Bag of the month January completed.

I know, I know. I'm late. Sorry! School takes up a lot of my time but with the my new years resolutions I promised to get back to me. Me being, the crafty side of me. So to reiterate I joined a bag of the month club hosted by Sew Sweetness. We are in the month of March so there are a total of three new bags out there in the aether. I have just finished January's bag. 

The Byebye Love bag by Sew Sweetness. 

It's a beautiful bag.  The instructions are clear and easy to 

follow. I knew it was going to be a big bag when it was done

and it is. 

Now it on to the next bag. The Butterfly Sling Bag by Emmaline Bags & Patterns.
There is still time to join the club. Here is a link to the Bag of the Month flickr page.

I'm having a birthday. Here is my gift.

Happy Birthday to ME!

It is my birthday month. Happy Birthday to ME! For my birthday I wanted a new machine and my husband, the lovely man that he is purchased me a new machine. Yeah!!! Here she is.

 It's a Babylock Melody.  After a lot of consideration. I came up with the idea or the knowledge that over the last 11 years I have used a total of one stitch on my last machine. I have used a total of 0 embroidery designs on my embroidery machine. When added all together, I did not need to buy a machine with a multitude of designs and the capability of doing embroidery when I have not used the machines I have now. 

Is she not just beautiful? I am happy at least. My husband is happy with me being happy. So all is well. I even rearranged my sewing corner. 

Absentee Blogger

First, my apologies. I could tell you my sob story. Full time nurse, going back to school getting by BSN. Full time mother and wife with two teenagers actively in sports. In the end it was a struggle to get everything done and the crafty side of me paid the price. But 2014 is looking great. This semester I am taking one less class and have been successfully getting back to my sewing.

First project. Cargo Duffel Pattern by Anna Graham of Noodlehead for Robert Kaufman. I fell in LOVE with the bag the first time I saw it. She presented this item on her blog in October 2013. I finally completed it February 2014. Tah Dah!

It's quilted and all!  It took a while, right. Another fine lesson learned. Always read the instructions first, might save you on mistakes later and time.  I learned "quilt as you go" does not mean quilt every piece an then sew them together later. Then the top gusset and bottom gusset once sewn together was short. I had to pleat both the front and back piece in order for it to fit. The construction of this bag was a true learning experience. What made things worst for me is Anna Graham made two more one for each of her daughters before I'd finished my first one. Not to mention all the other projects she did in between. She truly inspires me to be more creative.

The fabric is from Joann's.

The inside seams are covered in bias tape. So cool Right!

I even matched the flowers.

My baby not such a baby models my bag for me. Thank you Sarah.  So what's next. I joined a bag of the month club. It started in January with the Bye-Bye Love bag from Sew Sweetness. There is still time to join.  And you guessed it I am late. February's bag is out.  February's designer is Janelle Mackay of Emmaline bags.  So look forward to me catching up on my sewing hopefully before March.




And as always, thanks for stopping by.

It Begins

One day I was surfing Pinterest. (Oh, how I love Pinterest!) So surfing Pinterest became a daily habit of mine.  I would wake up to a cup of coffee and start my computer, go to my favorites and then I would scroll and scroll.  DIY one of my favorites. I came upon a picture of a person sitting with a clutch in her lap.  Taping took to me to my first of many inspirations Noodle-head.  This site had purse patterns, tutorials, and it linked to other sites which inspired her.

I made the first of many purchases.  I was new to PDF patterns but I found her Envelope Clutch Pattern easy to follow with simple enough directions and loads of pictures.  If I had any questions all I had to do was email her.

 I dug into the stash of fabrics which have I accumulated over the years.  I purchased this fabric from Walmart.  (Sorry, I don't know the name.)

(learned to insert a magnetic closure)

I had a great time and now I'm addicted to purse making.  The best thing I found about purse making is no adjustments necessary.

From the beginning.

I started sewing about twenty-one years ago after seeing my child hood friend wearing her first handmade dress.  I was amazed at her talent and thought maybe I could do that too.  So I headed to Sears and purchased my first sewing machine.  I worked on a couple of projects but never really went to deep with it. Then I got married, my machine repossessed, lived in Virginia for a couple of years and then moved back to my home in Maryland.  All with two children in tow.  With the third child on the way I thought about getting back to sewing and started in search of a new machine.  The longer I had to wait for the machine, it seems that the price and features increased too. A machine from Sears would no longer due.  I met some wonderful women at my church and they introduced me to Maryland Sew and Vac in Clinton, Maryland.  Just walking into the store for the first time took my breath away.  They sold Babylock machines. My first machine a Babylock BLE9500.  I fell in love with it.

 So I took a class here and there and eventually ended up with my second machine, a Babylock serger Eclipse. Cool now all I need to do was sew.

 Still didn't happen for me but with the fourth child on the way a new machine was in order, Proline embroidery machine.  All sitting and collecting dust. I have a very patient husband.

Now almost 22 years later, four children, living in Florida and practicing as a registered nurse. Working three 12 hour shifts a week children 21, 19, 17 and 14 (almost grown), I have a lot of time on my hands  and three perfectly working machines and a new years resolution to get back to my crafty side.

I found a store which sells Babylock machines in hopes to put my sewing machine, serger and embroidery machine in use again. The Sewing Studio Fabric Superstore beautiful store, filled with loads of fabric, notions, patterns and sewing machines. Loved it.  As I was walking in the store, trying to find my first project, getting the lay of the land and generally seeing what they have to offer I came across a bag.  The mail sack by Pink Chalk Studio. The finished bag had a sign indicating that this was a class project.  The bag was colorful and had zippers, a key fab, pockets and looked inviting.  I knew I wasn't going to go to the class but why not start with this bag.  I purchased the pattern. I learned a new zipper insertion technique and made a beautiful bag in the process.  ( I've made 3 so far.)

This blog is not about the accolades I might get, not about money, I want to share my passion for sewing, my passion for learning new things and the projects I make.  I want to inspire others but mostly myself to continue sewing, continue learning. If you found me you will find others.  I'll show you what I made and you can show me what you made. I'll direct you to blogs, patterns, fabrics and anything which might be helpful in mine and your crafting passions.  I want you to know you are not alone, you can do it, I can do it, and we will try and try until we can.