Substitute

Since I haven’t touched my sewing machine in a month (and I need to get reacquainted with it I have a doll quilt and a block for my quilting group due soon) I am substituting my creative outlet with buying fabric that looks so good I could lick it! My newest love is Japanese fabric. I have no idea what I am going to use it all but for now as my machine stares at me and makes me feel guilty daily I advert my eyes to fabric goodness and I feel semi-less guilty.

What I have been up to

I know I have been touch and go these last few weeks. And for awhile it was mostly personal stress and such keeping me back. Lately though I have finally gotten my sewing grove back (as well as a sewing machine that works!). I have been sorely behind on purses and totes for two stores I sell on consignment to in Wisconsin so this past few weekends have been spent cutting and sewing.

This top photo might not show it very well but I am working on more fallish fabrics as well as a whole bunch of purses with corduroy (I love that stuff!) . I am also trying to get even more adventurous with my applique totes.

I know most seamstress have a system of how they get work done. When I am doing large orders I prefer to work like a factory line. I cut every piece at the same time. Sew all of the same parts in groups (outsides, lining, pockets). I always save the straps for last (I hate that part the most). And I finish all of the bags at once. The process is tedious but I like to get instant satisfaction in large amounts so when I finish 20 bags in a day it feels better than doing each one by one and finishing one or two in a day.
So here is hoping by the end of the week I will have large mosaics to share with all of my finished bags as well as shipping them off to the stores that really need them right now. (BTW if my vendors are reading this, thank you so much for all of your understanding, I appreciate it more then I will ever be able to express!)

I think I have a problem

I cannot STOP buying fabric. I dont know what it is. I havent been able to sew recently so to fill that void I guess I have been buying fabric like crazy. These featured have been bought within the last week and there is more I just ran out of table space! Eek, yep I think I have a problem but lets fawn over them anyway!


This first set I bought here. I must have been in a dark mood since they all are all darker tones in person though they are just lovely. Dark and all. No purpose for these right now probably to work into a quilt or purses.


These all came from JoAnn's and are destined to become dresses, skirts or shirts for Leila. Can you tell I am hoping for spring to come soon!


I bought this from JCasa to help her out during her destash, can you believe she sold it?!!?!? It is just lovely. No idea what I am going to make with it right now I am perfectly fine with just petting it!


And the piece-de-la- resistance! I got these from Sew Mama Sew, its Sierra from Anna Griffin and these pictures in NO way do it justice. I love it so much! I bought a decent yardage of the top two for a dress for Leila and a purse for me.

I need to get a handle on my addiction, I am afraid I am starting to pass it down to the next generation! (yep she is still obsessed with bread)


Guess there could be worst things I could teach her!

I think I am in love

I am surrounded by beautiful fabric and I am in love.

I am working on a few twirl skirts for Leila, they should be quick since she is still so tiny and I am hoping as she grows I can continue to make these oh so cute skirts. I am hoping too this will help me with learning to do some patch type work because I really want to dive into quilting soon and I think this may be the transition I need.


I am planning on making three skirts and coordinating peasant tops. If they turn out well I am planning to create a few for Katy's daughter as well since that little girl loves to twirl. According to Katy she absolutely loves to be dizzy which worries her some days. Oh to be two again.

I am thinking that going with bright colors is the best especially with spring fast approaching, even though it is only February all the spring and summer clothes are already out in the store. Its amazing it is below zero and all you see are rows and rows of swimsuits in some of the stores. You have to love big retail.

Besides the super summery fabrics for Leilas soon to be skirts (which by the way took me a good hour to hour and half to pick out. There are so many choices!) I came home to find a box of fabric I had ordered from Fashionable Fabric
They have absolutely GORGEOUS fabric and I have to say this was my first ordered and they are wonderful. Their prices are very competitive and shipping was extremely reasonable. I couldn't be happier, oh and their packaging is so cute! I was blown away and will be ordering from them again soon.

Now to figure out what to do with all of this oh so pretty fabric!

Baby Woes

Leila has been mommy's little helper lately. She likes to flatten out my fabric. She likes to help with the sewing, yes I have learned how to thread a needle with one hand as well as sewing with her in my lap.

Lately however my little helper has been rather crabby and the culprit has finally reveled itself. Leila will soon have her top two front teeth to accompany her bottom two.

I am excited for them to pop through and my happy baby to reappear but I am also having a slight "my baby is growing up too fast" freak out since she will be a year way too soon, it's a huge milestone and the time has flown. She will be nine months in a few weeks and that alone is freaking me out. I have a feeling I will be a wreak at her birthday.

My mom was a comfort though, she told me " I could say the same to you." That woman sure knows how to make her baby girl cry.