Inspired by Isabella Rossellini and by life in the MidAtlantic region, I pieced slipcovers for upholstery foam and fitted them onto backpacks.  Here are the big bugs side-by-side:
Here are the individual shots:

Here we are wearing the costumes and enjoying an adult beverage.  Nobody in these photos smells like rotting cilantro.

I finally finished this bag yesterday after two years of dragging my feet.  I made two other VB knockoffs for the old bag-a-month CAL and a third for a personal swap flaker(boo!).  I'm not really a VB fan and I'm sick to death of this fabric, so I probably won't make anymore.  My mom really wanted this, though, and she loves it which makes me really happy.

I used Butterick 4624 with some adjustments for size, strap length, pockets, etc. The prequilted fabric was easy to work with and the construction was not challenging.  The only sticky parts were the fussy cutting and the precise seaming to match-up flowers and stripes.

The inspiration bag was called The Spectator, in Java Blue color.  I would post a pic from the catalog here, but I don't want to run afoul of VB's copyrights.

Here is my version. 

Here are the interior pockets.

Hurray!  Now I can move on to other projects.  This bag has been my albatross for no particular reason. 

I'm a little worried its too risque for a 3 yr old since its so form fitted with the open back.

No way!  Here's a toddler apron top I made for my kid when she was 2 and I thought it was purely sweet, not risque at all.



You may have even inspired me to resize that pattern once again.

I spent too much money and time making these Diego/Alicia costumes for my 3 y.o. daughter and her best friend.  Awfully cute, though.

Here's the basic ensemble.  I used McCall's 3416 for the vest.  Downloaded the Animal Rescue Center patch from the net and printed it on iron-on transfer paper.


Aaaaaaahhhh Rescue Pack!  I used McCall's 2933, but I had to resize it for a 3 y.o.'s frame.  In doing so, I miscalculated and made the gusset 1.5" too long.  I caught the error and corrected it, but not before I had eased in the extra 1.5" on the first one.  That was a pain.  I hate easing to begin with.  The rescue pack is lined with cute Diego licensed print cotton.  I had planned to applique the face on the flap, but ran out of steam.


Here's an action shot, complete with Baby Jaguar:


And the rescue pack, as modeled by my baby son:


I wish I could say my kid loves it and adores me for making it, but she doesn't seem to care that much.  In fact, when I finished the first rescue pack, she took one look at it and said, "where's the zipper? Diego's has a zipper. I don't want it without a zipper.  Can't we just buy one?"  Jeez Louise.  I improvised an exterior zippered pocket on the second one because I couldn't bear to think that she would reject it after all my work.  It's a thankless job sometimes, isn't it? 

I resized the pattern for my 2 y.o. daughter.  Here is the toddler version:

It's so cute, I think I have to make many, many more.

My second May block-- repeat Balkan Puzzle.  I hope to get to the June blocks after all.  Seems the two nap schedules overlap for a couple of hours... for now...knock on wood...

One down...

Here's a May bag.  I call it the BUBB (big ugly beach bag).  I used only ugly stuff that I had in my stash.  It's huge and fugly and entirely practical.  Roomy zippered pocket inside for wallet, phone, keys, camera.

My April blocks:

Aren't Jaye's photos beautiful?  Here are her favorites from the rainbow ones I sent to her:

Eggplants at the Farmer's Market


Baltimore Skyline


And two blown glass installations by the artist Dale Chihuly