Designing & Finishing

One Sunday in April, I was wondering what I should sew next. I started doodling on some paper and came up with four different ideas. Now this isn't too unusual because my files are full of scratch paper ideas. As I finished sewing a project this afternoon, I realized the uniqueness of this design brainstorm session. Over the past few weeks, I have completed 3 of the 4 ideas. I believe that is a first, at least that I can remember. What's really great is I found an item I needed to complete the 4th item, so that could very well get done this next week. (We'll see)

So #1 is my own design - A Necessity Pouch to carry in my purse(s)
I have a number of small items that I like to keep in my purse. They don't often get used but sure are helpful when I do need them, such as Kleenex, aspirin, lip balm, ... etc. I don't like them rolling around and most pouches would take some but not all. I figured they needed to be all together yet required different "holding" capacities.

So I came up with a pouch that holds the Kleenex on one side for easy access A pocket on the other side.With a zippered section in between that holds the lip balm, aspirin, and other small items.It's a little rough and the pattern needs some more tweaks
but the finished pouch works rather nicely for my needs.
I'm also really pleased that I finally worked and finished one of my own designs.

#2: Tote bag - for bigger books ;)
This pattern primarily came from Lexie Barnes "sew what! Bags" book. It's a great resource to get designing and making one's own bags. (I used the "Tool Tote" instructions)Brown and Lime green fabric. I just fell in love with this home dec fabric from Jo-Anns. I found some lime green with brown polka dots for the lining. I love how the handles look but wish I had chosen a stronger material. It's too soft to handle with two or three books in there.
(no pun intended ... ok maybe a little pun was intended)

InsidePockets along one side.

And a cute little pocket on the other. It's perfect for lip balm and cough drops.
(Is it obvious that I live in a dry state?)
Now for the down side, I made this to carry a binder and a couple of books but this makes it too heavy. I blame the handles, along with being too lightweight, they are long enough to sling over the shoulder but cut in to the shoulder if the bag is heavy. I'll use it for now but will probably move it over to a knitting/crochet bag. (Yarn is bulky but not heavy)

#3: Billfold - aka Checkbook Cover
My checkbook cover has finally given out after 11 years.

In my idea files I had a couple of instructions on how to make a checkbook cover, one from about.com and another from sewingmamas.com . Both pretty simple, but if I was going to make one, I had a couple of design changes to make.
Most importantly, I wanted a place for a pen and pencil!

Outside Recognize the fabric?
The Brown ribbon tie was a last minute addition. I'm liking how it closes everything up nice and snug but am not sure how annoying it may be getting in and out. So we shall see if it stays or gets cut later.
With all the layers, binding the edge was the best chose to finishing the raw edges.

InsideRibbons to hold the check register pages, now I can get rid of the paperclip I've been using all these years. I wasn't sure which side I would have the register on so I put ribbon on them both just to be safe.
You have no idea how happy those pen and pencil pockets make me.

Looking over this post, I realized something ... I really hate digging for pens. ;)
Oh, and fabric makes me happy!

A Bag for Blue & Brown days

In February I came across some pretty brown and blue fabric that I thought would make a nice purse. I chose another wonderful pattern from Lazy Girl Designs.

The "Towne Purse"
What made this color/fabric choice even better was I found these buttons at Jo-Ann's.
They are a blue background with brown flowers.
(sorry for the picture quality- Think it's time to take a photography class?)

The straps are short so the purse tucks under my arm. I love the size, which holds all my usual purse stuff, but also has room for a book (very important to me).
It also has about 9 pockets along the inside, which is really nice cause I hate digging for pens, and all the other small items I can't leave home without.

Opps!!! SORRY

Ya, I owe you an apology ... at least those who leave comments. I still haven't figured out this whole blog business and it seems I chose an option to "moderate comments", fully expecting to get emails letting me know of comments I needed to look at. Ya well .... guess I don't get any email alerts cause I just found all the comments made on the last post. My apology is because when I saw there were no comments on what I thought was a cool post, I mentally grumbled and ... might have called you some names along the lines of if no one cares why should I, which almost caused me to delete said blog.

So my apologies for thinking so ill of you and for spending more time in self-pity rather then actual posting. ... Oh and my apologies for the "Catch-up post" which will be long, cause I've been sewing and thought you might like to see what I've been up to.

Table Settings & Talents

Friday, I attended a dinner and program for the women in our church. I volunteered to decorate and set one of the tables. I spent all week planning how I wanted it to look.

My objectives were to:
Show off my Mother's collection of heirloom china
Make sure there was COLOR
Personalize it - show Distinct Amy touches

Here are some pictures of the end result.

Theme: A Tea Party with Strawberry Shortcake and her friends
Strawberry Shortcake's side of the Table
Raspberry Tart's side
Huckleberry Pie's side

What do you say, Think I met my objectives? Let's review shall we:

• Show off my Mother's collection of heirloom china: the center piece is a great grandma's pitcher and tea cups she used to serve hot chocolate in. The table setting was my grandmother's china.
  
• Make sure there was COLOR: Pink with splashes of green. The plates and cups have sprigs with pink blossoms. I just loved how four distinct components were all brought together by the use of color.
• Personalize it - show Distinct Amy touch: After Mom vetoed my usual table setting technique, (my mom as a number of china sets and I like to set each place using a different collection) I had to come up with something that was more subtle. So besides the color and the dolls, I threw in two odd napkins and placed different silverware on them. Hehehe, what can I say, it's how I rebel. Mom, just be happy I placed the silverware correctly.
  

Those in charge of the dinner asked us to bring something that represented one of our talents. Here are pictures showing what my mom and I brought.

Taking Pictures is not one of my talents

Mom's display of the Easter Dresses she made for all of us back in 1987.
The 1987 "baby" 's baby is now going to wear the same dress her mother wore in 1987.
(Being grammatically correct isn't one of my talents either)

I chose to show a sock I'm currently making to wear for the upcoming spring and summer months.

All in all it was a fun evening.
I must say Strawberry and her friends did a fantastic job hosting our table.

Will I ever learn?

Twice in one month!!! Yikes will I ever learn.

The first Saturday in February the girls of the family went out to lunch. When we were leaving I volunteered to carry my niece and ended up pulling my back out. Of course I didn't know this until Sunday morning when I woke up with a stiff back and could barely move. (If you know what a stiff neck feels like, magnify that in the shoulder area and you know how I felt). I spent the day unsuccessfully trying to relax.

Well I had a sewing fever come over me on Friday so Saturday I put up tables and carried sewing machines and a serger into the family room. Something I've done numerous times before and not had a problem. Guess how I feel this morning?

Same pain; Same area; Boy is my chiropractor going to read me the riot act.

Do you think he could write me a doctors note to the "powers that be" that I must have a sewing room in whatever house I live in? For the sake of my back!!!!! Because let's face it: Not sewing is NOT an option.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles ....

"... begins with a Single Step"

For Christmas, I received a notebook with this saying on the front cover. It caught my eye this week and made me think of a "Journey" that I've been trying to take for quite a number of years.

I've never been very strong in math, at least that's how I've always felt. I couldn't have been too bad cause I made it through my college courses alright. Still I've never been satisfied with my understanding in this subject. Honestly, this is one reason (not the only reason) why I did not pursue taking the GRE; on the practice test my math scores were below normal. Say what you want about it, that really bugged me, I mean really bugged me. How bugged? Well if I'm being honest, the fact is my master's program at the school I was looking into did not care what score I got on the GRE, just that I took it. So to say the least, I'm bugged by my math skills.

Back in high school I got introduced to Saxon Math and really liked their method of reviewing the past lessons along with learning new material. None of the textbooks I had before and even after ever really taught that way. I think I figured that was really my problem with math, I never had consistent review to cement the methods in my memory.

So Saxon Math has really stuck with me through the years because I've bought some of their books hoping to finally "fill in the gaps". Funny cause I own Algebra 1/2, Algebra 1, and Calculus. Algebra 1 was bought in 1999 & Algebra 1/2 last year in 2009 with Calculus being acquired sometime in between. But it wasn't until two weeks ago that I even started working with the Algebra 1/2 book. I started midweek so I got through 2 chapters before the weekend. Then last week I fell off and only completed 1 chapter for the whole week.

This was on my mind when my eye caught the Journey saying. Even though it's been 10 years since I bought the first Saxon book, they all have a brand new appearance because I just never made it past the first week/2 weeks. The biggest challenge I'm having with this time is just sitting down and working through one chapter. The math is currently just addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Understanding how to work large numbers really. So it's stuff I already know but to get through a chapter I have to sit down and focus. Who knew "focusing" would be so difficult? And we are talking focusing for less then an hour, cause none of those chapters have yet pushed me to longer. Another challenge, which could be connected to the whole focusing bit, is waking up the mind to do math. Honestly, I never thought remembering my times tables would be difficult, we're talking 4-9 times tables, people. It shouldn't be that hard, but obviously the math portion of my mind has been unused for too long cause it's really sluggish with coming up with the answers.

Long story but my point is although "A Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a single step" it only gets shorter when you take one more step, and then another, and then another. And that is the only way I'm going to complete my math "Journey" by doing one chapter ... today. That's all, just take one more step.

" ... will only be completed, if you take one more step."

How about you?

Feeling Green

What can I say? The greenish of this template just spoke to me. We shall see how long it lasts. For some it could really turn you away, but then again so could not having anything to say for over a month. What can I say? ... I know I'll blame the fact that I can't figure out where the camera went. That's it. Has anyone seen it?