I was thrilled to hear my mom had taken up yoga and was loving it, so I made her this bag to encourage her to keep going to class.  She makes glass beads and has given me lots of bracelets lately, so I put some of her own beads at the end of the bag ties.
It has two large pockets on the outside (for towel and whatnot) and a loop for keys.
I was inspired by this free Amy Butler "Nigella" bag http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/pdfs/NigellaYogaBag.pdf but used a different construction method than she does.




close-up of the strap


Now I just have to get it to the post office!

My first post in a long time!
I'm working in an office now and finding that sometimes I need something to drape around the neckline to make lower cut tops more work-appropriate (and more stylish).

This is the first time I've used French seams and I really like the result.

Love to hear your thoughts!

 i felt like making something springy to wear while i watch the snow melt (never mind that it makes a big mess--at least spring is coming).  i had this old pattern (60s?) that i found in the thrift store and thought i would try it.  this is the "mini" version pictured...not too "mini" on me lol.




the cool thing about this pattern is that the tops of the pockets make belt loops.


do you think it looks retro?  i can't decide.

I saw some cool Christmas cards when I was surfing around.  Who else is making their own?  I would love to see people's creations!

I found an idea on Martha Stewart's website for how to make some Christmas cards that would use up some of my huge ribbon stash.  They're easy to make--just sew up the middle (I used a zig-zag stitch), then trim the edges.  What do you think?




Thanks Martha! http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel172033&contentGroup=MSL&site=living

more pics here: http://photobucket.com/albums/v304/puffycat/

I was so inspired by people's DIY wedding invitations that I designed my own.  I had no idea when I started how much work they would be!  God bless my mom, who stepped in and made them from my design.  I based the invitations on the mini albums made by Kolo (that's the thing at the top of the picture).  My husband made the map.  Our wedding colours were "celadon" and "merlot" (according to me; according to my husband, "green and purple"!?)

The first page of the invitation "booklet" is a sheet of white velum, and the next sheet is green cardstock with a stamp of a bride and groom on it.  In the middle of the booklet is our invitation itself.
We sent out a save-the-date card, too.

These are our wedding fans and our favour tins.  All my cousins and aunts pitched in to make these, and my sister provided them with margaritas to keep them going.

I was glad we had the fans...it was a hot day!  My aunt had the brilliant idea of drilling a hole in the bottom of the stick and putting ribbon through the end.  Before that they looked a little like lime popsickles...

Thanks for the inspiration everyone!
If anyone wants to see more pictures, they're at http://photobucket.com/albums/v304/puffycat/.

These costumes are all awesome!  You guys have inspired me never again to settle for a lame costume.
Here is my unicorn costume from this halloween.  Yes, I was a teenager in the eightees...

two weeks to the wedding, and i'm finally done all the sewing for it!  i made my ring pillows and a set of makeup bags and totes for each of my bridesmaids.

what do you think of the pillows?  we really only need one now, since one of our two ring bearers (he's pretty young) is now too freaked out to walk in front of everyone.  i made the extra in case he changes his mind. 

which one do you think is nicer?  my colours are merlot, celadon, and ivory.



the cream ribbon is from my aunt's wedding bouquet.

i love all the little pouches people have been making (those vinyl ones...wow!).  actually i followed this tute to modify some cosmetics bags i was making, because the pattern instructions just didn't work as well as your method!

here's a little zippered pouch i made a while ago.
here's the front...

and the back:


i can't wait to go make more (i found a place with zippers 3/$1)!

it took an afternoon of watching tv to finish handstitching the top of this, but i'm happy now!  next time i have to come up with a better procedure for putting on the strap.  i put it in before sewing in the zipper top, and believe me, there was some frustration.
but now i have a new spring purse!

i was inspired by the cool uses of vintage fabric (like these! http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=24695.0), so i went to my local thrift store and found this little piece of daisy-covered fabric (from the 70s?).  it was enough to make this little "wristlet" (the lining is a bright yellow) and a pin cushion for my friend who's started sewing again.  now i wish i had more nice spring fabric--i'm sooo tired of winter.