Sewing & Singing

As promised, a look at some things that I have made since my new crafty space came to be. Yes, I get frustrated when I have to rip out seams and when things don't go right, but it is so much more enjoyable to do so in an area dedicated to just that sort of thing! It's nice to sit in my crafty room and listen to Maximum Broadway internet radio while I rip seams. Nothing like seam ripping while singing along to Shipoopi, Don't Cry for Me Argentina, I Wanna Be A Producer, and various other show tunes!

For the first three projects, I used Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing. This is a fabulous book! Gorgeous photos and Amy's cool & relaxed way of explaining things make these projects seem so easy! All the projects in this book are things I would like to try at some point.
This is called the SIMPLE tote. Simple, it weren't...for me that is. I wrestled with this cute little tote for hours. Ripped out seams several times. But managed to complete it and be happy with the end result! Didn't have to call my mother once! I do think I figured out my problem while working on it(well one of them anyway). I get in a hurry. I get excited about a project, want to hurry up and see the finished product as well as wanting to finish it so that I can move on to the next thing on my list and I skip steps or hurry through the preparation stage. I do this when I try new recipes too. Anyhow, in my frenzy to complete this tote I skipped over the instructions telling me to pin the handles FACING DOWN and they ended up all wrong. Somehow I sewed the lining in wrong about three times. Still, I did finish it and plan to make a couple more! While it is supposed to be a tote, it's a tad small for that so I will be using this as a super-cute lunch bag on sandwich and chips days.

This is called the "No Cash Wallet"(also pictured above) Again, from Bend the Rules Sewing. Yes, the seams are a little wobbly, but I worked so hard on this one that I'm proud of it, wonky seams and all! Slowed down and tried to think it through before proceeding. Best part of this project was that I did not have to rip out one single thread! Not One! WooHoo! There is supposed to be a snap closure sewn under the button, but I bought hook and eye closures by mistake. Will fix that later.


I couldn't have a new crafty sewing space without making an apron, so I have TWO to share with you. The first is the Amazing Tea Towel apron...again, from Bend the Rules Sewing. Aptly named, since it was amazingly easy to make... twill tape is used for ties and I added the suggested pleats to make it more "aprony". And that's it! I can see myself going crazy making these for everyone I know!

The second comes from The Apron Book by EllyAnne Geisel and was fairly simple to make, despite the bias tape disaster and seam ripping that ensued. While I might not buy fabric with chickens on it for myself, I had a couple people in mind when I bought this fabric and I ended up really liking it when I saw the finished apron.

SO, there you have it! I'm spending some time this week working on finishing up the cookbook, and probably will actually go to work for a day or two, so I may not have any crafty or cooking adventures to post for a few days.