Sleeping Mask Tutorial in 10 Easy Steps!

So as you all know, H.H. and I are heading off to China for two weeks. We have our flight all booked now and it is going to be very loooooooooooooooooong. We will be flying out of Toronto, touching down in Minneapolis, then fly to Tokyo - touch down there and then fly to Beijing. A grand total of 24hrs on the plane and waiting in airports! We are going to need some good sleep on the plane, so I thought I would make some sleeping masks for us.

Thought I'd give you a little tutorial:

Step 1 - cut out a piece of paper approx 10"x 4.5". Use a pencil to draw a mask like shape. Once you are happy with it cut out a template.

Step 2 - Use your template to cut out 4 mask pieces. 1 in the fabric you want for the front of the mask, 1 in the fabric you want for the back of you mask (make sure this fabric is soft and comfy as it will be the side against your face) and 2 pieces of flannel for added cushioning.

Step 3 - cut a piece of fabric covered elastic about 12" long.

Step 4 - First lay down 1 of the flannel pieces. On top of that lay down your front facing fabric on top of the flannel, right side up.

Step 5 - now lay your elastic across the middle of the mask fabric.

Step 6 - finish off your 'sleeping mask sandwich' by adding the 'back of mask fabric' right side down, then add the last piece of flannel on top of that. Pin all layers together ensuring that your elastic stays in the correct position.

Step 7 - now stitch all pieces together with a 1/2" seam allowance. Stitch around the perimeter of the mask, but leave an opening about 4 " wide (ooh, you'll be so mad if you forget this part!) so you can turn the mask inside out.

Step 8 - now turn the mask inside out through the opening. Press.

Step 9 - After you have pressed your mask, top stitch around the perimeter of the mask.

Step 10 - press the mask again. Voila! You now have a sleeping mask! You can now sleep in peace!

I made H.H's mask out of charcoal grey flannelet - wouldn't want to offend his 'manhood". Mine mask is the colourful one!

"Can't Get No Satisfaction"

So the winner of the bag naming contest goes to my lucky coworker (sorry fellow bloggers). The bag’s name is…..drum roll please………….”Alice”. I thought this just suited her best. She looks like an upside down “A”. The prize was a little ‘simple change purse’ like the ones I have featured in the store. Thanks to everyone who submitted a name. They were all great!

Do you ever feel like you just aren’t doing what you were meant to do? Does anyone else suffer from job ‘un-satisfaction’ (I just made up that word…you like it?)? I have a great day job, nice atmosphere, great coworkers, wonderful boss, good pay, but it just doesn’t ‘float my boat’. I feel so unfulfilled. I find it increasingly hard to get up and go to work.

I’m very frustrated. Not quite sure how to fix this slump that I’m in. Do any of you ever feel this way? It used to come in stages, but now it just seems to be a constant cloud every Monday morning (actually, the dread starts about 3pm on Sunday).

I have people that say:”nobody likes their job” or “no job is perfect”, but on the other hand, I’ve actually met people who really do love their job. So where does that leave me? What should I do? I never have figured out what I want to do when I grow up. All of the things I want to do seem so unrealistic as far as making a living goes. I want to do something with my hands, create and work independently. If only I could sew for a living.

Has anybody out there taken a leap and left a career that they were unsatisfied with to live out their dream? I would love to hear your stories. Inspiration goes a long way sometimes.

***A note to my mother: Don’t worry Mom, I’m not going to up and quit my job – so don’t panic.

p.s – I drew the picture above….so we can cross computer animation off of my potential career list…err, definitely.

A Girl Without a Name...

I am pleased to introduce my latest bag design. I have yet to post her in the store as I am unsure of how I am going to ship her. I usually ship my bags in a bubble envelope, but I don’t think she will fit.

I must credit H.H. with the inspiration for this design. Way back in December at the ‘Sassy Little Craft Show’, we spent downtime sketching bags and this bag design is based on one of his concepts. I just tweaked it a bit and figured out how to construct it (thanks H.H! xo).

I LOVE her! I plan on making her a regular in the shop.

She doesn’t have a name yet. I would love to hear suggestions from all of you! Anyone? The person who suggests the name I choose will get a special little gift sent to them…nothing like bribery eh?