Two cool birthday gifts...

...if I say so myself!

My parents' birthdays are this week. My mom's "vice" is playing Mah Jong. I mean, she's totally hooked! (oh, to live the retiree's life *sigh*). Last month I found a great Mah Jong print from an eBay seller, so I snatched it up. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it, so it sat and sat until I came up with the idea to make a wristlet style small purse that she can either carry as a purse (she likes small purses) or use to carry her MJ tiles.

Now, my dad ~ the golf fanatic ~ had a special request for a golf tee zippered pouch. I have to admit that keeping things I sew from looking too feminine is a bit tough for me, but I think I accomplished a smart, handsome feel to it. I opted to use a burlap looking linen for the exterior and line it with a "manly" golf print. I added a simple applique and I'm really pleased with the result.

I love you Mom and Dad! Happiest of birthdays to you!

A crafty weekend

Setting my sewing machine aside, I pulled out my hot glue gun and got to work Saturday night. My boys were engrossed with watching Disney's Camp Rock so I took advantage of the time to work on a Memory Board using the McCall's free pattern for inspiration.

I'm trying to make my sewing room a more pleasant place to work, and definitely de-clutter it. You know, curtains, photos, display shelves, and someplace to showcase my handbags as I make them....well, you get the drift. Here's what I came up with for my Memory Board. Pink and Green, of course.

It was fun, and pretty easy to make! I tweaked the pattern a bit to make it, in my opinion, a bit easier to construct. Oh, and it was under $15 for all my supplies, too! I love that!!

I wish you could see the buttons better. They are really cute!

What I'm carrying lately...

I'm hooked on this toile handbag style - the Magazine Tote. It's perfect for me! Not only is the toile fab.u.lous for the summertime, but the entire design is just really working for me. And it never fails to receive compliments, which is a bonus, too!

The inside...roomy and deep enough for me to slip my wallet and a book into. (Picture it the size of a magazine, as I made them large enough to hold one!) I don't go anywhere without a book or magazine. I have way too many baseball games and swim practices to sit through enjoy to go without! LOL. The 2 pockets on the outside are great for easy access to my phone and sunglasses (my two most important summer accessories!). I'm actually finding that I prefer these two exterior pockets over an interior one for this style. Now, for the strap length... the strap drop is around 9 inches making the handbag set just under my elbow; again, perfect for me.

Honestly, I don't cinch the drawstring closure very much, unlike the photo. Just a bit. This way it leaves a nice look to the bag, and I can still reach in and pull things out without needing to adjust the tie.

Ok, so there you have it. If you'd like one of your own, you can make one using my Tutorial.

Nautical......

This is quickly becoming my favorite bag style to design and sew this summerd. The size is perfect for just about everything you could possibly use a tote for: library, project bag, book club, daily handbag. The list goes on, I'm sure!

Here is your perfect summer accessory: The Nautical Tote. I love this as a summer tote, or perhaps even a special vacation carry-all. The nautical sketches speak of all things summer, while the red/white/blue color scheme make this a classy statement for Independence Day celebrations.

My Etsy Shop

The perfect summer floral print

One of my most very favorite friends, Jenn, not only lives near me so we can hang out practically daily, but she just so happens to sew, too! (and has an Etsy Shop: It's Sew Sweet!). She makes darling little girl's dresses using vintage and vintage inspired fabrics. She also has an awesome line of retro apron sets.

She's been chatting about a drawstring bag she's been wanting to make for herself lately, and yesterday she showed up at our kids' swim practice carrying it with her. Gorgeous. I loved it. And I was so struck by her brilliant fabric selections. I begged her for scraps because the floral is just gorgeous! She brought me a few shreds of fabric that she had left, and I used up every square inch to make her this matching Wallet Mini.

If I can get her to photograph her bag, I'll post it here for you to see.

ETA: I did get her to photograph her bag. You can see it here!