Tote

Hello Friends,

   Sorry I have been AWOL for awhile.  I was busy working on customer orders.  I am very thankful for all the business I have been getting locally but I am also thankful to have some time to do some fun sewing now that I have some free time.

I had been wanting to make a fun tote out of some Debbie Mumm fabric.  I kinda made up the pattern as I went along.  I would make changes if I were to make this again but I am fairly pleased with how it turned out.   

I like the front pocket.  The opening is where the "flap" folds down.       I put a pleated pocket on one side for a water bottle and another pocket on the other side to slip sunglasses (or anything else) into.

Close up of pleated pocket

I put a zipper closure on top.

A peek inside. 

I turned the bag inside out so you could see how I did the bottom of the bag.  I incorporated a pocket on the bottom to accommodate 2 pieces of plastic canvas cut to fit.  The plastic canvas is easily removed when the bag needs a wash. 

This will help keep the bottom from sagging too much.

If you look closely at the pic of the inside of the bag, you can see a little of the plastic canvas peeking out.  Hmm.. that won't do.

To make it more finished looking, I made a sleeve for the plastic canvas to fit into.  There, that's better!

That's all for now.  Talk at you later!

Java Jacket

Hello Friends,
  
I was reading Linda's blog http://texmorg.blogspot.com/2010/04/woolly-latte-anyone.html recently where she knitted the cutest cozy for her latte cup.  Well, that inspired me to take some coffee themed fabric that I had and play around with it.

Cute huh!

Handle side shows my velcro closure

Pretty simple design, really.  A little fleece gives it warmth power!

I'm left handed. For righties, the tab would go on the opposite end. Not that it really matters but you don't have the tab facing you that way while you sip your cup o' Joe.

Matching coaster completes the set.

Talk at you later!  Rumi

Hello Friends,
     Sorry I have been AWOL for awhile.  My attentions have been diverted lately and I haven't done much that I can blog about.  I did have one finish though.

   I usually do a bit of knitting most evenings while winding down from the day.  Some days it's only for 10 or 15 minutes but rarely more than 30 or 45.  It takes a long time to get anything done but by golly, those 15 minutes add up and eventually I have a finish.
   I found some yarn a couple of months back that had some lovely colors.

It's not a yarn of great quality  but fun so I bought it.  It was a pretty big skein; 621 yards for about $8.

This is what I made with it.

Here is Daughter Lucky modeling my new shawl. (Little Farrah is unimpressed) Of course, it's too warm to wear it now but should keep me toasty next fall.

OK, all, that's it for now.  Talk at you later.  Rumi

Apron

I never cook without wearing an apron.  My favorite apron was long past it's freshness dating. 

Look at the sad condition of the neck strap.

I have seen simple cotton aprons for sale for up to $40!  I figure I can make one for much less using some nice Debbie Mumm fabric.  Since I'm making up the pattern, I can personalize it too.  For one thing, I want one pocket.

I bought this while living in Japan.  It makes really wonderful curves!

You have your choice of 4 different curves.  I picked the widest one and placed it 1/4-inch from the raw edges of my pocket bottom.  Round the corner by cutting away the "point".

Slide this onto the second metal piece to turn up the hem.  I used the tip of my iron to press the curve.

Here is the pocket  ready to sew onto my apron.

After it is sewed on my apron.

Ta Da! My completed apron!  Do you see that I sewed a short strap on the left side in this photo?

Seems like I am constantly washing my hands while I cook.  This little strap is to hang my kitchen towel from.  No more searching where I layed my towel.  Ha! I've never seen that on a $40 store bought apron!

This was a quick and easy project but I have made more involved aprons too.

This is one I made for Mr. Lucky a number of years ago using a commercial pattern.  The body and swim shorts are machine appliqued onto the apron.  The swim shorts have elastic at the top and is actually a large pocket.

Chest, complete with chest hairs, are hand embroidered.

Want a peek inside the shorts?  Sorry, this apron is rated G!

Tote Woes

Hello Friends,
     Have you ever bought a commercial pattern that just drove you nuts?!  I was very frustrated with this one.

The bag itself was a piece of cake. It was the insert that gave me fits.

They wanted you to make a "box" first using timtex stabilizer so it is very stiff.

Then sew on the side pockets.  I strained my brain trying to figure out how this is possible.  How did they expect my sewing machine to do this?  Obviously, I was missing something.  I ended up taking the thing apart, sewing the pockets to the sides and then sewing the "box".  If any of you have made this pattern, would you please explain how you did it?

Tote inside

With removable  insert in place. You can also see the zippered pocket I made (not part of the pattern)

Tote front

From the side.

Turned out to be a huge bag.  It will hold everything you would need for a day at the lake or beach. 

Happy Easter everyone!

Talk at you later, Rumi

Gifts from India

Mr. Lucky just returned from a business trip to India. He is not one to do any shopping when he travels so I was surprised when he brought home some gifts.

First, a small box of Masala tea. Very yummy!

A lovely wooden box that looks like a book.

There was a bag of loose leaf Darjeeling tea inside.  That is yummy too! I plan to store some teabags in this box.

 

Finally, a small box of saffron.

Mr. Lucky rarely brings home gifts from his business trips so I can count myself lucky this time.

The last few posts have been non-crafty but I promise the next one will have some sewing involved!

Walter update

Hello Friends,
     You may remember this sweet picture of my son's dog Walter.

This was Walter when he was a few weeks old.

This is him now at 8 months old.  He weighs 104 pounds! What a handsome boy!  He is huge but still a floppy puppy when he runs and plays.

Walter and me comparing hands.