Toddler Backpack in Art Gallery Fabrics

Hey y'all!  Things are super busy this week, but I just wanted to share with you the cutest thing I ever did make.  I checked the records, and this little bag holds the record for most number of "OOOOO!"'s that I've ever uttered over a single project.  Also, this project was on my list of "things I have to do before I can accept new projects" and I'm very glad to get it off of the "To Do" side of the list!

It started because I wanted to make RG's little friend a backpack for her 2nd birthday.  I was thinking the zippered kind, but then I came up on this tutorial from Birch Fabrics.  It's called the "Little Hitchhiker" and I love that it has an elastic top so that little hands can get into it themselves!  The tutorial is exceptionally well done, and has so many drawings and instructions, I felt a little over-informed :)

 I used all fabrics from Art Gallery Fabric Studio's Minimalista line, in watermelon and turquoise.  I ended up adding a front pocket with RG's friend's initial.  I joked that when her friend grows out of it, Riley can have it, since I didn't personalize it any further.  Always thinking!

The top (lid?) closes with a single velcro strip, and I was so pleased to have a set sitting around in exactly the right turquoise color.  Honestly, by the time of night it was when I finished it up, I would have stuck a safety yellow velcro strip on there, I just wanted it to be completely done.  Luckily, it didn't come to that.

This is kinda the way the back straps are supposed to be.  If I had my druthers, I'd do the back straps differently next time.  But overall, the tutorial was fantastic!  You can also see in this picture that I quilted the exterior to the fleece interfacing that I used, just to give it some extra "umph" and take up precious hours that I had to waste.  Wait, I mean... ;)

Along with the backpack, R's present included the CUTEST-est-est little book out there for the under 5 crowd, called Press Here.  I love it because as you read along, you're instructed to do things, and then your actions seem to have an effect on the drawings in the book.  It's like magic to little people!  Like on these pages:

The page on the left says "try shaking the book... just a little bit" and then you shake the book, and when you turn the page, the dots are all jumbled up.  But it suggests that you shake it a little bit harder, and guess what?  On the next page...  I'm gonna leave you hanging.  Get the book and find out!

Okay, now it's back to the grind!  But tell me, have you been up to anything cute?  I need to know!

<3 M.

p.s.- the little girl who this backpack is for?  hates it.  whatevs.

Tuesday's Gifts

My gal Shan asked the question, "What gifts did your day bring?"

Good question Shan.  Lemme tell you.

Rain.  Beautiful, cleansing rain.

Small, tiny bits of progress in my research.

5 AM wakeups with my best gal.

Farm market cantaloupe the size of my head.

Fresh flowers and natural light, just like my soul needs.

A Little Gift :: Baby Presents

It seems like everyone I know in real life is having a baby.  Now quite everyone, but a lot of people.  I can list 8 people I personally know whose bambinos will be born +/- 6 weeks from mine.  As a result, I've been making a lot of baby presents.

One of my favorites was this quilt, the pictures for which were taken in possibly the WORST light ever.  It almost feels like an accomplishment to take such terrible pictures.  Fortunately for me, picmonkey.com has some great free photo editing software, and you'll never have to see them in their un-edited state.  Really, it's fortunate for you, too.

I loved this quilt.  I made if for a sweet little almost-six-month-old who has just the right complexion for the peach and the lilac.  Really, she's gorgeous.  And although it's sort of silly to think about matching a quilt to a baby's coloring, this one just seemed like "her" to me.  And then when I had made it all up, I considered keeping it.  I did.  Except who knows what my baby's skin tone will be ;)

I'm pretty sure the ruffly quilt is the last quilt I'll make until my babe shows up on the scene.  It's just getting too difficult with this huge belly to lean over and pin and things.  So when I got an invitation to yet another baby shower, for a friend who I had already given a baby blanket to (because I just can't wait!), I decided to go small-scale and whipped up this little diaper clutch.

I'd never made one of these before, and I would definitely make it differently next time.  It's not quite wide enough, and getting those 3 little newborn diapers in there (which are SO SO CUTE, btw) along with the wipes container is about all this little clutch could handle.  So I'll be revising my pattern, and trying again for myself or someone else.  Either way ;)

Now, here's my big question for you: If you've had a baby, what is the best gift you've gotten?  And if you've given a particularly rad baby shower gift, what was it?  Spill.

<3 M.

Making Things

I've missed making things.  I haven't made much.  Heck, up until the chocolate chip cheesecake I made two nights ago, I can't remember the last time I baked just because.  It feels good to be me again.  Of course, our grocery budget doesn't love my baking, but we're working out a compromise.

And then last night?  The sewing bug hit.  I've made a few baby quilts recently, but no purses/wallets.  Not until last week when a friend asked for a purse for a birthday present.  I gave her the purse, and she gave me two bears full of home-produced honey and a jar of apple butter (made from Honey Crisps, oh I can't wait!).  We trade in commodities.  If anyone else wants to join our barter system, feel free to list your skills below.

Please excuse the junk in the background.
Or don't.
Consider it a preparation for what life would be like if you really visited me.

Well, the purse, it got me going.  Also, I'm heading off on a trip tomorrow.  Headed for the great white North.  Except this time of year, it's mostly gray and raining with a few autumn leaves thrown in for color.  I'm so pumped.  But that trip is a post all in itself.  Today, we're talking about making crap.  And make crap I did, except not crap.  A purse and two wallets.  The purse, because I wanted a new purse for my trip (sounds so fanciful, doesn't it?!).  The wallet, because I wanted a new wallet.  It seems we have a pattern going here.  But the second wallet, that was for someone else.  And curiously enough, not Anonymous Kate, the winner I announced yesterday.

The second wallet is for a very special person (who sometimes reads here so I don't want to give it away).  She inspires me, even though I very much doubt she knows.  I do know that she'd scoff if I told her.  She'd start listing all of the un-inspiring things about her.  Makes no difference to me.  Some people are just awesome, and she's one of them.  So I made her a little present.  At least that part of my creativity fever wasn't all about me.

But mostly, I made them because I had ideas, and the ideas needed to be given some space to be.  They needed to be pulled out of the recesses of my head and made with hands.  It's the creating that gets me.  The making.  I have no idea if this will/should ever be more than a hobby.  A "Oh, I wonder what sort of purse (not if it's gonna be a purse) Mariah is going to give me for Christmas" type thing.  I don't know.  But I do know I loved last night.  Didn't even feel the hours tick by.  I've been considering buying the book Quitter.  Have you read it?  Have you "quit"?  Let me know.  Msg me, y'all!