From idea to refashioned tote bag...

I have a couple of tote bags that need a refresh and an idea of chevrons or hexies done in raw edge applique popped in to my head.   

And so this past Sunday, rather than work on a quilt that I would like to finish for a show, I started this...(note the huge logo on an otherwise great tote) Now, I am not opposed to shopping at said store, but I don't like being a walking advertisement for anybody.  Secondly, the day I used the bag to haul my daughter's girl scout cookies around the neighborhood to sell (it is a huge bag and there was too much snow to use the wagon), I thought a bit inappropriate for an 8 year old.    

I had thought of paining over the logo but since the bag was black I decided to cut out a piece of black fabric just big enough to cover the logo. That way I could do all of the applique stitching on the fabric and not have to deal with wrangling the tote under the sewing machine needle.  I found a cute mini charm pack of rainbow colors and picked the brightest ones for the chevrons.  Those bright colors sure look great against the black.  I fused each 2.5 inch square to some Wonder Under and then cut out the chevrons.  

Once I fused all the chevrons to the black foundation piece, I used black thread and did some messy free motion stitching around the edge of each piece.  With everything stitched I added more wonder under to the entire back and then fused it to the bag.  A final bit of stitching around, the logo cover up was complete.  

It is my new favorite bag.  

Next up is this freebie from Ulta....

New tote bag

I made the Professional Tote Bag a few years ago and just loved it.  It is the perfect size for my work days and getting out and about with the kids days.  My first tote was showing its age so I ordered some fabric and got to cutting and sewing.

I went with some Amy Butler fabric again for the bag,  it is one of her decorator fabrics, so a bit heavier weight than quilters cotton.  I am in love with this print. 

I did a few modifications to the pattern, no toggles on the side pockets and nixed the zipper on the interior pocket and did away with the zipper section on top and added some pipping in the coordinating color to finish it off. 

The interior is a bright lime green, perfect colors for the summer. 

 

I am also messing around with taking photos with my new iPhone (finally took the plunge in to the smartphone arena).  I am  still poking around and figuring out how to use it blogging and sharing more of my creative endeavors. 

Snowflake Sweater Mitten pattern

Hot of my hard drive my Snowflake Sweater Mitten pattern is ready to download from Craftsy or Etsy. 

 Create a stunning pair of mittens for yourself or whip up a few pair to use as gifts. 

The mitten pattern comes in two sizes small/medium and medium/large and 4 different snowflakes to choose from to embellish the back of the hand.  

Sweet Harmony Handbag

I just finished the Sweet Harmony Handbag by Amy Butler.  I picked up the pattern a couple of years ago thinking I could make the tote to use for a diaper bag and then the purse when I was done with kids in diapers.  Well the tote never got made, and Abby was done with diapers earlier this year.  So now it was time for mom to downsize her purse.

Made with a beautiful batik my sister gifted me along with some coordinating fabrics from my stash, I think it turned out fabulous.  It has a little pocket for my phone,  exterior pockets on each side as well as more inside, best of all my iPad fits in it perfectly. 

The directions seemed a bit cumbersome at times and I just forged ahead with what I thought I should do, and since it is sewing and not rocket science, everything turned out fine.   Decor bond is such a bore to fuse to fabric (it takes forever) so I just did that as I went along.  I opted for the non zipper interior pockets and nixed the magnetic closures.  The construction really seems slow going in the beginning everything comes together quickly once you are on the lining.

I even learn how to make and attach  bias cording that creates a perfect highlight to the exterior pockets. 

Now I think I need the tote for my next knitting project bag.  

Applique Shorts

I have held on to a number of boys clothes from Alex in the hopes that Abby would wear them.  Well she will as long as they are girly.  Could not get her to put on any of these shorts pre applique. 

After a long day of playing,  it was hard to get Abby to pose for me. 

I used fabric from my stash and for this butterfly I was inspired by a skirt from Mini Boden.  Adorable clothes, a bit pricey, but full of great ideas I can do. 

I love how the khaki shorts turned out.  I used a mixture of 1930s prints along with some free motion embellishment. 

This next one is cut from a Jane Sassaman fabric that I have had in my stash for awhile.  With a butterfly on one leg and a spray of flowers on the other, the bright colors are just perfect for a little girl.  Even got a compliment from a gal at Barnes & Noble. 

Set for the summer with out spending a dime. 

Girly Ruffles

Alex is sick today so while he naps I found a little sewing room time and whipped up an adorable recycled outfit for Abby.  I have a stack of henleys that I saved from when Alex was younger.  All are in great shape, but Abby never wants to wear them.  She loves to wear pink so maybe with just a touch of pink this will be more appealing.  I love how the henley turned out with just the addition of a little ric rac. 

The jeans I used are boys carpenter jeans and fit Abby around the waist but are far too short.  I found a great tutorial via pinterest on adding a few ruffles hem to a pair of jeans. 

 Cant wait to try it on the little gal. 

Finger Puppets

Meet "Ella" and "my Kitty"  the first in a troupe of finger puppets I am creating for the kids to have finger puppet theater.  

Abby just loves them and they are so good at making her giggle.

Spring Chicks

I have been creating some birds in my studio the past few weeks. I started out with Nellie Durrand's Fabric Bird Sculpture pattern (the colorful fella in the photo) and then I picked up the book The Artful Bird. The blue fella is based on the wren pattern from the book. I just adore this little guy made from fabric in my scrap bin. I may have a whole flock of bird in the house soon.

Madison Bag

Digging through a pile of unfinished projects, I came across this bag. I love the Kaffee Fassett Fabric and the Amy Butler Maddison Bag Pattern is such a great design.

I did a few modifications. rather than using boning that the pattern called for, I used a combination of Decor Bond and Peltex to give the bag a very firm structure.

UFO FINISHED!!

One down, way too many to go....

I finished the professional tote bag I started back in October 2009. Just needed the top zipper closure. This is a great bag, with tons of pockets, but a bit of a bear to make. All said, it took me about 10 hours from first cut to finish. I only know this because the major portion of the bag was created in a day and a half workshop.

Love love love the Amy Butler print.

Quite the stylish diaper/work bag.

Now on to conquer a few more of the UFOs I have stashed in my basement studio.

Professional Tote Bag

Here is another unfinished project from a class I took in Medora. I just need to hem the top and then it would be a great bag for work and baby. When shopping for fabrics I just could not find anything I like. Typical me, I had something very specific in mind...an Amy Butler (or in that style) large floral print, nothing pastel but something funky. I came up with nothing and picked up some fabric that would work and a coordinating fabric.
I called my mom and she mentioned she was going to the fabric store and I gave her a list of my needs and this is what she brought. Does my mom know me or what. I was able to pick up the extra butternut fabric for the strap and highlights at the retreat.




And if you are looking for a large tote bag pattern this is great. there are tons of pockets and pieces but it is well worth the work. The pattern is called the Professional Tote by The Creative Thimble.

Bootee Pattern

So many of you asked....

The baby bootees in the previous post we created using Simplicity pattern #2867. A reprint of a vintage pattern. My mom thought they needed some additional stitching and added some of her own embellishments.

Baby bootees

I thought my knitted bootees were cute, but my mom created some bootees that are absolutely adorable...
Hand embroidered with silk ribbon ties, I cant wait to seem them on her cute little feet.

This & that

I have not been working on much just mulling over a few ideas for my next project, but mostly finishing up a few small projects. I have signed up to take slew of classes this fall at various quilt shows in the region and I hope some of those give me bit of a new direction in my quilting. Later this month I will be at the Indian Summer Quilt Show and Conference in Fargo taking classes from Ellen Anne Eddy and then later in October I have a weekend of classes with Laura Wasilowski in Medora ND.

I had a tough time deciding how to continue beading this doll I started ages ago, but it seems to be working itself out. I am going to finish up the tail with the gold beads and then do a little swirl or something on the bottom. I have a ceramic face picked out and have a few ideas for the top half.
Here is another small project that I started and it stalled a bit. I created the flowers and leaves using wire and beads twisted into little loops. The fabric is a scrap from Sew Batik. Now how to finish her off?? I think I want to form some sort of body or arms to give it a doll feel, but just not sure how I want to create them.

New toy

This year I told my husband exactly what I wanted for my birthday, an embellisher. I chose the Baby Lock and here she is all unpacked and ready to go...



For my first project, I completed the adding of fibers to a postcard. I am trying to work out a few new flower designs...


This postcard, I added the fringe border using the embellisher.

I moved on to creating a crazy quilt postcard, using various scraps of silk and some fussy cut roses.....
Before attaching the rose.....

After running through the embellisher. As you can see the Dupioni silk really snags when punched with the needles. The plan is to add some hand stitching and practice some SRE stitches.

And here is the back of the post card.

Wearing art today

I have my new embellished jacket on today and feel quite snazzy....

Here is a view of the front that offers only a peek of the applique and beads. I picked up the boiled wool jacked at a second hand store for $12.50.....

The auto color correct screwed up the true color, color of the jacket is totally off, it is more of a rust color. But it showed off the applique and beadwork a bit better....And here is a view of the back. I really like the contrast of the blue clematis and the rust color of the jacket.
And a close up detail of the back. The applique was done using Wonder Under and finished with some free motion stitching to add detail.
And this is the purse pattern that I took the design from, hmmm still might make the tote bag. It is called Clematis and is available from Seam to me.......

Weekend Sewing

I took a break from working on the beaded crazy quilt and made a few purses this weekend. The first is the from Amy Butler's Madison Bags pattern for the Uptown Bag. Very easy and such a cute shape. Great for that take along knitting pattern, long needles could fit easily.


The second purse is a Simplicity pattern, I have made numerous time. I just love the size and shape of the bag. the little tote is big enough for my lunch, wallet and sewing kit. It has a small pocket on the front for keys. Most of the bag is made from a heavy green denim along with the accent fabric.

Quick Project

I have had the pattern for this sewing kit for ages and I finally made one. I think I am going to add a needle case