One last sewing project completed

Here is my slueth inspired diaper bag. I dumped everything out of my purse (50% of which was garbage and then tossed),measured each essential tool and drafted a pattern. The idea was to have a special spot for everything so it could easily be found without digging around the bottom as my diaper bag/purse has the tendency of becoming a black hole. The bag is divided with 1/3 its space for mom stuff and 2/3 for kids' stuff. The kid compartments include two sippy cup holders, pouch for wipes, pouch for snacks and a whole lot of open space for cloth diapers, wet bag, blankies, and even my cannon rebel. Mom compartments are much more specific and include a spot for 2 pens, small notebook, small measuring tape, tissues, sunglasses, and cell phone. There is also an interior zipper pocket for make up and exterior zipper pocket solely for keys. There is a larger letter size pocket that holds not only my wallet but books, magazines and any other papers I need to keep track of. It is all held in place by a cute little green snap.

I am happy with the size and organization but a bit disappointed with my fabric choice. I ordered a few Estsuko Furuya prints from purlsoho.com because they are fun prints and were advertised as home dec weight. They really aren't that heavy of fabrics and even after fusing on craftbond it does not hold its shape as I would have liked.

One more problem. My cell phone just rang and I couldn't find it....it wasn't in the handy pouch but I left it in my coat pocket. Its going to take some training to get use to this new system.

So this diaper bag is not quite a flop because I will get a lot of use out of it but there are definately some alterations I would make next time. Overall grade B/B-

Flops

Suz - this one is for you. If I had started blogging in 2006 every other post would have been labled a flop as I made so many mistakes contracting our home remodel. I am full of ideas and a lot of what I attempt does end up as a flop but that is no reason not to try. You actually can learn a lot more from your failures than success. Sometimes I rework them and it turns out better than what I originally anticipated. Sometimes I cry over them, stuff them in a bag and put them high on a shelf. Sometimes I just throw it away to get it out of site and out of mind then feel guilty about time and money wasted ( I guess that is your definintion of an "anti-project").

Pictured here are the unfinished Easter dresses sizes 2 & 3 in a beautiful drapey swiss twill. I started smocking them on our roadtrip early in the fall when I first started feeling morning sickness. I had to put them down. I picked them up again when I started feeling sick with the flu in Feb. I had to put them down. The thought of smocking just makes me feel sick now! Maybe I should sell my pleater on ebay - I just don't know if I'll ever be up for it again. The other is a sweater I started knitting while pregnant with Maryanna. I worked on it a little more while preganant with Clara. I worked on it a little more this pregnancy but just don't have the drive to finish it yet.

Not pictured but worth noting:
-Sourdough start that I couldn't keep alive after three atttempts - threw it away
-Sourdough loaf that turned into a brick - threw it away
-Dozen bagels I forgot to add yeast to - threw them away
-2 dozen bagels I forgot about and burned -threw them away
-rice pudding in the pressure cooker that I forgot to add half the milk - feed it to the kids anyways
-Undercooked Christmas turkey after accidently turning the oven off - put in back in the oven and we ate dessert first then turkey
-Maternity dress that was drafted while pregnant with Peter, cut it out during Maryanna's pregnancy, pieced it together during Clara's pregnancy, set the sleeves in this pregnancy and tried to put the zipper in but since it was on the bias it was way too stretched out over time - I saved the zipper but threw the rest away
-several dead house plants and planted flowers that did not survive my care or lack of care
-Occasional haircuts for Paul and the boys - they just lived with it but still trust me enough to do it.

So there it is Suz. Several of my now public flops. But you're right, it would be just as fun to start photographing and posting about them.

Nancy Drew Sleuth Bag

Emily is planning a really fun party for Caroline and her "chums" this weekend. Yesterday she came over and together we worked on designing and sewing this cool Nancy Drew Sleuthing bag as a surprise for Caroline's birthday. I actually haven't see the recent Nancy Drew movie but I read a few of the books when I was younger. This was not as mindless as the other recent projects I have completed but it was fun. I want to play with it now. It makes me want to go to the mystery birthday party! Maybe I'll just use the same concepts and make my own cool sleuth diaper bag.

Gum Drop Pillow

This was a really quick and fun project that anyone could do - here is the pattern. Although named "pillow" it is quite large and I would call it more of a footstool or ottoman. I made the 24" and used a fun print from IKEA. I got three boxes of 5lb. stuffing from Walmart (each about 8$) but only used a box and a half. I want to make the 18" one now, possibly tangerine colored to compliment the crayon box theme going on in our living room. Also these would be great piled up in the girls room as I can only imagine the fun they would have with them. I'm just undecided on what print to use.

Nesting turns to Sewing

I have challenged myself not to buy any clothes for the kids this Spring/Summer. Instead, I hope to rely on hand me downs and handmade clothes (from old clothes or fabric I already own). Despite the setbacks from being sick, I have thoroughly enjoyed the process so far.

I have posted all the projects I finished this past month. I honestly don't know how I got them all done because March was pretty much a blur with all the random health complications I experienced. But I think sewing is what got me through it. I couldn't exercise, cook, clean, or even drive but I could sit on my little wheeled stool infront of the sewing machine and then easily wheel across to my ironing board. The girls would toddle around me and sometimes even sit on my lap. The boys were quite cooperative with their school work and enjoyed a little extra free play during my afternoon sewing time. What I have not posted is all the crummy meals, cancelled outings and field trips, piled up laundry, and dirty dishes. I would also add that Paul has been terrific in helping me out through all my projects and recovery.

Now I'm 38 weeks and after all that rest there are no signs of contractions! I've got to get off my cushy sewing stool start scrubbing some bathrooms because now I'm ready for the this baby to come.

Hang Tag

With all the sewing I've been doing I think I need my own hang tag. I found a pile of this vintage trim in my mom's old sewing box so it will have to do for now.

Practical Playclothes

Here is a comfy knit outfit that suits the activity level of our little girl. I kind of winged each piece (drawing with a piece of chalk directly onto the fabric) and now I wish I would have drafted a pattern so I could replicate it. I picked the polk-a-dot knit up in Spain at this amazing fabric store but I also saw it at banberry place (I don't think I spent that much on it). The pants are from an old old navy T.