Vampy Cat

My son finally got his Vampy Cat. I can't even remember how long ago he started asking for it. No idea what a Vampy Cat is? Well, he's another Whedonverse character. In Season 8 Buffy (the comics) he appeared all cute and cuddly.

Little brother picked out the material since big bro did not want to go to the fabric store. I can't imagine why. Who doesn't love the fabric store? Anyway...we went with a fuzzy felt for the body, embroidery for the nose-mouth-fang details, felt for the eyes and black stretchy cotton/poplin for the vest and cape.


And then, of course...they attack....

My youngest wants me to make this attack version of Vampy Cat for him. But with removable brain for his soon-to-be zombie teddy bear to eat. Um...I think I created a couple of monster/zombie/comic/sci-fi geeks. I couldn't be more proud *sniff*

Wordless Wednesday

Monsters in Progress

As always, I have more than one thing I am working on. I talked about the clothes I am making for myself...most of which are now cut. Woo hoo for me :) But I also have the monster mayhem thing going on.

The monsters are great because they are hand sewn. So when the day is ending, the littlest is in bed and the others are off doing there own thing - I can veg to the tv and stitch on the couch.
This one eyed creature is a tad psychedelic. I just love the colors. I got a grab bag of goodies from Sol Sisters a while back & am finally making use of it. The majority of the bag will be used for a mixed media piece or art quilt, but this piece just said "monster".

And then there is Squidy...which actually does better resemble a jellyfish like my youngest said. All he needs is some fluff 'n stuff.

Up Next - Clothes...for me!

I need to change things up a bit. This summer is going to be difficult creative-wise. With the little guy home and naps out the window, time to sew went ppfffhhhttt. I still have a long list of what I want to make - pillows, quilts, runners, coasters, backpacks, fancy clutches, fabric baskets...see, just a few - but the list is going to move verryyy ssslllooowwwwwlllyyy.

So what do I do? Throw on something else :P Sounds weird, but they are for me, so no time limits. I was spurred on when I had to go shopping for a dress to wear to a wedding. Nothing fits well. Which also spurred on a better focus on losing weight - but I won't get into that here. That will be for my other blog.

I went shopping last weekend and picked up some apparel fabric. I have tons of fabric, but not for clothes. Some of these prints are rather wild, but fun. Everything was on sale so if I goof up, it's not a big loss. This is the fabric goodness:

I am starting with the purple and mustard silky print on the center bottom of the pic above for the A top below - the sleeveless green in the lower right...

Wordless Wednesday

...9 years ago today...happy anniversary sweetie!

Brown Daisy Wristlet Duo

I took my sewing machine in for a tune up and to fix some minor concerns last Friday. Firstly - the shop I took it to rocks! It was done that same day. Now I know that it was part luck, but he also did a fab job. So, many thanks to Dan at Clawson Vacuum & Sew!
Now onto the goods...

I wanted to make something before I took the machine in. The last time I had a tune up (at some other place) it took over 2 weeks. Ugh. So I finished off more some grocery totes for myself and a wristlet I had sitting around. I didn't forget about it. Really. It was just under some other things. It never left my mind. Honest. *cough* What? You don't believe me? Me neither :P But I did finish it. Rather quickly too.I decided to have some fun and embellish the front with some brown duck cloth I used for the lining. There were a couple strips cut & sitting with the rest of the material. It had been so long that I am not sure what it was supposed to be. But it worked like this :)


It even has a little buddy to match.

Maybe I need to take my machine in more. Gets my rear in gear.

A New Bag...For Me!

I don't make as many things for myself anymore. So when I sat down to my machine the other day, I decided it was time.
I had one embroidered piece that was a bit small for a large messenger bag or pillow. The fabric piece it was on was quite large since I was not sure what I was going to create. I decided on a bag for myself. I have had the pieces cut for a while now, but kept putting it off to make stuff for other people.I have a new idea for a tab closure that incorporates an area for holding credit cards...okay, it's not "new" new, but it is for me to make. The front of my bag was kind of a trial run for a card holder design. It sort of worked. I left this one kind of raw on the edges...a look I tend to prefer. Which is a good thing since this bag was made sans pattern & had many portions that needed tweaking. And I like the resulting look...but I do know that if I make this for others I will have to do without the visible contrast stitching & patched in piecing.

The inside has a back wall zippered pocket, which I have not yet even used :P A clasp hanging on the side for my keys...this does get used. Always easy to retrieve my keys now. And there is a diving wall to, well, divide my stuff. I like to put my receipts, coupons & notepad in the front.

I had some fun with the flap closure. My messenger bags have the typical clasp & D-ring. This one just called out "key" to me. I have a few old keys around for other project ideas & decided to use one. If I make this again, I will make the strap portion thinner or at least slipperier so it is easier to slide through.

Wordless Wednesday

Nature Tooth Fairy Pillow

Another one done. My original idea for this one was to have the tooth riding a big bug. It just looked odd. So the tooth is just taking a hike through the woods.

I showed off the front before it was finished earlier, but at the time I was not sure about the back. I went with a stump and button caterpillar.

Wordless Wednesday

Monster Mayhem WIPs

I have my next batch of to-do's cut and ready to go. These are handsewn, so it is also a great time to take in the sewing machine for a tune up. A while back I posted my monsters and the sketches they grew from. Well, these are more. And in different sizes. I am making a small (keychain size) medium (hand size) and larger size. I may super size two or three of my faves. Not yet sure.
The white cat faced one in the upper right...that is going to be my son's vampy cat...which he has patiently (mostly) been waiting for. Vampy cat is a small teddy bear from the Buffy comics...so cute...not so sweet, but cute :)

Tooth Fairy Pillows Faced and Stuffed

Faced? Hmmm...not the best choice of words. But I put their faces on, so they were "faced". Sort of. The stuffed part is pretty self explanatory.
Last time I showed them in progress. I was not quite sure what do do for the pocket portions. I wanted something that went with the theme rather than a simple pocket or envelope.

The fronts - fully "faced"...

And the back sides...

I am assuming the tooth fairy leaves something other than a quarter nowadays. So the pockets are sized to fit a folded up dollar bill. Do people...um, I mean tooth fairies...leave more than that?

And this is the next one up. Perfect for the kid who loves nature & bugs. Can you tell those are supposed to be ants...or some such bug... on the log? The back pocket is going to be a stump and caterpillar.

Fruity Oaty Bar Girls...Finally Done!

I finally finished up this piece completely! I had added some scrap fabric to each girl's hair. I am much happier with that than the plain embroidery. Gives it some texture.

This is the front of the pillow. I used a blue diamond Matelasse fabric to frame the embroidered area. The girl's faces still seem a bit dark. I am debating on whether to add some paint to their eyes and dresses. What do you think? Too much? I'd hate to take it one step too far when there is no way to undo.


The back side was simply the Matelasse. I used a zipper so the pillow insert can be changed. Or so the cover can be washed I suppose. Although, I would stick to spot or dry clean because of the embroidery and crayon tint. I know people do wash them...and someday I will have to be brave & try it. But I am not so big on brave :P

One last pondering I have...should I pillowize my embroidery pieces or mount them in finished off hoops...hmmm...maybe I'll go halfsies.

Wordless Wednesday

fantastic dark chocolate from Gayle's Chocolate in Royal Oak...yum :)

Getting ready for visits from the Tooth Fairy

Well, we still have a couple years to go here. But the little guy's soccer mates and cousin have started losing some teeth. I had a few sketches worked up. Some were in the shape of a tooth. Others had ribbon to hang the pillow from a doorknob. I settled on a tooth fairy applique with varying themes. I like this best because of the vast number of options. I already have a list at least 20 long of themes. The 3 I have made so far are sans ribbon. I may design them for a hanger to be optional. Still thinking this one over.
The very first pillow was hijacked by my youngest. I had a feeling. That is why I started with the tooth driving a car...he just loves toy cars.

The back of the pillow has a "tooth face" pocket for the tooth/money and a stop sign. Get it? For the tooth fairy to stop. I think I will stick to a small pocket that follows the theme on the front of each pillow for now on.

These two are almost done. They just need the pocket on the back & the front sewn to the back. And to be stuffed of course :) Oh...and ironed.

This is the pink tooth fairy, um, well, fairy. Her magic wand looks more like a tail...I think I need to give her arms. I love the tulle tutu and wings though. The pocket will most likely be a sparkle or a butterfly.

This space tooth is my fave of the 3. I couldn't resist adding the "42". Most people won't get it, but I couldn't do without :) The pocket on the back will be either a satellite, moon or another planet. Still deciding.


Oh...and they do have faces. They were not on at the time of the pics. I stuck with buttons for eyes and hand embroidered mouths. I may applique &/or embroider all of it in the future. Although, if a child is old enough to lose a tooth, they are most likely old enough to not go eating buttons off of pillows. But you never know.

New Tags

It has been a busy week here. Unfortunately, not with crafting. But it is fun stuff...prep for a new'ish kitchen. Changing the cabinetry around got me thinking about changing up something for my shop. I already did a mental revamp. So I decided to update my tags that I sew onto my bags.

In the graphics I have been making, I always change things up. But I do want something regular for tags & cards when it comes to the font/style of the shop name.

This is the old old tag...the one I made in the very beginning which was not used too much:
And this came next...these were on the majority of my bags so far:
And this is the newest version:
And yes, I am sure it will change again someday...that is just the way I am :)

Wordless Wednesday

Custom Clutches 8 Pack

I just completed a bridal party set of clutches in a variety of prints. Amy Butler did dominate the bride's choices. But there are a couple non-Amy prints in there. The green hippie batik has these wonderful rivers of metallic silver running through it. I am so glad I ordered some extra fabric for myself. Actually, I ordered extra of a few, they just looked so yummy! She who dies with the most fabric wins...right?!? :P

Anyway - on to the bags. I love this style. Simple, clean and cute. There was one point I looked over at the pile mid-stage of sewing and noticed how they looked like a bunch of skirts.

Do you see it? The handle portion is like the waist & the exterior pleated part looks skirty. The lining, well, pretend it's not there. Now I want to make some clothes!

And this is the whole set...more pics here...

I am also doing my first blog party with this post over on Everything Etsy.
I think I'll do this with all my "me" things I make...which I hope to do more often! Now crossing my fingers that I am linking up correctly :P update...the linky isn't working for me to add mine :( Maybe next week. Okay - now it worked! woo hoo!

Wordless Wednesday

Oval Fabric Basket

I decided to make my fabric baskets in varying sizes rather than varying shapes. But I already had this one cut out. It was supposed to be more of an oval shape. Almost like a football cut in half lengthwise. But it did not flare out as much as I thought. Think banana bowl, kind of. But it still works great for me.

The "corners" where the side seams are could use some smoothing out...maybe another time I will sit down & work on it...but not now. Now I making other changes in the shop & working on a couple bridal party orders. And don't forget to check out all the styles I just put into my clearance section :D *hint hint*

Grr Argh Again

Yes, another Mutant Enemy has made it's way to a messenger bag. This one is hand embroidered brown on tan twill to top off the olive canvas bag. The bag itself is a bit more tweaked than normal. Under the front flap is an open pocket with a flap. On that pocket is a small zip pocket for, well, whatever is tiny & tends to get lost. Hubby has one on his Watchmen bag & it holds my biz cards...isn't he sweet? It could hold keys to a bike lock, or small set of house keys. Moving on....inside. There is a dividing wall at the front of the bag. And the back wall has a large zippered pocket. There is also a clip on a tether on the side wall. Another good spot for keys...or the little zip pouch I made for it :)

I hope my customer enjoys it...I know I had fun making it!