Shield Your Eyes

Here is the wild tote. Hope it didn't make you go blind, or otherwise! If you like it let me know. It is not my style, but thought I'd try something a little different.

Zinnia Tote!

Well here is my latest! This is a bit simpler that most of my totes so far. I really like the linen/canvas with a decorative fabric. And look, here I modeled it too! A real feat all by myself.






I also adjusted the color. Do the photos look ok or washed out? It's weird going from the color of the photo to the "fixed" version which apparently brightened these up.

The next tote will be much wilder. Yikes. I'm nervous to even show anyone.

I have an idea to make my totes "different"/ my own style. It might be a while until the first one comes out, but I'm excited at the prospect that my store may have more of a theme of style and not be all over the board!

This is Why Our Children are Blondes (for now)

People are always inquiring why our children are both of a fair hair color. Well, Jason and I were too as children. Here's the proof.

Headbands

Here are a few headbands that I plan to list in my store sometime!








I am also working on two totes. I need to use up all the fabric I have planned for totes before buying any more!

OK, Here We Go.... Bok Choy

We have a standing order for organic fruits and vegetables from Timber Creek Farms every four weeks. We pre-ordered the Fruit and Vegetable box. It usually comes with quite a plethera of fresh produce and would be so much more expensive than TCF's prices if I bought it all at the local grocery store non-organic! The only catch is that you don't get to choose what you get. There is an option where you are told ahead what is coming and you can order more of what you like but I think that might cost a bit more. Anyway, we have received some foods that we have never seen or at least never eaten before. For a little while this time we were totally clueless about one of the veggies in our box. Um, what is it some sort of celery? A lettuce? Collard greens? Well somehow I finally realized it was bok choy. At that point I searched around for the receipt that comes with the box because I know they often send recipes for items that may be unfamiliar to some people. Lo and behold, there it was, a recipe sheet for bok choy. So we decided to try out the "Bok Choy and Chicken".

Serves 4-6

1 head Bok Choy washed at cut crosswise in 1 inch pieces
4 boneless, skinless chick breast halves in 1 inch pieces
3-8 cloves garlic, minced (depends on your taste)
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup soy sauce
2-3 Tbs. Peanut or Vegetable oil
2 Tbs. Cornstarch dissolved in cold water

Stir fry the garlic and chicken in the oil until there is no more pink meat on the chicken. Add bok choy and continue cooking for 3 min. Add the sherry and soy sauce and bring to a bubble. Pour a little of the cornstarch mixture at a time and stir to check the thickness of the sauce. Serve over rice.






The verdict... It was DELICIOUS! Very Asian tasting.

Tote Mode

I feel the need to stock my Etsy store quickly. There really isn't much in it now and I have fabric laying around waiting to be made into something. Today I finished a pre-ordered tote for a friend. I also cut out fabric for two others (these for Etsy). I have headbands to list, but the photos are on a camera I can't find. Jason knows where it is, but he's mowing now, so I'll wait!

I also have a recipe for Chicken Bok Choi to share (with photos). Again, that will have to wait.

My first Etsy customer received her tote and seems to really love it. I am so happy! This is what it's all about. I guess making money is what it's about too, but that is kinda secondary to making a quality product that people are happy with.

I really need to try to find new ways to promote. I thought I ALMOST got a sale in direct relation to my give away, but that apparently did not pan out. Well, at least there was a bit of interest.

Shannon from Rocks in my Dryer plans to host another give away in the fall. I have a handbag I made that has one loose-ish seam. It's not bad except that you can kind of see the dark thread at a seam on the light fabric. I might give that away. I have also thought of printing up a flower photo to give away. Maybe both? Speaking of which I sent the tote off to its winner today. She is in Canada, so it might take over a week. I wasn't about to spend $14 more to ship priority!!

Jason's doing something with the main computer now and I can't seem to get to the photos, so I will save a photo of the tote for later.

Hooray Again!

Well... I won another contest to have a logo for my Etsy shop added as a link on a website. I didn't have a logo the correct size, so my dear husband really helped me a bunch getting one together. With my limited knowledge of photoshop and his help I was able to put something decent together! While I was at it, I also decided to use the momentum to put together a new blog banner. Look up! You like? I had really wanted to incorporate some sunflowers, and now I have!

Here is the logo, by the way!



AND, I made a bunch of headbands. I think they are very cute.





Finally, here is a photo of Ella with my birthday bouquet on the table. Isn't it pretty?

We Have a Winner

The winner of my Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway is....

Carla over at OurNatureStudy. I look forward to sending you the reversible tote prize, handmade by me!

I actually won a contest too, over at SortaCrunchy, and used her method to choose a winner; the random integer generator at Random.Org which came up with number 183.

This contest has been so much fun and I truly wish I could send a tote to each and every person who entered. The comments have been so sweet and uplifting.

You are more than welcome to come back and visit my blog, I'd love to have you and get more acquainted. Also, don't forget to visit my Etsy shop which has other great totes for sale! I am adding cute headbands to my repertoire as well!

I am also interested in doing a swap. I've seen a few here and there on people's blogs and thought it would be so much fun, so let me know if you are interested too and we can set something up.

Have a great weekend!!

Visitors

Upon my request Jason brought himself and the kids to watch the last half hour or so of my last ballet class of the summer. I really wanted him/them to see what I love doing so much. The best comment Jason made was that I was "glowing" and he could tell that I love it. He also got excited about some season tickets he got us for the Joeffrey Ballet. As for the kids, they were just beaming to see mommy. :-)

Oh, and Jason must have read my mind. I was thinking I'd love some sunflowers in a bouquet, but they were kind of expensive at the grocery store. Well he came home with a bouquet including SUNFLOWERS for my birthday! Yay!

Omigosh SO Easy!

Air Ella

I know a lot of people are visiting my give away link, and thank-you to the people who also took time to look around other parts of my blog and even some who have left comments. It means so much to me to be able to share these things with others and hopefully give others a little joy.

This morning was busy with Ella's last dance class, going to the YMCA to work out and then going to the grocery store to pick up some odds and ends.

Now it is (late) afternoon, both kids are in bed (I didn't even tell Ella to go to her room for rest time but she did, ??), and I don't feel like working on a tote. Even though I'm excited about a new order that was place, I have until mid-August to complete it. Though I know it will probably be done before the end of July. Speaking of which, the e-check cleared for my Etsy customer and I sent her tote out today! OOoooo I hope she loves it!

So anyway, I think I'll try to make a headband. If it is as easy as I think it is, I may sell them in my shop, for pretty cheap. I mean I will probably be using scraps of fabric from other projects.

And after listening to a bunch of friends talking about their feelings of turning 30 (in the recent past or future) recently, I turned 38 today. Is it weird that I still feel 25 physically? I think I am in better shape than I was then anyway.

Anatomy of a Tote Bag

Today I finished a bag for my friend Hannah. I think this is one of my best (certainly most complicated) works. It is special because Hannah is a sweet friend and I wanted to make it just to her specifications. This time I took photos of the process of making a bag. I thought some of you might find it interesting.

First I draw up a plan and figure out cutting lengths and widths.


There is always a lot of pressing at almost every step along the way.


Cutting pieces squarely is very important. I haven't ventured into creating my own rounded totes yet...


Sewing seams, one by one.


Several parts have been sewn together. But it doesn't look like a bag YET.


Sides sewn on... ok now looking like a bag. I added a water bottle holder as a surprise to Hannah!


Here we are sewing together the lining. I left out sewing on all the complicated pockets.


My ever shrinking stash of magnetic snaps... Easy to install!


The result!


Inside.


The famous water bottle pouch.


I missed photographing a FEW steps, but at least you get an idea.

Still More Bloggin! :-)

I have "stuck" my contest to the top of my blog, but there is still more blogging going on beneath! I will un-stick this post once the contest is over. Wow, what a response. I think most of the contests are getting quite a good turnout. I have entered a few, but I have bad luck. Even last week when I won a drawing (believe me the odds were better than good), it was for an art class (which I want for Ella) for children 7-14. Ella is 3.... The expo we went to where we won it was aimed at kids 3-7. No Fair! I was so excited about their program too. I think Ella has great promise for a 3 year old artist!

Newest Tote

Here is my latest design... Another dance bag. I really just need to bring these to Ella's ballet class to see if anyone there wants to buy! I think it's so cute. It was so fun to do after finishing up a handbag I started and another tote I'm making for an acquaintance. I won't post a photo of that bag because it is a present and I don't want the recipient to accidentally see it!




Let's see, what's next. I think I should start working on another order for a "belly dance" bag (see fabric below). I was waiting on some mesh to come in (for a pocket to put shoes in so they can "breathe"), but it came today, so I guess I should start on that project.

Rant: These stinking photos don't do these bags justice. I've tried all kinds of light and such but I just can't seem to get very good photos. I don't think it's the camera either. Argh.

ENTER MY DRAWING TO WIN THIS TOTE!

BLAH BLAH BLAH

Today's the day! Announcing a drawing for a FREE TOTE give away in conjunction with the Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway. I am doing this both for fun and in an effort to promote my etsy store at http://sunnykristi.etsy.com. Please visit often as I am adding new items.

Here is what you will be entering this drawing for... This bright, cheery, floral reversible tote! It's like two totes in one! It is one of my larger totes and made from fabrics of interesting origins. The floral fabric originally came as a border on white fabric (printed in 1996) meant for a skirt, but how cute it turned out as a tote! The opposite side is made from fabric from curtains. I don't know if the curtains were ever used but they looked as good as new. I got them from my friend Gail's stash (also where I got the border fabric) of things she didn't want anymore but couldn't bear to throw away. I cut some more of the border fabric to fashion a panel on the pink gingham side with two pockets. The bag closes with a grosgrain ribbon tied in a bow. I like magnetic snaps better, but then it wouldn't be possible to make this tote reversible and I want both sides to be enjoyed. The bag has an interlining made from light blocking drapery interlining. Hey it works!


HOW TO ENTER MY DRAWING

Well, I hope you like it and if you do, I will get down to business. In order to be entered into my drawing, all you have to do is leave a comment with your first name (last initial if possible so as not to confuse things). You don't have to be a blogger, but if you are, please leave a link to your blog in some manner. On Friday I will be pulling the winner's name from a tote and will announce it some time that day. At that point we will figure out the best way to exchange information privately to get your prize to you.


WHAT YOU CAN WIN








GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
Want to see other give aways this week? Click here.

Fabric for a Dance Bag

Ravinia Festival

If you are not familiar with Ravinia Festival, you don't know what you are missing. So I will TRY to give you a glimpse of the sites though I can't upload the sounds, which is the best part of the event, at least the main reason for it. Ravinia is a beautiful outdoor theater where you can purchase pavilion seats or better yet, you can pick a spot to sit on the spacious lawn and graze on a multi course picnic dinner. We went with our good friends Dan and Jen and had a fabulous time. Of course we couldn't visit during the concert, but the music was splendid, and we had plenty of time before hand to talk. Saturday the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed. It is just amazing how quiet such a crowd can be. And my favorite thing is when a bird starts chirping while the music is playing. We had good conversation, laughs, the perfect combination of food and beautiful cool, but not too cool, weather. They played 3 composers of which I only recognized one Saint-Saens. And I even recognized his "style" at one point. I would really like to familiarize myself with more classical composers to the point where I can identify pieces by them that I'm hearing for the first time. Here I have only captured a few of the sites. In words, beautiful landscaping, sculptures, buildings, sprawling lawns, good people watching. And when it gets dark it is even more magical. One thing I did notice is that our setup is not pretty enough! I saw one couple who had a table cloth, matching chairs, flowers, pretty candles. I won't go all out, but I think I'd like to make a table cloth for our little table at least.