A little ditty...

I made this little ditty the other night (in about 15 minutes total including cutting). 

It is so cute and easy!!  I love the fabrics and the fun little bag it made - but I was hoping for a larger size to be a small knitting project bag. 

 (fully opened its only 7"x6" and when you close it the 'pocket' is only 5.5" tall)

I wanted to follow the directions once before I started modifying the pattern - but I have some measurements from a friend's project bag and I'm hoping to try again this week.  I used the tutorial from Sew Mama Sew that Happy Things put together.  It was very simple and made a fantastic little bag.
I used a bit more of one of my absolute FAVE fabrics for the lining...

Lizzy House's Red Letter Day!!

What do you think?!  And what are you working on?  :)

I {heart} Etsy

I love etsy.  I almost always look there before buying something at a store.  Recently in the wake of the tragedy in Haiti Craft Hope (another website I love) opened an etsy store where crafters could either make things or buy things other crafters made - all going to a good cause - Doctor's Without Borders.  I missed some really amazing stuff (Flea Market Fancy and bags made by AB herself!) but I did see something at the last minute that I really loved. 

It came wrapped in loving care

with a gorgeous thank you note

and that was just the packaging!!  The camera strap cover is great too! 

Pink Velvet ruffles - yea!  I think so!!  :)

You might remember not too long ago I made my own camera strap...

... and I still love it - and I'm still very proud of it - its just not nearly as rock star as my new one!!  :)

I couldn't be happier with my purchase and for the wonderful idea of Craft Hope's Etsy shop.  Thank you YeeBird!

Crafty Blogs gone MIA...

I think I am noticing that I am not the only crafty blogger slacking off on my posting as the holiday season nears.  Seems that as you spend all your available crafting time making handmade gifts - gifts for Christmas that you can't put up on your blog because they are for people who read your blog!  (Especially if like me your mom is the only one who reads your blog!  Hi Mom!!)

There are other signs that you might be using all your time to make handmade holiday gifts...

your house probably looks something like this...

With crafts in the living room (see the blurry part on the table at the bottom of the picture?)

And like this...

With multiple LISTS of things that you need to get made hanging on your craft room wall

and even like this...

With the first piles of finished things...(that you can take vague enough pictures of that your family and friends won't guess what they are)

Sad thing is, if your house looks like this you might ALSO have friends stop by and tell you (true story) that your house looks like a "Craft Explosion!"  Now this comment might cause one to feel bad, OR you might actually feel kinda proud that the explosion of fun Christmas Crafts might bring joy to your loved ones this Christmas season (then again, it might cause them awkward situations where they thank you for your strange assortment of handmade gifts!)  lol - here's hoping they go over well!

Happy Christmas Crafting!!

Christmas Crafts

Things have been a little slow around here... there should be alot of Christmas gift crafting going on (handmade gifts and all that I had high hopes for)... and well there is a little of that...

But mostly I have been obsessing about making this wreath.  Last year, Starbucks had these in their stores, and I was thisclose to having my hands on one.  The guy even called me and told me I could come pick it up (for free!!) but it was in Charleston and I never made my way back down there and I am KICKING myself over it!  But I started my own (with mostly stash yarn - how embarrassing is that?!?) and its going okay.  The green yarn balls are looking okay, but I am worried about the assembling portion.  We'll see.

Here is what I have so far...

 And let me tell you - you think it will be 'cheap' b/c the foam balls are the bulk of the size - but it still takes quite a bit of yarn.  Here is me hoping its all worth it in the end.

(p.s.  No yarn was harmed in the making of this wreath - I am trying to figure out how to attach it without glue even so it can all be used again later if and when I decide a yarn Christmas Wreath was a bad idea, or I just need some green yarn!)

What are you making this Christmas?

This week...

We are planning a baby shower. So I have my schedule chuck full of making and baking and decorating and doing. This is what I got done so far this week...

Not sure it turned out as good as the girlie version I made last year.

Tonight its off to sewing. Hopefully a small rag quilt, taggy blanket and burp cloths. Well - that might take me longer than tonight - but will hopefully explain my absence for the rest of the week a little bit!