TomTom ThingThing the second

Well, hey there, blog. Didn't see you there! Ok, I've been pretty awful about posting. Let's just pretend I went through the whole apologizing spiel. I was laid off last November, and you would think that with all this extra time, I would be crafting my buns off. While I have been making a lot of things, I haven't really been finishing much. Plus, it feels like I have even less time now than I did before. I also feel like I now spend half my life cleaning, but that means that my apartment (and especially the craft room!!) is no longer a pit of chaos due to depression and general laziness. I still haven't finished organizing my craft workspace, but it's a big improvement.

Anyway, I wanted to share the first thing I did when I found out I was laid off:

Blue!!

The prototype TomTomThingThing most likely would have remained the only TomTom thing thing except for the fact that it was annoying to close and was made of really thin craft felt. Eventually I felt compelled to buy some luxuriously soft and thick felt from FitzFelt in 3mm turquoise.

Then I got laid off, and to distract myself immediately got to work! It was actually a great deal of fun to make, and I'm glad I practiced first with the crappy felt so that I figured out an approximate pattern without wasting expensive felt. I still have a bit left, and I'm not sure what I am going to do with it. Probably nothing. :P

I'm especially fond of the embroidery:

Flowers? Leaves? Not sure what they're supposed to be besides pretty.

Usually I draw patterns and then embroider them... this was all spur-of-the-moment freehand. Actually, I didn't really finish this until today... I'd been tucking the outer flap inside the case, and hoping it stays. Today I added the band and the sweet little antique button:

From the giant pile of buttons from my grandma. <3

Anyway, since it's almost Valentine's day, my annual chocolates should be coming up. (Did I ever post last year's??) So I will probably be posting that. Also, I will be hopefully posting all of those other things I have been working on.

Tom Tom thing thing

So this week I got a GPS because I was sick of getting lost in Boston and ending up on Storrow Drive even if I wasn't near it in the first place. It's cute, and I may or may not be getting the Darth Vader voice for it... >_> I mean I could wait until August and get Han Solo!! <3 <3 <3  I mean......

Oh! Look over there! Something not nerdy!! ---------------->

Anyway, since objects that enter my purse usually do not come out unscathed, I figured it would probably be wise to create some sort of protector case for the Tom Tom. Yesterday morning I was delaying before I went into work, and decided to make a mock-up of what one could be like using some crappy felt.

aw yeah, check out my too-short ribbon!

I kinda like the idea of it, but not the execution. I like the cross-stitch along the seams. I am going to make the foldy-top part [that's a technical term] longer, and use one of my 18 billion-trillion antique buttons from my grandmother. And I'm gonna embroider some flowers on it. I do like the color combo, though, even if it is unusually girly for me. (I suppose I should stop pretending I am still a tomboy at this point, considering how froofy my bedroom is and the number of heels I own.)

Also, I am thinking that I am finally going to be able to start decreasing the size of my yarn stash. My company is planning on starting a "knitting and networking" group that would meet during lunch once a week. Consistent knitting FTW! I know what everyone is getting for Christmas this year! :P

And, just a warning (though I am pretty sure no one besides my mom and sister read this), I am 97.3% sure that I am not going to post next Monday. It's a holiday and all, and I will be in the White Mountains with my awesome family. But maybe my mom will loan me her sweet new laptop ;) and let me post if I end up making something sweeeet this weekend.

Bunnnnnyyyyy

OMG CUTENESS:I made her in a couple days. Her name is Mercedes. She likes to chill with fishies and eat strawberry cupcakes. Her best friends are two fishes named Phil and Liam.


^______^

Made with felt, schtuffing, acrylic paint, and chalk pastel.

Pictures taken with my cell phone. I have no idea where my digital camera is.