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Molly the 1st grader is back to school and I am back to the Quaker Arts Festival.   I’ll be spending all weekend selling (hopefully) some stuff I’ve been slaving over for the past few months. 

I thought I’d share a few of my new favorites.

A new smaller style too.

I changed up the gadget cases a bit and added a handle.  This way if you carry a polkadotbug bag you can loop in right around the handle.  Nice, eh?

I really like both styles and I’ll have both for sale at the festival.  I guess I’ll see which people prefer. 

The other awesome thing is that I can even offer both styles on my website.  That’s right, my website!  The website is very close to launching and there will be lots of goodies to choose from once it gets rolling.  It’s so pretty- I can’t wait to share it!

Off I go with bags in hand.  Gosh I hope I sell some!

Have a great weekend.

Where is the summer going??  We aren’t really having “summer” here in Buffalo.  It’s been cooler than summer should be and raining always.  The pool hasn’t even thought about entertaining visitors. 

However, we escaped to the Cape.  We spent a week on the sunny beach and the weather was wonderful.  Andrew and I also celebrated our birthdays.  32 if you’re wondering.  :)

This is my favorite picture of me from the trip.  The little one really was having fun even though it appears that she’s being tortured by the look on her face. 

Molly never wanted to leave the water.

Look at the way my guy is looking at me.  Probably wondering why the heck I’m taking a picture of myself.  I think it turned out pretty neat though.

So, back on the home front I’ve been doing a little crafting.   I really missed my machine after being gone for 10 days.  I ran across a few projects that I thought were too cute and had to try.  It turns out I really like them.  Time to start prepping for the big Art Fest in September.

These little gadget cases are too cute. 

They’re just the right size to hold a cell phone, ipod, blackberry, etc.  There’s also a pocket for some cash or a few cards.

Or some gum, which you can always find in my bag.

You can also use it for a small camera.  Cute.  The handy clasp lets ya snap it onto your purse or bag so it doesn’t go far.   What a fabulous project for scraps and smaller pieces of fabric.

Another great use of scraps…

Gotta protect your shades.  These and the gadget cases are lined with fleece to keep everything scratch free and cushioned. 

Ok- I hope that wasn’t too much for one post, but seeing as I only post about once a month now I felt like I should get a bunch in.

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Ahhh…. Smell the sage.

Hug some squirrels.

 

And hang all your pretty dresses on a clothes line.

Since summer here in Western New York has been pretty rainy so far, I stayed in and made some sweet dresses. 

It’s high time to start putting these stacks of fabric into action.  

I am definitely back in one of those sewing swings.

They seem to come and go.  I was in a lull for a while.. but I’m back. 

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far.  We’ll be watching Molly graduate from kindergarten on Thursday.  Amazing. 

Oh, sorry about the kinda blurry pics.  Blame my husband.  :)  Just kidding Andrew, blurry pics are better than no pics!

Since my last post my hair has already started losing the color, revealing the wonderful world of white hiding underneath.  The orange scare turned out to be nothing.  By the time I went to rinse the color had changed from orange to crazy dark.  After washing and such, my hair was just fine, it actually turned out a littler darker than usual. Who knows.  I never buy the same box and don’t want to pay the price at the salon, so I never know what I’ll get.  I guess I just love the suspense.

Why can’t I have her hair?!

A few days after my last post Andrew left on a trip across the world to China.  He went to stay with cousin Mandy (also husband Renny and baby Anya) and met up with cousin Kate as well.  Hi guys!  It was a good time for him to go because family is living right there in Beijing and will be moving back to the States soon, we think.  He had a wonderful time exploring a land he’s always wanted to see and food he’s been longing to eat.  I myself prefer to stay pretty much planted close to home.  I guess that’s one of my flaws.  It’s probably more exciting to be married to someone that wants to travel, but I really love being home and really hate being on airplanes.  Guess you can’t have it all right?

While Andrew was away I had a week alone with the girls.  We did very well.  Molly was missing Daddy a lot but we made it through the week with emails and the occasional video chat over Skype.  It was so weird to know that he was scaling the Great Wall while we were sleeping tight on the other side of the earth. 

Molly spent the week making books about China and how it was her worst enemy.  She hates places that are so far away that Daddy wants to go to.  I tried to tell her that it wasn’t China’s fault, but wasn’t extremely successful.     

 

Here is proof in writing that China is indeed her worst enemy. Along side is a picture of Molly crying for Daddy at the airport and me trying to comfort her and tell her that it’s ok.  It was actually quite heartbreaking. 

So we’re happy he had fun and even more happy to have him back home.  I realized that I’d probably make an awful single mom.  For one thing, I can’t remember things so well anymore.  I had notes for myself all over the place.   I mean, who can remember that their child needs to bring a green pepper into school on Friday!? 

I’m sitting here with the fumes of my hair dye overtaking me and my scalp is burning.  I’m slightly frightened of this new color I chose.  It’s frothing up to be a very orange color and I have a feeling I might be turning into a red head or more of an orange head actually.  I love red hair, but not so much on me.  Just doesn’t look right on someone with very dark Italian features.

Anyways, I figured that since I shouldn’t be dealing with precious fabric while my hair is oozing with red smelliness, I could be posting.  I do realize this is something I haven’t done in a while.  I have been a very busy girl.  I think. 

I’ve been working on a bunch of custom orders and a few projects, which we talk about at a later date.  I’m overly anxious about spring arriving, 70 tomorrow!!! 

I’ve posted a few of my new bags on flickr, but not on my blog so I’ll throw them on here in case you haven’t seen them.

I love scooters.

And Good Folks.

This bag I just made yesterday for a friend to give her mom on her birthday.  Good old Amy Butler classics.  I’ll never stop loving them.

I also made a baby boy gift set.  I love these colors.  My number one fan and customer (my friend Jen) custom ordered this for her sister-n-law.  I don’t know what I’d do without Jen to keep me busy!   

Some bibs, some burp rags, a travel diaper and wipes case and a snuggle size rag quilt.

Ok, I better go rinse this out and see how much damage I’ve done!

Michelle!!

Michelle wrote: “Hoping to win either. When it comes to things this cute, I'm not picky!”

Awe!  Thanks so much Michelle.  I just need you to send me an email with your address and your choice of Hazel or Hilda of course.

Thanks to everyone who left me a comment!  I wish I had enough spare time to send you all an owl of your own.  Unfortunately I am deprived of time, sewing time that is.  I can’t get my head out of the Twilight books.  I’m on the last one now and can’t even stand it.  I am so embarrassed but have to admit that I am completely addicted.  I have to keep telling myself that I am not a teenager in love with a vampire (and a werewolf), but it’s hard to believe I’m not.

As soon as I finish this book I’ll be all ready for more updates on creative things.

Ok, I really have to go read.  Edward is calling for me.  :)

It’s been one whole year since I started blogging and sewing for that matter.  I think this means that I need to have my own giveaway to celebrate. 

I guess I’ve come a long way in one year.  Sewing has pretty much consumed my life at this point, and I love it (most of the time).  I think when people say that you need a hobby, they’re right.  It’s really good to have something to look forward to doing, and feeling good about – except when you mess up terribly, of course.  Even so, it’s better that I’m doing something productive. 

Ok.  Here we go.  I had a hard time deciding what to give away.  I asked my peeps and everyone agreed that it should something unique. Something that I make that is a little different.  There aren’t many because I get most of my ideas from other people! 

We decided on an owl.  These are the first I made, so they aren’t perfect but they’re still cute and definitely have personality.

The lucky winner will get to choose between Hazel and Hilda.

Here’s Hazel:

and here’s Hilda:

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to enter.  And of course, if you post about this give away on your blog then you get a second entry.  Just let me know that you did so.  My computer expert husband will do the random number generator thingy to pick the winner.

I’ll leave it open until Thursday April 9th at 5pm.  Be sure to leave an email address too!

And, if you want to see another great giveaway – check out Lily Haven.  I love everything!  It’s seeing these extremely talented people that make me want to try harder to be a good sewer!

Good luck!  Thanks to everyone who reads my blog!

Phew.  We just got back from our month long trip exploring the Caribbean Islands.  You should see my tan.  NOT.  We’re actually still freezing our butts off in the same old spot.  Got teased by a little warmth and then back to frozen.  I’m still winter white with dry skin like no other. I’m honestly not sure what the heck I’ve been doing all this time! 

I made a couple new things though. Like this little lady.

 

And a few little somethings for the pooches.

Meet Sox everyone.  That’s my friend Ellie’s dog. What a cutie.  Even better with a little designer “cowl.”  I also love the blurry owl hanging out in the background.  Our house is hysterical right now.

I’ve made a couple different bag styles.  This one is equiped with grommets and ties.

This one has a little drawstring action.  I love this bag, but you should’ve been here when I was making it.  What a joke.  I’m not sure if someone slipped some sort of drug into my drink or what but I kept making the weirdest mistakes.  I thought I was doing so well.  The best one by far is after sewing on the little casing that the ties go through, I opened the bag to find that I sewed all the pockets shut.  Good thing the kids were already in bed.

Sorry I don’t have much more to share.  I did make a bunch of things but I don’t have pics yet.  I have a show this weekend that I am completely not prepared for.  I have to admit that I have been a bit overwhelmed the past couple weeks.  Not sure why, but I’m gonna put myself together soon.

Hope everyone has a fabulous week!

We’ve been too busy lying around to update my blog.

No really.  We have been busy.  Being princesses.

We spent a lovely weekend away visiting some wonderful friends.  The little kids got to play and the bigger kids (I still don’t like the word adult when referring to myself) got to hang out. 

Molly decided to play a Nintendo DS racing game on the hilly ride back home and threw up all over the place.  We had the pleasure of traveling 4 hours back home with an extremely unpleasant odor in car. 

We all got over our colds/coughs/sinus infections.  Then I was blessed with the stomach virus.  It came out of nowhere and I didn’t know what hit me.  I was completely out of commission.  I’m talking body aches, twisting stomach, headache, chills/sweats – not to mention the obvious that we all know goes along with the stomach virus.  

SO, now we’re good to go.  I hope.  I’ve made a few things but haven’t taken pictures yet.  I just thought I had to say something so everyone knew that I was still around.  I was doing so good with my “resolution” of trying to post more.

Now we just sit around praying for it to get warm enough to go outside.  We hang out by the windows trying to remember what it’s like to play out there.  It’s this time every year that the cold is just too much to deal with.  Depressing. 

This is what we feel like.  Actually this is our Grinch face.  Molly is doing Dr. Seuss week in school so I thought I’d show off my talent.  She quickly caught on and makes this face approximately 80% of the day.