Sitting in the kitchen watching my grapefruits simmer (1 hour, 37 minutes to go…) gives me the perfect opportunity to blog about my latest completed project: the bicycle tote.

This fabric was unearthed from the Joann’s value area last year, and I could hardly believe my luck. Quality tapestry fabric, at an incredibly low price, with bikes on it. Oh man. I do love bikes.

Besides my dream of upholstering a giant puffy chair or some other task that I would never finish (or even start), this fabric seemed perfect for my next book tote. Library books, folders for school, big envelopes for the post office, always need a good tote to go in and my previous model was starting to look less than classy. I lined it in a happy floral print fabric because I wanted to brighten it up, and the flowers on the inside resemble the flowers in the bike basket!

So here it is, in all its pocketful, bike-covered glory.

It’s got four slide in pockets for phone/ipod, pens and pencils, checkbook, etc. These make it so easy to find the important stuff.

On the other side there’s a tiny pocket that closes with a 5-inch zipper; perfect for my keys! Business cards fit well, too.

And here is a shot of the outer zipper (7″) opened… the lining is the same as the inside lining except with a larger print.

I love pockets. Sometimes I don’t want to put them in, because it’s extra effort, but it’s so worth it. And the tapestry fabric holds its shape so well. I’m just so happy with how this bag turned out!

bicycle tote is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

I orchestrated my schedule so Friday afternoons are my free afternoons. Most people are still in class, so I get some time to relax and unwind after the week.

It’s a smiling day. It’s warm (40 degrees F, baby!), sunny, and there are no clouds in the sky – just perfect blueness. The ground is still covered in snow, but that makes it more awesome. It’s so bright out, I’m done with all my tests (how i did on physics today is something i’m not thinking about), I got an A on my calculus test (YAY), and I have less homework to do this weekend than I’ve had any other weekend since I’ve gotten to college.

Wednesday night I needed my brain to work with something other than numbers… I just needed a break. So I pulled out this trim that I got in Spain last spring (remnant.. something like .30 euros) and found fabric. I just started cutting. Because sometimes, that’s just the way you have to do things.

So I’ve got the start of a rounded purse, with owls and scalloped trim. Today is sewing day… finally. I’ve been waiting for the sunshine.

glorious. is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

The past few nights, as I lie on my back thinking before I fall asleep, all I can think of is sewing. Jo-Ann’s is having a 60% off sale on all of their spring fabrics, so that killed my “no buying fabric” rule for the summer. But one of the fabrics had whales on it! So, of course, that was necessary. I also got some lovely fuchsia knit; I hate purple, it’s my least favorite color, but this sort of purple-y pink has been catching my eye lately. But I haven’t worked with knits much, so this is what I’ve been dreaming about. I want to make some sort of sleeveless top, but one that could be worn on top of a short-sleeve or even a long-sleeve shirt once it gets cold again. I love sewing summer clothes, because anything without sleeves is much easier than anything with sleeves… but my mother keeps reminding me to prepare my wardrobe for the cooler climate of Cleveland, Ohio.

So that’s my basic idea, on the left. I don’t like the tunic style that’s popular right now; I prefer to avoid looking pregnant. So rather than a flowy knit top, I’m going to use princess seams to keep it fitted, and in the princess seams i want to put little patch pockets. Hopefully these will be some fun print; I’m sure I have a scrap of cute knit somewhere that I can use. The straps would have big fun buttons to attach them to the top strip, thus making it a top that could be sleeveless or could go on top of a long-sleeve shirt without looking weird. I’m excited!

I’ve also been coming up with lots of new product ideas that I’m hoping to get finished this summer before I go off to college. The shop is really important to me, though, so I’m almost positive I’m going to keep everything going next year. But my favorite big idea (literally big!) so far has been these totes. They’re big and floppy, and comfy seems like a strange word for a tote, but they’re so nice for carrying things! Every time I finish one I want to keep it, but nope, they’ve made their way into the shop. They’re also a great stash buster, so hopefully I’ll make room for all my new fabric.

Speaking of the shop, the shopping cart script has been edited and upgraded. I don’t know if any of you have tried to order things lately, but for some reason the “add to cart” function stopped working. Obviously, this makes it pretty difficult to order things. But I’ve fixed it up, and not only is it repaired, but the entire shop is running more smoothly than ever!

Summer vacation is beautiful; I’ve been doing lots of biking, working at random little jobs, and sewing away. I’m hoping this summer lasts as long as I need it to… I’m not quite ready to head off for college. I’m excited, sure, and it’s not like I want another year of high school, but it’s just strange to think about. But I’ll be taking my sewing machine with me, so I’ll be prepared!

sewing in my sleep is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

For Work-in-Progress Friday, here’s a picture of my sewing table at the moment. the latest purse is being put together.. light pink wide wale corduroy for the outside, lined with the same cute brown/pink/white of the Neopolitan pouch. The zipper is a coordinating brown, and the zipper pocket is lined with perfectly matching light pink denim. I’m working on the zipper pocket right now.. so cute! Yay!

I received my first-ever Sampler yesterday.. it was so exciting! My favorite contributions were a bag charm from A Planet 4 Creation, a pear pendant from 7 Indigo Designs, and dark chocolate coffee lip balm (smells wonderful) from Pumpkin Girl. It was so exciting! The Sampler is such a great project! I hope everyone who received one of my samples enjoyed it. :)

WIP Friday – pink corduroy and brown pinstripes is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

 

daddy wears his t-shirt in the cold kentucky rain
while a boy in pure white briefs looks out the foggy windowpane
and even though his hamster died he finds comfort, this i swear
cause you can’t overlove your underwear

i was cut from the varsity team yesterday, and they’re not letting juniors play on JV this year. I don’t really mind.. the varsity girls are amazing. I’m good at soccer, I’m just not like “OMG SOCCER IS LIFE THATS ALL I EVER WANT TO DO EVER”. So I probably would’ve been miserable after awhile. Soccer is fun, not work, so I’m just happy I get a day to relax today. This week has been insane.

The last 3 days, I’ve had tryouts 9:30-12:30. On Monday I had to go into work from 8-8:45. On Monday and tuesday I also had to take my brother to his tryouts at 3. On Tuesday and Wednesday I had to work 3-close. We got a ride for my brother on Wednesday (and the rest of this week, which helps SO MUCH we are so grateful) but Tuesday I had to drop him off really early.. but on the way to work I hit a curb and got a flat tire. So I was late. Last night I worked until close again.

Therefore I’m incredibly relieved to have a free day today. Nothing to do. Nothing. I woke up at 8:15, fell back asleep, woke up at 9:15, fell back asleep, then really woke up at 10:30. It was amazing. Now I realize it’s 1:10 and I’m still in my jammies. Like I care. I will probably do some sewing today though.. the fun kind. No work today.

The best part is, last Thursday when tryouts started, I had to wake up earlier and go to school for tryouts. The only days off were weekends. Suddenly weekends had significance; suddenly I had an alarm clock. Suddenly I was no longer free. But now that i’ve been cut….. summer is back. I get a week and a half of my summer back.

oh that hanes commercial! is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

i’m feeling poetic.. apparently. Day 3 of Color Week.. my second day, since I was late on the pickup.. but today’s black and gray day. Technically this purse is black and white, no gray involved, but let’s not get picky. I finished it yesterday, the first of my two special order purses. The second one is almost done, I just need to pick up some navy blue velcro. I also finished one of the two birthday presents, so hopefully tomorrow I can get everything done.

The black and white purse was looking cute, but rather boring, but then found this tiny white lace. I love it so much; it fits the fabric perfectly! So I’m glad. :) My mom’s little stash can really come in handy sometimes! I love it, because even though there’s just one small drawer of laces and such, I always seem to find a surprise.

If anyone’s looking for a great movie to watch, for families especially, or if you’re looking for some summer eye candy, rent The Thief Lord. We rented it Saturday, and I’ve seen it 5 times.. it’s going back tomorrow but I’m considering buying it! :D I might just like it because Rollo Weeks (thief lord/Scipio) is such a hottie.. that’s okay though, isn’t it?

black as the night without stars is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

sewing and stitching, so much to do

by hand, by machine, and ironing, too.

patterns, new fabric, and ribbons galore,

whatever you buy you’ll always want more.

ruffly ruffles and frilly frills,

these are the things that give me thrills..

if you want my heart to be filled with glee

it’s locked-in-the-sewing-room day for me!

sewing is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

Ever since the bowling purse, I’ve made 3 more in the same style, and have even more cut out. I have two that will be put in the shop sometime soon.. not this week, because it’s the week of the play and I have rehearsal until 10pm every night (oh joy) but next week most likely. The bad news is.. I’m keeping this one because I love it! :D

The applique came out perfectly and I’m really proud of it.. the airplane print corduroy is the same vintage fabric used for the Friendly Skies pouches. It’s lined with navy blue cotton, and has a cell phone pocket and chapstick pocket on one side, out of corduroy, and a zipper pocket on the other side lined with a different airplane fabric that’s really cute.. you can’t see it well in the picture though. It closes with navy blue velcro, and it carries everything I need!

Airplane Purse! is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

This is a bowling purse I made for my friend Katie for Christmas.. we love bowling, and it’s sort of an inside joke.. so when I found this fabric I was so excited! It’s perfect! It’s heavy-duty flannel, interfaced and lined with retro polka dot cotton. It has two pockets, one is cell phone sized, the other iPod sized, as well as a zipper pocket. On the back it has a cute fuzzy heart applique. It closes with pink “distressed” buttons.. I don’t know how to describe it but they’re scratched up (on purpose) and they’re really neat.

She loved it!

Bowling Purse! is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog