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crochet tote finished!

crochet tote bag

I was so excited to finish this last night. I really love it. I plan to use it for my next big project: my Manos del Uruguay blanket. I’ve been squirreling away sale and ebay Manos for the past two years. I finally have enough to make a blanket. Now I just need to figure out which pattern. I want something that can be done in blocks rather than in one piece. Suggestions?

project notes: Garage sale yarn (still have quite a bit leftover). Vintage buttons from my stash. Attic24 crochet bag pattern.

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my creative space

my creative space

What’s in my creative space today? I’m working on my crochet tote! All of the little bits are finished. The handles have been blocked. Tonight I’m going to watch some Battlestar Galactica and sew everything together. I’m so excited that this is almost done. I’m totally in love with it!

Visit more creative spaces over at Kirsty’s blog.

p.s. My daughter picked out the buttons. Didn’t she do a good job?

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twitter was down?

It’s unbelievable that I didn’t know twitter was down until the evening news. I rarely spend so much time away from my computer during the day, but it was too beautiful to sit in front of the keyboard.

I have a book due at the library tomorrow that I was hoping to finish up today. The weather forecast was nice and cool (for August) so I took Bella to the zoo. She loves to sit in the big sand area and play forever. I figured I’d let her play while I’d sit in the shade next to the parrots and read my book.

You know what happened, don’t you? She was totally NOT interested in the sand area. Not one bit. I think I read two paragraphs before she was ready for the next thing. Oh, well. We had tons of fun. I can always read when it’s cold out, right?

bella caterpillar

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new on julie-k: oversized swatch becomes cute wool clutch

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oversized swatch becomes cute wool clutch

Last weekend my friend Jennifer drove up from Kansas City to hang out. It had been over 20 years since the last time we’d seen each other. We had a lot of catching up to do. She wanted to learn how to knit, which is a great way to spend your catching-up time. I cast on some wool to show her how to start. We kept talking and I kept knitting. Without realizing it, I had knit all of my yarn. What was I going to do with this gorgeous rectangle?

Hand Knit Wool Clutch with Denim Lining and Zipper Closure

I folded my oversized swatch in half, whip stitched the sides and added a lining. The result: super duper cute clutch! The good thing about me finishing this so fast is that I got to show Jennifer how to bind off. She caught on quickly and is doing awesome with her first scarf. Another person successfully converted to the fiber arts. Yay!

Visit my etsy shop for close up pics of those lovely garter stitches.

stash: This is a great stash busting project. Yarn was gifted to me by a friend who was ironically destashing it. Denim lining from my garage sale stash. Thrifted zipper.

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inspiration: anthropologie tank top

I was browsing through the Anthropologie website and saw this cute top.

anthropologie transparency cowlneck

I immediately thought of a pattern I have in my stash. (View #2)

simplicity 4589

Then I thought of another one. (View #4)

simplicity 2593

Clearly I need to stop thinking so much and start doing. My list of potential and unfinished projects is getting much too long!

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my creative space

my creative space

I love the magazine section at our library. Today I’m devouring Country Living, House Beautiful and Dwell. They are due in a few days. Must soak in a little more inspiration before I return them.

You can find more creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

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wardrobe refashion: shirt to apron

shirt to apron

Here’s the third shirt from last week’s garage sale purchases. These big, flouncy shirts came in style right after I had my daughter and I refused to buy any. I had just gotten out of maternity clothes. I didn’t want to buy shirts that made me look pregnant!

shirt to apron

I really liked the band around the middle and thought it would make a nice apron. I love how this already had the ribbon and trim details. All I had to do was cut it up and add the sashes!

shirt to apron

I’m not really an apron girl, but this just might make me change my mind. I just need to get over worrying about getting it dirty. I know, it’s an apron, but it’s so darn cute!

shirt to apron

refashion: Shirt from garage sale cost $1. Sash made from the sleeves. Cute ribbon trim conveniently part of the original shirt. Love when that happens!

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remnants!

remnants

Last Saturday I discovered a little store called Stitches that creates custom drapes, valances, slip covers, etc. I found them through a garage sale listing on craigslist and I couldn’t resist the words “fabric sale.” I had originally planned to just look. I had no idea that things would be so inexpensive. I picked up a bunch of canvas remnants for 25 cents each (not pictured) and a few larger pieces for 50 cents a yard. I already have plans for the floral print flannel: pajama pants!

stash: Whenever I bring something new home I have to destash to make room. On the list this time: jeans I had planned to refashion into tote bags. I just don’t have time for all of the projects in my head!

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fun at the ager center

I can’t believe that it is sunny and cool right now. We planned to go to the zoo with Kelly and Leith today, but it was raining. The weather report called for more rain right around the time we were going to meet. Plan B was going to the Ager Center.

Now that Bella is almost three, I let her get a pass for play structure. She wasn’t really interested in it until the very end — right before we were ready to leave, of course. I didn’t think to get a picture because I was too busy checking in on her. I did get some pics of the two of them playing with Little People.

bella and leith

bella and leith

Kelly and I also had a nice visit. We didn’t play with Little People, though.

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new on julie-k: wardrobe refashions: pajamas, a skirt and a shirt