Blogging For Bliss...Tara Frey

I bought this lovely book a couple of months ago and really appreciate all the wonderful information that Tara is sharing with those of us who love to craft and enjoy sharing their experiences and projects.  I have learned a lot and would hope that some day I'll have one of those beautiful blogs that  many would enjoy following.  I think of myself as still a newbie at blogging and am not real comfortable yet at playing with links, codes and my photography skills are very basic...point and shoot.  But all the same I have fun posting and always look forward to catching a glimpse of what other crafters are blogging about.  I want to continue to have fun with it and so I'm thinking of new ways for me to post.  I'm mean not just posting a photo of a finished project but maybe having a theme every month and taking more ideas are running through my mind and I often wonder why I want to do this.  The answer is and I think it is for most of us bloggers, is that I love to share my love for crafting. 

A bag for Sara

This bag was also made from the scraps of another project.  I added a little yo-yo to the front pocket.  The inside pocket a nice pleated detail.  The straps are store bought.  Now Sara and I have matching bags but in different styles.

Love to make bags from fabric scraps.

I made this bag for my daughter Natika.  I used scraps from another bag project.  I really love the pleated detail and the magnetic snap closure.  The strap is store bought.  I added little ties to the straps that can be removed if desired.  This bag would also look nice in a solid ultra suede of fuax leather.

Love this bag.

I really love this bag.  The big side pockets are a plus. I made an adjustment to the placement of the strap and I think just looks better.  I think I'll make a few more in this style.

Lastest Projects

It's been quite awhile since I've posted anything.  But that doesn't mean that I haven't been crafting.  I took the first 2 weeks of March off from work and enjoyed every single day.  During that time, I got to do alot of sewing and jewelry making.  I made several bags, my own designs.  It's funny, I have a few store bought patterns (Mc Calls, and Simplicity) but could not bring myself to use them.  I think it's more fun to design my own and really, it's really not that difficult.  When my kids were little, I was a stay at home mom.  I made alot of our clothes, #1, it was more afordable and #2, sewing kept me creative.  It 'seams' to me that every time I start a new sewing project I fall in love all over again with fabric and thread.  I love the sound that scissors make when I cut through fabric.

Jewelry making, however is a new hobby for me.  My daughter Sara really got me inspired with this one craft.  I had been buying bits and pieces of jewelry charms, findings, beads and tools for probably the past year.  I felt like I finally had enough to play with.  Well, I had so much fun playing with my collection of goodies that I found it to be addicting.  Now I know why the jewelry supply section at my favorite craft store is always so sparse and well shopped...messy.  The women in my my town are crazy about beads and bobbles. 

I'm sad that I have to go back to work tomorrow...back to the old grind.  I'm a little bit nervous too, feeling like I'm out of the loop and have to catch up all the new processes.  But, I do get alot of my inspiration from work.  I always make sure I check out the scrapbooking asile and well I'm always sure to get my crafting challenges from Jenn, my crafting buddy.  I'm lucky in that every day I go to work, I am surrounded by pretty things.  I love that there are butterflies hanging from the ceiling. 

Well, soon the kids will be moving out and starting their new adverture in adulthood.  I'm glad they won't be moving too far, cause I would miss them too much.  Not looking forward to that empty nest syndrome, again.  On the plus side, I get my craft room back.  Something to look forward to...nesting into my creative space.  IKEA here I come.  I really want to get that room organized and know that I can do it on a budget with all the neat shelving that can be found at IKEA.

I think my next sewing project will be going back to the old days of when I used to make my own clothes.  Summertime clothes are so easy to make.  I have plenty of patterns I just need to head to the fabric store.  The hard part is choosing which fabric.  So many choices....