Summer/Winter Break = Sewing Time

I made this apron for my friend, Mindy, using one that I made for myself as a guide. She chose the fabric and I added the details.

In our house, we've finally checked off the last of our 180 days of school for the year, although I always do require some degree of brain-exercise over the summer break (winter break in this hemisphere). Learning never really stops. I hope to blog about that soon, as I'm trying to wrap my mind around having a graduate; but I have to get my thoughts straight. There's a lot to say.

Now that we're finished, I plan to sew until it just seems absurd. (But how can that ever be?) This week, I had a lofty goal for myself; but alas, it was unattainable. I can look at it one of two ways. Either, I can be disappointed that I didn't sew for six straight days in a row; or I can be glad that I was at least motivated to do more than I would normally have time to do.

Sadly, Mindy and her family will be moving back to the States in less than two weeks. It is so hard to say good-bye to friends, but we are grateful that the Lord has brought our families together for this brief time. Her adorable daughter, Baylea, always says such sweet things about the projects that I make, so I decided to make her a bag. Remember this tutorial for the reversible bag? And remember that I combined it with this detail and an appliqué from Zakka Sewing? Well, this time I didn't use the same appliqué.

Our sweet Gabriela is this week's model. I just love having so many helpers from which to choose!

Mindy had asked me to make her a tote for her to carry her Bible to church. I've had so much success with this tutorial, and she likes the others that I've made. She loves black and white, and asked for the tote to be reversible with solid black on the exterior, and a bit of red trim. She chose her fabric from my stash, and here's how it turned out. I opted for ties on the side, rather than buttons, as shown in the original tutorial.

I'm very excited to have been invited to join a swap on flickr, making these fun, cute gathered clutches. This is a case of positive peer pressure. These ladies really know what they're doing, and I see myself as more of a rookie. So, to be honored with membership in this group adds the pressure necessary to motivate me to do my best. Those of you who participate in Amy's Sew & Tell already know that Penny does amazing work, and I was overjoyed when she extended the invitation.

Here's the result of my practice run. Our oldest daughter, Caelyn, loved this, so it's hers. I know where the mistakes are, which means it's not a candidate for the swap. At least now I know what I'm up against, and I can plan carefully once I'm assigned a swap partner. I took a risk by adding the red zipper. In the end, however, I'm pleased with how it looks with the flower. All of my zippers were too long, but Penny came to the rescue on that, too. Gotta love her! All the way from Colorado to Moz!

I think I'd like to buy more of this dot fabric and put it everywhere in my life! Or at least on an apron.

I wish I could have more to share, but that's all for this week. I can't wait to see what everyone else made! Click and see!