Let's Book It: September (and an item for a swap)

No, I didn't forget about the Let's Book It Challenge.  I just had to put it on the back burner because I didn't have time to make random things from books.  I need to be able to double dip for this challenge to work for me.

(wait, I just realized I have been double dipping with some of the Fluff Project stuff but. . .well, a lot of those are "books" but freebies I printed out from the internet so. . .eh, it doesn't matter).

THIS project was from an actual book I paid actual money for so it really fits the Book part of the Book It Challenge.  So I'm feeling all official n'at.

That's the aforementioned book.

Let me just pause to say it is one of the cutest things I have ever had the privilege to look upon.  And I look at tons of cute all the dang time, so that's saying something.  This book made my sister lament that she needed to learn to embroider.  Yeah, it's THAT kind of book.

And when they say "teeny tiny" they ain't blowing smoke up your skirt.

That's the embroidered merit badge I made for a swap next to the image I used (and edited) from the book.

I made my cat into a cool hoola hooping puss.  Because that's how I am.

EXTREME CLOSE UP!

That bad boy is a mere 2 inches in size.  TWO STINKING INCHES!!  See, that's teeny tiny.

The edge stitching is a little rough but I'll improve on that (this was the first time I ever made a badge like this).

What?  You have to wear it so it has to have a pin on the back.

The only downside of this book?  Now I want to embroider every thing in my life with teeny tiny animals.  EVERY THING!

March Let's Book it Challenge! (and some swap stuff AND Fluff Project sneak peek!)

Oh yeah, I got my book it challenge done early this month so I'm posting it now.

I double dipped (twice?) for this.  I was making things to swap (that's why I'm done early) and I was using TWO books I've used before but I made different patterns.  So I'm counting the pair as one book it challenge completion.

Ok, enough blather.  PICS or it didn't happen.

I didn't use this book for the book it challenge before, but I have made the pig from it before (for a swap).

This time I made. . .

The rabbit with a slight modification.

I made a jackalope!

I used a pattern from the Nuno Runo blog (the santa and reindeer set) for the antlers and just tucked them into the head seam as I was sewing.

And, I'd like it noted, I used a blanket stitch for this whole damn jackalope.  I love the look of blanket stitch but it feels so SLOW when I'm doing it.

Also (for the record) this stuffie is only about 3 inches tall.  Which was too small for the swap requirements I was making it for *headdesk*.  So I included a second stuffie.

I'll show this shark off more when I show off the completed Fluff Project items for March but this is the sneak peek.

I was giving the pattern a test run and realized my version was significantly smaller thanks to my printing it to fit the page instead of full size.  I'm making full sized items for the Fluff Project (along with the whale that was part of this same pattern, but more on that later once I have all that done).

For the second book it challenge item, I made another project from the Sock it to Me book (the one I used last month).

This turned out so cute!

So SMUG but so cute!

February Let's Book It: Project Completed!

Over the weekend I got my Let's Book It Challenge item done.

Holy crap, I've been sitting on this forever and the project was so stinking simple. . .yeah, I'm embarrassed by my procrastination.

I scored the Sock it to Me book at the discount book store for only $3.99.  WOOT!

It's full of funky stuff and I want to make every item in it but I decided to go with one of the easier projects (some required really long socks which I don't have and one really cool project requires fabric paint which I also don't have so. . .)

EEEK!!

Creepy clown ALERT!

Oh, I wasn't kidding, he's creepy.

SUPER CREEPY!!

But also cute.

Though I'm not thrilled with the lack of arms.  I was tempted to poach the arm pattern from one of the other projects to make this goofy fella some arms but I wanted to do the project as it's described in the book before I went altering it (though I did alter by using yarn for the hair instead of a nappy ass clown wig--though the clippings from the clown wig looked super cool).

This project was so damn easy and fun.  I was tempted to make a few more and to have a car full but I wanted to make sure I completed the challenge so I only made the one.

The problem I have with this book is not with the book but with me.  I love the projects but they're not the type of things I can give away to something like the Fluff Project once I make them.  I can only keep so many of the funky things I make so I might not get back to playing with this book for a while (well, maybe I'll dip back into it for a swap I'm hosting, but you get my point).

Funky clown is now hanging out on the shelves in my craft room.  He seems happy enough.

Let's Book It: January: Button-Eyed Crocodile from "Toys to Sew" by Claire Garland

(I need to grab the button for this but I'm pressed for time right now, hopefully I'll remember to do that later.  This link to Vrooman's Quilts will have to do for now.)

Anyway. . .another January goal MET.

For January I made a project from this book:

And, and, and, I double dipped that mama-jamma.  I made this patchwork alligator for a stuffie swap.  The only rule for the swap was the stuffie had to be an animal.  Check and check!

OH, and CAT APPROVED.

Eugene signed off that this is indeed an animal and a stuffie and it was made using the book pictured above.  You can't argue with that.  (well, you could but it's crazy to argue with a cat, they always win)

Here's looking at YOU!

Let's Book It 2015 (and other creative goals)

I've set a bunch of creative goals for the new year.

To start, I'm joining Vrooman's Quilts Let's Book It 2015.

It's super simple.  Once a month you make something from a pattern/book you already have.  I already have my January project picked out.  I've decided to reveal the book (or pattern) I chose for the month when I reveal the finished project.

The project doesn't have to be from an actual book, either.  It can be a pattern you bought (not in a book) or a free pattern/tutorial you saved "for later".  Guess what?  Later is NOW.

In fact, I have projects already lined up for the next few months.  I figured I should plan ahead so I could make sure I have all the supplies before the time to make the project actually arrives.  That said, I'm doing my best to use stash items.  But some projects might need a notion I don't have (or have enough of) so I'm allowing for purchases for Book It projects.

That leads to one of my other 2015 creative goals:

STASH BUSTING

I'm not going on an official fabric fast just yet but I'm also not going to be doing any random purchasing, either.  But I want to use my stash as much as possible but I'm leaving the door open to do a tiny bit of buying if I find crazy good deals on things I already have on my wish list.  But it has to be a crazy good deal.  CRAZY.

OK, let's make this a proper list:

2015 Creative Goals:

1.  Let's Book It 2015.  One project (minimum) per month.  I added the minimum because some of my books have projects that are really fast and easy (like done in a few hours) so I want to make multiple projects in those cases.

2.  UFO completion.  I want to try and double dip with the Book It challenge to finish a few items that I started.  I have a quilt top that fits into that category (I'd finish it and do another easy pattern like it for it to count as my Book It).  I also have a stuffed toy project that I pulled the fabric for (and prepped the pattern by assembling it) but haven't actually done any stitching.

3.  Stash Busting.  I want to use from my stash as much as possible for all Book It projects.  But I will buy things if I do need them for a specific project.  (note:  I need to buy some felt in a few colors I'm out of, so I plan to do a felt project so I can make one big felt purchase--that's the kind of buying I'm talking about, not buying just to hoard).

4.  Fluff Project.  I want to make (minimum) 60 stuffed toys this year.  That's 5/month.  I really want to do way more than that (and hopefully will) but I'm officially signing up for 60 for the year.  The Book It challenge will help with that, too.  I have a lot of patterns I've been meaning to try out and now I will (and maybe work them into my Fluff sewing).

5.  Reading.  I'm adding this here just because I can.  I want to read 12 books this year.  I know that's not very lofty, but I'm setting the bare minimum very low to make it highly achievable.  That's one book a month.  TOTALLY doable.  As I finish a book, I'll note it here.

6.  New Skills.  I want to work with half square triangles and free motion quilting this year.  I'm sure I'll find a few patterns that I can do for Book It that will have me trying out the two new things I'm most keen on trying.

7.  New craft and techniques.  I want to work with polymer clay a bit more (got some for christmas) and experiment with fabric paints and pens.

I think that's about it for now.  I do have a specific list of projects I want to work on/finish but I'll address them here as I complete them.

Let's get creative!