sew september update 4!

 howdy everyone!
i am super stoked to show you my handle bar bag. i think it turned out even better then my first one and is the right size. the lining i bought was PERFECT and it holds it shape wonderfully, yay!

 instead of buttons i added strips of the floral fabric and used snaps for the closure. i need to figure out a better way to attach the bag to the handle bars. the snaps i think may not be as durable and i fear that they might unsnap going over bumps but i will have to test this bad boy out before i make any assumptions.

i am just super proud of myself for taking a pattern and changing it to fit my needs. i am gonna make a few more, for family and friends so that i can get better at making them, then i will be confident in having them in my shop! i have so much fabric that i am just DYING to use for these bags. fun pattern and color combinations. i think if i would allow myself i would sew 24/7 with no sleep just so i could get out all my creativity out. sometimes i feel like it is bursting from the seams or it comes RIGHT before i need to sleep... what is up with that?!?!

today tom and i are gonna go to the thrift store to scout out some fabric for my cape, we shall see what i find! the rest of today is going to be a work filled day; making owl earrings to ship out to one of my stores and trying to squeeze in some sewing.

**this weekend is our big bike ride, i am really excited and nervous but i know it will be fine. i would still love some good luck vibes sent our way for good measure, thanks in advance :D**

have a great weekend everyone!

xo,
cb

getting out

hi lovelies
last friday i needed to get out of the house as cabin fever was setting in and i feared it would permanently damage some of my brain cells so tom and i headed out to berkley to my favorite fabric store to pick up some much needed supplies. i picked up some really awesome stiff lining which is just what i needed for my bike bag! will show you the finished piece tomorrow :D

i also picked up a hooded poncho pattern which i am SUPER excited to make!! i have been DYING to have a hooded cape, they are sooo much fun to ride in! my plan is to find a old XL pendleton and cut it up to use for the cape outside and use an old sweater for the inside, gonna be AWESOME!

also found some really awesome 70's looking trim which i will be making a camera strap with for our new little camera. i am definitely going to extend sew september as i have so many projects i didn't get to do!

we grabbed some sandwiches and road around a bit admiring the really awesome houses. we found this little park and sat for a while and soaked up some vitamin d. it felt really good to be in the sun, my soul needed it <3

xo,
cb

sew sempteber update 3

happy friday everyone!
thanks everyone for the get well wishes, i hope i can kick this before next saturday's big ride! i haven't had much engery to sew this week although the past two days i have been feeling better. i did however sew up two other hats and finished up my bike bag.

 i don't know why i didn't measure the length first but it ended up too long which is totally fine because it is just a prototype. there are a few changes i want to make, add more support so that it doesn't slouch so much when on my handle bars and i wasn't to crazy about the batting i used so we are gonna stop by the fabric store and find something a bit more stiff. i really like that i used a leather strap instead of making one. breaks up the color.

i am really happy with the end result and learned a lot from making this bag. i have already cut out all the pieces for the next one, added a little detail to the front flap instead of using buttons and sewed a contrasting yellow pocket instead of the same floral fabric for the inside. i can't wait to finish it! it will be perfect and just what i need!

here are some other ladies who have completed some sew september projects!
chandelier jenny
lion heart

sew september update 2!

hello lovelies!

 another sew september update for you! i finished my new bike hat, and i am so happy with it! it is nice to now have 2 hats to choose from now. i had bought this floral fabric to make skirts with but that came and went so when i found this mustard colored fabric at the thrift store i thought it would look soooo cute with my floral fabric. instead of having an all floral or all yellow hat i  decided to use both and underside of the flap is yellow. i just LOVE my new hat and i am gonna wear it tonight on our group ride.

i really like the tape i used in the inside,  makes it look very fancy and professional :D i finished up my hat on friday and since then have been working on a matching bike bag. i am reworking a clutch pattern to fit my needs and it is proving to be a bit harder then i thought but it is just a prototype so i when i am done i will have learned lots from this experience. i am excited to be done with it so i can test it out and show you!

how has your sew september been? here are links to some other lovely ladies projects
clever seed
adventures from a girl from the naki
green valley crafts

don't forget to keep posting pictures on the flickr page!

we have a pretty quiet weekend planed and i am looking forward to it however we are going to a baseball game friday night which will be fun. tomorrow i have a wonderful citybirds chirp for you! have a great weekend everyone!

xo,
cb

a sew september update!

hello peaches!
hope everyone is enjoying this fine september. i know i have! sewing has been sooo great, i really do enjoy sewing so so much. doing just a bit each day really helps me and it is helping with balancing everyday life and my crafting. my sewing machine is in the same room as the kitchen and it sits right on my desk so it is always ready to go, i love it.  i can just jump into my seat and sew while food is cooking, perfect. i am in no rush to get a bunch of stuff done, so there is no pressure. i have just been buzzing along happily and finished my first project which was tom's mexican blanket hat.

day 1

day 3

day 4

toms finished hat!

i am really happy with the way it came out and tom really really likes it which makes me so happy. he can't wait to go sweat it up :D i am almost done with my hat and will show that to you next week and then i am moving on to a few bags! if i can i will squeeze a cute diy in, i will.i have a few up my sleeve one a sewing diy and another something totally different!

for now here are some links to other ladies sew september project! and don't forget to add pictures to the sew september flickr page!

paper clipping of a wondering artist
little cloud

if i missed anyone let me know!have a great weekend everyone!!
xo,
cb

diy part 2: mod lace collar

happy sew september everyone! i have a wonderful diy to keep off a wonderful month of sewing for you all, but let me start by saying that i don't have a before picture of the dress because i shot it in RAW and the camera was unable to download it on the computer for some strange unknown reason sooooo without further ado......

i love the 60's...anything from that era is amazing from the fabric, to mod, to hippie to bright psychedelic interiors...love love love the 60's! i also love combining styles together to create something fun. i have this dress that has just been sitting in my closet for some time. i love the color and the shape of the dress but it has kinda lost something about it that makes me want to pull it out and wear it so i thought to add my vintage floral lace to the collar to create something new and a piece that is a bit 60's inspired.

 this was so easy that anyone can really do it and all you need is some thread, a needle and a good movie to watch and hand sew. i did a running stitch around each flower so that it was on really good and tight and then instantly you have this....

 i am really happy with the way it came out and happy that i will be grabbing this dress more often!

so today marks the first day of sew september, yay! i started a sew september flickr account (thanks to erin's great advice) so you can upload your projects or if you want to send me images or links to your projects that is cool too! just send to ccpb83(at)gmail(dot)com. i am also gonna post pictures of my progress throughout the month as well as showcase what others are up to. i am soo excited that lots of people are on board with my challenge and thanks to everyone who has been so awesome about spreading the word!

first on my list is a new bike hat for tom that will be made out of a really really cute mexican blanket style fabric. will show you my progress soon! we are off to visit kelly-anne and her cute little nuggets later today and of course bringing a little project to sew while i am up there. hope you all have a great weekend full of sewing fun!

diy part 1

xo,
cb

sew september: a challenge!

happy monday everyone! hope you all had a fantastic weekend! i am recovering from camping and boy did we have an awesome time! i will be back tomorrow with a few pictures of our trip but since september is literally around the corner i wanted to pop in and let you all in on the challenge i am setting for myself for the month of september!

for the 30 days of september i will be sewing everyday, whether it be for 30 mintures, 8 hours...whatever! i love sewing so much and i am always so happy when so and rarely do i feel that i ever get to make something for myself. i have so many things that i want to make for tom and i that i just couldn't squeeze in before so this month it will be all about me and my sewing machine. i am not sure yet how to document it but if you have suggestions i would love to hear them!

are you up for the challenge? i know i am! show your support of sew sepember and grab a button and lets do this!!

<a href="http://www.thecitybirdsnest.blogspot.com/"><img src="<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/citybirdsnest/6080416455/" title="sewseptbutton by citybirds, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6080416455_9f485e7556_m.jpg" width="200" height="125" alt="sewseptbutton"></a>"/></a>

xo,
cb