What's new here?

I cannot believe it has been so long since last posting! Bad, bad, bad! I have been really busy on my ETSY custom orders, and am happy to say that all are completed, other than one or two that we agreed would wait until after the holidays! Yay!

So.... I am taking a couple of weeks to work on family items for Christmas and beyond... the beyond part includes cloth diapers for the newest addition to the family. Baby Idhalia was born on a frozen, snowy winter afternoon in Portland, Ore. Her parents are so proud and happy, as well they ought to be! She is, of course, very beautiful! I will post photos as they are received!

Recently went to Sisters, Oregon for the annual quilt festival. If you haven't seen a whole town covered inside and outside with quilts from all over the country, then you have a real treat in store!!

Sisters is a very small community in the mountains near Bend. I am fortunate to have a friend there who has offered her hospitality and home so that Susan and I could attend the quilt show again this year. Wonderful time!

Camping over July 4th

Camping at Red Mountain Praire, which is within a couple of miles of the trailhead to Vulcan Lake, southwest Oregon. As you can see, the view toward the ocean is a bit hazy with smoke from whatever wildfires are within range.

It is still spring in the mountains, so there are some lovely wildflowers in the meadow.

We pretty much did nothing but absorb the sun, take short walks, and throw the ball for Lola-dog.

On the way down the hill again I took a picture of Snowcamp Mountain, Collier Butte, to Game Peak, which is to the north. The top of the mountain was in a cloud, so couldn't see Snowcamp LO even with binaculars. It is the farthest range in the center of the picture.

You can see in the picture taken near the top of Vulcan Mtn that the undergrowth is coming back nicely, but evidence of the Biscuit Fire remains.

Baby Booties

This pair of booties is made from a combination of fabrics by designer Mary Engelbreit.

Sole is lined with yellow hand dyed felted wool. Upper and heel are lined with a dotted red fabric. Really breit and fun!

ETSY seems to be down right now, but when it is back up, I will be listing these little cuties!

********** NEW*************

Just wanted to tell you about the new booties I am making! The booties are inspired by the classic ones we see everywhere, but my version is narrower to better fit the newborn foot. This first pair shows off a sweet rosebud cotton, and has oilcloth monkeys on the toe. The sole and upper is lined with hand dyed felted wool for cosy toes!

I have lots of fun fabrics to mix and match and will be listing them on ETSY as they are completed.

Boho Chic Small Clutch / Pouch

This is a new design. Small enough to lay on the top of the table on a night out, but large enough to hold all of the necessities.

I made a mid-size bagg in the same fabric that has been very well received. One currently resides in Bend, OR; and another was sent to Seattle this past week. Each is different due to placement of pattern on the fabric to capture a specific section of the pattern. I love the colors and the weave. Very 1960's.................

Camping in mid-June

Dry camping at the trailhead to Windy Valley Trail this past weekend; many wildflowers are in bloom. This nootka (sic) rose has only two blooms, but tons of buds ready to open!

This week activity

Donation for Congressman Mike Thompson fund raiser... silent auction. ... to be held in Del Norte County, CA this coming weekend.

The bagg can also be seen on my ETSY site.

Follow-up note: The bag was won by Katherine M. and she loves it!

Another Camping Trip!!

This is how we like to go camping! Hook up the little Casita (16") and go! We haven't left the yard yet; do you think the Barbie jeep will pull this thing? Sure makes the Casita look like one of the "Big Guys"!

So, here we are, doing what we like to do while camping... sitting in the sun, or shade if it is really warm. On this trip we didn't go far. Panther Flat campground near Gasquet, CA. The weather was in the 90's. The Casita held the heat like you couldn't believe!

We did very little actual cooking, so the cleanup, which I did at the picnic table, was minimal as well.

Lola the dog loves to go camping! She played all day with her ball, and we took several trips down to the river to let her get soaked to cool off!

Little Duckling swimming on rickrack water..... and little duckling Bubble Bottom pants made from wonderful flannel!

Both can be seen at my etsy site:

http://www.ssmartraggs.etsy.com

I used the softest minky fabric for the duck applique, and both wide and medium rickrack for the water. The duckling has moveable button eye. Very Cute!

Christmas Ornaments

This pair of ornaments is made using green ticking with oilcloth monkeys appliqued. Rickrack, vintage buttons and a jingle bell complete the picture. I am thinking that they will be fun for little guys who will also be wearing monkey shirts!

On these Victorian Ornaments I used some of my antique lace from the early 1900s. Vintage buttons in turquoise set off the damask-like taffeta. The applique is on decorator cotton printed in a blue ticking pattern. Note the jingle bell at the point of the toe!

Coasters!

I'm spending time today reworking my photos for my ETSY listings. I have taken so many and they are not well organized! I spend alot of time searching when I go to post a listing.

I have recently made some coasters to list.... they're easy and lots of fun! I use a squarish glass candle holder for the pattern. It isn't a perfect square, so the coasters have a quirky look that I like. I fussy cut the top fabric to highlight a flower or pattern, then layer the individual tops onto a sheet consisting of the bottom and the batting. After sewing, I cut them out, turn them, and give them two rounds of topstitching and some freeform quilting! Done! Since I preshrink my fabrics they are machine washable, warm... but lay them flat to dry.

Camping at Humboldt Spring; way up the Chetco River, Oregon

Lola is in heaven camping! We all stay outside and play with her all day!

Wild flowers.

While I work a sudoko puzzle and read, Frank makes the morning coffee. It doesn't get better than that!

Yes, that is a tennis ball in Lola's mouth! She has the uncanny ability to keep track of them in the woods, even though it has gotten disgustingly dirty! She loves to fetch!

Blue Linenweave Grapevine Bagg

When I was making this bagg I wanted it to be more substancial than some others. I achieved this by using iron-on quilt batting and then freeform quilted both the front and back. It is a medium sized bagg with the following dimensions:

top width: 10"

bottom width: 11 1/2"

heigth: 9 1/2"

strap length from the top of the bagg is 37"

The second photo shows the inside, which is lined with navy blue coated nylon. You can see the huge front zip pocket, and there is one inside as well! Note the details: braided trim on web strap, with D-rings at both ends. I used two vintage buttons stitched together in the hemp macrame zipper pull and woven & fringed trim across the top of the bag.

This is a bag to wear with denim.... very relaxed and casual.

See more pictures at my etsy store:

http://www.ssmartraggs.etsy.com

Yesterday I made a pattern for a clutch purse that I call "Borsetta" because it is inspired by a vintage Italian clutch.

The Italian clutch was made with a zip top, no pockets... just a place to keep your stuff! I kept the zip top, but couldn't resist adding a pocket to the inside. I like a little pocket for business cards or cash.

I kept the diagnal pleats on the bag front. They give the bagg a certain panache, don' t you think?

Overall dimensions are:

top width: 12"

bottom width: 13"

height: 9 1/2"

For this bagg I used a softly patterned rusty brown mock suede fabric and added a top border of tapestry with acorns and pine cones. The lining is brown decorator cotton. I am listing it on my ETSY store today.

See it at : http://ssmartraggs.etsy.com

Spring Tapestry Tote

This tote is a lovely spring floral. I had fun with the golden flower. I cut a duplicate flower and used it as a pocket on the front. The edges are frayed and I used Balger #16 braid in three colors to highlight the colors in the flower. Then I beaded the center.

The bagg is fully lined with a rose striped taffeta and has large pockets inside. One zips. I also added loops inside for attaching small items, and a spring clip.

Strap is a cross-body style.

If I were to give this bagg another name, I would call it Linda. You can see other images at my ETSY shop.

Coral Ruffle Scarf

It feels like spring! No rain today, and although a sweater is needed, the scarf need not be wool!

I made this scarf from a cotton/poly blend. It is a pointel knit and stretchy, which is why I can ruffle the edges. See more images in my ETSY shop!

Tapestry Bagg

I made this bagg to test my new pattern. It looks like a basic rectangle, but it is subtly shaped to be wider at the bottom; it is made with a complimentary fabric "wing" at the bottom sides.

The bagg is fully lined and has interior pockets, one of which zips.

Bagg is open at the top.

Today I wanted to work out a design for a new bagg. Instead, I cut out 7 new baggs... guess I will be busy tomorrow!! Same basic pattern, but some really nice fabrics! Wait till you see them!

Munchkin Costumes

Wheewh!
I finished the 4 little costumes for the munchkins yesterday. I will post a picture of them later. I can't imagine how uncomfortable the little munchkins will be in them! They are made of felt; pretty heavy, and will be worn over turtleneck tops and tights. They have a back zipper.... think about 30 seven year olds (and under) running around backstage trying to find someone to help them get out of the costume so they can go to the bathroom!! Glad I won't be there!

This is more confusing than I expected. I have done something wrong in setting up the blog because I can't find it from google.... needs more work.

Blog Startup

Today I am setting up my blog. I will be using it to promote my online store at ETSY.com. See my shop at http://ssmartraggs.etsy.com

Later in the day I will be lighting a fire in the little jotul in my sewing studio, putting on a pot of tea, and getting to work on 4 little munchkin costumes for the local production of "The Wizard of Oz"....