First Sewing Project Completed!

I am so very excited to show off my first completed sewing project. I finished it today! I really needed at new purse because I got a new/bigger planner that did not fit in my existing purse. This was a great project because it got me sewing and got me a new purse to play with. The headband is not done yet but once it is I will take a picture. And yes, that is me modeling my new bag. (Sorry no close ups today.)

Computer down time/First born daughter to arrive home

Well, after I finished my last blog post I told my tech support person (Mr Dave my husband) that I have was having performance issues with my PC. Well, after he worked on it for awhile I was informed that I have some problems with my registry and that my operating system may need to be reinstalled. I was not happy about that. We have more computers than family members in our house so I still have access to a computer. I can still get on the internet and check for new e-mails I just can't access my files or print. So, I am kinda of going through withdrawl right now because I was in the middle of two projects that require my computer.

My oldest daughter arrives home this afternoon after being gone for two days, I am very excited to hear how her trip went. I am also looking forward to having her disposable cameras processed to see what pictures she took. I will report back tomorrow on all her fun.

I hope all of you have a great day. I am going to kick off my bunny slippers and try to get back into my computer-less day.

First Q & A Session

Okay I had a few questions come up the last week in my comments and e-mails so I thought I would answer them.

Question #1: The first question is about the fabric I showed at the end of my April 2nd blog post.
What is the name of fabric you are using to make your bag?

Answer:
I bought this fabric at a great local store(35th Ave Sew & Vac) my mother and my aunt shop there frequently. The fabrics are by Westminster Fibers, the collection is Park Slope, the names/numbers of the fabric is Poppy Dot flower #EM02 and Flower Field #EM3, and the designer is Erin McMorris.

Questions#2: What kind of bag are you going to make?


Answer: I had this lovely pattern below by Amy Butler that I picked out when I bought the fabric. I just love the idea of having the bag with a matching scarf I could wear as a headband. The bag is reversable so that you can decide which fabric you want to show. I was thinking of adding a strip of giant hot pink ric rack that I have in my ribbon stash, it's super cute!

But then my mom brought by one of her quilting magazines and showed me another pattern that would allow both fabrics to be seen. I will try to scan the original article in the quilting magazine so you can see it in color it is VERY cute too. Once I get the bag done I will take a picture.

Question #3:What kind of sewing machine do you have?

Answer: My machine is a BabyLock, I cannot tell you what model it is but its a very basic machine.

Question #4:How long have you been crocheting and kniting?

Answer: For many years. I was taught both crocheting and kniting in the 3rd grade by my wonderful teacher, Mrs.Ingber. She was a very crafty teacher. I think she taught us all because it helped our fine motor skills, what a smart teacher! I have been primarily a crocheter for many years and just recently picked up knitting again after seeing some fabulous patterns I want to try out.

Question #5: Do you sew/quilt a lot?

Answer: No not reallybut I am going to be trying to do it more often. I come from a family of sewers, my great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my mother all sewed and quilted. My first memories of sewing were my grandmother and my mother at their sewing machines; I could always tell where they were by listening to the hum of their machines. My grandmother made my sisters and I dresses and other clothes when we were little. I also love to admire my great-grandmother's quilts.

That's the end of my first Q&A session but I did want to address some other comments that were made.

Crocheting is not really difficult to learn, I truly believe this because I learned as a dsylexic 8 year old. If I can learn to do it, anyone can. There are lots of great websites that have step by step instructions with photos that you can follow to teach yourself and their are of course several good books. I happened to like the instructions at www.lionbrand.com and www.crochetspot.com . Lion Brand is a yarn company, they offer online instructions in knitting as well. There are several websites out there that offer patterns for crocheting and knitting; my favorites are: www.crochetpatternscentral.com, www.lionbrand.com, & www.bernat.com I like the websites that the yarn companies have because they often have patterns for the yarn you have choosen. I like this because I often buy yarn without having a project in mind, its hard for me to pass up a good sale on yarn.

Well that's its for now. See you tomorrow.

First Born, First trip from Home

This my first born girlie, she is off for the next three days and two nights on an Outdoor Education trip with her entire grade. She will be away from home for the first time in her life without any family members. I am proud of her for earning this trip and I hope she is having a good time. (I think this is the first time I have posted a picture of her with her glasses on, hmm or maybe I just cannot remember. Oh well.) I miss her laid back personality, her wicked sense of humor, and how good she is with her sisters. I know she will enjoy all the learning opportunities that will be presented on her trip. I hope that she does not have her mother's luck and manages to come home unscathed.
(Trust me when I say I am no good at camping or being around nature. It never ends well.)

Firsts

I meant to post this yesterday on April 1st but hey with all that I have been going through lately I am just glad I had time to write this today. So I am sharing some firsts with all of you this month.

My first "first" is this picture of my first niece (she is the oldest grandchild on my husband's side of the family.) She just turned 15 years old this last weekend. Yep, she was born 3 months after I married her uncle my sweetie. I love being an Aunt! The other photo is of my girls and two of their cousins, my nieces from my husband's family.



My next "first" is something I have been promising photos of for awhile. My dear older sister, Holly, (who rocks by the way) sent me some very exciting yarn to make her some hats and scarves to keep her warm in the cold weather of Northern Idaho. So the first hat is what I call the Sherpa Hat, its the first hat I have crocheted that had ear flaps. The other photo I choose to put in because the yarn was kinda of funky.



The next "first" is really a two part first. The first part is that the wonderful squares of fabric you see laid out on my kitchen table is my first quilt. (The fabric is by Moda it's Basic Grey Sultry, ha ha ha who said I couldn't use my scrapbook taste in other crafting pursuits.) The quilt is for my sister-in-law who is having her first baby girl, she has three boys already so you all know I am thrilled out of my head that she will now have a daughter. When its all done I will take another photo.


My "first" new sewing machine, I just had to prove that I was actually using it:


My next "first" is my first knitting project, yes it's a scarf for my sister. Did I mention its really cold in Idaho where she lives?



And last, but not least,is this beautiful fabric I bought that I am hoping to turn into my "first" swing bag (it's like a purse.) I promise that once I get that done I will photograph the final product.


There will be more firsts in the up coming weeks so stay tuned.