it is finished – finally!

Yup, and it only took me two months! Or … was it … three??? Oh well, who’s counting, right?!

Anyway, here it is, in all its glory.

the pattern that started it all! bottom right is the view I chose for this purse

side one: phone fits, notebook fits – it’s all good

side two: pencil holder perfect – pocket just a wee bit floppy

I do like these springy colors

I opted not to make the strips the same on both sides, to add interest

I opted for the snap on this one, because in order to do the zipper the way I wanted to, I would have had to change the handle also, and make it a double handle (which I actually prefer, but that’s another story). That will be one of the alterations I’ll make to any future use of this pattern.

But, even though I left the handle the same, I cannot EVER totally leave a pattern as I find it. It called for two inside zipper pockets – my kind of pattern! – but it didn’t have any other pockets for the inside. That ain’t gonna happen in purses I make. So, since I had a bunch of little pieces left from the outside, I decided hey! what would it hurt to just make a couple of little pockets to kind of match the outside?

I also try out any purse I make for usability and to see if I need to fix anything. I noticed that my cell phone fit in one of the small pockets  (side one) very well, and the pen holder on side two was the perfect size. But the big pocket beside it was just a wee bit wide and hung open a little when I had stuff in it. So I’ll probably end up with a little velcro circle on there to kind of help it keep itself together under stress. We all need a velcro stress relief, right?

This pattern is a keeper, I think, with certain modifications (the ones mentioned above, and maybe more). One of the blogs I just discovered and just HAD to start shadowing (good stuff there!), called a little bird made me, gave me a link to a great zip tutorial for future use. Don’t you just LOVE this blogging community!!! I will be using that tutorial she shared in my next purse project; it’s bookmarked and ready as soon as I am.

And now, on to other things! My list is growing, so this will be (hopefully!) a sewing marathon weekend. What’s on the agenda? Bibs, baby, bibs! Oh … and mug rugs! And Kindle covers! The list is growing faster than a mushroom on a compost pile! Ewww … scratch that. Faster than a weed in the garden.

on dealing with zipritis and other sewing disorders

It finally happened. I bought a pattern. A real purse pattern – and what’s more, I’m actually USING it! It’s Simplicity #2617, and I liked the picture on the package. What?? I mean … well … that’s a valid reason for buying a pattern, right? right?? Well, I thought so anyway.

Problem is, I think I have a slight sewing disorder. I keep finding other things that need done and getting sidetracked. Things like cleaning because the house is being shown (it’s on the market), or pulling weeds in the front flower beds (same reason), or packing boxes (when we thought the house had sold). I think it’s going to be really cute when it’s done. The purse, I mean – not the house. The house is already cute. And mostly done.

I had a real woo hoo! moment when I began working with this particular pattern. It can be made with scraps! I discovered I had all the pieces in my stash, and didn’t have to buy one single thing extra. How great is THAT!!

BUT – and this is a big but – the pattern calls for a snap closure, and I’ve been diagnosed (by a very reliable source) with an advanced case of zipritis.  Any ideas on how to substitute a zipper for a snap? That’s part of my sewing disorder; I haven’t quite figured out how to do that yet, and it frustrates me. I find that if I totally withdraw from the whole project – just walk away and do something else – it usually comes to me. This one, though, is a long time a-comin’. I’ve been walking away and coming back to this project for the last couple of months. And I still haven’t figured out the zipper substitution problem. I think I must be suffering from withdrawals … *groan*

The plan is to have this done by the weekend. And then it’s going up for sale to raise funds for River of Life, which is struggling financially right now. I sure don’t want to see that ministry fail for lack of funds, so that’s a good incentive to get cured of all these itises and get on with it. Maybe I’ll just take a chill pill for the zipritis and go ahead with the original pattern. At least it will have a zippered inside pocket, which will have to suffice this time around. I can indulge my disorder on another future pattern and put a gazillion zippers on it.

Do you see a pattern forming here? This is for the weekly photo challenge about – what else?? – patterns.

top and bottom pieces of the strap

marked and ready for the inside pocket

back side

I wanted it bright and springy looking

how does your garden grow?

Mine isn’t – growing, that is. Yet. But it’s in the early stages! Hubby has a whole lot of seeds planted, and some are actually beginning to be recognizable. Our little greenhouse is once again green on the inside. And wonder of wonders, we finally found that linoleum for the floor - YAY!

… ‘course … we found it several months ago … I just haven’t been keeping up with the gardening end of things lately, what with the sewing frenzy that has taken over. But that’s all about to change. Just as soon as I get this one purse finished that I’m working on right now.

See, we weren’t even sure if we’d have a garden this year, since we put the house on the market back in November. Well, it sat there looking forlornly out at the For Sale sign in front for months, and all of a sudden, we got an offer! That phase lasted just long enough to cost us a few hundred bucks for inspections and earnest money and the like on another house, only to have our buyers back out at a most inopportune time. But *sigh* that’s the way the mop flops, the ball bounces, and the grinder grinds, so I’m told.

Spencer tried to help us out, though – he ate the mop. Doggy indigestion is a pitiful sight, by the way, and it didn’t stop the mop from flopping either. At least he didn’t inhale. We found all the pieces except the part that held the mop on the handle. I haven’t discovered its grave yet – he sure dug a deep hole for that little treasure!

Now that we’ve established that bouncy balls and floppy mops aren’t much fun, we have moved on to bigger and better things. The house is back on the market, but we’re going to proceed as though we will be here for a very long time. Hey, we might even unpack all those boxes we’d packed in anticipation of ‘the move’! It could happen … but … it probably won’t.

But one thing that WILL happen is a garden! Good thing the tractor didn’t sell when we put it on Craig’s List! We’d REALLY be in Hurt City now, huh?

I will have some pretty cool shots of the hothouse soon. I just need to remember to take the camera when I walk up the hill.

the wrong foot

What would you do if you found out it was the wrong foot?

What if you got up one morning and went to put your shoe on, only to find out you were putting it on the wrong foot? Have you ever had that happen? No?? Well, lemme tell ya, it’s a scary feeling.

Here I was, awakened from a deep sleep in the wee hours of the morning, barely even 4 a.m., by a loud ringing in my ears. Somehow I managed to disable the alarm, remove myself from its immediate vicinity, and get down the hall and into the bathroom – without ever opening my eyes. It felt very strange to find myself in the shower, fully dressed in pajamas and bathrobe … but hey! those things happen when you try to make it on an hour and a half of sleep.

Well, I reasoned, in my best early-morning brain train, at least I don’t have as much laundry to do now. After finishing my shower and leaving the PJs and bathrobe on the floor to dry, I stumbled strode back to the bedroom with a clear and present purpose – I must get dressed and make it to the airport in 15 minutes. What? OH NO!

What do I do? what do I do? It’s OK, breathe, dear – don’t panic. Yah, breathe. whoosh whoosh. OH – I know, I’ll get my clothes on. Where’s the closet?? Oh, yeah, I’m standing in it. Where’s my blouse? You mean the one you’re wearing? Oh yeah, thanks honey – that’s the one. Well, bye honey, off I go. Hey – you need another item. What? OH!! my pants. Yeah, they’re here somewhere. Oh … uhm … sorry, honey. Were those yours? Ah – here are mine.

Ready! No you’re not, dear – shoes – get your shoes on!

As I sit down to put my shoes on, something feels very, very strange. I can’t feel my foot! Did I damage the nerves in my haste to get dressed and off to the airport? What if I can’t walk when I get there? What if I fall getting out of the cab and hurt myself and miss my flight? What if I never get the feeling back and have to go through life with unfeeling feet? What if I … huh?

What? What did you say, honey?

Oh. I’m putting my shoe on your foot?

This is a post in response to the Daily Prompt about Mad Libs. This is only a post. Had it been an actual writing, it would have been preceded by a public outcry.

uhm…yah…not sew much

I shall make something. Immediately, if not sooner.

At least that was the plan before all the upheaval in the last few weeks. After the dust settles I may be able to get back to the sewing corner – or hey! maybe even back to the sewing ROOM. It could happen.

That purse pattern I cut out a couple of weeks ago? Kinda dumb. It still hasn’t figured out how to make itself, the lazy bum – just lies there on the cutting table lookin’ at me. Reckon I’ll have to make it myself after all *sigh* Well, at least I have pretty material.

All that other material was slated for the auction block. Like pullin’ teeth to let fabric go in any form other than a finished project. Grit yer teeth, woman – this is gonna hurt!

Nope.

I just. couldn’t. do it.

The final outcome TBA . . . . shortly . . . or maybe longly