In My Happy Place

It seems like every time I have a deadline and HAVE to sew/write patterns/create ANYTHING, which it seems there is always some sort of deadline, I go through the same cycle. First I am excited to do what I am about to do. I can't wait to get moving on it. I start. I start cutting and sewing and thinking. Then I start getting interrupted. I dread interruptions.  You know? The phone rings, someone needs a sandwich, it's time to pick the kids up from school. And then I get back into it with deep focus. But the problem is that that I get so driven to complete my projects that I don't take the time to enjoy them. I am DYING to complete the thing so I can get on with other things.

I wish so much that I could just enjoy the whole process. Sometimes I find myself there. But usually, I grow impatient for the end of my process to see the finished project.

Well, now I am in an interesting place. I have completed so many necessary things over the past month and a half. And now I have been organizing my house and working on other things. And I find my imagination running wild. I have so many ideas in my head for fun projects and a really great pattern design idea that I can't wait to make.

But now I hesitate because I realize that the best part of the process is really when I am building it in my head. This is where I don't mind the interruptions. I can see a finished product in my mind, and that is sort of satisfying. This is my happy place. I think I'll stay here a while.

Babies Grow Up and the Storage Grows Too!

I have been thinking lately about how I would really like to preserve some of my babies' clothing and items that were important to me as their mom. I don't want to just collect all of their stuff so it takes up space in storage and clutters my house, collecting dust. But I am looking for some projects I can conquer in a year or two that would be a great way to preserve these memories. I love this bench, for instance, made out of a baby crib. It comes from Casandradesign.blogspot.com We have a cute crib that is very similar to this one. It would be adorable.

Then there are bins of baby clothes that I treasure. You never get any significant amount of money selling used baby clothing. And if you lend it to friends, it ends up coming back to you when their baby outgrows it. So as soon as my little Macy (21 months) is 4 or so, I am going to cut up all of hers and Savannah's (age 9) baby clothes, and make quilts for both of them. Then they can cuddle up to them forever and have a memory to hold onto.

I wish that I were showing you my finished products here, but I am still in the baby trenches. Before long, I'll show you what I come up with.

SO SO SO BUSY!!!!

At the start of January, Riley Blake hired me to design a bag pattern for them using their new line, Dainty Blossoms. I had to start from scratch and get through the whole process start to finish by the end of the month. Below are the fabrics I used, in two separate bags. The bag pattern isn't released yet, so I won't post exactly what I came up with. But I will show you these fabrics and the bag that I pulled together as a sample, made out of Amy Butler Fabric.

I call it the box bag. This pattern will be put in kits with Dainty Blossom fabric and all of the supplies needed to make the bag and sold in stores. So much fun! I love the result.

Also, I was testing a diaper bag and am still testing a changing pack to go in the diaper bag for Joel Dewberry. I can tell you now that the diaper bag he is coming out with is adorable and beautiful and will be available after Spring Market.

Additionally, I made a new Ruffle Duffle as a sample to sell my pattern at Pine Needles in Gardner's Village, here in Utah. Amy Butler's new line, Lark, has appeared on shelves and this is my Ruffle Duffle tribute to Amy. Very cute and oh so wild. I love wild combinations.

So as you can see, I have not forgotten you. Between a husband running for congress and many wonderful opportunities in my sewing world, I had to set the blog aside for a bit. But I am back. Hooray!

The Completed Amy Butler Weekender Bag

Most of what they say is true. This bag is not easy. I have made hundreds of bags and even worked extensively with Peltex, and I found the home stretch of making this bag to be tough. But the result is wonderful!!! The pink fabric is from Joel Dewberry's Heirloom Home Dec fabric. The lining and piping is made out of something cheap but just perfect on sale at Joanne's.

I added an extra long shoulder strap with some hardware to make carrying the bag extra easy.

I tucked the hoop that I connect the strap to, in to the side pocket. I would have to say that the hardest part about making this bag for me was getting all of the layers of fabric within the seam while trying to stitch next to the piping. I about killed myself doing it and then ripping it out and doing it all over again.

I also added a magnetic clasp inside of the outside pocket on one side for some added security. But I should have used a larger clasp because it is a little hard to get it to meet.

The inside is beautiful, but I will for sure add pockets to the inside next time.

My biggest advice is to follow the directions without variation if you want to make this as easy as possible. The biggest problems came when I tried to do things my own way. It was worth the hard work though. And I did have fun for the most part.

Swallow Messenger Bag now available on Etsy!

The Swallow messenger bag is my favorite of the many bags I have come up with so far. It is roomy, comfortable, and full of pockets. This pattern is now available in my shop, on Etsy. Check it out there:

http://www.aprilcobbdesigns.etsy.com/

Time just ticks away each day...

Since you probably haven't met yet, this is my husband, Jay Cobb. Really, he has nothing to do with sewing or crafting or the other things I usually post about on this blog... except that his recent endeavors have taken me away from making new crafts to blog about. I do have a couple of things up my sleeve, which I will tell you about when I get a chance. But I wanted to let you know what Jay has me up to so you understand why my posts are growing more sparse.

Jay has been holding town hall meetings and doing a lot of speaking in public.

Jay is running for US Congress in Utah's new 4th district.  This is a huge undertaking, and I am his right hand woman. I personally called over 125 delegates last week. See why I have no time?

Here is an article that just came out about him:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53086216-90/approach-cobb-district-field.html.csp

This is his website:
www.jaycobbforcongress.com

I promise I won't ignore you forever.

xoxo

Amy Butler Weekender

It seems that so many people are inspired/excited/terrified when it comes to this bag. Everyone seems to want to make it and are scared to do it at the same time. This is why I am going to make it. I am going to make it a few times until I really get it. So I am about 1/2 of the way into the process of making bag number one. I'll keep you posted and let you know how it goes. And then when I get it down and have a few cute bags to show for it, I will let you in on my tips on how you can be inspired and excited and not terrified at all. Hooray. I can't wait to pull it together. Wish me luck!