elliebelle

A big finished bag!

So here is what I promised yesterday!

And the inside...there is already stuff in it! :)

I'm glad I finally finished it.  The sewing is pretty gnarly because my machine had a tough time going through all the layers - but I am pleased with how it turned out.  Originally it was WAY too big but I cut off 4 inches and now I like it much better.  It isn't exactly how I wanted it to turn out - design wise - because I messed up when cutting my lining.  But overall I think it is ok.

So I don't have much time to chat tonight - I gotta finish packing.  I'm off to Houston until Tuesday and then to Cancun until Saturday!  Have a great week everybody!  

There was a sale

So Joann's had a sale on needles...

I love the promise of pretty new needles...hmm, what projects will I come up with??  Love those HUMONGOUS needles!  Those are size 35, I bought them for a specific project in Twinkle's Weekend Knits book.  I also recently purchased this knitting book from YarnMarket.  AMAZINGLY beautiful projects.  The way they are styled in the book is totally breathtaking, and very much my style - or well, the style I wish I could have.  (if I didn't live in smalltown Wisconsin where people look at you strangely if you wear heels that make noise on the floor...yes, really.  Maybe I should just get over that and do whatever the heck I want!)

Another highlight of my week - being on the American Girl mailing list and receiving my first catalog! haha!  I am not exactly sure how I ended up on their list - but who cares, I'm so happy I did!  haha!  I absolutely LOVED (ahem, love) my American girl dolls.  I have Molly and a "girl of today" - or girl of 1996 or whenever it was that I got her.  I've probably talked about this before, cause let's be honest if it were socially acceptable for a 25 year old woman to play with dolls, I would.  I swear, I'm not a crazy old lady - I only have cats, love to knit, crochet and sew, really like dolls...and...oh...I'll just admit it - I'm definitely on my way to being a crazy old cat lady.  But I'm ok with that.  For now, I'll be content with paging my way through the catalog that holds many wonderful childhood memories.

Do any of you have your own American girl doll memories?

I also thought I'd share a couple of cute pics of some of the animals.  Here is Sophie - always crawling into half finished projects, suitcases, boxes - anything she can get into really.

(This also gives you a preview of what should come tomorrow - a new sewn project!  Finally!!!)

And then I caught Sophie and Chelsea actually getting along.  Really it hasn't been that bad - Chelsea likes to chase the cats - and of course they aren't too happy about that but she isn't aggressive towards them and tolerates them well.  We are quite surprised at how easy it has been.  Callie (the black cat) is missing from the picture - I'm sure she's off somewhere being her crazy self.  She's actually the one who gets along better with Chelsea - Sophie is still pretty scared of the big bad dog.

I love how they are both looking at me like, "What???  Yeah, we can get along...no problem..."  heehee, so cute! 

So I hopefully, no not hopefully, WILL be back tomorrow with a photo of the finished project that Sophie is hanging out in.  Then I'm off to Quilt Market and Cancun!  I can't wait!

Hi, my name is Ellie and I'm a fabric (and yarn) o-holic!

So, I've been promising pictures of my lovely new fabrics.  And here they are!!!

Quilting cottons from Nancy's Notions... (unfortunately, these fabrics aren't online - they are only sold in the retail store location.)  But anyway, I'm envisioning some potholders out of the veggie fabric.  Doesn't that remind you of Shel Silverstein???  (on a side note, his website is awesome!)  And doll clothes out of the red vintage reproduction piece and possibly a tote out of the black pattern pieces fabric.

And then I visited Treadle Yard goods in St Paul and this is what I came out with.  An Anna Maria Horner drawing room piece, and an Amy Butler piece.

And of course I had my visit to SR Harris.  And here is what I came out with there!  A gorgeous wool plaid - I'm thinking a lovely cape will be what it turns into.  Also, one of my favorite types of fabric - cotton velvet, this time is a gorgeous gold, I'm thinking a skirt.  And of course, some heavier weight cottons for bag making. And a lavender oxford that I think will complement some of the other fabrics in my stash.

So now that my fabric stash is bursting at the seams - I absolutely must get some projects done.  I'm sorry, my poor Etsy shop is on the back burner.  I really do want to open a shop - but I just don't know when it is going to happen...  I want to still enjoy sewing - and that means sewing for myself and my friends, not just for a shop.  If I didn't work full time, I think I would have a full Etsy shop up and running, but I just don't have the time (or energy) to sew for myself, let alone for a shop.  So slowly, I think I will add things to my finished project pile and when I feel I have enough, I will get that shop open.  It's definitely a goal of mine. (obviously, since I talk about it all the time, right?  haha!)

So like the headline suggests, it is not just fabric that gets me...it's yarn too!  Here is what I came away with from the Yarnery in St Paul, and one ball from this seller on Etsy.

I bought a bunch of Malabrigo Chunky cause I love that cowl - I want to make more!!!

I've also been knitting up a storm here - but they are all Christmas presents for family members, so I can't show them!  If you are a member of Ravelry, you can check them out there - since my family are not members on there, I can post them...I haven't uploaded them yet, but will soon.  In case you are interested.

What has everyone else been up to?  Have you started your holiday crafting?

Some cute gifts for some cute kids!

Over the weekend, I went to the Twin Cities to visit SR Harris.  I got some great fabric for future Nancy's Notions catalogs, and for myself!  A post on that will come later - but another wonderful reason to go to the cities was to see my friend Stephanie and her growing family.  Her daughter Ariana celebrated her golden birthday on Friday the 3rd.  So it was a big and exciting day.  Stephanie is also almost 8 months pregnant with baby brother Liam.  So gifts were in order for this trip.

This is what I came up with for the new little boy...

Now he can be a little man with his tie and bow tie! haha! Stephanie and her husband Nick got a kick out of these.  I just drew a shape and cut it out of fabric, fused it to the onesie and then zig zagged around it.  Simple and goofy gifts.  

And for the 3 year old - a group of 3 little characters from The Cute Book.  I just have to say, I love that book - it's been translated somewhat poorly from Japanese so it actually becomes kind of humorous.  Also, the characters in the book are just adorable.  (These are about 3" tall)

And the pouch I made for them - and again three shapes...I was going for a 3 year old theme! haha!  Unfortunately, I don't think this was quite as interesting as watching Clifford...but oh well, maybe she'll be interested another time.

The weekend was filled with laughter, great conversation and shopping - seriously, what could be better?  I even managed to squeeze in a short trip to the Mall of America. 

I'll get some pictures taken of my many fabric purchases - and oh yeah, did I mention, I hit up a yarn shop while I was there too?  Seriously, the weekend was pretty awesome.  I hope everyone else had a great one too. :)

Hello October - I wasn't ready for you...

So here it is, October 1st, and no Etsy shop to be found.... :(  I didn't make my goal - but I think I am pretty close.  I just need to do that last push of setting everything up on Etsy and making a banner - you know, that shopkeeping stuff.  So it will come, and soon, but I'm not sure when!  I did manage to finish another bag for the future shop!

A-hoy matey!

I've always had a soft spot for a little prep, so here is that nerdiness exposing itself!  I love the red, blue and white striped fabric.  I bought it during my last buying trip to SR Harris.  It's actually an end good from Nanette Lepore.  No wonder why I liked it so!  I LOVE Nanette's clothing so much and hope someday to be able to afford one little piece! The handles are rope - tied through button holes.  I also added a little hand embroidery, because I just couldn't resist a nautical motif!

And I think the lining is especially fun.  I used a vintage fabric I bought on Ebay - it doesn't really match, but I kind of like it that way.  Aren't all of the clocks fun?

So I'm feeling good having finished another project.  I have also been knitting up a storm.  Everybody I know is going to get something knitted for Christmas because I've just been obsessed...haha!  I really love knitting - I think it is the best stress reliever.  I've been working quite a bit of hours lately, so knitting has been my release.  Luckily the crazy work schedule has relaxed a little.  So hopefully I can take this time to do some more sewing!  I need to get in as much as possible before I leave for Fall Quilt Market in Houston - which also will turn into a vacation, as I am flying to Cancun from Houston! Yay!  I have never been to Mexico, so I am very excited.  I'll be meeting my friend Stephanie down there for a fun filled girl week.

So, besides all of that - I thought I would share a few things I've been loving lately.  I always love when Amanda of SouleMama does her "10 Things I'm Loving Right Now" posts and since she did one today, I was inspired to list a few things of my own.  I don't have ten...but here are a few...

I LOVE the new nail polish I bought yesterday.  It's from the OPI French line.

I think it seems sophisticated, yet a bit dark and mysterious at the same time...I have only my toes done right now, but my fingernails will soon be painted too!

Over the weekend I watched The Jane Austen Book Club movie.  And seriously, I cannot stop thinking about it.  I LOVED that movie!

I think what is so wonderful about it is that you can really relate to the characters - and since there are 5 women, you can see yourself throughout all of them.  A co-worker of mine recommended it to me, and the two of us can't stop talking about it.  I haven't felt like this about a movie in a long time! haha

Needless to say, now I am dying to read the Jane Austen books.  I've never read them.  I know they will be a bit of a hard read, but I'm determined to read them all!  And of course, my co-worker and I, and my friend April who is a big Austen fan, will have our own little book club! :)  I'm on the look-out for a nice collection of used books.  Any of my fellow bloggers big Jane Austen fans?  I'd love to hear your insights if you are. 

Oh and 2 more little things - no picture with these, but I'm loving my cuddley wrap sweater.  These last few days have been chilly and nothing is better than cozying up with a sweater and knitting needles...

And, the very last thing I've been loving - my Wii Fit! I had a comment on this, so I thought I'd give an update.  It is a lot of fun, and I feel so great when I unlock new exercises.  The game only lets you do a few exercises until you rack up some time and good scores - then they let you try new activities.  Plus, I get so happy when I do well and score high points.  So anyway - it was well worth the $90 price tag.  Of course, I've gained 1.8 pounds since I started! haha...I know why though - too much fast food during my heavy work weeks...

Ok, so anyway, that's what is up with me.  What's going on in your lives?