Library Book Bag and other Applique Projects

Each year, my daughters’ school holds a fun fair to raise funds for parent council supported initiatives.  One of the highlights of the fun fair include a silent auction.  Each class assembles a themed gift basket for a silent auction.   This year, Lily’s class is assembling a summer reading basket.  I have been working on a number of applique projects.  I made this library book bag out of denim and Erin Michael’s Goodnight Monkey (Moda) book fabric.    The bag was inspired by a bag made by Made on Maple which I pinned months ago.  In addition to the bag, Lily contributed some books, a flash light for reading under the covers, and some book plates.


Hope’s class has a beach-themed gift basket.  I made a “wet bag” for wet swimsuits.   I love this popsicle fabric.  For the structure of the bag I used this tutorial by Little Birdie Secrets. She also contributed some sun screen and sand toys.

Unrelated to the fun fair, but related to applique, one of my childhood friends is on her honeymoon right now.  I made her these sacs for her suitcase.  You can find the pattern for the “intimates” bag at Love Me Sew.

{A couple of sewing notes re applique: Avoid Heat and Bond (it is fine for no-sew projects, but not applique). Use Steam and Seam and titanium needles. I read that on a sewing forum and it is completely true.}

Thanks for your kind concerns re Lily.  She was not herself for a week, but is now back in fine form.  We have been working on a few projects in the garden.  Here is a little  peek at our Majesty Garden!  The castle was originally an unfinished bird house.  I first read about them on Ikat Bag. You can find them at Michaels.  My dad bought it for Lily for her birthday last year, but we didn’t paint it until the weekend, to celebrate Victoria Day!

Happy Crafting,

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Sakura Hanami / Cherry Blossom viewing 2013

It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend.  The Cherry Blossoms at High Park reached 100% bloom and we like many others took them in and had our first picnic of the season. Lily wasn’t feeling like herself, and it seems she has been fighting something. She has a mysterious virus which is apparently in the local area right now -  symptoms cyclic high fevers, fatigue, and headaches.  I hope it is short-lived, but the paediatrician says she is seeing cases last for 7 to 10 days (sigh) (flu, mono, and strep were all ruled out which is good news).

Here are few of my captures under the canopy of blossoms:

Wishing you a great week,

The Curious Garden

At home, we have been reading a charming story called The Curious Garden.  {Lily’s end of the year dance recital is based on this book.}  It is about a little boy named Liam who beautifies a dreary city scape by gardening.

Hope’s teacher asked if I would come to the class and show the children how to grow wheat grass in a jar for Mother’s Day gifts. At the last moment, I thought it would be a nice idea to read the Curious Garden as well.  To go with the story, I made these train tracks out of Styrofoam pieces and after the story reading, Hope handed out flowers made from cupcake liners [there are lots of tutorials out there, ours were very simple, this is a more elaborate one] that she made to each child and they were able to plant it in train track (I found the story activity here).  There were 25 children and they responded well to both the story and planting project.

After story time, we worked on our wheat grass jars.  I found some foam rulers at the dollar store and glued on wooden lady bugs.

The jars should look something like this once the wheat berries sprout.

It was the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of May. 

It feels like spring is finally here.  The forsythia was putting on a show today and the magnolia is getting ready.

Happy May,