Shark Attack!

I've finally finished making the last baby shower gift for a while, well...at least until July when the baby bashes start up again. This gift may be my favorite though. Shark towel puppets! Perfect for making bath time with little Billy Bob (sorry Gretchen, I know you probably won't name him that!) fun and hopefully easier.




I started out by giving the expecting mama a clue a few weeks ago. Nothing but a cryptic poem and a bar of soap with a teethy bite carved out of it. She didn't get the final piece to her puzzle until last week when she opened her gift to find this, a family of sharks. Watch out Gretchen, they bite!

Go here if you're really digging these little guys and would like to make some for yourself. (Note: all I did was vary the size of the template to get a daddy, mommy, and baby shark.)

Passport Pouch

Soon I will be basking in the sun and sipping on cocktails in the Caribbean. Soon all my worries will melt away as I melt into an adirondack chair on a sandy beach. Soon, soon. But not soon enough! To kill time waiting, I decided to put to use all those fabrics I have and make myself a handy little passport/travel pouch. I found a really great tutorial on how to do this here. With traveling being so nasty these days - long security lines, paying extra to check baggage, etc. - I wanted to ease the pain by making my trip in and out of the airport as easy and stress-free as possible. This pouch is a perfect container to hold passports, flight and hotel check-in papers, extra cash, and any other important documents you'll need.

I think I may have to attempt a baggage tag next. :)

Pretty Pillow

I also learned how to make a pillow case during the last day of my sewing class.

Tote Bag Tales

As you remember, a few weeks ago I started taking a sewing class in which I learned how to make a tote bag. Well, I finally finished it! Six weeks and many hours of hard work and I have a beautiful, functional bag to show for it. Not only that, but I gained a wealth of knowledge and feel ready to tackle another project.


Here's what I learned during my adventure:
1. Fabrics are expensive.
2. Patterns are hard to read and almost impossible to understand. (This was a general concensus of my entire class.)
3. Sewing is time consuming, but rewarding.
4. Having a whole new appreciation for the contestants on Project Runway.


What I liked about the experience:
1. I now know how to use my sewing machine. Yay!
2. A boost in confidence knowing I can make something for myself.
3. Listening to my husband brag about what I made to his friends. (I love it when I can make him proud.)
4. Meeting a great group of people in my sewing class.
5. Having a new skill that will come in handy when making gifts for people.
6. Having the ability to custom make things to please my picky tastes.


What I didn't like about the experience:
1. Removing tailor tacks. Errr!
2. Not being able to afford the fabrics I really wanted to use.
3. Lack of fabric selections and supplies at the sewing stores. You'll have more luck finding exactly what you want online.

Overall, I had a lot of fun and will most likely take additional classes to keep learning all the secrets, like altering garments and making clothes. Watch out Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, I'm your next fashion designer in the making!

Even Abe approves!

Diy Pincushion

I needed a pincusion for my sewing class but just wasn't too excited about the tomato-looking version. Really? Who thought a tomato would make a good pincushion? Not that I have anything against tomatoes. In fact, I grow them every year and enjoy eating quite a lot. I just don't want to stick my pins in one. So I found this fun tutorial here on how to make my own using scrap fabric, a cat food tin, handful of poly-fil and some decorative paper. Voila!


And you'll find the secret of the tomato pin cushion here.

Sew Excited!

Last week I started taking a Beginning Sewing class. I bought a sewing machine a year ago and thought (thought!) I knew how to use it. Nah, nope, naddah. I couldn't even thread it! How embarrassing. But who am I kidding. I haven't touched a sewing machine since Middle School and all I made back then was this stupid monkey pillow (why, oh why didn't I make the shark?!?!). Did anyone else have to make one of these in school?

Luckily, this time I'm making a tote bag. Which is perfect considering I'm preparing to visit an island in about 2 months. A new tote bag is exactly what I need. Better yet, a custom-made bag to satisfy my picky tastes. So on to the store to purchase a few yards of fabric. Talk about overwhleming! So many colors, patterns, textures, and prices to choose from. Unfortunately, I left empty handed. It was pretty clear that I needed to do my research before I stepped back into another fabric store unarmed. So I raced home and started my online search for fabric. I mocked up the bag on my computer and started creating combination after combination of colors and patterns. Here are my prototypes:

Fully prepared for my next round of attack, with my inspiration bags in hand, I entered the store one last time. And left with two beautiful fabrics perfect for a summer tote. A sturdy, mustard yellow cloth and a cheerful, teal/floral fabric to match.

When the bag is finish in another 4 weeks I'll post the results, plus any trials and tribulations in-between worth noting. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

Meet Gabby

My newest Odd Pod creation, Gabby, fits snuggly over an iPod Video Nano. Her little purple arms hold an adorable pink doll, Gretta. And just when you think it couldn't get any cuter, flip Gretta over and she turns yellow! But don't worry, Gabby wont lose her doll because she is attached by thread to her hand. Oh yes that's right, this little girl is more durable than she seems. And, like her big brother Miguel, she has an opening for her charger cord. So plug her in and rock out!

Odd Pod

Who says your MP3 player can't have a little personality? With just a few scrap pieces of felt, embroidery floss and sewing thread you can make all your music listening dreams come true. It's love at first sight! Everyone, I'd like for you to meet Miguel, the blue monster.

Notice the green underwear headphone holder and the opening on the bottom for charging your Odd Pod. This little guy is just eager to be your bestie!