Trying video again

Still learning.......

I'm still trying to get a grip on how to do everything in my blog, so decided to experiment a little bit today. I had our digital camera with me on the drive home from work today, so used the video feature to record part of the lovely drive. Here's my attempt to embed the video... (wish me luck LOL)
Sorry it didn't work, I'll have to play with it a little.
It worked!!!! See post above!!!! I'll have to re-do it sometime when I have the car instead of the pickup - it will be less bumpy... ;D

In the mean time, here's a picture that I took on my way back to work - I see a turtle sitting on this tree stump every sunny day ..... I didn't realize there were two of them until I uploaded the picture. (I had to hurry taking the picture since I was standing on the bridge.)

More shopping bags!!!!

I loved the first one I made, so made three more out of the same fabric. I have other shopping bags I've made that I used to use, but they were of all different fabric, so now I have four that match! Three are the ones like WalMart bags, and the other one has a long handle on it. I especially like it because I can throw it over my shoulder to bring the groceries into the house. This bag will hold two gallons of milk easily and I put a snap on it, so when the bags are not being used, the other three are kept inside it.

And I DID figure out how to do the automatic button holes!!! YEAH for me!!!! They are VERY easy!!!!! I also added little loops on the back of each bag, so they fit on the holders at Walmart so they are very easy to fill. :D

Anyway, here are a few updated pictures:
This shows where the button holes and loop are


All four of them full of groceries - PRETTY!!!!


The large one with two gallon jugs - the snap still closes


While I was at it, I decided to make a few to take to Church for next Monday's fundraiser. I noticed there were only two people signed up to make "crafts" for the country store. I already have a purse done(See "BUSY BUSY BUSY" from Oct 17), and I finished three more shopping bags out of outdoor fabric. Here they are:


I have some more duck cloth (heavy fabric) that I'm going to make a few more (hopefully tonight) to also take to church. I need to have everything there on Sunday afternoon. Todd and I are also volunteering to work on Monday, the day we have "Wurstbrauten" (sausage supper) - one of the main fundraisers our church puts on each year.

I have a couple more projects to work on. A couple weeks ago there was someone at church looking for help sewing school kits. She finally contacted me and we will be getting together ( along with another church member who volunteered to sew) Thursday night. She needs 50 bags, so that will be 25 for each of us to do (she doesn't sew). Also, Kate called the other night to let me know she received her purse (birthday present), and asked if I could sew some welding caps for her hubby. I'm not sure what they are, but said I'd be happy to try. Found out later that MY hubby has a couple, so he's going to bring an old one home for me to take apart and use as a pattern.

So I'll be busy in the next week or so, then will probably start thinking of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are not heading to Nebraska for either holiday, so that means I'll make a large meal for us at home. Plus, my parents are planning to come down for a few days sometime between now and Thanksgiving.

Oh, and WE PAID OFF OUR MOTORCYCLE!!!!!! **HAPPY DANCE**


We are now on our last credit card and will only have the mortgage by the end of the year!!! Now everything in our "toy box" (i.e. garage) is PAID FOR! We have the titles to the pickup, car, boat and motorcycle.

I whipped up a few of these last night

They are shopping bags - out of heavy material, so I didn't line them. I used my serger to finish the edges and sew most of them. I did attempt a few button holes on one of them, but I need to practice on them more (or, maybe, read the owners manual to the sewing machine LOL). They are patterned after the WalMart bags.


They hold quite a bit


After I made three of these, there is still a little fabric left. I do like the other shopping bags I've made since they have long handles that I can throw over my shoulder. I may try to make one out of this fabric if I have enough.

Unfortunately, that is all the sewing I've done this week. For some reason I just haven't had any new ideas, although I do have a TON of fabric that I need to use!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!!

So I've completed a few purses, so better catch up.

This is the one I completed today. This will go to Kate for her birthday as soon as she calls us with her new address.













This purse will be taken to church to be sold at a fundraiser.








This was going to be Kate's purse for her birthday, but after it was completed, I didn't think it would be good for her, so I made the other one (which suits her MUCH better).




I guess I'll list it on my etsy shop.

Just quickly.....

I received my Redbook Magazine today and while thumbing through it I saw this web site mentioned. IT'S A MUST-READ!!!!!

www.passiveaggressivenotes.com

FINALLY get to post this purse!!!

This was a birthday present for Megan so I had to wait until she received it before I could post it - I didn't want to spoil the surprise! So now to confuse everyone, this is my "Tabitha" design.... I really should have made her a "Megan" design, but for some reason I didn't. LOL I believe I also made a matching wristlet, but must have failed to get pictures of it. :(









Unfortunately, I can't make stuff to sell with this fabric, but if anyone wants anything, YOU can buy the fabric and I will make a bag for you.... :D

I have Kate's purse done, but haven't taken pictures yet. As soon as we get her new address, it will be on the way to her, then I'll post the pictures. I'm also making a purse for our church to auction off for "Wurstbraten" on November 3 in Walburg. Todd and I have decided to help out, so we'll be leaving work early that day.

I am taking Friday off work this week - Todd has dental work that is being done at an Oral Surgeon's office here in Georgetown, so I took the day off to take him and stay home with him for the day. Hopefully I'll have some more pictures to post after that. I've been slacking in my sewing this week, so I really need to get back to it.

I also went to the Interior Design shop and got some more fabric. My fabric stash is getting quite large!!!!!! (Don't tell hubby!)

Jyl

HUGE bag!!!!! But I LOVE IT!

OK, so I knew I wanted this bag to be big, but it turned out a little bigger than I imagined. It's my "Tabitha" design again. It's 13 inches high, 14 inches wide with a 5 inch gussett. Pockets on each side on the outside (long ones have velcro) and six pockets on the inside.

Front:


Front open:


Inside:


Front/side:


Back/side:


And a size reference:


I've listed this and the oriental bag on my etsy shop in case anyone is interested! Christmas is coming!!!!! :D tjdj.etsy.com

Sunday was cleaning day

DH and I decided to vacuum the entire house (this is something that should be done more often in our house) yesterday. We even wiped down baseboards and everything! I must say, a clean house is much more enjoyable than a dirty house.

Anyway, when we were done, I decided to organize all of my sewing stuff. I did finally make room for my new sewing machine, so now I have both of them handy. I don't use my serger too often, so moved that back and out of the way. A few weeks ago I had gone through all of my fabric, so that was already done. I did finally get rid of a few things that I had not used for quite a while. But I decided to take some "after" pictures of the sewing room/office and thought I'd share.

This is the farther wall from the door. We put the TV up in the corner and it's really nice there - out of the way but still visible from everywhere in the room.


This is the armoir that holds most of my fabric. It's behind the door.


The wall to the left as you walk into the room. This is my "design wall" for when I quilt. My quilt frame is in the corner to the right. We are going to get some of those big bicycle hooks to hang the long arms high on the wall so they will be out of the way. You can also see the folded craft table - mainly used when I cut the fabric for my projects.


And my sewing machines and supplies. The plastic totes and box underneath the tables all hold more fabric. I did finish another purse last night and it was extremely convenient to have each machine with a different colored thread so I could go back and forth instead of having to unthread and rethread each time. I used my new machine (the Elna on the left) for most of the purse last night and like it EXTREMELY well. The only problem is that the reverse does not work. :(


I also purchased more fabric this weekend, so keep checking back for updates!!!!!!

One more "Samantha" Purse

This one is going to Illinois, to my husband's 96 yr old grandmother. She heard I was making purses and wanted one. This is some of the upholstery fabric I purchased and it worked out really well.

Front - the tab has a magnetic snap:


The inside has five pockets:


Each side has a pocket on it. The long pockets have velcro for a closure:


I hope she likes it!