Just a quick post to let you know I’m still alive and crafting. I finished another bag from my list, the Highbrow Hobo from U-Handbag to be exact. This bag was pretty easy to make, even though it took me around 4 hours to finish it.  I love the shape and how big it is! I used some Ikea fabric (new collection is out!) and I found some cotton for the lining in the exact shade of green like in the Ikea print. 

On second thought, white might not be a good color for a bag, because while I was cutting the fabric on the floor, my cat came back from a stroll and walked right over it with his muddy paws. So the bag has already a lovely cat paw shaped stain. But hey, maybe this will gonna be my trademark, who knows :)

In other crafting news: I made the first version of the Summer Blouse and I’m glad I used a bed sheet, because I messed up the binding and plancket. And it’s way to short for me. So back to the drawing board and sewing machine.

The lovely Anita from Bake and Sew tagged me and gave me this:

Thanks so much Anita, I really enjoy reading your blog too! Especially because I really like everything crochet but have no idea how to do it :) Part of the deal is to list 5 addictions so here we go:

1. Coffee and cigarettes. I’m sorry to say this but I’m a chain smoker :( And some of the great moments of my life went a long with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Like the first time I was in NY, walking down the street at New Years with a cup of coffee, a cigarette, sunshine, blue sky and someone  playing “Take Five” in an appartment with an open window.

2. Cute and fury things. I’m totally addicted to ICanHasCheezburger and Cuteoverload. I have to check out the sites at least once a day, and you should hear me squeak if I see a cat, or anything else that is remotely cute and fury in real life. And I would LOVE to have a raccoon in addition to 20 cats!

3. Books. I don’t love books I NEED them! I’m constantly reading and as soon as I don’t have a new book I get really jittery and HAVE to order something from Amazon. It didn’t help that I started sewing, even more books to buy.

4. Sewing. I sew in my head. At night. In the office. On the tram. It drives me crazy sometimes

5. The Two Ts. Tony and Tuna. They drive me crazy sometimes but I just love them to bits.

Well, I think you now know a little more about me than you should, and that’s why I have to tag 5 of you so I don’t feel so exposed :) Here we go:

Staci and her Notebook, because she was one of the first to welcomed me in the blogging world and I adore the things she makes.

Paloma and the Three Kitchen Fairies,  because she is one of the nicest people out there, takes beautiful pictures and has the cutest fairies :)

Sina from Erase and Repeat, because it’s good to know that there is somebody else sitting with a bowl of cereals on the other side of the world. Oh and she makes the lushest fabric flowers ever!

Mal from turning*turning, because her blog makes me think about why I craft. Truly inspirational. 

Karen from Craftermath, because she’s a crazy bag addict and always has the coolest fabric

Finally! After weeks of waiting, emails from Amazon about delayed delivery and searching the web for projects, my copy of Heather Ross Weekend Sewing arrived. I can’t wait to get started on the Summer Blouse, but before I’ll cut into the fabric I bought for it, I’ll test drive it with an vintage bed sheet I found at the thrift store for 1 Euro. But now, with no further delay, the review.

The book starts with an introduction from Heather and some ideas how to set up your sewing space. The pictures and layout of the book are beautiful and the only thing I would have changed is the pattern storage, because the two pattern sheets are glued onto the first and last page of the book. I really wish there would have been a pattern bag like Seams to me and Institches have, and a spiral bound would have been nice too. 

The book is divided into four Chapters: Home and Away, Dressing up and Down, Sewing for Kids and Sewing Basics. I really like that in between the projects you find recipes (like peaches with basil, yum), general sewing tips and a sewing play list (which is close to what I listen to when I sew). On every project page you’ll find the finished dimensions, materials needed and fabric suggestions. As far as I can tell without actually sewing anything, the instructions are clear and nearly every step is accompanied with an illustration. If you’ve ever been to Heathers blog, you can imaging that these hand drawings are a lot clearer than most of the photos you’d get somewhere else. 

Home and Away
Here you’ll find some basics you’d get in most sewing books like napkins, a drawstring bag, pillowcases, dishtowels and a apron. If you already have some sewing books, you’ve probably seen and done these projects before. Nevertheless, there are projects like the Everything Tote, the Guest Room Slippers or the Weekend-Away Travel Bag (which is actually a boxy make-up pouch), which are a bit more challenging than your average beginners sewing project. 

Dressing up and Down
In my opinion, this is the highlight chapter of the book! You get 5 totally different kinds of dresses, a blouse, pajamas, a wrap skirt, a bag and a head scarf. I’m totally in love with the Summer Blouse and this will be the first time I’ll try some garment sewing (I don’t count the PJs I made). The dresses are different enough to suit different body types. While I really like the All-Weekend and Trapez Sundress, it wouldn’t fit my body type (I’m on the chubby busty, curvy side), but I’m sure I would look great in the Kimono Dress and maybe in the Saturday Night Silk Jersey Set. With every dress pattern, you get suggestions what kind of fabric would work best for the project. The only thing missing, at least for me, are some tips on how to alter the pattern (if you’re tall, curvy, shorter) or suggestions on how to spice things up (making a shirt out of a dress like the illustrations Heather has on her blog). I’m sure the more experienced sewer knows how to do this, but some inspiration would have been nice for everybody else who doesn’t read Heathers blog, and would have lifted the book to a whole new level. 

Sewing for Kids
I don’t have kids so it’s always hard to review a chapter like this, because I don’t have any use for it. But if you do have some kiddos at home, I’m sure you’ll like the projects. You get two adorable dresses, some cute bloomers, a great shirt (and the tip that you can make it out of hubby’s old shirt) , basic toddler pants, baby blanket and an absolutely adorable baby kimono. And to top things off, the recipe for blueberry mash and tips about sewing with kids. 

Sewing Basics 
Sewing basics are sewing basics so not much new here. You’ll get the basic stitches, how to choose a sewing machine, sewing tools you need and so on. I liked that she focused a bit more on the different kinds of fabric like in the other books I have. 

Final thoughts
I really, really like this book but then again I’m biased because in my opinion Heather can’t do wrong :)  Even though I’m not a fan of all the napkins and dishtowels projects, it doesn’t feel like they were chosen just to fill the book. They make sense with the whole concept of Weekend Sewing and making time for your favorite craft. To use Heathers words: Weekend isn’t just a pair of days, it’s a state of mind.

So do I recommend this book? Hell yeah! If you are totally new to sewing this book might be a bit challenging, but if you’re like me (beginner with some experience) it’s just perfect. Especially if you want to try out some garment sewing. Even if you’re an experienced sewer I’m sure you can get a lot of inspiration from it. The bottom line: Go and buy the book!

Still unsure? Maybe these links will help you out:

Find more project pictures here

Sneak Peak inside the book

Ashleys version of the Summer Blouse

Weekend Sewing Design Challenge on Heathers Blog

Owls! Again! There are a lot of owls in my life lately, first the cute owl FQ from Staci, then the adorable crochet owl from Paloma and now even more owls from Tony. Aren’t they the cutest?! I actually don’t ever want to cut into them because they’re so adorable. But if I have to, I shall name them first, each and every single one. Yes I’m crazy, no wait, I guess the right word would be cuckoo in this case :)

Alexander Henry - Spotted Owls in Green Tea

Want to show off your Stash? Join the Sunday Stash at 1/4 of an inch.

Wanna see more stash? Check out the Sunday Stash flickr group.

And yet another item from my Project List done. I actually made the sleeve on Tuesday but haven’t gotten around posting it. The moment I got the bear fabric I knew I wanted to use it for my MacBook sleeve. But since I only had a half yard of it,  I had to use something else for the body because otherwise the bears would have run in the wrong direction. So here it is: my new cozy, envelope style. 

I wanted to use a snap button like Shannon suggested, but luckily I tested them on some scraps I had left over, just to find out that they ripped the felt :( Since I had already sewn everything together, there was no way of adding some interfacing and so I had to come up with something else for the closure. Not many options there, so I went with two buttons wrap around style. 

If anyone is interested, I’ll try and post a tutorial for this sleeve, just give me a couple of days :)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I should be working on my quilt, but instead I made a belt out of the scraps, sue me:) Now I just have to find some pretty belt buckles and then I’ll make one in every color available in my stash. Think of the possibilities - a matching belt to every bag *swoon*! 

Sounds like a great idea? Go and make one with this fab tutorial over at Not Quite Vintage.