Birdie Sling

Here is another Amy Butler bag.  Made from the Amy Butler Birdie Sling Patten. 

This bag is HUGE!  It also has 4 LARGE pockets inside.  It has nice thick straps. 

I used this bag for a weekend trip to San Franciso.  We ended up walking about 3 miles to meet people at a restaurant.  Prob. not the smartest thing to do...walk through San Fran when you really don't know where you are going and what neighborhoods you'll be walking through.  But we made it and are alive to tell our story.  LOL!  Anyway, my point in telling you this story is that this bag was wonderful it held everything my family needed and them some. 

I added the flower.  The instructions for this flower came in another Amy Butler bag pattern...the Madison Bag.

Time Out Cowl

I crocheted a few of these cowls for Christmas presents this year. 

The pattern can be found by going to www.lionbrandyarn.com and searching for "Time Out Cowl" or pattern number 90652AD.  Or try clicking here.  You will need to sign in to get the free pattern.
On this one I added a flower from Nicky Epstein's book "Crocheted Flowers".  It is the Lady Finger Lace pattern.  I used different sized hooks to get the graduated sizes and then stacked them and sewed them together. 

Bath Buddies

These bath buddies were so much fun to make.  They didn't take very long to complete either. 
They are made using Sugar N' Cream yarn.  I used a pattern found here.  You'll have to search for the pattern called "Baby's Bath Buddies."  You'll need to sign in to a free account you set up to view instructions.
The pattern is for a frog and a whale.  However, they show an alligator not  a frog.  LOL!  Now, I want to make an alligator.  :)   
My whale looks more like a dinosaur or monster, too. 
I suppose these could also be used as puppets.  I know I sure thought it was funny when I the puppets told the kids to do their chores.

Dublin Scarf

Time for another crocheted scarf!  Yippee! 
I've mentioned this one a few times on my blog.  Finally, I'm posting THE SCARF! :)

I've used the flower from this pattern on many projects.   I actually made up all 8 flowers that the pattern suggested.  I just couldn't find a way to add them all to the scarf in a way that I liked.  So, I have a few extra to use on other projects.  :)
The pattern for the Dublin Scarf can be found by going to www.lionbrand.com and searching for Dublin Scarf  or pattern # 80883AD.  Or by clicking here.  You will need so sign in to download the pattern. 

McCall's Hobo Bag

I've made this bag twice now.  The first time was a few years ago.  After I finished making this bag the second time, I remembered  "Oh!  Right!  This bag is huge!"  LOL! 
I'd bought this crushed velvet-esque fabric some time ago.  I vowed that I'd find the perfect pattern to make myself a Christmas/winter bag with it.   After I moved around this fabric several times,  I finally decided that THIS was going to be the year to use it.  I debated between two patterns then decided on this Easy Stitch 'N Save  (M5914) pattern that has been discontinued. 

The pattern itself is not bad.  I just don't particularly like how you have to put together the handles.  I also remembered this fact after I finished making it the second time. 

The instructions for this bag have you put a magnetic closure.  I decided to make a zipper closure for mine.  On the inside, there are instructions and a pattern for a cell phone/sunglasses slip pocket.  I used this, and added a zippered pocket on the other side. 

I know, with the lining fabric it's kind of hard to tell what all is happening in this picture.  :) 

Hoedown #46-Dress Up Your Corners

Hello again!
Click here to read all about this week's challenge. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!
Whew!  Today is a special day.  I've been homeschooling my son for the past three years.  Today he is done with homeschooling!   He'll be returning to a brick and mortar school with this move.   I have a whole new respect for those that home school.  :) 
-Ree

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Hambo Stamps-Santa Monster digi
Dies:  Sizzix-Architectrual Accent #1, Flower Petals and Center, PTI-Doily Details Collection
Paper-DCWV

Lovely Clarissa Bag

Since I made this doll for my daughter's student teacher, I thought I should prob. make something for her classroom teacher.  I decided to make her the 'Lovely Clarissa Bag' from the book "Bags The Modern Classics" by Sue Kim.  Oh, there are some great bags in this book.  Her web site has great things as well www.ithinksew.com . 
No, you are not seeing double.  I decided that I should just go ahead and cut out 2 bags.  I just got this book and was itching to make something from it.  Knowing myself like I do, I knew that I most likely wouldn't want to give this bag away.  So,  I made two.  :)  Boy, I was soooo right about myself!
The instructions and illustrations are excellent.  The only small thing I couldn't find was the seam allowance.  There are lots of instructions at the front of  the book that can apply to all the patterns...and I only glanced through those sections.  It is possible that I overlooked this information.  But I did glance though it trying to find the seam allowance a couple of times.  I went ahead and used a common 1/2 inch seam allowance. 
One other complaint is that the patterns given are printed double sided and overlapping on two tear out poster sized sheets.  What a MESS!  I used white tissue paper to trace the pattern.  I don't like tissue paper patterns much.  At the beginning of the book it did say to tape pieces of paper together and put them and the tear out sheet in the window to trace the pattern.  Still it is such a MESS!  Although, from what I can tell each pattern marking is labeled with the name of the bag.  It does still get confusing with all the lines crossing and dots here and there. 
All that being said, I am very happy with the purchase of this book.  The patterns are "Classic".

 I created and added the flower myself.

 Inside one bag I used a larger slip pocket on one side and a zippered pocket on the other.

 On the other bag I used the instructions found in the front of the book to make a pocket.

I also finally remembered to create a label for my bag.  I stamped it with Paper Trey Ink Stamps.  I sewed it into the side of the pocket.