Hello, Kitty!

On our last road trip I made the girls minky car seat covers

to plant their tushies in for 3000 miles.

Chloe has graduated to a booster seat now so I decided to cover hers in minky, too.

{because I didn't want to hear about who didn't get the fuzzy seat today}

Minky is really nice to work with for this project because it stretches

so it's easier to make a nice fit and

it's fuzzy so crooked seams don't show as much :)

I recycled the minky I had used on her large car seat and cut it for the sides

then bought a small piece of Hello Kitty Fleece for the center.

I took off the existing cover and used it as a pattern.

I sewed the center together first

then fit the outside.

Underneath is lined with a super cheap quilted cotton.

Ready to go for another 3000 miles!

Bags for my bag

Are you a purse dumper or organizer?

I am an organizer. Type A all the way.

So I made some little bags for my big bag

from the same Amy Butler book.

Oh boy, this was more confusing than the last pattern.

In this pattern she explains how to make these cute little origami bags in

six different sizes. The problem is that she gives you

all cutting instructions for the bags at the same time-

like you'll be making all six at once.

I needed copious amounts of caffeine to remember if I was doing the

small or x small or mini bags.

But I love the way she puts in the zipper-

especially with the lining.

Worth the confusion just for that lovely piece of info!

Sewing Again and a book review

I took a bit of a break from crafting.

I was organizing and cleaning out and getting the cobwebs out.

But like most crafters,

I can't stay away long.

I bought this book by Amy Butler

from my favorite sewing store

along with some fabric to make the first project.

{yes, I am in love with our proteas that are in bloom}

This book has some very cute patterns in it and I plan on making every single one.

I got right to sewing and completed the first bag:

I am so excited with it.

I did add a couple pockets on the inside

{not the large ones, but a couple small ones on the inside at the ends}

Next time I will definately interface the pockets on the inside-

you can see how the pockets "fall" into the bag because they are so large.

It's a large bag and will be perfect for our vacation this summer.

The book has very cute patterns in it.

I will probably make them all over the next year.

Amy Butler always has a simplicity about the

way she does things that makes sewing logical.

My disappointment with this book is that there are not enough pictures

and these are not the easiest pattern instructions Amy Butler has done.

Instructions are fairly clear (but I often needed to read them a few times before I got it)

and some portions would have definitely been easier with a picture at hand.

If you have not made bags before I would recommend

one of her individual patterns first

(not in a book)

those come with nice pictures and clearer instructions.

Overall, a great book for the moderate sewer.

Added to

Necklaces

Disneyland keeps my Mother young.

She goes often with my Aunt B

{often enough to have annual passes}

and they've explored every corner.

This year for Christmas I made necklaces for each of them

themed around their favorite rides.

My mother loves to sit on the Mark Twain and have coffee.

And Aunt B loves the Haunted Mansion.

I found some of the frame charms at Ben Franklin

{because we don't have Joann's OR Michael's here! *gasp*}

but you can find similar ones here.

I found the rest on Etsy.

I printed out my images on plain paper,

cut them to size,

covered them front and back with clear packing tape

(yes, clear packing tape-it protects it like lamination and is super cheap)

then put it in the frame and applied diamond glaze over it.

So easy I think I'll make one for myself :)

Chloe's Birthday Theme

Chloe has decided on a theme for her birthday party this year

{drumroll, please}

Chloe loved this ride at Disneyland

{and I must say it's one of my favorites, too}

I am making much of her party things

but found a few songs to download for the festivities.

{click to go to Amazon & listen}

this whole album is good.

love ragtime!

I know it looks cheesy

but It's a Small World on the accordion

just sounds right.

This is a cute album-

all the favorites but a little

"cooler" for the older elementary set :)

By far my most favorite.

Is there such a thing as

disneyland songs for grown-ups?

I also got some of this fabric from

Fashionable Fabrics:

If only we could go there to celebrate :)

Happy New Year!

Yes, I'm still here

still sewing and crafting

and making a big thready mess

I just haven't had much time to share :)

Over the next few weeks I hope to

catch you up on all the lovelies I made for Christmas.

In the mean time,

this is what the first couple weeks of 2011 held for me:

Living Room Pinwheels

I used Heather Bailey's free pattern

{sort of, I used a lot of hot glue which she doesn't

but mine don't need to spin}

And I made a bunch of happy pillows.

{the ruffle-y one is my favorite}

Hope you're all having a crafty New Year!

Crafty Sewer + Space Geek= Super Cool Nerd!

I remember 

as a child 

my father waking me up in the middle of the night

and taking us outside

to look at fabulous things in the sky.

At times

we would just sleep out there

{perhaps it was easier than dragging us out of bed}

Dad would show us

craters in the moon

or stars millions of miles away

in his home made telescope

It took me a long time before I realized that 

dragging your children out of bed in

the middle of the night wasn't

a normal suburbia occurrence.

Along with that realization was the

epiphany that our family is made up of nerds.

Serious nerds, every one.

So now you know my secret,

I am a genetic nerd.

And I love to sew.

Which is why I am now in love with

Average Jane Crafter

She just won first prize in the 

Hubble Pop Culture Contest.

Yes, she mixed cross stitch with Hubble.

Nerd heaven.

Her cross stitch has a wonderful story behind it,

you can read it here.

And check this out:

She embroidered the shuttle's de-orbit map.

I think I'm in love.

People have even sent her space jewelry.

Check out her Space Shuttle bracelet.

My sister Laura works at Boeing.

Perhaps I could make her one

with a picture of a B-52

or a Hornet

oh a B-24 would be perfect!
(I know, not Boeing
but it's vintage and our Grandfather  helped design it)

What do you think, Laura?

Of course,

Rachel over at Average Jane also made 

these fantastic bags

Laura,  I can so picture you using one of these.

Rachel is my new favorite nerd-inspiration.

Are you a nerd, too?