Girly-Girl Purses

Here in the Pacific Northwest March is doing its "liony" thing.  The weather is so unsettled.  The wind is blowing and the rain is coming down sideways.  The skies are threatening to explode and if they aren't threatening they are dumping buckets onto us.  No Lambs here.

It's a great day for a project at the sewing machine.  Girly-girl purses using fat quarters.

So wonderful and so much fun to make.

Things couldn't have worked out any better.

• Coordinated fat quarters from Calico Threads in Tacoma, a great new quilt shop.
• Brand new spools of thread (am I a cheap date, or what!?)
• Ribbons and trims to embellish.
• A free pattern from Diary of a Quilter.

So I made two!

Pink and Green -- for Spring

Each one has coordinated lining.

I had such fun, plus saved a bundle.  The ribbons were all on sale and it was Senior Wednesday at Hancock so I got 15% off the entire purchase.  

I am soooo easy to please.

I just love projects like this.  They come together nicely and the end product is classy.  Each will make a fine gift for Easter.

We are approaching Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.  I hope your Lenten journey has been helpful and meaningful.

Pax.

What's that for?

Husband:  What's that for?
Me:  Haven't used it since I made the apron.  Figured it was time. (Apron post here.)
You:  Read (or scroll) to the end to find the answer.  Most of you will have guessed and many of you (no insult intended) will admit to the same behavior.

Working on lots of things -- sewing and knitting and cross stitch.  As a friend recently remarked:  ooooh, too many projects.  I, on the other hand, can attest to the truth:  There are never tooooo many projects.

First one is a wonderful tote kit from Connecting Threads.  It's in their Red Rhapsody fabric collection. Size is about 15 x 3 x 9, not too big and not too small.  This one was my Saturday morning project.

Great collection of coordinated red
fabrics in a charm pack, plus
fabric and lining to go with.

You can see the fabulous lining, plus the mondo
button I selected for the closure.

Mr. Clown, from the crib blanket, has most of his face now.

Must finish some bits of hair outline and his
left check, plus ruffle at the neck

Patches on the overalls and bits of his sox and pink shoes.  Cutie pie!

The knitting?  Not going so well.  Finally got around to the glubs I promised my daughter for Christmas.  Pix below will show progress and pride, but alas:  much toooo big all over.  Kit from KnitPicks, with conductive thread for forefinger and thumb so glove removal is not required when using mobile devices.  Clever.

The gloves have been frogged.  I've rediscovered The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, by Ann Budd.

Not quite a re-do; I'm leaving the ribbing (which has actually been completed for both gloves.)

Will begin again at the ribbing.  

Now that you are finally at the end of the scrolling and/or reading, you may have decided you know "What's that for?"  The "that" is "this" and you may (or may NOT) remember what it's "for."  Giggles.

Yup, I vacuumed the sewing room.
So it's ready for the next project.

Sure hope your Saturday morning has been as much fun as mine.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Church Lady's Apron

It's a great pattern and yes, it's called the "Church Lady's Apron" from Mary Mulari Designs.  It's reversible, with a cute pocket detail.  On the pattern, the designer says, "Inspired by a vintage apron and redesigned with modern style and details."  Pattern is from Nancy's Notions.

I have a friend who is married to a firefighter so when I ran across this fabric at Nancy's Notions, I ordered both the pattern and the unique fabric, which is called Fireman Guys' Fabric.  Sewing time:  a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon.

While I know you will be distracted by the hunk, here's the pocket detail, a double one on the front.

Spoon in the 'back' pocket and whisk in the 'front.'
The accent fabric also appears on the ties and the
reverse apron.

Fewer hunks to distract you -- here's the reverse side of the apron.

Even the ties are reversible and long enough
for a big bow.

This is my 2013 return to sewing.  Friend Darliss and I are both happily re-introducing ourselves to our sewing machines.  I've been using mine to piece kid quilts (here and here).  Darliss is busy catching up on mending. 

There are so many fun kits for sewing I'm excited to plan more projects like the apron, maybe a tote or two.

Oh, and if your hunk or your friend's hunk is not a firefighter, check Nancy's Notions for other occupational fabric.  Not sure you'll find an architect or an accountant, but . . .