Some new creations

I've been busy making things all (for) week(s) and some things have not turned out as planned. Mostly because I make things up as I go -especially when I get a new idea, and just go for it without thinking the construction through....I'm also pretty critical of my own work.

I made a bag like this for myself for the Country Living Fair-you may remember...
I received a few compliments so I decided to make more. I haven't made totes in awhile.
One I botched-using my last bit if fabric ! I had to dig online for a day or 2 to find someone who carried any-it wasn't that easy but I did finally find some.
This one I think turned out nice, but I'm not sure how sturdy it is.
I wouldn't put ten books in it but -the things I carry around daily in my purse would be fine. Or a knitting project or 2?
So, I'm contemplating taking some photos and putting it in the shop. What do you think?


I also made a 'Scrappy' Pouch with the same bird fabric. This one I did list in the shop.


I love making the collage part itself more than the putting the pouch together part... I could choose prints, bits of trim and buttons all day.



Here's the back view. I decided to put the zipper on the back -it's a little easier and doesn't show on the collage side that way. I top stitched the zipper with some random scallop stitch. Everything is meant to look scrappy and frayed.


It's Hallowe'en and I should work a little more, and get ready for trick or treating-
Have a Happy safe one :)

Some Fall Photos

Red Trees

Orange Trees

Red Trees in a field

Red Trees all in a row

Yellows and Oranges.This tree looked like it had red pompoms

Midwestern Fall. I've never seen trees these colors before.

Leaves

I took my camera outside and took some photos of the Autumn leaves.
I must say I have never seen colors like these-or else I just don't have a memory of it. Especially these red trees and bushes. Now I want one for my yard but I don't know what they are.They are everywhere here.


I was actually driving around with the camera around my neck-(yes, stopping first ) but then I realized I was taking photos through the glass and that probably wasn't too good.

So I'll try and take some better ones later.

I also made another hat.I love these 'Pony' needles. I believe they're plastic but they are slightly flexible and not too cold.



O.k, I'm going to go take some more photos now ...
Have a Happy cozy day :)

A study in orange and new stash

No, my deck is not really that orange (chosen by previous owners). I like to think it's a more faded redwood color. I want to stain it dark brown myself. Or maybe an antiqued blue green ? Not sure if anyone else in the house would go along with me on that one.

I spotted something in a magazine recently that inspired me to make a bag with boiled or felted wool. Of course I didn't have enough of any kind of wool 'in stock' and especially not in the color I wanted, so I went to Joann's and bought off white wool and dye, and dyed it myself!

This photo is not a good representation of the color it turned out to be. I mixed teal and apple green..It's sort of a 'light blue green aqua'.That's a color, right?..Can't believe I just sprinkled a few drops of this and a dash of that and got exactly the color I wanted.

This bottom photo, is more true to life~except for the deck ;)

I bought some other goodies to go with it too like orange cotton, embroidery floss and tulle.


I also found the newest Amy Butler fabric, there on the left. I love the dark purples.

and some more I forgot to take outside with me.

Now if I could just get up some of the energy I need to make my ideas...Better get to work!

Autumn hats

Finally today was a little warmer. And tomorrow is supposed to be warmer still.
Meanwhile, I have been knitting up a storm.

This is the Slouchy Copy Cat Hat. It has a sort of faux cable look to it. This first one wasn't as slouchy as I would've liked. So I made this one:

I think I used a size 6 needle for the ribbing and a 9 for the body of the hat. I absolutely love this yarn, so I am keeping this hat for myself :) The first one will be a present.

The yarn for both are from Araucania. I lost the tag for the first one but the 2nd one is called Azapa. (You can see the colors better if you click the Azapa link there just above). It comes in several candy~like colorways. I bought the pink and purple too.
I plan on making a few more of these hats for gifts-they're pretty quick , pretty easy and look good too. My kind of hat !
Have a cozy day :)

Flora, Fauna and not so Merri-weather

It seems that at least a few people agree with me that Fall has been skipped. Maybe it will come back before Winter kicks in? I sure hope so. I was born, and have lived in California for years, but really missed the seasonal changes our family grew up with in France too.

Yesterday, I decided to make a new style of cell phone cozy in fabrics that remind me of a walk in the woods on a crisp Autumn day there.
I'm a little embarrassed to say it took me at least 2 days of trying to get this cozy the right size and shape for my phone. It's a bigger kind of phone than I'm used to so it needed a new case.
This case , or cozy- I like that word right now, brr... is squishy and padded with cotton batting. I usually like to add vintage buttons to my projects but this fabric is busy enough. Instead I outlined the toadstools in green thread. It's a pretty different look for my shop.
Did you know that toadstools , or more specifically Amanita Muscaria, are considered symbols of good luck in Germany and other European countries?
I've been working on some knitted hats too for my Christmas gift stash....I'll try and get those pictures up for you tomorrow : )
Stay warm.

It's Fall

We made this wreath this past weekend using vines from our yard.The orange embellishments are from Joann's.
Fall, or Autumn here feels like Winter in California. I used to say Fall and Spring were my favorite seasons. I certainly don't remember it being this cold already!
It's been awhile since I lived in France but according to weather.com it's about the same there right now as it is here. Seems like we went from a hot humid Summer to cold and Winter~like overnight. Where was the 'happy medium' ?
What's your favorite season?

I'm trying to design a few new goodies for the shop and the design process is always the longest part for me....Stay tuned.

Some new goodies sent on their way

My Mom went back to California to visit family for the week. I secretly wish I could have gone along~it's rainy, dreary and getting cold here. And I'm homesick.
I made some goodies to send along with her ...
The hat (above) , it's one of the few lace knits that do not give me much trouble to knit up...

I also made these "Little Wallets" from Valori Wells. They were a fun way to use some small pieces of fabric :)



I made the 'sanglier' (or boar, in English) wallet for my sister...I have a story about 'sangliers'... she'll maybe understand why I chose it for her ~it reminded me of where we used to live....



When we lived in France my Uncle, who is about my age, took 3 of my little siblings to the tennis court...The ball, of course, flew over the fence and landed in some brush nearby...He, and the 3 under 6 year olds, all left the court to get the ball....Zoom~Out of the brush ran one wild sanglier mommy and her babies...
Have you ever seen a wild boar run?! They dart back and forth and it's quite scary.
My Mom was not too thrilled to hear the story,but quite relieved they returned safely.
Anyway, when I saw the fabric I thought of that and thought she'd like it....

I also 'have' a Johnny Depp fan (or several) in the family, who once mentioned she would like one of my coffee sleeves if I could make one to fit a coke cup to catch the condensation , so I made this as a little surprise.

Hope they like their goodies :)