Spring Break!!!

Let the crafting begin!

I've had a busy, but fun couple of weeks. I went to West Virginia for the children's all state choir and a presentation about singing and writing for the teachers. It was a wonderful, wonderful experience. I was surrounded by great teachers and I came home so inspired. The children sang beautifully and the whole group had such a special feeling about it. Althought I sometimes think of teaching and conducting as a "craft" of sorts, that weekend definitely qualified as art!  This is the soprano side of the choir!

I also had a concert at my own school with the third grade classes. Such lovely young singers. Sometimes I think I need to check my ears...am I really hearing what I think I'm hearing? Yes. They sing beautifully and the look like they love what they're doing. I know they were proud of themselves.

So those are TWO reasons why I haven't been crafting. I've made a couple of clutches as birthday gifts for friends and relatives, but just variations on the theme. I learned how to make fabric rosettes, but nothing particularly picture-worthy (besides, a couple of the goodies are still surprises!)

Now I have a whole week to play around. I have some ideas and I spent the morning

at Jo-Ann Fabric! I'm ready!

March Madness

My February Lady Sweater is a disaster!  After dropping a stitch several rows back (too far back to fix), I decided to rip it out and try again.  ARRGH.

UPDATE (March 23)  She's back!  Although it's been too hot to knit (in the 80s!), my February lady Sweater is back to where she was!  Better than ever.  

Gathered Clutch 1.0

This is my first attempt at a new pattern from the book Jill gave me for my birthday.  It's a "gathered clutch" wallet sort of thing.  Other than just liking it, here's what I had to learn how to do.

Read directions carefully!
Cut and measure accurately!
Shorten a zipper then sew it with tab ends!

I don't know if you can see in the photos, but the inside of the wallet has a divider (the polka dots to match the outside decor) and slots for credit cards.  That was a nice (and fun) feature.

Now, here's why this is version 1.0 and I'm going to take it apart:

I need to use a zipper foot to get the stitches closer to the zipper teeth.  I also need to be more careful with the lining on the zipper.  It's a bit too close and can "catch."  Don't you hate when that happens?  If I'm really going to use this some day, the zipper needs to work perfectly.

I need to stitch more carefully around the zipper tabs.  I don't think I did this part right, but when I take it apart, I think I can make it work.

I've also learned to have a bit more respect for the Vera Bradley items (I believe this pattern was "inspired" by some of those clutches).  It's not as easy as it looks to make a quality item. By quality, I mean something that won't fall apart the first time I use it!  I'm sure she has a factory (Hello Fort Wayne, Indiana!)with skilled workers, and I'm just making it in my little sewing area.  I can't imagine the mass production, but I'm ready for the second try. Stay tuned for Gathered Clutch 2.0.

UPDATE:  Gathered Clutch v1.0 debugged 
V2.0 completed!

Amazing how things work out nicely when you actually read the entire instructions and then follow them.  Version 1.0 is fixed, completed, and totally cute.

To prove it wasn't a fluke and that the zipper issues are truly solved, I'm happy to present Gathered Clutch 2.0.  This little clutch is so much fun to make and (again, once I understood the instructions) so quick to sew.  It takes less than a yard of material (scraps) plus interfacing and a zipper.  That's all. After cutting out the pieces, I stitched most of this bag before I left for school this morning.  The finishing touches came after dinner (and before homework!)

Version 2.0 wasn't complete until I attached the official label!  This photo shows the divider and credit card slots a bit more clearly.  The completed bag measures 8.5 inches wide and 5 inches tall.  This gray and gold version is headed to Minnesota.  Thanks for the book, Jill!

Version 3.0