Amy Butler Origami Bags

Zipper Week

I have been really trying to tackle zippers lately.  I really have been wanting to make these cute little Amy Butler origami bags for awhile now but have been terrified of how to put in a zipper.  

  I finally found time to practice in the last couple of days.

I embroidered on a few.

Leslie has already claimed this one:)

You can't really see it but I embroidered a daisy on this one.

Maranda decided Winnie needed to be in this pic.  You can see Maranda's little feet in the background.

I have not mastered the zipper and am learning a lot by screwing up when I put them into the bags.

Happy Sewing Friends!

Loud and Proud

More is more!  Or is it????

I love Bari J.  I already made one Bari J. bag after I had seen how great my friend Jackie's turned out.  Pink Chalk offered a video seminar on how to make this Patchwork Rose "Zippered" Bag.  (I realized that the zipper wasn't so bad to put in after watching her video.)  Anyway, she says in the video when it comes to embellishing that "more is more," and she may change her mind after seeing my bag. lol!

I chose the brightest of my fabrics and even ordered in a few of Bari's new fabrics to use in it.

I chose the sweet blue and tangerine from Bari's new collection for the interior.

I embellished with buttons,

embroidery,

and beads.

Yes it is overdone and probably only appropriate to take to the circus!  However, it got my creative side excited again and I loved the process!

This is the back and a bit more of a calm view.

Side note..... Maranda (yes in her pajamas at 2:00 in the afternoon on Sunday) and I just hung her banner that she made in art class.  It spells out her name on each of the banners.

The Painted Farm

We are so (I am flipping excited) happy to have a new art studio in our neck of the woods called the Painted Farm!  Out south, in the country of our small town lives my new friend Mindi.  She was an art teacher in Moore schools and now has decided to open a studio at her home.  It has turned out beautiful!!!  

Five of my girlfriends and I went out one hot July evening with a couple bottles of wine in tow and made these collage /paintings.  It was so fun!  We laughed so much and all fell in love with our projects:)

Leslie and Mindi getting our canvas's started.

Misti working away!

Holly of course one upped us since she is a professional already! :)

My sister Stacie was so gleeful in her creative process.  To quote her, "I love my painting, so if you don't keep it to yourself!"

Ta daaaaaaa! 

The kids have loved art camp at the Painted Farm and Mindi sold out both sessions!!!  My kids loved it so much we decided to do both sessions.

Mindi's sweet husband is building her a to die for chicken coop.  Maranda fell in love with several chicks:)

Confetti Rag Quilt

I have been wanting to make a flannel rag quilt for awhile and finally got the chance this week.   I was down in Blanchard last week and found a little quilt shop that had Bliss in flannel.   I love the colors of Bliss!

If it wasn't for these spring loaded scissors, I would have been in big trouble when it came to clipping all the fringe into it.  Everyone told me that it takes twice as long to clip it all than it did to cut and sew it together.  They all underestimated my speed and I don't give a crap if I cut into the seam one in awhile mentality! :)

Again with the yummy to die for colors!!!  It is definitely a happy rag quilt:)

I made a lap quilt so I had 300 squares to cut.  I just watched a little Flipping Out on Bravo while I worked and was done in no time.

I haven't washed it yet because I love the look of it.  It looks like confetti right now!

I have missed all of my blog friends!  I plan on getting back on here and updating my blog more often.  I have made (ok started) several quilting and embroidering projects that I hope to post soon.