Giveaway Day!!

Hello everyone! Today is Giveaway Day! Not just here on my blog but on lots of others too.  SewMamaSew is hosting this fun event where everyone with a shop or a blog can link up an item that they would like to giveaway. Which means there are A LOT of other things you can win around blogland.  The giveaways are open for one full week so you can take your time browsing around and getting to know other fun blogs too. Want to see what I'm giving away today?? It's a pretty fold over clutch (aka extra large zipper pouch) inspired by the gals at A Beautiful Mess. I only have one left though, the Silver Mirror Ball Dot clutch. A perfect accessory for the Holiday season right?

 I love the zipper on this one.

And the inside is the same as the yellow.  With 2 deep pockets so you can keep your phone from getting sloshed around with your keys and you can stay a little organized.

Want to win the Silver Clutch?  Just leave a comment telling me your favorite thing to do with your free time.  I'd love it if you'd follow me or "Like" me on Facebook too, but it's not required to enter. Make sure your email address is linked in your profile or leave it in the comment so I can find you.

If you are new to Blue Susan Makes, Welcome to my little corner of the sewing world!  You'll find me sewing handmade gifts, stuff for my kids and home, and lots of handbags. Let's keep in touch!

Little Flock of Bullfinches

It's December!! Oh my, we haven't decorated a thing but tonight will be the night we start.  We are going to put up our tree and I'll let the kids cover it in their handmade ornaments. We have a smaller 2nd tree that I have high hopes of covering with pinterest/blog inspired ornaments.  I'll pull it off if I have time.  Have you seen this adorable Bullfinch ornament tutorial?? I couldn't resist making a few.

As I snapped the picture I realized I forgot the eyes. Oops! Half the fun was dumping out my scrap bin and using bits of my favorite fabrics. I wrapped them up and gave away few as presents to friends at our Thanksgiving gathering.

My plan is to make a few more of these and then next on my list are these adorable houses.  I must make them!!

What about you? Are you making any handmade ornaments this year?

BTW: I'm thinking this up to these Parties! Monday Funday, Skip to my Lou, Show off Saturday, and Block Party

Garden Tiles Bag

I sold some items at the Gleason Park Art show last weekend with my friend Stephanie. Sadly I did not get a picture of our set up.  But here's the story behind one of the bags I had for sale. I finally got around to making up a bag that has been rolling around in my head for while. I'm calling it the Garden Tiles Bag.  We've just recently remodeled our bathroom and I was inspired to put that pretty subway tile stagger pattern in a fabric format.

 I'm in love with this bag.  The fabric on the front panel is from Anna Maria Horner's Hand drawn Garden line.

I added outside pockets this time around which I'm pretty excited about.

What do you think?  Should I make a pattern for this one?  I think it would make a perfect diaper bag with a a few more pockets on the inside.

Linking this to Make It, Wear It

DIY Gift Bags for Bite Sized Sewing

Hi there!! Sara over at Craft Snob has a series going on called Bite Sized Sewing. Over the last couple of months she has been highlighting quick and easy sewing projects that are perfect for a beginner or those who don't have time to take on a big project. There are lots of fun projects to browse through.  Today I'm sharing how to make an easy DIY Gift Bag.  Pop on over and take a look!!

Lickety Split Skirt

My son had a little birthday party to go to not too long ago. I always think it's fun to send a handmade gift if I have time.  But I am always pressed for time and I can only seem to manage "lickety split" projects that can be made the day of...sometimes the hour before..it's true!. This little project fits the bill perfectly. What little girl doesn't love a new little skirt to run around in?

 I just sort of made it up and it's not put together the correct way, it's put together the fast way. :) I'm sure there are a ton of tutorials out there.
Here's a mini description of how I made it...

• Use the width of the fabric off the bolt (about 44") and cut it to the desired finished skirt  length (minus 1 inch). 
• Cut a 5'' strip of another fabric, folded it in half and sewed it to the bottom of the skirt. Finish the edges with a zig-zag or serger. 
• Press the folded band down and topstitch along the seam. No hemming on this skirt!!

• Sew the short ends together. Finish that seam too!  Press it to one side and use your sewing machine to tack (sew back and forth for about 3 stitches) the seam down at the bottom of the hem so it stays folded over.
• Make a casing in the top a little bigger than the width of your elastic. How? Press the top  edge over 1/4 inch and then fold it over again and press.  I made my casing 1 inch wide and used a 1/2 inch elastic to thread through it. Stitch the casing leaving an opening in the back to thread the elastic through. 
• Stitch around the top too, so it looks cute when she tucks in a shirt.
• Thread your elastic through. Stitch it together. Sew the opening closed with a little tag or ribbon so she'll know which side is the back  

Quick and cute!

Quilt Market Recap

If you follow me on Instagram you know I've been back from International Quilt Market for a week already. But just in case you didn't get enough #quiltmarket browsing, here are my favorite shots from my real camera. Here's our gang! Rachel, Caroline and Me

We had a fun time browsing all of the fabulous booths, meeting people, and making new friends. There was so much sewing inspiration and of course a ton of beautiful quilts to browse. Here's one from the lovely Tula Pink

And some lovely ribbon to match her new fabric line.

A quilt made from Anna Maria Horner's stunning new fabric line.

We got to see Sara's bags in real life, from her new book Big City Bags. She is one talented lady!

We saw table after table stacked with pretty fabrics at the Sample Spree. 

I added a bunch of new projects to my MUST MAKE list. Like this cute dress from Serendipity Studio

I was able to help Bonnie from Fishstick Designs set up her cute booth a little bit and I caught a little glimpse of the amount of work that goes into setting one up.  Wow!

We met the super cute Vanessa.  I just love her new fabric line.

I fell in love with the designs from The Cottage Mama. 

 That girl knows how to use ribbons and trims! Adorable!

and here's Heather Bailey's beautiful booth. It was so beautifully lighted. I think she even won 1st place for her booth design.

 

Echino love!

Ellen Luckett Baker's cute booth. 

 And a pretty quilt featuring fabrics from Allison Glass' new Sun Print line

Phew! It was a whirlwind weekend and we hardly slept,but I came back with a ton of new ideas that I can't wait to share with you.

Until next time, Happy Sewing!

Houston Yipee!

Hi sewing friends! Greetings from Houston!! I just thought I'd pop in to tell you I'm at Quilt Market!!

Caroline and I flew in tonight and met my Sister. Yay!! Can you tell I'm excited. I hope to check in tomorrow night with a few fun pictures from School House tomorrow. I'll be posting on Instagram too @bluesusanmakes so you can follow me there if you'd like!!

 

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