A Break

Just thought I would share what I made last night while taking a break from bags. Just a cute little table runner that I purchased the kit for. Can't wait to use the pattern to make some more of these out of my ever-growing scrap bin! Great Christmas gifts!!!

Also, just thought I would share my excitement, I have finished the 1st draft of my pattern, pictures and all. I hope to print it out and get it ready for my pattern testers this week. I am happy with how it is turning out and I feel like I have made it over the big hurdle of getting it all down on paper! Hope your week is off to as great a start as mine!

Patterning

Okay, after dragging my feet for so long, I am getting back to my pattern. I have finished "writing", which was really the part that I dreaded most. Now I am going to work on formatting this pattern in a way that is easy for everyone to follow. I have my trusty pattern publishing book handy and I'm going to start playing around. Hope it isn't too hard!

Also, a bit of exciting news! I went Quilt Shop Hopping with some special women in my life this past week, and there was great reception to the cards I passed out. I even had one shop very seriously and enthusiastically ask me if I would be willing to teach a class about how to make the Oak Street bag. That thought had never crossed my mind, and with my teaching background, it almost seems natural. Now, I just have to contact them again and figure out how it's really done. I couldn't believe it, yet another direction I can move in, I suppose the possibilities are endless!

And just for fun, here is a picture of the tote I created last week to carry the kids' things in when we get out of the house. It turned out perfect, I love how open and big it is, but not too deep, not to mention the gorgeous fabric that I had laying around as scrap from one of my bags! I know it's sad but bags just bring me so much joy!

Kimberly's Name Change

Well, I'm so sad today, but I realize the change was probably necessary. Instead of being able to call this bag the Kimberly bag after my daughter, I have changed it's name to the Oak Street Bag. I am starting to do some promoting at local shops and I didn't want my pattern being confused with Amy Butler's Kimberly bag. Although, it would be great for me, I figured some shops might not want to stock it for fear of customer confusion.

So, tomorrow I will be debuting this cute little card that my dear friend made up for me. We will be doing a local Quilt Shop Hop and I hope to pass these out at each shop we get to. Then I must get back to the pattern drawing board because I think pattern publishing is going to be a longer process than I anticipated. Wish me luck!!!

The Bags

So, here are the first 3 bags I made up with the new fabric. I was planning about 6 bags total with this fabric, so the next 3 will be some variation of these. I might switch some of the fabrics around, I haven't decided. I'd love to get your opinions!

I better get back to the drawing board, so many ideas in my head, so little time in the day!

Something New

So, this is a pile of 12 yards of fabric I just received from my dear friend over at The Fabric Farm I have been working on some new bags this weekend. I will post a picture of them all, probably tomorrow, but here is the first one over on etsy...

And this is something new I just "whipped" up this afternoon, out of necessity. I'm calling it the coupon clutch, it is about 6"x4" when it's folded closed. What do you think? I'm kind of excited, it was very quick and so cute!!!

In the Mail

Before I show you all what I have been getting in the mail, I have to show you what I completed this weekend. I love quilting and I have been wanting to try this little number for a couple of months, but have been busy bag making. So, here it is, just 12" square (completely from my scraps!!!), in all it's beautiful glory!!!

Okay, so here are the things I have received in the mail this week...

First up is the pouch I won from the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day from Just Charming. I LOVE the fabrics she used and I have been wanting to make some pouches out of my bag scraps, now I can see how she does it! I am really enjoying it!!

Next up are the Rustic Rompers - I traded Barb at the Rustic Raspberry for these cute and comfy little dresses for my littlest sweetpea! Aside from having to double knot the ribbons so she didn't undress herself, they are perfect! Thanks again Barb, so much fun!!!

Last but not least - for those of you wondering about my pattern writing, it is currently on hold until I receive my pattern writing book in the mail. I should be getting it tomorrow, then I will resume that part of the process. Besides I have had so much to do, I haven't really had the time or the focus! Maybe this weekend...

Scattered Thoughts

I feel like I have about a hundred things I want to mention here, so if I'm a bit scattered, please bear with me!

First up, I finally had a chance to make up that Birdie Sling with the fabric from the other day. What a crazy life! I think it turned out really well, so bright and cheery. Here is a peek at it.

Also, another Kimberly bag arrived at its new home today in Canada, http://gypsyluludelights.blogspot.com/2009/06/wheeemy-new-kimberly-bag-came-today.html I think she is going to really enjoy it! Thanks again for the order gypsylulu!

And then there is the fact that I ordered 12 yards of fabric yesterday from my dear friend at The Fabric Farm That is going to be quite a weekend full of bag making, let me tell you! Keep an eye here for the new Kimberly bags I will be making up once I get all of that fabric, I CAN'T WAIT!

Last, but certainly not least, I have received a couple of things in the mail the past few days that I want to post here, maybe I will do that tomorrow, I need to get a couple of pictures and I'm just not up for it tonight. I think that is all for now, until tomorrow...

Bag Review

Well, it's official, someone other than the wonderful people around me is enjoying one of my Kimberly bags!!! Here is the link to Desiree's blog, she was the winner of the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway bag earlier this month. http://simplysimonsisters.blogspot.com/2009/06/simply-stylish-kimberly-bag-winner.html

I am so excited that she loves it so much! Keep checking back for other reviews, I sent a bag to Canada last week and another one is going to Arizona probably tomorrow, after I whip it up tonight! :} This is so cool!

Thank you!!!

So, I had a request from a good friend to make a bag for another friend. I'm going to make the Amy Butler Birdie Sling and here is the fabric I have chosen. I hope she likes it! When I get the bag done, I will post a picture of the finished product. I have to admit, it won't be this weekend, but maybe next week!

Also, as a side note, I want to really thank everyone that is visiting commenting on my blog. I can't believe how many positive thoughts are coming my way. I truly appreciate them all, and they keep me moving forward! So, keep'em comin'!!!

Labels

I'm so excited, I finally had a minute and a reason to create a label for my bags. I decided I wanted to use iron-on transfers to directly iron the label onto the pocket inside. I printed one up real quick today before I sent off another bright and sunny bag to gypsylulu! Didn't it turn out so perfect?! (I know the picture isn't really close up, but you can get the overall idea!)

Things are moving right along! I have ordered that pattern writing book, while I wait for it to arrive in the mail, I'm going to try to get the pictures I took last night added to the pattern writing I have already completed. Quite a process, but I'm happy to be moving forward!

Back on Track

Well, I'm back at that pattern today. I have started taking pictures so I can write up the cutting instructions. Maybe tomorrow I will actually sew the bag together, more big family plans this evening so I probably won't get to sewing. I think I'm going to check out the book that Stephanie talks about over at Loft Creations here, so I can become more confident in my pattern writing. Thanks to Vikki for that suggestion, I think it is just the motivation I need! I'm also wondering if I should try to find a store close to home to sell my finished bags. The ones on etsy aren't going anywhere and I want to get these bags out there. They are far to cute to be sitting in a plastic container in my garage!! That's a whole other project in itself, maybe while I wait to get the book in the mail I will pursue that aspect of this project. Hmm, where to begin...

Slacking!

I feel like such a slacker. I haven't revisited my pattern since the other night, and I haven't touched a piece of fabric either. In my defense, I have not been feeling very well and we are having a big family BBQ this weekend, so I have been trying to get the house ready. Lots more to do to prepare, but I'm going to try to motivate at some point this weekend to atleast make the bag that I will use to take pictures for the pattern. So much to do, so little motivation... :}

Pattern Writing

Well, I wish I had some pictures to post, because that would mean that I was actually sewing, which is the part I enjoy most apparently! I wrote out the draft of my pattern for the Kimberly bag last weekend, but haven't been motivated to type it up yet. I got up the nerve this evening, and it is tough. I haven't really written anything besides emails and blog entries since having my kids and it takes a bit to get my brain in gear. Not to mention this heat wave we are having which makes it hard to focus on anything. But, here I am, where I have been for the past 90 minutes, typing away, trying to focus on this pattern while watching a movie with my husband. I wish I were sewing instead of writing. I did take a break today from bags and cut out some very small pieces for a little 12" square quilt I have been longing to put together, that was fun for a change. Anyway, I better get back to this pattern writing, argh! But I will make millions when I'm done, right...
Wish me luck!

Been Busy

So, I have been "busily busing", as we say around here sometimes, during all of the giveaway hoopla! I just thought I would share a couple more finished products that I put together. The purple bag I made for my dear friend that has been helping me get this bag designing off the ground, and the white/orange bag is the one I posted on my etsy shop but hadn't posted here to show a final product. They both turned out amazingly. Each time I see the finished product, I get more excited about the bag! I've started writing up the pattern, hopefully by the end of the week I will have a good draft and I can figure out how/where to get it printed. Right now I'm off to design some business cards...

Giveaway Winner!

Wow, I don't know about you all, but I sure got excited about Giveaway Day(s)! I entered so many myself that I can't even remember what I was trying to win! I also want to thank everyone for their exciting, warm comments about my bag. Since I have just started down this path with designing, it was so great to have so much positive feedback! I can't believe how many people commented on my bag, INCREDIBLE!

So, without further ado, the winner of this goregous bag is Desiree from .simply simon.!! Check back on my blog, or her blog to find out what she thinks of her new bag in the coming weeks!

If you didn't win, but are interested in having one of these bags, please contact me, or check out my etsy shop www.simplystylishdesigns.etsy.com, I would love to get my stuff out there for other people to enjoy instead of having it sit at my house in a plastic container!

Thanks again to everyone that came to my blog, and all of my new followers, I am so excited to have you onboard!