Our Busy Little Bunch

Happy Heart Day

2012-02-14T08:30:00.001-08:00

After making this little top for my youngest girl, I had some honeybun strips of L'Amour left over. This little skirt used up 12 of them. I added some lace for the hem, and some solid brown for the waistband with an elastic casing. There's still 12 strips left in the honeybun, but my oldest daughter couldn't decide what she wanted made with them, so she'll have to wait till next year. I'm off to pick up some chocolate . . . Happy Valentine's Day!

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and Fabric Tuesday.

planning out a king-sized quilt . . .

2012-02-10T08:05:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to make a king-sized quilt for our bed for some time, and decided to make it my 'quilting goal' for 2012. So far, these three prints will be included, and now I'm trying to decide on patterns. I want to make a large focal block in the middle, but not sure if a lone-star is my style, or maybe a one-block swoon quilt like this one (but add some borders to make it bigger)? I need to purchase a couple solids yet to go with these prints, I was thinking of grey and a dark green. Does anybody else dream of quilt blocks and fabric combinations at night when they're planning a new quilt?

a diamond quilt . . .

2012-02-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

A little niece is on the way, and so I cut into this stack of fat quarters this week. My 'diamond is a girls best friend' ruler made for some quick cutting (great price at JoAnn's with their coupon). And the piecing got done while my little guy napped yesterday.

The fabric was at a local quilt shop and it's a Japanese line from a company called Sevenberry, I haven't been able to find it anywhere online. They had a sample quilt done up with it in their shop and it was so vibrant, and had such a nice feel to it, that I knew it would make a great little quilt. I'm off to the fabric store today to pick out some backing.

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and Fabric Tuesday.

a Valentine's Day outfit . . .

2012-02-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

I am not usually one to make outfits for my girls for themed holidays, but I had a Lamour honey bun laying around, and thought it would make a cute top for my little girl.

I took a couple shirts that she had outgrown, cut the white one short, and cut the sleeves off the pink one, and sewed a bunch of fabric strips together . . . and voila! A cute little top that she absolutely loves! I still have over half of the honey bun left over and eleven days to figure out what else to make with it . . .

And here's another little tote for a birthday girl today. The fabric is a retired line called Sunwashed by Sweetwater.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finish it Up Friday, and Sew & Tell Friday.

a couple finishes for January . . .

2012-01-31T08:36:00.000-08:00

This lap-sized quilt is a surprise for a friend of mine . . . I won't tell you which one in case she reads my blog. The pattern is a free online tutorial called Giant Vintage Star from In Color Order. I did simple straight line quilting on either side of the ditch, which gives a nice design to the back of the quilt too.

The fabrics are a mix of Kumari Garden (which I won from a giveaway from Swell Cloth) and a mix of some other coordinating prints (which I picked out with a gift certificate I won from Modern Fabric Studio). The batting is the new Eco-Cotton blend from Pellon which was given to me to review a while back. And the backing is a Mar Bella minky from Fabric.com (I had actually bought it for a different quilt, but ended up making that quilt too large for the piece I ordered). So in all, this was an almost-free quilt, just the backing was purchased by me (but it was in need of a project anyways).

And my second finish is this quick little table-topper for myself. The fabric line is from Moda called Arcadia, and the honeybun was a giveaway prize from the SewMamaSew Giveaway Day in December.

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and Fabric Tuesday.

a couple more bag finishes . . .

2012-01-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

This is another 241 Tote, but the first one that I made for myself! I also tried the zipper pockets this time, and they were seriously the easiest zippers I've ever done. I have plans to make one more of these bags for my sister-in-law to use as a small diaper bag. I'll make it with the outside pockets and zipper pockets so she'll have lots of places to put all the 'stuff' that comes along with toting a little one around.

I put in a key-chain holder this time too, so handy! And the strap is extra-long so I could wear it cross-body for all the shopping we did on our vacation, I didn't want to run the risk putting it down and forgetting my ID somewhere.

And this is another bag for a little girl's birthday that one of my daughters went to. The pattern is a smaller version of the Tie Front Tote.

And this bag also uses up the last of my bigger pieces of Feeling Groovy from Riley Blake. I bought 12 half yard cuts back in August, and have made 6 little bags for birthday presents, some notebook holders and tissue pouches, and the wall decor and wall pockets for my daughters room.

All I have left are some scraps of these fabrics now, and I'm debating whether or not to buy some more from the fabric line. I love how fun and girly it is, but not too 'young' for my almost 9-year old. So I'd love some suggestions for another fabric line that would work well, or if someone sees a half-yard bundle of Feeling Groovy at some really good clearance pricing, I probably won't be able to pass it up :)

Linking up to Sew & Tell Friday and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

WIP Wednesday . . .

2012-01-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

So the rain has started and the snow is melting. My two oldest girls missed school on Monday because of water damage in their school, but are back again now. The house is a lot quieter with just two little ones running around. It seems that an unexpected week of all the kids home showed me how much extra toys and 'stuff' we have around here, and has compelled me to do a lot of sorting and purging this week. But I did get a little bit of sewing time in, and played with this honeybun . . .

And made a new table topper for my kitchen table. I still have to quilt and bind it, and I'm looking forward to the update from my old one. Hope you're all having a lovely week!

working on a new quilt . . .

2012-01-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

We've had a LOT of snow in our neck of the woods this week resulting in our kids' school being closed ALL WEEK. Which means we've had lots of sleeping in, pajama days, colouring, paper-crafts, and playing in the white stuff. It's definitely a nice way to ease back into things after our little vacation. And to top it off, I got this lap quilt cut, pieced, and basted. I'd say that makes for a pretty great week :)

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finish it Up Friday, and Sew & Tell Friday.

and the winners are . . .

2012-01-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

The winners of the Bespoken fat quarter bundles sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop are . . .

Congratulations to supersara20
and Happy Cottage Quilter!

I'll email you for your mailing info.

And thanks to everyone for answering my question!

I started cutting a new quilt today and have another 241 tote to show you that went all the way to the Caribbean and back - I'll have to shake out the sand for a couple pics. :)

trying to decompress . . .

2012-01-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

After spending a week on gorgeous beaches, being fed amazing 5-course meals every night, and being totally spoiled for my birthday, we are home again. After a missed flight, an unexpected extra night in a hotel, and picking up our four kids from all over town today, we are FINALLY home.

But the snow and freezing temperatures are going to take some getting used to after being in this weather for a week . . .

I'll be picking the giveaway winner sometime tomorrow, because right now I still feel like I'm bobbing in an airplane . . . goodnight!

It's my Birthday! Time for a GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again ~ I'm turning another year older! Only this year, I'm taking the whole week off and spending time eating out, getting pampered, and even taking off with my hubby and no kids for a few nights!

So what better way to celebrate on my blog than with a giveaway?! And with the help of my wonderful sponsor, the Fat Quarter Shop, here's what's up for grabs:

Not one, but TWO fat quarter bundles of Patricia Bravo's Bespoken fabric line.

One winner will get the Lush colorway:

and the other winner will get the Fresh colorway:

So how do you enter?

I love to quilt and sew, (I sometimes think it's the glue that holds this stay-at-home-mama together). Tell me what you want to see more of in 2012 - quilts? childrens clothing? accessories? bags/purses? something else?
If you are a follower (new or old), you can leave a second comment.
If you blog about this giveaway, you can leave a third comment with the link.

Winner will be picked by random.org on January 16th. Open internationally. Good luck!

Sweet Pea Totes ~ Hobo Bag

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

This is another pattern from Sweet Pea Totes that can be purchased as a PDF EBook or through Simplicity as a printed pattern.

I used one of the built-in embroidery stitches on my machine for the handle, and my oldest daughter gave it as a birthday gift to one of her friends.

There is a second pattern for a wristlet clutch included in the Simplicity pattern, and I made one without the ruffle. It made for a very quick project.

Fiona's Fancy Accessories . . .

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

A little while back, I mentioned the accessory panels from Lila Tueller's Fiona's Fancy line. There are three colour choices available in laminate or cotton, and each panel makes two cosmetic pouches and a sunglasses case.

I ordered a panel and sewed some up this past weekend. The pouches are a nice update from what I'd been using, and the sunglasses case is the perfect size for my Epipen (and my two year old can't figure out how to open it).

There's a video tutorial for this set that can be found here.

Linking up to Manic Monday, Take-A-Look Tuesday, and Fabric Tuesday.

the rest of my Christmas gift sewing . . .

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

My kids picked names with my nieces/nephews for Christmas this year, which meant that we had four gifts to bring. So to save some $$, the kids came to the craft room with me and picked through my fabric and decided on what I should make.

For my 2 year old niece and 18 month nephew, we decided on backpacks. Now they can carry their own stuff around instead of my sisters needing to take a diaper bag along. The pattern is from Oliver+S Little Things To Sew, and the one that I made for my little guy has been getting lots of use around here.

For my 5 year old niece, we decided on an apron (no photo) and a Tinkerbell tissue pouch/notebook holder set.

And for my 10 year old niece, she had requested a cross-body purse and it was also my chance to try out a pattern from my new Sew Serendipity Bags book that I won on the ZiaMariaDesigns blog.

Then the night before gift opening, I found the time to make a quick pair of matching pyjamas for my two oldest girls. I had won these two yards of Fly Away fabric on the Red Fish Circle blog a little while back (fabric line to be released Feb 2012), and it was just enough for two pairs of pyjama pants and some appliqué circles on some purchased shirts. And I'm happy to say that these have been worn every night since :)

And that concludes my 2011 Christmas sewing. I enjoyed taking the time thinking about each recipient and creating something just for them.

Sewing Industry: My Reflections + Predictions

2011-12-28T20:01:00.000-08:00

This is part of a link-up at Sew, Mama, Sew! Head on over and check it out!

Looking back at the 2011 sewing scene, what trends stand out in your mind?

Aqua and red - almost makes me want another baby girl so I can make a baby quilt with it . . .

Lots of solids being incorporated into quilts, I'd love to make a 'solids-only' quilt for my hubby one day . . .

What were some of your favourite things related to sewing this past year?

My new Baby GO! that was given to me by the generous folks over at Accuquilt . . .

And the dies that I need to make much better use of . .

What did you make that you’re most proud of? (Share a photo in your post!)

I'm loving this quilt I just gave away for Christmas. I think I need to make another . . .

What sewn projects have you seen this year that you absolutely love?

I've been in awe of the cathedral windows quilts floating around. I hope I have the skills and patience one day . . .

Do you have a favorite sewing book or pattern from the past year to recommend?

LOVE this book that I received last month, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in bag making . . .

Are there any trends you’re over and done with?

I feel like I might offend someone out there, but the whole big white space and random spacing on quilts is not really my thing . . . I guess I'm more of a symmetrical quilter, and love it when the quilt shows off the fabric prints.

What are your thoughts about social media? How is it going for you? What do you love or hate?

I haven't really jumped on the Twitter and Pinterest wagons yet, but I love browsing Flickr and am a faithful blog reader. Seeing the new fabric lines and what people create with them is so inspiring!

Did you have a favorite fabric collection or print in 2011?

There were so many beautiful new lines, and Aviary2 is one that jumps to my mind pretty quickly . . .

What do you predict for 2012 in the sewing industry?

Hopefully more beautiful fabrics, and more quilt designs. And I would LOVE to see a blog hop for some bias tape makers (just like Accuquilt did with the Baby GO!) . . . this would be so handy for preparing quilt binding . . .

Can you tell us what to expect from you in 2012? Any big projects or life-changing goals?

I hope to continue creating quilts, bags, clothes and totes for friends and family (and hoping that my little guy keeps napping till he hits kindergarten so I can find the time to sew) . . .

Bloggers Choice Fat Quarter Bundle . . .

2011-12-27T12:49:00.000-08:00

There's a little competition going on over at Quokka Quilts sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop. What you need to do is select 12 prints and 3 solids and make your own Designer Select bundle.

For my bundle, I chose fabrics for a quilt for our master bedroom. The colours are a mix of charcoal, gray, green, and black. I avoided floral prints (something my hubby would not like) and I really like the end result. I'm going to be very tempted to order this bundle after the contest ends.

The prints I used:

A quilt for my big sis . . .

2011-12-27T04:00:00.000-08:00

Now that Christmas is over, I can show some of the presents I've been working on! This quilt was my 'big project' this year. We pick names between my parents and siblings, and this is for my 'twin' sister (we share a birthday but we're actually 2 years apart).

The quilt pattern is called New Wave by Oh, Fransson! and the fabric is from the Cloud9 Across the Pond collection with a solid white organic fabric for the sashing. The backing is an extra-wide solid blue flannel.

I straight-line quilted, and used my foot as a guide on either side of the ditch. I love this method - more forgiving than in-the-ditch, and I love the way the quilting looks on the back of the quilt. I forgot to take the finished measurements but it is a very generous lap-size, almost a twin.

And I'm happy to say that with four siblings, I now have only one left to make a quilt for! I made this one for my brother in 2009 and this one for my little sister in 2010/11. So now I just have my oldest sister left to make one for - hopefully it will get done in the new year.

Christmas Greetings . . .

2011-12-24T13:23:00.000-08:00

Two Peas In a Pod ~ Tie Front Tote

2011-12-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

This pattern is from an online class and is a great way to see step-by-step instructions if you're fairly new to bag making, or are a visual learner. All the measurements and instructions are included in the class, so it's not necessary to purchase the pattern separately. The designer Trish does a great job and you'll be impressed with the quality of the video and editing. You can find more Two Peas in a Pod patterns in her shop.

The fabric I used is from Riley Blake's Feeling Groovy line and a coordinating fabric for the lining. I modified the measurements to make my finished tote a bit smaller, and it was a gift for a birthday party that one of my daughter's was invited to. It's a very quick tote to sew up, and the tie gives it a fun unique look. Definitely a pattern I will go to again when a birthday invite comes home.

Linking up to TNT Thursday.

Sweet Pea Totes ~ Classy Curvy Handbag

2011-12-19T20:07:00.000-08:00

This is my first time using a pattern from Sweet Pea Totes. The designer Mary is a bag-maker extraordinaire and has MANY beautiful finished bags in addition to her patterns in her shop. The unique thing about this pattern, is that it is one of four designs that you can purchase as an E-book or through Simplicity as a printed pattern. The E-book is great for beginners or someone that likes more detailed instructions - it is 32 pages long and full of photographs and easy to follow step-by-step instructions. The Simplicity pattern is your typical paper pattern and all the instructions fit on one side of the fold-out sheet; a second bag pattern is included in the same envelope.

The fabric I used is from Anthology's Rendezvous line and the button was picked up from Jo-Ann's. The bag came together quite easily and I love how many details are included in the design. The finished bag is quite roomy, making it great for carrying a few extra things or a lunch. This is definitely a pattern I would make again.

Linking up to Manic Monday, Take-A-Look Tuesday and Fabric Tuesday.

SMS Giveaway Day Winners!

2011-12-16T22:33:00.000-08:00

THANK-YOU so much to everyone who stopped by and entered my giveaways for the Sew,Mama,Sew! Giveaway Day! I am just blown away by the number of comments, and so thankful for those that decided to follow my blog. I've worked with a number of sponsors and hosted a bunch of fabric giveaways this past year, and hope to continue to do so in 2012.

So without further ado, here's the winners . . .

Giveaway #1 - Stack of FQ's

Congratulations to Laurel!

Giveaway #2 - Handmade Tote

Congratulations to Natalya Hoak!

Giveaway #3 - Baby/Toddler Quilt

Congratulations to Dawn!

I'll email all the winners to get your mailing information. THANKS again to everyone for entering!

SMS Giveaway #3 - Baby/Toddler Quilt

2011-12-12T04:04:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be hosting three giveaways for SMS Giveaway Day to say THANK-YOU for all the amazing online crafters that inspire me every day and all my wonderful and supportive followers! I've also been blessed by winning a bunch of giveaways this past year, and want to spread the joy of giving!

So here's Giveaway #3 - this sweet little quilt is made from the Tweet Tweet line by Moda. It's sure to make a special gift for a little one, or you can use it as a wallhanging in a child's room or the playroom.

To enter, just answer the question, what's your favourite handmade gift to give or receive?
And to thank all my followers (new & old), you can leave an extra comment for a bonus entry.

Open internationally. Giveaway ends December 16th. Winner will be picked by random.org.

Good luck!

SMS Giveaway #2 - Handmade Tote

2011-12-12T04:02:00.000-08:00

So here's Giveaway #2 - a 241 Tote made especially for one of you! This tote has lots of handy pockets (I love the outside ones for my keys and cell phone!), and has a longer strap so it can be worn cross-body.

To enter, just answer the question, what's your favourite style/size of bag? If you have a pattern suggestion, please leave it in your comment!
And to thank all my followers (new & old), you can leave an extra comment for a bonus entry.

Open internationally. Giveaway ends December 16th. Winner will be picked by random.org.

Good luck!

SMS Giveaway #1 - Stack of FQ's

2011-12-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

So here's giveaway #1 - a custom fat quarter stack that I ordered just for today! It contains two prints from Aviary 2, two coordinating designer prints, and 2 Kona solids.

To enter, just answer the question, what would you make with this lovely bundle?
And to thank all my followers (new & old), you can leave an extra comment for a bonus entry.

Open internationally. Giveaway ends December 16th. Winner will be picked by random.org.

Good luck!

Notebook holder tutorial . . .

2011-12-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

I've made several of these quick little notebook holders now, and thought I'd share the tutorial for the Handmade With Love tutorial round-up. The notebooks I used are a standard size (5.5" x 3") but a slightly larger one would still fit. I used my KamSnap pliers and a plastic snap for the closure, but you could use velcro or a button as well (you might just have to attach one side of it to your main fabric piece before assembling). All seam allowances are 1/4" and it's a great project for leftover scrap fabric.

Cut out your pieces:
Main outer - 7" x 9.5" (interface this piece)
Inside main - 7" x 5" (cut two)
Inside coupon/calculator pocket - 5" x 4.5" (cut two)
Inside notebook holder pocket - 6" x 5" (cut two)
Closure - 7" x 2" (cut interfacing 3.5" x 2" and interface half of piece)

Take closure piece, fold it in half matching short ends, and stitch both long sides. Trim seams, clip corners, and turn right-side out. Press.

Center closure piece on one short side of the main outer fabric, and stitch 1/8" from edge to secure.

Take your two sets of pocket pieces and stitch both sets right-sides together on 5" edge. Press in half, wrong sides together.

Layer your pocket pieces on top of your main inside pieces. Put smaller coupon/calculator pocket on left, and larger notebook pocket on right. Sew the middle seam, right-sides together making sure to sew through all layers of pockets and main inner pieces. Press seam open. (Note: I placed a notebook in the picture just to show the difference between the notebook pocket and main inner fabric because I used the same print for both).

Layer outside and inside pieces of notebook holder right-sides together, making sure to put the closure piece on the same side as the larger notebook pocket. Sew around entire outside edge, leaving a 4" opening for turning, and double-stitching over closure. Clip corners, and turn right-side out. Press.

Topstitch entire outside edge, making sure to close opening that was used for turning. On inside piece, also make two lines of topstitching - one on either side of middle seam.

Attach one snap centered near end of closure. Close notebook holder and mark where the other half of snap should be placed. For second-half of snap, hide backing inside of coupon/calculator pocket.

And you're done! You have a handy little notebook holder to throw in your purse or give as a gift.

And why not make a tissue pouch or a chequebook cover to match?

Here's another set I made for one of my daughters (she's already on her third notepad).

I hope you have fun with this little tutorial! Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Sew & Tell Friday, and Finish It Up Friday.

Goodie Bag Swap Received!

2011-12-06T22:59:00.000-08:00

I just took part in a Goodie Bag Swap - a swap where you make your partner a bag or purse and then add in some extra goodies like fabric scraps. This is the fabulous package I received in the mail today! My partner said she didn't have a lot of fabric scraps, so she sent me bag-making supplies instead. Well, that just suits me perfectly because a lot of these items are hard to come by locally. And isn't this a great selection of items?! I'm so excited to use them in some upcoming bag-making!

And instead of a bag, the clutch she made me is going to come in so handy on the upcoming cruise we have planned! Perfect for my room key and essentials, and will look great on formal night or with a pair of jeans. THANK-YOU Christine for putting so much thought and care into this wonderful swap package!

Simplicity Deluxe Bias & Piping Machine Giveaway

2011-12-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

From now through January 5, 2012, you can enter to win a Simplicity Deluxe Bias & Piping Machine gift set. This compact and simple-to-use machine creates custom bias tape and piping cord at the push of a button. It's never been easier or faster to make tape, binding, and piping that matches your fabric selection. The machine includes a 1" single fold bias tip and a 4/32" piping tip. Accompanying accessories in the gift set are: the Bias Tip Insertion Tool for inserting fabric strips into the bias tip, 12 yards of 4/32" Piping Cord, and 12 yards of 1/4" Fusible Film. The set (ret. value $172.96) makes an excellent gift for sewers, quilters and crafters alike!

To enter, you must sign-up for one or more of Simplicity.com's e-newsletters via the giveaway page now through 11:59pm EST 1/5/12. No purchase is necessary. One winner will be chosen at random and notified on or after January 6, 2012. Please note, Simplicity cannot ship the Deluxe Bias & Piping machine outside of the U.S.

Simplicity is also having a 4-day sale on craft sewing patterns starting today, 12/5, where the entire craft line of Simplicity patterns will be priced at $5.00 each! Soft crafts like stuffed animals, ornaments and holiday decorations, winter accessories, aprons, and doll clothes are on sale! Many of these projects are perfect for embellishment with trim, so the Deluxe Bias & Piping Machine Giveaway is a great tie-in.

the winner of the Intrepid Thread giveaway . . . and a quilt pattern question

2011-12-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Lindsay! I'll send you an email for your mailing address.

And a BIG THANK-YOU to The Intrepid Thread for sponsoring this generous giveaway! It was fun reading what's on everyone's Christmas wish list, definitely some popular new lines out right now!

So I'm a little buried in my sewing room right now with Christmas gift sewing, but loving it. I just have a tendency of starting the next one before finishing the last one. I'm sure I'm not the only one though, right? Inspirational overload seems to do that to crafters. :-)

Here's a lovely package I received from The Intrepid Thread the other day, it came wrapped and everything! And I was very impressed with the rich colour in this Rendezvous fabric . . .

And I actually spent the a couple hours fabric shopping this week (very rare for me because online shopping seems to be easier with little ones). And these fat quarters jumped into my hands, aren't they fun? I want to make a baby quilt with them, I'd love some pattern ideas again . . .

After all, you guys did a wonderful job suggesting patterns the last time I had this dilemma. And here is my New Wave quilt all cut up and in the midst of being pieced. I picked up the Fat Cats ruler from JoAnn's for a steal and had all the cutting done in no time.

And THANK-YOU to all the new readers that have joined here over the past couple giveaways! I LOVE being part of such a big online crafting community and getting inspiration from one another! And giveaways always make things more fun, so don't miss out on the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day coming up!

Creating with scraps and bartering . . .

2011-11-28T20:29:00.000-08:00

My 'baby' sister happens to be a professional photographer, and she does an amazing job on our annual family photos. And since she also appreciates handmade and modern fabrics, we've been bartering for the past couple years. Last year I made her this Rolling Meadows quilt . . .

And this year I pulled out the leftover scraps and made a matching throw pillow and small table topper . . .

I also made some bags and accessories for her this year and here is the stack that was waiting on my counter to be picked up last week . . .

And it looks like I'm already in the clear for next year, because I won a fabulous Jo Totes camera bag on Leelou Blogs this morning . . .

So, do you barter your sewing/quilting with others?

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday, Manic Monday, and Fabric Tuesday.

and the winner of the Pellon Eco-Cotton Batting giveaway is . . .

2011-11-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Debra! I'll be in contact with you by email shortly.

And THANK-YOU to Pellon for sponsoring this generous giveaway! And if you're interested in becoming a Pellon artist and contributing tutorials to their site (and getting free product to make it with!), just email me at ourbusylittlebunch@hotmail.com and I'll forward your contact information to them.

And there's still four days left to enter the giveaway from the Intrepid Thread for this lovely stack of Pear Tree fabric . . .

Friday Fun Giveaway sponsored by The Intrepid Thread!

2011-11-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

It's Black Friday and we all know what that means - SALES ON FABRIC!! The Intrepid Thread has a fantastic online fabric store and is having some great deals for today and Cyber Monday - details on their blog. And they're also hosting their Friday Fun Giveaway over here today!

One lucky winner is going to get this gorgeous bundle of Pear Tree fabric! This is a newly released line by Andover Fabrics and is designed by Thomas Knauer. Just leave a separate comment for each entry (up to 3 entries max):

Hop over to their shop and tell me something that's on your Christmas wish list!
Publicly follow my blog OurBusyLittleBunch with GFC.
Blog, Facebook, or Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (only one entry, even if you do more than one).

Please leave an email address in your comment if your profile is set to private so I can contact you if you win. Winner will be selected by random.org and announced next Friday. Good Luck!

using scraps for little projects . . .

2011-11-23T08:11:00.000-08:00

fold-up shopping tote and tissue pouch . . .

notepad and coupon holder . . .

a passport cover . . .

And here's a giveaway for you to check out ~ this fun fat quarter bundle is being given away

at Making More With Less:

241 Tote . . . again

2011-11-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

This is my third time making the 241 Tote pattern, and I'm still loving it. I must admit that I don't buy a lot of patterns, there are just so many great ones available for free, and I often just come up with my own designs. And I often get free patterns through testing or reviewing. But it is definitely less stressful to work with a tested pattern, and this is one of those unique designs that I didn't think I could reproduce without the instructions.

I used a denim for the main fabric, a coordinating solid for the lining, and a print from Terrain for the pockets. I added hardware to the straps, and otherwise stuck to the pattern.

Have you thought about purchasing this pattern? Noodlehead is having a sale ~ get it for $2 off for today and tomorrow only.

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday, Manic Monday, and Fabric Tuesday.

Riley Blake Home Decor contest - voting open!

2011-11-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

Riley Blake has been hosting online contests for the past several months. The winners for their Clothing and Quilts categories have already been chosen, but their third contest for Home Decor was just narrowed down to the top 10 and is open for voting!

My entry didn't make it, but an online friend Michelle made it to the finals! Didn't she do an amazing job on this set for her little girls room?

So why don't you head on over, pick your favourite entry and cast your vote!

Guest blogging over here today . . .

2011-11-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Giveaway for 9 yards of NEW Eco-Cotton Batting from Pellon!

2011-11-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

Pellon has just released a brand new Eco-Cotton Blend Batting - 70% recycled cotton/30% recycled polyester batting with scrim. This product was just released at Quilt Market, and I had the chance to work with some it. It is so soft and has a beautiful weight and drape to it. And they are offering one of you a 9 yard board (96" width) of this beautiful batting for your future projects!

Pellon has a big selection of battings, as well as many other products for your crafting and sewing needs. One of my personal favourite products is their fusible fleece - it gives beautiful structure to bags and purses and it is so easy to work with. I buy the fusible fleece in larger quantities and it's still gone in no time!

Pellon also has a website called PellonProjects.com where you can find lots of projects designed and submitted by Pellon Artists. If you think you have a project that works great with Pellon products and would like to submit it (and possibly receive free Pellon products to create it with), please email me at ourbusylittlebunch@hotmail.com and I'll forward your contact information to them!

Now, how do you win this generous prize of 9 yards of Pellons new Eco-Cotton blend batting? You can do any or all of the following, and please leave a separate comment for each one (up to 3 separate comments).

Tell me what your favourite Pellon® product is and how you use it.
Publicly follow my blog OurBusyLittleBunch with GFC.
Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway and leave the link (only one entry, even if you do more than one of these)

Giveaway winner will be selected by Random.org and announced on Monday, Nov 28th. Good luck!

Tinkerbell pouch . . .

2011-11-09T22:32:00.000-08:00

I had a request for a hip pouch for a little girl that needs to carry some emergency items on her. I used the tutorial found here.

My daughters tried it on after it was done, and now they all want one too. It might be a better solution than backtracking through the mall trying to find the purse that they put down while shopping . . .

Linking up to TNT Thursday.

a couple more bags . . .

2011-11-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

We had a 'Quilt Till You Wilt' night on Friday ~ good company, good food, and un-interrupted sewing time. I had these two bags already cut out, and finished them up that night. The first is another Phoebe bag.

And the second is another 241 Tote.

The main fabrics are from Joel Dewberry's Aviary 2 collection, with some coordinating prints and solids ~ the wonderful ladies at Sew Fresh Fabrics matched them for me and made a custom bundle. And I have a fat quarter of each of the fabrics put aside for a future giveaway. . .

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and Fabric Tuesday.

Bloggers Quilt Festival . . .

2011-11-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

The Fall Bloggers Quilt Festival is going on right now at Amy's Creative Side and here is my submission . . .

This quilt is probably my favourite I've made, and mostly because of who I made it for. My maternal grandmother (my Oma) has always been my closest grandparent. We lived nearby growing up, visited often, and have so many great memories that include her and my Opa. Then, when I was a teenager they moved 12 hours away, but I followed only a couple years later. It was wonderful being close to them again, and we visited often. And after my first daughter was born, I settled into a weekly coffee visit at their house in addition to seeing them at church on Sundays. But then my husband took a job back in my hometown, so we moved and we were once again 12 hours apart. Whenever we visit, we try to stay a few nights at their home (they have a whole finished basement that we take advantage of). But last year, the Lord took my dear Opa to Himself, and my Oma is now continuing on without him; but with the grace and strong character that I've always loved about her.

And as far back as I can remember, my Oma has had a pair of knitting needles or crochet hooks in her hands. She loves to create baby gifts, blankets, coasters, and sweaters; and the sound of those needles clicking is a familiar one in her home. MANY times, I have given her yarn and a pattern and asked her to make something for me or for one my kids, and she always gives a little smile, and an "Oh, sure." Making a quilt for her in return made me think of all those times, and how many countless hours she spent working on something for me.

This quilt is a 'copycat' of one that a friend made, I saw it and right away thought the design and colours were perfect for my Oma. I love being part of a quilting and blogging community, and getting inspiration when I'm not even looking for it. The pattern can be found here (but I used a diamond ruler that I bought at JoAnns), and the fabric is a retired line from Connecting Threads. I quilted on either side of the ditch, and used a solid brown flannel for the backing.

So when my Oma reads this (she loves checking up on her grandchildren's blogs), I hope you're still enjoying this quilt, and please know that I think of you lots! Love you!

Pattern Review: Ruffled Baby Boots

2011-11-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Need a unique handmade baby shower gift idea? BaublesandBits just released this Ruffled Baby Boots pattern, and I was eager to review it for them. This is a PDF pattern, so you just need to print off the pages. There are very detailed instructions for how to sew them up, and lots of photos.

The first pair took me a little extra time to make sure I was doing it right, but now they take no time at all. They use just a small amount of fabric, and are a great way to use up some scraps. You can dress them up with a ruffle or some trim, or leave it off. And using minky or fleece will make them extra warm if you have a cold Winter ahead of you.

You can find the pattern in their shop if you'd like to get started on a pair!

Swap goodies . . .

2011-10-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

I joined a couple swaps lately, and this is my trial run of this pattern for my partner in the Goody Bag Swap. The fabrics are Seedpod in Stream from Terrain, Essex White, and Kona Nightfall ~ the ever so helpful ladies from Sew Fresh Fabrics matched them up for me. The pattern is the 241 Tote by Noodlehead. I'm not quite happy with the snap placement I did on this one, so I think I'll redo this bag for my partner and I've got plans to make at least two more of these totes for gifts.

And here's the goodies I received in the Scrappy Swap . . . a pincushion, a needle book (this is one of those things that I didn't know I needed, but is SO nice to have now), and an assortment of fun scraps. The scrappy roll-up shopping bag that I sent to my partner is blogged about here.

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday, Manic Monday, Fresh Sewing Day, and Fabric Tuesday.

Featured Etsy Seller . . . The Adopt Shoppe

2011-10-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Adopt Shoppe is filled with unique and beautiful pieces of jewelry, prints, and tiles. Many of them have an inspirational quote, a message of adoption, and many can be customized.

Kate is the shop owner, and she has found the calling to be an adoptive parent. And every penny of profit from this shop goes towards adoption costs.

Please take the time to look through The Adopt Shoppe, you'll be impressed by the prices and selection. And maybe you'll find something for yourself or for a gift for someone else.

A Fall dress . . .

2011-10-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

I had another pattern to test for Sew Sweet Patterns, and this Fall fabric that was waiting to be sewn into something. My daughter wore it with some leggings to school today, and she loves how comfortable it is.

And on my cutting table . . . the beginnings of some Christmas gift sewing, and a seriously cute pattern to review.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday and Show & Tell.

On my list . . .

2011-10-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

I've been stalking my mailbox, and hoping these fabrics arrive soon . . . I can't wait to start on these projects!

Terrain + some solids + 241 Tote Pattern

Across the Pond + New Wave pattern

Win $500 by framing your pictures with My Kinder® Moments!

2011-10-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Kinder® Canada Facebook page has launched a new application called My Kinder® Moments. They are giving away monthly prizes, and this month is going to be a $500 cash card towards your Fall wardrobe! All you have to do it is frame some of your favourite memories, and you'll automatically get entered to win. So head on over, and have fun creating!

Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Animal Party quilt - FINISHED!

2011-10-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to have this one off my WIP pile and on my little guys bed. It was my first attempt at wonky blocks, and for the quilting I did wavy lines. After washing & drying, it measures 52" x 80".

The fabric is Animal Party by Amy Schimler, the binding is Kona orange, and the backing is a beautiful soft minky called Balloon Party by Robert Kaufman.

I made a matching valance for his window that you can see in the corner of this picture (it's just fabric wrapped around styrofoam and then nailed to the wall).

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finish It Up Friday, and Sew & Tell Friday.

Lila Tueller's new fabric line, and a CONTEST . . .

2011-10-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

Lila Tueller is a very talented fabric designer, pattern maker extraordinaire, and her sweet and generous personality comes out loud and clear in her blog posts. One of her original patterns is the Peasant Blouse, and recently the pattern cover was re-done with her new fabric line, Fiona's Fancy.

I want to show you a bit more of the Fiona's Fancy line ~ these gorgeous prints are available in three colorways, and there are also 12 laminated prints included in the collection.

And in addition to that, there is a panel available in laminate or cotton that can be made into two cosmetic cases and a sunglasses pouch. I really want to get my hands on one of these panels, and it's hard to resist at this price. Makes for some beautiful and inexpensive gifts too!

And I mentioned a Contest, right? Just head over to Lila Tueller's blog, scroll through some of her blog posts and drop your jaw at all her amazing creations with this new fabric line, and then answer her contest question, "what no one ever told you . . ." in this post to be entered to win some Fiona's Fancy for yourself! You need to enter on her blog for your answer to qualify for the contest. Good luck!

Scrappy Swap item and a quilt pattern question . . .

2011-10-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

I signed up for a Scrappy Swap and needed to make a 'scrap-inspired' goody for my partner. Do you think this fold-up shopping bag is scrappy enough? Now I just need to pick out a bunch of scraps to go with it and mail it out . . .

And a little while ago, I won a bundle of 10 fat quarters of Across the Pond from Cloud 9 Fabrics. I want to turn them into a quick lap quilt, and I'm looking for pattern recommendations. I think I'd like to add in a solid, but don't want to buy more prints. Any suggestions for something that uses 10 fat quarters?

Linking up to WIP Wednesday and Show & Tell.

Huggies® Baby and You Blog tour ~ Giveaway for $50 off your next grocery bill!

2011-10-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

And the winner is . . .

Now how often does the last person that enters win?! Congratulations Sue! And thanks to everyone for entering. I've been reading everyone's suggestions and even used a couple for dinner already!

Huggies® has teamed up with Baby and You and several bloggers to promote their new Slip On diapers. I just bought my first pack of these last month; they worked out to half-price because of an in-store coupon and a Huggies® coupon. My little guy loves being able to pull them up himself, and it's making changing him a lot easier. And really, does he look like a boy that sits still for long?

I also want to tell you about FREE cooking classes for parents & babies taking place in our local Loblaw Superstores. A President's Choice chef will be showing two different recipes ~ Quinoa Pancakes for parents, and Sweet and White Potato Mash for little ones. This will be a child-encouraged environment and lots of fun! You'll also receive Huggies® coupons and a pair of cute little tiger ears for your little one. Check out the schedule here to see if there's one being offered in your area.

Now, on to the giveaway! You can win a $50 gift card for Loblaws stores just by leaving a comment on this post telling me your favourite dish that you like to create!
Please leave an email address in your comment so I can reach you if you win.
Open to Canadian residents only. Winner will be selected by random.org on Oct 31st.

Disclosure – I am participating in the HUGGIES^® Baby and You program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Kimberly- Clark Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

New school outfit . . .

2011-10-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

I've had these fabrics in my stash for awhile, and had a dress pattern that needed testing for Sew Sweet Patterns. There was just enough of the dark purple fabric to squeeze out a pair of footless tights (which were so simple to whip up, I think I may need to make a bunch more for my girls this winter).

And a happy little girl has one more school outfit :)

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday.

Riley Blake Home Decor entry . . .

2011-10-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Riley Blake Facebook page is hosting a home decor contest. My entry is some wall decor for my daughter's room ~ wall pockets, a bulletin board, an appliqued wall art, and some hooks. The fabric is all from their Feeling Groovy line. My daughter loves it all and is getting lots of use out of it :)

Linking up to Sew & Tell Friday, Finish it up Friday and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

And the Contemporary Cloth winners are . . .

2011-10-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Congrats ladies! I'll email you for your contact info.

THANK-YOU to everyone else for entering; there's always more giveaways in the works :)

And a BIG THANK-YOU to my sponsor, Contemporary Cloth.

Take a look through their shop, and put together a purchase for yourself ~ you will not be disappointed with their selection and customer service!

Last chance to enter giveaway from Contemporary Cloth!

2011-10-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting the winners tomorrow, so get your entries in if you'd like to enter!

Pattern Review: Oliver+S Sleepover Pajamas

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pattern description (taken from pattern):
Get out your new pajamas for the sleepover! The pattern for this boys' or girls' pajama top, which was inspired by vintage baseball jersey styling, features contrast trim at the outside edge and on the pockets. The cuff at the sleeves can be let down as the child grows. The elastic-waist pull-on pants have no side seam for extra sleeping comfort and include contrast bias trim at the hem that can also be let down as the child grows. Make the alternate view with ruffles for a sweet girls' version. Available in two sizes: 6months-4 and 5-12.

Sewing difficulty:
ADVANCED BEGINNER: Suitable for someone who has sewn from a pattern before or has taken a few classes and completed several projects.

Fabric recommendations:
Flannel or any lightweight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, broadcloth, lawn, shirting, poplin, voile, and linen. I chose a Riley Blake flannel (which I got for a steal at StitchSteals.com) and a coordinating solid brown flannel.

Overall design and fit:
They fit perfect; and I love that the cuffs on the sleeves and pants can be let down when he outgrows them - this will make them last for a couple of years.

Written instructions:
Are easy to follow, just pay attention to the right side/wrong side when putting pieces together. Everything made perfect sense, and is in 'beginner' language.

Tips + Modifications:
None. In my opinion, this pattern is flawless. The only thing I did a little different, is used up some of my cute star snaps (how could I not, they go perfect with this All Star print) instead of buttons. And because my little guy has long torso/short little legs, I turned the full cuff up on the pants to shorten them a little extra, but it will make them last that much longer.

Time spent:
It took me one morning to go over all the directions and cutout the pieces, and two nap times to sew it all together. So in less than two days the pajamas were complete and being worn by my little guy.

Conclusion:
I love this pattern. Seriously, can you get any cuter than this?! I have definitely found the Oliver+S love ~ modern patterns with easy-to-follow instructions and professional results. I've already got the Princess flannel ready for the next pair for my daughter :)

Oliver+s toddler backpack . . .

2011-10-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to make my little guy his first backpack (since he's big enough to carry his own stuff around now, and toting around my flowered diaper bag just isn't that cute). This pattern is from the book Little Things to Sew by Liesl Gibson. I found this pattern very easy to follow, and I think the results are super-cute. And my little man is happy to have a backpack that is just his size (and isn't a hand-me-down with princesses on it :)

I followed the basic directions for the backpack, but didn't customize it into the penguin (obviously). I also enlarged the outer front pocket and added elastic to the top edge, and pleated the bottom edge ~ I wanted it to fit a sippy cup, because we still take one with us wherever we go and I don't like worrying about cups leaking on his stuff.

If you want to see a bunch more of these cute little backpacks, check out the link up at a little gray.

Messenger bag 'outtakes'

2011-10-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's some pictures of my daughter posing with the new laminated messenger bag I made her for back-to-school . . . gotta love pictures that show off personality :)

Review and Giveaway from Contemporary Cloth!

2011-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

The generous staff at Contemporary Cloth sent me a yard of laminate fabric and a package of Insul-Fleece to try out. I used them to make a messenger bag and matching lunch bag for my oldest daughter for back-to-school. The Insul-Fleece was used in the lunch bag which will help keep her lunch cold, and I have plans to make some new oven mitts and pot holders with this fantastic product too. The laminate was a pleasure to work with, it has a great feel and weight; and my only 'trick' I had to use was a bit of masking tape on the bottom of my presser foot when I topstitched.

Contemporary Cloth is giving TWO lucky winners a full yard of laminated fabric and a package of Insul-Fleece! Here's how to enter:

Hop over to the Contemporary Cloth website and leave a comment telling me what other product of theirs caught your eye, and what kind of project you would like to make with either the laminated fabric or Insul-Fleece.
Leave an extra comment if you're a public follower of my blog.
If you blog, Facebook, or tweet about this giveaway, you can leave a third comment (please include the link).

Giveaway open internationally. Winners will be drawn by Random.org on Oct 11th. Good luck!

More Phoebe bags . . .

2011-09-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

After making this bag, I've had a couple friends request one, and I happily obliged. The pattern is the Phoebe Bag by Rebeka Lambert. I would call this a medium size purse, but it's roomy enough to carry a book in addition to my wallet and purse stuff (or for a diaper and wipes case and ditching the diaper bag). The pattern is easy, and I love the finished shape.

Six weeks ago I ordered three yards of Pellon Fusible Fleece, and after ten bags it's almost gone now. It gives such a nice structure to bags and purses, without the stiffness of most interfacings. I'm thinking a bigger purchase is in the near future.

Linking up to Sew & Tell Friday at AmyLouWho.
And make sure to enter this generous sponsored giveaway from Contemporary Cloth!

Animal Party quilt top finished . . .

2011-09-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

So I used up every last Animal Party scrap and added a scrappy border for this quilt top. I even had to add in a few scraps that weren't from this line ~ can you tell which ones? The size is now 52" x 82" and it looks kinda crooked from this camera angle, but I was standing on my kitchen island because it's raining outside. My four-year old thought I was being dangerous and told me to get down.

My goal for this week is to get it pin basted. And I'm contemplating how to quilt it, not sure I want to do free motion with this one. Maybe straight lines, or wavy lines since it's wonky? I'd love some suggestions :)

Making Time For Play . . .

2011-09-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

This is my second post for the Kinder campaign, and their challenge question is 'How do you make time for play?'. I know that I take full advantage of my husband's days off so we call all do a family outing, a bike ride, and participate in community events. But what do I do on a daily basis?

After thinking about it, I realized that it's the little things ~ taking time to paint my girls toe nails, guiding them through a small sewing project, teaching them how to make friendship bracelets, letting them bake up a batch of cookies without me taking over, helping them with a craft, taking turns with them when there's a couple groceries or some shopping to do so we get some one-on-one time, and sitting down to play a board game together. These are the moments where we have the most candid discussions, and make the mother-daughter connections. So, how do you make time for play?

10 Lucky Facebook fans are going to win a KINDER® gift basket full of goodies worth $200! Fun! Make sure you go over to the page to get your entry in (click on Contests to stay up to date with the latest giveaways!)

Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

and the StitchSteals.com winner is . . .

2011-09-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Debra! You are going to have so much fun picking out $50 in fabric from this amazingly priced shop! And for everyone else, remember that StitchSteal.com offers a deal a day on designer fabrics and sewing accessories, and you can even combine past steals for an even better deal! I have been so pleased with their reasonably priced and quick shipping, and love getting my fabrics for a steal!

And today I just finished my first project with laminate fabric - a messenger bag for my oldest daughter. We're both pretty pleased with the results. And on my cutting table right now is a matching lunch bag. I'm using Insul-Fleece to insulate it, and I'll be doing a review on this great product. I'll be sure to post the matching set soon!

applique with HeatNBond . . .

2011-09-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

A good friend is about to have her third babe, and had asked me to look into getting a good deal on a bunch of cloth diapers for her (I've cloth diapered my little guy since he was a newborn due to allergic reactions and eczema, and it's gone really well - and saved us a lot of money). So, I found everything she needed to cloth diaper full time, and a couple of her sisters and friends split the cost with me. We then surprised her with a mini-shower the other night so she would have everything before the babe arrives. We did the usual baby shower games, and finished off with a 'make a onesie' craft.

Supplies needed was a package of HeatNBond Ultra Hold, a bunch of fabric scraps, and an iron & ironing board. For the onesies, I just went through my newborn box and picked out a bunch. We had a lot of fun creating, and most of the designs have to do with her husband's hobby of gaming and his sense of humour.

I think I'm going to dig out some of my daughters stained t-shirts and try this on them too.

WIP Wednesday . . .

2011-09-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Justin's quilt for his new 'big boy' bed is coming along nicely. I intentionally wanted this to be a wonky quilt, and as I was laying out all the blocks on the floor yesterday, my four-year old comes up beside me and looks, turns her head and looks again, and exclaims "Mom, that looks ridiculous!" ~ she didn't believe me that it's supposed to look like that.

The blocks and sashing are all together, I just want to add a scrappy border to make it a bit bigger before I quilt it. I tried it on the little guys bed to see how big it is so far, and can't wait to see it finished and on there all the time. And I'm happy to report that the crib is packed up now, because the crib/bed transition went WAY easier than it ever did with my girls.

a Rolie Polie quilt . . .

2011-09-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

I received an Alphabet Soup Rolie Polie and whipped up a quick little quilt for a babe due to arrive this month.

This Riley Blake line is so fun, and I'm always drawn to their fabric lines with bright colours.

Here's the directions if you want to make one yourself:

divide the fabrics into two sets of 7 (I left the solid white strip out)
sew the 7 strips together in each set
cut up each set into 3 quilt blocks and square them off (mine were 14")
lay out the blocks how you like, and sew them together.
sandwich, quilt, and bind

I used a non-pill fleece for the backing and instead of binding it, I wrapped it to the front and machine-stitched it down. This is a great way to finish off a quilt quickly. And I like using fleece or minky for a baby quilt, because I can just skip the batting layer. And the quilting is very forgiving because it sinks into the backing so nicely.

After washing, the finished measurement on this quilt was 40" x 27" ~ a great size to wrap up a little one, and have them drag it around with them when they get a bit bigger.

Gift Certificate Giveaway to StitchSteals.com!

2011-09-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

StitchSteals.com has generously offered a $50 gift certificate to one of my readers!! Just think of the yards of fabric, jelly rolls, or even a fat quarter stack you could purchase with that! $50 goes a long way in their shop!

You can have up to three entries for this one:

Connect with StitchSteals.com ~ you can like them on Facebook, or sign up for their email alerts (and they'll send a 10% off coupon to all new customers!). Of course, I recommend doing both, but you just get one entry.
Publicly follow the Stitch Steals blog.
Publicly follow my blog 'Our Busy Little Bunch' ~ so I can get more great sponsors!

That's it this time ~ three entries per person. Just leave a separate comment for each entry, and an email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open international, and a winner will be picked on Monday, Sept 19th. Good luck!

Now go check out their steal of the day and all the past steals up for grabs to combine shipping ~ you won't be disappointed!

My first 'big boy' quilt . . .

2011-09-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

My 'little' guy is having his second birthday this Friday ~ yes, he was born 09/09/09, which I didn't think was very 'cool' at the time because the little stinker was 12 days overdue. The hubby and I were at Ikea a little while ago and saw this bed. So I've been looking on Craigslist since then, and found one in great condition for half the price. The little guy helped in the assembling process last night . . .

And now I can play with these fabris that I've been saving for his first 'big boy' quilt. I'm thinking of cutting apart the panel (there's 8 blocks in total), bordering them, and cutting them wonky. Any tips are appreciated, I've never done a wonky quilt before. The fabrics are from the original Animal Party line by Amy Schimler and the backing fabric is a coordinating minky cuddle from Robert Kaufman.

So hopefully there will be a quilt on this bed soon!

And the Aurifil winners are . . .

2011-09-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

Congrats! I'll email you all for your mailing info.

And check back this week for another great giveaway sponsored by StitchSteals.com!

Have you heard of StitchSteals.com?

2011-09-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of those secrets that I almost don't want to share, but have you heard of StitchSteals.com? It's a site that offers a deal a day on designer fabrics and sewing accessories. Some of my favourite lines have come up for a steal of a price, and the shipping is always more than reasonable (even international!). And, you can look at their past steals and scoop up some extra deals to combine shipping.

And they're offering a very generous giveaway to one of my readers later this week . . .

Baby & You blog tour . . .

2011-09-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

So picture this ~ you've had a horrific day with your teething baby, your toddler has decided that they will only eat cereal and nothing else, and your wannabe-tween is giving you so much attitude you can't handle it any more! You need to vent, you need advice, and you don't really know who to call. You hover over the keyboard wondering how to phrase it as your new Facebook status, but not sure if you should bother ~ does your husband's uncle or your single friends really want to hear about this?!

So let me introduce you to Baby & You ~ a place for parents (new and experienced) to seek and share advice from one another. And the discussion is often guided by two experienced blogging mama's ~ Lisa from 'Growing Your Baby' handles the baby talk, and Jody from 'Mommy Moment' focuses on the parent talk.

It's also a great place to find out about exclusive savings and promotions from the Loblaws group (including one coming up this month for Joe Fresh). So if you need a place to visit during your coffee break, why not check it out? It's a Facebook community of 13,000 and growing!

Disclosure – I am participating in the Baby and You program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Loblaw Companies. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Feeling Groovy . . .

2011-09-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

I like to make birthday gifts, it makes me feel productive, and gives me an excuse to order fabric :) So the girls picked out a bunch of prints from Riley Blake's Feeling Groovy line and this is my first attempt at stockpiling some birthday gifts for the new school year.

This pattern is a modified version of the 6-pocket bag, I changed the dimensions to fit a Bible & song book for church, something that's come in really handy for my girls. Now I'm off to play with the scraps left over from these little bags . . .

Are you a Wantobe Quilter?

2011-08-31T17:36:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about the Wantobe Quilters Campaign going on at at www.sewwequilt.com?

They are giving away quilting supplies 5 x a week for the next 9 weeks!

The campaign began Aug 1st and runs till Oct 29th.

Prizes are everything from sewing machines to irons, to die cutters,

to mats, to rotary cutters, sewing baskets, scissors, batting, needles,

rolled sewing machine bags, patterns, books, magazines…everything

you could imagine to assist you in being a NEW Quilter.

A Wantobe Quilter is someone who has no quilting tools, has never quilted.

They can enter on M-W-F to win...they leave a comment on the giveaway post with the name of my blog (Our Busy Little Bunch).

Check their Saturday posts for recaps of the week, the giveaways are FABULOUS.

http://www.sewwequilt.com/2011/08/saturdays-are-our-sponsor-daysrecap-of.html

http://www.sewwequilt.com/2011/08/wantobe-quilter-sponsor-day-recap-of.html

And if you are already part of this community you can win

quilting stuff too…Tuesdays and Thursdays are days for us.

( that is Quilters) we have supplies but we can win better ones..

So, if you're a Wantobe quilter, all you have to do is email ourbusylittlebunch@hotmail.com with your

name and email so I can submit this to the organizer, because if you win anything I can win something too.

So go check it out! There are over 53 sponsors involved and I am pretty excited to be part of this, sew should you. I love being a QUILTER!

P.S. You will not be eligible to win anything if you do not register

with me or another blogger where you see this message.

Aurifil thread Giveaway . . .

2011-08-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

This lovely package came in the mail, and Aurifil asked me to share it with you!

This thread has a great reputation for being stronger, creating less lint in your sewing machine, and having a silky smooth texture that makes it a dream to work with. FIVE lucky winners will get a five-pack of this thread to try out!

I've had an invitation from Rafflecopter sitting in my email for weeks so I thought I'd give it a try on this one. It seems to be successful over here today.

Winners will be picked on Tues, Sept 6th ~ I figure I should have time to pick them since school is already starting next week! Open worldwide. Good luck!

(if you don't see the Rafflecopter box below, just click on 'Read more') . . .

Riley Blake Quilt Contest ~ voting is open!

2011-08-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Riley Blake Quilt contest is open for voting until Sept 1st. There is some gorgeous quilts that made it to the finals and some serious talent was involved in the making of them! I've picked my favourite and voted, have you?

And submissions for the Home Decor category open on September 7th. Every entry gets a chance at a free cruise, and there's some great prizes for the winning entries!

birthday gifts . . .

2011-08-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

One of my nephews had a birthday last week, and this is a scripture tote I made for him. My oldest daughter picked out the fabric and approved of the design.

Then a birthday invitation came home for a little girl and an apron was made. This time my middle daughter picked out the fabric and trim, and specified the need for a flower to embellish it. Maybe it's time to get a kids sewing machine for my helpers . . .

I'm off to tidy the house for the babysitter, so hubby and I can enjoy a night out to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary!

Connecting Threads fabric design contest . . .

2011-08-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

Lee from Freshly Pieced (a fellow blogger and quilter extraordinaire) entered her design into the Connecting Threads fabric design contest and it's in the top three! I'd love to order this design if it becomes available, so please vote for her if you like it too!

It's called 'Flourish' and it's in the fourth row from the top. You can only vote once. Then go check out all the other designs in the running and in the other categories, and place some more votes. Have fun!

Announcing the Re-Launch of Kinder® Surprise® in Canada!

2011-08-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

Kinder Surprise is re-launching their beloved chocolate covered egg surprises with bigger, more playful toys and featuring over 70 new toys for our kids to play with! I'm excited to be a part of this as a Kinder-Mom! We love Kinder Surprises at our house ~ they make a special treat, a great reward, and the perfect lunch box surprise or stocking stuffer!

Today the kids and I had a 'Mommy Saturday'. This is a Saturday when Daddy is working, and Mommy gets to do something special with the kids because after a week of parenting, I need a fun day too. So we went to the library to pick out new books, visited with my sister so they could play with their cousins, went to the candy shop where their favourite babysitter works and have some ice cream cones, came home for backyard sprinkler time, watched a Nancy Drew movie while the little guy napped and Mommy escaped to the craft room, finished up the back-to-school shopping and did some groceries, and came home with some Kinder Surprises for their good behaviour in the grocery store. I love these busy fun Summer days where we go out and the house stays clean, and the kids and I make fun memories together. And my kids don't expect a reward for every shopping trip, but on 'Mommy Saturdays' I like to promise them a reward so the shopping goes a little bit easier.

Kinder stands behind their commitment to simple high-quality ingredients, responsible treating, and offering a peanut-free product. Being peanut-free is especially important to me because I have a life-threatening nut allergy. And this also makes this a great treat for the lunch-box or to hand out to classmates on a birthday.

Be sure to check out their new Facebook page for 5000 free Kinder Surprise coupons being handed out by the end of this month!

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

small projects and a big fabric purchase . . .

2011-08-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

This Summer has been fun, but busy. We've spent time camping, swimming, playing, and learning. And my kids and I have never been this tanned before. I've caught an hour here and there in my craft room, and in some ways I'm looking forward to getting more time in there with the school year starting, but for now I'm going to keep enjoying these kids being home.

This little tote was made using this pattern, but I adjusted the measurements to make it a bit bigger, added some interior pockets, and a snap closure. I'm not sure who it's for, I just wanted to try out the pattern.

And our minivan needed a new engine this Summer, and a generous family in our church let us borrow theirs until it was fixed. She had a box of cards and notes in her van, and the box was broken so I made a fabric box to replace it. My oldest daughter helped pick out the fabrics for this one.

And here's my big fabric purchase for the year. These are all half yard cuts (had to take advantage of how many yards can fit in a flat rate envelope, right?) and I'm hoping to stockpile some purses and totes for birthday gifts. The top row is all from the Feeling Groovy line by Riley Blake, the second row is an assortment of designers, and the bug print on the bottom is for a backpack for my little guy. I took advantage of the buy three, get one free sale from the Sproutz Store for these.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Picnic quilt top complete . . .

2011-08-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

I managed to spend some time in the craft room during nap time this week and finished piecing together my picnic quilt. I used the drunkard's path die with my Baby GO!, some Kona solid in ash for the borders, and a big mix of fat quarters for the blocks. It measures 65" square.

Now I'm going to put this one aside for awhile while I decide on a backing ~ maybe something heavier-weight than a cotton since it's going to be used outside? I'll have to browse some fabric shops before I decide :)

Linking up to Show & Tell, Fabric Tuesday and WIP Wednesday.

My Memories Scrapbook Software Giveaway!

2011-08-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

CONGRATS to the winner ~ PAM ~ I'll send you an email!

I used to be a scrapbooker, I have the expensive kits and stamp sets to prove it. But finding the time and space to keep my scrapbooking up to date just hasn't been happening in the past couple years. And the idea of digital scrapbooking has become more and more appealing. So when I was contacted by My Memories to demo their digital scrapbooking software, I was more than happy to oblige.

There are so many great digital kits in their store, priced below their competitors (and there's a bunch of free ones too!), and they are adding new ones all the time. Now I can create my scrapbooks in no time at all, even using 'quick pages' that are all pre-done for me ~ I just have to drop in the pictures. And I won't have to pay for the development of all my pictures in addition to all the scrapbooking supplies anymore!

And it's not just scrapbooking that this software is great for, you can create greeting cards, new blog banners, desktop calendars, invitations, and so much more. Above is a desktop calendar I created, and below are the covers and insides of some greeting cards. It took no time at all to make these.

And I said that there's a giveaway, right? One person is going to win their own My Memories Suite Scrapbook Software! Just leave a separate comment for each entry:

Visit www.MyMemories.com and take a look at their digital paper packs and layouts. Tell me which one is your favorite!
Follow the My Memories blog.
Follow My Memories on Facebook.
Follow My Memories on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway.
Share this giveaway on your blog or facebook, and leave the link.
Follow Our Busy Little Bunch blog.

Good luck! Winner will be picked by random.org on Wednesday, Aug 24th. Open to everyone!

and the winner of the Sproutz Store giveaway is . . .

2011-08-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to everyone for checking out the Sproutz Store and entering their generous quilt kit giveaway! I just took advantage of their buy three, get one free sale and can't wait for my big squishy envelope to arrive!

Without further ado, the winner is . . .

Congrats! I'll send you an email right away.

One day left to enter the Central Park Quilt Kit giveaway . . .

2011-08-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

I have nothing crafty to show this week because we're enjoying some camping with the kiddos! So I'll just remind those of you that were on holidays last week about the sponsored giveaway on my blog from the Sproutz Store for a quilt kit with Kate Spain's Central Park fabric ~ enter here!

Messenger bag tutorial featured on Sew Mama Sew today!

2011-08-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

Last month, I spent some time working on a messenger bag tutorial and submitted it to the Sew Mama Sew Back-to-School feature. And it was posted over there today! I hope it inspires some other crafters to make some. I have plans to make a second one for my oldest daughter in some laminate fabric.

I also modified the dimensions to make a matching lunch bag. I lined it with some PUL so it's also waterproof.

This messenger bag has barely left my little girls side and it even came camping with us last week. I love it when my girls use (and sometimes abuse) things I've made for them, it keeps me wanting to make more!

Winners to announce!

2011-07-31T11:48:00.002-07:00

I'm a little late in announcing these winners. We were gone for some relaxing holidays this past week, but had vehicle trouble on the way home. Our van needed to be towed for the final stretch, and now we're looking at the possiblility of replacing or fixing it. Good thing I'm married to a mechanic, but it's still an expense we weren't expecting to face right now. And since our tent trailer is stuck in another town till tomorrow, I'm still in holiday mode ~ not a load of laundry even has to be done right now because everything's in the trailer.

Well, back to the reason you really checked on this post:

The three winners from the Riley Blake Giveaway are:

Congratulations to Stray Stitches, Kristy, and Sandy!

And the winner of the Rockin' Green giveaway is:

Congratulations to The Green House!

I'll email you sometime tomorrow if you don't get to me first. And there's also going to be another sponsored giveaway posted tomorrow from The Sproutz Store for a gorgeous quilt kit ~ make sure to check back and enter for that one!

Now I'll go back to my relaxing cup of coffee and stack of emails. My sewing machine was serviced while I was gone and I'm hoping to get some time to work on some new projects this week. Hope you are all having a wonderful Summer!

quick baby quilt with Accuquilt flower rag die . . .

2011-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I received the flower rag die for my GO! Baby and our local quilt shop was asking for charity quilts, so it seemed like a great excuse to try it out!

I basted a pink cotton solid to some batting and a cozy flannel backing. Then I just quilted the flowers on top, and added some decorative quilting between the rows. The binding is the backing wrapped to the front and sewn down. I think I might have to try a boy version with the circles next . . .

Sewing and Quilting with Riley Blake . . .

2011-07-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I've made several quilts and dresses from Riley Blake lines. Some of my favorites were my trio of baby quilts for my son, niece, and nephew (all born within 8 months of each other):

I've also used a flannel panel from their Hooty Hoot line, which whipped up into a really cute and quick baby quilt:

And this is the quilt I'm entering into the Riley Blake Quilt Contest on Facebook (and crossing my fingers that I win that cruise!):

and these are some of their prints in sundresses for my girls:

I have made other projects with Riley Blake prints: tote bags, bibs, soother straps, doll quilts, flannel receiving blankets and much more! And I have some pre-cuts sitting in my craft room waiting to be made into baby quilts. I'm hoping to coordinate with some of their Dreamy (minky) that's coming out soon . . .

Rockin' Green Giveaway

2011-07-20T09:14:00.001-07:00

So we're living in a time where we're seeing the benefit of 'going green'. Rockin' Green is a laundry product that I've been using for a couple years, with great results. This product can be used on all your laundry. It is fantastic at removing build-up, especially in dishcloths and towels, and because it's all-natural it's also safe for sensitive skin allergies (my son has eczema and has no reaction to this!), and we also use it for our sons cloth diapers.

Vangoo Baby Boutique and Rockin' Green are giving away a bag of detergent to one lucky winner! Leave a comment for each entry, and don't forget to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win!

Check out all their yummy scents, and tell me which one you'd pick!
Like Vangoo Baby Boutique on Facebook
Like Rockin' Green on Facebook
Like Busy Bunch on Facebook
Follow my blog with GFC
Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway

Open to Canada and US residents. Giveaway ends Saturday, July 30th. Good luck!

and the winner of the Ann Kelle bundle is . . .

2011-07-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

Thank-you so much to the Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring this giveaway! I hope you all had fun picking which is your favorite print in the new Urban Zoologie line from Ann Kelle!

And the winner is . . .

Congratulations to Hueisei!

And there's another giveaway going up on the blog tomorrow;

it's not fabric this time, but something I'm a big fan of, and we all use!

Thanks for visiting!

Riley Blake Giveaway Time!

2011-07-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Riley Blake is having a contest going on for a chance to win free fabric, a beach cruiser bike, or even a Caribbean cruise?! Every entry counts as a chance towards the cruise ~ and you still have time to enter a quilt into their current contest (closes Aug 17th) and their Home Decor contest is starting Sept 7th!

Now, take a look at these generous prizes being given away as an incentive to get some of those entries in!

A Fat Quarter bundle of Hoo's in the Forest by Doohikey Designs. . .

Some fun Riley Blake trims and buttons . . .

and a Layer Cake of Sugar & Spice by the Quilted Fish. . .
Want to get your hands on one of these lovely prizes?! Please leave a comment for each of the entries below, and remember to leave an email address if it's not included in your profile:

Submit your entry to the contest on Facebook
Blog about this contest and giveaway (you can copy this post if you like)
Follow the Riley Blake blog
Follow Our Busy Little Bunch blog

Giveaway ends on Saturday, July 30th. Good luck!

and the Ellie Inspired winner is . . .

2011-07-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Gill ~ I'll be in contact with you!

And THANK-YOU to Ellie Inspired for sponsoring this giveaway!

Check back Monday for a BIG giveaway sponsored

by Riley Blake ~ you're going to LOVE this one!

Ann Kelle Fat Quarter Bundle GIVEAWAY

2011-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ann Kelle's Designer Select Fat Quarter Bundle

Urban Zoologie Collection

A Fat Quarter Shop Exclusive!

Ann Kelle has specially selected 12 prints from her Urban Zoologie collection

along with 3 coordinating Kona Solids for this special bundle.

Would you like to win this beautiful bundle?! Just leave a comment below letting me know which is your favorite print!

For an extra entry, follow my blog

(so I can get you more awesome giveaways like this one!).

Winner will be picked by random.org on July 19th. Good luck!

Accuquilt Bust My Stash Photo Challenge!

2011-07-12T09:21:00.001-07:00

Bust My Stash Photo Challenge

Have you stared at your fabric stash and wished that you had the time and energy to cut up your fabric for future projects? AccuQuilt has the answer! Click on the following link to participate: http://on.fb.me/qtyUoq or go to AccuQuilt’s Facebook page and click “Like”. Then go to the ‘Bust My Stash’ tab under their profile picture and upload a picture of your fabric stash. Submit your photo by Friday, July 22^nd and you’ll be eligible to win a GO! Mix & Match 12” Starter Set. The photo with the most votes by July 31^st wins! Photos will be voted on by viewers and fans of the AccuQuilt Facebook page using the following criteria: relevance, creativity, and originality. Share with your friends during the voting period to increase your odds of winning!

Good Luck!

And if you haven't signed up for your free Accuquilt patterns yet, you can do that HERE.

Ty Pennington bag . . .

2011-07-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

I ordered some of Ty Pennington's Impressions fabric in home dec a little while back, knowing I wanted to make it into a larger purse for myself. I finally cut into it today, and used the Phoebe purse pattern. I am so excited that I can carry around this fabric now, instead of just admiring it when I walk into my craft room.

This fabric is on sale for 50% off at the Fat Quarter Shop if you want to get your hands on some ~ I loved working with it, and am tempted to get some more at this price, anyone else need a new bag?

And if you come back on Wednesday, I'm going to be hosting a giveaway sponsored by The Fat Quarter Shop ~ a beautiful bundle of 15 fat quarters of a newly released line! You'll have to check back to see which one it is!

Linking up to Craft-O-Maniac, Sew Modern Monday, Making the World Cuter, and Sew Many Ways.

Ellie Inspired Pattern Review and GIVEAWAY

2011-07-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

I've got a great giveaway for you today from a fabulous childrens pattern designer, Ellie Inspired!

I love that the Ellie Inspired patterns are classic, but with a modern and fun twist. They're the kind of dresses that Daddy loves to see his little girl wear! They can be made up with dressier fabrics for a formal look, or more fun fabrics for everyday.

The pattern I made was picked out by my oldest daughter ~ it's called Pixie Girl and has lots of ruffles and girly appeal!

She also picked out the fabric, and wanted a fabric flower on the waistband and matching hair accessory.

I think she's pretty pleased with the finished result!

Here's how to enter the giveaway: Just tell me what pattern you'd pick from Ellie Inspired!

If you'd like some additional entries, you can become a Facebook fan of Ellie Inspired, follow my blog, tweet this giveaway, or share this giveaway on your blog or Facebook (leave a comment for each entry).

Winner will be picked by random.org on Friday, July 15th! Good luck!

And the winner of the GO! Baby is . . .

2011-07-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Janet! I'll be in contact with you! And if you check out Janet's blog, you'll find a giveaway that includes some Sherbet Pips :)

I'm working on some more GO! projects right now, and with a pattern designer (a pattern review and giveaway are coming up soon), and it looks like there might be a sponsored fabric giveaway in the works too!

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful long weekend!

Riley Blake Quilt Contest

2011-06-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the quilt contest on the Riley Blake Blog? They're hosting a contest for quilts made with Riley Blake fabrics, and there are some great prizes!

Camping Shower Bag tutorial . . .

2011-06-28T12:05:00.001-07:00

Our family is going to enjoy some campgrounds this Summer, and one of those 'fun' evening activities involves wrapping up the shampoo bottles, shaving cream, and other essentials in a towel, bringing them to the bathroom, and hoping you don't lose anything along the way (or leave them behind!). This is why I came up with the idea of the 'Camping Shower Bag.'

This little bag is lined with PUL (polyurethane laminated fabric); PUL can be found at most fabric chain stores, and it provides a waterproof layer between the contents and outer fabric. The straps on the bag can hang off one of those handy hooks found in most changing areas attached to the shower, which also stops me from placing my bottles and razor on the floor of the shower ~ I can just reach out and grab what I need. The outside pocket keeps anything you want to keep dry, or put anything sharp (like your razor), because razor + PUL = bad.

So here's the steps! Please let me know if anything needs better explaining or is missing! Seam allowance is 1/4".

Step one ~ Cut out your pieces.

For the outer bag ~ 9" x 27". For the pocket ~ 6" x 13". For the straps ~ cut two of 4" x 21" (or a bit longer if you prefer to carry on your shoulder, I like mine to just hang on my arm). For the interior (PUL layer) ~ 9" x 24".

Step two ~ Attach the pocket.

Sew the two pocket side seams right sides together. Turn rightside out and press. Tuck in the unfinished edge about 1/4 inch and press. Center the pocket on main outer bag piece, about 4" from one of the top edges (making sure the unfinished pocket seam is to the bottom). Topstitch the two side seams and bottom edge, making sure to stitch the bottom edge seam closed.

Step three ~ Prepare the straps.

Press straps, making sure to conceal all raw edges.

The most common method of doing this is by pressing in half, then again in quarters, making the finished strap about 1". I find this method a bit bulky on the one edge, and have come up with my own method. I'll try to explain it, but the pictures probably speak for themselves.

First press in both side edges about 1/4" and then bottom edge 1/4". Bring top edge down to about 1/2" from bottom pressed edge, press again. Then bring up bottom edge to top and press. My finished straps are about 1 1/4".

Topstitch close to both long edges of each strap. Set aside.

Step four ~ Prepare bag pieces.

Fold main piece in half (no need for a bottom seam), and sew side seams of main bag, right sides together. Serge or zigzag raw edges.

Make the bottom corners of the bag ~ do this by pushing out corner, and measuring three inches across, mark with a pen. Sew on this line. Trim excess fabric from corner, and serge or zigzag. Repeat for other corner.

Repeat 'Step four' for PUL piece of fabric.

A couple tips when working with the PUL: try to avoid using pins, you don't want to poke holes within the main part of the bag. Never use an iron on an item containing PUL. Serging or zigzagging unfinished edges gives strength to the finished product, but lowering the blade on your serger is a good precaution; and stay beside the initial seam. And if you do find a couple pinholes in your finished bag, or find it's not containing moisture that well, throw the bag into the dryer on low heat for 20 minutes to 'heal' the PUL and close up any small pinholes. But for regular washing, hang indoors to dry (it can be hung outdoors, but right-side out, direct sun on PUL can damage it over time).

Step five ~ Assemble bag.

Press top edge of main piece down 1/2" and then again by 1".

With main fabric wrong side out, place inside PUL layer, wrong sides together. Tuck PUL layer as far as it will go into the top edge of main fabric piece, and sew along bottom edge of the turned-down main fabric. (I did use pins for this part, but make sure they are well out of the way of the seam).

Step six ~ Attach the straps.

Pin the straps to the main bag about 1 1/2 inches from side seams, and making sure to stay above the bottom of turned-down edge.

Sew the straps to bag ~ I stitched an 'X' inside of a square for added strength.

And there you have it! A finished Camping Shower Bag! It fits up to four bottles, my brush, and my razor. It will also come in handy for the gym and swimming this Summer.

And would you look at that?! I just sewed something for me! Now how often does that happen?

A 'Welcome Baby' gift . . .

2011-06-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

A friend in my church was just blessed with a baby boy, and the big sister of this new babe is one of my oldest daughter's best friends. So Elayna and I pulled some fabric (bright flannel solids and some construction prints) and made a special 'welcome baby Kyle' blanket for him. And I must say, that making a little blanket was much more enjoyable for me than making a meal :)

linking up to the Sew Darn Crafty Party and Sew Modern Monday.

Free Patterns from Accuquilt!

2011-06-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Accuquilt is giving away 22 free patterns for new newsletter subscribers! Just click on the link to get yours and start planning those beautiful projects!

Fold-Away Shopping Bags (aka Last-Minute Teacher Gifts) . . .

2011-06-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

My girls really wanted handmade end-of-year teacher gifts this year, and I didn't really think I'd get to it. But then I came accross this tutorial; and in no time at all, these little fold-away shopping bags were done. I've made something similar to these before, and try to keep one in my purse ~ it's come in handy many times!

Linking up to Confessions of a Craft Addict.