Hair Tie Bling

I saw this idea in a magazine. Giving a boring hair tie some zing seemed like a good idea. Scrunchies are definately out of style though I still use them around the house. This is the modern step to scrunchies, I guess. Whenever I make something I have to use it to see if it works, is usable, and holds up to wear and tear so I haven't posted this on the shop yet. I decided to give it a try this week, make sure it doesn't catch in the hair, etc. I like it. I might have to make some more and post them. It didn't catch in my hair at all, which was my main concern. The only problem I have encountered so far is that the second time I used it the beads went to the bottom but that's a simple enough fix, just a matter of holding the beads in place when wrapping the tie or sliding the beads up to the top once the tie is on.

I Love Bags

I do love bags. It seems like there could be a bag for every need. Just some examples, a bag for my iPod and charger, monthly supplies, passport, and coin purse. The bigger red tapestry bag holds my iPod (which is in a leather-lined Altoids tin with the ear buds) with my portable charger. The charger is even in a leather bag inside the tapestry bag. Keeps my big daily work tote all nice and neat and organized. The brown bag with little dainty embroidered flowers is just the right size for carrying supplies for monthly needs. When not in use for that it doubles as a cosmetic bag. It's just the right size. The reason it does double duty is that I don't use cosmetics daily. If I did, I'd just devote another bag to cosmetics. The green leather is just the perfect size for a passport. It's handy. No digging when approaching the security desk. The black faux leather coin purse is what I use for coins and little bills in my purse. If there's a need I can think of another new bag to fill it. Sometimes I make a bag that sings to me and I must keep it so I have to think up a task for it. The only drawback is that they last and last and last and last and I like them so much that I hang onto them. I love bags.

Lots of Color

The colors are so fun and eye catching. What a wonderful burst of color in the middle of a gray winter.

Super Fun Fleece Mittens

Let there be color! These mittens were so fun to make. I tried all sorts of color combinations and it seemed there wasn't a wrong decision that could be made.

I took a basic mitten pattern and had to adjust the length a bit. Mittens still wanted to run small when making them with fleece though the same pattern was just the right size with wool.

Start with any basic pattern, lower front, upper front, back, and cuff. Use a different color for every piece or use the same for all or make the front two pieces the same and the back piece different. I mostly used solid colors for the front pieces but you can use any combination. The lining is the same pattern minus the cuff piece. I found some super soft fleece that made slipping your hand into the mitten almost as wonderful as if it was a fur. Slip the lining inside before sewing on the cuff. I started out sewing the cuff onto both lining and outside at same time and hand sewing the other side of the cuff, then ran across instructions for making the wool mittens with the cuff sewn onto the lining and just attached to the front with the button. Worked well for the fleece as well.