No time for blogging

Lately I have been very busy at work and also I have a big change in my life. Tomorrow we are going to pick up the keys for our new apartment. We have been waiting for so long that the excitement is almost gone. But I hope we will get it back once we move.
Also in the meantime I have started a new project, my first clothes project, a strapless dress for a wedding we have in Malta in 2 weeks. I'm quite behind so I bought a backup dress just in case.

What's next?

... a summer flower messenger. It has been my mom's birthday and knowing how much she liked sewing I made her a messenger style bag. Because she would appreciate it more than if I buy her something.
Also I have just dicovered Whipup, and their "bag" contest, so this may be my opportunity to show me in "public" for the first time.

At first sight it looks an easy bag to make but it took me some time to get the lining fitting perfectly inside the bag (perfectionism is one of my defects). I started making the exterior and interior with the same size but quickly I saw it was not the right way to go. Several tries later (and long past midnight) I got it right. Still I can't figure out which measurements to use for next time. And I'm thinking it is going to vary case by case depending on the fabrics and interfacing used.
And to complete the present, this is the matching card I did using the same fabric.

I like it a lot and I'm thinking on doing it in the future.
You would recognize the flower brooch. I saw it in someone's blog but now I can't remember where. I will look who it was and give her the credit she deserves.
There are 3 different categories to enter the contest. I guess mine would be skills.

My second challenge

For my second bag I chose something more challenging, a diaper bag. My sister in law had a baby, so I though it was the perfect excuse to test my skills.
I also did a matching changing pad and a stuffed monster (following another tutorial on craftster).
The bag has 4 interior pockets (2 for diapers, one for a bottle and another one with a zipper) and one exterior pocket for the cell phone.

... with bags

When I got the sewing machine I decided to start making things that don't require fitting. The first one I tried was a placemat and some napkins and were given away to my mother in law as a gift. Then I found crafters and the so beloved Jordi tutorial and I did one for myself. It took me a while to decide the fabrics, the shape, etc. But I'm quite happy on how it turn out. Here are some pics:

Everything started ...

I always saw my mother sewing when I was a kid. She used to make almost all my clothes. But I never got attracted to it. When I got married almost 3 years ago, I though it would be useful to have a sewing machine at home to do the typical alterations in pants hems, etc. And the one day, some months ago finally my husband decided to buy me one. Since the I have enjoyed so much than I wish I had started before. I will post some of my first trys later.

The inaugural post

Until recently I didn't take seriously the blog world. Then some months ago to my surprise I found a bunch of amazing bloggers full of creativity and passion for handmade things. I'm not considering myself at the same level but I though of giving a try at least to the blogging thing and start my own one. Will I keep on? Let's see ...