I'm a Happy Camper!

I won't be posting the next couple of weeks because I am taking time off. No sewing, no blogging, no selling...I am taking a break from that world for a while. It will be nice to relax and enjoy the summer. Wishing you happy days, too!

Happy Father's Day!

Dad, It was hard to find pictures of you for this post because there were not a lot of pictures with you in them. You were always behind the camera, taking the pictures...just like you have always been in my life. You have been there behind the scenes giving me your love, support, and direction. You helped me grow up with security and confidence. You are such a good man, with a quiet, loving heart. I love all these old pictures of you. They are such happy memories of my wonderful dad! I love you!

Mini Messenger Bags

I've been sewing a lot. Busy with old and new styles. Here are some new hip bags, made to be like mini-messenger bags:

And for the old, some stacked cuffs:

I love summer vacation! So much time to sew!

Tutorial: Reusable Grocery Bag Pocket

Does anyone else have trouble remembering to take their reusable grocery bags to the store? I do! I realized that it would help me remember if I could just carry a bag easily in my purse. I have all of these slick, reusable bags that end up in the floor of the car on on the counter at home because they don't easily fold up and stay put in my purse. I decided to do something about it. Here is how I solved my problem. I made a little bag for my bag!

You will need:

pre-made reusable sack like these from Amazon

small fabric scrap (about 7x7 inches)

1/4 inch wide elastic

thread

sewing machine

Start with a 7 x 7 inch scrap of fabric.

(Your fabric square may need to be bigger, depending on the size of your bag.)

To form the casing:

fold over one side about 1/4 inch, then again about 1/2 inch. Press.

Stitch near the edge of the fold.

Cut about 4 3/4 inches of the elastic.

I put a large safety pin through the end to help pull it through the "tunnel.

Pull the elastic through being very careful...

...you don't want to pull the elastic all the way though.

Line up the edge of the elastic with the outside of the tunnel and stitch.

Back stitch several times to secure it.

Pull the elastic all the way through the other side and stitch that side down securely.

Fold your pocket in half, right sides together and pin.

Stitch around the edge leaving about a 1/2 inch seam.

I didn't want to mess with pretty seams so I just pinked the edges.

Pin the new pocket to the inside seam of your grocery sack

about 1-2 inches from the top of the bag.

Make sure to pin the pocket inside out.

I made that rookie mistake the first time and it wasn't cute!

Stitch the bag and pocket securely together.

I did two lines of stitching.

Walla! All stitched up.
Now, when your bag is emptied and you are ready throw it into your purse,

just tuck it into your little pocket...

Keep tucking...

There you go! Toss it in your purse and go. Now no excuses, you can't forget your reusable bags anymore!

The Little Things that make Life Sweet (or Unsweet)

It is funny how something as small as the glass you choose to drink out of can make your day. The small things really matter. For example, I always drink my morning tea from a certain mug on Saturday. I save that mug for Saturday I guess because it is my happy mug. I want to savor the relaxing morning. It is the only morning of the week where I am not completely zombie-like after waking up earlier than my body says I should have. On Saturdays I wake up feeling refreshed. I want the mug I use to drink my tea to match my relaxed state. It makes me happy.

It is funny how the little things can make your day. How great do you feel when you hear your favorite song on the radio, wear some new shoes, put a single rose from your garden on your table, pop a bag of popcorn with your rented movie, smell the earth right after a rain, or get an unexpected card in the mail? Sometimes the little things just happen to us; sometimes we create them.

Last week I bought a new cup. This one is not for my hot tea, but for my iced tea. Julie Guyot is an artist that sells her wares along side mine at Textures. I have always admired her work. Each of her pieces has such whimsy. She uses a lot of color, just a touch of vintage, and some unexpected elements. I love her style. Her items are perfect for creating that happy mood. I bought the tumbler above for those days when I need to create "a little thing" to make my day.

What are some of "the little things" that make your day?

Happy Storage

There are so many wonderful things you can do with just a bit of fabric. I made these cute little storage cubes out of 3 fat quarters and 3 vintage buttons. Organizing has never been this cheery!

Thrifty Finds

I haven't been thrifting in so long because I am anticipating moving sometime this year and do not need to add anything else to the pile of things that will go into my future garage sale. But I was down at the public library last week to get some audio books so that I could listen to them while sewing. And there next to our little county library was a large thrift store that I hadn't been to in over a year or more. I just had to check it out and once I did, I just had to buy somethings. I couldn't resist. I justified my purchases by thinking that I would sell them in my vintage shop...but I may just have to hold onto the owl pillow. He is too cute, and in my favorite colors.

Big Floral 70s King Sheet

70s King Sheet

Silly Avon Perfume Gun

High Tech Avon Perfume Calculator

Pretty Little Fire King Cups and Saucers

Fabulous Front Page (if I do say so myself)

Yippee! One of my bags made Etsy's front page early this morning. Thank you to Harem6 for putting me in their beautiful treasury! Check out their shop. They make amazing dolls and other little beauties:

Olga by Harem6

Hope you all are having a happy Saturday!

Happy Birthday Courtney!

Today is my beautiful friend, Courtney's, birthday. We have been close since college. We were on the same hall in our dorm during our freshman year. Years have passed since then and so many things have changed. We are far apart. She's in Oklahoma, I'm in Florida, but I always know that she is there. My best friend is there for me. We share a love for garage sales (she is the queen of thrifting), we both enjoy crafts and beautiful blogs, we love watching fun TV ("Sex in the City" and "Twin Peaks"), we have traveled to exotic (Grand Cayman) and not so exotic (Hot Springs) locales, we have shared laughter, tears, hopes, and fears. Courtney I just wanted to say....

for being such a wonderful friend and happy birthday!