Introducing Melody: The Expandable Tote

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For anyone who has followed or read my blog, you know I have a thing for Swoon Sewing Patterns! Okay, maybe more than a thing, maybe a borderline obsession! ;) LOL I have had the privilege of testing Swoon patterns for over a year now, and you might think that eventually the patterns would become routine or you know, less surprising and impressive. After all, how many amazing designs can one person continue to create? Wouldn't they run out of ideas eventually??? Perhaps, this is true for some pattern designers, but it definitely isn't the case with Swoon!

Once again, the lovely Alicia has wowed me! It is my privilege to present to you Miss Melody: The Expandable Tote!

Isn't Miss Melody a classy, sweet girl? She has definitely won the affections of her Swoon testers! (Pssstt a little bird told me there are some lovely pictures at the end of this post of some other Swoon testers' Melody's!)

And why not!?!?! This girl has some special features that make her unique, beautiful, and functional. As said above, Melody is an expandable tote, which explains the need for her side magnetic snaps! Not only do they allow the bag to expand or close with a simple, quick snap, but when closed, I think they had an extra special dimensional touch! Also take note of her side seam stripes! Love this feature! Talk about adding a fun pop of color!

Another special touch: The SNAP TAB! Love this functional touch!

As you can tell, Melody also has her own unique style of handles, which I loved making! Vinyl tubing is an optional touch for the handles, which will give them more dimension. I didn't have any on hand, but the beautiful thing is that I can still add them! :) I also love the o-rings! Hardware just adds a special touch to any bag I think.

 
Melody also has a mediumish size interior pocket, perfect for holding your phone, keys, lip gloss, and some cash or a small wallet. (Please excuse her wrinkles! She is still a little rumpled from her turning!)

So my final verdict??? PERFECTLY SWEET! Melody is an easy sew for experienced baggers and a safe project for even the inexperienced bagger to approach! Regardless, it is a project with beautiful results! She is just the right size for toting around the essentials and adding some jazz to your style! :) Stylish, functional, and perfect like all things Swoon! Make sure to be watching for her release on the Swoon website! I think I heard a rumor that she will be released sometime this week, like maybe FRIDAY! Just in time to whip out say one or two or ten for Christmas presents!!! :) While you eagerly await her release, check out these other beautiful Melody's by some very talented Swoon testers! They are sure to inspire you!

This Blue-Eyed Beauty was made by Sincerely Jen!

This Alice Wonder was made by Heather of Squatch!

This Featherlicious Delight was made by Sandra of Sew Sandra!

This Pop of Elegance was made by Trish of Lemon Drop Creations

This Budding Blossom was made by Amy of Silly Sea Turtle!

This Suave Suede was made by Sheri of Sassypants Satchels!

And last, but definitely not least, is this Floral Gem made by Amanda of In Stitches!

If these lovely Melodies don't inspire you, then I am afraid nothing will! ;) But I know that won't be the case! :)

Introducing Sophia: The Beach Tote

Hello again blogging world! I know it has been forever! But at last, I am back with my latest project to share. And of course, it is only fitting that it is a Swoon bag! Let me introduce to you the soon to be released Sophia Beach Tote!

Isn't she a beauty??? I am in love already!

One of the coolest things about Sophia is her handles. I have never made handles like this, but today I became a huge fan of them. The handles are one long piece that wrap around the bag and are held in place with loops and button holes. So guess what that means???

They adjust to fit and hold your beach towel! Isn't that the coolest thing????

Of course, Sophia has enough room to hold your towel on the inside as well, along with everything else you might need on a beach trip or day at the lake.

Make sure you bring some hydration, a good book (or your nook/kindle/e-reader), sun glasses, sandals, and of course, sunscreen. Oh and maybe even a hat or a MeMe Mae cinched turban to keep that hair in place if the ocean breeze gets a little crazy. ;)

So let's get down to the specs of Sophia. As already mentioned, she has adjustable handles, which can hold a towel or even two. Sophia is massive, so she does require a rather generous amount of fabric. She has tons of room for everything you could possibly need for a day in the sun. She is even big enough for a weekend getaway! Honestly, Sophia is very versatile and should not be restricted to a beach tote alone! She has two pockets. The interior zipper pocket is perfect for keeping those valuables secure.

The exterior patch pocket is perfect for those things you want quick access to, such as your cell phone or sunglasses. This pocket has a magnetic snap closure.

The whole bag is also kept closed with a magnetic snap. Oh, and I spy one of my new labels. This is the second time I have gotten to use them.

As usual, the pattern is clear and easy to follow, with excellent instructions and visuals. I would rate this as an intermediate pattern, perfect for someone who has some bag making skills and experience with buttonholes, which really are easier than they sound. If you are a daring beginner, then I think you would be able to tackle Sophia because the directions really are so detailed.

Isn't she lovely??? Don't be jealous! Sophia is set to be released Friday, and then you can make one for yourself. If you need some inspiration, go to Swoon's facebook page and check out some of the other versions of Sophia made by some very talented Swoon testers. Or if you don't sew, Diedelbug Handmade makes beautiful Swoon bags and I am sure Sophia will be available in her shop soon.

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The Restful Reader Book Sling by Diedelbug Handmade

So before I got all crazy busy with opening up the etsy shop, I had the privilege of testing Diedelbug's second pattern, the Restful Reader Book Sling! Take a look at the finished product:

Adorable, isn't it??? If you couldn't tell, the Restful Reader is a book holder that is actually designed to go on a headboard/foot board of a crib or bed. Makes nighttime reading a piece of cake, since you won't have to spend time trying to find those missing books. Even older kids would enjoy having one of these on their beds. It would be a great place to store a diary, ear phones, mp3 player, remote control, flashlight, and the list goes on.

You can either use snaps or Velcro for the straps. I used Velcro, as you can see in this closeup. Also, piping is optional but it does add such a nice touch. :)

As I said, this was designed to hang on beds, but as you can see, mine is hanging from a gate (the gate that goes around Nana and Papa's stove when the little nieces are there). It gets lots of use and my nieces just love the pink frog print. I thought it fitting for two princesses.

Anyways, the pattern is great! Well-written, super easy to follow! And just seriously, the coolest idea ever!

Be sure to visit Diedelbug Handmade's facebook page. Also, you can purchase this pattern at craftsy.com, along with Diedelbug's other two patterns. Oh yes, she even has a backpack pattern that I can't wait to make!!! :)

Happy Sewing!

Swoon Pattern Review of Eloise

Back in January, I announced the release of Eloise, Swoon's first wallet pattern, in this post and shared a pic of a halfway completed Eloise. I must confess I still have not finished that Eloise! Haha I am the worst for starting a project, setting it aside, and promising to come back to it.....I rarely finish such projects, because I always want to start from the beginning! I have, however, finally made an Eloise! Last month, the lovely Brianne from Ali Cat & Co. hosted an Eloise sew-a-long and I was inspired to finally make Eloise from start to finish. Thanks to Brianne's wonderful daily breakdown of the project, I tackled the project with determination and finished it during a very busy week. Here are some pics of my completed Eloise, along with my review of the pattern.

Front view (trifold flap)

I love the floral print I chose! And I think the purple polka-dots compliment it well! A great thing about Eloise is you can use a fat quarter for the exterior fabric! I always love projects that use fat quarters!

Back view

I am in the process of getting my own logo and new labels, but since I still have so many of my old ones I still use them for my personal projects. And a label just adds such a professional touch!

As you can tell from the above pics, Eloise is a zip around wallet that has a trifold compartment attached to one side. You can actually make the trifold by itself for a smaller wallet or you can leave off the trifold compartment, especially if you do not have a lot of cards. The complete Eloise has so many card slots; 18 total, I believe. See for yourself!

Card slots in trifold compartment (ten total, two not being used)

The trifold compartment has ten card slots and a bill slot. This is a great place to store your frequently used cards. Trifold is secured with a magnetic snap.

Inside the main compartment, are eight more card compartments, four on each side. There are also two bill slots, one on each side behind the card slots. Right in the center is a great zipper pouch, perfect for holding your cell phone and keys! Things you definitely don't want to loose!

Honestly, with all this room, you may choose not to carry around a bag! But if you do, you can now make an Eloise to match each of your Swoon bags! :)

Supplies needed for Eloise include the following: one fat quarter of quilting cotton for exterior, one yard of quilting cotton for lining fabric, 1/4 yard of double sided fusible peltex (this is wicked stuff!), 1/2 yard of craftfuse, one magnetic snap, one 18inch #5 zipper (you can purchase these at Wawak.com), and one regular 8 inch zipper.

Eloise is definitely NOT a beginner pattern, but it can be accomplished by the determined, patient sewer! The pattern provides clear instructions and excellent visuals. And if you need more help, I encourage you to visit Ali Cat & Co.'s blog and follow the daily sew-a-long instructions, which are still available. Along with breaking the project down into very manageable steps, Brianne provides some excellent pics and videos to guide you. I encourage you to check them out. And join the wonderful Swoon Patterns Group on facebook where you can get more help and encouragement for all your Swoon Sewing and where you can meet other obsessed Swoonies! ;) Hurry on over and purchase Eloise today!

Happy Sewing!

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Some Baby Sewing (not for me, for my cousin!) ;)

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Happy Monday Everyone! Hope the sun is shining wherever you may be. It definitely isn't here. :( But spring is on its way!

Several months ago, my cousin found out that she was having a baby boy, which was pretty exciting! Of course, my first thought was "I don't know what to make for boys! I don't think I have any boy patterns or boy fabric!" What would I do? What DID I do? :)

Well her shower was yesterday, so I can now share with you what I made, and I am so excited to do so!

First up are the lovely little baby hats I made using the Lullaby Line Hats and Scratch Mitts pattern by Peek-a-Boo!

Aren't they little cuties???? I seriously am in love with this pattern! It is so easy to follow and such a quick sew! It probably took me less than a half hour to make both of these from cut to finish! There are also three different hat style options: the two pictured here and a single knot version. You also get the pattern pieces and instructions for making scratch mitts! I have not made them yet but they look as quick and fun to sew as the hats! I used my serger to make these hats but the instructions are written for either regular machine or serger sewing. This is an excellent beginner project for anyone new to sewing or sewing with knits! They make excellent baby shower gifts! I heard many women awing over them yesterday. :)

By the way, I used knit fabric from Girl Charlee to make these hats! If you have never bought or seen their beautiful selection of knit fabrics, you are missing out!

The next thing I made was an Infinity Nursing Scarf!

I discovered infinity scarves back in December or November (sometime before Christmas) and fell in love with them! I made several as gifts, if you remember from this post. Well I have seen these nursing scarves all over pinterest and etsy and I just had to make one! It turned out perfect! See the cute little label I made to roll it up in?

As you can see, I used the same Girl Charlee fabric for the scarf as I did for one of the hats, so mommy and baby can be matchy matchy!

Next, I made some burp cloths using this tutorial. (There is a FREE pattern!!!)

Aren't they darling??? They are designed to accommodate your neck perfectly! I seriously love them! They are reversible, so you could use two different prints for two different looks. Or you could just use the same print on front and back, like me! I used flannel for both sides, unlike the pattern designer who used quilting cotton for the front, which would be fun too! For the owl cloth, I added a layer of fleece in the middle to make it more absorbent....you know for those really messy days! I got the idea from this blog. (Some great step-by-step pics here for you visual learners)

Last but definitely not least is the soft and cuddly blanket I made!

I LOVE this blanket! This was my own idea! No tutorial, so I just made up my own measurements and it turned out so beautifully! I used flannel for the top and cuddle fleece for the bottom, both of which I got at Jo-Ann's. It's actually a pretty big blanket. It is easily big enough to cover a crib mattress. I just love how soft and sweet it is! I hope my future little second cousin gets lots of snuggle time with it!

Well that is all! Here is a pic of all the gifts together, plus some store bought pj's my mom picked out, which I think are super cute!

Hope you enjoyed! Happy Sewing!

The Tiny Artist Coloring Book Crayon Roll by Diedelbug Handmade

So I know it has been awhile, but I have been sewing (in between assignments and deadlines, that is)! Last week, I made these adorable Tiny Artist Coloring Book Crayon Rolls!

These darling little creations were made using the very first pattern ever designed by the lovely Diedelbug of Diedelbug Handmade! I am certain many more wonderful patterns will color her future!

I made six Tiny Artists last week for Valentine's Day gifts for my two nieces and four second cousins! They were the perfect gifts! All the little recipients loved them! I thought it would be fun to personalize them, so I used some felt and added their initials to the front! My niece knows her H's and loves to find them!

Not only is this a fun, fast sew, but it also requires just a few supplies! A great fat quarter/scrap buster project!!! There are no pattern pieces to print out, which means no printing and no cutting out the pattern before beginning! Directions are crystal clear and a helpful diagram is provided! Seriously, this is a great pattern for beginners and a nice relaxing, quick sew for the more advanced.

The Tiny Artists are great for travel, party favors, pre-school graduation gifts, Valentine's Day gifts, Easter baskets, and even stocking stuffers (It's NEVER to early to start planning for Christmas!)! So go get this pattern ASAP over at Craftsy for the very low price of only $2!!!

Also, be sure to go check out Diedelbug on facebook and etsy! You know all those Swoon patterns I test and love to make??? Well, the amazing owner of Deidelbug Handmade is THE queen of bag making! And guess what??? She sells custom bags like Stella and Betty and pretty much all Swoon bags and beyond! She is so talented, so if you can't sew or don't have the time, let Deidelbug make you the bag of your dream! Or pick up a set of ready to ship Tiny Artists!

Happy Sewing!

The Coraline Clutch

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She has done it again! The lovely Alicia from Swoon Sewing Patterns has already released her second pattern of the new year, and this one is destined to be a major favorite (It definitely was among us testers)! Let's welcome the Coraline Clutch (or should I say, the Coraline ClutchES)!

As you can tell from the above pic, I am pretty much in love with this pattern...yes, I have already made three over a five day span....oh and I should mention, I was very sick during those five days, so had I been at full health, you may have been staring at double the amount of clutches!

So why is this pattern destined to be a major hit???? "She's gorgeous, you say?" "Well, duh, Coraline is gorgeous! That is obvious!"

Aside from being gorgeous, Coraline is going to be an overnight hit because of all her many options! With this one pattern, you get the option of two clutch sizes (small and large).

Small and Large Comparison

You also get the option of two styles: Coraline the Clutch or Coraline the Wristlet! Obviously, the wristlet can be made in either size as well.

Small Size Wristlet

You could even leave off the wristlet piece all together and turn Coraline into a travel size make-up pouch! There is plenty of room inside even the small size for all your on the go essentials.

Another great thing about, Coraline is that she uses so little fabric. I only used two fat quarters for both the small wristlet and the small clutch. The pattern also calls for interfacing and Peltex (if you are making the clutch), but again, only a small amount of both is needed. As for hardware, you only need a zipper for the clutch option and a zipper, d-ring, and swivel clasp for the wristlet option.

You can make Coraline fun and playful,

prom ready,

or simply sleek and sophisticated (but maybe with a stolen fabric flower too). ;)

Another great thing about Coraline is her zipper!!! She has a recessed zipper and when I first heard those words, I thought I should panic! But seriously, this is the easiest zipper I have ever installed. Usually, zippers just make me nervous and uptight the whole time I am installing them. Not this one! I felt like I could kick back and breathe while attaching it! Seriously, I wish I never had to do any other type of zipper ever again!

Recessed Zipper

Concerning the actual sewing of Coraline, she is a fairly quick sew, with very clear and easy instructions. The clutch option is the most time consuming, because you want to spend time getting the handles just right. If you are in a hurry, the wristlet option is obviously quicker! Overall, Coraline is a great afternoon project and pretty beginner friendly, though it is recommended you have some basic sewing skills.

I guarantee you will love this pattern! And you can do so much with it! Make yourself one! Make one as a gift (Valentine's Day is coming up!) Spring is quickly approaching and sooner than we think it will be summer, which brings weddings! Seriously, isn't Coraline the perfect bridesmaid gift!?!?! Whatever you decide to do, I know Coraline will inspire lots of creative fun! So hurry off to Swoon Sewing Patterns and pick up the Coraline Clutch today!

Christmas Sewing Projects: Part Four

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For my fourth and final Christmas sewing project, I made the Winter PJ's by Peek-a-Boo Pattern for my little nieces. I have had this pattern for a while but this was my first time to use it and I LOVE it! Easy to follow and produces excellent results!

Super cute and cozy! I made a size 5 and 18 month. Both were great fits according to their momma! :) I used rib knit for the cuffs and a medium weight cotton jersey knit for the main body. I got both fabrics at Jo-Ann's in the Red Tag section when they were an additional 50% off. It was a pretty sweet deal and I just love the print!

These pj's are a quick sew and who doesn't love that???? I also love that I can sew all the seams with my serger, except for the top's hem, the topstitching of the collar, and the waistband. Because I couldn't fine my twin needle, I just used a stretch stitch on my sewing machine.

The instructions for this pattern are excellent and I highly recommend this pattern for beginners, as long as they are comfortable sewing with knits, which I know can be a challenge. Of course, I no longer fear knits thanks to my serger! :) The only part of the pattern that I did not follow involved attaching the collar. I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance to attach it rather than the 1/2 inch used throughout the pattern. I attempted the 1/2 inch initially but I could see it made the ribbing too narrow, so I changed to the 1/4 inch.

Another thing I LOVE about this pattern is that there is actually a front and back to the bottoms, unlike other pj patterns I have used. I think this makes for a better fit. Since I do not have clothing tags, I came up with the idea of using a small piece of ribbon to make it easy to tell the front from the back. I am sure this is not a novel idea, but I was pretty happy that I thought of it for this purpose. 

Please, ignore the long thread that was not clipped prior to taking this picture. :)

I highly recommend this pattern and I know I will use it over and over again, as the size goes all the way up to 8 years. And as my nieces love to run around in their pj's as long as they can! :)

Well that concludes my Christmas sewing project series.

Happy Sewing!