Shop Update

Just a quick update: Quilted Keychain Wallets are now available in my shop. Go to create. by lani now for selection!

Oilcloth Lunch Bag

I absolutely love oilcloth. I especially love the Mexican floral patterns that are available for purchase from different online shops. Months ago I ran into an oilcloth clearance on Fashion Fabrics Club and purchased a couple yards of oilcloth. I never really did anything with the oilcloth but I knew that I wanted to make some sort of lunch bag from them.

It wasn't until the other day when I ran across this Reusable lunch bag/car trash bag on Craft Buds that I was sure what to do with my little stash. So I pulled out a couple of coordinating prints and whipped one up.

I did make a few changes to the way that I sewed it. For example instead of cutting squares out of the corners as the tutorial calls for, I left them in tact and just boxed the corners of the bag. I also left the handle lining the same size and just sewed it in as part of the bag. I didn't fold the opening down and stitch, instead I stitched the bag outer fabric and lining together and trimmed close to stitching.

It turned out to be a pretty deep little sack. I love the cutout handle, makes it very easy for carrying and makes the bag a tad sturdier. I really like the idea of using oilcloth for a project like this because oilcloth absorbs cooler temperatures well and doesn't require a lot of finishing stitches to secure the fabric.

The next time I plan on making one of these I think I will fully line it and maybe add a snap to it. Maybe even pink the top edges.

This will be a nice pretty addition to my sandwich lunches to work. It gives me a little more height than my Old Navy oilcloth lunch bag and is much sturdier than it as well. I can't wait to pack a "sack" lunch now!!!

Thrifting 5.14.12

It seems I had the case of the blues Monday when I went to the thrift store. I managed to bring home 2 blue sheets, 1 blue pillowcase and a yellow sheet.

This was the pillowcase that I found.

I really like this sheet. It has wonderful yellows and mustards in it. I actually have this sheet in a different colorway. The one that I have already has yellow, red, and blue flowers in it.

This is another sheet that I have duplicates of in other colorways. I have this sheet in pink and yellow. I find the pink and yellow sheets like all the time. I have also found one blue pillowcase in this print.

This is one of my favorite sheets. I am so glad that I found another one because I was getting low on the one that I had.


I also got a few things last week that I have yet to share.

I found one pillowcase and 2 sheets.

This pillowcase print I have in a blue sheet and orange sheet.

I absolutely love this sheet!!!! The border is just gorgeous. I think that I have a blue sheet in this print.

I love this yellow stripe. It has a few blemishes, but I think I can work around it though.


That is all that I have found recently. What have you found lately?

Vintage Sheet Quilt Top

I am no quilter. I love and appreciate the art form; but I do not feel overly compelled to create many quilts. I will incorporate some patchwork into my items, but I am intimidated by placing patchwork on top of batting and quilting and even more intimidated by binding things.

I do sometimes wish I could whip out these incredible masterpieces that I see all over blogland and wish that I could do it in a matter of a day as some people can. That's not my style.

I did, however, manage to get out one quilt top (and it has been a quilt top for a looooong time) from vintage sheets. I really wish I had the confidence to quilt it.

I didn't go with any particular pattern; I just went with long, skinny strips because I have always liked the way that looks and I figured I could't botch that up too much. I don't think me and squares would get along too well.

Even though it isn't a true quilt, I still sleep underneath it. It feels divine. All of those pre-loved, worn-soft vintage goodness pieces are so soft, perfect for warmer evenings.

Right now I'm using as a "sheet," but I'll either swallow my fear of quilting or turn it into a duvet cover. I'm banking on the latter...

I miss my sewing machine!

I have been gone for some time now. I thought I would pop in just to let you guys know that I'm in the middle of moving. So right now I am in between residences, and my poor machines have not made their way over to their new home yet. I'm dying to get back into sewing. I have so many new ideas.

Hope you guys are having a great Sunday! I will return soon.

More Vera-Inspired Wallets

I told you guys that I would have better pictures coming. Unfortunately it took so long to post. My blogging client on my phone has been malfunctioning due to Picasa, so I haven't been able to get any posts out lately.

Without further delay, I will show some of what I have made so far.

I will have these and others available in the shop soon. I also will have the embroidery file available soon. I have been getting many requests for the embroidery design files that I digitize, so I will start offering up those in the shop too.

I have many things in the works and I cannot wait to get back into the groove of things and show you guys!

Vera Bradley-inspired Keychain Wallets

Let me apologize now for the quality (or there lack of) of these photos now.

With that being said, I didn't realize how long it had been since I digitized or even embroidered anything until today. I almost forgot how to digitize. How terrifying!

Anyway, I needed a new keychain wallet because my poor owl wallet had been taken through the ringer and I noticed that I had added a coin purse to my keys, and that was just entirely too much to tote around. I had envisioned this cutesy little quilted deal that would hold cards, coins, and cash and that could clip onto my keys. So I set out to work. After half an hour or so and a couple of attempts I came up with the perfect thing.

I've been whipping these things out left and right today. I've got a few more that aren't pictured.
I decided to go with some fun fabrics with bright patterns to mirror the Vera Bradley look. I added swivel clips to some and small D-rings to others. I just ordered some larger swivel clips, so I think I will be attaching these instead of D-rings in the future.


I made a few of these with this print. I love the fabric so much that I couldn't stop cutting into it. I made one for myself from this fabric.





I have a few more fabrics cut out to make some tomorrow. I think I'm going to head to Hobby Lobby and pick up a couple more prints and really set to work after I do some custom digitizing.

Again sorry for the horrible photos, but I was so excited that I just had to post these. I will take better pics once I locate my camera and whip out a few more.