Amy Butler's Sophia Carry All

I made a Sophia carry all to accompany my Weekedner bag! It was OK, I had a few issues with it, and ripped a few seams, but now feel comfortable with her bag patterns. I made both with uber clearance fabric ($1.50 a yard!) so maybe next time I will chose a bold flower print to make it look a little less cutesy. I do like the birds though...

I also tried my first headband...

It's a cute project for scraps, when I get a chance I'll post the tutorial!

And, of course, a puppy shot! They have claimed the wicker furniture in the sun room as their favorite chew toy...

Puppies!

Well, a dog had puppies under a storage shed where Kevin works.

It was hard for Kev when he realized that there was no animal control or ASPCA in Helena, Arkansas where he works. This means there are a lot of strays, and local teens will shoot or torture the strays for fun. Pretty horrible. The momma dog has stayed in the fenced campus (chemical plant and research building) avoiding that fate, but who can control the puppies from roaming when they get older? There was no place to help find homes for them. So, like the big softee he is, Kevin brought the pups home this past weekend Thursday since they had weened. The mom is being taken care of by the workers, they are taking her to the vet to get fixed and have a dog house for her they placed further away from the storage area. They are hoping to find a home for her. I met her last week when we went down to see the pups, and she was the sweetest dog.

The mom was very affectionate with the girls when we visited, which made me think she was abandoned.

During our visit, the pups came out, and when Kevin asked if we could bring them home to find them homes in our area, how could I say no?

Because there were six, we put a blankie down in the garage for them, and gave them a bath. Here they are clean and sleeping. Friday we took them to the vet for their first shots and to get dewormed. We knew we were going to keep 2 for us and 1 for his parents, and had to find homes for 3. So Saturday we took the three that needed homes to Evie's soccer game and found them homes. It ended up we knew the three families at least somewhat, and know for sure they were placed in great homes, and will be well loved couch dogs.

Our three are...

Lightning McQueen! Rena was chosen by the chubby male. The name doesn't fit him, the only time he runs is when he hears food hitting the bowl. He is laid back and rolly polly.

Laura! Here is Laura with our neigbor. Laura is Evie's dog. She is the alpha female, fiesty and high energy.

Mitzi! The darker beige puppy is Mitzi, who we are keeping for my inlaws. She is sweet and affectionate.

Here they are sleeping in the garage. They will be inside as soon as they are no longer pooping worms. They are very sweet puppies!

I feel like I finished a Marathon...

of sewing that is! I finished the Amy Butler Weekender!

It wasn't as hard as I thought, just really time consuming because of all the piping. I love it! It is huge, and will be great for weekend get aways! I have the sofia bag pattern I might try next, I have a lot of this fabric left, it was a clearance buy!

Toddler Toilet Seat Carrier Tutorial, part duex

Sew.... the first version of the carrier worked, but left a few things to be desired. For one, it needed to be a little deeper. The flap was nice, but to be able to zip and have it totally contained would be better, and lastly, a loop to hang on the door of the public restrooms would have been nice. So after trial and error... here is version 2

It's a little roomier, so you can prob also throw a little thing of wipes in there too! It zips and has a loop to fit around your wrist or hand from the door when the seat is in use. With the curtain lining for lining, the bag is also great for an ick bag in a diaperbag!

Start with a zipper at least 14 inches long, 2 inch strip for the handle, two 11.5 by 11.5 squares each of lining and outer fabric (I use curtain lining for the inside, like in an ick bag). Keep 2 scraps at least 1 inch by 1 inch handy for the zipper

fold the 2 inch strip in half, open, fold the edges in so you have a .5 inch strip... sew end closed

Cut out  1.5 inch squares at the bottom of each piece for your box corners.

Get your scrap pieces ready, sew one towards zipper from bottom. Then flip and press, and top stitch

repeat with other side, so it looks like this, the tabs should be 10.5 inches apart

take a main fabric and lining, sandwich your zipper and sew.

make sure right sides are together, and main fabric is facing the zipperpull.

fold back and press, then carefully topstitch. Repeat with other side.

attach the handle to one side, where the zipper closes, about 2 inches down from zipper. stitch in place with a 1/8 seam.

with zipper halfway open for turning, fold so main fabrics are right sides together and lining is together. Stitch the sides and bottom, leaving an opening in the bottom of the lining to turn.

sew your box corners, turn, close the hole in the lining, and you're done!

Happy Sewing!

Easy Spanakopita wrap

Xristos Anesti!

I am sometimes at a loss on what to make for lunch. During the week it is just Rena and I, and we usually do sandwiches or soup, quick and easy. Well, here is another quick and easy lunch that the girls both LOVE. My sister is actually to credit for coming up with the recipe.

You need veg oil to fry in

1 bag of chopped spinach, defrosted
a cube of feta, usually 8 oz.
dill
salt and pepper to taste

mix all that in a bowl

then instead of phyllo, you need egg roll wraps, which you cna find with the tofu stuff in a cooler by the veggies usually

on a plate or clean surface, lay out your wrapper. Place about a spoonful of filling in, put one corner up, fold side corners in, and roll!

fry in oil until golden brown

let cool on a papertowl covered plate, some oil will drain.

easy lunch!

spring tote

Most seasons I buy a few fabrics I really like and make a few matching bags for myself so I can change on need. So here is my spring tote. The pattern is  here. It is also in the Winter issue of Quilts and More, one of my favorite magazines.

I love the shape and it holds a lot. So this is my new running around with the kids tote, then I have my shopping cross shoulder purse, and my sweet purse I made last week. I have only scraps left of this fabric, so I am making more accessories. I recently bought the Maggie Bag pattern from Lazy Girl Designs. I kept passing it by until I saw an article about a woman who made them as treat bags for her daughters birthday party, embroidering the girls initials on the back. Then I had to order the pattern! I made one for my camera

These are such easy to make, cute little pouches! I am going to make a few more for the cords and things I have laying about, so I can find them more easily when we travel. They take such little fabric, and scraps of batting. I also plan to make them for the girls birthday party for treat bags, of course!

I am waiting for 2 quilts to come back from the quilter, so I can bind them, and planning out a few table runners from fabric my mother in law bought me to make her some from. In May I want to start another big quilt, and tomorrow I hope to begin work on Amy Butlers Weekender bag, which I started then put aside last year! In two weeks I have to send my machine in for cleaning and service, which means 2 or 3 weeks of no sewing... wonder what I can get done before then....