College Reunion and New Bags

I always think there are endless hours to the day, but once the nice weather starts up and we can get outside, I find the calendar quickly fills and some stuff just falls off the list (cleaning, laundering, and blogging - oh my!).  We've been to some birthday parties, weekends away, a nursery school spring concert and moving up day, hosted and attended BBQs, and the other big time-suck, going to work.

Last weekend was my college reunion in central Pennsylvania.  We brought Little Olive since she is 3, and other friends who had children later in life also brought their tots.  I didn't seem to find enough time on this weekend to truly catch-up with college friends - said good HELLOS - but then I got home and said "I wonder if so-and-so is still doing blah-blah".  Good to see campus again - so many changes!  Students get air-conditioned dorms now??

Little Olive (left) and friend Fi on campus:

Sewing Business:  Had some good sales with the reversible totes, custom-order quilts, and baby boy flannel quilts.  Here are some pics of the finished new bags....

Happy Saturday!! 

FABRIC! And a big reversible tote bag order

If you are like me and like to sew, it is hard not to be automatically addicted to fabric.  I have way too much of it and I need to get using instead of stock-piling.  But, even with all the great fabrics I have, I had a convenient excuse to go buy more.....an order for 6 of the Seaside reversible tote bags.  One of my first friends from college and I, even though she transferred after sophomore year, have remained friends through the past 20 years.  She saw the bags and would like for one for herself, a few gifts, and to give to her daughters' teachers for end-of-school gifts.  But, I only have enough fabric for four bags so off to the store I went.  It must be a popular fabric because the store was all-out, so I got a few other combos, one of which is the complement in pinks, greens, and browns....take a look at what I grabbed...I left the cutting board in some pics to show the design scale:
Blue and Green Wave

Beachglass

Bermuda Beach

I also have this harlequin fabric that I paired with a damask - it is a dusty blue and brown and I couldn't resist......

What about this Summer Green damask and Grass stripe?

Finally- some pictures of completed totes in a classic french countryside mustard yellow and french blue toile that reverses to a beige and french blue scroll with the "modern floral" tote and mini bag in the background.  And a hunter green and beige toile that reverses to a check.....

What do you think?

Groundhog Day + Custom Bag Order + January Budget Results

Happy Groundhog Day!  So from Puxatawny Phil (I know I misspelled that name) we have 6 more weeks of Winter....from Staten Island "Sam" (because I cannot remember his name) we have an early Spring.  Tonight we're to get 1-2" of snow....I really hope it comes.  I feel the need to walk in the white!

I think I mentioned that the woman who bought my reversible beach tote, requested I make the same bag in fabric she supplied.  I needed to get one down to Florida for a gift by this upcoming weekend, and it is in the mail.  I made two in this fabulous pink, green, and tan swirly-paisley, so one goes to her for another gift along with a to-be-finished tote to follow.  

Now......I wrote about the BUDGET New Years Resolution.  Mr. Olive and I each had $100 to spend however we chose in January- instead of whipping out the charge card whenever something crossed our eye.  We were trying to be better with our spending, which can get out of hand, so this way we had to be cognizant that the $100 was all we had for ourself for the month.  I didn't think I would make it, but I did, and it wasn't THAT BAD.  To get the $100 each for February, we had to sit and go over how we spent our January $100.  Mr Olive?  I told you he has a nicotine habit and he spent $60 on that plus $10 on iTunes.   EXTRA - He had extra!!  I actually spent all mine with 8 days left in the month, but look what I got....

Beige embroidered shirt - Garnet Hill $40........Summer blue and black print shirt - Wal-Mart $14 (YES - I actually bought my first piece of clothing at the WM! crazy, but I really liked it)......Beige suede with brown leather trim mary-jane shoes by Naturalizer and black heals by Aerosoles 2 - Kohl's and each was super-sale at $9 each (crazy!!).......Green shiny snap-wallet by Mossimo - Target $7......and "Picture Perfect" DVD at KMart (a night waiting for the train in Penn Station) for $5.  I also spent $15 on iTunes - I had to download the unearthed APB album - the baseline in "Shoot You Down" rocks.

So, I have my new February hundred - and I'm not running out to spend it - the restraint of the end of January set in, but I also haven't seen many new summer sandals yet. :-0

Baby Boys

It seems all the newborn babies I've heard of have been boys.  Three friends, a co-worker, two Etsy orders, and a random woman I happened to chat with who is shortly due, are all with the blue.  Here are the Etsy order gifts - a custom color chenille quilt followed by a pastel blue chenille teddy bear.

Now, I know of two more babies coming due - another co-worker and my sister - neither know what gender the lil tot will be.  My guesses are girl for the co-worker and boy for my sister....

In the meantime, I received another custom request (the teddy was the first I'd gotten! and I was so surprised!) from a guy in Georgia who'd like a large custom chenille quilt and matching pillow shams.  On top of that, the woman who bought my beach tote requested three of the same bag in different fabrics - and she sent me the fabric she wants.  I think I'll be quite busy this weekend!  I'll post some pics when I'm done.  Happy Friday!