I *heart* Halloween

I wish it was Halloween season all year long... especially after completing these projects. I hate to have to them away after October is gone...

First up is an apron. Nothing too exciting. I've just always wanted to try and sew one. I just bought the fabric and followed the instructions. Its's a Debbie Mumm design, I believe.

The ever necessary action shot...




The first pocket:


The second pocket:



A Halloween purse for ME:


I love this purse! I wanted to use candy corn beads for the handle but couldn't find them ANYWHERE. So I'll have to amek those out of Fimo clay when I get the chance. These handles will tide me over for this season though.


An inside look at the lining and at the snap:


Next is a tote bag that wasn't supposed to be a tote bag. It was supposed to be a purse. It came out HUGE. Oh well. Its got a flat bottom, a zipper, and I'm in love with the fabric. I use it haul all my stuff for work to and from. It works fantastic! I've loaded it with so many papers but thanks to the 20lb fishing wire and crimping beads this baby can handle the load!


The handles. Honestly, I had a REALLY difficult time coming up with handles for this bag that I liked.




The lining:


Both fabrics used is the tote above were part of those fabric quilters bundles you get from JoAnn Fabrics for about $10.00 a bundle. I had to buy two bundles to have matching fabric and now I have all this extra left over Halloween fabric that I can't wait to use.

The above purse was, also, another experiment to try and make the inside seams, seamless. It worked but the top part near the zipper is all cruddy. I'd rather just have seems on the inside of the bag. BUT, I love this one, all the same!

And finally, not Halloween, but throwing it in here before I forget about it:


I followed a pattern (Simplicity 2830) to make the smallest tote bag in the world. Man, this thing is SMALL. I bought the pattern to learn how to make flat bottomed purses. The pattern came with two sizzes (the above one is the BIG one). It barely holds one of those Banquet frozen meals in it, it is so small. BUT, I still use it to carry my lunch to and from work. It works.

Sarah Jane Productions Introduction

I wanted to call my little etsy shop Sarah Jane Designs but that was taken, as was Sarah Jane Originals so I'm going with this. Not too shabby.

I'm opening up my shop with these two purses:

Candy Stripper is what I'm calling this one... and I'm in LOVE. I really, really, don't want to part with this one.


The ribbons weaved together are yes, Christmas, ribbons. The handles are made from crimping beads, 20lb fishing wire, and beads. The handles old up great with a lot of extra weight!


A close-up of the handle and how its secured to the purse.


This purse has snaps.


The purse is made from wired ribbon and is stiffed so it will stand up straight and not flop all over the place.

The second I call Peppermint, Peppermint. This purse was actually an experiment of using ribbons of different sizes.


Up close and personal with the handle and wired ribbon:


And finally, the snap and the lining...


The above purse is also stiffened.

Now I just need to do all the business aspects and get these puppies out of here. I'll be doign all that over fall break next week (Yippie!)

Whew... Long time no blog

Although, I have been crafting! Sort of. School has kept me going here and there and everywhere. I have parent teacher conferences next week (all week) and then I'm off for a week, so maybe I'll get some crafting done!

First up are some old, old projects that I did way back when I was first learning how to knit. I was going to wait to psot these until they had their counterparts done, but they've been sitting my "take pictures" pile so long I got sick of it.

The first up is a pink and white hat & scarf set made from knitting looms (the missing counterpart is mittens)





The second is an orange/yellow/red fingerless mitt and scarf set (the missing counterpart is the hat). I'm still learning how to circular knit with needles, yes its not that hard, but I have a small head.





I just LOVE this yarn!

Halloween Charm Bracelet

I bought the beads and the charms from JoAnn fabrics. They had more Christmas stuff :( than Halloween stuff but I worked with what they had... and I LOVE it.