Bag finished...What shall I do with it??

Here is the finished bag. I'd say overall the instructions were clear and if you have basic machine sewing skills this project was fairly easy. I do love that the pattern pieces in the back of the book are ready to cut out and use instead of needing to be enlarged and copied straight from the book.

Of course I love the patchwork look and I also love the braided straps , they give a little different texture and look to the bag.

I will definitely make this again. What a cute gift! Not sure what I will do with this one; use it, give it or stick it on etsy.

New book! New bag!

I finally received a book today that I have been waiting awhile for. Its called Seams to Me 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing by Anna Marie Horner. I was browsing on amazon looking at books to get ideas and I came across this book. I love on Amazon how you can check out portions of the books before you buy them, well upon doing this it showed one of the projects included in the book called the I'll Have One of Everything Bag on page 88. I fell in love with this bag and had to make it. Its got that patchwork look that I LOVE and I love the style of it, sort of urban/bohemian chic. now the fun part of deciding which fabrics to use! I will keep you updated on the progress!

Mini Recipe Book - A gift for my sis

I decided to make one of my sisters a gift, because for the last 32 years she has done a great job being an older sister and I felt it was the least I could do. Plus I like to make things and she likes gifts, so it all works out.

This little recipe book is still in progress, this is just a sneak preview! It is 100% made from scratch with love, the pages are actually paper bags, the cover is plain cardboard, its all repurposed materials used in a new, pretty way.

The pages have pockets to stick recipe cards into, and if she is lucky I may just throw in a few of my favorites.

I'll repost more pictures when the book is complete. I hope she likes!

PS- I have two other sisters who will also get gifts, I can't leave them out.

Elizabeth Gwen Originals - Inspiring!

Please check out my friends Liz's blog! I met Liz about 8 years ago when we were both living on Beale Air Force Base in California. We were both pregnant with our third babies at the time, we had a lot in common and became fast friends. Now we keep in touch from afar (the way most friends in military do.) I miss our trips to JoAnn Fabrics with screaming toddlers! Liz makes the most amazing things! Bags, sweet little girls clothing, coats, everything! I love seeing all of the creations she comes up with! Check out her blog and etsy shop! You will be glad you did!

an apple a day...

I may not have an apple a day but I do read everyday. When I am not reading my school textbooks you will catch me reading mostly non fiction and true crime. I'm a true crime junkie. For christmas my husband bought me the Kindle which I LOVE, and has no need for these sweet bookmarks so I may give these away as a gift. They are super cute, made from thick card stock and Martha Stewart printed papers. The bookmarks and apples were cut using the Cricut Planitin Schoolbook cartridge.

Whoooooo am I?

Sorry, the owl theme again, I couldn't resist. Just a quick post about me, most people who follow this already know me but for those of you who don't, my name is not Jane, its Jamie. You know the saying "Jack of all trades" one of those people who can and does a little bit of everything?? Well, thats me in a nutshell, however Jane of all trades has a better ring to it than Jamie of all trades. You get the idea. You can call me Jamie or Jane, I'll answer to both.

I am foremost a wife to my husband of almost 13 years. We are a military family and are stationed here on Guam, a little dot of an island in he middle of the south Pacific. There is no Hobby Lobby or Michaels here.

We have 4 children ranging in age from almost 13 to 5. I'll elaborate more on them later, I'll even add some pictures.

I do freelance photography here on Guam, but have slowed that down a lot and pretty much only take photos of my friends kids when they ask. Not because I don't love doing it, I just lack the time. I am a full time student so between school and kids and life I don't have a lot of time. Ok, here is where I start to get a little weird, I am working on my degree in Mortuary Science. Not the typical career choice for your crafty sewing mother of 4, but again thats a whole other blog post!

I love anything craft, I love to sew, scrapbook, paper crafts, photography, cooking.. you name it. If it means I am making something than I am happy.

New year, new blog.

Happy 2010, its a new year and I thought that creating a new blog would help me keep one of my resolutions which is to finish (at least) a project a week whether it be sewing, a new recipe, a new goal, a craft or anything that I intend to finish! I have a stack of new sewing books that have so many projects I want to make so I will let you follow those projects and give you the book information so that you can try it as well, hopefully in the process of giving you some inspiration I will give some to myself as well. Well, this is my goal. Happy new year.