2009 in my pocket

2009 is looming on the horizon and I realized that I needed a new pocket organizer. Every year I go through this agonizing process. What kind do I want? How big do I need it to be? What style? What color? What do I want to look at for an entire year? Well, this year I decided to go handmade. Etsy to the rescue! I found just what I needed at Christina's Etsy shop. She has wonderful planners and many other items too. I love her fabric colors and choices. Her sewing is impeccable and my planner is just lovely. I have already put things in it...my favorite things first, like my knitting night out every week with my SnB friends! Thank you Christine for making my new 2009 pocket planner....it is delicious!

Bags

Well I am already planning my holiday (yes December/Yule) gifts. I have decided to provide everyone on my list with a environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags. I am hoping that if I get a jump on it now that by December I will be done and free of that last minute rush I so hate. I bought lots of fat quarters in patterns that I like (makes sewing more fun) and coordinating solids for the bottom half of the bag. I am hoping to add a little felt addition to the plain bottom to jazz it up a little. The book 'simple sewing' by Lotta Jansdotter (see photo) is beautiful. The bags (see photo) are the ones I plan to make. Now I have simple poly/cotton material, not the wonderful canvas and wools that she uses, as my pocket book is not that deep. I am hoping that the fabric will win the design over. I love this book! She has included many things for the kitchen, three totes, a sun/bucket style hat, a backpack and even a check book cover. So when I get some of my totes done I will show them to you. Oh, if you are on my Yule gift list...don't peek, and forget you read this post. Sewing! fun and delicious.

Hot Mitts!

The weather is cool and crisp....the perfect time for cooking up comfort food and baking something sweet. So when the cobbler is done or you need to lift the lid and check on that simmering soup I have just the thing to keep your little fingers from frying.... 'Lid Lifters' mini hot mitts. Available now in my 'etsy' shop. www.blackgingham.etsy.com
Now go and make something delicious and eat it up!

Yarn Longing To Be A Sweater

"Knit me.....knit meeeeeeee......kkkkknnnnnit me!" I can hear them, stuffed in their little plastic bag all huddled up together. I can hear the three of them calling, taunting, breathing out whispers "knit me" they say. I am trying to ignore them, picking up other current distractions, my sweater vest, coat hanger covers, even sewing (gads, did the habu hear me say 'sewing'?) Yule gifts looming large, my day job for heaven's sake! Not to mention the kids, the dishes, the chocolate.... I can hear them now, three cones and a Japanese pattern, maybe if I just put them in a knitting bag with a pair of needles they will quiet for a bit thinking I should be to them soon, I'll tuck them in with a "hush little habu" and buy myself some time....delicious time.

Top 20!

I am an official finalist of the 'Craft My Ride' competition! Oh yeah, I rock! Here is one of my little dashboard critters giving some attitude about being a top 20 winner. I had to send the entire cover in to the Scion committee for final judging, that was hard to mail off my little dashboard buddies, I was so used to having them all over my dinning room table, looking so amazingly cute! So watch out world, this could be the 'it' item on everyone's hip list! Eat it up!

I Crafted Their Ride

So there was this competition put on by Scion called 'Craft My Ride'. I submitted my entry late last night...whew! The idea was for you to make a car accessory for the Scion XD. First prize is a new XD for the lucky crafter! I have been keeping this a super secret, but now that the deadline is past I can finally share. My submission is this: A dashboard cover with inter-change-able items, such as pouches, cargo nets, stuffed critters/pets, a crochet photo holder and crochet bowls all with magnet clasps that attach to the dashboard cover. Here is one view of the cover and close ups of two of the 'pets'. I am very excited about my project...how can you resist those cute little faces?! Yipppeee! Looks like a winner to me....eat it up (and drive it off the lot!)

Meet Tiffany!

Introducing....Tiffany! My new model. I needed some way to photograph the head scarves that I make and sell on etsy (www.blackgingham.etsy.com) and I was unable to talk any of my family members (all male) into modeling them for me. So... I went to ebay and found...tah dah! Tiffany. She is always happy and ready for a photo shoot, she does not eat much, she is a terrific listener and never complains. She even has pierced ears so we can share earrings! Tiffany and I have been having much fun taking photos, here you can see her in a pink toile triangle head scarf and also in a 1940's style tied head band. Both of which, and more are available in my 'etsy' shop....check it out!