Cosmetic Bags

With all the excitement of the holidays and traveling downstate in a rush, I forgot to take pictures of the cosmetic cases that I made for my aunt and grandma...so they kindly took pictures and facebooked/emailed them to me. :)

I can't remember where I got the tutorial, but if I find where, I'll update this post.

These were really easy and fun to make, and I learned how to do those special corners!(sadly, i don't know what their real name is....)

Of course, my zippers were too short, and the lining was too big, etc. etc. but it was a fun project! :)

xo, charlotte

A Lovely Combination

Seafood Chowder + Almond Milk = What I did on Christmas Eve Day... :)

Ever heard of almond milk? Well, I'll just say that it's interesting, and then you can make your own conclusions if you think it's a bad interesting or a good interesting.  It was a fun process, though. First you get to blanch the almonds, then wait 8 hours while they sit in water, blend, then squeeze through a cheesecloth. Then you get to try it, and remember that you forgot to add sugar so you have to blend it, and squeeze it again... :)

Also today, there was a little rivalry between two families in a seafood chowder competition, ours and another one (which i won't name because i don't want to ruin their reputation because they lost). I made mine and we had a taste-test which resulted in a tie, so with the tie-breaker.... i won! :)

They were very different chowders though. Their's was had tons of different ingredients and more fishy. Mine had fewer ingredients and was creamier. I personally liked mine better, but I'm kind of biased...

xo, charlotte

Handmade Vera Bradley Wallet Knock-offs

So, I found this amazing, awesome, super-duper fun tutorial to make Vera Bradley-like wallets. (You can find the tutorial here: ThimbleAnna's Blog)

I tweaked the tutorial a little to make them have rounded corners (instead of square) so they'll look more like Vera Bradley's.

I made the first one for my sister for her birthday.

The 2nd one I made for me. :)

And here's the cake I made for her (and her friend's) birthday. I only had one decorating bag left, so i was limited to two colors. they wanted pink and blue, but it looked like baby colors to me, so i changed it to pink and purple. Now it was only girly colors....

xo, charlotte

do. Good stitches {a Charity Bee}

Back in June or July, I was looking at virtual sewing bees and wishing I could be in one. I went to tons of different websites looking for a way to sign up when I finally found it.

do. Good Stitches. 

I signed up on their little document and waited, and waited, and waited, (i admit, i actually signed up again, thinking my first one didn't go through....)  :/   Finally, about 2 months later, they had enough people to start a new group! We were called "Trust" and we were benefiting "My Very Own Blanket".

Ok. Long story, short, We started in September, and have started 3 quilts, one of which is already finished! :) Each person does 2 blocks per month, and there's 10 people. 5 of the people have more commitment than I do, so they get to assemble the quilt top, design a back, and sew together the finished quilt.

Here's my September Blocks:   (Card Trick Design)

And the finished quilt:

October Blocks:     (Greek Cross Design)

And my November Blocks:     (I called it 5 stripes...very creative, i know)









I think I love the November blocks the most. The dark gray and blues look so modern....and legit.... :)

Anyways, if you think that you'd like to do this, you can sign up at the do. Good Stitches homepage on flickr.

xo, charlotte