The ULTIMATE Tote Bag

I was extremely productive this past weekend on the sewing machine. I was getting frustrated b/c when I left for work I had to grab a laptop bag, purse, lunch bag, water bottle, ipod, and anything else I needed for the day. SO I decided to create a tote to handle it ALL.

I took a pattern from Lotta Jansdotter and altered it to fit my needs. I used the day tote pattern and made it bigger, added more pockets and did some more lining of pockets than what was done in her pattern.

Here is the result. I am SO satisfied. The fabric is Robert Kaufman (You got the Notions collection) which I received from my sister-in-law this past Christmas.

I attempted a cushioned laptop bag as well, but it did not turn out...it has zippers on it (on the fabric and to open the bag). But I learned some good lessons about sewing with bulky cushion stuff. Luckily I have some of the fabric left over. I think I'm going to make a messenger bag.

Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

It has been a while! We have been busy and on our honeymoon to Puerto Rico.

I haven't had time to craft, but I did have time to take pictures.



This was the last thing we saw of the resort before leaving on Saturday morning at 6 am.








We went to Old San Juan on Friday. First we went to Castillo San Cristobal and toured the fort.










This is a little guard tower.We also went to Hato Rey to see a flamenco show and eat steak, but the show was out of season. So we had Spanish tapas & Sangria.




Thursday we went fishing!!!!!












Brian caught two king mackerels one was 50lbs and the other was 35lbs.













I caught a little bait fish, but I caught the first fish...and then I got sick.
We ate tapas at a place called Olelelolai. It was very nice. Good Spanish and Puerto Rican tapas & passion fruit sangria.












Since our hotel was on a cliff next to the ocean, instead of a beachfront it had it's own private island that we ferried to.














We snorkeled a little there and read in the sun. I saw a huge ray, a pretty coral, anemones, lots of colorful fish and sea grass.

We stayed in a Casita away from the main hotel. It had it's own private infinity pool area with a great view.













The landscaping was really pretty too.












The last one is the view from our balcony.

Bass Club Productivity Night

It's amazing what one can accomplish while their husband is out at those ever so important Bass Club meetings. I think that if our politicians worked as hard as these guys do at talking about fish and drinking beer, something would actually get done in Washington.


So these are my "Chicken or the Egg" pot holders. I got a fat quarter at Hobby Lobby (red) with little chicken feet on it...I fell in love with it for some odd reason. I paired it with this egg yolk looking black dotted fabric. I'm so glad to get rid of my old orange ones! (If you click on the pic you can see the feet up close, I love them!)





I am also lucky to have my two best friends (one of which is my cousin) pregnant! Babies!! So, I'm starting to make baby stuff. I picked up a bib at the $1 store and used it as a pattern and this is the first 'test' bib from that pattern. I think I'm gonna make more. I love this cute monkey flannel. Go remnant bin!!

Swallow Bag

I finished my canvas outdoors bag. It's a back pack with an insulated inner and two outer pockets one open and one with a vel-cro closure. The insulated inner bag also has a pocket to put an ice pack in to keep beverages nice and frosty. We need to go disc golfing to try it out!!

My favorite part about the bag is that I finally got to use my swallow patches that I got at Room Service.

Pretty keen.

Makin' the dough

I got a wild hair and decided to make some bread last weekend. Mmmmm home made bread. This weekend we're making one of the loaves into French toast! YUM.

Map Holder

One of the Christmas presents I am really proud of this year was a gift I gave to my parents. Dad retired and they got a motor home to travel in. I decided that even though they have a fancy-shmancy GPS device, I would also make them a map holder. I made this tri-fold case with pockets for maps. I think the fabric contributed to the super-cuteness of the map holder.

Plant-a-palooza

Hello, my name is A and I have a problem. Ok, I openly admit it. I can't stop propagating and purchasing starter plants. Our kitchen has turned into a mini-jungle. And...I just love it.