Around Here Lately

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Life has been hectic lately with the upcoming Disney trip. I had originally planned on making a Studio Cherie duffel bag to take as a carry on (I even bought the pattern) but that didn't end up happening. I did make a few more Smash Book Fanny Packs for the shop though!



My sweet hubby got me the new Nikon CoolPix S9300 and it is amazing! I didn't want to haul around my enormous DSLR while walking around Disney World so I really had my heart set on this smaller model. Even though I couldn't get it in pink, I thought it'd be a great opportunity to have my husband actually pick up the camera and take a picture of ME for once. Always behind the lens... never in the pictures! As I predicted, he feels more comfortable with this one. I made a camera wristlet using an old Keyka Lou pattern and some Sleeping Beauty fabric by Heather Ross. I also made a matching Jane Market Tote for souvenirs.



I made a new iPad sleeve with one of my favorite Echino prints, using Amber's awesome tutorial.

And I was also dying to use these brass zippers that I got a couple of weeks ago from Zip It on Etsy. I made this quick padded zippy using another Heather Ross print to carry my camera accessories.




I read EIGHT books within the month of August, which explains my lack of presence in Blog Land, including The Darkest Powers series (great reads!!), The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (sooo good!) and the two Divergent books that are out. If you haven't read these books, I definitely recommend them if you're into dystopic literature like The Hunger Games and Unwind. They are amazing books!

I'll be back very soon with a blog facelift (yay!!) and a Halloween Swap Sign Up before I leave to Florida! Have a great long weekend and Happy Labor Day!

Tote & Book Swap Sent: Pt. 2

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My second partner Holly received her goodies a couple of days ago so now I can share more pictures from the Tote & Book Swap. After looking through Holly's Pinterest boards, I knew I wanted to use quilt blocks like I did with Tara's tote. With this tote, I started off with these colorful blocks using HSTs in contrasting dark and light fabrics to create a diamond shape.



Then I added 3 inches of Essex linen in Natural to the bottom to make it into more of a rectangular shape. The tote is huge and durable, perfect for family trips to the library. The book I sent is a timeless classic, Pride & Prejudice. It's one of my favorite books! I am totally in love with Mr. Darcy.



I also sent her some other goodies like washi tape, a stamp/ink pad, and a really cute notebook. I've already received Holly's package and I'll be sharing what I received from her and from Tara very soon! You can follow along on Instagram (@greenletterday) to see more daily photos. Have a great week!

Tote & Book Swap Sent- Pt. 1

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I organized a swap this month with a tote and book theme and, as we had an odd amount of people sign up, I got two partners. I dedicated the first part of the month to Tara. I stalked her Flickr favorites to get an understanding of what she liked and settled on a plus block pattern.


I like the idea of using quilt blocks for totes. It's like hauling a mini quilt around- it just looks comforting. Tara expressed that she liked citrus-y colors like yellow, orange and lime. I pulled out some bright fabrics in those colors and added some pink and turquoise, as well as some text prints, to ensure that no two prints of the same color were ever touching. I used this technique for the piecing, which is absolutely brilliant! Made my job a lot easier and the final result was perfection.


I also made her a little pencil pouch with the leftover cuts and threw in some goodies like highlighters, stamps, ink pad and some adorable washi tape. The book I sent was book one (City of Bones) from one of my favorite series, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. From what I knew about the books Tara had read, I knew she would enjoy this one. They are casting for the movie right now and it will be out next year. I'm so excited!



Cassandra Clare also has another series, also about Shadowhunters, called The Infernal Devices. This series is set in Victorian London and I just fell in love with it. I really recommend both series. If you liked Twilight and The Hunger Games, you'll love these books!


I have finished the tote for my second partner and it is going in the mail first thing tomorrow. As soon as she receives it, I will be sharing pictures with you!

On a side note- I hit 700 followers today! Yay!! I think a giveway is in order. What would you like to have a chance at winning??

Spool Bookcase (Tutorial)

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I'm pretty sure most of my spending money goes towards books and fabric. I have more books than I know what to do with and probably ten more books on the way from Barnes & Noble as I'm typing out this post. What do I do? Get rid of some? Nonsense! Make room for more!! This bookcase was inspired by this lovely pin that I stumbled upon a few months ago. My hubby has a bunch of these fabulous spools at work and I made him bring me one this week so I could make this beauty!


Here is what you'll need to make your own:
- A small cable spool
- Wooden dowels
- 3 to 4 casters (swivel wheels)
- Molding glue
- Saw
- Measuring Tape
- Paint
- Drill and screws


I've been asked where you can find these types of spools. They come in a variety of sizes, this being the smallest one. Mine measured a little over 1 foot. These types of spools or reels are used for cable or electrical wire so you might want to check your local Home Depot or ask your electrician if they have any they're throwing out. My husband works in the oil field and they are everywhere so it's easy for me to get my hands on one.

To get started, you'll need to paint your spool and your dowels. I used a white Behr paint with the primer already mixed into it. I tried covering up one side of the table using four coats and did not like the result. The flaws stood out a lot more (and not in a good way). I painted the other side with only two light coats and loved it. It has a beautiful vintage and worn look.


After it dries, turn it upside down and position your caskets where you want them. This picture shows three wheels but I ended up using four so it wouldn't topple over. Just drill them into place.


Next, measure the gap between the top and the bottom of the table. This will be the size your wooden dowels should be. Using the saw, cut about 5-6 dowels.


Using molding glue, position and place the dowels around the table about a foot apart and hold in place while they dry. If you cut them down to the perfect size, you don't even need to hold them. They should just stand on their own.


Now fill it with books and admire your new bookcase!! It's not too fancy, but it's cozy and it makes me smile. Enjoy!




**If you have used any tutorials by Pink Stitches, please post your pictures on the Pink Stitches Flickr Group! I'd love to see your beautiful creations and feature some of my favorite projects!**

Tote & Book Swap Sign Up

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**Sign up is now closed**
It's time for another swap!! This swap idea was given to me by Meig during my birthday giveaway. I asked that you tell me your favorite book or suggest a good read. I'm amazed at how many of you love to read as much as I do. So here it is, the Tote & Book Swap.


For this swap, you will be responsible for sending a handmade tote and a book to your swap partner (extra goodies are always welcome!!). Doesn't matter how big the tote is or what method you use to make it, as long as it can hold some books. I recommend you start up a Pinterest board to share your likes with your partner.

If you're interested in signing up, email me at greenletterday (at) yahoo (dot) com with the subject: Tote & Book Swap. Include your name, address, email address and blog link, if applicable. Keep in mind that the package you send out might be a little heavy depending on what book you send out so please let me know if you're open to ship internationally. I'll leave the sign up open until next Saturday (June 30th) and then assign partners the following day. Looking forward to hearing from you!

QAYG Library Tote

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I recently heard of a quilting method called "Quilt As You Go". I had never heard of it before and all of a sudden, I was seeing it everywhere. I thought it would be a cool way to try and make a tote bag.






I think you know me enough by now to know that I LOVE BOOKS! I wanted a cute book bag to take to the library or bookstore with me- with enough room to fit a ton of books. I think this bag is perfect for that. I used the same dimensions as my square patchwork tote (15" by 15") but instead of a 3" gusset, I used 3.5" on this one. I love that the QAYG technique allowed me to quilt in different directions. It was a fun way to quilt the log cabin on the front.

My sister also asked me to make her a lunch sack for school this week. She liked the drawstring bag I made using Jeni's pattern (project size) so I made her this one using some of my favorite fabrics- Flea Market Fancy, A Walk In the Woods and Scratchy Scribble.


Before I sign off, would anybody be interested in making me a new header for my blog? And maybe some buttons?? I'm kinda bored with mine and I think the blog needs a new look. I don't have a big budget for design work right now but I'd love to pay you in goodies! Email me if you're up for the job: greenletterday at yahoo dot com. Have a great week!

Crocheted Flower Hot Pads

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Lately, I haven't really been wanting to sit in front of my sewing table for more than an hour. I decided it was time to dust off my crochet hooks and try to make some of these. When I first saw these months ago, I was too scared to try them because they looked so complicated. But, they could not be easier to make!



It felt good to get back into crocheting. I hadn't made anything since this market tote. Crocheting is just as soothing as sewing, except you can take it anywhere with you. Yesterday, I sat down on my living room couch and watched a Reba marathon while I made a bunch of these flowers.



I also wanted to share this little treasure with you. I've always kept a journal since I was in elementary school but having a baby has made it a little difficult for me to keep up with one. This journal is called One Line A Day- A Five Year Memory Book and it allows you only a few lines to write in each day. For example, one page with hold everything you wrote on the 17th of May for five years. So easy to keep up with and it's interesting to see what you were doing a year ago today.





I got it online at Barnes & Noble but I've also seen it on Amazon.com, if you're interested.

I've assigned partners to the Swap this morning so please check your emails if you signed up and gave me all your info this week. If you didn't receive any notice from me, it's because I couldn't find a way to get in contact with you. I checked profiles and there were no blog links or email addresses visible. So sorry! But don't worry, I will be holding another swap closer to fall so next time please include you email address in your comment if it is not on your profile! Thanks to everyone who showed interest. I know it'll be a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what you all create!

Linking up here.

Just Call Me Katniss

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Hi friends! Just wanted to drop by and let you all know that I'm still here, alive and well! I apologize for not returning emails or replying to your lovely comments but I promise you, they have not gone unnoticed.

This past week, I have been alternating back and forth between being a 27 year old wife and mom on vacation to being a 17 year old girl stuck in a love triangle and experiencing the adventure of a lifetime. So, as you can see, blogging has been a bit impossible for me.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm referring to "The Hunger Games". Yep, I have been sucked into the madness!



I think I broke my own reading record with this series. I read the first book in 24 hours and finished the other two within four days. I could not put it down! Even after I'd forced myself to put the book away at night, I'd lie awake in bed thinking about it! Needless to say, there were several precious hours of sleep lost this past week but all worth it. I was sad when I came to the last page and realized that it was all over and I wouldn't be able to escape into the world of Panem anymore. BUT!!! I cheered up a little when I found out there is a movie in the making and the release date will be March 23, 2012. So, if you have not read these books yet and you enjoy an occasional dose of teen fiction, you must read them!

Besides reading, my vacation was a lot of fun. I didn't get to take a lot of pictures because I kept forgetting to take out my camera (I would take out my book instead) but I did manage to get a few shots of AJ on the beach right before sunset.







Ah yes, that's my sexy little stud. Hope you guys enjoy the rest of your week!

New Books!

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I found these great book at Barnes & Noble last week when I went to Corpus Christi (Can you believe there is no book store where I live?? Absurd!) I really wish I could've been able to buy a hundred books, there were so many I liked! In the end, I settled for "Sew Liberated" and "Weekend Sewing". Both books have great projects that I am dying to try.



This is definitely high on my list. I just recently got a new camera and have been hauling it around with no case! My hubby wanted me to get one right away but I insisted on making one. I didn't want to carry my beautiful camera in an ugly black case! Buuuut, I haven't gotten around to making one yet... and I'm dreading hearing the words "I told you so". I really need to make this case!

There are a ton of other things in these books from clothing to home decor to (my favorite) BAGS! I must admit, making handbags (& wallets, pouches, etc.) was one of the main reasons I took on sewing. That and baby clothes, ofcourse :)

On a side note, I think I finally fixed the problem I had with "following" and "followers" on my blog. I'm able to follow under my Blog profile now, pic and all. I think I also fixed the comment glitch. You should be able to comment now despite your cookie settings or whatever the case may be. I am so happy to be meeting new people in this great blogging community. I've been able to be inspired and make friends all at the same time! I love sharing ideas and getting new ones. There is just so much out there. I have about a million projects that I want to try and that list only gets longer everyday! Thanks to everyone who has supported me, followed me, and befriended me thus far!!! It means sooooo soo much to me :)

Book Review: Water for Elephants

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I think enough can be said with the simple fact that I finished the book in two days! I love books where I can escape into another world when I open the pages. And this was definitely one of them. The days of the train circus... it must've been incredible growing up in that era.

"Water for Elephants" was so intriguing. It's about a 23-year old boy who, due to a family tragedy, is left with nothing and is unable to take his final exams in his final year of veterinary school. He runs away, ends up on a circus train and is put in charge of caring for the animals. He meets Marlena, the beautiful equestrian and Rosie, the elephant. That summer changes his life forever. It kind of reminds me of "The Notebook" or "Titanic" because it's the old man, looking back and remembering his life when he was a young man working in the circus. The story is magical. It had just about everything you crave in a book: romance, action, tragedy, and unlikely events. The New York Times Book Review called it "An enchanting escapist fairy tale." Parade said "Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets." I couldn't agree more. This book is definitely not for young teens, though. Very rated R, and very graphic. I could have wished for a little bit more romance, but in the end, I don't even notice because I'm so captivated by everything else.

I especially liked the author's notes at the end of the book, telling about her research and true events that she linked into her story. She also included real black and white photos from circuses in the 1920's and 30's. Immediately after reading this book, I was on wikipedia and other websites doing a little research myself. It is all so incredibly interesting!

I'm so glad I read the book before the movie comes out. I love picturing the story myself without the influence of anything else in my mind. The movie, featuring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon, will be out in theatres on April 22, 2011 and I can't wait to see it!!



*SWOON* Watch it! You'll fall in loooove!!

A Disney Princess & A 1930's Circus

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It's been awhile since I've found a really good book to read. I usually tend to read Victorian time pieces or memoirs. But last year, I made a promise to myself that I would read more books from Bestseller's Lists and Oprah's Book Club. I've been hearing a lot of good things about "Water for Elephants" and there is a movie coming out this year. In a couple of months, I think. I'm not gonna lie, the fact that Robert Pattinson is in it did lure me in. But I got familiar with the story line and it just sounds so romantic and really interesting, considering it takes place in a 1930's circus. I'm about to dive into it while I enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee (in my Ariel mug!) I will post a book review when I finish the book :)



And yes, I sprung for the one with Robert Pattinson on the cover! I can't help it, it's Edward Cullen! Have a great day everyone :)