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)
I worked most of the night filling orders. I love making new designs. Not that making old designs is bad, sometimes the brainlessness of knowing exactly what to do already is soothing. But I love the design process. Deciding how to make it work, and seeing it all come together. I had a custom request for a ducky easter basket. I had a vision in my head what it should look like, but the vision in my head, and even the sketch on the paper often proves difficult to produce exactly as shown. In my head the duck had feet and a tail.
In the final product simplicity of just the beak and eyes proved better I think. I made the feet, and they're adorable, but I couldn't make them fit right on the duck. 
It ended up being awkward. I want these too be used, and played with. I make the body parts on these fun so that kids actually like messing around with them. The pigs tail is stretchy, the ducks beak is flappy, ears are floppy, etc etc. I want kids to have fun with these. But somehow the feet were too much, so here they are...lonely lonely feet. They'll have to go into the drawer for another day. (Actually it won't be too long until they have a home) I cut the pattern for a new bag. Actually it's a back pack...nay...a quack pack. (or duck sack if you prefer the term ruck sack). I'm working on the rigging system. It will involve grommets, and the straps will retract when the bag is opened and cinches when the bag is put on your back. The bottom of the straps will be the duck legs...and on the bottom...the lonely feet. Lonely no longer. Alas though, the Quack Pack must wait. I have many orders to fill and can't sew him yet. If only I had entire days to sew instead of a few hours after I put the kids to bed or before they wake up. (And if only I was better at putting them to bed on time!)
