See ya on the flip side

This week we're going on a long-awaited family vacation, and to take a break from running around like a headless chicken trying to pack stuff for myself and the boys, I decided to make a little soft camera case. 

I didn't have a pattern, just an idea, but other than the top being a little sloppy I like the way it turned out. I should have used an invisible stitch along the top but I just didn't have the patience for it today. I wanted instant gratification, even at the expense of a polished looking finished product. 

I used scraps that my friend Esther gave me and some leftover fleece I had from making the kids their robes last Christmas. Free projects = LOVE.

I also made another pair of soft shoes for Malcolm, this time with leather bottoms. They came out super awesome, and he loves wearing them. The outside is dinosaur flannel and the inside is fleece. They're so much softer on his feet than the $20 ones they sell at Target, and they don't leave big painful-looking elastic marks on those cute pudgy ankles. Altogether these cost me about 6 bucks to make. Yep. Maybe I'm weird, but saving lots of money and making shoes that are more comfortable makes me a happy crafter.

I really am enjoying sewing things that are useful and not quilts. That being said, once we get back from the vacay I have a feeling I'll be piecing again soon. My middle son is begging me for his new quilt and I feel like I might be able to take up the torch again in a few weeks. Maybe.

Peace out. 

xoxo

conflicting emotions

Then He Was Waiting, by anna.coluthe

I don't know why, but this picture totally makes my stomach hurt and yet I love it. I had weird haunting dreams last night that left me feeling giddy and bereft upon waking, and this picture seemed to fit my inexplicable mood completely. Here are some more of my favorites right now:

Wishing the Blue Would Just Carry Me Away, by Chrissie White

81/365, by She Sun

Happy Saturday.

Oh, the sultry summer sun

Something about summer makes me not want to blog. Or do much at all really.
It's not that I haven't been doing stuff. Making stuff. Cause I have. In fact, I've been crossing things off my to-do list like a whirling dervish of git-er-done energy. But something about the oppressive Southern summer makes me loathe the very idea of sitting in front of the computer. Which really doesn't make any sense cause it's not like I want to go outside, either. 

 

Yet here I am. And it's all for you, my few followers who are apparently allergic to leaving comments. That's okay. I don't need comments to feel validated. Really. I don't. I'm serious. 

Anyway. Here are some pictures of my recent endeavors in no particular order. This isn't everything, but since many of the things on my to-do list were particularly unglamorous (things like fixing older clothes and putting chlorine in the pool) I've chosen to be a little more selective with what I post. Ha.

A little embellished...doohickey...for my soon-to-be squeezed out niece. Orange and grey has been one of my pet color schemes for the last few years so this was fun. I like the way the french knots look like confetti sprinkled over the top. Now Willow just needs to get here already.

I took apart a pair of Mal's too-small little slipper shoes and drafted a pattern for a larger size. We're going camping soon and I needed something that would stay on his feet at night and keep them warm. I sewed these out of fabric leftover from the Wedding Quilt, and lined it with fleece on the insides. They came out perfect, and hey look! Orange and gray. 

Here's that Macaron dress I was telling you all about. Gah I hate posting pictures of myself. Anyway. This was my first time really altering a pattern to fit me better, and I have to say I was pleased as punch with myself afterward. I brought the midriff up higher because it sat at a weird spot on me (it looks sort of wavy in the picture cause I've got my hands in the pockets but it's actually straight), and shortened some of the pleats so it wouldn't accentuate my fat (who needs that accentuated, really?). I have to say, I LOVE this dress. I want five more in different colors. It's so comfortable! I made the shell out of stretch poplin which makes the invisible side zipper I slaved over (first time doing it and what a pain!) pretty much unnecessary, but oh well. I'm thinking the next one will be black with dark grey lace for the top. Just to be more dressy. And also because I accidentally destroyed my other black dress. Whoops.

I also nearly finished re-upholstering the wingback chair, and by nearly I mean that after a week of slaving away on it and finishing the whole chair body  I couldn't stand the thought of working on it for one more second and I stopped. The only thing left is the cushion. I know, I know. I need to finish. I don't want to!! But I will. Next week. And then there will be pictures. Promise.
xoxo