sewing, sewing, sewing

Oh and in between all of our adventures this summer, I have been busy sewing!

A diaper  bag for a sweet new Mom at church.

The Seneca Bag pattern by Betz White, was one of the Bag of the Month patterns.  I still have two I did not do,  one is cut out and ready to go!

I have a goal of making 10  twin size quilts for gifts (before Christmas) we will see if they get done!

This Diaper Bag out of the Professional Tote Pattern was made right before we left for Alaska for my sister in law's niece.

and these clutches..... I found out two nights before we were leaving for our two week trip that someone special wanted them for a wedding to take place two weeks after we got back from Alaska.  Knowing that I was also going to be gone for a week to babysit when we got home and that I didn't even have hardware to do this... I did stress a little.  I ordered the hardware from my favorite supplier emmalinebags.com and no worries about that they were home waiting for me when I returned.  That only left me a week to get them done,  My stepdaughter and her hubby came over one night and along with my hubby we got them cut out and they helped get some of the hardware on for me, and I had them done a day and a half later. :) 

This Diaper Bag out of the Professional Tote pattern actually was for a friend's daughter in law who lives in Italy!

This bag is for an order from a friend, from The Wavy Top Tote one of my all time favorite bags to make by Sweet Bee Buzzings, (it is  a free pattern)  I have lost count how many of these I have made!

A Strip and Flip quilt, free pattern from Cluck, Cluck Sew.  Awesome quick baby quilt!  Made it in a day and a half and I love quilting it in circles on my machine with my walking foot!!

Have a Great Sunday where ever you might be!   Nancy

April Bag of the Month

Oh, did you think I quit making bags???  NOPE, just been super busy and a quilt or two got in the way!  This months bag was from Janelle at Emmalinebags.com  she is a fabulous pattern writer/designer and I could not be more pleased with the outcome of this purse!  It is the Manhattan Bag and there are actually two sizes the Mamma and the Miss.. The one I just did is the Miss but plan to make the Mamma soon!

Not sure if you can tell but the flap actually has a zipper all around and is a pocket you could put  your sunglasses in!

Hope you have a Blessed Tuesday!! Nancy

A Special Purse....

What excitement we have had in our family this past month!  FINALLY my daughter and her husband got the call that the Adoption Agency had a son for them!  The long awaited phone call had finally come and they quickly went about planning their trip to Bulgaria to meet this handsome little 2 year old boy who melted their hearts the first time they saw his picture!  While they were only there a week the bonding was immediate as they welded their hearts together.  It will be anywhere from 3-5 months before everything is complete and they can return to bring him home!  During that time they will be able to Skype with him every two weeks!  God is so Good!  Everything went so well with their trip... While this Momma's heart was a bit anxious, I certainly did a lot of praying for their safety and for a wonderful time with the little guy!  While a lot of people travel abroad frequently so all those long flights are nothing for them, this is something new for our family!  I had the joy of staying with their 3 children for 5 days while they were gone and couldn't ask for sweeter kids ( I shared duties with their other Grandma)!  They are so excited to be getting a little brother!

So what did I do immediately upon finding out they were finally getting to go to Bulgaria?  I ordered some Vintage Old World Map fabric from Mango Tree Creations on Etsy... Tried to figure out which purse pattern I had that would work out to be a great small travel purse and Oooooh Laaaa Laaaaa I picked the Butterfly Sling from Janelle at Emmalinebags.com  and I could not of been more pleased with the outcome and Amber loved it!

The lining you see  below was not what I had planned, but somehow it just seemed perfect!  It is my logo fabric "Wrapped in Love" that I ordered from Spoonflower.  Since my fundraiser had been called Wrapped in Love, I felt like I was sending my love with her to Bulgaria!

 Here is Amber standing in front of the Black Sea!

We have freezing rain here today, with the promise of yet more snow!  I love winter but am looking forward to Spring!

Blessings to you!  Nancy

2nd Hyacinth Bag...

Why yes... I do like this pattern!  A test of whether I like a pattern is if I make more than one!  Sara Lawson did an awesome job designing this pattern!  It is a keeper that is for sure! The fabric is Michael Miller Straw Daisy and Mini Mike's Dot n Square.

Happy Friday!  Nancy

February Bag of the Month

Here it is the February Bag of the Month.... The Hyacinth Bag... pattern by Sara Lawson.

I used Kate Spade cotton Laminate in Central Park line of fabric.  I combined vinyl with this one and love the outcome!!

Happy Thursday!!  Nancy

Another Little Sewing Bag...

I first made the "Sew Together Bag" by Sew Demented Patterns and then someone told me there was another bag pattern that was bigger but almost identical ;) This one is the Bionic Gear Bag by RipStitcher patterns... The overall Look is pretty much the same ... I do like the size of both of them.

I did a Quilt as you go technique on the outside and must say I love the looks of it!

Have an awesome Saturday!  Nancy

A little weekend project....

I had purchased the "Sew Together" pattern online from Sew Demented and finally got around to sewing it up this past weekend....  It is a clever little bag to hold a lot of sewing notions.  My one suggestion to you is that on Quilt Barn they have a sew along .... Don't ask any questions just do it!  (It will save you a headache)

Oh and please do not look at my wonky looking quilting on the front.... Learning to quilt is on my to do list!

There is a pin cushion and a felt needle holder on the inside of the bag....

A different view...

Sometimes in the light of day, things just look different.... So I was really not at all happy with the way the coupon holder turned out yesterday so today I gave it a good press with the steam iron and it looks better.....

                                     Yesterday's Photo                                                           and Today's

As you can see above the pressing made a lot of difference.........

I also decided to make another one and let my friend choose which one she wants.... the one below, (eye roll) I did correctly... Meaning I used the interfacing the pattern writer called for... It just proves to me I cannot use Annie's Soft and Stable in everything......

Oh and the labels are printed on printer fabric and then I used lamination for cloth to protect it....

 With a good pressing on #2 I like it much better than the first one!

So now she will have to decide......

Have an awesome weekend!  Nancy

A Cold Day Project....

Do you ever tell someone you will make them something and hmmmm you just put it off for whatever reason?  I did just that... a friend asked for me to make her a coupon holder.... so I promptly ordered the pattern and just let it sit and sit and sit for several months and finally today I made it....

Which by the way we started out this morning at -8 with a wind chill of -28.... Now at 3:18 in the afternoon my little project is completed and the wind is howling and the snow is blowing...  My phone says it is 13 degrees with a wind chill of -5 but it just looks cold out there and yes I am still in my Pajamas.... haha I think it is time to get dressed!

The pattern is from www.ISew.Biz  .......

Happy Thursday, wherever you are I hope you are staying warm..... I am blessed to have a nice warm house!

Nancy

Bag Addiction.....

I knew it would happen..... when I joined the Bag of the Month Club again this year I knew I wanted to make more than one of the pattern for each month..  Last year I didn't have that option since I joined so late in the game... and being a newbie last year at bag making....

I have to tell you every time I complete a bag I am totally amazed and humbled that God gave me the talent to do the things I do with my hands.... I am really not trying to brag...  whenever I am turning a bag through the lining otherwise known as giving birth to a bag... I am overwhelmed that I can actually make them look as good as they do.  I am thankful for the talented ladies who have created such awesome patterns!

So here is a final picture of my first and second Companion Carpet Bag.... pattern author is Samantha Hussey @ At Home With Mrs. H     and just in case you wanted to know.....  it is not too late to join the Bag of the Month Club go on over to Sara Lawson's Blog  Sew Sweetness and sign up it goes on through June and if it is like last year you have till the middle of July to enter them into the contest... I did all of my bags in May and June last year!!!!

Here is my first....  I used quilting cotton and I always put SF101 on all pieces inside and out... I made the vinyl handles on this bag (they are not perfect)...  I also used Headliner Fabric in place of Annie's Soft and Stable...( I purchased the Headliner Fabric at Joann's used a coupon and got a lot for cheap!)

I have had a lot of questions about the pattern for the Wallet is was a free pattern on a Facebook Group "Sewing Totes Bags and Purses" the pattern is by Sherri Asamura Leong...... Although I made changes to the pattern.....    

Almost all of my hardware comes from Janelle at www.Emmalinebags.com who is also another awesome pattern writer and another favorite of mine!

Here is my second Companion Carpet Bag and it is made out of Flannel!  I used SF101 on the pieces and the interior is from Quilting Cotton I purchased all of fabric for the purse below at Expressions in Thread in LeClaire, Iowa (across the river from me)!

AND for your viewing enjoyment.... this is the view out my front door this morning!  We received 6 1/2 inches of SNOW last night!  Do you Want to Build a Snowman?  ;)

Happy Tuesday!  Nancy

I linked up at Freemotion by the River....