Another one bites the dust!

4th bag for Purse Palooza and im IN LOVE with my newest bag..I know I said that about the last too but..hey! whatever! I found the main fabric at Craft Warehouse-they have some amazing deals on clearance fat folds and I was just walking by- no intention of buying this fabric-but..I couldn't live without it! something about it was just calling me .. This is my OWN pattern! I designed it myself- I have a photographic memory and at times of restlessness while laying in bed I think of the oddest things and this-was one- I began drawing my pattern,what I wanted it to look like, so I could visualize it and the next day I steam pressed some cut out wax paper and started cutting away! my first bag was a little tricky because I forgot a key element-make the back panel longer so the folded over parts to make the zipper wouldn't shorten the bag. I forgot to sew down a flap over the backside zipper and didn't use the right kind of interfacing-I had in all intentions to make a light weight bag anyways because I have shoulder pain now and then from a past work related injury. - I don't suggest tearing a muscle- its the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced- im not yet a mom so, I don't know what child birth is like.

Back on my subject- so, this is my 3rd version of my pattern, I shortned the front pocket, added an elastic loop and button closure to keep goodies in the pocket secure(er) and didn't add an inner zipper pocket-because I didn't need it. I didn't add bias tape or any frills on the backside where the turquoise zipper is located- because I didn't want this bag frilly- just simple and bright! and that it is! I used Michael miller ta-dot (mustard) orange for the lining of the outside pocket, some patchwork on the adjustable strap and the outer flap. I used another dot (Michael miller too I think) in almost a coral for patchwork on the straps and the flap. I used a Riley Blake green button on the front of the bag-I wanted a "goddy" large statement button to be featured on the front to add more of a "POP" to the bag..did you know the Riley Blake is the husband and wife teams names of there children? Riley and Blake..had no idea- quilters/sewers are seriously the coolest group of people EVER! ;-) (I know im awesome! ) I used a really thick interfacing (fused) to ALL pieces of this bag except the two interior. Talk about pain in the arse to turn the bag right side out! I used fushia bias tape for the pink detailing and machined bias tape to the inner folds of the fabric to add a more finished look. I used a Kona cotton for the interior layers (light blue) I used fused fleece for the lining of my adjustable strap. I cut out peices of the main fabric to applique to the inner flap of the bag and to the inner pocket. And of course I used a turquoise Zip It Zipper!  Hope I didn't leave anything out!

^^^^The first version-inner-see how "flimsy" it looks?




-------------------> the backside, the zipper is hiding under that lace. 



And for some reason or another, I don't have photos of the front and right now, my feet hurt too bad to go take another photo :) .............so there we have it!

.......Next project- This weeks project for the Zakka Style Sew Along!

Find yourself board? ...

..Sometimes. I get board. and when I get board. I eat,drink or lay around being lazy.
I have a backyard...that just so happens to be a huge park! I found myself taking a little walk yesterday and taking photos of  ducks swimming around in a flooded part of our park. The simple things that are around us make all the difference to some. I am pretty simple. Happiness to me is the simple things. A cup of coffee while listening to music on Pandora Radio. Or folding fabric..........
In which im turning to do right after I put this laptop down..
Folding fabric is soothing for me. Relaxing, so relaxing at times I fall asleep while folding it.
I found the cutest fabric today! and I am so excited to make it into a bag. Either a weekender bag like that from Amy Butler- Check out the pattern review at Sew Sweetness' bloggie It is adorable and I fairly certain i'm IN LOVE! during these times of economic issues for many, many folks going out of town for a night or two is a BIG deal! especially for my husband and I. My husband is a full time, unemployed student finishing up his Bachelors Degree. My family lives over a hundred miles away in Eastern Washington in a ruaral small farming community and his family is spread out all over the United States. His mother is getting ready to make a huge move to the East coast-Boston area and then it will feel a lot more empty.
My family is also spread out all over the place. I have family in Washington,Iowa,California, Idaho, Arkansas,Nebraska and Florida. Needless to say to go see my family it will take a couple hours. So, in this world its going to be a bit harder until my husband finishes up college and our finances will not be so hard as it has been for the past year.
My husband is leaving tomorrow morning to go on a very long road trip to 3 different states with his mother and youngest brother. So, my bed will be very empty for a week and I will be sewing a lot..so I hope I get more visits from new folks and you enjoy my up and coming posts!

This...WILL  be a bag!

My finished Zakka Project..hand warmers! :)

...................... :)

Whats going on in the world of my crafty space....new additions to the space!

What a lovely day I had with my other mum today!
I picked her up at 9am and we headed to Jim and Pattys in Portland,Oregon,
My favorite drink there is the soviet mocha-NUMM! made with sour cream-don't knock it until you've tried it ya'll! Jim and Pattys is the org. Coffee People. After the buy out of Starbucks (boo!) Coffee people no longer....was Coffee People- total bummer! I hadn't lived in Oregon for very long at the time they had released the information that they were going to be selling out and no longer be around... so sad *insert hypothetical tear here* ...................Then about a year ago..my husband was crusing the web and saw somthing about "Jim and Pattys, The Org. Coffee People" ..when I saw the photo..BINGO! it was them!!! they had a cafe! I was totally stoked- few days later we drove to get our paws on the goods....and.....its like it should be..all over again... without the drive threw-the treats are still amazing and the coffee still so delish.......... okay...so i'm done rambeling!
So, after we had left Jim & Pattys we jolted to IKEA... because..how can you not LOVE IKEA!
I had been pondering how to "cut off" my sewing/craft corner (AKA- use to be our dining room that was never used in our apartment) from the rest of the place...I needed a little space to allow my creativity to flow and our bedroom with a King Sized bed wasn't working so, I did a little research. I began to think I would buy a sound board- to block out the noise- a fake wall to bolt to the ceiling, cubical walls to add a little privacy. Then it donned on me! IKEA! they had the answer!! The key to my "issue"......
A wire "rod" that you hook to the wall or ceiling by two brackets that bend and voila! The only problem was- I wasn't sure how i'd do it. So today, I took the leap. Invested the $12 somthing on the wire rod and another $15 on the curtains to boot... a large savings over the "screen" I would have ended up with that is really..not private at all-and would become a chew toy for my house bunny. We had also browsed- I ended up with a rod and 3 hanging thingy majigs and a $10 as-is rug that matches a fellow grey rug we have from IKEA also-which i'm going to move into my craft area and put the old grey rug back into the living room- The red plays off our red couch too much-clashes!

This is one corner of my area-see the curtain peeking by? Jar full of thread spools ..and of course the cup that reminds me.... :) The new rack with pink "buckets" newly installed today-very clever...those IKEA Designers!

The print of my new curtains- Black and White- Birds sit upon the branches

Messy Yet organized..those blue boxes sitting on the floor have TONS of notion goodness-vintage and other misc. Still trying to figure out a wall for those! and of course, my mess-need to be folded bins of fabric!

A small opening for the walkway to the living room

Kind of a mess still. This is my cutting and computer desk-I working in a small space

I just whipped this up really quick tonight as the boys were watching a movie. I just measured and cut, thats how I like to do things! The linen was a vintage table cloth that had gotten ruined by company so, rather than tossing it I cut it up for a sewing machine cover! The bias tape is vintage- JC Penny & Co.. The floral fabric was a steal at Fabric Depot (Approx $3.00 a yard!) I thought it was wicked cute! The cotton lace was $.25 cents a yard!!!! I bought almost all they had!

Another part of my mess! The chair under my photo box was my Grandfathers, the table is at my aunts..im waiting to go get it once I have space, for now the chair is all I could take :) It use to have mates but age takes its toll. The set im sure is over 50 years old. All those purses hanging on my poor mani are bags ive made for either The Zakka Style SAL or for Purse Polooza :) poor Mani is getting weighed down..Those resin dolls hidden in various places of my craft area are- Berries & Co- I collect them

.............my mess..............
Anyways..just wanted to share!

Zakka Week 9 Stem Messenger Bag

Well, this weeks Sew along project for the Zakka Style Sew along find all the good info at LRStitched Bloggy was a little challenging for me! Zakka apparently, is all about linen and a lot of good things. Well, im kind of bored with linen only because the stuff gets me so fired up about how annoying it frays and does not do what you want it to unless you starch the bageezes out of it..I decided because Oregon is very wet most of the year and i'm not so tender with my bags..I wanted to make something a little more "sustainable" for my use and torcher it will receive by my busy life style.. So..I went with a Marine Synthetic materiel made from recycled goodness... and ..to my shock! it did not break a single needle!! On the standard machine I use! ..I was so very pleased with that.. but the stuff is hard to sew without it moving and deciding it'd rather head east than west... So.. with a lot of fuss I accomplished the project its a little kaddywhompus in spots but..it is what it is and I made it. I use to be very fond of making handbags when I was younger and I guess I got a bit bored. I will however be taking part in the  Purse Polooza this year and im pretty excited about that, Ive got my materials and my design drawn up and hopefully I can get it done in  a weekend! It is a great feeling accomplished.

So, I knew so little about any kind of spray adhesive for quilting (fabric) and after week 8's Zakka project I am in love... it worked so very well on the vynel! I was stoked! sorry for the junky photo but. The brand I used is "Spray n Bond" basting adhesive. I picked it up at the local Joann and it was normally $14.99 but had a coupon...YAY! (thanks hubby ;-) and its WELL worth it! I don't know what brand you'd use but this stuff is just as good ..I think? I hear the 505 spray is da-bomb.. anyways... I Sprayed the appliques with this goodness and they stuck while and had sewn them down. Goodie Goodie gumdrops! I had only purchased 1/2 a yard of the vynel because the stuff is SPENDY so I thought i was coming up short. I ended up cutting the peice for the flap at the very end of the madness and so to make up for the inch I was off on I used some left over scraps to make a ruffle............................

 

I had used pinking shears to cut the leafs so the edges will hopefully not fray. As for the ruffle, I came up short on that too (oh golly!) so I cut that fabric in half and carefully had sewn it  to the flap and TADA! 

The outcome is pretty darn tootin' cute....if I do say so myself................

 The strap is peiced toeather with the polka dotted print and the floral print because the vynel was waay to hard to turn it inside out.. The interior is red on the interior flap, and the bag part is orange. The outside wrap around pocket is polka dotted.

you can't iron the vynel or it will melt so the flap is a little kaddywhompus... whew! one project down for the week........................
Have a great day!

Wooty Woot.......woot....!!!! FABRIC AHOY!

I was totally stoked to get a brown box in the mail this evening........

WOOOT WOOOOOOOT!! haul aboard the happy train!
 I received my goodies from Fat Quarter Shop today and I was totally excited. I had impatiently been waiting for the arrival of these delisious cotton bits to arrive all day today! what a pleasent surprise when I had gotten home, As my husband waived it infront of my face like it was a giant sized coffee beverage..... yulp...this goodie box topped that a few times over! ....
The package dosent look like much but, there are a few layers hiding that you can not see. I ordered my full $75.00 worth of fabric from my gift certificate that I had won from the Zakka style Sew Along Click her to be directed to join in! you need the book Zakka Style... more infor here!    Anyhootie...

Happy Friday! im going to get started on the next project for Week 7.... "Zakka Block Quilt" Created by Leslie Good .............................................

Promising yet not eventful

Today was interesting.
I woke up at my normal "Day off time" of 9am and the hubby and I got out the door at about 10:15Am to run errands. I had wanted to complete a few projects today and get maybe a few things in my shop that are new. Since taking a long break from my Etsy shop SpunkyChildDesign I pondered at either shutting it down completely because it was taking up all the free time I had after working an already full time job, or just taking a long break. So in the end, the long break and a 10 day vacation from work really helped. So for the first few items I had created since my nearly 2 months from my Etsy shop I listed them and then sold 4 items within those 48 hours which was and always is, thrilling.
Today I thought I wanted to make a few clutches- I fly by the seat of my pants normally when I create things that are from my imagination and not from someone elses pattern that ive been able to recreate with there permission and all rights given to them in my Etsy listings. I decided I would just start on something for my mother for her Mothers Day gift, which I cut and got things together and then decided not to start on it yet until I had more energy.
So, 2 sugar free Rockstars later its almost Monday and...well....
this is what i've done today............

I have been accumulating a lot of scraps since I started sewing again about 6 months ago and I have been wanting to make something out of them. I had began to make a lap quilt and then stopped doing that because it was just awkward and kind of annoying. So, I first cut out 3x3 squares and sewn them togeather then cut them again in 1 1/2 inch rectangles and these little pretties were born. I even ran to the Dollar Tree to get a pretty mug :) I am now thinking with the rest of my scraps and maybe even more, I will make a few of these and put them in my Etsy shop for fun! Because...who needs a pile of these laying around? I already have one I made myself during 2nd week of the Zakka Sew Along!

Good night!

Zakka Zakka Zakka!

After beginning the Zakka Sew Along with the Zakka Style Book Compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale 24 projects stitched with ease to give,use & enjoy.... I am addicted! So many fun projects! 

 I had a lot of fun sewing this Zig Zag Tote for week 1. Week 1 came during Easter and well, many folks enjoy the holidays with there families and I was over a hundred miles away from home to completed the tote in time for the link up. I finished it the next day and this was my outcome. The zig zag doesn't have pointed peaks like they should but, I think my color variations and the fact I used a colored linen was fun!

 The house pouch to the right was really fun too! I used a (hard to see in the photo) cotton fabric that looks lacy and femanine for the roof. I followed the directions fairly close other than adding long stems and leafes to the flowers and adding a welcome wooden door sign that says "Welcome The Raichels" to make this house more personal! The interior is light blue with a white floral pattern. I used a lighter than "normal" linen for the main body of this pouch. I think I will take this lovely with me when we go on trips for my sewing goodies!

The Zakka Pincushion was week 3's project. 

I followed the directions again fairly close, adding my own flair to the project. The pin cushion on the left didn't turn out as I had wanted to. So, I made a second. The pin cushion on the right I think came out very sweet. I pieced together 1 inch squares to add a little quilt action to it, something that i've very new at still! I have not made a large quilt, I think the biggest quilt I've made was my mug rug! :)

For week 4 the above photo is of my version of the sewing kit. I used an almost duck canvas for the exterior and a summertime print for the interior. I hand stamped pink flowers on the exterior and two black flowers on the interior. This was a fun project, fairly simple to create and something i'll use on the go! I normally take sewing projects with me to work if I know my lunch time will be boring.  For week 5 i'm done I just need to perfect it a little and then i'll be posting that boogar tomarrow for the link up :)!

Now, for the rest of the day.....................

Yesterday I had been browsing threw a Craft Warehouse ad (my fav. close by store for fabric) from the paper and saw a new book.... I <3 Patchwork, 21 irresistible zakka projects to sew by Rashida Coleman-hale. It was on sale! I had to snatch one up! I phoned craft warehouse, spoke to a woman in the quilting department and found out they didn't have any! :( I was bummed! So, the lovely sweet lady, as they always are! said "we will give you a call when we find one or it comes in, it looks like we only have 2! just somewhere!" so within an hour I received a phone call... "we found you a book!" I was so excited "I said, "oh thank you so much for calling me back! I am excited, I will come get it right after work" which...I did..... 

This book is very cute! the projects just as sweet as the compiled Zakka Style book... I highly suggest it! 

Maybe there will be a sew-along for this one too??? 

Happy Sewing!