The Jelly Bag is Finished!!!

This one has been on my to-sew list for a long time now! The Jelly Bag by Bunny Hill Designs. I love it! The fabric is from a moda jelly roll "Roman Holiday" by 3 Sisters. I lined the inner fabric with iron on vinyl (with the thought that this may one day make someone a nice diaper bag). I still have to make the stiff bottom insert (you know...for all my heavy books) but I couldn't wait to show you!

Lemony Tuna Salad

Yum-O!

I whipped up this Lemony Tuna Salad (a Rachael Ray recipe) in less than 10 minutes for DH & I for lunch today. It was sooo yummy! Very light and refreshing! Highly recommend it (although I can't find a link to it on her website right now but if you want it I can email it to you). It will be the perfect lunch for us to eat by the pool this summer. Can't wait for that now...it's sunny today but...burr...still cold.

I'll be working on my sewing project to be revealed later today or tomorrow (whenever I finish and the lighting is good for photos, so probably tomorrow). See you all then.

Happy Saturday!

A Fun Thursday Night

Our nephew, R, came over to spend the evening at our house while he is in town visiting his grandparents (DH's parents). We had so much fun! First of all, when R arrived I was working on one of the projects on my to-sew list (not quite done yet and since I am on call tomorrow it will have to be finished & posted on Saturday) he was very intrigued by my sewing machine. Lots of "oh"s, "cool"s and "you made that out of fabric." I never guessed he would want to try sewing but when I said "You wanna make something?" he was more than eager! I taught him how to used the cutting mat and rotary cutter to cut 2 6x6in squares out of the fabric of his choice. Then I taught him how to use the sewing machine and to stuff his little pillow. I helped with the whipstitch closure but he really did everything else himself (he's only 6!!!) I was so proud. When we finished he said he can't wait to do another project again. Super cool.





I also made a yummy dinner...paninis (my recipe...how did I live without a panini maker...i heart it) and homemade stoup (thicker than soup, thinner than stew) from a recipe out of Everyday with Rachael Ray. Yum-O.

In my mailbox today...

My most recent ebay find! Vintage buttons!!! (yes, it is another addiction... do you all have that one too???) I don't have any particular project in mind...just thought they were cute. Anyone have any cute ideas for these buttons? Plus, I love this ebayer...she sent a suprise gift...one cute little brown button.

What is on my table right now...

I am addicted (and have been for quite some time) to vintage tablecloths, runners, napkins & hankies. I really love the detail and craftsmanship of this table runner I use during Easter season. It is made of a heavy linen and the cross stitching/embroidery is amazing. I picked it up in the antiques district last year just before Easter. It was a little more than I usually like to spend on these kinds of things but I just had to have it. Thought I would share it with you all today. Is anyone else addicted to vintage linens???

Another one off the to-sew list...

Over the weekend I tried the Black Apple Doll pattern from the Martha website. I have been spying these cute little Black Apple Dolls on Etsy and the Inside the Black Apple blog for quite some time...Emily has talent! Her dolls are sooo cute...but sell sooo fast. They have the cutest faces! My poor version of the Black Apple Doll (no where near the original!) was made without a face (a little artistic gesture, I guess...or maybe it was I was too afraid I might ruin the dollie if I attempted a face). Must say...after watching the clip on Martha and reading the instructions with the downloadable template it was super easy to put together. Plus, all of the materials used on the doll came from my scrap basket and the pattern cost a mere 30 cents to enlarge at Office Depot. Gotta love it when I project only costs 30 cents. I gave this little dollie to So for Easter (along with the felt food which was a major hit). She has such a good imagination the dollie won't even need a face. :)

Lazy holiday weekend...

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Happy Easter everyone!

*Awesome photo above taken by my sister, Leap!*

Tagged (a different one) and such

My sister & I recently went to see MercyMe in concert. It was awesome! We had GREAT seats and it was a GREAT show! Love the new CD...which was only $5 at the concert!

Adrienne tagged me...so...in case you all were wondering about the mystery behind my blog...

Why I started my blog...
When my grandmother passed away, I inherited her Kenmore machine. My grandma taught me how to sew when I was about 9 years old (or maybe I was younger...) and I did it off & on when I would be at her house while I was growing up. My whole family really is a bunch of crafters so I have always been involved with crafty things...but during college & med school I never had time to get very involved with crafting. When my grandmother's machine was moved into my house I couldn't resist the urge to tinker around with it. I would stay up late (even though I had to be up at 5am for work) trying to figure out patterns and stitches. Finally, all the basics my grandma had taught me came flooding back and I've been addicted since. I recently outgrew my grandmothers machine (I realized it was making it very difficult to do things I wanted to do) so I purchased a new machine. With my new machine I began searching the Internet for new patterns/sewing ideas. That is when I found all of these beautiful blogs. I knew after reading them I had to participate because it involved so many of the things I love...the Internet, sewing, photography...and I felt a great sense of encouragement from this community of people who are a lot like me!

How I came up with the name of my blog...
It combines the two things that I love and those things which define me most...sewing and surgery...my name just describes me...the Stitching Surgeon. There aren't too many jobs where you can sew (suture) at work!

Do my friends and family know about my blog? What do they think of it?
My friends don't know...they don't understand my insane love of sewing anyway and would probably be bored with all of this stuff. My family does know. My sister reads my blog and my husband does too (and they like it...I think)!

How do I write my posts...
I don't really have a certain way I write my posts. I usually just write about whatever inspires me that day.

Ever had a troll or had to delete unkind comments...
Nope. Everyone who reads my blog is really nice and complimentary (am I jinxing myself???)

Do I check my stats? Do I care who/how many read my blog? Do I try to increase traffic?
Nope. I do love to know that people are actually reading my blog though...so I love to read your comments!

What I like and dislike about blogging...
I like being able to share my photos and my projects. I really like hearing from all of the people who read my blog and enjoy even more visiting their blogs and being inspired by all of the their talent. I can't really think of any dislikes...otherwise, why would I be doing this?

So...tag completed.

Hope this didn't bore you to death!

As for who I am going to tag...well I don't want anyone to feel obligated or left out...so if you read my blog and want to be tagged and answer these questions on your blog...well consider yourself tagged by me!

Bedside pocket

DH loves his new bedside pocket! It was a necessity for him since his side of the bed is against the wall (no nightstand!) and he must have a place for his books and the all important remote. The inspiration was from In Stitches and Simple Sewing (a pattern can be found in both books); however, I was feeling quite impatient so I just looked at their pictures and made up my own pattern as I went (some days you just don't want to read a pattern or follow directions)! The shamrock fabric was chosen for my DH's love of Notre Dame, not because it was finished on St. Patrick's Day...though what a coincidence! The bottom picture is what it looks like on the bed when the bed is made (our sleigh bed does not look good with a dust ruffle).

Next sewing project...perhaps a Black Apple Doll?

Yummy Felt Food

So is going to be sooo happy playing with all of this felt food (Leap, I hope you aren't reading this because it is supposed to be an Easter surprise!). So loves to put on her little apron at my house and "cook" with the little pots/pans/utensils I got for her from Ikea. Her favorite food to make is eggs ("They're hot!" is her favorite phrase about the eggs and she pours the imaginary eggs from the frying pan) so I made sure to make some of those! I made all of the above fixin's yesterday and plan on making some more throughout the week when I get time. Any suggestions on what food items to make??? There is a really inspiring Flickr group all about Handmade Felt Food...check it out and leave your suggestions/votes as to what felt food I should make next for my 2 year old niece!

Coming tomorrow...a long time on my sewing to-do list...the bedside pocket (DH's request).

Chloe has been glued to the window...

...because of the above. These little winged beauties are building a nest in the azalea bush outside my living room window. Chloe has a front row seat on the back of our loveseat. But these little birdies have no worries because Chloe is afraid of the outside.

My plan for today is to sew, sew, sew! I have two projects that I think I will try to tackle today. Play food out of felt for So for Easter and a bedside pocket for DH (he requested it!) for remotes and books.

Happy Palm Sunday!

The Surprise of Spring

So's little hands on these spring flowers just peeking up from the ground reminds me of how wonderful our God really is. Hope you are all blessed today! The official first day of spring is almost here!

*Beautiful photo compliments of my sis, Leap!

I don't know why...

...but Chloe loves to be held like this...her head off the end of my knees and her arms over her head. I guess it is a good stretch for her and definitely a good laugh for DH & me!

I've been a busy bee cleaning my house. This weekend I have to sit down at my sewing machine...it is feeling deprived. On the sewing to do list for this weekend: baby bibs & burp cloths for another one of the nurses (her shower is the end of the month), a gift for So for Easter (haven't decided yet what to make) and I must do something quilted (I want to try out my new walking foot!).

Check out this blog...

Who doesn't love quilts??? This one that Dana at Old Red Barn Co. is giving away for her 200th post is just adorable! You really must go check out her awesome blog and enter her quilt give away...but I really hope I win! It would look soooo cute on the back of my couch to cuddle with while watching TV with DH or maybe it might find a home on the wall behind my couch as a beautiful piece of art. So many possibilities! Just go check it out here but the actual contest starts next week when she reaches her 200th!

Pleated Beauty

I finally made the pleated handbag from Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules!!! I have wanted to make this one for quite some time. The creamy tan fabric is actually a tiny corduroy with a slight bit of stretch...which made it a little hard to work with but I couldn't be happier with the result. It is a great work bag because I can stuff it full of stuff (as it is in the photo). The flowers are yo-yos with vintage red buttons and the leaves are appliqued (my 2nd attempt ever) using scraps of the same fabric used as the skirting on the table in my sewing studio. The lining is the same fabric as the pleats.

Tip: I made the bottom really strong by sandwiching 3 layers of rigid interfacing (I carry heavy books a lot so I needed all the support I can get) and used boning in the handles to give them extra strength and shape.

I'll take more pictures of details before posting them on the flickr group and such but I just wanted to get at least one posted here since I promised. Kisses to DH for the photo taking!

Hurry up Spring!

Rays of sunshine on one of my houseplants and tiny sprouts of my tulips outside give me a glimmer of hope that spring is coming!

I have a great project that I am crossing off of my to do list...I've wanted to make this one for a long time but it looked so intimidating (turns out...it wasn't bad at all!). All I need to do is take a picture of it to show you and that is on my list for tomorrow. :)

Sad Day

My in-laws had to put the family dog to sleep today. Julie was getting old and her health has been declining for quite some time now. We had a nice little prayer after her burial.

May sweet Julie rest in peace.