Kasy's bag

Here is a bag that I didn't make. My fourteen year old niece spent the night last night. She picked the fabric out of my stash, did some cutting, and sewed the entire thing. All I can really take credit for is the instruction. I think it looks fab. I just might make one for myself.

bunches of pouches

I am so fond of these Chinese brocade zipper pouches. They are tiny and pretty (prettier in person). They measure about 4 inches by 5 inches. I have them for sale (and a few other pieces) at a shop in Belleville called the Bronx Zoo.

curious dinah

Dinah likes to watch me work...

one half crochet sweater

I just started the front on my new experimental sweater. I love a good day off during the week. I was able to spend a solid two hours on this thing today. It is loosely based on the Knot Ugly Shrug in the Happy Hooker (Debbie Stroller) book. I need a decent layering top for summer/ fall. I am not a big fan of the cropped sweatery bolero thingies that are so popular right now. I'm just making mine bigger and really long. I might use buttons down the front instead of the tie front. I finished one of the sleeves. I'm probably a little more than half finished with the whole thing. I'll keep you posted.

tattoo themed stuff

I have this fascination with flash tattoos. I only have one tattoo and it isn't flash, but something about the familiar edginess. Then again, there is something incredibly cheesy about them too... you know the heart with the banner that says mother on it. Three years ago, while sitting in the tattoo parlor chair, I was reminded of the process I go through for an applique piece. I pick out the best colors for the project and then follow an outline with the needle piercing up and down. I have about ten different tattooish designs on these little black squares. One day soon they will be a stack of edgy zippered pouches. I will probably use these to start that etsy shop I have been talking about for year.

poor car

I haven't been very crafty for the last couple of days. Some drunk guy slammed into my car at 1:00 am Thursday morning. It was a hit and run, but the cops caught the guy the next day. He has no insurance of course. The poor thing is totalled. Joe and I have been shopping for a new vehicle since then. We have one picked out and we are hopefully picking it up tomorrow. I was really close to having the car paid off and now we have to start all over. I can't wait until we have everything squared away and I can get back "normal life" whatever that is.

under the sea

I came up with this bag for Anna. This is the first in a set of two mermaid bags. I asked Joe (DH) to come up with a drawing to start with. Unfortunately this one looks nothing like what he drew. First of all his was topless. (I would post his pic, but you know.) His also had much more detail than I could manage with fabric and thread. Yet again another happy messenger bag. This one closes with dee rings and nylon webbing (like a belt). I have it lined in the same green swirly fabric striping the front. Peace.

Marble necklace

A while ago I bought these flat backed marble thingies. They are like the little flat glass marbles you put in the bottom of vases for flower arrangements. I thought they would make awesome pendants. It just took me six months to figure out how to actually hang them. I wanted to be able to drill a hole at the top, but the wire wrap was simpler and safer. I'm sure I'll make more of these.

Hi. This is my first attempt at a starting a blog. I'm using this primarily as a show and tell of the stuff I make. I am quite the craft geek. I blame my husband for sparking my obsession. We were out shopping one day and I spotted this camouflage book cover. I showed it to him hoping he would jump in and buy it for me. "But Steph. You can MAKE that." Make that. I did make that. Book covers and then messenger bags. Purses, patchwork, beading, crochet, knitting, I know there is more not coming to mind at the moment. I hoard the stuff too. I have fabric, beads and yarn stashed everywhere in my house.

So here is my first post... I hope that I can grow in skill and have more to show you soon. I have been messing around with machine applique for a couple of years. Here is my sacred heart. It's my first attempt at piping around the edges. I am quite proud.