I'm Still Crafting

I just realized that I haven't talked much about crafty stuff lately. This is a "craft" blog, right? hehe, oops. So, to prove to you that I actually do still make things, here are a few of my recent creations in no particular order....

I crocheted this cute cupcake using a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. You have to sign up to get their free patterns, but that's no biggie.

I'm always trying to come up with new and exciting uses for my monkeys. These are 3 new styles that are now available (or soon to be) in my shop.

The French Press Monkey, or Caffatiere for you posh types. I have Jenn & Josh to thank for that idea. The one in the middle is a little trinket box type thing. The lid comes off & you can put things inside! And for those of you who have gone green, I've created the Klean Kanteen Monkey, now available for the 27oz. size. If you need to get yourself a Klean Kanteen, click here.

I'm also working away at a pattern for my zipper pouches. It's a slow, slow process, but it's coming along. I'm ready to lay it all out now. This is the pouch I photographed for the instructions. You like?

See? I've still got my craft on. What have you made lately? I'd love to hear about it.

Goings On

Last night I made my fist ever roast chicken, this is a big deal. Why? Because I have an unnatural aversion to meat. I do not like touching raw meat (Nick had to tie the legs together for me, I just couldn't do it - even with gloves!), I don't even like to eat cooked meat very much. I'm weird, okay? Anyway, I did it and it was good. I think Nick was very pleased and his Mum is probably shocked reading this (Hi Maddy). haha

The picture is a little weird because it was night time, but I had to take one.

I picked up a great magazine yesterday . It's from Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. There are pages & pages of resources in there. It's really cool, check it out at your local book shop...



This week I found some great fabrics for a Christmas present I have planned. I'm not saying what it is, just showing you the fabric. Cute, no?

More Mary Engelbreit. I guess I'm on an ME kick right now. Usually her stuff is too "cute" for me.


And, I finished a new quilt! Yay!!! I've already listed it in my shop and have it ready for a market debut next week.

I hope to get another one made before Thursday, I think I can, I think I can. Here's to a productive and fun weekend for all.

To Progress or Not To Progress

On Friday, I thought it was Monday. Today I feel like it's Sunday. I don't know what's going on other than that I've been very busy. I've delivered the first 3 Hawaiian shirts I've been working on. I made 4 new zipper pouches for this past week's markets and now have two left that I can list in my shop.

I made this new little messenger bag last week and added it to the shop last night. I've been thinking about a small messenger for a while. I'll adjust the measurements slightly before I make it again. It was fun to finally use some of this great fabric. Yes, it will be a pattern at some point.


My hands are still feeling pretty bad, but I'm trying to take lots of breaks to prevent as much pain as possible. I can barely crochet at all now so new monkeys will be few and far between for a while. This makes me really sad...really. But my wrists start to hurt as soon as I pick up the hook. I think that's my body telling me something so I've decided to listen as much as possible. Not being a person who can sit still, this is proving very difficult.

Productivity

It's amazing how much I can get done by just taking one day off from the farmer's market. I've been super busy and I'm actually seeing some results now. I'll try not to get too wordy with you, I'll just show you what's new with me.
First off, I finally got my Look and Learn Fat Quarter Bundle. I've been awaiting the arrival of these fabrics for a while. I got a quilt top done using these prints. I'm hoping I get the backing & binding fabrics in the mail today so I can get the quilt finished for the market on Sunday. Next I'll make a Catie Diaper Bag. I think this style looks best when I make it from the vintage kids prints. I'll make bibs from what's left. They sell pretty regularly at the market.

I also got a chance to use some Fall Back in Time prints. For now, this little bag will just be at the farmer's market.

For a long time I've been hoping to make some soft blocks to add to the shops. The other night, I took out some scraps & made up a prototype. I think the colors are great, but I'm not happy with the block at all. I much prefer the ones Amy makes (I love her shop), but I certainly can't copy them. I guess I just need to work on the edges. It's a little lumpy too. Makes a bright pin cushion anyway.
I've also been planning to add some baby gift sets. I've started offering deals on bibs & booties at the market, but half the time I don't have matching sets. That's not very good business, is it? Well, yesterday I made a new easier and quicker baby blanket that I can sell along with a bib & pair of booties. Here's the first set I made up with some fabrics I'd purchased to make a tote or two. The swirly print reminds me of The Muppet Movie (You know, the part when Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem paint Kermit & Fozzie's car?)

I've got enough flannel to make 3 more sets to test them out on Sunday. I'm thinking about $40 for the set. What do you think?
That's almost everything, this post is getting way too long. You can always see my stuff on Flickr too if you're ever interested.
And last but not least...I finally got around to making a little Christmas ornament monkey. His name is Kringle & he's not in the shops yet. Just thought you might like to say hello. He's about 4.5" tall.

All Sorts

I'm glad to be back, it's funny how a vacation makes you tired. No complaints from me though. This summer was the wettest in history for England and we didn't see a drop of rain the whole trip. It was lovely every day and we got a chance to see lots of people and places. And hey, I got engaged! What could be better? I've got my wedding magazines and my planning book all ready to go now that I'm back home. I don't feel very stressed about planning the wedding(s) as I used to do events for a living. My biggest concern at the moment is setting a date. Nick & I will marry in California (at our friends' place) and later go to the UK for a second reception, maybe here. I plan on making my own dress and probably a lot of other elements too. I hope I can manage everything. lol We'll see.

While I was away I realized I haven't done a crafty post in a while. So here's a little crafty business for you. I finally bought some fabric at the Cath Kidston shop on this trip. I usually go in there and find too much choice then end up buying nothing. Not true on this trip. Here's the fabric remnant I got. Not sure yet what it will be, but probably a bunch of different things. I won't tell you what I paid for this. Let's just say in pounds, it's a good deal. US dollars? Not so much. Never mind.


I also picked up some great printed felt while we were down in Cornwall. There was a really nice fabric shop there that had lots of little things. I read about this felt on someone's blog a while back, but I'd forgotten about it. I'm so glad I came across it, it's so cute. I also picked up some other little bits & bobs. Snoopy buttons, a book, some trim. I didn't buy any fabric there, I was so good. It's really easy to turn things down when you consider the exchange rate, believe me.

All in all, it was a great trip. I had a great time and it was good to take some time off before the holiday season ramps up. I am hoping to get lots of things made in the near future, but we've got company coming tomorrow. I don't think I'll be getting much sewing done. It's a shame, because I have a new diaper bag in the works and tons of ideas. I want to get some new things made for my next Farmer's Market on Thursday. And one last thing. I just had to show you the coolest birthday present ever. Nick's mom and I went out shopping the other day and she insisted I pick a birthday gift for myself (it's coming up this month). This is what I chose. I think she might be thinking I'm a bit nuts now.

It's the sheep, not the sewing machine by the way. I'm a huge Wallace & Gromit fan and I love Shaun the sheep from "A Close Shave". In the UK he has his own TV show for kids. My Shaun bleats and shivers. I'm in love.

A Little Random

How's everyone doing? It's Friday, but as you full-time crafters know, there's no Friday in crafting. I work every day. It kills me to take a whole day off, haha. I try though. Sometimes I do take a break on the weekend so Nick & I can go somewhere. I don't want to jinx anything, but tomorrow we're going to look at rings (if you know what I mean).
We'll be stopping in Oakland to scout the Farmer's Market there too. I hear my stuff would be "gone" if I sold there. Even though it's not in Marin, it's part of the Marin Farmer's Market Association. That means I can sell there if I can get a spot. Maybe when we get back from the UK. Oh yeah, I guess I didn't mention that we're off for England on the 25th. Just under two weeks, not too long. It'll be enough time for me to go to some of my favorite spots in London like this and this. We're over there for a wedding and to visit the family, I'm sure it'll be a great time. We're planning a little road trip to one of my favorite places while we there. I highly recommend Bath if you ever go to England. It's just beautiful. sigh. I can't wait to go with Nick. :)
In other news, I did a new market on Wednesday night. It was a complete waste of time, but now I know. My friend Julie came over from Yosemite to sit with me, thank goodness, I'd have perished if it hadn't been for her. I wouldn't have made a sale without her either. She bought a handbag & a monkey. Thanks for coming Julie!
I did actually take a partial day off yesterday. Julie and I walked over to the post office, I had oodles of orders to send out, and the farmer's market. It was a lovely walk, and on the way we fed the ducks. I thought this one was particularly handsome. Nick works from home on Thursdays so the three of us went down to Sausalito for lunch too. It was great to see a friend and take a quick breather. Now I'm back to the old sewing machine. I started to put together a huge stack of new bibs last night, so they must be finished today. I've got a quilt order to fill, and I want to make some more inexpensive kids' totes like the one Maple is using in this picture. She really likes the animal prints. I got the fabric at IKEA and I just love the bright colors. She loves it so much, I can't get her to put it down. Silly girlie.
I guess that's it for me today. I know I probably wrote too much.
Just one last thing, I was perusing some of my favorite blogs this morning and came across this new fabric line coming out next month. How cute! I can't wait to see it in person. Have a great weekend everybody.