The Birthday Gifts

I finally finished the birthday gifts after I distracted myself with the jean skirt. I decided on a turtle bag and a rainbow-quilted colored pencil holder. The turtle purse design didn't come together the way I planned, I realized toward the very end that there was a flaw in my plan. So instead I basically made my turtle placemat (x2) then sewed them together leaving the top open.
I had some fun with the strap because I was running out of the coordinating Amy Butler scraps I had. So I quilted some pieces together and did some free form decorative stitching to pull it together. This is not the worlds most practical bag...but it's a turtle...I think it makes up in cuteness what it lacks in practicality. Laurel chose the hot pink button eyes, and I think it was exactly what it needed. (She even helped me stitch them on)
Then Luke, Laurel and I painted some newspaper for wrapping paper...and we were party ready.


The rainbow pencil holder really looks stunning with the pencils placed in their coordinating pocket. I take no credit for this...it was in Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. I was sad to have to give up my library copy this past Friday. The ladies behind the library counter were already pouring through it by the time I left with my new bounty. (The other Amanda Blake Soule book...MUCH happier with this one by the way) I really can't gush enough about Hoverson's book...get it, you won't be dissapointed. There are projects from the simple to the very advanced. I actually learned something so unknown to me that it has changed the way I think about sewing...and opened up even more doors for me. (I'll touch on this later) I was actually so confounded by the claim that I had to stop what I was doing one night and try it myself. In retrospect it makes perfect sense, and I realize now I was thinking about it all wrong. But I suppose that's what happens when you learn to sew as-you-go. How exciting though, to learn something that seemed quite impossible before.
And to the Tolmich's who hosted the party...you have just an awesome family. I was so impressed with all of your girls. It's inspiring to meet such beautiful, thoughtful, helpful and intelligent girls (and funny to boot).

(This is my latest hair-flower. It was going to be a gift, but Laurel claimed it for her own. I'll do this how-to next, it's such a quick easy project)