A fabric choice that was not by me and I STILL like it!!

Both of the incredible girls who run the Mommyista (see http://www.themommyista.com/) have previously ordered handbags from me for them and their friends. Nothing gets more more excited than seeing them walk in wearing some thing that I made- I LOVE it!!!

One of them ("A") requested that I make her friend a bag out of fabric that she already had. Normally- this may make me gasp- giving up control and wondering if I like what fabric she chose??? However- knowing "A"'s sense of style and her fellow fabric fetish I knew I was in good hands and here is the outcome. Everyone that has seen it gushes over how cute the fabric is and much to my dismay I can't take credit this time :).

Just a tidbit of info about how sweet "A" is- she had the bag made because she remembers her friend commenting on how great this fabric was and how cute it would be in a purse. Then she met me and quickly afterwards asked if I would make the purse. There is nothing like a friend who is truly listening! Note to my friends- please don't hold me to the same standard!

In my next posts I will show the bags that I am deciding from to have raffled at The Mommyista's next event (Jan. 14th) "Find your inner Fit Chick" at Seasons.

This is my Miss Jenn's Everyday Bag- price is $48.

Sick kids and tons of time to do awesome art projects

I have several items that I am behind on posting- our entire family has been sick since before Christmas with various illnesses and they just keep coming!!

In a selfish way- I have to say the time at home without being able to leave the house has been WONDERFUL! Especially since it is freezing outside so the only thing my kids can do is play board games, puzzles and art projects with me!

This is a really basic project but it was so beautiful I had to take a picture. Just dye various pasta and teach your little ones along the way about mixing and making colors. After that, we would string for a necklace and created little sculptures by gluing it all together. We were even fascinated by our leftover gorgeous colored pasta when we put it in a bag before it was dry and mold grew on it overnight....it was STILL beautiful!

What cracked me up is after I took a picture my 4 year old grabbed the camera and took his own close up (his pic is on top). He writes books for his reading teacher so he is currently very into taking his own pictures for his books. I was even scolded recently when I got his pics printed out for him because I didn't print the "black ones" that he took- I obviously thought they were mistakes but I was corrected!! It quickly reminded me to let my kids be the judge of what is part of their creative process or not- that's easier said than done sometimes :).

Something for one of the sweetest women that I know!!

Whew! It's Christmas Eve and we are finally done setting everything up for the morning festivities. Now I have a few minutes to write about making a "Jessica Purse" for my wonderful friend named "M".

The first time that I met "M" she saw me walking into church with a bag of food for a food drive that we were having. Not only did she run over to me to help me carry it and tell me where it needed to go but she was so warm and friendly that I couldn't resist her offer to go to a meeting that got me involved serving on our ministry to the poor (St. Vincent de Paul) and that service has truly changed my life. She NEVER stops giving, stops supporting or stops caring- she has more energy than I do in my pinkie finger- she's incredible!! Oh yeah- and she is beautiful on top of it all.

A week before the St. Tim's show she and her husband came over to our house for a party. I had all of my purses and other items "staged" for planning my booth and I loved getting feedback from my guests. "M's" super sweet husband ("R") pulled me to the side and asked me to make a purse for her that he had seen her eyeing down. He even paid attention to what fabric she liked and will be surprising her with her custom purse for Christmas. How amazing that he was attentive enough to order one JUST for her as a surprise!?? "R"- you are my #2 incredible husband of the year for 2009!!!!- sorry, #1 is taken for my own husband just in case he ever reads my blog!

"R" and "M"- thank you for being such a source of inspiration for me and for your ever flowing kindness!! I cannot wait to hear how you feel about your purse "M".

xoxo-

holly

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

This is my Jessica bag- they cost $45.

Sewing doesn't get any more fun than this!! item #3

So here it is- the hardest (not technically but aesthetically) bag that I have made yet. I am not kidding when I tell you that I spent hours and hours and hours scouring stores and fabric websites to find fabric that would work for this bag. "A.M." asked me to make a bag in Gator colors (for you non-football loving fans that is the Florida Gators- University of Florida) as a pun for her sister in law's love of the Gators. I giggled when she made the request and then I drew a HUGE blank as to how I was going to make it cute. Finding wonderful fabric in these colors is NOT easy. I finally found inspiration and after consulting "A.M." we decided on these fabrics and can I say GORGEOUS???? I am dying to see how her sister in law reacts when she gets it.

SUCH a hysterical and creative idea "A.M.". I can't beleive that we pulled it off looking so cute. Let me know if she likes it!!

My slings are $45

Sewing doesn't get any more fun than this!! item #2

A gift for "A.M.'s" niece who is not yet 2 years old. She ask me to make matching cotton bloomers which I have not done before. The picture doesn't do the bloomers justice because they are absolutely precious and were actually pretty easy (thanks to my Mom who ripped out the stitching in another pair so I could see them deconstructed).
I enlisted another 2 year old who is near and dear to my heart model the dress for me so "A.M." can see how it looks before I deliver it. She stuck her little hands in the pockets right away. Does she make it look cute or what?? Thank you "A" for your patience while I took the pictures! I sure do love you!

The Laci dress like this is $55 and bloomers would be an additional $8.

Sewing doesn't get any more fun than this!! item #1

My friend "A.M." (who is a brilliant jewelry designer and amazing juggler of time!!) has been ordering gifts from me for her friends and family. I love that she gets excited about what each of them might like and her requests are fine tuned for them alone!

This particular sling though is just for "A.M." and she let me decide which coordinating fabrics would fit her best. She is really creative and her style is a touch edgy, she's adorable.

Although I'm excited to see if she likes it- I am a little bummed that I have to part with it because it's look really cute with my new jeans!!

xoxo A.M.

The sling is $45

Great requests make an awesome bag!!

I have a love/hate relationship with modifications....I get so excited to work on a new idea, working out the kinks, making a piece EXACTLY for that one person BUT in a time constraint I start to worry if I will get it done on schedule and if it will be as perfect as I expect it to be. I had the best of both worlds completing this new merged style because the owner of this bag was sweet enough to give me plenty of time to complete it!

She didn't want a diaper bag that was really large- like the usual diaper bag that I make. But she still wanted a zippered opening and a plethora of pockets. I enjoyed putting it together for her thinking about all of the characteristics that I wanted in my own dream bag. I hope she agrees that it turned out as cute and utilitarian as it looks to me!

My wonderful friend (and truly amazing quilter) Margaret, is kind enough to always be on the lookout for new things that I might like to sew. She gave me the great idea to make these little diaper/wipe holders so I made one for this order hoping that "M" enjoys it and will give me any feedback that she has.