handmade kate

hurricane prep

OK, so I'm supposed to be preparing for hurricane Hanna.  I think this counts, doesn't it?  I do need to go to the grocery store, and I've been wanting to make a few grocery totes using this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew that was posted over the summer. 

I love using re-usable totes for my groceries and purchases, but something about buying a store's tote and subsequently being a walking advertisement for that store rubs me the wrong way.  Anyway, I think this will end up being one of my favorite tote patterns.  Using Amy Butler's new August Fields decorator weight fabric and finishing it all up with French seams make it super-sturdy and super-easy to sew up.  

And I made up a few produce bags too.

(never mind that silly apple--it literally was the only piece of produce I had in the house)

I was thrilled to finally find a source for 100% cotton mesh fabric as a nice alternative to the plastic produce bags (i felt like they were a bit hypocritical when you carry in your own canvas grocery bags!). I cut rectangles measuring 11x14 from the mesh and sewed the sides and bottom together with my serger (use a very low tension if you're wanting to give it a try).  Next, I folded over 1" along the top, stitched it into place, and snipped a tiny hole along one of the side seams.  I made a tiny tie from 1" strips of fabric (left over from my take-along garden party picnic quilt) using my 1/2" bias tape maker, and threaded it through the casing.  And voila--pretty produce bag!

 

So, ahem, back to hurricane prep:

water?  not yet, but will the case of Deer Park in the basement fridge be enough?

non-perishable food? no.

ice for the coolers?  no.

gas for the grill? um, no.

batteries?  well, i know we have a few in the junk drawer, just not sure of the sizes...

Seriously, I've gone through a few hurricanes here in NC, so I  really will be stocking up tomorrow. (and looking good, too, i might add, with my new bags!)  To my Southern neighbors in SC, Georgia, and FL--be safe!

take-along garden party

Anna Marie Horner's Garden Party. Oh, my, gracious.  How can you choose between all of those gorgeous colors and prints?  It's impossible.

A bundle of fat quarters was the perfect solution, and Erin's Picnic Blanket was a perfect way to bring them all together.  I had to fill in with a few squares of eyelet, but I think it goes so nicely against those luminous prints.  I envision the fabrics growing even more lovely over the years as they become stained and worn and faded in the sun.   A perfect take along-quilt.    

We're headed up to the lake for a few days, and my picnic blanket is rolled up, ready to go.  I can't wait to stretch out on it with a good book or a bit of knitting.  

Have a wonderful and relaxing Labor day weekend!    

prototype, and again with those loops

Here's a sneak-peek of one of the last three projects I just submitted to The Sewing Republic.  I had been thinking of a quilted laptop cozy for the longest time, so I was thrilled to have my idea approved for the web site's project ideas.

I'm not the most efficient pattern maker--I can never commit my ideas to paper initially, and it's hard for me sketch out what is in my head.  I just grab some fabric and just start folding and pinning.  By the time I've stitched it all together (and ripped it out a few times), I usually realize that I've forgotten to take measurements along the way.  Needless to say, there are quite a few prototypes scattered about by the time I'm finished!

This version is a little different then the pattern I ultimately submitted.  Because the projects are supposed to be tailored to beginning sewers, I really needed to keep the pattern as simple as possible, so the patchwork and quilting are only listed as alternate finishing options.  It's still as nicely padded as this one, though, so the laptop is well protected.  There's a "flap-strap" closure for the bag, and best of all, the pattern is based on your own laptop's measurements for a custom-fit. 

But you can see what immediately came to my mind when I was playing around with quilting ideas on this version--yep, it's those loops again!

You can have peek at my other upcoming projects over here.

a bit of pretty in the post

Look what was in the bundle of mail that was delivered upon our return from vacation!  I had ordered this necklace from Kristen only a day or two before we left, knowing it wouldn't arrive in time to take with us.  So I was absolutely giddy when our mail carrier drove up with our box full of mail that was being held at the post office while we were gone. 

It was as beautiful as I had expected and then some.  That wisp of lace is oh-so-perfect.

As I'm typing this, Kristen's web shop, Mood Swing Studios, is being updated, but you can find some really awesome deals over at her etsy shop in the interim.  I should know.  I couldn't resist buying another necklace!  Go check out one of my favorite local celebrities, I promise you'll love those precious adornments as much as I do!

transitions

After nearly 10 days at the lake house, home again, then back to the lake, and finally a last-minute trip to the beach, we are back home to finish up the summer. It proved to be quite easy to settle in to a new and wonderfully relaxing routine while on vacation.  I was able to do all of those things that I plan to do in my everyday life, but somehow things always seem to get too crazy and I fall into all of the same old bad habits.  But on vacation? 

I ate fresh blueberries and peaches and cantaloupe from the farmers' market every morning for breakfast.

I slept until 8 am (yes, that's late for me) and drank coffee on the deck and watched the blue heron "fishing" in the cove and the otters frolicking with each other.  I stretched my morning routine out until nearly 10 am, and then I proceeded lounge down on the dock, reading or knitting for a few more hours.

There were long walks on country roads in lieu of my daily workout, and I got to meet new friends along the way. 

Fishing, water-skiing, tubing, and swimming with the kids filled the afternoons.  I finally learned to drive a boat, too! 

And in the evenings there were ice-cold peach daiquiris, something yummy on the grill, and dining on a picnic table with a gingham table cloth under the stars.  There were no phones, televisions, Internet.  Yes, I got very used to it all.

So now back at home, we have less than a week before school begins for the kids.  I'm catching up on laundry and taking an inventory of clothes and supplies we'll need.  New tennis shoes and haircuts are always a tradition for us!  And  I finished up the last item on my summer to-do list:  my last round of projects for the Sewing Republic were finished up last night and I got them mailed off this morning.  (I hope to post a sneak-peek in the next few days) 

This is a week of transition for me; preparing and planning so that we can ease into a new fall routine.  I've been thinking a lot about how I can carry a bit of that summer-time peace along with me.  So far, watching the Olympics in the evenings with a pot of hot tea and a snuggly kitty by my side have been very good.  Nothing special, I know, but it's more than I normally take time out for. It's a start.

And for those of you who left such lovely comments on Margaret's birthday quilt--thank you so very much! I don't know if I will be able to answer all of my emails, I''ve gotten so far behind on them, but I did want to tell everyone how much your kind words and birthday wishes for my sweet Margaret meant to me!

11th birthday quilt

Someone had a birthday last week, so in keeping with the new tradition around here, I thought another birthday quilt was in order.

Even though it was finished a few days late, I think it was a success (the pink loop-de-loops were key)

Besides, there was a second gift as a back-up, and it was immediately "cashed-in" the next day for a pair of pink rhinestone daisy earrings.

Still, I was a bit worried that the glitz and glamor would win out over something handmade by Mama.  I didn't even hope to compete with the 'tween mecca, Claire's.  But this morning, I peeked into Miss M's room, and I couldn't have gotten a better "thank-you."  Emmy Gee was snuggled up and her toes were peeking out from her new quilt:

Phew.

and a post of their own

Last week I promised some wonderful links that inexplicably appeared to me all at once in Bloglines.  (Why are you misbehaving Bloglines?  Between you and Typepad, this computer-challenged chicka is having a horrid time...) So here are some the latest and greatest from The Sewing Republic:

My very own "Grab it and Go" wallet.  I love how it feels in my hands when I pop into a store!

Stacy's Go Green Fabric shopping bags.  Definitely in the sewing queue--I'm so embarrassed when I have to use the plastic bags at the farmer's market. 

And the first projects from Nikki of Appliance Clothing--the Applique Circle Skirt and Needle Book.  Oh wow, was I amazed at these projects.  I'm especially digging the circle skirt.  It has an elastic waist--something that I've been putting in all of my skirts of late.  Not so much gathering, just enough to wiggle the waistband over my hips.  That super-fast zipper-less construction is so good!  (not to mention the elastic is quite--ahem--forgiving)

And the last project idea that popped up as it should have in Bloglines today--sweet Juliette's Bag Boy.  Finally, a way to corral all those Target bags in a bit of pretty.

Enjoy!!

i really do have the best of intentions

But all I can manage to do is snooze on a sofa that looks like this:

At least all of the past projects look quite nice squished up together.

What you don't see are all of the cat-fur tumbleweeds rolling by because my vacuum conked out last week, and you can't see the piles of laundry lined up and waiting their turn for the washer because we can now wash them legally.  Yet I doze.  

I think when our lift pump for the basement/laundry/darkroom plumbing quit on us and the flood ensued two weeks ago, well, it was just more than I wanted to deal with.   My job's busiest time falls during the summer months, and dang it, I need clean clothes, not to have to deal with drying out a basement, new flooring and plumbers!  My dear husband came up with a rather comical solution until the replacement motor for the pump arrived; I think, in direct response to my mini-meltdown. (Well, it made me laugh anyway!)  The clear hose that snaked from the washer, discharging the gray water to a outside drain looked like we were running a meth lab.  Really, it was a bit reminiscent of Cousin Eddie. ("shitter's full!)  All is fixed now, except that I have a mountain of laundry to catch up. 

And the vacuum cleaner?  I'm open to suggestions.  I've bought two machines in the last 4 years and I have no idea which brand to try next. I don't want another one whose motor burns out as soon as the warranty expires.  Miss M and I looked at several models this morning, but I'm not thrilled with any of them.  I'm trying to work up enough nerve to buy this one because I have some sort of belief that if I spend this kind of money, the old gal will last as long as my parents'  classic Electrolux.  But I just don't know.  I'm frozen because I dread the panic attack that comes for me after a big purchase.   

We've been working hard finishing up the lake house these last few weeks, too, trying to have it ready for a few mini vacations in before the summer is over.  So all of my sewing plans have kinda just been sitting there for the last couple of weeks. 

So here's what the sewing queue looks like these days:

There are plans for a dress for Miss M, a few work skirts, a new purse, PJs, and a gingham dress.

I have been working on another birthday quilt, too, in between all of the chaos.  This time it's a summer quilt for a summer birthday.  I hope I'll have a finished photo or two to share next week.

And there are some really awesome projects (that Bloglines completely failed to notify me of) over at The Sewing Republic.  I feel like they deserve a post of their own...  Tomorrow, hopefully!

that extra day was heavenly...

Having an extra day over the weekend means the world to me now that I'm a working girl.   Normally my weekends are spent catching up on the errands and laundry that couldn't be fit in during the week, with only a bit of "me time" squeezed-in.  But one whole extra day--heavenly!

I started out the day making up a super-sized log cabin pillow and then promptly took it outside to enjoy the rest of morning with a book and a bowl of cherries. 

Next, a few lazy hours were spent in the sewing room, straightening up the piles of fabric and cutting out yet a skirt for me and a dress for Miss M's 5th grade graduation.

And as a perfect end to the day, a trip to Maple View Farm for some of the best ice cream 'round these parts!

Great Job, Ladies!!

for miss jenn...

Taking a cue from last week's burp cloths, I made a few dishtowels in a similar fashion.

A coordinating potholder, a purple plant something (I don't know my flowers very well!), and a gift card from Trader Joe's. Happy housewarming, my friend!