The Gamble Life

Green Week Wednesday

I was hunting for cotton fabric with little cars printed all over it and saw this display of green jars.  Because of course, JoAnns "Fabric" Store sells glass jars.  Do they sell cotton fabric with cars on it?  Noooo.

I need the fabric to make shirts for the bunnies I'm making Gus and Abe for Easter.  I'd rather NOT spend $38 for ONE YARD.  Even if it is Liberty of London, that's just too much.  I also need cotton batting, and no they don't carry that either, only polyester or foam.  Tomorrow I'll try the quilting shop and see if I fare any better.

Carrying Cases

I finished up some sewing before the holiday rush...one for my crochet needles (in fabrics to match my latest bag) and one to hold my glass, not plastic!, straws.  I need the case for the straws so I will carry them in my purse instead of forgetting them at home and having to go straw-less.

I love little projects like these; quick and easy and satisfying.

Advent Calendar

Gus and I sewed this one together; he sewed many of the ornaments into pockets to hold our goodies!  I'm very happy with the way it came out, but surprised out how long it is.  I never figured out the distance it would take, just picked sizes I liked.  I still plan to add some fabric or ribbon tied here and there between the different ornaments and also I'm looking for a place to hang it that offers more room.  He was thrilled to find it this morning.

I'm putting a piece of chocolate in most of the days, but also small treats, and notes with a fun activity (I've come up with:  stay up half an hour late reading Christmas stories, go looking at Christmas lights, have hot chocolate after dinner, extra Mommy-Gus time, and make a pumpkin pie (something he likes to do).  I'd like more activity ideas.

Here's a shot of Gus at work on one of the trees in the advent calendar:

Another Bag!

I have a thing about bags.  I love them.  I collect them.  I really cannot imagine ever having "too many" although my husband is pretty sure I passed that point some time ago.  I also love making them.  Here's my latest, pattern from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.  I haven't decided what this bag will be for.  It isn't quite big enough for me to carry everywhere right now because cloth diapers take up a lot of room.  And it isn't quite sturdy enough to be a book/library bag.  It would make a good knitting bag...and I think it would make a good shopping bag at a craft fair or something like that.  For now I'm hanging it on a closet door handle and enjoying it when I walk by.

Handmade Gifts

I am so lucky both that my mother knows how to sew, and sewed when I was young, and that she never really did any sewing for me.   It sounds funny, but she wouldn't sew for me, so that I had to learn how!

Soulemama calls these her "Gratitude Wraps"...I like stationery, little books, and anything organizational so they are a perfect fit for me to sew up. 

Another project from Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.  I really love this one!  All my notebooks will be decorated from now on!

The whole gift put together:

And I decided to make one for my son too, using leftover fabric from his Halloween costume.  He loves to write letters to his friends and this way he can have his own stationery and not have to ask for any of my or scrounge what he needs.

I loved this bug fabric but never knew what I would use it for.  This works!  I still need to find cute stationery for him and fill it up.

I also love that I made these presents, they are literally one of a kind, and they will never contribute to the "plastic soup."

Some Sewing Time

I've been sewing since I was about nine; I even went to college with an entire wardrobe of clothes I'd made myself (including my winter coat!).  I love to sew, not just clothes but all kinds of things.  These past few years though I have hardly sewn at all.  I miss it too.  Just this week I did manage to find some time, and since my sweet family doesn't seem to mind eating dinner every night with my sewing machines as dining table companions, I was able to make this cute pencil roll:

I put it together with this Bare Book (cover chosen by my son; thank you to SouleMama for turning me on to Bare Books) as a 3rd birthday present for a dear friend of ours.  We really hope she likes creating some fun artwork in her new book with her new colored pencils!  I am going to try and make some more of these for gifts since I really like the way this one came out.  I didn't include a pencil sharpener since I think most families already have one and because I could only find plastic ones at Target...I wanted very much to give a plastic-free gift as well as a gift that is for using and possibly/partially using up.

I really love coming up with fun kids' presents.

Labels: kids, sewing