Don't set the table with these!

I love to wander through the discount stores, they are almost as interesting to me as a trip to the hardware store.


A couple weeks ago, I picked up these....some lonely vinyl placemats

I discovered a long time ago that a vinyl placemat is not just a vinyl placemat and these are not something I would buy for my table, I really don't like them as placemats.

BUT.....


I love to use them to make bags of all sorts. Tote bags, clutches...oh yes.....

This IS a vinyl placemat!

 

  And these are too......

I got so excited about how cute these totes were turning out, I wrote a pattern for them (my newest addiction) so you could make some too. I love, love, love writing patterns! These totes are soooo easy to make and the possibilities are as endless as the supply of clearanced vinyl placemats no one wanted for their table! 

If you aren't the DIY type, I listed some in my Etsy shop and the pattern is HERE if you are and want to make some for Christmas gifts...they make great project bags or market bags, strong and sturdy...not too big, a teacher might find them handy for everyday use. 

One of the rules of womanhood I find easy to follow is "you can never have too many bags" so I say, don't set the table with those placemats....make a tote instead!!

 

 

Do you have a purple crayon?

I bet you've knocked on a neighbor's door and asked, "do you have a purple crayon or a yellow button, a piece of string or a blank notecard?" if you have ever participated in a scavenger hunt.

I don't know how popular they are these days with kids and parents having to be so careful but when I was growing up and we could stay outside even after the street lights came on...scavenger hunts were fun, fun, fun!

Bringing back a bit of nostalgia and adding in the possibility of winning some fabulous prizes, the fun people on the  PCF Team on Etsy are having a scavenger hunt and you don't even have to go outside to participate! You can participate at your own pace...no mad dash to the next house here! If you win....and there are lots of prizes...it won't just be a candy bar!

How fun is this?

Hop on over to Ciara & Company Bowtique where it all begins and she will tell you how to participate. It's easy and remember, you don't have to complete it in one sitting AND you could win, win, win!

Happy hunting!!

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway..... you could win one of these...

Music and tote bags....Giveaway#1

High school band has a fond place in my heart. My youngest two boys were in the band..........
                                                          yes, they were band geeks.

 These are my favorite pics from middle school band...*sigh**...I miss those band days!




 So, when my sister asked me to make something for her two boys' high school band fundraiser to auction off for much needed funds (a band program always needs money...lots of money)......

Of course, I said I would.


What are Aunties for anyway?


As you know, I have been digging my way out of my procrastination piles and this request was one of them.
I decided I would make two of my favorite totes for their great cause....and wait....in all my infinite wisdom, I figured since I'm already making two...might as well make three...I can put one in my Etsy Shop...hooray for infinite wisdom!

I do love making these totes, they are always so darn cute when they get finished. I gathered some of my fabric stash and wiled away a stormy Saturday completing yet another procrastination project.

Question is...I wondered...which one do I put in my shop? Which two do I give to the fundraiser.

Well, wouldn't you know, my infinite wisdom struck again! I COULD do my very first GIVEAWAY with one of these darn cute totes!!

Question is...which one?

I could not decide...just couldn't...they are all three so very cute and SOOOO....

I'm going to let the winner of the giveaway decide. Yep, the winner gets to pick the one they want and then I will give the other two to the Helix Charter High School  band program for auctioning off at their fundraiser April 28th, 2012.

Here they are....cute as can be and functional too!

Each tote is made from strong vinyl coated screen. They have six pockets on the exterior, strong nylon handles that go all the way around the bag for extra sturdiness. They sport a custom trim and coordinating piping or rickrack. They are a super book bag, beach bag, diaper bag....just about anything bag!

SO....which one would you pick?

Here's how to enter my very first giveaway:

The rules are simple....enter in any or all of the ways listed below...once. 

 
On April 24th 2012 all verified entries will go into this hat


 The winner will be drawn by my grandson Aidan because he has already learned a valuable lesson on cheating and so it is certain he will honestly draw a random winner :)


Not very sophisticated or tech savvy, but hey, the hat does go with the theme!


The winner will get to pick the tote of his/her choice...how fun is that?

THE LIST

1. How has music been a part of your life? Leave a comment telling me something about music in your life.

2. Follow this blog Blooming where I am planted...are you? (leave a comment here telling me you followed or if you already do...leave a comment telling me you do and your name will go in the hat for that too!)

3. For Facebook fans, go to  Suzies Imaginarium and "like" the shop and leave a comment here telling me you did (if you already "like" Suzies Imaginarium, leave a comment here telling me you do and that will count too!)

4. If you "tweet" go to Suzies Imaginarium and "follow" the shop and leave a comment here telling me you did ( if you already "follow" Suzies Imaginarium, leave a comment here telling me you do and that counts too!)

5. "Tweet" about this giveaway. Be sure to use #totegiveaway so I can find you and put your name in the hat!

Good luck!

Do you have a handmade item to donate to the Helix Charter High School Band fundraiser? Leave me a comment...big or small...every penny counts!

My sister's bag...a creation's journey

My mom and dad raised 11 children, ELEVEN children. I know, I think it's crazy too.

These are my sisters. I have fought with, loved, cried and laughed with each one of them. I cherish each moment I spend with them because life doesn't always deal you the best hand.

My sister, Pam, is an angel. We all miss her VERY much.

My sister, Lisa, has M.S....I wish that meant that she has "Many Sisters" syndrome. Alas, it does not....although at times, I think having so many sisters really could be described as some medical ailment requiring therapy. Hmmmm, note to self for future blog.

Lisa's wonderful and super, super patient husband works for Apple.  He of course has all the latest gadgets and so naturally Lisa has an IPad. She called me and asked if I would make her a shoulder bag to carry it in because you see, this was the SECOND IPad.

She dropped the first one on the bathroom floor and it broke.                                       

Her ever so patient and understanding husband, got her another one. She did the math...I'm glad there is at least one of us that can do the math....and figured out that it would be a lot less expensive to have her sister make her a shoulder bag than to replace another IPad.


Well, of course, I said I could make a bag.

So this is what I came up with. I had to make it twice. The first one was not quite big enough. I hope this one works. I'm putting it into the mail for her today BUT....

Now I had this other really cute smaller bag staring at me from my table. Made from the same fabric, doesn't it just scream "COLOR ME!" It looks like a coloring book page.
                                                 
I loved to color as a kid, remember the   smell of a new box of crayons?

                                                                           
I got out my fabulous Tsukeniko fabric inks.

Some fabric glitter glue.

And some sparkly big rhinestones.

 I went to work, painting, glittering, gluing.....

That was so much fun! I really love how it came out.


Now my question is, what color should the strap be? Black? Pink? Purple?

What's your vote?