Artsy Heartsy

Happy Valentine's Day, lovers!!!! In honor of this wonderful heart-filled holiday, I give you my artsy heartsy satchel... TADA!

 

So how did I manage to make this, you wonder? Ok, let me be totally honest here. This was supposed to be a lined backpack using a really super cutesy pattern I found on the Quilt Magazine website. Well, as you can clearly see, that did not happen. Something didn't quite jive with me and the straps and so I went with my old standby, the drawstring!

I started by cutting out two different heart-shaped appliques and ironing them onto the same fabric I used for the liner of the bag. Yes, you read that correctly. I may not have succeeded at the backpack strings, but I somehow got a liner sewn into this bag! Go figure.

After ironing, I stitched all around the perimeter of the appliques. Even though the heat bond says it'll hold these little suckers on, it also says it's sewable, so I go for maximum durability. I also think it looks really nice with the sewn border, don't you?

The upcycling portion of this project is the drawstring, which came from some less-than-eye-pleasing curtain tie-backs I purchased a few years ago and never used. They've been taking up space in a drawer and I finally decided they either needed to find a purpose or find their way to the trash can. One down, one to go!

Shifting Gears

Today's workspace was a no crafting zone. Sad, I know, but oh so worth it to get caught up on multiple other works in progress. I finished a few pending articles to keep the editors happy and grabbed the next batch of assignments so those pesky bills can keep getting paid. And then I decided to finally delve into one of two unexplored writing adventures that came my way last week new-to-me publishers. Wish me luck with that!!!

Add to all that excitement reconnecting with an old friend with whom I haven't spoken in more than 5 years while he took a hiatus from functioning socially at all outside of his workplace. Believe it or not, we didn't bump into one another on any social network, and kind of totally by accident. We did, however, spend quite a bit of time catching up today and it was honestly like we never lost any time at all.

Then I spent time getting more items squared away for our upcoming sales. With each day that passes, I get more nervously anxious about the first event, just to see how thing go. Hopefully it will be a success and we can move some items to determine what will be sellers and what not to focus on so much.

To top it all off, I snagged another little freelance gig for next week to keep my business mind fresh. I love the variety of things that roll across my plate these days....like the brussel sprouts I tried this afternoon for the first time, but that's a whole different story for another day.

Just Horsin' Around

I took a little time off this weekend just to recharge the old batteries and I think it did me a world of good.

Dear daughter and I popped in to Goodwill after our hair appointments the other day and made out like bandits on new material. I never paid attention to their fabric selection...who knew??? 

 This sunny, rainbowy fleece quickly became three 4-tab tail bags.

 The green blanket here actually did double duty.

 The 2-ply green was separated: one side became Bodey's new nitey-nite blanket. Isn't my old man precious???

The soft'n fuzzy side was split down the middle and added to the marching ants picnic fleece to become Z's newest cooler.

The mule cooler was not exactly what I envisioned for the ant fleece when we left the store, but my girl had other ideas, as you can see. Unfortunately this one also only measures 60" from side to side and doesn't quite cover his rotund belly all the way. (I don't think Z was particularly thrilled about all the pink, either, but that's a whole other issue.) Tonight I marked where we need to add some tie strings to this one and will add it to his bath-time supplies once it's all complete.

Taking Inventory

I've confirmed our first official event for the last weekend of this month, so it's time for me to take inventory. What's going to the sale, what's staying in the craft room... you know the drill. Actually, our first three events are horse tack sales, which means it is a really good thing that the majority of my items are equestrian-related, eh??

Sure, I have some of the traditional tack that needs to be sold. We've got a few too many saddles hanging around and a handful of other horsey items we've picked up at auctions along the way that just aren't being used. But when I started making my sale inventory list last night, I could not believe how many projects I've actually completed in the last couple of months. This morning I started pricing and organizing and wrapping and packing to make room for any last minute things I decide to whip up and take with me. I have at least one more project I want to design before we go to the sale, then my focus turns to those that require minor finishing touches.

But amidst all of this fun excitement, I simply must take a mid-morning break, because...

Tag 'Em & Bag 'Em!

Who decides at midnight that she should make a drawstring hobo bag out of John Deere fabric, complete with tractor applique and everything? This chica right here, that's who! Can you believe that craziness? Well, it's the truth and the darling thing turned out fabulous. See for yourself:

After I got some shut-eye and gurgled down a gallon of coffee, I decided to make darling daughter a little something special since she's got that weird affection for all things mustache. I grabbed the pretty red, white and turquoise plaid fabric (AKA Raggedy Andy Plaid Shirt) from my stockpile, along with that shiny turquoise material that she loves so much, and went to work. When she comes home from school, this is what she's going to find waiting for her. It seems I've finally made friends with cutting, bonding and stitching these wicked little appliques. Oh, I can't wait to see the look on her face. Tee hee!!!

Now I mustache you a question.
Isn't this one precious as all get out?!

Happy Tails

Don't you hate it when you go to bed early, get all snuggly warm in your bed, are nearly to the doorstep of dreamland and realize you've forgotten to do something? Like, say, write a blog post? Then you fall asleep anyway? That would be this lady last night. But oh, what a wonderful night's sleep I did have.

And today I'm happy to report that, despite my slight bout of forgetfulness, I did manage to get some things done yesterday. My good, good friend asked me to whip up some more tail bags for her out of the cutest material - did I ever mention that she works in a craft store and has access to all sorts of delightfulness??? - and that was my priority of the day. Aren't these simply adorable fabrics?!

 

I managed to squeeze 10, count 'em, TEN tail bags of various lengths from what she gave me. Two were just barely 24" long without tabs, as a result of cutting two incredibly long bags to accommodate her rather long-tailed Quarter Horse out of the same swatches, so I sewed on Velcro instead and it all worked out perfectly. 

Aside from all of that creative fun stuff, I made sure to pound out some work and correspondence in the writing world after receiving another wonderfully unexpected freelance opportunity in my inbox Monday morning. I also had a chance to delve back into my business brain and help out a few former colleagues, which is always good for keeping this old mind active.

Today continues a tail bag cutting and sewing extravaganza because, hey, when you're on a streak, you have to respect the streak! Tomorrow I might just try my hand at a few hobo bags or something kicky and fun like that.With the warmer temperatures creeping in I might have a chance to work outside and get some bigger projects underway soon! Yippee!!!

Cozy Like a Warm Blanket

Warning: This post may contain multiple movie references because, well, because that's who I am and that's what I do. Let's roll with it, shall we?

Remember in "Mr. Mom" when little Kenny's woobie is in such a state of disrepair that his dad opts to staple it back together? That's what this poor horse blanket looked like when I got it and, quite honestly, a stapler might not have been a bad way to go if the whole point wasn't for the safety and comfort of an older horse. So I put the stapler out of my mind and moved on to find another solution.

 Here's what I started with. Eek, it's shredded!

 Some spots were a breeze to stitch together.

Searching through my old coat closet, I found this icky old broken-zippered, stained up, ripped beyond belief jacket that I didn't even remember owning for a hot minute that suddenly became perfect for cutting into patches. Now I admit, sewing some of these patches together made me feel like that Wild Bill character from "Silence of the Lambs" when he was making his skin suit, so I had to get past the creepy factor I'd created in my own head. Once I worked through that, it was fairly smooth sailing.

 Other areas required large amounts of patching.

 
There are a couple of spots that need to be hand-stitched because the bulk of the blanket is too massive to maneuver around in my sewing machine, but otherwise it will be all ready for the old sorrel gelding to be strutting around in again by mid-week. It may not be the prettiest repair, but wahoo anyway!!! You know why? Because "Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown!"  :)