Moving. . .blogs that is

I will not be updating this blog (for a while at least). Please visit my personal blog or my new creative blog called Kristi's Gifts.

THANKS!

Congrats, Angela

My friend, Angela (who needs to send me the link to her blog!) had her bridal shower this month. I wanted to do something heartfelt. Girly. Handmade, of course! I had a blast putting this together as a gift from my mom and myself. I LOVED the wow factor that it got from everyone at the party too! I included a lovely glitter cup, glass magnets, notepad for all those wedding reminders, frame of her shower invite, a Target gift card (obviously not handmade but I did make an envelope for it with my favorite Amy Butler paper since the red Target one was killing my color scheme). I had a blast making it and would love to do more. So, if you need a gift put together and don't feel like doing it yourself. . .let me know!

Bargain Projects

 

I love bargains. They make me giddy. I love turning a bargain into something great. That makes me smile. So, here's a few projects I've got coming up that started out as bargains. . .

1. The cool old jar of buttons. I actually got them from my Grandmother. She was a little worried that there were some valuable buttons in the jar that might have diamonds in them. She can be assured that I didn't find any diamonds. There were a few rhinestones and several other fun, funky, vintage lovelies that will be perfect accessories to some bags and other items I'm working on.

2. A 10 cent pillowcase. 10 CENTS!!!!!!! I hadn't been to a yard sale in ages and came across this beauty with some incredible crochet work on the end. I'm going to give Grace Violet's tutorial for a pillowcase dress a try. No, the boys will not be wearing it. I'll either give it as a gift or do a giveaway with it.

3. The basket. Not for a project but was found at the same yard sale as the pillowcase for $2. Isn't it FAB?

4. Said basket is currently holding all of the projects I want to work on over the next few weeks. . .Kutter's name for his room, drapes for my office, a baby blanket. . . lots of good stuff. Stay tuned for my results!

Sew Chic Bags

I've got a few bags completed and several more cut out and ready to go. I've had plans almost every evening to sew but little Kutter must be teething because he has NOT been cooperating with his bedtime!

Here are a few pics of what I've made previously, a few that are on the table to be sewn and a few that are on the shelf waiting to be cut. Why am I making these bags you ask? Because I'm totally bored and have nothing else to do! RIGHT!


Completed Bags


Cut & Ready to sew. The blue/brown/gold fabric is an incredible vintage piece I got from my hubby's grandmother's collection. The picture doesn't do it justice. It's one of my favs.


A few other pieces that are calling my name but are on the shelf for now.

I decided to get sewing for two reasons:

1. I want to open a store that sells handcrafted items by stay at home moms. I do not have the funds to venture into it now but someday I would LOVE to. So, my gal pal Natalie and I are going to give the idea a test run and are currently organizing "Handmade for the Holidays" open house. If you are interested in being a vendor, please contact me. More details will be available next month. We are SO excited to be working on this project and anticipate GREAT success for all involved.

2. Any money made on these bags between now and November 1st will be donated to my BEAUTIFUL sister-in-law, Whitney. She is raising money to run in a half marathon to benefit research for Crohn's Disease. Please check out her blog for more info.

I will be getting these on etsy in the next few days. In the mean time, if you or anyone you know has any interest in these cute little bags, I will be selling them for $10. You read that right. . .just $10! I want to make them affordable for anyone who wants to add a little "chic" to their lives or to someone else.

Recent Projects

I'm in a sewing phase right now. It comes and goes. It's probably been about a year since I've felt the urge but it has hit with a vengeance.

Here's what I've completed in the last week or so:


Reversible European Shams. I keep them with the brown polk-a-dot side showing (hard to see in this pic) but I put the beautiful brocade on the back because 1) I love it and 2) I didn't have enough polk-a-dot fabric to do the entire pillow anyways.



All I really sew with is remnant fabric. . .I just can't pay full price for much of anything ESPECIALLY fabric for some reason. I guess it's because I know I still have to invest a lot of time into making something out of the piece. I do love the sense of accomplishment I feel when I actually make something that I enjoy and is useful though!



I finally got some simple drapes put up in the family room. I've had the valences done and hung for ages but never got around to the drapes for the big window. They're not totally finished yet. I've got to shorten them a little and line the back but I'm happy with the result so far.



Finally, a picture of the fun bag I made. It's simple and fun and if your name is Erica (my swap partner) try to ignore this pic because I may or may not be making one for you too!!

I remember. . .

About a year ago I remember thinking how crazy I'd be to start blogging. It was fun reading other people's blogs but did I really have time for my own? HA! I guess you make time for what you really want to do, right?

A year later. . .I'm gonna start my second blog. I just keep finding too many projects I want/like/need to do. Plus, I've been in a crafty mood lately and wanted to share some of the fun.

So here's to my creative space in the cyber-world and "me and my boys" will by for the family stuff!