Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Amy Butler Fever

I just got done with the most difficult sewing project yet. I love love love Amy Butler patterns. I used the Style Stitches book and have made 3 of the bags in the book so far.
   With that being said I cried over making this one. I have jabbed my fingers more times than I can count, I have gotten a thread cut (like a paper cut but with thread), and I am not so sure it won't fall apart when I use it. One broken needle. Sewed lining on wrong side out and had to undo all the stitches, cried, picked stitches out and yelled at the dogs. Not really sure why the dogs got yelled at except for the fact that they could offer no sewing advice.
   I really thought the handles would be the hardest but it was those cute ruffles. It took forever to figure out the correct stitch length on my stone age sewing machine. Since the sewing machine was free it didn't come with directions. I went online after trying for like three hours to get it, and found the correct length. After breaking the thread about 3 times, I finally got out the heavy duty thread. The handles weren't bad to make, except I kept jabbing myself trying to pin around all the curves.
   There are so many imperfections on my purse, but I LOVE it and will use it a lot (unless it falls apart). I think I am going to have to make something really simple next. I will make this again but I will have to wait until I have healed.





Miss Maven Ruffle Purse, pattern by Amy Butler

Sunday, April 10, 2011

All things Crafty

It has been a while since I last posted a blog, mainly because I keep forgetting my password, and then become to lazy to reset it. So I have been up to a lot lately. I have so many birthdays coming up this month and have been busy making gifts for everyone.
My nephew is going to be 1 next week and I have been crocheting him the Yo Gabba Gabba characters. It has been really fun to make these. I am not really that happy with the way the blue cat/dragon is turning out and may have to restart that one. But here is what I have so far. Yikes I better get moving and finish them before his party next Saturday.




I got these patterns on Etsy from crafty is cool.  I can't wait to get some more of the patterns she has. There is a Pee Wee Herman playhouse set I am dying to make.


I have also become obsessed with fabric and making bags and make up cases, and most importantly new pillowcase for the bed. My husband and I never seem to have matching pillow cases and it drives me batty. I bought some gorgeous Heather Bailey fabric and went to town. I have to say I can sit and drool at all the wonderful fabric at the Heather Bailey on-line store. My husband on the other hand is not excited that I found her website. Here are the pillowcases. I am so happy to lay my head on these every night.




And I just got the new Amy Butler pattern book called "Style Stitches, 12 easy ways to 26 wonderful bags!"

  This is the first bag I have made out of the book, and I love it. I am going to make one in every shape. Also can't wait to make the Cosmo bag, and the Origami bag set......pretty much want to make all of them.



 
And the pattern was quite easy to follow. I don't really know how to sew by the book. I was shown a few basics by a friend many years ago and haven't really done much with sewing since then. With that said I think the pattern was easy and it came out looking like it was supposed to so I am pleased. I was nervous about trying a pattern from Amy Butlers book since her bags look so polished and crisp and neat. So if you were thinking of getting the book and didn't, Go out and get it cause it is not very hard.

I think that is pretty much up to date with me. Hmmm........I wonder what Petunia is doing?  Oh that reminds me we have a flea infestation right now. Anyone know natural remedies to get rid of them. We have been treating the dogs and cat but nothing seems to be helping. I hate bombing the house because all I can think of is the harmful layer of chemicals covering everything in my house. I guess that's what happens when you live in Texas and have animals. Ugh.

I guess that is all for now. I can't help but put some baby pictures of my nephew. It is surprising to me that even though he is going to be one next week, he doesn't look like a baby anymore. Wish i had some more current pictures of him, these are from Christmas and earlier last year. Happy Early Birthday Archie.






Well of course I had to sneak one of Petunia in there :)

Friday, March 4, 2011

Obsession

So everyone who knows me, knows that I have become obsessed with nail polish. (and no this isn't really about crafting, but i haven't had much time to do crafting so this is what I got). I love being able to change out the colors once a week and love trying out new pattens. I have done leopard, zebra, and pretty much every color you can think of. BUT i am totally obsessed with the new crackle finish finger nail polish. I just got some of the OPI black Shatter and am in love. I can't wait to use it with so many bright colors for summer.

   For my first attempt I used OPI Teenage Dream under the black shatter. I am a big Katy Perry Fan and was so excited about her collection  with OPI. I couldn't find it anywhere though. So my husband casually announces they have some at his work and he got me some. YAY.
   So here are the results. It's really hard to capture how shiny Teenage Dream is and how awesome the two look together. Oh well here you go. And for the record I realize I sound like a 16 year old blathering on about nail polish but I love it . :)





  Don't mind the mess i made on my skin. I find that always comes off in the shower. Love love love this polish.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Snow, Snow, Snow...

It has been a wonderful week of snow and ice. I really love this weather. I love being in the cold, and then being in the warmth of my house with my loved ones all snuggled up with a big cup of coffee.

  This is what I have been up to lately. I opened my Etsy store, but haven't posted anything for sell. I had set a goal to set up a store before February and voila, now to make stuff. I also finished my first mini quilt from the doodle stitch along. I have never made a quilt in my life and this was a challenge. All in all I am pleased with how it turned out. Of course the critic in me is noticing all the little imperfections, next time I will have a better idea of what I am doing though.

Here is the finished product





I have loved every minute of this project, and am sad it is over. 

My Husband was so bored staying home with all the snow that he was eager to go with me to the fabric store. He helped me pick out the backing material. He would never admit to doing so in public though. I knew I needed to get him out of the house when he texted me and said that he had just finished doing and interpretive dance of Alice in Wonderland. Hmmm.........hopefully this outing has squashed all urges for more interpretive dancing. 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Blood, Sweat, Sewing.

So today's crafts were quite interesting. Hailey has been asking me to make a new schoolbag and a bag for her recorder. I am not great at sewing yet, but I am getting better.....Or so I thought. Today's crafts are going to be in pictures.

Picture one.. Hailey's old school bag

Hailey's New School bag

The lining

Cute right.. What's not so cute is the cut I gave myself sewing

 Hurts so bad. Oh well.

Going to bed now.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Background Check

I promise I am not going to post things 24/7, but this post should have really been the first post I did. Let's just call it Catherine 101.  
   My grandmother taught me how to needlepoint and embroider when I was about 9. I do remember a brief stint with knitting, but I think it was traumatic for everyone involved so I did not pick that back up again. I come from a long line of needle enthusiasts. My mother makes gorgeous quilts and did cutout embroidery and knitting. My Grandmother did everything under the sun. Knitting, Crochet, embroidery, and needlepoint. I loved those special times with her. When I would stay with her she would take me to her favorite needlepoint store and let me pick out a canvas. My first piece was of two cats sitting on a wall and there tails looped together to make a heart. It was small and had many errors but it got me hooked. My great grandmother was quite the embroiderer (all the pieces shown below are her works). She made pillowcases and linens for her granddaughters hope chests. They are gorgeous, and I am so thankful that my aunts gave me some of the pieces. I think it's in my blood. So there you have it. That is how I got my start. I moved on from needlepoint to embroidery. I started off by just drawing something and embroidering it. I have used my brothers artwork, my own drawings, and then found the wonderful world of transfers. Who knew. I love Jenny Hart, and Aimee Ray's work. 
   I taught myself how to crochet this summer when I had to be confined inside for a month after my surgery. I refused to be bored and saw a website called Woo Work. I was fascinated and really wanted to learn how. 
   Well that's about it for now.


Here is my craft center made by my Dad!. He's the best. 


My mom used to have a needlepoint store and this needle box was in her store. It has thousands of thousands of embroidery needles.

All the sliding compartments are filled with needles


And Floss. I just noticed that the signs for the drawers is backwards. How funny. 

This is all the left over floss from her store many years ago. I still use it all the time. I wish I could find time to organize it all. 

All my felt

Does anyone remember making these as kids. I spent hours making these little tv's and drawing my own pictures. 

More of the tv I made with Hailey

My Great Grandmothers embroidery. Fabulous. 

 More work

My mother always told me the backside of your piece should look as good as the front of the piece. 



Yarn for crochet. 

And that is all for today folks. 

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Renew

So when I first thought of starting a blog I didn't think I would write about something like this on here, but here goes.
  I was so moved today at church and felt that the sermon was written just for me. Today our pastor talked about renewing your mind.  The gist of the sermon was that people are to guided by emotions as a result of things that happen in our lives, and that this is where the devil steps in and takes over. For example if something bad happens and you start cursing and moaning and kicking and let your emotions take control that does not allow you to see the grace of God or accept the gifts that he has promised will be yours. Now how does this relate to me you are asking.
   Well as many of you know I have had a very very difficult past year. What started off as being a minor surgery for a twisted ovary ended up being the end to my being able to have children in a round about way.  For the past year I have been walking through my life in a fog. I have been angry, depressed, confused and just generally lost in myself and my feelings. And before you think that I am completely cured, no I am not. It is a process and I know it will take time but I keep finding ,through my church, that life does go on and I will be okay. But what I realized today is that my feelings, while understandable, should not be the guide for how I live my life. By continuing to do so I am hindering myself from doing what God wants, and has planned for me. Our pastor said that our feelings are not always the truth and that just spoke to my heart on so many levels. I know I have justified taking bad moods out on other people or being selfish because of what happened to me. Therefore I need to not believe the lies of false feelings and start holding myself accountable for my reactions to situations.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32


Sorry for Rambling on, I just wanted to share. The message moved me to tears at church today, and I felt the need to pass along the message.

This message is approved by Petunia. (had to sneak her in there somewhere)