I'm an Artisan, what are you?

I am bored and was passing some time looking around the web when I came across this little 3 question quiz. This was my result:

Your Personality Is Artisan

You are both grounded and flexible. You adapt well to new situations. You are playful and free spirited - but you are also dependable and never flaky. You don't do well in conservative, stuffy situations. It's probably very hard for you to keep a normal job or stay in school. You are always up for fun and adventure. Most people are too boring for you. You take risks and bend the rules. And if things don't work out, you chock it up to life experience. In love, you tend to take things quickly - but you have a huge problem with commitment. At work, you need to make your own rules. You're best suited to be an entrepreneur. With others, you are animated and physical. You prefer doing something with friends to just hanging out. As far as your looks go, you tend to be buff and in good shape. Your spend more time on your body than your clothes. On weekends, you need to keep active. From cooking up a storm to running a 5K, you wear yourself out.

It's pretty true except for never being flaky, and the buff body part. More like flubby! My nice figure went out the door with pregnancy #1. I gained way too much weight. I have a thyroid condition that makes it hard for me to get the weight off. Thanks kids :) Now I have a womanly figure as I like to call it. To take the quiz go HERE.

Have a fun safe New Years Eve. Mine will be spent at home with the family :0)

Gift for my mom

Here is the bag I made my mom. I was in the process of making a zippered pouch to go with it when my sewing machine decided not to work. This was Christmas morning before we left for her house. She was very happy with her bag though. I really liked how it came out too....It was HUGE!! It would make an excellent overnight bag, or market tote.

On the flip side....


I used a Cotton Blossom's Charm Pack by Moda. The lining and handles were made using unbleached Muslin. I really like this Muslin. It is a new found favorite fabric of mine. The fact that it is in-expensive, and neutral is great. I use it to line my tissue cozies too :0) It looks great with this line of fabric with all the browns, blues, greens, reds and orange. I'll be making another one of these bags real soon! By the way the pattern is from JoAnn's Fabric Store. It's like $3.00 for the pattern. There is this one for charm squares and another for jelly roll strips..that's next on my list, for my Grandma.

Sunday Stash

The fabric I am sharing today is not the fabric I wanted to share. My camera is on the Fritz :0(
Oh well, there's always next week right? Today's pick is a very nice fabric...the picture is not the nicest..sorry! I have chosen to share Urban Chicks fabric, the line is 1974. I love this fabric!! I am actually in the process of making my first quilt using this particular jelly roll and charm pack. Since Christmas is over, I can now focus on my quilt. I can't wait!!


Here are some links to see the rest of the fabrics included in this charm pack, and jelly roll.

I am going to go finish being lazy today. I am exhausted due to the holidays..whew! Thank goodness Christmas is over. All I have to do to get ready for New Year's is pick which mixed drink I'd like to have :0) Which I have already done...Smirnoff and Cran-apple juice..mmmm.
The kids will be off to bed early and my hubby and I will have a mild celebration. I may or may not post again before then. If not Have a safe and Happy New Years!!

Happy Holidays!!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah! Enjoy the company of your friends, family, and good food! I'll be back after Christmas :0)

One more down...many many more to go!!

As promised, I am posting my sisters finished Christmas gifts. Hopefully she will not read this. Generally she doesn't unless I want her to see something. So, I made her this bag. As well as a smaller version of this, to be used as a makeup bag. Then I had to make a matching tissue cozy, of course! Here they are, drum roll please......



Both sides of the bag. It is reversible, but only one side has a pocket.



The Makeup case, and tissue cover.



A close up of the covered button, and loop closure.


I love the covered button!! I also used a hair band for the loop closure, instead of the ribbon the instructions called for. I really like to used these as closures for things such as crayon rolls. They are much less of a headache. What I mean is A)Kids can open and close themselves, B) Kids are not constantly asking you to tie their crayon roll they keep undoing...over and over again! Just makes life that much more easy peasy!! Hopefully you all won't get too tired of me sharing my goodies. I just get so excited. Luckily our families live and hour and a half away or I would be gift giving early :0) Now I have one gift completely done. Off to finish some more. I will be posting again tomorrow. Hopefully with several more finished goods. Goodnight!

Sunday Stash

Wow, these weeks are just flying by. Here is my Sunday Stash again, so soon...at least it feels like it is too soon. Here are this weeks choices, I can never pick just one to share :0)

All are Amy Butler fabrics from her Daisey Chain Line. The color is Rose. It looks purplish-pink to me. Two of these beautiful fabrics have already been cut and are going to be several Christmas gifts for my sister. She picked purple as her color...this is as close as I had to purple in my stash. I am making her this bag, and this, and this too. I think it's a nice little set. I will post pics when I am done. Hopefully tomorrow mid morning :0) I still have more gifts to sew and my baking to begin. Hubby will be home tomorrow so he can help...with the kids and baking. He can't however help with the sewing because he is banned from using my sewing machine(s). Yes, machines I have 2 of them. Nor can he uses my scissors...I caught that punk trying to cut paper with my fabric scissors. As you can imagine I had to lay down the law about MY STUFF!! Just like with the kids my hubby was scolded and told to NEVER, EVER touch my sewing stuff again!
I gave him a pair of his own scissors, and if something needs sewn he needs to let me know and I will do it. Control issues, what? Who me? Never! (hahahaha) Ok maybe I am a little bit of a control freak. It is what it is. :0)

Handmade X-mas Gifts Galore!!

There are very few days till Christmas as we all know. I have been so focused on Swap items, and orders I have really neglected my list of Handmade X-mas gifts. Now I am kicking it into high gear and sewing...sewing...and sewing some more. All orders have completed have been received by the those that have placed their orders. I am so pleased that they love all of the goodies I have made. Whew!! I try to make everything perfect, but still worry that they will hate what I made. But they didn't!! Here is a recap of recent items I made :0)


From L-R clockwise: Amy Butler Birdie Sling with Heather Bailey Fabrics; Small Handbag with Amy Butler Fabrics; Sandi Henderson Market Bag(boxy version) with HB Fabrics; and another Small Handbag with HB Fabrics.

Ohh and look what I got for my B-day! Aren't they Beautimus?!! Hopefully I won't kill them.


Now back to the purses and patterns. I love the Birdie sling by Amy Butler. I have read before that it is a large bag. I have to say I was still suprised to see how HUGE it really is. It also has 2 pockets on the inside...I love pockets. I am happy with how my work came out. Just as I am happy with how my Sandi Henderson Market Bag turned out. Again anothe good sized bag w/pockets :0) It was my first time using both patterns. I am always apprehensive the first time doing anything. But the instructions on both patters were great. The Birdie Sling is just A LOT of cutting...lots of pieces. But once you piece it and start sewing it's a breeze. It also called for more fabric then needed..so I have some left over for some smaller projects. I am going to have to do a post at some point dedicated to pattern reviews, hmmm....definetly!

Anyhoo, I have some sewing to get started, and finished. As well as some baking to get done. I am baking some goodies for my neighbors, and family members for X-mas. I live in a Cul-d-sac, so all 5 neighbors will ne getting Peppermint Marshmallows, Brownied, and a for Recipe Cards for Homemade Hot Chocolate, and such. Wish me luck (Wink) I'm going to need it due to there being so many hours in a day, and 4 days to do it all in. I'll leave you with a project sone by my hubby. He is from the Philippines. In the Philippines the have something called a Parol. It is a star shapped lantern that is put up around X-mas time. Well, he found some bamboo and made this star......


Then he found some holiday Cellophane type paper and it cam out like this....



Not bad huh?! He is quite crafty. I've caught him messing with my sewing machine...who knew!
Now I am off to make my handmade gifts. I'll post my Sunday Stash later this evening.

Market Bag Success Woo-Hoo!!!

I had a custom order for Sandi Henderson's Market bag. I am always a little apprehensive when trying out a new pattern. But I have to say that this pattern was AWESOME!! It was so easy to follow. With colorful pictures, and great descriptions it was a breeze. I think it helped that I followed the directions to a tee.....sometimes I am very bad about that. Maybe some of the success was from doing what I should always do when using Directions...you know following them :0) Here it is...it's so purdy. I made the boxier of the two patterns. Let me tell you I am going to have a hard time handing it over.....


and it is reversible, but the second picture came out funky....


I love it!! I also made 2 handbags for a mother and daughter. One side is the same and the lining is different for each bag. I pulled the teal out of one for the lining, and the one pictures has the lime green. They are both reversible. I think reversible bags are great makes them a bit more versitile. Don't you think? I still need to add buttons and they will be Fini!! Here is a picture of one of them.


Tonight I need to finish Amy Butler's Birdie Sling. I have everything cut and ready to go. As soon as it is finished this order will be complete. Four custom bags in all..Whew. This is my third custom order. YAY!! Just a side note all bags were made using Heather Bailey Fabric. Except for the lining on the two handbags :0) I'll post pics when the Birdie Sling is complete which will be soon.

Swap Goodies!!

My first swap has been completed. The Happy Scrap Swap is where everyone was put in groups of 3. Each person sent a sandwich bag full of scraps to both of their partners. In turn all several small items were made for the partners form the scraps, and the goodies were sent. I have finally sent out my packages for my partners. I did however send swaps to the wrong person. She was very kind to actually make me some goodies and send them back to me, though she didn't have to :0) Thank You Heather! Thank you to all the ladies who participated. I have cooked up a new swap idea. Keep on the lookout for it in the new year. Here is what I have received thus far....By the way I have been playing with Photoshop Elements, it's great!


OK, now back to my swap gifts from upper left and then going clockwise; A new pincushion, Fabric flower magnet, key chain fob; Bird ornament, Stuffed owl, and zippered makeup bag; Margarita Doll (Doodle Girl); Bookmark, House Ornaments, Scarf, tissue cozy, and Needle book.


The doll was not part of the swap it was a gift to my daughter from my friend Abbie. Isn't she cute? Her name is Margarita. I will definitely be trying my hand at some dolls as soon as Christmas is over. There are some really great patterns on Etsy. Like Bit of Whimsy Prims, and
Herbst (which I have already purchased), and don't forget Wee Wonderfuls (I have these too). These come in PDF form which is awesome. I don't like to wait for patterns because I am a bit impatient. PDF's are great, you get them within 24 hours, and you can print them out :0) For the E-Book/PDF's that have more than 10 pages you can usually upload the file to Staples, Office Depot, at Kinko's. The prices aren't too bad, and your not waisting all of your ink!

I love my stuff, thanks again. I hope my partners like what I made them :0)

Also, I took a poll in regards to my website, and seems like the textured blue is the winner...It was my fave too...Thanks to those who took the time to vote, I appreciate it. I will be moving froward and working on finishing the site....eventually :0)


Well I need to go get my butt in gear. It is my 30th B-day today!! My friend has offered to watch my children so my hubby and I can go out on a date. Gosh, I can't remember the last time he and I went out together kid less...It's un heard of. Hopefully we make it home safe, it decided to snow today :0( Everyone have a good one. Stay warm!

Sunday Stash!!

Sunday is here again. I'm a bit late on my Sunday Stash post...sorry! I have been feeling pretty ill since yesterday. Last night was horrible as I was up half the night praying to the porcelain god. Now that I have shared more than most of you would like to hear, here is my Sunday Stash for today. The theme for today is "New found Fun". Because these are all new fabrics to my stash and they are all fun prints :0)



From left to right:Michael Miller Eiffel Tower in pink; Amy Schimler for Robert Kauffman Creatures and Critters, the third fabric is the same line as the second; lastly Robert Kauffman Polka Dot Chickens.

See I told you they were fun! I an still trying to decide what creations I will make from these fabrics.....any ideas? I bet you do have some. Let me know what you think would be a cute project for any of these fabrics :0)

I don't know about you but I am somewhat ready for X-mas. It really kinda snuck up on me. I still have a few gifts to finish making, and others to ship out. I guess I better kick my butt into high gear...but now that I am sick I really don't feel like doing much. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, as it is a new day! Ok I am off to bed, have a good one!!

Web Page Update...

Hello there! I have decide to change 2 of my web pages already. If you don't know what the heck I am talking about read the previous post :) I change the first and last pages, which had 1 vote each. The stripes were waaaay to busy, and the herringbone was too blah. Those of you that have been so kind thus far by looking and voting, Thank You!! Please take another look and see if I have picked something else you like better, or not. If there is please change your vote. My poll will close Tuesday. Then I can start working on my site again! I will be posting again with some finished goodie updates, and a few other things as well.

Calling all opinions, Please....

Well, I am in need of some opinions people. I babbled on and on in a previous post in regards to which website I wanted to host my new store at. I currently have Homestead and sue to their cost have decided to stick with them. Now I have to work on building my site...which has been on the back burner lately. This is because I have been so indecisive about keeping my site at Homestead. A friend of mine pointed out a very painful but true fact...I am not selling a ton online *sniff sniff*. So I basically do not need all the bells and whistles at this point.

All that said I have begin to build my site but am not sure on which background I like. Soooo....I wanted to ask of the few that read my blog to help in my decision process. What I am going to do is add a link to my store. Please do take a look at each page because they are all different! Take note of the page you are looking at (ie:Home, Purses, etc..). Then come back to my blog and at that point I will have a poll on my sidebar. Cast your votes. If you have anything else to add in regards to my site(pointers of any kind) please leave a comment on this post. I will close the poll on Dec 16th, which is my birthday.

Click on the picture to link to my store!!


Thanks in advance, and I can't wait to see which background page is liked the most :0)

Sunday Stash!!

I can't believe it is Sunday again, already. Time has just flown by lately. Here are the fabrics I chose to share in this weekends Sunday Stash.....


Both fabrics are by Tula Pink. The first is Flutterby Dragonflies in Teal, and second is Flutterby Bumblebees is Teal. I love how Tula Pink hides insects in her patterns. LOVELY!!

The Sunday Stasher's now have a flicker group. Check it out HERE.

Sew Tote-ally Busy!!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I am exhausted...to say the least. I have been busy busy as usual. I feel like I've had so many projects going on, but I don't have a ton to show for it. Does this ever happen to anybody else? I swear I have sewn way more items than I have...hmmmm? I have made some totes. Wanna see?!


Sorry about the crummy pic. I am no photographer, nor do I have the patience to load each picture separately. I do like how these came out though. They were easy to make too. The link to the tutorial is in a previous post :0)

I have also made a few wallets. I FINALLY got that pattern down pat. I have the hardest time following directions to a tee. It's a real problem because if I would life would be so much easier.
I was reading my Astrological sign info the other day and it was pretty much dead on. It states that I don not like to follow the rules....hahahaha!! Hence not following directions completely. Anyone else find their signs, horoscopes, etc interesting. HERE is the link to mine, I'm a Sagittarius. As a matter of fact my 30th B-day is creeping up on me....I'm not to happy about that :0(

Oh yea, here are some wallets I've been busy making.



I also decided to try Pink Penguin's Fabric Basket Tutorial today. I have some left over skater print fabric, and will be making it for my Step Mother who loves anything ice skater themed. I took a pic before I added the handles ( which I have now done). I still need to add lining, but ran out of the polka dot. I guess I'll be taking a Sunday trip to the fabric store....which is OK with me.
This Tutorial is easy, and the basket is fairly small. I think it would be good for a place for makeup you keep in your bathroom. At least that is my suggestion to my Step mom. I'll be making more of these for sure!


I finally listed some items in my Etsy shop. I have also been on the hunt for a new E-commerce type site. One that isn't expensive. I have one through Homestead, but I dunno...Not too happy with it. Although it is only $4.95 a month. But, you cannot sell items unless you upgrade..? What's the point? I've seen a few places like Big Cartel, and Zen Cart. With Zen Cart you have to host through someone else....which I do not like. I bought my domain name so I can transfer that with me until I find a site I am happy with. Hopefully soon please as I started with, Vista Print, then Freewebs, now Homestead.....I just can't make up my mind. Can you tell? If anyone out there has any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Please!!!!

I'll leave you with a picture of my Fia :0) My hubby took her pic and then she told me that she was a monkey. Who knew monkeys put their hands on their ears. I thought of hear no evil when she said that. Can you spot her chocolate cake crumbs on her seat? She is one messy little thing. But, she makes me smile anyway!

Oh my Gosh I WON!!

I won a giveaway from Little Birdie Secrets. What did I win you ask....Scented Play Dough with a reversible play mat. It is actually called "Chalk and Dough on the Go Play mat". The play mat has a smooth surface on one side and chalk board on the other. How cool is that?!! Thanks to Heather from Cutie Patootie Boutique for donating the prize. Check out her shop as well. She has some cute goodies over there :0) Here's a look at my prize.

This is going to be a great joint gift to my kids from Santa!! I am still so excited. Thanks so much!!

Silly Kids!!

I don't know about you but my kids are a constant source of amusement. Some of these things amuse me and not others..this may be one of those situations. I will share anyways. My daughter Sophia slid a mailing box over her head a few weeks ago and walked up to my husband telling him "I robot, I robot", in a robotic voice. He decided to cut arm holes for her. Last night she walked up to me and was wearing this saying "I robot, I robot". She really has a great sense of humor already...so silly. She is a mini me, as I am easily amused :0) Pleas excuse the mess in the background, she is "The master of disaster" as we call her. That is actually a nickname my uncles gave me when I was small..lol!


This morning she put on this plastic pitcher as a had and proceeded to tell me that she was an astronaut, then ran away screaming "Blast off!!!!!".

My sweet Devi wanted in on the picture taking..he's such a sweetie. He too has many comical moments. Most of which need to be recorded by video. He is always singing and dancing. The kid has a million favorite songs. Just when I am getting frustrated he has a habit of saying something hilarious...Gosh, I love my kids! They have great personalities.


Just so you know I try not to take too many pics of Devi. He has several bald spots in his hair caused by intense scratching from his Eczema. We've been waiting about a year for it to grow back :( Hopefully it will soon. It's been a SLOW process.

Thanks for letting me share my silly kiddos with you. Believe me there will be more!

Sunday Stash!!

It's Sunday again already. That means it's the day to share a little bit of my fabric stash :0) Today I chose a few fabrics that won't be in my stash for much longer. I will be making Market Tote bags out of them. I found the tutorial over at Film in the Fridge's blog. HERE is the link to the Market Tote Tutorial. Now for the fabrics.......


From Left to right: Green Floral print I picked up a bit ago at Joann's Fabric, Heather Bailey's Dotted Paisley in Peach(the first 2 will be paired together), Heather Bailey's Large Peonies, and again Heather Bailey fabric called Peonies in pink. I will pair the last two with a pink linen like fabric. I will post again with a finished product!

I have to say Heather Bailey is my fave, well one of the top 5. Can you tell by my stash post?! I am very drawn to bright fun colors. Heather Bailey's fabrics definitely fit the build :0)

Anyhow, it happens to be a rainy Sunday here.....Perfect day to sew and get thing done around the house. I have a week to fully prepare for my first craft fair. I have a ton of tissue covers made, totes cut and needing sewn, and a bunch of other items I'd like to get done. I already have a variety of purses sewn up, I just need to slip stitch their linings closed. Here are 12 of the 20 tissue covers. I will be giving some away as X-mas gifts. You can find links to make these HERE and HERE. Super easy project. I got the tissues at the Dollar Tree, Pack of 6 for $1.00. Thanks to Abbie telling me about them :0)



I have however finished my first order and wanted to share the final product. Here are 4 of the 25 change purses I made.


I have a second order from my step mom which includes 6 tote bags with the vintage skater print. I have completed 2...well I still have to top stitch them. I had to order more of that particular fabric. It arrived Friday, so now I can complete them all. Take a peak!

I used a Moda Tote bag pattern I got from a quit show. It was $2.50. It is also the first pattern I had ever sewn. I did tweak it a little. The handles were just sewn onto the lining at the end and you could see the stitched box with X on the outer part of the bag. I did not like that too much so I hid the end of the handles. It looks so much nicer. This is a good sized tote too. I lengthened the handles per my Step mom's request.

OK apparently I have a ton to get done so I am off to the sewing machine. I will post again with some finished goodies to share with you all. Enjoy your Sunday!!

Fabric is a girls best friend.....

Forget diamonds, fabric is a girls best friend! OK so really I am just speaking for myself, and I do still like diamonds. I wanted to share some items I have around my home.....like this cute owl print. I purchased this for a gift for my sisters close friend Cindy. My sister has had a bunch of medical issues lately and just got out of the hospital. While in the hospital her friend came and spent most of the day, and even stayed with her a few nights because my mom could not. Cindy LOVES owls, so I decided I would make her some goodies for Christmas for being such a good friend to my sister. I am thinking of this Pattern HERE. I am toying with the idea of lining it with Muslin....We shall see I like to change my mind frequently.

Here are some recent pattern purchases. They are by Jess Goldman from Bananafana. They are the My Pennie Purse, and The Brooke Bag. Check out her blog she has some really great patterns for skirts, and quilts too.


Last but not least I wanted to share more of my quilt block for my first quilt. I have a lot more to do. I really enjoy making them...


I have had several more custom orders..YAY!! so I have been working on those. Along with Gifts I am giving this season, and craft fair goods. Oops, and gifts for my swap partners..I have 2 done. Needless to say i have been and will be a busy little bee the next few weeks. Hopefully I will buzz through all of the things I have to and want to get done. Wish me luck!

Sewing Supply Raid!!

Yesterday I spent the day with my in laws. My mother in law is a avid seamstress. She is also the yard sale queen. That said she has tons and tons of fabric and other sewing supplies. Now when we go over there I come home with free goodies :0) Above was a fitting Thanksgiving day find. Don't ya think? It's fleece with Indian print. I thought it would be perfect for a little boys coloring roll....it's big enough for 3 of them. Can you say craft fair?



Next were the zippers I took a handful of them in several colors. I love free stuff :0)


Embroidery thread, and some bobbins. You can never have enough bobbins. Look at the pretty colors...ooohhhhh!!


Here is some Ric-rac. I am making some ornaments for my up coming craft fair and needed Ric-rac. Needless to say I was very excited about this find.

Lastly, Bias tape and Boutache Braid. I also raided her fabric room...yes a full room dedicated to her fabric stash, and had a stack of fabric to bring home which I forgot. Who forgets to bring fabric home?? Sheesh! I also had a stack from the previous visit sitting right next to it because I forgot the last time too... Really I'll be honest I feel kind of bad taking her stuff. Even though she's all about it and doesn't mind. I don't know I just feel like I am taking advantage. I do not want her to feel that way as well.