On my way out of town again!

I'm about to be off again for another week! But this week has been crazy busy! I've made quite a bit (onesies, started baby blankets, etc), unfortunately my camera's memory card decided it no longer wished to work, so I don't have many pictures of what I did. I did get some pictures of 2 bags I made - one of which was my first sale on Etsy!

I made this firetruck bag which can be reversible. It's a good bag just to tote around some smaller stuff. It's made from my pattern which I like to call my "Fantastic Five Fat Quarter Reversible Bag." This version doesn't use fat quarters, but it's the same measurements and everything. It's actually version 2.0 of the firetruck bag, but I think I like this version better - the black looks really nice with it!

Then the next bag is my first Etsy sale! It's currently on it's way to Seattle, WA to my fabulous cousin Mary! It's a custom bag. She requested some things (pockets on the side, messenger style, bird embroidery) and this is what I came up with. I kept wearing it around my house - that's how I know I really like how a bag turned out - I wear it around my house for no reason. It has an adjustable strap and lots of pockets!

I also made a drawstring bag which I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE and plan on wearing lots this week. I'll try to get a picture of it sometime. Because I LOVE it!

I'll be back in a week!

Swimsuit Cover Up!

I saw on one of my favorite blogs, Craftzine, that they were having a contest for making a swimsuit cover-up. First place is a sewing machine and three runner-ups get dress forms. I would LOVE a dress form! Especially after having made this swimsuit cover-up!

My idea for the cover-up was to use a Hawaiian shirt and make it into a fitted cover up. And that's what I did! I went to Wal-mart to get a 2 XL Hawaiian shirt, which I thought was going to be $13... but it rang up for $3! And I bought some ribbon (you'll see what for later) so this whole thing costs $5!!! And I love how it ended up! I will be wearing it for the rest of the summer!

My mom came up with the suggestion of moving the pocket from the left chest down lower. It's a great place to put a cell phone or keys or whatever I'm carrying down to the beach.

I ended up just cutting the sleeves off - they were huge! Then I sewed up the arm hole along the edge. For the shoulders, they're actually adjustable! There's ribbons that you can pull the material up on to gather and tie or let loose if I want a little more coverage.

I really wanted to give the whole thing some shape and emphasize the waist, so I fitted it. It was my first time doing something like this and it took some thought, but it worked! I took it in along the sides and placed the pleats so the material would flow out. And I took it in on the back as well. And I did some darts in the bust area (though there aren't any pictures of that - it was strange enough for me to put pictures of me in a bathing suit online... we don't need any close-ups of that area).

I am sooooo happy with how it ended up! And I would love to win the contest, but even if I don't - I've got a super cute bathing suit cover up!

I've added a picture to the flickr group with the rest of the entries... Wish me luck!

On my way out of town...

I'm heading out tomorrow to spend the week on a Middle School Mission Trip! It should be fun! Interesting, but fun!

But I wanted to show a little bit of stuff I've made lately...

First - Coasters as an anniversary gift to an awesome couple I know! (Who also have a super cute kid!)

Second - five pouches for some girls I've never met... It's a long story, but to put it shortly: I've been writing notes to a friend of mine at a camp and the girls who pick up and deliver the mail have noticed that I send lots of stuff. So I figured they should get some stuff too!

Third - A purse for my cousin who is currently on her way to Israel! She wanted a purse with a strap that was long and would go over her shoulder. It's a dark tan linen so it shouldn't get too messy as she travels. And it's got some green and brown fabric that I'd seen at Joann's and kept thinking about getting but couldn't decide what for. I finally had a reason! This purse is a lot like the other one I did - with a zipper in the back side and reverse applique on the front.

Fourth - A pillow cover using my cousin's son's handprint. She had a towel that his handprint was on for mother's day, but she wanted it made into a pillow case! It was fun!

Fifth - the picture does not do this justice! It's a pillowcase dress - my cousin gave me the pillowcase and asked if I could make it into a dress and I'd seen directions online so I figured I'd give it a try. It was pretty easy and that pillowcase was adorable! Really though - I think it'll be way cuter on an actual cute little girl...

Sixth - a bathing suit cover! It turned out really cute, but I just can't seem to get a picture that makes it seem as cute as it is in person. It's for a contest - first place gets a sewing machine but I'm going for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th - which get a dressform!

Alright - that's it for now. I'll be back in a week!