A Boy's scripture bag

As you know I've made a few scripture bags for girls. Or maybe you don't since my blogging has been so sporadic this year. In any case, I have. I was looking forward to working with a different pattern in anticipation for Beckham's big day. As it turns out our cousin is an amazing seamstress and had a pattern that was perfect for Beckham's request for his bag. She sent the pattern right over.

The cool thing is she trusted me with half of a pattern. It wasn't quite finished, but she felt I just might have the skills to do it anyway. I would say that was mostly true. Except for the part where I misread a whole step and didn't add the lining at the top *blush* Oh well. As I told Skye, the white (that was supposed to also include the striped lining fabric as well) is a special one of a kind feature of Beckham's bag. An extra pop of color if you will.

Inside out view

Inside out view. There should be brown and blue striped fabric on top of the white duck cloth. It's cool. It's a new feature ;) The suit fabric is an inside pocket.

Right side out, looking in

The truth is, when it's right side out, no one even notices.

I constructed the bag from suiting material. It felt masculine and timeless to me. I wanted something that was cool now, but would still be fitting as he grew older.

I added the grommets because metal is the perfect accessory for anything you give a boy.

 It's akin to something sparkly for a girl.

I also added one additional pocket more than the pattern called for. The big front pocket the grommets are on. Beckham is a pocket kind of a boy :)

Here is the exterior pocket the pattern calls for

Karaia helped me choose the mustard yellow zipper and thread.

LOVE the zipper pull tabs!

 We really went back and forth between what color to chose. I'm glad she was there to help!

I am thrilled with how it turned out. Nice and sturdy, great lines to look at, fun features like the zipper tabs, and fun to sew. Good times.

A new size

Tobi asked me to make a scripture tote, like the one I made for Karaia, for Kate's birthday. JUST before I made my first cut into the fabric I had the thought to check and make sure Kate's scriptures are the same size as Karaia's.  Good thing I checked! They are not. They are actually bigger which means I had to increase the size of my original pattern. That took a bit longer than I had planned. Then I sewed, sewed, and did some more sewing all day today.

9 hours later ( not exactly sure why it took me so long) here's the final result along side Karaia's tote to see the difference in size.

Every girl needs a little sparkle.

 The gray fabric on the side was a happy accident. I placed the pattern pieces on the polka dot fabric incorrectly and ended up not having the right amount of fabric to achieve the look I wanted. SO I took the two little boys to the quilt shop and discovered they no longer had any of that fabric left. The gray fabric spoke to me and thus came and lived with me for an afternoon. I love the added sophistication it brings to the tote.

Karaia's is BULGING with all of the stuff she "needs" to get through church.

I was so glad Tobi asked for this special gift! It was fun to sew something again.

Car seat Canopy

See this fabric?
(The dark color is actually a really deep chocolate brown, but it is looking very black on the screen...but it's brown)


I was drawn to it too! Doesn't it just scream,
"Hello! You've found me! Something you can use to make something for a boy!"

That's what it said to me anyway and I had already been on the hunt for an hour when I rounded the corner and spied it across the quilt shop.

Why was I on the hunt for "boy" fabric?

1. Because I am always on the hunt for cute, modern, non-babyish/non-little kid, boy fabric

2. Because my sister was pregnant with her forth, due any day, and she mentioned that she had recently seen these car seat canopies and thought it would be delightful to own one.

So I found the fabric. And after MORE searching found the coordinating fabric, in flannel, and I made her this

I love the buttons I found for the straps.

It was very simple to make. I used a pattern that my friend had, but could have easily figured it out without one. My sister-in-law made one with an oval pattern that is also very cute. I was slightly worried that this rectangular style would drag on the ground, but thankfully it has quite a good clearance.

My sister had her cute baby, Davis, on Tuesday, a week overdue. Mom was able fly out that night so Annie received her canopy Wednesday. She loved it! Hooray!

I loved it too.

After I completed it I put it on my car seat and brought everything in the house. That way I could look at it throughout the day and feel that extra boost of happiness that certain fabric designs give me.

I love finding fabric that has that magnetic effect on me.

Absolutely love it.

Congratulations, Annie and Mark!

Passion

I love looking at original works of art. I love how complex each piece can be and yet it can seem so simplistic if you are watching a master give it life. Each layer much be thought out, if only seconds before the paint meets the paper. And are then carefully orchestrated to elicit the stirring of the soul that all great works do. I marvel at how some paintings can look incredibly detailed from afar only to find as I step a few feet closer that the lines are much less precise and seem more as an after thought.

On occasion, I am an artist. Although my dad would say on all occasions. But he and my step-mom live in the world of art. My step-mom being and artist herself, as well as being the Director of the Bountiful Davis Art Center, and my dad being a connoisseur of fine art. His over enthusiasm for my talent stems, I believe, from a desire to have produced greatness among the world he has such adoration for. Yet at times, in order to avoid hiding my light under a bushel, I admit to having surprised myself by what I have created. Far from soul stirring, but I believe I am capable of such things.....in time.

Anyone who thrills at seeing original art, especially from local artists knows that you tend to develop a taste for your favorites. Among my favorites is Yevgeniy Zolotsev. He does this amazing wet on wet technique with water color that actually involves using a blow dryer to move and mix the colors. I first saw his work about 5 years ago at Summer Fest. I have been hooked every since. I find myself drawn to his work.

For years I have claimed that one day I will own one of his pieces. On Friday, my step-mom gave me this:


Out of the blue, for no reason other than because she loves me and because she knows I have such passion about Yevgeniy's talents. We both cried in her office. It was a wonderful moment.

It is entitled "South Germany". I have placed it on the mantel of my yet to be remodeled dinning room as it has become the inspiration for the room. How can you not be inspired? Notice how from far away it seems you can walk down the street and it looks crisp and clean, but upon closer look it's all blurred. I wish I could do that!


Thank you, Emma. Thank you for making a dream come true.

It's the little things that make the biggest difference.