Finny,

I need a domestic distraction this week and guess what? As of today, our mighty Tri-pocket Ticking Tote challenge for August-September expires. Time to pick a winner and a new project. Shall we?
I had a hard time with winners this month because there were some seriously sweet entries, including yours. (Pink?! YOU?! What has happened to my pink-hating friend? Hee! Love the stripes.) So, I went into cutesy default mode, which you know always includes children. How great are these winners?

Creative Claudia rocks the project with a new bag for her daughter.

And ByrnedOutMom did an awesome job with this project to send her boys back to school in style. Love it!

{Email me your addresses ladies & I’ll drop your prizes at the post.}

Ever since I gained the roomie, my sewing machine and supplies have been tucked away in the closet. It will be nice to have something new to work on, even though you should see my currently being ignored domestic “to do” list. I don’t know why I am embarrassed to pull out all the gear and get going on a sewing machine when I have someone else living there, but the space is just so small for two adults and a mess. I think this weekend I’ll suck it up and get over my phobia of chaos for some much needed art therapy.

So Madame Finny, what shall we sew next?

~K

Dear Finny,
Remember our August-September challenge for the Finny and Donk Sewing Adventure? Well, true to my word I made a couple of those totes this week and they are headed off today as gifts.
First up:

A colleague is leaving for a Fulbright Scholarship in Egypt. While her attire is changing dramatically to study and do research in this country, there is no need not to have a colorful tote. I used a sepia stamp pad and some African-themed stamps to add a bit of hieroglyphic love to this baby because I am just that nutty. Plus, how often do you get to use the word, “hieroglyphic?” I swear Ross Geller and I were meant for each other.

Segundo, una bolsa para mi companera quien va estudiar en Espana. Yep, this mochila is off to Spain with another colleague who will study Espanol en Sevilla. Oh, Spain, home of sangria, flamenco, espadrilles and Javier Bardem. What doesn’t that country have to offer?

This pattern is super easy and is fulfilling. I needed something simple this week and was thrilled to be able to use up more of my existing fabric stash. Take that JoAnn! So, even with your gardening, traveling and canning maddness, you should be able to whip one of these sweet bags up in no time. Speaking of time, do you know anyone having a milestone birthday in a couple weeks? I do. And her name is Finny. Oh, the celebration is about to begin!

Love,
Donk

Dear Finny,
Is it just me or is everyone on vacation? Oh wait, you are in Costa Rica. (I hope your trip is going great! Love that country. So pretty, tropical and balmy.) By the looks of our lack of July entries, I think it is safe to say most crafty chicas are lounging by the pool with their feet up and a cold margarita in hand. Who can blame them? My entry for the July project was pathetic at best.
That said, I’ve got big plans for the August-September project. That’s right, I am once again making this a two-month project. My reasoning is that we are all in summer mode and frankly, we are quickly running out of cute projects in this book. Double-up time.
But! Before I announce the August Finny and Donk Great Sewing Adventure project, the July winner hands down is Denver Brunette. Yet again this woman wows me. How cute is that kid? How great is that project? Yep, she’s a smartie. And she once again wins. Bravo!

I am thinking about making one of these for myself, minus the hoodie. There is no bikini ridicule when you are wearing a towel poncho at the beach.

Now, the August-September project is the tri-pocket ticking tote. It is the cover project and while I know many of you will groan at the idea of sewing yet another bag, please consider the twist. This bag is not to be sewn for your use. Instead, you must create this for someone else and explain why you are giving it away. Not only does this support the CAOK movement, but I am pretty darn sure there are a lot of kids headed back to school in the next few weeks who don’t have a backpack and would love to rock this bag. Make it with ticking, or don’t. Make it a tote, or a backpack or a fanny pack if you are really creative. Do whatever inspires you to complete the project, post a photo in the Flickr pool and share your sewing talents with others.
Sound good? See what happens when you go on vacation? Ha!

Love,
Donk

Dear Finny,
When you announced the theme of selecting one of the children’s projects or making a project for a child, I was thrilled. I have so many wee ones in my life these days who I love to spoil. One in particular has a fondness for change. It’s gotten to the point that when there is money missing at his house, his parents automatically go to his room to ask Mr. Sticky Fingers where the dough is. Ha! I love that mischevious side. So I thought — why not make him the coin purse? He is 4, loves his money and loves his Auntie Kelli. I figured this would be a perfect crafting storm.

Alas, this project was not as easy as I had hoped. Working with vinyl isn’t so bad, but getting this darn coin purse to cup, as shown in the directions, is tricky. In fact, I never figured it out. Thankfully, my recipient isn’t terribly picky and I’ve already added a few copper friends to the gift to make him smile.

Believe it or not, this was created while sewing sober. I can see how you’d think otherwise.

I hope you and Bubba are having a fabulous adventure in Costa Rica. I can’t wait to hear all about it. And I really hope someone is there to care for the Magic Garden while you are gone. I am loving the gardening inspiration you’ve been providing with your daily jaunts and finds.

By the time you get home, I hope the Flickr pool is full of great projects and I can pick one for our winner. And I’ve got August’s theme selected and it is a challenge. Good thing you are on vacation resting up!

Love,
Donk

Dear Finny,
How are you my friend? How is the running going? How is the garden? Is your sweet Bubba back on American time after his international galavanting? Speaking of, as you know I am leaving tomorrow on a jet plane and won’t be back again (for a few weeks.) Anyway, to hold up my end of the Fin and Donk Sewing Adventure bargain, here is my wrap skirt for the June/July challenge:

In a not so humble moment, I have to say this is my favorite thing I’ve ever sewn. I love it. I love the color, the simplicity and the way it swishes when I walk. It is just too fun! I can’t wait to make more of these from Nigerian prints when I get home.

In other news, and yes I know it has been blogapalooza around here as of late, but I’m weening myself from technology and trying to get it all in while I can: we celebrated AJ’s birthday early this morning at the bagel shop. You may remember AJ from previous hedgehog entries. He is one of my sweet friends and he was thoroughly surprised and happy with the delivery of a casserole of these heavy cookies this morning. He walked around the bakery handing them out to customers. Then he told me an hour later he had an artery exam. If I’d only known! These take four sticks of butter, 6 eggs, a cup of oil and lots of chocolate. Not to mention the cookies or nuts. They are basically a heart attack wrapped up in a cookie bar and I made him an entire casserole minutes before he was seeing a cardiologist. How’s that for timing? Nothing says happy birthday like a nice gift of cholesterol.

Okay, off to do some continent hopping. Last post for a bit. Thank you all for your sweet traveling words. Can’t wait to check in soon from the first stop: Nicaragua.

Take care Finny. Can’t wait to see how your garden goes when I get home.

Love,
Donk

It’s no secret around here that I’m a huge Jackie O fan. Love the pearls, the bobbed coif, the giant sunglasses. I’ve been copying her for years and think perhaps the only perk of marrying Tom Cruise is a new and improved Jackie O-inspired sense of style. Katie Holmes, I adore how you are looking these days, even if you are a bit Stepford.

I’m not sure when I became a fashion prude but I couldn’t be happier that this style is on its way back. I am sick of the thong panties peeking out the top of too low, too snug, muffin-top-inducing jeans. (So I don’t spin around in the mirror. Ha!) In all seriousness, you don’t have to be thin or wealthy to dress like a million bucks these days. Nothing looks better than clothing that fits — including bras that hold the girls at attention, jeans that are hemmed to the right length and heels that are appropriate for the occasion. You can being wearing Tarjay next to Hermes and I wouldn’t know the difference if the model had both items tailored to her size.
I’ve made my fashion faux pas a time or four and am frankly one of the least fashionable in my gaggle of girlfriends. White eyeshadow in college? Overlooking the warning for brunettes on the Sun In bottle in high school? Wearing plaid during a brief, very ugly and very distraught grunge phase? Considering clean pajamas a great clothing day at NAU? All shamefully true and yes, they do make me want to hide behind an even larger pair of JKO frames.
In these missteps I’ve learned a couple things. Diane Von Furstenberg is always a classic. Pearls are always good to have in a pinch; they’ll make any item seem more polished. I am my happiest in flip flops or running shoes. I’ve learned I should spend money on good handbags, shoes and a lipstick that flatters any time of day. I wear my Gap basics thin, while trendy items often hit the Goodwill basket before they’ve lost their Old Navy scent. Black is my slimming best friend. Jeans, a white t-shirt and a sincere smile often catch a man’s eye when a slinky dress just makes me look like every other girl in a Scottsdale restaurant — hungry and uncomfortable. (And really wishing I wasn’t holding a $12 glass of wine.)

So, what to sew in the next Finny and Donk Sewing Adventure? Why, dahling, I thought you’d never ask. The wrap skirt, of course. Make it a length you find suitable and post your best fashion forward photo in the pool by June 30th. We’ll select a winner (of fancy goodies, no less) by her creativity and style.

~K

P.S. I need a haircut. I’m thinking the Jenny McCarthy asymmetrical bob. The uneven length may drive me nuts, but I think she’s looking pretty fabulous.

Querida Finny,
I just love your birdie apron. I wish I had bought five yards of that fabric and could at least toy with the idea of sewing the beautiful dress we saw in the window of Josephine’s. Oh, my love of expensive fabric knows no bounds.

Good thing I’ve got a couple side jobs. Remember that customized apron idea I had for Mother’s Day? Well, I’ve completed two orders. The first was for Jessica and it turns out she is really pleased with the results. Woo hoo! The second I just completed last night, so fingers crossed it also gets a good review. A friend of a friend emailed me to see if I could make her mom and apron and include her nickname (Meesh) and tacos. Come to find out, Meesh is a taco-making machine. I think I captured the espiritu with this April apron project.

So, who is our grand prize winner for April? Your chance to pick. I’m thinking up a fun project for May-June. Do you mind if we double up? I won’t be around a sewing machine (or electricity, really) for most of the later.

~Donk

Or as they say in Spain, “Ganador, Ganador, Cena de Pollo.” Okay, they don’t say that in Spain, but it is what Ms. Melanie should be signing to herself today. The American mujer quien viva en la Espana rocked the March sew-along challenge. Love the toro fabric! Love the flowers. Love the spunk.

In all fairness, all the entries were really good. Selecting one isn’t easy. (When in doubt, go for the toro.) Ms. Melanie, look for a care package of domestic goodies headed your way soon. What to send a friend in Spain? Hmm…

Now Finny, what shall we sew next for this fabulous sewing adventure?

~K

Dear Fin,
Guess what? In all my domestic prowess (roar), I realized mid-sewing the March pintuck table runner project that really what I was learning here was how to sew a pleat. Score! You know how many of my skirts hang way too low because I’ve never been sure how to pleat in an inch here and an inch there? Well, guess what? I mastered the pleat this weekend with my entry to the Finny and Donk’s Sewing Adventure.

B.P. Before pintucks. Also, A.C. After cats.

I figured my little kitchen side table needed some sprucing. Now that my casa is happily cat free, my houseplants needed to be repotted. Alas, my cutting of that begonia my great-grandfather gave my great-grandmother when he was courting her? Didn’t make it through the 10 weeks with kitties. Thankfully my Tucson grannie has more of the plant and I can snatch another cutting next time I visit.

The other plants were very pleased to see bigger pots, fresh soil and their canvas pintucked table runner. Voila! Now, you get to pick the April project. I’m not going to influence you (place mats) but you know what my kitchen could use (place mats)? I am thinking my community dinners would be that much more fun with a bit of canvas pintucked place mats to rock the table. Canvas because my dinners already look like they are sponsored by Salvation Army. Nothing matches. Might as well try to blend the crazy collection of cloth napkins with something neutral.

Looking forward to your selection and browsing that fabulous photo pool to see how everyone else pleated themselves silly.

~K

Dear Fin,
Oy vey, oy vey, oy! What a ridiculous week of disasters it has been. First off, remember that nudu hat? The gray one that the minister in Chicago ordered and I finished lickity split? Well, I didn’t sent it with delivery confirmation because I’ve never had anything get lost in the mail. Before. Yep, I had to start over after the hat never arrived. I’m sure whomever received the hat found themselves tickled pink by their new gray dreaded accessory. Alas, this left me scrambling to fill the order again and I’ve thankfully just dropped this baby off in the mail. I kinda like it better in black anyway. Hopefully so does the customer. Fingers crossed this baby arrives in no time and the remaining fee comes my way pronto.

And the tunic. Thankfully my love for Amy Butler is well known around here because you’d never know by hearing the obscenities I’ve screamed her direction in the last week. Pattern sewing is just not my strong suit. I am not dramatizing this scene: me last weekend, sewing four hours on the tunic, trying desperately to finish it in time to meet a you’ll-be-able-to-wear-this-for-Easter promise I made Rebekah when I realized I’d sewn the yoke on incorrectly for the third time.

I didn’t even attempt to rip it out. I am just thankful I didn’t pull out my shears and make confetti of the entire project. I’m going to attempt to decipher the pattern and sew this top again this weekend. Poor Rebekkah had to find something else to wear to services tomorrow. {And if you have any gentle tips on what you think I may be doing wrong with the yoke, I’d be happy to hear them. That said, if you are going to forward me blogs where the seamstresses write, “Anna Tunic? So easy! One afternoon of skipping through the sewing and I wore it to dinner!” you might as well send me a barf bag too.}

As for that table runner? Haven’t even thought about it. I am guessing I’ll jump on that baby this weekend. I have to say, you paved your own way quite successfully on this project, didn’t you? Bravo!

Hope the Easter bunny brings you gobs of Reese’s eggs, my friend. Miss you, and oh how I could use your pattern-sewing and margarita-making skills right. about. now.

~K