Beach bag

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Originally uploaded by pout on a whim

I made this beach bag from materials I had on hand. The sandy colored fabric was found at the thrift store a few weeks ago - I think it is a home dec fabric. The outside pocket is made from some fabric I've had for several years - I think it is Michael Miller. The print depicts two children playing on the beach.

The bag is lined with the same yellow gingham that I made the sun out of. Everything we make must have at least a bit of yellow in it since it is Chatterbelle's favorite color.

Train tote

This is the train tote I made last week for Chatterbelle to take to a Day with Thomas.

But by the time we figured out what day we could go, the event was sold out. So we had an outing to the fair instead. Chatterbelle was thrilled to come home with a balloon.

It's a nice sized bag for carting around her treasures - big enough to get more than a few toys in it, but not so big that she can't carry it herself. At some point we may use it to store her train toys when she is not playing with them.

I made it to be floppy on top so it would flop closed when not filled up. But when I see it carried around it looks sloppy floppy to me so I probably wouldn't make it that way again. The train is actually a pocket. And because I wanted to make it a bit more snazzy, I added the strip of patchwork pieces cut from mostly vintage fabrics and attached it with a satin stitch.

The train fabric was cut from a piece that Chatterbelle picked out at the fabric store a few months ago. Whenever we go shopping, she gets to pick something out. Usually it's stickers, sometimes it's buttons or ribbon, and occasionaly it is a 1/2 yard cut of fabric. At the time we bought it I didn't know what we would do with it, but then later decided it would make a nice pocket for a tote. So on our next outing we picked up the ivory denim (on sale) and beige webbing (Chatterbelle selected the colors for both). I had hoped to find some railroad stripe denim, but there was none to be found at the store.

Not sure how disappointed she was at missing the train ride with Thomas. But she has been giving us tickets and then escorting us to take a seat on the couch for a ride on the pretend Thomas train. We may try to get tickets on a regular train for a short ride - perhaps in the fall.

Lucy Locket apron

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Originally uploaded by pout on a whim

I decided to do a nursery rhyme apron for tie one on. The theme was pocket. Inspired by a vintage clothespin apron, it has one large pocket and three small pockets. Lucy Locket and Kitty Fisher both wear an apron with a pocket. And Kitty Fisher holds a working drawstring pocket (or purse) that Lucy Locket lost.

I used saral transfer paper to copy my design onto linen fabric. Then used a combination of embroidery and applique to complete the apron using fabric and thread I had on hand. Lucy's pocket is a small working drawstring purse that I tacked down. Chatterbelle has already put two beads and a button in it. The purse is yellow because it is Chatterbelle's favorite color and so most things we make have some yellow in it. I find that adding a bit of yellow to things quite cheering actually.

As soon as I finished the apron, Chatterbelle was eager to put it on. She promptly started finding things to put in the big pocket - leaves and flowers mostly as we were outside. But I expect it will be useful for gathering peas and other yummies from the garden.

Lucy Locket lost her pocket
Kitty Fisher found it
Not a penny was there in it
only ribbon round it.

Sling bag

I had so much fun making an apron for tie one on that I decided to make a bag for the purse project

But then blogger ate my lengthy post, time got away from me and I didn't get my photo emailed in time to be included... sigh. It was a fun project though, and I was pleased with how the bag turned out.

I knew from the get go that I wanted to use this pattern:




Although I have a few vintage tea towels stashed away, I wasn't ready to cut into any of them. I looked around a bit and finally found a maize (yellow is Chatterbelle's favorite color) colored cotton jacquard weave towel at Target and decided that it would be suitable.

The pattern is pretty simple - just two pieces - a front piece and a back piece. My intent was to use just one towel for this project. The two pattern pieces fit with only inches to spare. Even so, I managed to spend more than a few minutes adjusting and readjusting the pieces to get the best use of the floral design. (I've been told in the past that I tend to over think things...)

After I finished cutting out the pieces, I realized that the reverse side of the towel had a lovely design as well. I had a fleeting thought to sew up the bag with the wrong side out. Then I decided to just make an inside pocket and stitch that into the lining with the reverse side out. This photo shows the inside pocket after it had been stitched to the lining, but before the lining had been turned.




The lining fabric was purchased for another project. But when I found it serendipitously hanging out with the maize colored towel in the laundry basket, I knew they were destined to be partners in this project. I think the multi-colored stripes add a bit of zip to the soft tones of the towel.

While this bag was fun to make, it's been more fun to watch Chatterbelle fill it with treasures and carry it around on her wrist just like in the pattern photo.

Spinning top and bunny twins

Chatterbelle spotted this Smurfs spinning top from 1982 at a garage sale yesterday. It came home with us. Gotta love those little blue Smurfs. And doesn't every child need a spinning top? My intent has been to fill the toybox with more of the classic type toys than the plastic ones, so it was a good find.

And when we returned to the house after our evening visit to the garden, we saw our friend bunny nibbling on a dandelion stalk. While we were talking softly to him, I happened to glance over at another part of the yard and was surprised to see bunny's twin looking about anxiously. As soon as he realised I had seen him, he sprang into the tall grass to hide. So there are two bunnies. But I think I have been photographing bunny number one, as bunny number two seems to be too skittish to let me get close enough to take a photo of him. My guess is they have a warren somewhere in the underbrush. Wonder how many bunnies there are?

More bunny hop

Bunny was nibbling his dinner in the backyard last evening while I happened to be outside with the camera. This is the closest I've ever been able to get to him. But then he hopped away.




Gotta love that little white tail...

Bunny hop

First thing this morning we went outside while still in our pajamas to watch a little bunny eat his breakfast of clover and dandelion. It's about the fourth time I've seen him in our yard this spring. And the first time I've been able to get a halfway decent photo - with the zoom of course. Past attempts have resulted in the self-directed query, "Why did I take a picture of the yard and what is that little brown spot?"

So I was pleased that my little chatterbelle was quiet and composed while we cautiously approached bunny. But when we got too close, he hopped into the thicket to hide.




Can you find the hidden bunny? Look close, he's peeking out at you...