Field Journal

Sometimes, while wasting countless hours in cyber space, I come across something that totally inspires me.  Usually because, a) I can't justify spending the money on it OR b)I want it to be prettier/nicer/cooler/more "me", I get the idea that I should try making one for myself.

About 6 months ago, I came across a field journal and I had never seen one quite like this.  I LOVED what he was using it for and the things that he kept in it, and I thought that it would be the perfect gift for a doodle-loving, picture-taking, pen obsessed friend.  So what do I do?  I add it my goals board on Pinterest and let the idea fester marinate in my brain until I can't stand it anymore.  So I sketched it out and gave myself a little encouragement.

Because sometimes these things go really well for me and come exactly the way I planned them to.  Exhibit A

OR they go very horribly wrong....
Exhibit B

And the project is still sitting in the "box of shame" in the back of the closet.....a year and a half later.

So I was a little apprehensive, and transferring the idea from paper to to fabric was a little challenging.  But I am happy with my efforts so far.  

I started out with one version of it and it just didn't work out.  So I adjusted the idea I had in my head and made it work for what I wanted to achieve. The most fun part about this project was filling up with goodies.

I found these calendar pockets a few months back and thought they would be perfect for this so I grabbed them.

As well as these cool business card sleeves that fit the pictures that print out of the PoGo printer and instax mini camera perfectly.

I also put in various types of paper.  Including gridded, watercolor, tracing, and several different colors of card stock, just to jazz it up a bit.

I put some sharpie pens in the pen slots that I made, just to show where they were, but these aren't the pens that will be staying in it.  I am going to put an order in at JetPens.  There is also a hole punch, a watercolor pen, a corner rounder (not shown), and a travel watercolor set (also not shown) that will all fit in this handy dandy notebook-thing.

I wanted to personalize it a bit for her so I contacted Jill over at TabSlot to see if she could help me out with something, and she totally knocked it out of the park!  So thrilled.

To make make the outside, I used some canvas fabric that I hand-dyed myself and the back of the field journal has a zippered pocket to stow away various things that you may wish to carry.

So I am pretty pleased.  There a still a few things that I am going to change for next time, so I am not sure if this is the one that will be sent or the next version, but I just wanted to do a bit of show and tell so you can see what I have been working on.

You guys have a great Friday!!!!

Two Quilt Tops, Two Totes, And a Little Catch-up

Wow, I didn't mean to go this long without posting.  I have been writing the posts in my head, but they just never seemed to make the transition to the cyber universe.  But never fear!!!  I have been sewing and crafting so I have a bunch to show and tell.

I didn't mention this before, but I belong to a quilting bee on Flickr.  The Wonky Bee to be exact.  I usually try to steer clear of bees, simply because I am not very good at them.  But Jacey assured me that she would keep me on track, and she has been true to her word.  I have made everyone's blocks except for this month's, which I will be doing tomorrow, and sent them in a somewhat, kind-of, timely fashion. So here is a quick recap of the blocks I have made for the group.

For my month I asked the ladies to make Giant Bear Paw or rather....YETI Paw blocks for me.  I they amazed me with the blocks that they came up with!  

I wanted to use something non-tradtional for the sashing and teal being my favorite color and Lizzy House being one of my favorite designers.  I thought that the Illusion print in Barsa Blue from her 1001 Peeps line would be perfect.  

I am so in love with quilt top.  I can't wait until it is quilted and I can snuggled up under it.  It is better than I had envisioned it would be.  Thank you Wonky Bee mates!

Speaking of quilt tops......

Hey!, Remember way back when, when I pulled all of my Mendocino out and said that I was going sew with it?  Well, I finally did!  I took me so long to actually cut into it.  But once I finished agonizing over what pattern to do and got started it went fast.  And then after I got all of the blocks made I put them away for 2 months.  Boooo.  But yesterday finally got a chance to put it together when I went to Kelly's house yesterday for some sewing.

WOOWOO!!!  Mendo quilt top, done!!  Love it!  I'll be sending this one a long with the Bear Paw to be quilted by The Sometimes Crafter.  

I've also made a couple of new tote bags for the shop. 

'N' is for Narwhal Tote

and Love Notes Tote

On the back of the Love Notes Tote I added a little hand embroidery. 

So see?  I have been doing stuff.  There is still one more thing that I made that I want to show and tell, but I will save it for the next one.  :)