A Long Since Finished Project

I got married just over a year ago.  I had 6 amazing bridesmaids and I wanted to show them how much they meant to me.  So I made them a small collection of fun stuff, because giving people stuff is a great way to say thank you!

Each woman got an envelope (far left) which I bought at an etsy fair.  I was going to write each of them a note and put them in the envelope, but I ended up using our thank you note postcards instead.  They didn't fit in the envelopes, so the ladies can use the envelopes for their own devices!

They each then got a small notebook (far right) that I had made from an old school calendar/organizer that my brother never used.  The pages inside are lined and the outsides are pictures from the beginning of each month.  I like little things and I had these and thought they'd be a fun little object to have thrown in a purse.

Of course if you have paper, you need a pen!  Those pill looking objects are actually capsule pens that open up like this...

I got them at an awesome shop in NYC called Pylones.  A dangerously fun place to browse.

Then to have a place to put all these little things, I made each of them a clutch (back center) using the same design as I did for these clutches, except I added a lining to these.  I used fabric left over from some table toppers I made for my reception.  I patchworked the greens and blues together and used some off-white with sparkles (oooh, sparkles) for the lining.  I'd love to do a tutorial on them...when I have a sewing room again.

Finally, to make the look come together as they're toting all this awesomeness around, I made them each scarves.  (Light weight for spring/summer/early fall).  The fabric came from shirts and skirts that I had bought or found and thought the patterns would be great for some sewing project, but never got around to using them. They're all slippery and fun.  They're a super simple gift.  (Another possible tutorial?)  I love them all.

I hope they enjoy these gifts.  They were so awesome, it was the only way I could think to thank them! So thank you ladies!  You know who you are! 

See you soon!

(with a few fun tutorials!?!)

p.s.  We had ugly green carpets and dark green couches and photographing these beauties was getting frustrating.  So I took one of our soft fuzzy blankets that was white and laid it over the couch and used that as the backdrop.  The other couch blocks the light a little, but it's sooooo much better!

I was feeling crafty! (and a sneak peek)

I was feeling bold, so I shared a link to my wedding dance mini quilt project on the So You Think You're Crafty Craft Party page!  This is officially the first time I've ever done anything on another blog, other than comment on blogs whose authors I personally know.  So exciting!

Speaking of exciting, I saw this pillow up in Idaho Falls today when my husband and I made a quick stop in Target after going to a session at the temple.  (We were finally able to go together.  His work has been craaaaaazy!)    

It's super simple design, and the yellow fabric is raw edge appliqued onto the white. I tried to find it online, however, and it appears this pillow does not exist.  The closest I found was this pillow, which is also a really cool design, but not quite the same technique.

Also exciting is what I've been up to this week.  I love how this crazy mess of pins...

...can turn into things as elegant and clean as this...

These are examples of the shoulder bags and clutches/cosmetic bags I've been working on.  I love them!  (Especially this amazing boat fabric set).   I'm making matching clutches as well as non-matching.  I'll be listing them separately on etsy so people can pick a matching one, if they please, or one in total contrast, or none at all.  I'm excited because the shoulder bags are reversible!!  Always love a good multi-tasker.

See you later!

(With more details on more creations!)

Project #11a-11n

Clutch Mania

So I decided for the end of the year to make thank you gifts for the teachers at the school I work with, and I have 3 boxes full of fabric swatches that a friend at Pratt gave me, so I decided to shoot two birds with one stone and make some gifts out of those swatches. And this is what happened.

I made 14 in bags in the space of 5 hours. I was getting button holes done in 45 seconds. They are quite simple and I actually complicated them more than I needed two. It's two swatches and a button, pleated on the bottom for expansion room and buttoned at top to keep the flap down. Very simple design, but the fancy upholstery fabrics make the clutches durable and elegant without crazy designs. I was lucky enough to have friends and family help me start a great button collection a few years ago. It was fun and simple and I got them done! That's my favorite part.