Back To Bags

I had some Christmas fabric left, so when I got my haircut the other day, I thought, I should make my hairdresser a bag.  Then, I ran across a co-worker that I hadn't seen or heard from in about 6 years or so and I'm meeting her in a few days.  I thought (again, not always a good thing),  it would be nice to take a bag for her and her daughter.   So, here they are. 

Early Christmas

Because part of the family is visiting from Germany and they won't be back for Thanksgiving or Christmas, my daughter decided to have a multi-holiday celebration this month.  Since I already gave my great-granddaughter her Halloween bag, doll and baby doll quilt, it left me a little empty handed.  So, today I made small bags complete with pockets and zipper tops for Mackenzie and my 10 year old granddaughter Kaylea.  I hope that they aren't too big for 4 year olds and 10 year olds, but will be still big enough for a few more years.  Sorry about the lop-sided photography,  Now, to figure out some small gifts for the other little ones. 

Christmas Bags

I stumbled across some videos on You Tube by Jean JellyRoll Queen about adding a zipper to the charm pack totes video by Missouri Quilt Company.  Here
and here .  I have been using velcro on my totes, and thought that zippers would be an improvement, so I made three more to test it out. 

I'm sure that you believe that all went perfectly, and that this one tote has pockets on the outside instead of on the inside on purpose.   All in all though, it was pretty simple to add the zipper, and if you are like me and like things contained, you should check out You Tube.

One More

And I think it turned out pretty cute.  I used what I had, (except for the Nutcrackers, I bought those) and if I were shopping I might have gotten different fabrics, but all in all, I'm happy with it. 

Even the inside is Christmasy.  I do the lining in my pockets upside down, because when I reach in, they are kind of right side up.   I'm already getting the urge to make some for my SIL's, I can't seem to help doing that to myself.   I didn't make that side of the family Halloween bags though.

And Yet Another

Another Afghan and another tote bag.  The Afghan is for my daughter. 

I gave away all my Halloween bags, and didn't have one for me.  Not enough fabric left for another bag, and so I decided to do a fall bag instead.  I didn't want to buy more fabric, so this may not be the best combination, but it is done, it was all from stash and scraps, and it is mine.  I can use it for 2 months too, instead of one.   I will have at least one more bag, when I cut this one out I also cut out a Christmas bag and it is about half finished now.  I've run out of steam though, my husband and I spent about 6 1/2 or 7 hours at the hospital today, he was having fluid removed from around his lung and the prep and waiting after it was over to make sure that everything was ok took awhile.  It's a puzzle why sitting around can make you so weary. 

Working With My Daughter

My daughter came over yesterday and we worked on the Halloween bags.  We got somewhat of a late start, but managed to finish 4 bags.  I had  2 finished already, and I finished one more this morning, so 7 down and five to go.   She had the ones we did yesterday gathered up ready to go (along with her keys) and I thought I'd get a quick last minute picture.

Tucker's Bag

Monday night I received this text from my niece, the mother of eight children, "I'm sure you're busy, but I was wondering if you might have time to make Tuck a bag for ballgames.  We're at our first one tonight & he keeps stealing the girls'.   Hard to believe of this angelic little fella. 

His sisters bags have pockets, so so does Tucker's.

I was going for "manly", so I started out with some velveteen cotton that I had, but for Tucker's we'll call it imitation suede.  It is soft.   They have horses, so I thought a cowboy hat and boots would fit the bill.   The pocket linings and the bottom of the inside lining are blue handkerchief pattern. 

And so he doesn't get bored, I did the opposite side pocket in a different color.   It's not perfect, but I used a lot of extra thread to make sure it can stand up to the rough life that could be coming its way.  There'll be lots of ballgames.  Now, I'm trying to decide whether to make his 3 younger sisters crayon rolls.  If so, I'd probably need to make one for Tucker, too.  I'm anxious to get it in the mail, it sounds like an emergency request.
I did decide to make his sisters some crayon rolls.  I didn't make one for him though, I was trying to hurry so I can get them in the mail today.  I used the tutorial from These Moments of Mine here  and it was as simple as she said.  The directions were very good and they are nice and cushy.  I could have done better with more time, I would have used different ribbon and I would have wound new bobbins.  I figured the charcoal wasn't too bad with the black ribbon though.   Now I just have to go get colors or colored pencils and little writing pads and then it's off to the post office.

Progress and a Break

Progress has been made on my hiddenwells, but I'm not too thrilled with it.  I think that I'm going to cut off about half of the red border and call it finished.  It's for my brother to give a friend, and that is his vote, too.

Meanwhile, I kind of took a break and made a purse (tote).  It started out to be for a gift and then I realized that it matches the ipad case that I made and I decided that I'm keeping it for myself.  There are large patch pockets on the front and the back and....

Lots of pockets inside, too.  I have to have my pockets.  I have discovered that I like to have a big about 8 1/2 or 9 inch square pocket on the inside, it's great for doctor referrals, lab referrels, etc.  Also, I have a big strip of velcro on the top.  I was going to do a zipper, but didn't have one, and I did have velcro.   Now it's back to working on the hiddenwells, I still need to do the back and then baste and quilt it.  Next step is the label. 

Year of the Bags

I think this has been the year of the bags.  I see that except for two they are all my old stand-by no pattern bags, but for different people mostly, and in lots of different fabrics, including cotton, velveteen, lamé and Ikea upholstery fabric.   I'd say 15 bags in a pretty good amount.  Sandra's Fire bag was a collaboration between my daughter and I. 

Daughter and I Finished Her Bag

Not very good pictures I'm afraid, taken with my iphone in poor lighting.  The handles are orange, and the bag is denim.  It's very cushy. 

The front zipper pocket lining.

We added this pocket, it's big enough for regular sheets of paper and is open.  I had cut one out for my bag too, but got carried away with the directions and forgot to add it to mine.  It isn't in the directions. 

All the linings are different as we were using leftovers from Gator quilts, but they are all very Gatory, and I think they give it character.   Even the pulls have Gators on them.  I got the bag started and my daughter finished it. 

Filling in the Time and Catching Up

I got up early this morning, as usual, and started off by getting my daughter's Kindle Fire bag up to this point.  It's pretty close to finished probably only another hour or so, but I needed the D rings to go further and my daughter has those.  She's coming after work and hopefully, she will be using it tomorrow.   Hope the picture doesn't make anyone dizzy, I flipped it.

Yesterday, I basted the bottom quilt, my RRSR (RRCB) and the top quilt, Maddox's baby quilt, and after I got as far as I could on the bag this morning I started basting the middle one, my Craftsy BOM.  Now, to clean, oil and change the needle in my Juki, and wind about 100 bobbins (a slight exaggeration) and I'll be set to do some meandering.  When I was almost done I had to stop and take DH to the heart doctor.  He didn't seem to have any real answers, I hate when Dr's ask me what is wrong, but his loop recorder showed that he had had several episodes of atrial fibrillation in the past 2 weeks, so within a month he should be having his ablation.  Meanwhile, on Dec. 10th he'll have surgery for a skin cancer on top of his head.  I know it could be worse, but he doesn't seem to catch too many breaks these days.   I sure hope this helps and he gets some verve back in his life.
When I refrerred to filling in the time, I mean until Friday when clue no. 2 of East Street is out.  I think I'll be ready.

Change of Pace

My granddaughter took this today.  I think that she is very talented, and it goes without saying that  my great-grandchildren are adorable.  Guess which one had to be bribed with marshmallows.

My oldest grandson is getting married this Friday and a couple of days ago I realized that I have gold and black heels, but somewhere along the lines I must have given away my black and my gold bags.  Yesterday I made a trip to Joann's (which was nice as while out I had lunch with my grandson and his soon to be wife) and tried to find something dressy that would go ok with both colors, as I think I'll wear black for the rehearsal dinner and gold for the wedding reception.   My daughter was in the same boat, I thought if she wanted I'd try to make her one too, so I came home and cut them out and today has been pretty much dedicated to making the bags.   They aren't tiny, but they are much smaller than my regular bag. 

Just in case I can fit my stuff in here, I went ahead and did lots of pockets, I need those.

They are about 12" tall and 10" wide and 4" deep.   Tomorrow is dedicated to hemming my husband's pants, cutting his hair, coloring my hair washing and getting things ready.   The wedding is only about 45 minutes away, but with my husband's poor health it seemed wise to stay at the hotel nearby to the wedding venue.   He can only stand short periods without putting his feet up.   They are quite swollen. 

First Finish of 2012 - My Bag

First Finish of 2012

by Candace

My first finish for the year and it is already March.  I did do 6 cherry pit bags (like rice bags) for DH and my brother, who have both been ill, but they (the bags, not my DH and my brother)  and their little pillowcases didn't seem worthy of counting, this bag is a stretch, lol.   I wouldn't want any close scrutiny, as this is far from perfect, but it should go in the washing machine and dryer and come out nicely, as long as the Ikea heavier weight fabric washes well.  I looked on the internet and it seems that it's washable, so I have high hopes.  The straps and the inside lining are all from the Ikea fabric.  The outside pockets on each side are also lined with it.  If I were to make another, I'd probably do a little narrower straps, these are 2 inches wide.  I'm hoping that my cell phone will adapt well to one of the outside pockets.

This, as you can see, is the inside.  All the pockets are lined with a cotton striped fabric, and I did several lines of stitching on the top to hopefully add stability as I didn't use interfacing.  I have 3 pockets on the top side for keys and hand sanitizer, and then one large deep pocket on the bottom side for important papers, like lab orders and Dr. appointments and such.  I put a long strip of velcro along the top to keep everything inside.  I see that I still have some threads to clip.  I guess that it won't be a joy forever, as it is not necessarily a beauty, but hopefully, it will last a few years.  If I decide not to carry it as a bag, it will still be a nice tote bag.   I chose the green, blue and white Ikea fabric because it was the only heavier weight fabric that I had on hand.   I thought since this is such a momentous finish and all, being as how it's taken me three months for my little finish, so that I would join in with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday, and you can see more finishes here on her blog

Hayley's Tote Bag

I have the 5 fleece blankets cut out and embroidered, and all the pillowcases cut out, too. This was supposed to be the last thing to make, only if I had time, but what was I doing last night instead of sewing bindings, etc.
This tote bag is flannel with batting in the body and the handles, and then quilted. Only the inside is cotton, and it is very soft and cushy.
Hayley is only going to be ten, so this may be a bit big for her, but hopefully, since she goes from her Mom to her Dad's, and spends a lot of time at my brother's (her grandpa) too, she can use it in her travels. She could almost use it as a pillow in a pinch, lol.