Monday, August 8, 2011

Coming up roses

I don't know about you, but I am having one of those weeks. Or few weeks to be more exact. The only thing keeping me mentally afloat is the ability to distract myself. And you all know how I go about that!

This past week I spent some time working on my do.Good Stitches quilt (that thing is quite literally taking me forever) and getting two half-yards of what I was missing to finish up my Summer Sampler blocks. I also turned that cute cross-stitching I was working on into this hideous mug rug:

Should I bother?

Ugh right? I don't know what I was thinking with these colors. It reminds me of a how a two-bit salon from the 80's might have decorated. Just throw in a little teal. Yuck. Unfortunately, there's not that can be done to salvage the Super Mario cuteness. So I'm throwing in the towel with this one. Grrr.

I also wanted to try my hand at a clutch with a flap and loop handle. I didn't really think I needed to pay 8 dollars to download a pattern for what couldn't possible be that hard, so I drafted my own pattern. I used magnetic snaps for the first time, and was pleased at how easy they were to install, although I did put them too high up on the flap. Oh well. Live and learn.

coming up roses

I'd wanted to put a cute decorative button on the front flap, but couldn't find anything I liked. Then I saw this pendant at JoAnn's and thought, "hmmm." A little heavy duty glue, a few hours to dry, and sure enough it was just the little addition I was hoping for, and the turquoise is the same color as the zipper. Happy accidents!

patchwork pouch

I've had this little purse frame for quite awhile, and yesterday in the midst of a very obnoxious day I just had to sit down and try out a framed pouch. I used this very popular tutorial to draft the pattern, and although I definitely did not get quite the result I was hoping for, I have a much better idea of how to go about it next time.

I keep telling myself I'm going to finish up all my UFO's before the kids start school again, but that doesn't seem likely to happen. I can't stop adding new little projects every five minutes...I think I have a problem. :)


7 comments:

Lindsay Conner said...

Even if they didn't all come out the way you planned, kudos to you for trying new things! I like the roses clutch with brooch :)

cherie godbey said...

I love the mario mini! It is adorable! And I think the colors are very modern! I love it!

Lynz said...

You're too hard on yourself. I think that Supermario mug rug is AWESOME!! Send it to me! I'll finish it, admire it and keep it! *g* It's the perfect amount of lairiness (I may have made that word up. [ooh, red codpiece 80's reference - ha!] Certainly the spelling is unique...) for an eighties theme. But you're happy with the bag, right? Or you really are just in a crappy mood coz it's gorgetical. My Granny made that word up. Heh.

Misty said...

Okay, that mug rug is awesome! I think it is perfect! Great job with the clutch and the purse!

Rachel at Stitched in Color said...

Um, I liked your Super Mario on first glance.... I guess I'm a true 80's child. I find that telling someone out loud all the projects that i need to do and then what I want to add helps me talk myself into reality. So, basically, I need sewing shrinks.

rachel.lyn said...

LOVEEEE the turquoise you picked out for that clutch. super cute.

Marieke said...

I like the Mario mug rug! I think it'd also work well with a lot of bright 8-bit colors like in the game... cyan, magenta, yellow, red, blue, lime green etc.

I think my boyfriend would blow a geek gasket if I made him some a Mario mug rug. He double-plus-hearts Mario and old school console games. You just referenced pixel images you said in your previous post? Awesome!