a bunch of buttons and a book for Christmas this year, do you know how many buttons I have picked up off the floor, well the good side is she has stopped raiding my stash in my craft area) So we sat tonight and did those, took about 1/2 hour and she got some cute earrings to boot. Showed her how to crimp beads on and how to string them. Now she has grand plans to make them for her cousins for their birthday present (wonder where she gets making grand plans from, surely not me!!)

So that is what wound up being on my creative table this last week. I did miss writing about my week as it happen so hopefully I'll get another post out this week after I work on that wall canvas and the jean tote. Until then, happy crafting, gardening or whatever floats your creative spirit!!

Lala