artsy-crafty babe

beachy

On this rainy, stormy Monday afternoon, I'm thinking about the beach.  We were  there only last week, but it feels like forever ago.

Our time went by way too fast.  As soon as we were getting comfortable, it was time to leave.  It was a last minute decision to go, so our time was short.

And now here we are getting ready for school to start...on Wednesday.

*sigh* 

It's kind of cruel.. our summer is officially over this week, but it will still feel like summer for months.  Suffocating, sizzling, humid heat for months, when we're busy with all those back to school activities.  Nope, not fair at all.

But, if we can squeeze it in (and the hurricanes decide to stay away), we can always go back....

those big ole market bags

 

I finished up a little batch of great big market bags...gosh, I love them!  I've tweaked them a bit since my first batch, and I'm pretty happy with the result.  All this tweaking is for a pattern, of course.

I plan to get these 4 bags uploaded to my etsy shop sometime this weekend when I get the chance to take some proper photos (unless you want one now -just email me...$25 including US shipping).   These are simple bags - rounded bottom with darts, shaped top, pleats at the strap, and fully reversible all made from re-purposed vintage sheeting.  Each one is lined with fabric just as pretty as the outside.

And when I say these are big - this is what I mean.  I am not a small person.  Yes, these are extra large (about  23" x 17" x 6").  Perfect for toting all kinds of goodies.

Check out that lining - love it! I've been saving that one for something special.  When I came across that pink & orange floral, I just had to pair them together.  I'm pretty sure I have enough to make myself a duplicate version if this one gets snatched up...shoot, I might just need a wrap skirt in that combo...can you tell it's my favorite?  Nope, I don't foresee my love of vintage sheets ending any time soon.

slow summer stitching...august

August?  Have we really been slow stitching for 2 months now?  How's it going?  I must admit, slow stitching has been my 'thing' this summer.  I just returned from a little get away where I had no problem slow stitching in the car, on the beach, and by the pool.  It was too miserable hot to even think about knitting, my usual go to hand work.

While away I was able to finish up my second freezer paper stenciled pillow cover.  I really like it, but I have no plans for it (but now i'm thinking a whole assortment in different colors would look cool on my patio furniture).  I tried washing the fabric with the  fabric paint a few times, hoping that it would soften, but it never did.  I think I need to give up stenciling on black.

I also finished stitching 2 of the 4 panels for my next skirt.  On my last two panels I used a textile medium mixed with acrylic paint for the stenciling...the jury is still out on that one.  Because I'm doing reverse applique, it doesn't *really* matter.  I will get around to trying jacquard paint one day, when I can justify the shipping, but until then, I'll keep on experimenting and stitching!