Tasting Table Tuesday - Brrrrrrr!!!

It's so cold here in Northern PA today.  Light snow is falling along with the temperatures.  And it's supposed to get even colder tomorrow.  So I'm hunkered down in my Cotton Cellar and getting lots accomplished.

I've got my backing fabric sewn and pressed for the two quilts I worked on at retreat, so they're both ready for basting.

The honey bee fabric I've picked for the back of the Pinwheel quilt is so cute!  It's called Cherish Nature by Deb Strain.

Have you ever been reluctant to use a favorite fabric?  That's the case with this gorgeous white & gray Echo print by Lotta Jansdotter.  I've been hoarding it for months and I cringe every time I think about cutting into it.  So it took some guts, but I finally cut a chunk off for the back of my Chevron quilt.  I think I still have about a yard leftover so I can still have some to look at any time I want.  I just love it and it's perfect for this quilt!  (one of my New Year's Resolutions - stop hoarding and start using!)

My daughter asked me if I'd like to donate some items to their PTO fund-raiser this spring, so I whipped up a couple of wristlets with my Zip Pocket Pouch pattern by Michele's Patterns.  I've made lots of these and really like the design - especially with the addition of the wrist strap.

I also made two more Flex-Frame Gadget Pouches this week.  One was a custom Etsy order, and I'll list the other one in my shop, or maybe donate it to the PTO as well...  not sure yet.

I've also been crocheting some new neckwarmers to list in my shop.  They've been quite popular and I'm down to only one left in inventory, so it's time to make some more.  These ones are ready for the quilted buttons.  I really enjoy digging through my batik scraps to pick out just the right fabric to make into a quilted button for these scarves.  I like to pick a fabric that really pops on the scarf, then add some free-motion quilting, so it ends up looking like a special piece of custom jewelry.

This one isn't quite done yet - but almost!

So that's what is on my Tasting Table Today.  And I've still got one more fun, BIG, project coming up that I can't wait to share with you.  I might have something ready to show you next week if my schedule goes as planned...  What are you working on today?

Cheers!

Bags are Packed

Bags are packed, I'm ready to go...  but not till Sunday.  After finishing the 15 laptops sleeves for the New Jersey teachers, I forged ahead with some new items for the Christmas shoppers on Etsy.  I've made three more Zip Pocket Pouches (pattern by Michelle's Patterns/KeykaLou).

These make great gifts for travelers, because the medium sized ones (the 2 on the right) hold everything you need when flying, with the convenience of a wristlet.  A passport and cellphone (including the new iPhone5's) fit easily in the slip pocket, and the zippered pocket holds your ID and cash and/or credit card to purchase that on-board snack.
The smaller one (black spirograph fabric on the left) doesn't quite hold the passport, but still works well for cellphones that are no taller than 4 1/2".
I made a test one for my daughter and everyone seemed to think it would function better with a wrist strap, so I've added that feature to these.

I bought another pattern from Michelle's Patterns last week (the day it was released, actually!) for her new Idea Pouch.  It's wonderful!  It holds a composition notebook or an iPad perfectly, and the optional pleated pocket on the front holds other accessories and has several pen and pencil slots.

I also made a plain one without the pleated pocket - just a plain sleeve.  (Don't ya just love my iPad mock-up? - It works if you don't have the real thing!)

I guess I've been on a roll, because next I decided to make some key fobs.  Nice to have on hand for those little gifts for friends and co-workers, and it's good to have something in every price range in my shop.  Everyone seems to be doing the key fobs with the little rectangular clampie thingie on the end, but I prefer to do mine this way.  I make my strap in a continuous loop so there's nothing to break or come loose, so the keys will always stay secure, then add both a D-ring and a split key ring.  The button is a decorative accent and holds the layers together.  There are several layers of fabric and interfacing, so it's firm, but not stiff.  Really feels comfortable on your wrist.

The New Jersey teachers that I'm delivering the laptop sleeves to next week will get a sneak peek at these items, then I'll list them on Etsy when I return.  Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  I haven't, but will have to get started soon!  Have a great weekend!

Computer Sleeves are DONE!

Now I can finally come up for air.  I finished all 15 laptop computer sleeves.  I think I can make these in my sleep now!  For the teachers that will be buying these, I'm hand-delivering them to my daughter next weekend and she'll be taking them to work with her on Columbus Day.  Remember - no fighting over the cases when you're making your selection - there's plenty to choose from!
Don't forget - the extras will be listed in my Etsy shop later this month, along with some other goodies!  I'm starting another marathon cutting/fusing/sewing session - various cases and sleeves for iPads & iPhones as well as some key fobs and other small gift items - trying to stock up on gift items for the Christmas shoppers on Etsy.  So check back often for updates if you're looking for gift ideas (or maybe a special treat for yourself!)  Cheers!

Tasting Table Tuesday - A Production Line!

Remember this laptop sleeve I made for my daughter?  With this pattern by KeykaLou?

Well, it was a hit.  She loves it - and so do all the other teachers she works with!

So I need to make more - LOTS more!  :)

I'm making fifteen of them - a few more than I think we'll need, but that will give the teachers more of a selection to choose from.  Whatever is left over - if any - will get listed in my Etsy shop.  I'll mention it here on my blog if I have any left over to list - probably in mid/late October.

It's really been fun picking out all the fabric combinations for these sleeves.  I already had some of them in my stash, and I bought several new ones during my shopping trip last week.  I can't pick a favorite - I love them all!  (I know I should list what each fabric is, but I'm too tired to go downstairs and write them all down tonight.  But if you'd like to know what any of them are, just leave a comment and ask - I'd be happy to identify them for you.  The smaller fabric in each picture is the lining.)

One of the teachers is male, so I even ordered a piece from the Curious Nature collection by Parson Gray/David Butler (third row far right).  I've admired that entire collection since it came out and this will be a perfect use for it.  Very modern and masculine at the same time.  I think I'll line it with a bright solid - maybe orange or teal...  Or course, he might pick one of the other "non-girly" ones, and one of the women might pick the Curious Nature one.  Who knows!

So as you can see, my Tasting Table is pretty much buried in laptop sleeves of various stages of completion this week, and it will stay that way for the next few days because if Blogger posts this when I told him to, I'm fishing while you're reading this.  It's hard to believe that summer has come to an end already and it's time to close up our fish camp for the year.  Hopefully we'll catch our limit first, and enjoy some nice weather before we have to head home...  Then it's back to the production line...  and sew and sew...

Another New Project

I've had this Zip Pocket Pouch pattern for quite a while now, but had yet to try it.  It's another one of KeykaLou's Patterns (Michelle's Patterns).  The pattern includes 3 sizes and this is the medium.  It's about 4" x 6" and includes a zippered pocket for cash, credit cards, or anything else you want to store securely, plus a slip pocket that's the perfect size for a cell phone.  (I don't have an iPhone, but made a cardboard mockup that's the same size as an actual iPhone so you can see how it fits).  There's plenty of room, so I'm pretty sure this would also work for some of the larger phones.  The top folds down and the whole thing stays securely closed with a velcro flap, so there's no chance of loosing anything.  I really like this pattern and will probably make some to go along with the laptop sleeves I showed you earlier this week.  I'll post the details here when I have some ready to list in my Etsy shop.

Fabrics are from Joel Dewberry's Aviary2 collection - Lodge Lattice & Damask.

New Laptop Sleeve

My daughter asked me to make a sleeve for her new laptop computer.  It seemed like a simple enough project that I could probably design something myself, but then I saw this pattern and thought "Why reinvent the wheel?".  Michelle (also known as KeykaLou) had already designed a very nice looking sleeve and for just a few dollars I could have  her pattern downloaded in a matter of minutes and save myself tons of time.  I'm so glad I did, because I really like the looks of this sleeve.  As usual, Michelle's pattern is easy to follow, and very stylish.  I've used several of her patterns, and haven't been disappointed yet.

The pattern is designed for a 13" MacBook Pro, but will fit a variety of brands as long as the dimensions are close in size.  I love the dart detail in the corners - makes it lay nice and flat so it's easy to insert the computer into the sleeve.  I used fabrics from Joel Dewberry's Aviary 2 collection - Damask for the outside, and Lodge Lattice for the lining.  Now I just have to drop this in the mail, and hope my daughter likes it!

I'm thinking about making some of these to list in my Etsy Shop - do you think they'd sell???