It's Justified

I didn't work on anything for the craft fairs last night.

But I think it is justified. Instead of making something that I would sell next month at the craft fair I made something that I could sell today. So I think it is justified. One of the girls at the office needed a baby gift. She picked out the pre-pieced fabric. It didn't show in the photo but I used some of the pink satin on the backing of the blanket. Nice to get another yard of that out of the house. When you can catch the fabric on sale it isn't too bad but at the regular price of $16.99 a yard I wouldn't buy it.
Wonder if it would be worth it to make a couple for the craft fair?

Staying Focused

It was very tempting to just do nothing last night. My big fear is the week before the craft fair I am going to be in panic mode so I am trying to stay focused and be productive in small doses now.

I put the snaps on the dozen chenille backed bibs and tied them up last night. I guess at some point I need to count how many I really have. Might be a good job for Kim. She owes me big after sewing the zipper into her homecoming dress.

Someone had sent me a bit of batik fabric with gold veining on it. It actually is a very pretty fabric even though I am not a fan of batiks. I think I am now down to five yards of the pink satin. I pulled out zippers and matched up with fabric for 6 cosmetic bags.

Reality Check

I need a serious reality check. Sewing one small cosmetic bag and giving it away isn't going to cut it for me.

Several weeks ago I had made a tote bag for one of the ladies that works for me out of this fabric. Today was her 60th birthday so I had to use the remaining scraps to make her a matching bag. The bath mitt was one I had made a few months ago.
Need to set some daily goals to get me where I need to be. Yikes those craft fairs are going to sneak up on me fast.

Mom Read This!

To my Mom:
I will call you on the way home from work 5:15ish.

To everyone else:
Sorry to hijack my blog. My Mom is getting DSL installed at her house. She can get to internet but not her email. At least it is nice to know she does come here to read every once in a while.

Forgotten Post

I knew I had sewn more than that before my friend arrrived yesterday. Guess I forgot to post these.

More of Diane's fabric. Actually the last of the fabric. These are the four bibs I showed you the back of in the previous post. All the same front. I just used different fabrics on the back. See the chenille peeking out around that bottom one.

Two dragon fly and one frog tote with matching large cosmetic bags.

Everything In Pieces

Everything is in pieces right now. Teaching my friend how to sew just wore me out yesterday. After she left, I didn't have it in me to sew anything else.

I knew I had to work on items for the craft fair. So I cut and I cut and I cut. Have all the parts ready for 5 tote bags and another 8 cosmetic bags with hopes I will feel like sewing tonight.

The answer to what I use for the backing of my baby bibs and burp cloths.... whatever I can find. The top left is some buttery flannel I found in the clearance bin at Joanns. The upper right is green minky I also found in the clearance bin. Bottom left is pink brushed satin, left over from Halloween costume two years ago that didn't get made for one of Kim's sisters (long story). And my ultimate favorite is chenille, that is what looks like the frayed edges on the bibs. A little bit of chenille comes peeking from the back to the front. I just love the texture of chenille. I also use just plain woven cotton or terry cloth when it coordinates with the fabric.

This should be dinner by the time I get home tonight. If you haven't tried crock pot liners I highly recommend them. It makes clean up a snap. Total of four ingredients. Now that is my kind of cooking.

1 pound beef stew meat
1 can 10 3/4 oz condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can 8 oz sliced mushrooms, drained
1 packet of dry onion soup mix

Cook all of that for 8-10 hours on low.
Serve over wide egg noodles. (oops the noodles make 5 ingredients)
I haven't tried the recipe before but beef and mushrooms what could go wrong? Don't answer that.

In The Bag

I hit my stride making bags.

Ladybug tote bag and turned the scraps into several small cosmetic bags.

Diane do you recognize the fabric? A couple more tote bags and smaller cosmetic bags. The bags are lined with pink brushed satin (left over from a project never started).

I would have gotten more done today but I turned into teacher mode for a couple of hours. A friend from work came by to learn to sew. It set back my progress quite a bit. I guess it was worth it in the end if a she finds a new passion out of an afternoon of sewing.

Another Stack

Another stack done.

I just need to add the snaps to the bibs and another stack will be completely done. Need to take a count of them to see how many are actually complete. Or how many I need to still get done would be more like it.

Victims

I have my three pay it forward victims...

Diane - who we need to convince to start her blog but has a profile. Send her an email from her profile if you want to join her pay it forward.
Erin - check out the 9 patch quilt she is working on.
Mellietronx - you have to have a xanga account to get to her site.

My plan is after the craft fairs and before Christmas to get your packages in the mail. I can't wait to create something special for each of you.

Speaking of craft fairs.

A dozen bibs and burp cloths all rolled up. You can see from the ends I used different fabrics on the backings.

Then I cut out and pinned another dozen bibs and burp cloths with chennille for the backing. Went through two yards of chennille last night. I love that stuff. Minky is nice but there is nothing like a nice cotton chennille. Surprisingly chennille is tough to cut.

Pay It Forward

I was fortunate enough to be selected by the talented Michele at Nostalgic Cafe  for her Pay It Forward. Do you want to get in on some of the action? I can guarantee I won't wait 365 days to fulfill my obligation but it probably won't happen until after the craft fairs in November.

If you would like to receive a handmade gift from me, and are willing to make and send a handmade gift to three of your blog readers, please let me know in the comments section. Once you accept, you will receive something from me within 365 days. In turn, you will have 365 days to fulfill your end of the pay it forward bargain.

Who is ready for some pay it forward fun?