Spincushion

Handbag Sneak Peek

Other than a couple small projects for upcoming magazine articles (hope to share soon), I haven't done a whole lot of designing lately. This is my favorite part of the creative process, in the very beginning when all of your ideas are swirling around in your head, ready to be molded into something uniquely you.

I decided to design a handbag, and so after lots of coffee and sketching, I came up with something I truly love! I experimented with some new construction techniques for a while, hoping to come up with a method that is a little bit quicker and less expensive than the way I've created bags before. Unfortunately, the result looked like something that was made quickly and cheaply- certainly not an option.

So, now I'm back at the cutting table. Back to my old tried and true (yet incredibly expensive and time-consuming) methods of making a handbag- confident that this time it will result in something that looks designer and will last forever.

I've gotten a lot of email inquiring if I will ever have bag patterns available. Unfortunately, I don't have the ways and means at this point to fit everything in a pattern that can be made available for purchase. Maybe someday- you never know!

For now, due to the tiny (teeeeeny tiny) extra bit of time I have on my hands since my daughter started school, I may make a limited number of these bags and have them for sale between now and Christmas. I thought this would be fun, due to the amount of wonderful designer prints coming out this fall! After the bag is all finished, I'll be sure to post photos and get pricing information together and then we'll go from there.{The prints pictured are from Joel Dewberry's Deer Valley collection}

Hope everyone enjoys a great weekend!
 

Another Reason I Love My Husband

A little over 5 years ago I decided that I wanted to visit New Orleans for vacation. I had looked at hotels, bought my travel books, and could almost taste the beignets melting in my mouth. When it came time to actually sit down with my husband and confirm the plans, he suddenly and adamantly said, "We're not going to New Orleans." It wasn't "Let's talk about it" or "I don't really want to go," but a firm, "no".

Well, I wasn't happy to say the least, and it is totally uncharacteristic of my husband to be so unwilling to compromise on a decision. For some reason he felt it wasn't the time for us to visit there. So instead, we went to the bookstore, opened a New England travel book and decided to visit the town of the first page we turned to.

So, the last week of August in 2005, we packed up our beautiful baby daughter and headed to Camden, Maine where we spent the week gallery hopping, sailing, visiting amazing vineyards and cheese shops, and unfortunately watching the coverage of hurricane Katrina from our warm, dry bed and breakfast.

I get chills just thinking about what could have happened if I had gotten my way and we had been in New Orleans when the storm hit. I'm so thankful I didn't get my way in that decision.

It was during that visit to Maine that I had the opportunity to view a collection of the works of Andrew Wyeth, widely known as America's foremost modern realist, in a tour given by his granddaughter, Victoria. (One of his works shown above).This was such a treat, and something I'll never forget.

Just another reason I'm so thankful for the partner at my side.

Sewing Calendar Winner!

Hello Everyone!

Popping in to let everyone know the winner of the Sewing Calendar chosen by RANDOM.org is Cheri, who said:

Glad to have you back and well! I'm hoping to do a scrappy bargello quilt and lots of other stuff too. Thanks for sharing your good fortune with us.

You're welcome, Cheri! Good luck with the bargello quilt- that sounds like fun!

And because I don't like to do a post without pictures, I leave you with a few more shots of our 'first day of school' adventure that I gushed over in my last post!

Fancy new backpacks!

"Look! There's my name!"

"Are you done taking pictures yet?!?!?"

"Okay, maybe one more!"

Here's hoping we all learn a lot (and survive!) this year!

Leigh Ann

Little Girling

Don't go and grow so fast my child!

We've rope to jump and cookies to bake,

And far too many projects to make.

You must stay little a few years more. 

You still have lots of dolls to dress,

Nails to paint and hair to braid,

Oh, the plans that we have made-

I've so much fun for us in store!

I know that you have dreams to dream,

Friends to meet and adventures to plan-

Games to play, while you still can-

That's what childhood is for!

So paint it all pink and peaches and cream,

I love the playful colors you cast-

Sophisticated shades will come all too fast,

For now your rainbows are so pure.

Let's drink in all the fun of now,

And play our way these precious years through,

You've still so much little girling to do

Before you walk out our door.

-Me-

Please forgive my mushy-gushiness as it is the first day of school for my little girl and things have gotten a bit misty around here today.

Here's to Mistiness,

Leigh Ann

Patchwork Naptime

As I mentioned before, my daughter, Audrey, starts Kindergarten on Monday! Today I finished her mat that she'll (attempt to) slumber on in the middle of her school days.

She's so used to being surrounded by mounds of fabric at home, I thought a scrappy patchwork mat might be a bit of a comfort to her when she's away. I broke out the giant bags of scraps, let her make a pile of her favorites, then I went to work slop-scotching them all together till this was born!

On the reverse, I used a vintage print from my mother's stash. Years (and years) ago, my mom used this print to make a school dress for me! She kept every scrap of fabric left over from projects, and now, I'm so glad that she did!  Now I feel like my daughter is starting her school years with a bit of a legacy of creativity that I hope will accompany her throughout her life!

I've still got a couple other little things to finish for her. Monday is coming so quickly! I'm so not ready- in so many ways!
 

Sewing Calendar Giveaway!

Long time no chat! I know, I know- "Bad Blogger!" (slaps fingers)

I can't thank you all enough for your lovely well wishes over the past couple months concerning my surgery and sickness! The great news is that I'm feeling fine and can eat whatever I want again! The bad news is that I can eat whatever I want again, and have been.... Anyway...

The wonderful folks at Accord Publishing have sent 2 copies of their 2011 Sewing Calendar that I have the honor of being featured in! One has taken a perch on my cutting table and one is soon to be on it's way to one of you Spincushion readers! Just leave a comment on this post with a project that you hope to attempt next year or maybe a project you completed this year that you had a blast making. Or just say hi- you know the drill!

The Sewing Calendar is now available on Amazon and, I believe, should be arriving on store shelves shortly.

I've also just received an email from the editor of Sew Hip letting me know that my contributor copy of Issue 21 should be arriving soon. As soon as it hits my mailbox, I'll blog photos so you can see what projects this issue has in store, including my own!

During my absence I have been sewing up a storm, mostly for my daughter who is starting Kindergarten on Monday! Oh, where does the time go? I'll post photos of those projects soon as well!

Leave your comments for the Sewing Calendar now through Monday. I'll choose at random and post the winner then! NT7HNUKSBAAP

So good to talk with you all again!

Leigh Ann