YES, I'M A BAG LADY.......

Some recent sewing and happenings .....

Vintage doilies turned in to a small tote.

the other side.

pockets inside too!

A friend asked me to make this bag.  She had seen one just like it and sent me the photos.  I really enjoyed chopping up my old doilies (I have a huge drawer full of them).  I use vintage linens in my home but I have a rule now.....  once a hole appears or the crochet edge becomes tattered, into the sewing drawer it goes!  The bag is just a simple nine patch on each side with the lace/crochet edge showing on the bottom row.  I used Calico for the background and added a fusible interfacing and fusible Pellon to give the bag some body.  A big pocket on the inside and handles that make it a shoulder bag if needed.  Done!

I am making a Teddy Quilt for my ODIBAG stash
(One day I'll be a Grandmother) stash
The whole block needs to be constructed so the Teddy
can sit in the window with his paws hanging
over the edge.
The Teddy is then finished with hand blanket stitch.

I have now completed all of the hand stitching, just need to build the flimsy.

This would have to be the cutest needle book I have ever received!
My sister-in-law was cleaning out her Mum's things and this
little gem was in amongst all sorts of sewing stuff!

It's like a pop up card!!  love it!

Hubby and I had a week away - once again up in Elliott Heads -
it is just so lovely up there.  Naturally I took my hand sewing!

I've been making these little Key Chain Pouches
Free tutorial by "Dog Under My Desk".. Neat
and Tidy Zippered Pouch
These make lovely gifts. 

Two more!
I made all of these on my Featherweight 222K

Figured I should make one for myself.
I used up the last teeny bit of this vintage green fabric and
a re-purposed metal zip.

September 11 was my birthday - the big 60 this year!

Okay, that's it for now.  I have other sewing to share but it's a secret :-)  I can show you next week!

This Friday my friends and I are going to the Craft Show here in Brisbane.  So excited!  YES.... I do have a shopping list!

Happy Sewing,

Cheers from Helen

TICKET?.... check ; SHOPPING LIST? .... check ; NEW BAG? ....

check!

Of course I had to make a new bag to take to the Craft Show next week.....

GEAR UP BAG, pattern by Sweetwater (link) two outside
pockets and one inside pocket.  11" x 11" x 3"

Outside fabric - Trefle created by Kokka, made in Japan,
sorry I don't know the maker of the pink spot fabric.

Beautiful fabric flower brooch made by my very clever sister...... love the antique button!

Inside the bag.  I only added one pocket (for the new iPhone), plenty of room for purse,keys and a bottle of water! plus
some rolled up tote bags for all of those purchases!!!

I love the inside fabric - A Stitch in Time - Allover by Nutex N.Z.

This bag went together very quickly.  Easy pattern and instructions.  I decided to make it out of some sewing theme fabric I had as I  already own so many 'handbags' so this bag will become a project bag for craft.

I love the fabric on the inside of the bag.  It was quite funny when I was making the bag, I kept trying to pick off the threads until I realised that they were printed on the fabric!

In other sewing news.....  I finished off a Teddy quilt top that I have had stashed away waiting for the time I needed a gift quilt.

The Beary Bunch, pattern by Toni Alexander - The Red Boot Quilt Company
just washed and out of the dryer!

Triangle label.
I usually do my labels like THIS but this time I tried this method where you cut a square, fold into a triangle and stitch the edges down when you add the binding. I wrote on it after I stitched it into the quilt, using a Pigma pen, then I hand stitched the diagonal fold down to the quilt back. Quick and easy! HERE are a few other label ideas

Pieced backing.  I used up some fabrics that I have had
in my stash for a few years..... great way to use up large
chunks of fabric! Stitch in the Ditch quilting although that often takes longer than doing a free-motion meander all over the quilt top. It gets a bit tricky when you have Appliqué blocks.

I always include a book or two with a quilt and this time
I also put in a little car

The Aiming for Accuracy quilt-along is drawing to an end, we are up to the borders this week.  Here is my quilt top minus borders...

Photo taken outside, quilt pegged to the clothes-line - bit breezy!

I'm a little behind with my Batik version of this quilt.  I'll work on it over the weekend I hope.

I was able to use another June Tailor ruler recently.  We had to make the ticker-tape block (that long skinny brown and orange squares block) and I found that the June Tailor Shape Cut Plus ruler worked perfectly to square up and trim the strips.  You won't be surprised to hear that June Tailor rulers are on my shopping list for the Craft Show !

We are experiencing an extremely hot day today, so not much sewing going on right now.  I'm sitting under the fan playing on my computer and watching Midsomer Murders.  Time for a cup of tea I think.....

Happy Sewing,

Cheers from Helen