Scraps of Delight!!

Lately I have been exploring various avenues of craftiness.  Here is a boring old vase that I jazzed up with some decorative scraps and rhinestones!!

I need your help!! Please VOTE in my poll to the right----->>

I am starting to hunt down more and more old lamps to refurbish.  As a result I want to figure out a name to call them.  I am kind of stuck on using "patches" somehow because my most popular lamp style is the one with all the patched fabric as seen below.  I listed four possible names in the poll to the right. PLEASE VOTE or leave a comment with any name suggestions!  My creative naming skills have gone out the window!!  Thanks!!

Homemade Tent!

My husband and I decided to make a tent for the back of our truck!  We initially were looking online for pre-made tents but quickly realized that we could make a tent for cheaper than buying one.  Growing up my mom always lived by the code of "Why buy it, if you can make it for cheaper!" (guess that explains a lot about my craftiness).  So here is our tent!

It helps that my husband is an engineer and I am a seamstress!  We have yet to take it out in the wild but are excited for it to warm up so we can try it!

Nursing Cover for Toni

One of my good friends just had a baby a couple of months ago.  Her little baby is so adorable and sweet.  He is one of those babies that is so cute that you can't help but be baby hungry!  Anyways, she asked me to make her this nursing cover.  It is big enough to cover everything up and also has a towel pocket on the backside.

Spotlight Bucket- A random craft project

I work with the Young Women in my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and 2 times a month we spotlight a different girl.  The Spotlight Bucket holds many different treasures and when a girl is spotlighted she gets to take the bucket home for the week.  She can pick one item out of the bucket to keep and replace the item she takes with something else that she has.  That way the bucket's contents are always changing.  The girls seem to like it so far!

Materials used:
plastic ice cream bucket
scraps of fabric
ribbon
gems
fake gerber daisy
decoupage
hot glue gun

I basically used my imagination and went to work.  It was a simple yet very fun project!!

Newport with Zipper

I have a good friend who requested a Newport style bag with a zipper.  Up until this point I had never done this so it was quite fun brainstorming how to make it work.  Here are the results!

Christmas Surprises

My husband and I just got back from our trip to Florida to visit his parents.  We had a great time and enjoyed hanging out with the family!  Now that I am back (and even while I was away), I kept thinking about some of the bags I made that were meant as Christmas presents.  I didn't want to post any pictures of them until after the holiday, (I would hate to be the spoiler of surprises), so here they are!

Purple Dreamsicle - Medium Newport

 Kelso Brown and Blue - Medium Standard Bag

 Ultimate Diaper Bag Set: Large Diaper bag, Dwipee, Nursing Cover

 Flower Stork Bag

 Small Pouch

Summer Lovin' - Large Pouch

 Pink Gerber Daisy - Large Pouch

Crazy Blue Fun Stork Bag

Pink Zebra Mini Bag 

 Kaleidoscope Brown and Blue - Medium Newport

Blue Zebra - Medium Standard Bag & Matching Medium Pouch

I hope the recipients of these products enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them!  

Christmas Past

Christmas time always brings memories of past holiday seasons.  I am the youngest of 7 children and as a result, my memories of past Christmas's are always full of hustle and bustle.  There are now 17 nieces and nephews that make the holidays full of laughter and fun, not to mention that my family has be compared to the Von Trap family from the Sound of Music.  Now this isn't because we are wonderful singers, because believe me, we aren't.  It is mainly due to the fact that when we all get together, we often break out into song coupled with some silly humor and it makes for quite an entertaining evening.  Some of the most fond memories I have around the holiday season are just staying up late with my siblings talking and laughing.  I also remember waking up early to see the stockings filled under the Christmas tree.  There is a serene peace associated with that beautiful scene!  I also cherish all the Christmas Eve's we spent at the Moffat's singing Christmas Carols as well as the Nativity story/ tradition we began with the grandchildren.  Christmas with all its beauty is a great time to bring families together and to remind us of Christ! 

This Christmas is a time for me to make new traditions, or at least join in another families traditions, as I have the opportunity to go to Florida to visit my in-laws.  I am very excited to see my husband's family as they bring another side of fun to the holiday's.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Bag Tribute.... Last year around this time, I made my very first Newport bag.  This has become one of my top-selling items and this particular bag has served me well throughout this past year.  There is something special about the first bag I make of any style. I like to keep them because they are usually imperfect and it reminds me of how there is always room for improvement!  I remember when I was first learning to sew and I messed up on something my mom told me, "its ok, it gives it character".  Even though I still strive for perfection in everything I do, I still remember her words and it makes me love my little flaws in the first bags I ever made!  :)

Camera on the fritz and Zebra Collection

These last few weeks have been pretty insane!  I finished my finals for the two classes I was taking. Due to working 40+ hours a week and running my business on the side, the whole school thing on top of it all was beginning to be too much for me to handle.  Needless to say, I am excited for Christmas break! 

My camera has been on the fritz lately.  Here is an example of a crazy picture.  I have to admit that I kind of like the look it has but realistically, it isn't great for trying to sale items online!  Minor details, right!  Hahaha.  At least it only does this every once in a while!  Looks like I will have to invest in a new camera pretty soon.  Anyone have any suggestions??

I have been working on a new collection.  Zebra themed.  I found these awesome prints at the fabric store and couldn't help but fall in love with their craziness!

These last three mini bags make me smile!  I hope they make you smile too!  

I hope you enjoyed this "wild" zebra post! :) 

12 Days of Christmas!

Hello Friends!  At church I work as a leader over the youth group.  This Wednesday we are going to do the 12-Days of Christmas for some other members in our church.  The following link is one I found with a really cute idea of how to present the gifts with different Christmas stories for each day.  It is a simple and inexpensive way to show someone you care! 

http://downloads.sugardoodle.net/12dayChristmas.pdf

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

PS
If you would like to place a custom order please contact me by this Friday, December 10th.  Thanks!

Winner of Black Friday Giveaway!!

The Winner of this bag...

For this Year's Black Friday Giveaway...

Is...

Congratulations Britney and Kevin!

Since an email address was not left, please contact me ASAP at 

KimberlyGwynn@hotmail.com

Thank you everyone for participating and keep checking back to see new arrivals!

Reminder: Be sure to have all custom orders for Christmas in to me by Dec. 10th. Check out my fabrics in the right side panel or go to my preferred Fabric.com website to select your favorite fabrics.  Email me at KimberlyGwynn@hotmail.com or message me on Facebook to place an order!

Black Friday Drawing!

 I am starting a drawing today that will run through black Friday (November 26th).  The winner will be announced on Saturday, November 27th!  This drawing is as a thank you to all of you who are helping me to promote my online store (since I am new at this)!  I really appreciate all you do!

RULES:
You can have your name in the drawing up to three times for each of the following:
1. Leave a comment at the end of this post about the most random item in your bag right now! (this should be interesting)
2. Become a follower of my blog (see right side panel).
3. Share my blog on your Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace!  (Since I will not be able to check to see if you have all done this, leave another comment here letting me know that you did... honor system :) )

*Don't forget to add your email address so I can contact you if you win!*

The Prize: The new and improved Stork Bag!  Great colors for the fall/winter season and unique!  It measures 13" wide X 9" tall and an 11" drop straps from shoulder to bag.  It is durable and made from a thick Duck fabric.  It features one interior pocket and magnetic snap closures.  What more could you want!

My first Craft Show!! S.E.L.F. School Christmas Bazaar 2010

Preparing for this craft show was quite nerve racking.  I wasn't sure what to expect and didn't know if my items would sell.  This past week, leading up to the Bazaar, I was working nonstop on making various items.  Overall, I really felt like the show was a success.  Since it was my first, I didn't have anything to compare it to but it was so fun to interact with people and get feedback on my products.  My customer of the day was a lady who decided to buy 6 bags all at once!  

Here are some pictures of my booth!