moshi moshi messenger bag

i love it when a plan comes together. and here's one that came together brilliantly! this bag is the result of sibling cooperation. yes! parents out there, it is possible that your adult children (who once could do nothing but insult and attempt to maim each other) can come together as friends and partners in design. my brother and i co-created this chickadee's first ever messenger bag. i was gracious enough to let him pick out the fabric. he was gracious enough to let me edit his original design into more of a "wish list." then we fell back into our old pattern where he went out to party with friends and i stayed home to do my homework. the homework paid off! i think that we aced the final exam.

this sturdy fella measures 14" x 11" and has plenty of storage options. there are two zip pockets and several slip pockets inside to accommodate the trappings of a global trekker / small town teacher. let's hope this design takes over japan like godzilla...in a kinder, more benevolent way...

update!!! axis: bold as love blanket

turn off your mind, relax and float downstream on the relaxing blue ripples of the latest addition to the psychedelic love snuggle. listen to the color of your dreams and imagine that love is all and love is everyone. this is the end of the beginning...

(thanks to the beatles for the lyrical inspiration)

valley of the dolls

here's the latest installment of the work in progress series. tune in later for scenes from the finished project...

welcome back bernie!

after some pokes and prods (sorry girl) bernie the trusty bernette 65 has returned to take her place as queen of the sewing cabinet. as you can imagine, there is much rejoicing here at chickadee central. all of the chickadees on chickadee street love to hear bernie go purr, hummm, purr. the happy sound of her motor running is accompanied by the pop of sparking wine corks and elton john's wickedly appropriate song of celebration, the bitch is back.

hot potato

too hot to handle, too cold hold...these pot holders take control in the kitchen. functional, fun and fashionable, these sturdy cotton squares multi-task with the greatest of ease. use them to handle the hot stuff in the oven and then faster than you can say "casserole" they take their place at the table to act as hot pads. plus, they make a meal of leftovers at the bottom of the yarn basket. what a great way to bring lonely yarns together.

flower power!

chickadee headquarters has been pretty quiet lately. the holiday season brought loads of distraction that has lasted into the new year. thankfully, i was able to get it together long enough to construct a special sack for my secret santa.

this tote packs a punch full of petals and polka dots. the design of this bag is quickly becoming a favorite. three pockets grace the front with their contrast of charm. while inside, one pocket keeps its zip sealed to preserve precious smaller potions. it measures an ample 17" x 14" and is reinforced with interfacing both in the body and the straps.

gentle people, if you go anywhere (especially san francisco) be sure to wear some flowers on your bag.

no more brown bag blues

here's a new take on the functional, but not favorable, brown paper bag. any gift of wine, sparking or otherwise, is a treat no matter what kind of package it comes in. but a gift in its own reusable tote will make you the belle of the ball. this one is fully lined and reversible.

a camo-crochet experiment yielded this nifty number. a manly take on the bottle transporter, it is sturdy and strong and can accommodate all styles of large lagers.

in this case, two is certainly good company.

to wrap or not to wrap

this holiday season i found myself presented with the same problem on countless occasions...waste $$ and other precious resources on paper packaging and totes that would soon be trashed or find a way to reduce, reuse and recycle my fabric stash. happily, i was able to save a few saplings by constructing my own gift bags. here's one that is fashioned out of complementary fabrics and reverses to suit your fancy...or more specifically, aunt k's fancy. i made this with her in mind. she's an avid reader so this came with a couple of books as stuffing. she can use it for trips to the bookstore or any store that she pleases. this is a gift where the gift wrap gives back.

long time no blog

it seems like just yesterday when this chickadee settled down for a long winter's nap. now awake and feeling refreshed, we've emerged from hibernation with lots of new ideas and a few little projects to update you on. to reward you for your patience and support in 2007, let's get 2008 off to a great start with an explosion of cute.

MURPHATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here's the one and only murph (!) looking so dandy and so fine in a chickadee original hand-knit sweater. note how the ribbed 'sleeves' and turtleneck give him an air of dignity that makes him the leader of the pack. he holds his head high as he goes dashing through the snow or rain or sleet or snain or whatever the winter throws his way. and let's not forget the camouflage print that gives him a leg up when he's in the mood to playfully ambush his neighborhood squirrel and bunny friends. captain cuteness!

and your bird can sing

i love it when a plan comes together...and this one came together beautifully. this bag is a lovely marriage of varied prints. three fabrics sing together in perfect harmony in this 17" x 13" composition. a three pocket trio hits the high notes up front, while the inner zip pocket keeps the percussion in check.

interfacing throughout the bag and the handles acts as the upright bass, sturdy and strong. there is even a fancy zig-zag arpeggio accenting the basic melody.

it should come as not surprise that this bird has flown...away for a special order.