Some 'friendly' sewing.

So today I actually loaded up my sewing machine, too many supplies, and my best company manners (or as good as my manners can be anyway) and headed off to Carolyn's house. I became acquainted with Carolyn through my blog, and shortly after Hans and I arrived here in Florida she and her husband graciously invited us to watch some boat races on the beautiful beaches of Clearwater. Ever since then we've kept in touch via email and today we were able to get together at her home for some sewing.

Carolyn had an idea for a very simple sewing project and I envisioned us sewing up a storm and churning out dozens of these little earbud cases. In fact I was positive we'd probably have to dig ourselves out from under of a mountain of these little buggers, not unlike toddlers who bury themselves in plastic ball bins at those obnoxiously noisy kiddie restaurants.

The reality?

Not so much.

I swear, you'd think neither of us had ever sewn a stitch in our lives. When I unpacked my gear I nearly didn't retrieve my seam ripper since I was smug in the fact that I was not going to need it but, I hadn't sewn more than a few stitches when out it came.

More than once, and in fact several times.

Halfway through the afternoon Carolyn triumphantly read one of the last steps out loud, "Since this piece is so small and simple you probably won't need to use pins, just place your pieces together and sew." She seemed very relieved at this news.

I grimly looked up yet once again from the crooked and frayed mess that I'd just yanked out from under my presser foot and stated, "You might want to use those pins anyway."

And that pretty much sums up our day.

So without further ado (drum roll please!!!) I present to you the results of two and a half hours of sewing!!!!!!!




Ta Da!!!!!!!!!!!!

The front.
















The back.

Isn't it fabulous?











Here it is with my hot pink IPod.

Yessiree, I'm pretty sure this little baby would easily command about a $50.00 price tag for all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into it.

But then again it probably wouldn't.

I don't think anyone needs to worry about me being kidnapped and sent to China to work in a sweatshop anytime soon.







BTW, Carolyn does not have a blog but she really should!

Another blogger meeting = a bright spot for me!

I've been blogging for a few years now but it wasn't until last November (2010) that I met a fellow blogger. Actually we didn't really meet, we passed each other, in North Carolina in the Intracoastal Waterway, on our boats like ships in the night. You can read about that encounter here.

Then in February when we finally reached Florida, Mary (from Mary Sews) and her husband came onto our boat for a visit. We had a nice time and they even offered to run us around if there was anything we needed. At that time we were pretty well provisioned and didn't need anything but we appreciated the offer.


Fast forward to this week. Cyndi from Bluebird's Wing realized that during my travels (I was helping Baby Girl move), I'd be staying within an hour or so of her home and she offered to come on over and meet me. As a huge fan of her blog for a long time (Cyndi is one of those people you wish lived next door to you), I was thrilled and of course I agreed! Cyndi is an animal lover (like me), she loves to make purses (like me), she has an adorable dog (like me), and she also thinks that my Wilbur is a cutie (like me)!!






We ended up having lunch at the Olde Richmond Inn. I believe we were there for over two hours and I only hope Cyndi enjoyed herself half as much as I did.


I also realize I may have suffered from diarrhea of the mouth (non stop talking). But that's what happens when one doesn't get out very much!













So in addition to lunch, Cyndi presented me with a wonderful and very useful bag she whipped up the night before on her new 'old' machine.


Since Hans and I are going to be living at a marina we'll be taking advantage of the shower facilities and this little bag will very nicely hold my toiletries.

Cyndi also made up a gift bag for Baby Girl (now an assistant coach at a private college) and I have to admit that I immediately took advantage of Cyndi's gift since Baby Girl seemed to be lacking in any and all soapy products and it didn't occur to her stupid mother (me!) to provide such stuff







I've always wanted to make one of these and never have.


It's just perfect.

























And here it is, with all the wonderful products Cyndi gave me in its outside pockets. This is truly going to come in handy for me when I head to the shower building at the marina.






I'm not going to know a soul when we move south next month but Cyndi's thoughtfulness will most assuredly make me feel much less homesick than necessary.













As for Wilbur? I only hope once we move, we can find a fenced in park for him to play. He's going to dearly miss his friends here in the Big City.


Wilbur after a day at the park.





Every mother's dream!



NOTE: Cyndi from Blue Bird's Wing had a request from 'Caroline' about the pattern for the bag she made me. However, Caroline didn't include her email address!!! Caroline, if you read this please get back in touch with Cyndi, she'd be glad to pass that info along to you!!