Andrea C's blog

Isn't she beautiful?!

She's done and I kinda like her. She measures 15 1/2 inches across the top and is 11 inches deep and just around 2 1/2 inches wide. I lined her with a warm chocolate brown corduroy with fine wales and a 5 x 7 inch pocket. I'd have more pictures, but alas I messed them up and have to take more.

About the pattern. I used one from the Oilcloth Inspirations book and it was alright, but I'm really one for making my own patterns. I don't like the handles. They are hard to get just right being as the oilcloth is not as flexible as regular fabric and I think the whipstitching on them looks messy. I do however like the overall shape of the bag. It's plenty big enough to hold all Mom needs for a day out.

That flower on the front. That was my creation and I rather fancy it so. I covered an old button in the corduroy and then centered it in the oilcloth ruffle.

So, let me know what you think, what you like and what you don't. I'm in the meantime going to work on improving this pattern to my liking and will keep you posted!

Oilcloth Dreams

This is my workspace at the moment. If you look, you'll see the oilcloth all cut out and ready to go. Purse, handles, lining, heck I even made a little flower decoration for my new dream bag. Somehow though I haven't found the time to finish this sweet project. The book from which I'm gathering inspiration for this bag is Oilcloth Inspirations which you can see in the picture. It's a very handy book with lots of ideas, projects and well...inspiration. I'm the kinda gal who loves to make my own patterns for things but other people's projects always give me the steam I need to get going on them.

So, back to the bag. I bought yards upon yards of oilcloth a year or so ago with big dreams of sewing it up and cashing in on my gorgeous items. Well, my friend, let me tell you, oilcloth is not the easiest medium to work with. Nope, it likes to stick to the sewing foot and you can forget about pinning it as pins leave big marks in the cloth. It took me quite a while to find some little tricks that make the going easier and heck, I just love working with it now! Step one: get the right foot or fake the right foot. They do make one with wheels on the bottom, but I prefer to put tape on the bottom of mine. No pins you say? Nope, tape it. Yes, tape it. You can use a finger or book to press the seams down and then use some good ole masking tape to tape down the cloth. When you're done sewing that section (if it's exposed) peel the tape off. If it's not, I don't worry about it and just leave it taped. The thing I love the most about oilcloth is that when you have a pattern you can trace it right onto the back of the cloth with a pen. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Alright, well I'm off to try to finish this bag before the weekend is over. Do you have something you love to work with in particular? Let me know. I love comments!

 

The object of my obsession...my new obsession that is

I have a new obsession, like I need one more hahaha, fabric rag wreaths. A few weeks ago I cut about a thousand, ok maybe not a thousand, but alot, of fabric strips from some scrumptious fabric in my hoard of prints. I was going to use it to make some ruffly things but quickly got a little tired of them. Then I decided wreaths were my new "thing". What better way to use the fabric strips! I happily headed out to Hobby Lobby to pick myself up some wreath forms to use and headed back home with dreams of beautiful spring wreaths dancing in my head.

I got home and promptly took a nap. All that excitement tired me out.

Early the next morning I decided it was time for my new project to get under way and I obsessively began tying strips of fabric and tulle to the wreath. Little by little my new happy spring wreath came together. Finally, a million strips later, it was done. Buuuttttt, it needed something more.. I debated. A bird? A bow? A heart? Yes, a heart. That's it! So I sewed one up and stuffed it merrily. I hung the heart in the center and then hung the wreath up to stare at it in all it's glorious splendor and oh how beautiful it is!

Of course this is not the end of my wreath obsession because of course now I have to experiment with other ways of making this beauty. Different fabrics, shapes, forms...I can't wait!

 

Spring, where are you?!

It's not spring yet. In fact, we have 41 days left of winter. I'm hoping that good ole Phil was right and Spring will come early. Let's face it though, with the mounds of snow and ice, it isn't looking too good.

Well, if I can't have Spring then I guess I'll have to just pretend. Pretend by crafting up some Springy things. I know, I know, I have no pictures up of them. Well, they just need a few finishing touches you see. I have crafter ADD and just can't work on one thing start to finish. I worked on adding bases to my glitter trees, started a fabric scrap wreath and even almost finished a ruffly tree. Heck, I managed to even sew up a bib, burp cloth, wash cloths and a blankie for baby. Pictures are next. Promise!

On another note, I'm working on planning up a home show, open house with a few crafty friends. I'm not sure how to fit everyone in or how to work it out just right, but I'm getting there. I've been reading other blogs for suggestions and am really getting excited. A day of spending time with a bunch of crafty ladies, food, drinks and hopefully shoppers. Really, this is the stuff dreams are made of! I just hope it works out. We'll see and I'll keep you all informed.

It's a snow day!

 

It's a snow day here for me and the kids and I decided, what better time to start this blog?! I'm really hoping that I'll be able to share some great tutorials on making things for the home, kids and of course yourself.

Guess I should give a little info on me though. I'm a craftaholic...that's the first step, right? Admitting you're an addict. lol ok, I also love to bake and decorate and anything sorta Martha Stewartish but of course on a shoestring budget, cuz of course I'm not Martha. I am also in love with like a million blogs and wish there were more hours in the day to read all of them. I've linked up some in my blog feed. If you have one you'd like to share, please do. I love finding new blogs to read.

Other than that, I have two munchkins Sam 11 and Mel 9. Pretty soon I'll be the munchkin because they're growing like weeds! They are also super crafty and like to help out with anything they can as long as it includes glue, hammers, paper or painting.

And then there's the hubby. Without him I'd never have the chance to live on this beautiful family farm or sit and blog the day away or sew and glue to sell in my Etsy shop. Hunny, you rock!

So, the weather outside is frightful...and I'm off to go find something to glue, or a good blog to read. See ya soon!