Fabric-by-Fabric: Shaggy-Chic Chenille Clutch

This month’s Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders sew along is the Shaggy-Chic Chenille Clutch.

My goal for the sew along is to use up as much of my fabric stash as possible! So I was happy to try this project when I found some old pillow-case scraps, as well as a some orange and white flannel.

I must admit that I had reservations about the project itself — I’m just not a shaggy-chic kinda girl. I was interested, though, to see how the chenille-ing technique worked.

The short of it? I’m not thrilled with the clutch because it’s just not my kind of bag. But I am thrilled with having learned how to make chenille! The method is so easy and forgiving, and would be great for making bathmats, pot holders, trivets, puppy beds or picnic blankets.

I’m also interested to see the clutches added to the Fabric-by-Fabric Flickr pool. So far, mine’s the only one that’s super-poofy! Per instructions, I used 9 layers of fabric, and washed and tumble-dried my quilted square before making up the clutch. What did everyone else do? Why is mine the only one with a ‘fro?!

Here is the visual step-by-step!

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Martin Loofah King Jr

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

– Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream, 1963.

Last week, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr day here in the US.

Now that Tau is in first grade, he is doing proper social studies curriculum, and came home with various projects on the theme of Martin “Loofah” King. Yes, we are still not bothering much to say our tee-aches!

I guess I didn’t give Tau enough credit. Didn’t expect him to grasp US history and race relations at such a tender age.

But all we needed to ask was, “Who was Martin Luther King?” And we got a very earnest account of how the people with white skin used to not allow the people with dark skin to eat in the restaurants or ride in the front of the buses. “And they all said, ‘You GO TO THE BACK of the bus!’”

And how Dr. Martin Luther King said that was not right and he made it change, so that everyone could sit anywhere they wanted on the bus.

Dave posed this question. “So, if we lived back then, Tau, and we went to Chicken Pie Diner for dinner with your brother, would they let us in?”

“You and me and Mom could go in … but Maceo would have to stay outside.”

“How do you think that would make him feel?”

“He would just cry and cry in his carseat outside … because he doesn’t like to be left alone.”

Now, it hits home.

In Case He Raises This in Therapy One Day: A Picture As Proof

“Tau, those shoes of yours that are broken?”

“Yup …”

“The ones with the little lights that are poking out the bottoms … I put them in the garbage, OK?”

“Got it …” A few seconds later: “Maybe we can just put tape on them.”

“No, we cannot put tape on them. The electric wires and bulbs are poking out. They are done.”

“Maybe we can just put tape over more tape.”

“No. Trust me, they are DONE.”

Fabric-By-Fabric One Yard Wonders: On-the-Strap DSLR Camera Case

So, here it is! Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders! And in it, my design for the On-the-Strap Camera Case!

I was SO excited to get this book in my hands, and thrilled to see the excellent job Rebecca Yaker and Pat Hoskins did translating my copious notes, illustrations and photos into lucid instructions.

This is the first sewing pattern I’ve ever designed and published.

And here I have to credit my mom for instilling in me from a very early age the conviction that I can truly make anything I want to out of nothing. Kudos, Mother!

On-the-Strap What?

So what the heck is an on-the-strap camera case? If you’re like me, you hate carrying STUFF around. I don’t do umbrellas or lunch bags, or the kind of big and boxy camera bags you see photographers lugging around. I’m also reluctant to throw my digital SLR into my purse bare — it’s likely to get scratched by my car keys or get a little too friendly with a leaky bottle of hand cream.

I wanted a camera case that would provide a soft layer of protection for my little Canon Rebel, but that wouldn’t add bulk. Also, when I took my camera out of the case, I didn’t want to have to find a safe spot to set the case down while I was taking pictures.

Introducing the one, the only, the wunderbar On-the-Strap Camera Case!

The clam-shell design fits over your camera easily, the Velcro tabs make it easy to open the case, slipping it along the length of your camera strap, and voila! Camera’s in your hands, ready for action!

The fleece case hangs (light-as-a-feather) on the strap as you snap pictures, and when you’re done, you simply slide the case back over camera body and press the Velcro to keep it all closed up and cozy!

Oh, and did I mention, there’s a nifty little pocket inside to store your lens cap? So you don’t have to worry about putting that down somewhere and walking away!

How Will You Make It?

I’m so excited to see the variations that are bound to pop up across the blogosphere as people start using this book. The sample case I made for the book featured freehand quilting and some pretty button embellishments, but I can imagine crafters making my pattern their own:

• A monster case with felt eyeballs and teeth around the clam shell?
• A pretty floral case with fleece tassels?
• A brown suede case with fringing?

I’ve been using my own on-the-strap case for about two years now. It really does protect my camera when it’s slung over my shoulder or gently stowed in my purse. And the fleece becomes softer with wear and conforms even more closely to the shape of the camera and lens.

You’ll note that the book includes sizing for an average DSLR camera and variable lens. It also shows you how to measure for a custom-sized bag if your lens is shorter or longer than most.

I’m sure I’ll be posting again about Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders as it becomes more popular over the months. Rebecca and Patricia’s first book was amazing but I have to say, the projects and variety in this second edition are mind blowing! I can’t wait to get stuck in sewing!

I will be sewing along with Africankelli’s Fabric-by-Fabric Sew Along this year. As much as working and having a 6-month old baby will allow!

Want to read about some of the other projects in the book? Here is a list of links to recent blog posts on the new Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders:

• Becka’s Project Journal
• Patch Work Duck Designs
• Nifty Kids Stuff
• Becka’s Project Journal
• Nom Nom Nom
• Quaint and Quirky
• ikatbag
• Two Brown Birds
• Sharon Sews
• LBG Studios
• Carolina Fair Designs
• Under Construction
• Little Blue Cottage
• Jenna Lou Loves You
• Spincushion
• One Inch World
• Sew Sew Etc.
• While Tangerine Dreams
• Studio Cherie
• AfricanKelli
• Fiberosity
• Zuhause
• Craft & Cackle

2011 in Pictures

Every year, Dave and I send our parents a calendar featuring photos from the year that has passed.

It’s always hard to choose just 12 pictures that represent the different seasons of the year.

As 2011 passes, I thought we’d share this year’s calendar shots with you all. Enjoy!

 

 

From Our Family to Yours!

 

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree!

 

 

Smackdown

 
Tau and Dave have taken to engaging in spelling duels after dinner. All the way up the stairs last night: “Dad, can you spell …. ?” “Tau,  how do you spell …?” That boy has a near-photographic memory when it comes to spelling.

In the bathroom, the steam pouring over the top of the shower enclosure and filling the room as they go back and forth. I am holding Maceo, in just his diaper, until they get the temperature of the water right for him to join them.

“Hey, Dad — spell …  BULLDOZER!” Hysterical … nay — maniacal! … laughter at his own supreme brilliance. “Try sound it out, Dad, but I don’t think you can spell it!”
 

Second Time Around

 
I only have time these days to fling the odd picture or two up on this blog. Not much chance to write it all down.

But this week, I dressed Maceo in a sweater that a friend originally knitted for Tau. Tau wore it a few times, only on nice occasions because it is so beautifully made, and then I packed it away with all the other baby stuff.

And here’s the thing when you don’t know whether you’ll ever have a second child. You look at all those totes and cardboard boxes in the garage, and wonder whether you’ll get to open them up again.

Using the family heirloom cradle, learning how much rice cereal to add to the sweet potatoes, carefully picking off cradle cap while the baby’s drinking. One of the very sweetest things about adopting Maceo  is Eek! I really do get to do this again!

Call it fate or blessing or the odds or karma — I woke up that day and dressed a little boy in that beautiful cardigan. I could just have easily had no second child to dress. I am so grateful I do.

Tau at 12 months – sweater getting small

Maceo at 4 months – sweater too big
but we’re gonna wear it every chance we get this time!

 

Basket Case

All kinds of mischief, captured in a couple seconds on my iPhone!

 

The Angry Birds Cake

 
This year we gave Tau the choice of either having a party for his birthday (big bucks) or getting annual family Legoland passes (equally big bucks). Smart boy, he opted for the Legoland passes, and so to celebrate his birthday, we let him choose just two friends and have their families over for a barbecue.

Can I leave it at that? No. Of course not. Got to make a little bit of a fuss and have a little fun. So when Tau asked for an Angry Birds birthday cake, I went whole hog.

We’d seen this video:

With a new baby in the house, I had to take a few shortcuts — I bought readymade plastic birds and pigs online, and used wafer cookies, KitKat bars and other candy for the tower, but the effect was the same. Tau was thrilled!

I also used a fabulous free download from The Party Animal to create a few Angry Birds balloon decorations and goodie bags for Tau’s friends.

The kids (not to mention a few of the adults) had a great time launching the birds at the pigs and trying to annihilate the cake. A great time was had by all!

The rest of the birthday pics are on Flickr.

Tau Turns Six

 

 

Blink and a Month Goes By!

 

Oh poor neglected blog! What have we been up to this past month?

Getting Tau settled in his new school and establishing a homework routine. Drowning in paperwork for Tau’s school, Maceo’s daycare, and the reams and reams of final adoption paperwork. And trying, conniving, conspiring to get our now-three-month-old little man to sleep longer than three hours at a stretch.

We’ve switched formulas, switched back again, added rice cereal, woken Maceo at various hours to add another feeding so that hopefully he’d sleep longer after that. We’ve also swaddled, we’ve wrapped, we’ve shushed and soothed back to sleep — all to no avail. The boy drinks 5 oz (no more), the boy conks out immediately, the boy wakes up three hours later hungry!

Here’s the exception: If we take him to a party or introduce him to something totally new, voila! He sleeps five to six hours straight that night. Yesterday Maceo started daycare (in prep for my return to work next week) and promptly slept six hours straight from 8 p.m. Now we just have to learn to go to bed at the same time he does, and all will be good!

Jokes aside, I sense his little body and brain are maturing and that, with a bit more time, Maceo will slowly extend his night sleep. Hoping. Praying. Knocking on wood.

And maturing he is. Behold His Supreme Cuteness at three months! Can you handle those folds in his thighs?!

I Crack Myself Up!

 

I am two months old and very, very funny!

See? I told you so!

 

First Day at Big School

 
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a first grader in the house …

One that doesn’t take his mom’s efforts at documenting milestones very seriously!