Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Messenger Bag!

This is a flap type messenger bag that goes over the shoulder and can criss cross the chest. It measures 15 X 11 X 3. It was a little confusing to make but I got through it.



Tuesday, December 28, 2010

New Shoulder Bag with tie closure!

I actually finished this yesterday but it was wayyyyyyyyyy past my bedtime when it was done so I didn't try to take any pictures and get it posted.
I didn't get much accomplished today. I ended up going to the library and then the fabric store to get some magnetic snaps for my next project. Then I just had to look around at everything. I found some clearance fabric to make some springtime baskets out of and I got a zipper for a bag I want to try.
Then I met a friend for lunch. I don't get to see her very often because of work so it was nice to get caught up. But then, by the time I got home my energy was sapped. I had to rest for awhile and am just now getting to the pictures and posting. I feel like these kind of days are wasted as far as getting work done.




Monday, December 27, 2010

A Simple tote!

Boy, yesterday I felt like a truck had hit me. Today I am doing better. I have a runny nose and eyes and am still achy but I can at least do something today. Yesterday, all I could do was sit around. It was a very frustrating day!!
I whipped up this little tote today. It is reversible and really cute if you are in a hurry and just need a little something to carry a few things with you. Actually, you could fit quite a bit in it!! The bag itself is 13 inches wide and 10 inches deep. The longer strap is 8 inches and tucks really nicely through the smaller handle sealing the top of the bag so nothing falls out. It is really quick to make too!!!



Saturday, December 25, 2010

New tote!

After our Christmas dinner I tried out this new design. This is a smaller tote, about 12.5 X 9 inches. It has outer pockets created by the way the straps are attached. It was a little difficult to put together at first but now that I have done one I know it will get easier. I think adding a strap with a button or velcro closing would be a nice addition. Perhaps a small inside pocket too!!


Merry Christmas and another tote!

I actually started this yesterday but only got the lining and straps on today. I put a pocket in this tote that's why you see an inside shot of this bag.



Friday, December 24, 2010

A Different Bag!

Well, I tried a different little bag today. This one is not quilted but it is lined. It has a button closure with a little pink ribbon. I think it would be cute for a little girl!


Kindle Cover!

I finally got around to making the Kindle cover. I originally made one using a design from Moda but I found that it didn't work out quite right. I don't know if it was me or the pattern but I adjusted it and I think this works better. Plus, you don't have to worry about putting on a binding.




Thursday, December 23, 2010

Rag quilt tote!

I worked on this most of the morning and just took it out of the dryer. Now, I did stop and get up and move around as my back is killing me today so it wasn't constant sewing. But it seemed to take a bit of time. I do have to say that I like this bag alot. It is reversible too! Now I am on to working on the kindle cover!!!




Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Another Bag!!!

I only finished one more bag today. I had PT in the morning and then a dr. appt. in the afternoon so my sewing time was broken up. I think this bag is a bit unique as I used the southwestern themed saint fabric to make it. It will be a conversation piece!!!
I am going to try a rag bag next. We'll see how that turns out!!




Tuesday, December 21, 2010

More Bags!

I worked on some more bags today. I finished 3. I did two with a pink African themed fabric and 1 with a purple quilt square I had leftover from a quilt. The purple one is quite tall and thin. I am not sure how much I like it yet.
These bags are all lined and quite sturdy. I free motion quilt them all too.
I also made a little tea sampler bag too. I don't think it turned out quite right so I will try again tomorrow. It is getting too late for me to be up and sewing now. I couldn't sleep well last night, and was up quite early so I am going to make it an early night tonight.
I am hoping to finish snipping the rag quilt tomorrow so I can get that up on the blog.






Forgot the Supervisor!!

Last night when I added my bag pictures I forgot the most important picture of all! That of my darling supervisor! My dog Rappy, is 12 years old and I am never without him by my side if I am at home. He is such a love! Who could ever guess that one could become so attached to a dog, but he is really more than a dog, he is a people!! At least he thinks he is!!


Look What I Found!

Doing some early morning blog surfing and I found a wonderful blog from a gal in Australia. She is offering a give-away on New Years Eve. The fabric is beautiful and she is willing to send it anywhere in the world! How very nice of her to do that. Go check out her blog and see how clever she is!
http://retromummy.blogspot.com/2010/12/flower-sugar-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Retromummy+%28retromummy%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Monday, December 20, 2010

Busy! Busy! Busy!







Oh boy have I been busy! Since I have been off I have finished one rag quilt (well, not quite finished, I have to finish snipping it), and two tote bags. I know it doesn't sound like much to some of you but for me it is big!!
I really like making these bags. The pattern is so straight forward. I got the directions from p.s. i quilt blog. She had a tutorial for a friendship bag that was much smaller than this. One of the comments after the tutorial was from SewLadySew and she resized it so it was bigger. I followed her directions on the first bag, but I found that her lining was way too big so I made adjustments for the second bag and it turned out great. The green bag was my second attempt.
I have also been using all the fancy stitches on my machine to quilt the bags. I have already found some favorite stitches!!

I am hoping to make a bunch of these bags and start my etsy site. Since my husband has been out of work for 2 years now I have to find some way to bring in extra money. Teaching just doesn't pay all the bills!!!!

A few weeks ago I made this owl. He is cute but I really hate stuffing something that big!!
Last week I made the crow. He was fun and I want to make more of them and put them in decorated canvases. Another of my goals to work on while I am home for these 2 weeks.
I made a kindle cover but I gave it away before I took a picture of it!! Darn! I want to make some more of those but I have to adjust the pattern I found because I didn't like the way it worked out. I'll post a picture of it when I get it figured out.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Quilt Delivered!

Today was the day that I gave the Pastor at the school where I teach the quilt I made for him. He was very surprised and happy with it. I also made him some carrot cake cupcakes that we shared with my class. This was a quilt for his birthday. He said it was too pretty to use and should be hung on the wall. I hope he uses it but if he wants to hang it on the wall he could do that too!!!


Saturday, December 11, 2010

One World One Heart Event

A Whimsical Bohemian is announcing the 5th and final OWOH event to begin on January 30th. Please click on the link below to get more information. This is a great event and I recommend it to all fellow bloggers.
http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/a-couple-of-quick-answers-to-a-couple-of-owoh-questions.html

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Butterfly Project

I found this project on another blog. I copied the picture (blog owner gave permission) and her address so that everyone who reads my blog can click on it and possibly join the effort. If you read her entire listing, you see that all the directions to participate are given and if you don't want to participate through her blog you can go directly to the Houston Holocaust Museum. There is a link for educators and since I am one, I decided to click on it. I teach a huge unit on the Holocaust in the spring and I am adding this to it. My class will definitely be participating in this project. I am so glad that I happened upon this blog and am thankful that others are just as interested in stopping the hate as I am.



http://twodressesstudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/butterfly-effect-open-is-calling-you.html

"The Butterfly Project" hosted by The Holocaust Museum Houston in Texas, USA. Their mission as follows:
The Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, we teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy. And the tag line following it reads:
Stop Hate. Starting Here.
The Butterfly Project mandate is to remember the 1,500,000 innocent children who perished as a result of the Holocaust by collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies.


In Spring 2013, these butterflies will then become a breath-taking exhibition to serve as a memory of this event.


Can you imagine? 1.5 million children translated into 1.5 million butterflies....? If you wondering why a butterfly, the project is based on this poem -


I Never Saw Another Butterfly
The last, the very last,

So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow
Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing
against a white stone....

Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ’way up high.
It went away I’m sure
because it wished
to kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I’ve lived in here
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.

Only I never saw another butterfly.
That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.

Written by Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942

Born in Prague on Jan. 7, 1921.
Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942.
Died in Aushchwitz on Sept. 29, 1944.