Thursday, March 7, 2013

Nancy Drew is a Clue Blog Hop



Today is my day!

I am so happy that the Nancy Drew is a Clue Blog Hop has finally begun.

My mom has a younger sister that is really close to half-way between my age and my mom's.  Her name is Jill, (or Jilly Bean as I like to call her), and I have always been very close to her.  She is the greatest Great-Aunt ever.


As a girl, Jilly Bean loved Nancy Drew books.  I bet she read every one available at the time.  After my daughters learned to read, she gifted several original copies she had to them.  They loved them as well, and still have them.


As soon as I found out about this fabric I knew what I wanted to make and for whom I was going to make it!!!  I knew I wanted to make Jill a pouch out of the Nancy Drew fabric to carry her Kindle in.  I bought the Idea Pouch Pattern from Michelle Patterns and got started right away.


Let me say that this is the easiest pouch I have ever made.  The instructions are so clearly written and the whole thing came together from cutting to finished in a matter of one short evening of sewing.
















        The only modification I made to the pattern was cutting the directional fabric a little longer so I could cut it apart, turn one side and sew it back together along the fold lines so the books and faces were all going the correct directions.  (If you look closely at the photo to the right, you will see that the books on the top are upside down when the flap is opened)




We are a sentimental family and we save treasured items from the past.  (My children call it hoarding, but they do it too, LOL)  The buttons on the front of the pouch are some that my grandmother, (Jill's mom), saved.  I used to play with her buttons as a child and was so lucky to get them after she passed away.  These particular ones were perfect for this project.







On my side of the family, we celebrate Christmas at my parents' house on Christmas Eve.  We draw names for the adults and without saying a word, or manipulating the process in any way at all, Jilly Bean was chosen for me to give a gift to.  She would have gotten the pouch anyway, at some point, but this was GREAT.  The fabric...Jill's love of Nancy Drew...Drawing Jill's name.......OH, HOW THIS WAS MEANT TO BE!!!!  (the only thing that went wrong was that my husband was very ill, and I didn't get to be there to see her open it, but my children were and they took lots of pictures for me!!)

               


This past weekend, Jill asked me to make her a matching iPhone cover.  This is what I made from a tutorial by luellabella.  Fast, cute, DONE.  The button was another from my grandmother's collection.  The iPhone cover was loved as much as the pouch!

                         

Great big thank yous go out to Madame Samm and Carol for putting this hop together.  It has been fun!!!

Thank you for visiting my little blog and I hope you will check out all the other blogs in the hop.  Here are the blogs featured today:


Thursday, March 7, 2013 
Fabric-ating  (You are Here!)

63 comments:

  1. Aren't you lucky to have such a special aunt. She is lucky to have your beautiful work. I love that you used the old buttons.

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  2. Your pouch is just delightful! I love it!

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  3. Two great pouches but even better was the obvious love you have your Jilly
    Bean. Isn't it wonderful to be able to make such cute things for someone you love! blessings, marlene

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  4. Such a lovely story and those pouches are just great! Thanks for sharing and hopping with us. :O)

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  5. You did a great job on your projects. I love them all. Pouches are so good to have! Thank you for sharing.

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  6. Ohhhh Laura thank you sor sharing your Jilly Bean with all of us....your lovely gift to her will live long in all of our hearts.

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  7. I love the pouch and your connection with your Aunt!

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  8. This is an awesome gift with a wonderful story....thanks for sharing it with us...have a great day.

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  9. Thank you for sharing your story! I love what you have done with teh fabric to keep the imagines intact, nicely done!

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  10. This is fabulous! Love it- and am going to buy the pattern for myself (and then a Kindle!)

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  11. What a great story! Love your bags!

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  12. What a wonderful story. Doesn't it feel great to be able to create a one of a kind and have it appreciated so much?

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  13. love this hop thanks for participating

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  14. Great job! This is such a fun hop. Your aunt is very lucky.

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  15. wow nice projects! thank's for sharing
    enjoy the rest of the hop

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  16. Nice job, so glad you shared today!

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  17. What wonderful projects and all made with love. I am sure she will love and enjoy them for a very long time.

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  18. Sew wonderful sharing your gifts with us today! I too love to sew for my family and put family treasures with love on my gifts. Your aunt is so lucky. Judith, Texas

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  19. Fantastic, thank you for sharing :)

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  20. I am all for something useful to create for family and friends and I am sure they love your ND gifts.

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  21. That must have been the hit of the gift giving. It is darling as is the phone cover.

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  22. What a cute pouch and iphone covers! You did a great job!

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  23. Great Nancy Drew pouches! Jilly Bean is very lucky. Thank you for sharing.

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  24. Love your projects lovely gifts.

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  25. What a wonderful gift for a beloved aunt! Any aunt who gives away her collection of Nancy Drew books is special!
    You did a great job!

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  26. You made a beautiful gift there for your aunt. I am sure she is going to treasure it for many, many years to come. Looks like her tablet fit inside perfect. Oh, and the buttons, I am a fan of buttons, they helped make it all perfect!!

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  27. How lovely that you were able to make this treasure for Aunt "Jilly Bean"!
    My family also celebrates Christmas at Mom and Dad's on Christmas Eve. Now all the way down to the Great Grand Children!

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  28. Love you phone case and kindle cover! Thanks for sharing and your lovely story.

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  29. Adorable! And what a fun way to gift a special person!

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  30. Oh that is a wonderful story! Sorry you had to miss seeing her open it but you know she loves it! Thank you for sharing.

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  31. Love your phone case and the kindle cover. Thanks for sharing

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  32. Love the way you made(and surprised) your aunt. Then made her a matching phone cover. Great job!

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  33. Cute projects---both of them. She must have liked it a lot to make a request for the matching accessory.

    Hooray for button boxes too. I have quite a few of my grandmothers and treasure them. Some do show up on projects if they fit the theme, etc. I think she would be pleased. Some of my great grandmom's are in there too.

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  34. I love it Laura! What a perfect gift for your Jilly Bean!

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  35. Family history is so cool. Great that you could incorporate great memories and the buttons are over the top. Wonderful job.

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  36. Wonderful projects and a perfect gift! Thanks for sharing!

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  37. Great pouch and a lovely story of your Jelly Bean!!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  38. Great projects... and, I love the way you used the buttons.

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  39. Sew cute!! Lucky girls!! Thank you for sharing! Great job!!

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  40. Great gifts! It's nice to incorporate both the fabric and buttons to make a gift even more special. Thanks for sharing!

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  41. Very cute, glad it all worked out for the Christmas exchange. Love this hop and having a great time. Thanks for sharing your blog with us.

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  42. I wish things would have been different so you could have seen your aunt open her wonderfully creative Christmas present. You know she's thrilled when she asked you to make another cover for her. Thanks for participating and inspring us with your creativity.

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  43. What a great job.
    Its looking very nice

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  44. What fun seeing what you made with the fabric! Thanks for being part of the hop.

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  45. Great project. Now I want some of this fabric to make my own kindle cover! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  46. Beautiful gift.Sure they will be delighted.Thanks for sharing!

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  47. Such a great idea! I'm sure that your Aunt enjoyed her gift. Thanks for sharing.

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  48. what fun memories- and fabulous job on the projects!

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  49. How lucky to have a special Jilly Bean in your life and she's lucky to have you. What a fab idea to make her a gift with Nancy Drew. Was there a sailor in your family? Those buttons on the Kindle cover are U.S. Navy buttons; I have some from my husband's stint in the Navy.

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  50. Your sure have a special Family!! And you are super, to be creating such nice Heart Memories for your Aunt & Daughters....they will never forget!

    Special Ohio Hugs! :)

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  51. Ooooo...I have that pattern too. Great to know its an easy one to follow. Yours turned out wonderful.

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  52. Sweet post -- what a great gift. That pouch is so nicely lined up when buttoned, I'm impressed. So cute.

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  53. the thought and love behind this project was so lovely. Good job. Love the addition of the iphone case.

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  54. Wonderful projects! Jilly Bean is so lucky to have you in her life. I'm sure she will cherish them! Thanks for sharing. Great story.

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  55. The pouch is super cute. I'm sorry you had to miss it in person :)

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  56. Thank you for sharing such a great story. It's nice to be able to give such a great gift to the person that inspired your reading career.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  57. Gorgeous gorgeous! Love what you did! Fantastic job, love the use of fabrics :)

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