Came across this when I was waiting for the timer on my hair to go off ( ha ) and thought I’d share the tutorial over here, too. I love coming across things like this where people see a need and get creative. Nice she shared her how-to on the web.
Click on the photo, and you’ll be taken right over to her tutorial. Pretty sweet!
Enjoy your Sunday and BE HAPPY! 
I’ve been told on MANY occasions to visit the Cosmic Cow over in Havelock here in Lincoln. Why I never stopped before is way beyond me! What an incredible little shop that offers quality quilting cottons. No, I don’t quilt. Nor will I EVER quilt. But the fabrics just go on and on…. and the colors and designs were almost overwhelming. But so much fun.
The Cosmic Cow, Lincoln, NE
It is in one of the oldest neighborhoods in town, and its building is old and eclectic – just the perfect style. Wooden floors and high ceilings. And the older couple that was working in there today were outstanding and very helpful. I’ll bet they never have a dull moment at that little shop.
After rolling through the shelves and aisles of beautiful colors and prints, I realized that these people had made fat quarters available stacked on top of the rows of fabrics, matching up what with what was below. What an idea! When you don’t want yards and yards, it’s the perfect way to shop for high end cottons. WOWZERS! I couldn’t help myself, and spent a little cash – see what I got!
7 Sets of coordinating prints (2 each)
I can’t wait to dig in and make some iPad clutches – and SOON! Realized there isn’t any blue in that grouping. Hmmm. Must mean I really don’t dabble in blue too awful much.
So stay tuned for some exciting clutches – can’t wait to show them off.
Happy creating and have a wonderful weekend!
Do you ever have one of those nights where thoughts much jump in your head and it wakes you up? Then you lay there thinking about how this and this, and that with a side of this and how it could work into a design? I woke up thinking LEATHER. What a goofy thought! So I lay there trying to get to sleep, but images and ideas kept invading my space. Sometimes it’s easier to just give up and let the thoughts roll on through.
I shared this beautiful stack of leather scraps we located at some point with you all. I checked the date on my original photo and it’s really been almost a whole year without using these pieces. So I figure there must have been a reason, and my insomnia may have come up with the perfect idea. Trust me, the leather hasn’t sat dormant really, we do get it out on occasion and mess with the colors and textures.
Awesome leather scraps! Love the colors.
Didn’t think there would be time to blog this week, but this way it stands out as one of those “So let it be written, so let it be done” projects. Yeah, that’s one of our favorite lines from “The Ten Commandments” movie with Charlton Heston.
What’s on your crafty agenda today? Have a creative and fun day!!
I’m in love with Tommy Bahama decorator fabrics, and one day I shall USE one of them for a designer tote bag. I came across this black and ecru color print this morning that really struck my eye…
Tommy Bahama Hawaiian Holiday Collection Leilani - Coal
Click on the collection name in the photo description to see all the marvelous fabrics! It just makes my mouth drool.
Has anyone every worked with these fabrics? The whole line of fabrics are incredibly beautiful and just speak peace and tranquility – ahhh, palm trees and beaches.
Weekend is packed full of sewing and getting a couple of the crafting tote bags up in the store. I’ve received some great feedback on the prototype and once these hit the machine, they will even be BETTER! Can you tell I’m excited to start!?!
Have a wonderful Friday, and keep on crafting and enjoy the gifts God has given you!
With two projects under my belt today, it’s time for a final blog post and then, yes, ironing. Blechhhh. But the last project I completed was the craft/knitting/crocheting tote bag. And I must say, it came out FANTASTIC! I would love to hear feedback on ways it could be improved or whatever – need to hear what people need in a tote back like this. So here is it’s little pictorial history…..
All the materials just ready to cut in to today. I've had my eye on this piece of decorator fabric for eons, and this was the perfect reason to finally buy it!
Working on the outside of bag. Vinyl zippered pocket on one side, elastic topped pocket on the other.
Outside of bag is completely put together. Loving the buckram for stabilizing - keeps that bag very 'perky'.
Back side pocket. I lined the outside pockets on this one to make the pockets more finished and professional. Have to remember that if I make another one.
Innards - two sides sewn onto front panel with so many pockets, I can't count 'em!
Of course, TygerLily had to be embroidered. I thought pink was good.
Trying different technique with attaching outer and inner layers. It was difficult pulling the last back through because of the vinyl. Here it's just pinned up and ready to top stitching.
Just another shot of all THOSE POCKETS!
Top stitched and sitting pretty. Handles attached and a little fun item for the zipper pull on that vinyl pocket. I questioned myself when I bought that tassel, but obviously it was for a reason. We both thought this added some extra fun to the bag.
Backside - showing handles (a little)
Can you tell I can't get enough of those pockets? Any crafter using this would have a specific place for EVERYTHING!
It's final bow - and I'm totally sold on this design. I still wish I'd have done one for myself like this. *sigh* Oh, well.
After this was completed, I was able to box up my sister’s bag that was posted about before. You know, the black/white/red one. I felt secure enough that I had done the best to replicate it, and even make it a little better by lining some of the pockets nicer. So Donna, it’s in the mail. tee hee
It’s now time to get ready for the work week – I’ve played enough today. Get me some Mio flavored water and turn the iron back on. AND it’s Celebrity Apprentice tonight, too! Personally, I’m glad George got fired. Tonight should be interesting.
Happy crafting, knitting, crocheting, etc….. from our house to yours …….. blessings.
The idea today was to get another unique knitting tote sewn before I ship out the original to my sister. So a pic got taken of the fabrics and colors, but I noticed my stack of knitted swatches off on the side of my sewing cabinet. They were just waiting to be paid attention to, so I picked one up and decided to fly with it. Here’s the story of the “I Knit, I Sew, I iPad” unique cover.
Great cotton fabric getting ready to apply those awesome mini magnets we got from China. The black thing is the silicone skin the iPad will fit into.
Those darned magnets are KILLER on my hands to attach, but they're on there for GOOD.
The felted knit swatch that's been cut down and rounded for the front flap of the cover. Since it's felted, it can be cut and sewn just like regular fabric.
Time to put the magnets on to the silicone skin. As no glue on this earth sticks to these skins, hence the idea for mini mags. They are finally attached in this photo.
...but magnets can scratch the electronics case, so sticky felt squares were put on them. Ahhh, that's much better.
The folder is all spread out in this picture. Skin is held now by the magnets directly IN the folder.
And you all know me well enough that a little bling or shine must be put on - somewhere. I had picked up this gold flower somewhere in a jewelry making section of a craft store. And German glue is KEY!
Just a different angle.
Really wish that the stitching wasn’t necessary around that flap. Not sure how to get around that one – it may just have to be this way.
Thanks for stopping by and now it’s time to get working on the green and pink knitting tote.
What a day! What I thought would only be a couple hour job in finishing up the accessories to go with that custom knitting tote in my previous post – turned into a 5 hour gig! Holy moly.
Plus, I’m not the sharpest pencil in the computer or IT box, so it took me over an hour to stop trying to FIX the embroidery computer program, and just give up and uninstall it. After installing the program again, the machine and computer were talking again and all was good in the hood. Why must they argue so? giggle
Ugh - on many levels - ugh
So it was time to program the words I wanted to put on the knitting bag accessories I’d planned…. here goes….
Yep, that says "Straights"
And yep, "Circs" for sure. My love sister is not getting a DPN accessory bag. She'll have to deal with it.
It's a basic make-up bag, but I made it bigger so hopefully all those bags of circular needles will fit in it. If not, she'll figure out what to use it for.
My disaster just beginning to happen. Thank goodness for sisters who don't mind being guinea pigs. It looks great here but....
When I centered the wording, I forgot completely about how a 'fold down' needed to happen at the top so the needles won't fall out. OK, Lesson Learned. But it ain't over yet.....
... the wording was put on the wrong side, or the ribbon ties were put on the wrong side. Whichever, when it rolls up like it should, no word is seen. ARGH!!!!!
So now that I’ve learned a tremendous amount about these little accessories, next time it won’t be so traumatic for me. I really wanted these items to be spot on, but hopefully next time they will be.
But at least the computer and sewing machine are talking again. *sigh* And now my sister’s package is ready to mail out to her. Let’s hope it passes the test.
I’ve had you all wondering what was next on the plate, and today I was able to complete something we wanted to give my sister for all she and her hubby have done for us. (You know what all you’ve done, seeesta.) It might have been a couple years now, but she wanted a black/white/red handbag, small enough for running errands, etc. I couldn’t pull it off. What I had created was a disaster and I wouldn’t let her have it. So her birthday rolls around last month and she was awesome enough to show me some knitting carry-all bags she’d been looking at on-line. I asked her to stop looking. This is what Team TygerLily has designed specifically for her……
The beginning - putting a zippered vinyl pocket on the front so she can SEE what she's got - like maybe lists, patterns, candy bars.....
The rest of the bag's outside pieces, all pocketed up and ready to make into the coolest bag yet.
Outside of bag all put together with its bottom which came out, can we say PERFECTLY! Boy did I need that today. See the little bling bling that got put on as a zipper pull? That's cuz I love my sis.
Innards - lots and lots of innards. Pockets, zipper, pleats, gathers..... and yes, elastic.
Just a shot of the inside outer layer - first time incorporating buckram - it's AWESOME!!
Lining all put together, ready for the grand marriage of tough outside and demure interior.
All done - ready for it's final stay stitching around the top. Look how pretty it stands all on its own - now THAT's what I'm talking about.
Just another angle.
I can't find any candy bar in that see through pocket! Hmmm
Showing off with my BC's in that empty front pocket. Yep, Bill's back there cooking or something. If I had Kool-Aid packets, I'd stick a few in there for her.
It's back side - full of gathered pockets for smaller things like wallets or maybe even a candy bar.
I hope it’s not too big, but I know it will hold two knitting projects of hers at one time. No more shoe box caddies or ziploc bags for my sister. And if she doesn’t like it, hmmm, well, she’s going to get it anyway. What she does with it afterwards is up to her.
I truly enjoyed this project from the bottom of my heart – all the way from it’s heavy outdoor fabric outside to the light and cheerful cotton fabric on the inside. But especially because it’s going to one of my biggest fans and someone who never ceases to amaze me at her encouragement and huge heart.
We love you DONNA and JULIAN! Maybe Julian can keep something of his in the bag, too. Like a lure? paperback? candy bar?
One more swatch needed to get itself out of the sewing area before I start another project from scratch. So the turquoise wool swatch was nabbed and sewn up. This is knitted in Brown Sheep wool in absolutely the best tone of blue/green around. Here is the process this morning (after gathering all the materials together).
Materials laid out, cut and assembly started (it morphed as it went along - believe me)
Swatch laid upside down to sew to the length of cotton fabric - to be flipped over and have a neat spine at the center.
Swatch flipped over and stitched to base fabric - don't want any movement going on here.
Pockets were put in, one on the right to hold a journal, notebook or sketch pad. And one on the left bottom to hold pens, pencils, art items - or a candy bar.
Not a good project to put my embroidered TygerLily name on, so the suede logo was the best match. See the clips at the top? Those are holding the turning area together while the super magnificent German glue sets. I placed two heavy duty cardboard pieces into the front and back flaps of the cover - helps with the shaping and writing stability.
Look what was hanging on my supply pegboard!!!! Have to use it somehow.
Finale #1
Finale #2
Finale #3 - Final Bow
This project used some high quality yarns and some awesome 100% cotton fabrics and thread. There is no way to tell you the hours it took, or it’s real value. THAT I will have to think about. I think it would make a terrific Mother’s Day Gift – hey, moms still need to write their hopes and dreams down! What woman doesn’t? It would make a great gratitude journal, too – and keep those colors pencils and pens in the front cover to make it a joyful thing. Think on that one – would love to hear feedback.
I have to admit, it felt incredibly good to get my fingers going on something I truly adore this morning. As mentioned before, this was one rough week on many levels and I was emotionally and mentally fatigued. So glad to have gotten a chance to take the time and enjoy the gifts that God has given me. And thank you for letting me share.
After taking over a month off from blogging, and basically two months off from crafting anything to completion, here we go.
If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen some knitted ‘swatches’ that were to hopefully turn into iPad covers or something along that order. So yesterday I forced myself to go to the sewing machine and try and complete at least one of them. I should never have picked my favorite swatch to start out with on a prototype, but there are days I don’t think all that straight. So I picked up my ‘roots’ piece and found a great cotton fabric for the lining in my stash. Measured a gazillion times on how the Timtex lining should be cut and took off with it. I learned MANY lessons on trying to make this TOO sturdy and cushy for holding electronics. OK, I’ll back off on the next one.
Folded with Timtex lining inserted and magnet placed. Actual knitted piece was made using a bulky acrylic yarn in a splendid mossy color.
A poor photo of the other side of previous picture. Shows the back and flap that will be shaped by Timtex.
One of my favorite fabrics EVER - happy to have enough left in my stash for this prototype. Iron-on fleece has been applied for cushion.
Peak of flap, on the inside and attached to knitted swatch.
Completed showing other side of magnetic snap on flap. One fatal flaw that cannot be fixed - placement of that darned snap - it's 1/2" off and totally is disgusting to me. The stitching around the flap is off, too, and ripping would have been a nightmare, so it stays.
Sometimes, me being a perfectionist when it comes to my products, it’s hard to get past all the flaws I see and continue on. I must have been thinking this thing was going to go through WWIII on the battlefield the way it’s constructed. There isn’t an iPad or Nook out there that needs this kind of protection. It’s overkill. So now that the lessons have been learned, the red, purple and gray swatches can be constructed with more ease…. let’s hope.
I have a project coming up next that is ready to cut out of black and white print fabric with red accents. It will be a special gift to someone who more than deserves it – she knows who she is……. and I’ve decided to blog the process of the unique design bag she’s going to receive. Plus, Bill keeps asking me if I’ve started this project yet – so I know he is as anxious as I am to see it completed. So keep tuned in – I’ll try and do better at keeping the blog rolling, and not just throw stuff up on Facebook.
Happy crafting and may you all have a blessed rest of the weekend and relaxing Sunday!
