El Cheapo Templates

In the comments from my last post several people commented on my fussy cutting of the gorgeous AMH print I used for this bag.

Well, here's my big secret. Binder dividers.

I had a package of these left over from school a couple of years ago and they make perfect template plastic. They are thick enough to trace around with a pencil, marker or disappearing pen, they are see through and they hold together really well with masking tape!

If I know I'm going to make lots and lots of a fabulous pattern, like the Buttercup Bag or Valori Wells' adorable little wallet), I'll make templates out of divider plastic and then I clip all the pieces together (with the instruction pages) with a gorilla clip and toss them in my pattern basket!

Thanks everyone for all of your well wishes for our Weekend to End Women's Cancer fundraiser last Friday. We raised just over $3500, bringing our team total to about $35,000!!!! It was so much fun. My favourite moment might have been seeing the Harley Davidson-riding guy in leather chaps carry my Buttercup Bag away from the silent auction for $30. He says he bought it for a co-worker's wife. His secret is safe with me (and all of you)! We sold lots of raffle tickets too, and the quilt I made received wonderful compliments, which is always nice.

I've got a busy week...retreat on Saturday to prepare for, and helping get the word out about a Walk for Justice for our friend Pavel.

A Buttercup for summer

Our auction was looking a little thin for last night, so I whipped this up in the afternoon to stop myself obsessing about all the little things I had to take care of for the fund raiser. I'll update you on how things went once all the dust (and cash) settles!

I made this one using a decor weight Anna Maria Horner Drawing Room print. Luscious. Even better because I got it on super-sale when I went to Vegas in the fall.

The bag is lined with a Rouenneries linen-look cotton and the pocket is a Lecien dot (love). I swear I could make Rae's adorable bag in my sleep. They are so quick and easy to make up and people love them! I strengthened the lining with Craftfuse (that I purchased at Jo Ann while we were in Florida for spring break) but I don't like it. Just as wrinkly/bubbly as the Pellon product I was using previously. Ick. It looked fine when I first fused it, but once you do any manipulation of the piece (like turning the bag) it gets all yucky looking! I did my best to press it back into submission. Back to the drawing board on that one.

Hope you are having a spectacular weekend.

School Auction Season

Seems like many bloggers are busy preparing projects for their children's school auctions. I've read about very ambitious projects here and here and undoubtedly there are many more in the works elsewhere!

My children's former elementary school is having a James Bond "Casino Royale" fund raiser this weekend, and even though my kids have moved on, I am happy to contribute. I mean, Rae's sweet Buttercup bags whip up so easily (especially when you've already made about 20 of them for other gifts and auctions!). I think every Bond Girl mommy should have one of these on her arm:

This one is so pretty - it is made from Amy Butler's "Nigella" home dec weight cotton, which is simply gorgeous. A google search found it for a shockingly reasonable price of $13.95/yd here. (hope you're not on a fabric diet).

The lining is a Kona solid which just might be Herb. Unfortunately, my machine didn't really like the only pink thread I had for topstitching, but after picking out twice I decided to leave the few little thread blobs on the bag's inside (man, I really dislike those. I tightened up the top tension, changed the needle, cleaned the bobbin case, all to no avail. My Pfaff and Mettler thread are like oil and water). I was afraid of damaging the home dec fabric with repeated needle-punches....you know how it can get little runs in it? It looks perfect on the outside.

So only me and the generous buyer, and 338 of you need to know (you won't tell, right? Thanks).

Speaking of which, I am completely stunned that so many of you have clicked on that little 'follower' button. Yes, stunned, thrilled, happy, appreciative - all of that and more. That you all want to hang out here and see what I'm making/photographing/blathering on about is incredibly special to me. Thank you so very much. Every time that little counter goes up by one, I feel like I've made a new friend (and no matter what anyone says, that's a kindergarten feeling that I think everyone still loves). A giveaway is in order when that number reaches 350, don't you think? Definitely a milestone I want to celebrate with all of you!

Now, I've mentioned it here before, but if you would like to make these sweet bags to sell at craft fairs or to friends, Rae has a licensed version of her pattern for sale at a ridiculously reasonable price of $10. I bought one just because I was making so many bags and wanted to support her generosity. Her blog sidebar is full of other wonderful FREE tutorials, so definitely pay her a visit.

My Go-To Gift

I just love Rae's buttercup bag pattern. I've made so many as gifts, donations for fundraisers and even 2 for myself. A friend celebrated a milestone birthday today, so I whipped up another one for her yesterday afternoon.

It is made with Joel Dewberry (Ginseng) home-dec weight fabric leftover from making this bag. The interior is Amy Butler's Nigella print, also home-dec.

I knew last time I made it, I wanted a slightly longer strap, but after completing the bag I realized it was too long. Recalling a sweet button I bought at the textile market in Amsterdam a couple of years ago, I came up with a very simple strap-shortening-solution that almost looks like I did it on purpose.

It's snowing like crazy. Should be an interesting soccer practice for D tonight. I bet all of those 12 year old girls will be too busy trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues to pay any attention to their coaches! I know that's what I'd be doing.

Weekend Work and a Shout Out for Democracy

After a biblical start to the day (rain-wise, that is) Monday turned out just ducky. The clouds parted, the sun shone down and everything started steaming. Thick rolls of steamy mist curled off the cedar shakes of our garden shed, off the top rail of the fence, off our neighbour's garage roof, off the bark of the trees. It was a little Hallowe'en-ie out there for about half an hour! All misty, spooky-like. Except it was sunny, so I wasn't afraid.

In fact, Flynn and I went for a mid-morning stroll. I never realized how camo he is at this time of year. Spot the mini-dachshund (just follow the blue leash):

After lots of sniffing, investigating, looking up at falling leaves and generally holding up our walk, he discovered this sweet little faerie-land of mushrooms, with water drops still clinging to their caps.

That certainly was an unexpected little break in our day.

Yesterday I promised photos of my QBTB finishes (and I gotta tell you, I don't have much success making big things while working a retreat, I stick to smaller projects that I am familiar with...that don't require a lot of complicated instructions, so I can socialize, entertain and have fun!) I finished two of Rae's Buttercup Bags that I will donate to a fundraiser silent auction.

Rae offers this bag pattern FREE on her blog Made by Rae, or you can buy a licensed version if you want to sell them!

Okay, here's the Shout Out for Democracy segment of today's post. If you've been following along here lately, or anywhere in crafty blogland for that matter, then you know about the sew, mama, sew Scrap Buster Tutorial Contest. They received 114 tutorial entries!!!! The prize: 3 chances at $50 of fabric from their gorgeous shop. Amazingly generous. The girls decided it was too many entries to judge, so they've thrown it back at us and asked us to VOTE for our favs. The good news is, everyone gets 8 votes, so USE 'EM! Scoot on over there now and exercise your democratic right! Don't delay! And, you know, if you're having trouble deciding which box to tick, the Crop Circle Table Runner can be found in group 2.


The following statement is not a bribe, just a friendly little fyi: If I win $50 of fabric, there's gonna be a giveaway....right here, right quick. With $50, I could buy 5 yards of LOVE! Then, as stated in yesterday's post, I could Share The Love! And, in case you haven't noticed, I really like to share.