A Bunch of Bags

This was a fun special order. 

A friend wanted 9 bags for her daughters and grand daughters. 

The only thing she asked for was a variety.

 Getting to choose the fabrics was fun but I'm still wondering if I made the right choices.....

Silly me I took these pictures before I put the crystals on the zippers. I love sparkly things. You'll have to take my word for it, they were cuter than they look here.

Thank You!

Thank you everyone for the well wishes on this newest adventure. 

Most of all, thank you Joan, Katelyn and Amy for being my first customers! 

I hope you enjoy your new bags.

Sewing For A Cause

It's so much fun having a small child to sew for. I'm not sure why it is so fun to sew for wee ones, they grow up and out so quickly! I guess it's just that tiny things seem cuter.
I am so lucky to have had three children of my own and now this amazing grandson.  There are others for whom this has not happened. Fortunately, there are opportunities out there for adoption. Unfortunately, adoption is very expensive. Fortunately, there are people out there who see a need and do something about it. One of these groups is called Sacred Selections. Several times a year they have fundraisers to help families pay for adoptions. They help people find ways to raise money for themselves, and they also counsel these couples, who want to be parents so very much, through the process.
When my mom and sister told me they were donating items for an auction, I asked if I could take part and donate too. These bags are a couple of the things I sent. Hopefully they will be a little helpful in someone reaching their goal. I had fun making them. I thought of when I was expecting my children and the lovely anticipation  that went along with that time in my life, hoping that soon those waiting for children will realize their dream.

Each bag holds two shopping bags and has a detachable wrist strap for carrying or keys or both!

So, My Sister Broke Herself......

There's nothing worse than being far away when someone you love gets hurt. Though I am closer, it's still too far. Since I didn't ask Sherie's permission, all I will say is, day before Christmas, ski, fall, new knee. Needless to say, she is bummed. We are bummed for her.

We were talking one day right after, and on that day the thing which made her most angry was not being able to carry her coffee and use her crutches. Yes, my sister and I rival for who drinks more coffee. Our mom is right up there with us. I really win because I can drink it at night.

I was wracking my brain about what to do for her from so far away.

I was in the process of making some bags for a really great charity, a quilt for my mom, a quilt for baby MAC, and other stuff. So...... a lot of sewing which I will try to show shortly but nothing for Sherie.

I wracked my brain some more about how I could make it easy and cute for her with the crutches. Then I came up with a cute name..... Crutch Clutch........ too cute?... um, yeah..... but no product.

Then she demanded something, anything that would make it easier for her. My sister never demands so I knew then and there the depth of her despair. Then I panicked. Then it clicked and I had it.

This is really just a prototype. It could have been better but my mom leaves today and that's how I'm delivering it.

 The taller bucket like bag is for a travel mug, but she can use it for whatever. Yarn and needles for instance? I used clips for sturdy, but easy on and off. Have something with a bit more weight? No problem.

I quilted it for insulation, body, and fun. Somethings should be fun. Especially when the reason for them is not.

How do you make a small bag for someone who normally uses a big purse? I have the same purse. I am not sure how I would do without it. I tried to think of the things I might want and where they'd fit. I realized I would need a pouch within the pouch, so that's what I gave her.

 On one side there is a strap for carrying around the wrist or to use for keys, or both. On the other side is an easy clip for it to be attached to the  crutches. I put the zippers in so when she is hanging onto the bag attached to the crutch, she can easily unzip and zip each pouch without much trouble....... hopefully.

Sherie let me know how they work. In the mean time remember there is love and thoughts for a quick recovery in every stitch!

I Actually Sewed Something

 My sister asked for this bag back when I was at the shop and made it for display. She decided it was the perfect knitting bag. I decided that she also needed a pattern holder and made one the night before she left. It's not great but I think it will do until she is tired of it. 

Jessica wanted more shopping bags. She uses one that I sent her for a beach bag. We collect shells and other beach treasures in it. These will be for shopping. Or beach treasures or whatever she wants.

Who says you can't have fall color in FL? I have two beautiful trees in my front yard that are trying their hardest.  I looked up and saw this while I was painting my front door. My blue front door. My indigo blue front door.  Oh yeah, I'll post that over here when it is dry......

The Ongoing Series of Silly Bags and a Skirt

I don't know why. I'm just that way.

I modeled this after a bag I bought made out of a polyester fabric. I like it, it's light and pretty but it's not lasting. I've already snagged it. My version is smaller, the straps are longer and I put the snap straps so I can roll it up for storage. It's about 17 x 15 so, for me, just about right.

I didn't have enough fabric of either choice so I added the solids. On the first one, I added the extra fabric along the way.  For the second, I got a bit smarter. I sewed the green onto the white print and did the embellishment sewing down the seam. Then I treated it as the complete piece of fabric it now was, laid out my pattern and cut. Super simple.

I wanted to get home early enough to have You Know Who take photos of me modeling it.... that didn't happen.

Last but not least is a simple skirt I made for my M-I-L. Hope she likes it. It's the same style as my toile skirt. Perfect for summer, I'm thinking I'll make more.

What not to do and what got done......

Do not, under any circumstances drink several double esspresso lattes in one day. Have I introduced you to my magical coffee machine? She is lovely. I won't take my own advice. I will do it again and suffer.......I managed to finish this dress. It was inspired by a pattern we have at the shop. I made mine reversible.
I also finished a bag made from some Japanese fabric I brought home from quilt market. I need to remember to send Jessica a piece..... Yes, this is just one bag.
Small zip bag. I have made a couple of these after Jessica sent me one. Hers is prettier. You can see it here.

I also cleaned up my "crafting" area. I wasn't quite finished so this is all you get. The area is a wall in a room where a lot of other stuff goes on too. I know, I know, it still looks pretty messy but isn't that the nature of what we do????I also talked to my mom for two hours. There was a moment of hysteria because I am an idiot. I am sure having the shakes from coffee made it worse/funnier. Wow I am an idiot twice.....

Here is where I've been.....

in·er·tia

Pronunciation: \i-ˈnər-shə, -shē-ə\
Function: noun
Etymology: From Latin, lack of skill, from inert-, iners
Date: 1713
1 a: a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force b: an analogous property of other physical quantities (as electricity) 2: indisposition to motion, exertion, or change.

In spite of this and my Dear Husband working non stop on his current class, I have tried to be creative, tried. Well, I made a couple of things anyway.

How not to bind a quilt.....

Do anything but try! For instance, make a bunch of bags! I guarantee your quilt will never get bound....Or, play with your cat. If you don't have a cat, borrow one......

If you can't borrow one, make one.