Applique-que-que

I've enjoyed designing some applique projects over the last couple of weeks, many of them with a Valentines Day theme. I had fun letting the materials inspire me. As I was sifting through fabrics, I came across one with peachy pink waves that I picked up at the Legacy (my favorite all-donation craft store that supports a local senior center) last time I was in California. I'm sure I felt guilty about getting it because I didn't have a plan for it at the time. Well, once I saw it again, I started envisioning all the little appliques that could float along in that pink ocean - not hard for a marine biologist! I've only completed this one project with it so far - a Love Boat pouch that's up in the shop.



Last weekend, I tried making sewn greeting cards for the first time. I was immediately hooked! They are the quickest and most satisfying little project I've come up with in a long time. Four of these are still in the shop...but they will be on their way to my friends and family for Valentines Day soon...

I also tried out some fancy stitching around the edges, but it's tricky to make it look nice where the stitching joins at the end. Janae just featured this pink leopard card for her blog's Fabulous Finds Friday.

And here's the project that started my applique fest - a birthday bikini pouch for my sister, who's moving to Oahu this summer to work with Teach for America. It was inspired by the darling pouches made by Lori Marie of pretty lil things.

I came up with the pattern for the bikini top, and it took a few people a bit too long to understand what they were looking at, so I think I'll need to work on this if I ever make another one as a gift.
Back to working on a custom order lunch bag - with an appliqued monogram!