Gnot Your Average Bag!

I think i'm FINALLY caught up on all projects and swaps and bees, which means....I finally had a chance to just sew for fun!

And gosh, did I ever!

Thanks to a tutorial by Fishsticks and Fries, I made my first messenger style bag!

Hits the spot, doesn't it? See what I did there?

I've loved this Gnome Sweet Gnome fabric by Michael Miller since it came out. I've made several tote bags and baskets for others in this fabric, but nothing for myself. Until today! It make the perfect messenger bag.

Another Michael Miller fabric that I love and is now out of print and impossible to find is the Gnomeville fabric. I still have some scraps and today I Dr. Frankensteined it together for an interior pocket.

It's alive! 

That's right, this is a gnometastic bag and I can't wait to wear it to flea markets, craft shows, and just out and about. 

Hugs in all the right places.

Hip to be Half Square

The Quilt Around the World II quilting bee continues. The blocks are zooming in and out of homes and across the globe. This experience has been particularly wonderful for me because I've had a chance to try my hand at different styles, designs, and techniques. Everyone is always so supportive of what you create.

One member of the bee asked for blocks comprised of half square triangles in a orange, blue, gray, and white color scheme. Her hope is the finished quilt would have an airy feel. The completed blocks that came my way were gorgeous chevron and other triangle related patterns in such amazing fabrics.

I had this one print, a light blue ocean with shells and coral...that I just really wanted to include in this block. I wasn't quite sure how I would use it, and then I flipped through my copy of 99 Modern Quilt Blocks and found Susanne Woods "Set Sail" pattern. It was on.

Ahoy Matey!? More Like "A-ha Matey!"

Ahhhhh! What's more airy than a sailboat? I totally went outside the box with this one, but it was well received and I feel like it looks like it's sailing on a moving sea.

Here is a look at all of the blocks for this quilt.

Dino-Mite!

It's time to dust off the "Yellow Brick Road" quilt pattern, because there is some fabric that is just begging to be cut up! Also, a friend asked me to make her awesome daughter her first crib quilt, so, you know..there is that too.

The theme is dinosaurs. Dad would like the dinosaurs to be more realistic, while mom is all for that..but also recognizes she doesn't want her daughter scared to go to sleep at night.

That's why I love reversible projects...everyone wins!

Roarin' good time!

I found a great bundle of Michael Miller prints on Etsy, including the "Land of the Lost" print. The colors are so fun and fresh and the design somewhat whimsical. Those fabrics will be used for the pattern, while the more realistic dinosaur print from Timeless Treasures will be bordered by the Riley Blake leaf print for the back. My thought is the green leaf print will brighten up the darker dino print, plus..I thought leaves were a nicer touch than raw meat. (Are you roaring with laughter?)

When it's all said and done, I'm expecting this to go over with a big bang...too soon?

Totes Ending the Silence

I "totes" missed blogging in February. Time to March forward...

[Paper] Piecing It All Together!

It's only January 6th and I've already left my comfort zone and tried something new....Paper Piecing!

This block is for Moni's Stars & Pinwheels quilts, which is part of the Quilt Around the World Quilting Bee.

I followed the Arkansas Traveler Block tutorial by Lee at Freshly Pieced. This tutorial was part of the 2011 Summer Sampler Series. I've admired these tutorials for quite some time and finally took a stab at one today.

After a few stops and starts, and figuring out how to keep my diamonds in a diamond shape, I have to say I'm a fan of paper piecing. I may need to lengthen my stitches, as getting rid of the paper at the end was a bit of a chore.

Feeling inspired by today's success, I learned that there is a Lucky Stars Block of the Month club at Don't Call Me Betsy. Each month she will send out two, paper-pieced star templates. Of course I missed the special pricing, but this sounds like a great club and I signed up.

I'm thinking I want to try to do my stars in the circa 1934 fabrics with text print backgrounds. We'll see!

Anyway, I digress. Here is a look at Moni's quilt in progress:

Beverly Hills What A Thrill....or Goodbye 2012.

One of my favorite movies to put on in the background while sewing is "Troop Beverly Hills."

Looks-wise this film may be a time capsule, but the message is still there...you can be the person you want to be as long as you believe in yourself. And look fabulous while trying.

I still can't believe that there are people out there who like my creations enough to purchase one or two at a craft show, or to commission me for special items via my Etsy store. These small acts justify my fabric buying obsession and make me feel like the cool crafters on the blogs I follow. I craft for fun and I create as an outlet of my everyday "real world" life.

The support from this community and from my Courtastic Creations "basket heads," as one affectionately refers to herself, means the world to me. I just love making creations that make people happy. Searching for the right fabric that represents what YOU are looking for and then crafting it into an item, such as a fabric basket or a tote bag.

You all make me feel fabulous and in turn you let me make you fabulous things.

Thank you for a wonderful 2012 and I'm looking forward to 2013.

A Bag That [Not] Only A Jersey Girl Could Love

I live next to this town. True story.

In keeping with last minute 2012 posts, as I spent most of December keeping up with last minute orders and playing catch up on my quilting bees and sewing swaps, I'd be remiss if I didn't post about this particular tote bag.

Especially considering the fact that I am a bonafide, New Jersey Clam Digger, meaning I was born and raised at the Jersey Shore.

Ever hear of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band? Well, the E Street they speak of is in Belmar, NJ, which was the town next to the town where I grew up. I spent a good chunk of my time at the Belmar Boardwalk, at the Belmar Marina, and on Main Street as cool places like Nostalgic Nonsense.

This area was hit very, very, very hard by Sandy. The boardwalk I grew up on is gone and while I still only live about 20 minutes from Belmar, I haven't been down to see the actual devastation. That will make it real. I want to remember how it was with the old McDonalds and Playland (yes, that disappeared long ago, but for nostalgia's sake, I have to mention).

Just a few towns north of Belmar, along Ocean Avenue, is Asbury Park, NJ. Asbury Park is a town that has been having a recovery since I can remember. A champion of Asbury Park is Bruce Springsteen. Yes, while they practiced on E Street, Bruce used to play his guitar on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. I now live one town over from Asbury Park.

This is the stuff of Jersey Shore legend.

Understanding this will help you realize how excited I was when I was asked if I could make a Bruce Springsteen bag. No easy feat and not one I wanted to take lightly. While I'm not as die hard of a Bruce fan as many of my fellow New Jerseyans, I still respect what he has accomplished and what he means to the Jersey Shore.

Therefore, this Jersey Girl is proud to show you the Bruce Springsteen inspired Totes Reversible Tote. A tribute to Bruce and the Big Man, with a nod to the Jersey Shore.

Tramps like us may have been born to run, but bags like this were made to be worn.