September Challenge Days 16, 17 & 18

Ugh - I am so far behind in posting. If there was a way I could craft a new, faster, computer...I'd be so so happy right now. But alas, I am stuck with one that is slow enough that I can go into the other room & refill my coffee while I wait for a picture to open. Grr.

Anyway, onto the craftiness. I have a show coming up on the 27th, so I am back to bags. Big Surprise, I know. I think I may do this again in like January when nothing much needs to be done biz-wise.

The clutches I made (and I have 5 more ready to go - cross your fingers for me that I get them done by the end of the weekend) are just like those in my shop, only larger. It is actually what I originally designed for this bag. The smaller version came about when I had a custom order. I may add an optional skinny strap to some of these...they are almost too big for a clutch, but not quite.




This last one was my original clutch. I was so happy with it because it sold at a craft show before I could ever even list it. Such a great feeling.

September Challenge: Days 10 & 11

Day 10 was a threepeat of Day 9. I finished off the mini backpacks for my niece's sleepover. I am happy to report that they were a hit!

Day 11...and I cheated. I had a funeral that morning, so I gave myself the day off. The next morning during my son's 1st soccer game I sketched out an idea I had in my head the day before. So, that kind of counts as Day 11.

Wondering what the heck the sketch will be? Not 100% sure, but most likely it will be a quilty-appliqued-fiber art-wall hanging-type thingy. Makes sense, right?

want to see how Peacocks & Dragonflies is coming along with her Craft a Day?
She is the one who got me started on this after all :)

September Challenge: Day 4

Day 4 is my newest zip pouch design. I have been wanting to try some quilting and love the "crazy" quilting blocks I have seen. I also wanted to make something Autumny...I was inspired by a treasury or 2 I peeked at on Etsy recently.

A zip pouch design was in my head, so I gathered up some awesome fall color fabrics & just started piecing things together. I wanted to add felt leaves, but could not decide which of the 4 sketches I preferred. I decided to do them all. Yesterday was the first style.

...wow, those colors look very different inside -v- outside....

Bonus - this zip pouch is going to be part of a giveaway over at Mystic Wynd's blog starting next week...I'll link up as soon as it is posted....and it's posted...click here to go enter

...come see Peacocks and Dragonflies' OADCC (one a day craft challenge)...she got me started on this :)

September Challenge: Day 1

I have started that Craft A Day challenge with a wallet for myself. Why for myself? Because it didn't turn out so great. But I do have ideas for fixes, so I'll be trying again next week. I have too much in my to do box to try again this week. Yes, I have upgraded from a pile to a box. And to be honest, it's more like 2 boxes.

So, this is the wallet. I have the darndest time with regular snap on snaps (is that the right term?). Anyway, I may stick to magnetics and sew-ons. The tools I have tried rarely seem to work. The pockets/slots wound up too thick. I was trying to use interfacing to keep them stiff, but I don't think that'll be necessary. I do adore the fabric though. I have one or 2 more things cut & ready to go with it before I am out.




And this is the material for Day 2's project...

So, one down, um...many more to go, like 29!

....come see Peacocks & Dragonflies' OADCC (one a day craft challenge) - she got me started on this :) ...

September's Giant To-Do List

I have decided to attempt a giant to-to list for September. One creation - every day. What I make should be easy enough to start and finish in one day....usually with time to do my regular stuff. It could be anything & I will most likely not do a bunch of planning ahead, which will help keep the stress off. I don't want stress from this because I am doing it for the fun of it. For the challenge of it. And probably for the humor of it.

What brought this on? Well, I blame...I mean thank ☺...a fellow MICE member and next town over neighbor, Ashley, from Ashley Amanda Designs. I read about this challenge on her blog, Peacocks and Dragonflies. Want to join us? Are you up for a challenge? Just let me know & I will add you to my list at the end of this post.

I know there will be days that the only crafts I do will be those I do all the time anyway, like my bags...and that's okay. But I do want to use this challenge as an opportunity to try new crafts. I know I can't start & finish somethings I want to give a whirl in just one day (like knitting) but with my list, I am sure there are plenty of new or at least seldom done arts & crafts that I can do in a day.

So what will I do with all these goodies? Dunno. Some may go into my shops, some may be gifts and some may be just for me. I do know that I will take pictures everyday & post them here. I may have a running image list on the sidebar, not sure yet. Posting them will help keep me going....and you get to be my cheerleaders. Heck, I am sure some things may be a source of amusement for us all. And couldn't use a good giggle now and then?

Others up for the challenge:

Freedom by Carried Away

My Etsy team, Carried Away Bags, is doing a Summer of Freedom challenge /charity event. Participants will make a handbag that represents what "freedom" means to them. It can take any form that you personally feel represents "freedom", be it your national flag or national colors, something recognizing your country's military veterans, a symbol of some type that says "freedom" to you.

I think I have finally decided what my bag is going to be. I am going to make my large Twist bag because of the simplest definition of freedom...hands free. The bag slings across your front from side to side letting you have full use of your arms. This is the bag (well, the style anyway):



I am not yet sure what will be decorating the outside of the bag. It will either be hand embroidered, painted, appliqued or some combination. The image is going to either be an eagle - the nation's bird...also freedom of flight...or our flag - but not necessarily straightforward. My son suggested a cubism style .

The lining has already been purchased thanks to JoAnn Fabrics for always having their patriotic novelty prints on sale this time of year.


The bag is supposed to be completed by July 15th. I'll update you with the progress and ideas as the weeks go by.