So Simply Stephanie

I stitched up this Reversible Box Tote earlier this week. Very Shannon sells lovely knitting patterns. She generously offers up this tote (and this one ) for free! This pattern is very easy and can be completed in an afternoon. It's great for beginners!    It perfectly fits 2 Big Cakes (or similar) yarn. It's roomy, yet a nice size to take on trips or just tote from room to room in your home.    These handy little bags could be used for so many things! With stiffer interfacing, they would make unique magazine holders. Or what about toy bins for the kiddos? And course, they would look fabulous holding other crafting supplies, too!

As I try to get back into the habit of blogging, I thought it would be fun to start something new: Friday Finds Here I'll share some of my favorite patterns (new and old), fabric, shops, ideas, and/or other crafty stuff that catches my eye. First up, check out these BEAUTIFUL creations from Crocheting With Altitude ! In addition to baby items, she sells hats, blankets, decor, and more. I originally spotted her work on a FB group for items handmade in Colorado. Her page notes that she also welcomes custom orders. And here is my favorite bag pattern: the 241 Tote from Noodle-head.com (and on FB ) I've made at least 6 of these bags ( here , here , and here ). Pictured is the one I kept for myself. I made it over 6 years ago and it still looks great. The pattern is easy to follow, because Anna does a fantastic job of explaining each step in the process. I think it's suitable for beginners and can be made in a weekend (or less). If you're looking for bea...

In the last 5 years, I had done very little sewing and even less purchasing of fabric/patterns/supplies. Since our move back to Colorado earlier this year, I've been sewing again. There are two things I've noticed... Cotton prices have gone up (and it's harder to find great bargains on fabric). The number of pattern makers has increased quite a bit. When we made our move here, we had a huge sale and I sold all but 2 pieces of fabric and most of my sewing supplies. Since I hadn't been sewing much and we had to downsize to fit in our new space, so it seemed like a good idea. Now I'm trying to build a small fabric stash. I'm fortunate to live near a few local quilting and fabrics stores. It is so much fun to see all of the new designs available! And who doesn't want a reason to shop for fabric? I'm also now using a 1970's sewing maching that belonged to my grandma and mom. It's a Singer 258. This machine is simple, heavy, durable, and cou...

It's been such a long time. We're now living back in Colorado (yay!!!) and I've started sewing again. We don't live in the mountains like before, but we're a short drive from them. We are LOVING it here. As a huge bonus we live near some dear friends that we've known for years; and a little car trip gets us to friends and family in the Springs. My above-mentioned dear friend, Tanya, has an Etsy store called Tatiana's Corner . There she sells beautiful cards, scrapbook layouts, and more! Here are just a few examples...  With some gentle nudging, I recently joined her store to sell my zipper pouches, sewing needle/pin holders , dish scrubbies, and (eventually) more. Here are my recent projects for sale :     We're hoping to add crochet and knit beanies before fall, too. I'm especially excited to knit more of these Colorado beanies to sell.            I've also found a little time to do some personal sewi...