April winner!

Thanks to everybody who linked up last week! I always love seeing what you've made.

This month's winner of the fantastic prize package from Flamingo Toes is:

And number 11 is Jessica from A Blue Sky Kind of Life! Congrats, Jessica!

Jessica, please send me an e-mail with your contact info.

Until next time...

Just a little reminder

Don't forget to enter your Beautiful Balances Checkbook Cover for your chance to win this month's awesome prizes from Bev at Flamingo Toes.

Up for grabs this month are a great Rebecca Bag pattern

and one pair of earrings from Bev's awesome Etsy Shop!

or

or

What will you choose? Head over & get linked up if you haven't already! Entries close at midnight Friday.

Until next time...

Time to share YOUR Beautiful Balance Checkbook Cover

I hope everybody who completed this project enjoyed it as much as I did. I have to tell you, I think this one was much easier than the Cosmo Bag, and this one is considered "Intermediate" while the Cosmo Bag was supposed to be "Easy." What's your opinion on that?

Now's the time to link up to your Beautiful Balance Checkbook Cover. From the looks of the Flickr group this month, not quite as many people completed it, so you'll have an even better chance of winning your choice of earrings from the Flamingo Toes Etsy shop as well as the Rachel Bag pattern.

Which earrings will you choose:

...or...

...or...

Or something else? Be ready to make a decision if you're the lucky winner this month!

Entries will be open until midnight on Friday, May 6, and I'll announce the winner Monday, May 9. Please remember to link to your specific blog post or Flickr photo, not the main page on your blog or your Flickr profile.

Until next time...

Beautiful Balance Checkbook Cover: Completed!

I've got to say, it feels great to have finished this up. Granted, it always feels good to finish a project, but with the rut I'm in, and since this came together so much easier than I expected, this feels especially good.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly it was to sew this up. I got the pieces cut out & fused (tons of interfacing, as usual) in about an hour this weekend. I wasn't looking forward to putting everything together. Not because of the project itself, I've actually been waiting to make this one since last winter, but because I figured it would be much more complicated than it needed to be. What can I say, Amy's track record isn't the best. :)

I really like the way this was constructed. I think I only did a couple things differently - no fusible fleece, I didn't baste the pockets before basting them to the lining (seriously, why?!), and I did the opening just slightly different. I have to say, I love that the pattern calls for the opening to be between the flap & lining piece rather than leaving an opening when sewing the front & back together. I was a little confused at first when it came to sewing the flap to the lining just an inch at each end, but once I figured it out, it was easy. The only thing I did differently was my favorite tip from Michelle at Keyka Lou - lengthen the stitch for the opening & backstitch at each end, then iron the seam open & take out the stitches across the opening once it cools. That way, when it comes time to sew the opening closed, the seam allowance is already pressed & much easier to slipstitch.

Since I used a directional fabric, I took extra care to pay attention to how I was cutting my pieces. Thankfully, I got all my outside pieces exactly the way I wanted.

I did screw up on the pocket pieces though, they're technically going sideways & I wish I had read exactly how they were going in before cutting them out. They don't look terrible though, so oh well. Also, looking at it now, I wish I had used the lining fabric for the inside of the flap. It doesn't look terrible, but I think it would have looked better if I'd used the black rather than red.

All in all, I think this was actually a great pattern. As I was finishing it up, I wish I had thought to add a pocket to the back of the outside, so I'll keep that in mind for next time. Otherwise, I don't think I'd make any patterns & I think this is definitely a pattern I'll be using again!

Remember to check back later this week to link up your Beautiful Balance Checkbook Cover for your chance at the fantastic prizes from Bev at Flamingo Toes! I'm still jealous of whoever is going to get their choice of earrings from her Etsy shop. I like these ones best, if you'd like to get a little something for your favorite blogger. ;)

If you win, you'll also get the awesome Rebecca Bag.

Until next time...

Beautiful Balance Checkbook Cover: Inspiration

Time for our monthly project inspiration! I'm not sure if it's the project this month, the fact that the days are getting nicer, or something else, but I know I'm not feeling overly inspired to do much sewing lately! I hope you are all having better luck than I am.

From patriciabstudio. I love the stitching details on this one! And she added a fun clip for keys, etc.

From sarahbethe. I absolutely adore the exterior fabric on this one.

From Langes Fädchen, Faules Mädchen. I like the almost leathery-looking flap.

From knason4. Beautiful spring colors!

These two from Fried Okra are just adorable!

There are only a couple currently uploaded to the Flickr group, so make sure you share yours if you've completed it! April will be over before we know it, so get sewing! :)

Until next time...

April: Beautiful Balance Checkbook Cover

April already? Where has the year gone?!

The beginning of another month means another pattern. I hope you're excited! I already know what some of you are thinking, "A checkbook cover? Who even uses those anymore?" And honestly, you might be right, but I know quite a few people who do still use them (myself included!), so I hope plenty of you still find a use for this month's project. And even if you don't, check below for another variation!

Here are the fabrics (and maybe some more plain black, I don't have much of that football print) I'll be using. Please don't laugh! I promised a friend back during football season that I would make her a checkbook cover, and just now getting around to it. She's also the one I made the Chiefs purse for, so they'll go together perfectly.

Once again, I'm really excited about the giveaway this month! April is sponsored by Bev from Flamingo Toes, who is absolutely amazing.

If you don't know who she is or haven't been a long-time follower (or short, for that matter!), make sure you clear out the next couple hours & go check out her blog! So, so much fun stuff. And if you aren't a follower, you just missed out on one of the best weeks of the year - Anthro Necklace Knockoff Week! I'm already looking forward to next year when I really hope she'll do it again (are you reading this Bev? Don't let me down!!!).

So, to entice you to make this month's project, Bev is offering a choice of one pair of earrings from her Etsy shop! Oh the choices!

Those last ones are my favorite! But really, they're all so gorgeous. Make sure you check out the shop to see your other choices.

Bev is also including her fantastic Rebecca Shoulder Bag pattern.

I have to tell you, if these awesome prizes don't get you in the mood to sew this month, I'm not sure what will!

You know it can't be a sew along introductory post without a pattern review from Sara at Sew Sweetness, and this month is no exception! :) I mentioned before that if you aren't certain about making (or needing) a checkbook cover, there might a variation that would work for you. Sara inadvertently made a CD wallet on her first try, but it turned out so nice, you could certainly use the idea for yourself! Make sure you head over to check out her pattern review & both of her versions.

For another pattern review & some more inspiration, head over to Langes Fädchen, Faules Mädchen.

I definitely recommend (as always) that you check out what these ladies think of the pattern. I think we can all learn from each other about possible easier & more efficient ways to do things.

Remember you can ask questions & post pictures in the Flickr Group throughout the month.

Remember, it's still not too late to enter your Origami Bag(s) to win the March prize. Head over to link up for your chance to win!

Until next time...