Letting the cat out of the bag - err, making a bag that looks like a cat....

Open up and say, "ahhhh"

Here is 1 of the 2 gifts I actually made. This guy was a Christmas gift for my niece. He measures about 15" tall x 12" wide and I put a 2" wide oval on the bottom to give the bag a little depth. It was a lot of fun to make and I think he may have some friends that turn up at the farm market this summer.

Merry Christmas!

Is it lame to repost something, even if it was over a year since I posted this video?

I was on my way to pick up my last gift (a food item, so I wanted it as fresh as possible) and I heard this song and I couldn't help but smile.

Enjoy...

I got purses - people...

I finally sewed the buttons on the bags above so they are DONE :)

I then went on to make a batch of Lazy Day Totes which I actually finished instead of leaving one little detail hanging out there for 3 weeks until 1 hour before I need them.

I will be bringing the whole lot of them (except for the couple that have already found homes) to Jennifer Bellin's Message Open House on Saturday 12/11.

Updates or should I say outdates...

Okay, so I have been meaning to post this for the last week, but anyway on Thanksgiving I met up with some friends to take part in the Oshkosh, WI Festival Foods Turkey Trot. in my case it was more of a Turkey Stroll, but I finished (not the very last) the 5 mile route!

If you notice my Etsy page is a little lighter, earlier in the week I brought some mittens, wallets, mini wallets, hairpins and coffee sleeves to 192 Main which is an eclectic gallery located at (drumroll please) 192 Main Street, Menasha, WI.

I also finally finished my larger version of the Double Flap Snap (still a working title, but why change now) bags, although I have not had the chance to take photos of them. I started a small batch of Lazy Day Totes which I am really excited about. I got some new fabrics and I am looooving the the color combos. Once those are done I have a few Christmas gifts to work on, I would tell you what they are, but I don't want to spoil any surprises :)

I made some mittens, then some more...

This past week I made a bunch of mittens with matching scarves for the Sigma Holiday House that was on Saturday. Thankfully they went over really well (I prayed that I would sell at least one pair after drowning in fleece all week).

They wouldn't have taken so long, but I had to assume that the majority of my customers have two hands, thus creating twice the work.

Martinis, Mittens & a Magazine Mention

On Saturday we had our annual "Ladies Night" that started with a Hibachi style dinner at Nakashimas in Appleton and ended up the St. James for martinis (my favorite is the Cloud 9).

Ladies night was a nice reprieve from the "mitten-palooza" I have been working on for my Christmas show this week. The brown fleece has little gnomes on it and they are sooooo cute!

This month's copy of Wisconsin Trails magazine gave me a mention. That wristlet next to the number 5 was made by yours truly.

All in all, I would say it's been a pretty productive week...

A New Design

A request for a bag gave me an excuse to try out a new design. It is not named, nor did I even give it a working title. I gave that responsibility to it's new owner as she is the first to receive this style of bag.

This little number measures 9" tall x 10" wide x 2" deep. It has about a 20" strap and a split pocket as well as a zippered pocket on the inside. It is kept closed with a magnetic snap at the top.

Speaking of getting things done, check out these samplings of mini wallets and wallets I finally finished up (a selection will be available in my Etsy shop)...

I am "Truly" Excited...

There is a sweet little shop in Bear Lake, MN where you can find all sorts of wonderful handmade items and in a few days you will be able to find items made by my hands too!

If you are in that area, be sure to stop at Truly..., 2175 4th St, White Bear Lake, MN

Where's the Party?

I don't know which part I like better, the dog joining the Macarena, or the dude checking out the Snuggie centerfold - woo wooo (my attempt at spelling the noise made by a cat-call whistle).

Let's Get It Started! (But Not Finished)

This is my latest set of bags, a larger version of the "Double Flap Snap". There were 6, but I actually finished one because it was a custom order. The remainder of them need straps & buttons sewn on (I will admit they were taped on for the photos) and threads clipped, which I will get to... eventually.

Brewsky Power!

On Friday night my husband and I joined a couple of friends for Brew Fest, a beer tasting in Neenah, WI. It is a charity event for St. Gabriel's PTO and this year they planned on putting the money towards automating the school library.

All I have to say is - if it's for the children, I'll drink to that :)

Giddy-up!

Some of the other riders that were there on Saturday (not my family)

This was my view - Sadie, a very nice, but pokey horse

On Saturday I took my nieces horseback riding at Blue Haven Stables for their birthdays. Now that they are a little older, I try to do birthday activities rather than gifts. I don't get to see them that often, so it gives me an excuse to spend time with them.

Across the Pond

Earlier in the summer I had a wholesale order for some of my cute / sassy wallets that were to be sold at the Julie Sion Boutique in Paris that would be opening this fall.

I shipped them out and never heard back from the customer. The other day I was looking at her blog and she had a post about the opening of her new boutique (I think - I don't speak a word of French, but that I gathered from the photos). If you look on the right side of the little table on the left you can see my wallets :)

Pumpkins...

It is amazing how much a candle can enhance the look of a scribbled on and butchered pumpkin.

In preparation for Halloween I got together with a friend for our 4th annual pumpkin carving. It was a lovely day, so we were able to keep the mess outside.

darn knit {anyway}

I would like to thank the fabulous ladies of darn knit {anyway} for featuring me in their "Meet the Artist" section on their website.

I recently sent them some new items including coffee sleeves, magnets and the cutest little hairpins. If you are in the Stillwater, MN area, stop in and take a look.

I am so there

Last week my husband and I made our way to Ann Arbor, MI for his cousin's wedding. We made a quick stop in Madison to drop some of my items off at Anthology located at 218 State Street. It is an adorable shop filled to the gills with a variety of handmade items from several artists, and I am pleased to be one of them.

New Items for the Shop (Etsy that is)

I just finished two custom "Becky" style bags and it was on to some new stuff for my Etsy shop...

Patchwork magnets - sweet treats, dragonflies and odd little ducks.

Coffee / hot beverage sleeves make your drink a little hotter (visually) while keeping your hands a little cooler.