the things that make life easier

So, I have been making bags for a while. I love making them but I DETEST ironing the handles. Well, a fellow blogger Karin @ A Window Into Whimsy gave me a FABULOUS suggestion to get a bias tape maker. I had never heard of such a thing so I looked into it. There were people who made their own and I thought about trying this but didn't really want to even deal with having to measure it just right. So.... off I went in search of one I could purchase. I just happened to be at my Aunt's house and she's a big time quilter so I asked her if she had ever heard of one. Well, she went up to her sewing area and came down with one I could borrow. I played with it a bit and decided I needed to get one for myself. I planned to get a 1" one for making purse handles. THEN I remembered that somewhere I had a pair of jeans that was a bit too short in the length and I thought it would be a great idea to cut them into capri's and put some of my brand new bias tape around the hem. Well, 1/2 inch (1" folded over) wouldn't be large enough of a border so I also had to find the 2" version. I went to Joann's- they had the Dritz brand so I bought it. BUT after having researched a bit online I knew that there was a Clover brand one out there somewhere. So, I went to a different craft store, Beverly's, and found not just the 1" but also the 2" and all the smaller ones as well- I think there's a 1/2" , a 3/8" and a 1/4". I only have the larger 2. I don't anticipate on needing the smaller ones, if I do I know Bev's has them tho! So, I bought my bias tape makers and came home to use them. I was unable to find my jeans BUT I have made several bag handles with them and they come out BEAUTIFULLY!

the 1" bias tape maker


the 2" bias tape maker


my purse I made with the 2" tape maker


I think my bias tape makers and I have a VERY long and happy future together. Why did I not know about this wonderful tool before? Oh yeah, I've only been sewing for about 4 months! It makes making handles a breeze! I don't have to stand there and fold and press, and fold and press and ick! NO THANK YOU! Now I just pull the little tool along and iron as I go. The hardest thing is getting the fabric threaded into it and that's pretty darn easy! :) I'm a happy girl now!

Herold's bag

Made this one for the mom of Stephanie. She bought the fabric, I just had to put it all together. It used 3 full fat quarters. :)

This is the front or back outside


The other front or back of the outside


The inside


The other side of the inside with key chain thingie

Bag for Stephanie

This bag was made for a teacher friends daughter. Her school colors are purple and gold.

The outside of the bag. I LOVE this fabric!


The inside of the bag, complete with pocket and key chain holder.


The inside pocket.

99 things

I found this list of 99 things you may or may not have done. Copy and paste it to your blog to share with us what you've done! If you want to enter a scrappy blog give away here's the rest: (I stumbled across Sue's blog, and she has a great giveaway going on! She has made a list of 99 things you may or may not have done, and is encouraging other bloggers to post their responses to enter into the giveaway.)
Here is mine: 34 of 99
(my "haves" are in bold italic)

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii (2 times- big island and Oahu)

5. Watched a meteor shower (perseids and leonids)

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world/Disneyland Paris (HATE that place- too many people and lines!)

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis (LOVE 'em!)

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (I've NEVER taken an art or craft class in my life!)

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables (used to with granny all the time, this year Greg and I put one in)

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight (who hasn't?)

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (yep- to go to Hawaii I took 3!)

24. Made a Snow Angel (didn't look like much of an angel)

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse (of the sun and moon, both several times)

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (sunsets daily from my backyard)

31. Stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an erupting volcano in person. (hawaii- volcano national park)

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (yep. then the market dried up)

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing (castle rock state park)

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (love doing this!)

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (hawaii, belize, monterey)

52. Kissed in the rain (and the snow!)

53. Played in the mud (oh yeah, and got hosed off outside afterwards by mom)

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre (all the time when I was a little kid and once in HS and got BUSTED by my parents friends who called and ratted me out!)

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business (does etsy count?)

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Cookies for charity

62. Gone whale watching (monterey- didn't see any tho!)

63. Been given flowers for no reason (cut from my yard by my honey)

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check (accidentally - didn't know someone bounced one on me and it cascaded)

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favourite childhood toy (still have Peekyboo)

70. Visited Buckingham Palace

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt or blanket (not yet)

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Been to the top of the Empire State Building

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car (2005 Toyota Sequoia- LOVE that thing!)

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper (pink friday to protest teacher cuts)

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox (super bad ones that blistered, popped, reblistered, and repopped- it was ICK!- hemmorages (?))

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous (went to school with Kristi Yamaguchi)

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one (gramps)

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone (got one right now- LOL)

99. Been stung by a bee (several times)

2 sold!

I sold my lime and brown bag (see previous post at the bottom) to a friend. :)

Then I was shopping with another friend and she asked me to make a bag for her daughter. She bought the fabric and is going to pay me for it! Watch for pictures- it's going to be pretty!

THEN today I was online and another friend (who's friends with the friend who bought my lime and brown bag) asked me to make her a swanky bag. Well, I finished it! LOVE IT! I put 3 pockets on it, my first time even attempting pockets and they're LINED! and it's got a key thingie to attach her keys to so they don't get lost in the bottom of the bag. I think I keep improving on my bags with each one I make. Soon I will be awesome at it and be more confident to make my dress that I got all cut out and have yet to put together. I probably should have been working on that today but I didn't want to- I wanted to do something I knew how to do. And here it is: