Ruffles Galore

Hello all my blog friends.  I have been lax.  My focus has been disturbed.  Bob would say it was me that was disturbed.  Not true!!!!  I will defend my uniqueness as just that.  NOT disturbed.

  I have been working on a pattern, no not one to share with you (I wish), but one I bought.  First to give credit to the pattern maker.  It was the Serged Satchel by Indygo Junction.  It is very cute with lots and lots of ruffles.  I was so intrigued by ruffles.  I still am.  I just don't know what there is about ruffles.  Let's see---they are cheerful--happy--carefree----they just make you want to giggle.  Well that is this purse.  Now you will say it is really cute AND it is.  I am just really glad you can't pick it up and check it over.  I kept finding things in this pattern that made little sense to me.  Now 7 years of 4-H and I should be able to read a pattern.  But I am telling you I was confused.  But what I just didn't get I faked.  So next time I will use my ruffler on my machine.  I didn't use my serger.  I was able to do it on my machine.  It turned out ok but will probably go in the bin of no return unless some little girl wants it.  Now so you don't think I am being really mean to the writer of this pattern, in all honesty my main reason for buying and using a pattern is for a technique.  AND from this pattern I learned a few things that I can use in the future.  Maybe I should just buy a really good sewing book and learn or relearn some of this stuff. 

I do think I should do another patchwork tote.  I have a couple I would like to make for gifts.  My sister and my niece would like to have one.  I know they should have already had one and now that I have told you I just will have to get them done.  


So for now I guess I should go.  
Catch ya later
Kathy

The Fun is Back

I started a new bag last week.  I just wasn't sure the fun was back.  I thought maybe I would have to work really hard to get this bag done.  But I started the process.  Pick out the fabric.  Sometimes that is a bigger job than putting the bag together.  Now understand---with my crazy patch bags I need at least 4 and preferably 5 different fabrics that will play well together.  So I went to my Resource Center and pulled the yardage out.  Sorted pieces that would work together and I ended up with my kitchen table piled 3/4 full and at least 5" high with possibilities.  I narrowed that down to 4 piles and called my friend Vanessa who helped with the final decision of which pile to use.

 The job began.  To my surprise I started getting excited about the way it was all coming together.  It was back!!!   The Mojo!!!!!!!  The fun!!!!!!  All of it!!!  It took parts of 3 days to get the piecing done.  And 3 more days to finish the whole bag.  Only a couple hours a day (didn't want to push too hard).  So I entered this tote in a contest.  The friend who helped with the pile choice wants it when it is returned.  Are ya curious now.  Pictures might be nice about now huh.  Ok!!!!   Here it is.  Tell me what you think.

Whoot Whoot

I have reason to celebrate!!!!!!  I feel like the Mojo is back.  I mean really back.  FINALLY!!!!!!  I started 2 days ago picking out fabric.  Oh what a job!!!!!  The Resource Center is in about 11 different places.  But I knew where the yardage was.  That way I skipped over the remnants.  I WILL have to tackle those soon.  I spent one night (about 3 hrs) pulling it all out and sorting into color groups ones that hadn't been already.  I narrowed it down to 4 groups of 5 different pieces.  Then last night I made the decision--no backing out now.  The other 3 are sitting on the sidelines wondering when their turn will be.

So tonight I am getting things started.  I am actually excited.  Spring was the last time I felt like that.  If things work out well, I could make a lot of progress.  We shall see.  If I can not hit to many creative walls it might be done by next weekend.   It's not the putting it together, it's everything I have to do BEFORE I can put it together.  Can't wait to show it to you.

Later
Kathy

I think I found where my Mojo went

This is to all my  friends whose Mojo has left.  I was thinking last night and trying to figure out where this Mojo thing went.  I decided that it is still here it is just waiting for me to get my stuff together before it comes back. 

What I discovered was that I have strayed from the basics. 
Now all of our basics are different.  What I mean by that is the bags you enjoyed making the most that is the basics.  Pull out that much loved pattern. One that you have really enjoyed making.  Pick some fabric that you have in your resource center that you bought because you just couldn't be with out it.  Put the 2 together.  That might be where the Mojo is hiding.  I think mine is peeking out from behind that piece of fabric shouting "Is it my turn NOW!!!!!!"   Well I am thinking it might be.
Just a thought.  Katti Lynn might appear again.


Hope you who have been struggling with that necessary element that YOU need to get back in the groove is hiding somewhere you haven't looked for a while. 


I am going to go check again!!!!!

Getting My Mojo Back

Hello Everyone!!!!!!!  It is pouring in Michigan.  Heaven knows we need it.  The GRASS is CRUNCHING!!!!!!!!!  It is a wonder it doesn't start burning just by stepping on it.  Such as it is in the summer.

But on to the fun stuff.  I am so working on that MOJO thing everyone talks about.  Somewhere this year mine has been misplaced but I am hot on the trail and the big fix.  I had been working (yes I said had) part-time for about 1 1/2 yrs.  I QUIT!!!  Got tired of all the politics.  Yea in a store with 6 employees there was politics.  Mostly by age.  I QUIT!!!  But the sewing had not been happening until the last posting with the bag.  It has been a slow process and is not done yet.  I have been picking out small pieces of leftovers.  I am working on getting something done with them.  I just know I can't throw them out--I must do something with them.  Now mind you some of these are maybe 1" x 4".  Now come on!  This is ridiculous.  But I just know I can do something with them.

I do have enough of those strips left from the Bali Pop pack to make another bag.  I need to find coordinating pieces to go with them.  I have also been playing with some new tools.  Working them into something I think I can use.  So I think going at it slowly I will have the MOJO back before to long.  My sister and niece are wanting bags AND my sister know someone else who might be wanting some for a craft shop.  I can't think that big right this minute though until that elusive MOJO gets back. 

Maybe when I get some of all these little ideas (and pieces) put together I can do more than think and draw I can do.  I WILL let you all know.

It is raining and with little interruption I plan on confining some of that sewing energy today to make some progress. 

Later Kathy

It's Finished

Yes I finished it.  What fun!!!!    What aggravation!!!!!  I am not someone who likes a lot of choices.  Give me 1 or 2 and that's fine.  I HAD TO PICK FROM 42.  It took me 3 weeks!!!!!!  But here is the finished product.  It is the " Purse-onality Plus"  bag by "The Teachers Pet"   Or vice-versa.  I can never remember which one.  But it is very easy to follow if you think you might want to try this one.  You know me and patterns---I don't usually use one--but this one caught my eye.  So here it is.  Lots of pockets--inside and out.

Jelly Rolls & Bali Packs

Where does time go.  It is July already.  I didn't really mean to put you all off and I really don't know what came over me.  But here I am. 

Here is what I have to say and I am sticking to it.  My machines (2) were in the shop getting a good cleaning and tune up.  I think maybe I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't sew.  But I have one back and will pick up the other one tomorrow.  I have been drawing pictures.  Pictures of bags I want to make.  Ideas, ideas and more ideas.  I used to have horses and I was thinking back on those days and kinda missing that whole experience.  Ya know, you can tell all your secrets to those critters and they never tell a soul.  They just look at you and wink as if to say "Your secret is safe with me.  Now give me another flake of hay please."  Anyway I have one idea from those days.  Shhhhh   I can't tell.  It's still a secret.

Presently I am working on a "Teachers Pet".   I can't wait to get it done.  I needed the guidance to put in a drawstring so that it looked good.  This is the pattern I chose to do it.  I never realized it consisted of so many choices.  A jelly roll and in all my out of whack wisdom I chose a Bali Pack (Cotton Candy) instead.  Now at least in a Jelly Roll you have doubles.  BUT in a Bali Pack EVERY one is different and there were 42 choices.  I hate making those kinds of choices.  Give me 2 or 3 maybe but 42 and all I could pick were 19 and I changed that to about 10.  Oh my I didn't think I was ever going to figure out which ones I wanted to use.  But on the upside.   I now have enough left to make another bag my way since I will know how to do the drawstring.  And I have ideas already how I want to do it.

Like I said I should have it done in a day or two and I can't wait to show it to you!!!!!