Look What We've Made

This trip to Ireland has been a bit different to previous visits - the usual sewing, yes, but the chats have been a bit more emotional!  I'm not blogging about the elephant in the room bcause we all know he's there and he deserves to be ignored (when we're not cursing him or calling him very unkind but well deserved  names!)

So let's look at what we've made!

We had some paper like fabric (amazon.co.uk sell it here) and had a go at embroidering on it then sewing it

I love the way it crumples, but the embroidery worked like perforation 

We'll revisit that!

We made some boxy pouches (link to instructions here)

And some makeup type cases

And a chemo carryall for Jackie to take everything we can think of: blanket, kindle, iPod, water, purse, knitting/sewing  etc (no link - made it up as we went along, but very loosely based on the Everyday Tote bag)

You can see we are loving this new fabric from IKEA!

Home tomorrow but we should get some more sewing done first!!!

Bodging A Bag

For a while now I've been making variations of the Everyday tote from For my little monster.

For the last 7 months I've used both of these that I made in August last year, and decided it was time for a change

Jackie and I have made at least 8 versions of this bag over the years, and this time I was happy to ditch the instructions and go it alone - bodging as I went

I used faux leather / pleather for the base, I orientated it landscape rather than portrait, I made a body strap rather than two shoulder straps, and I totally changed(*) the full width external zip pocket

I have previously added slip pockets in the lining for my phone, but this time I made more of  welt pocket which I can secure with a button if I need to, and I added slip pockets to both sides inside

I added two small zip pockets inside, and one outside, and (*) I added a suitcase handle pocket like I created for one of my Barbados bags

I'm delighted with it: hardly any un-sewing required, it's comfortable to wear, and holds ALL my cr@p

Barbados Bag

Husband went to Barbados several years ago with his sister and her family, and he brought back several lengths of fabric ideal for bags. Most have been used, but some bright shell fabric was still waiting for the right project!

I've now (nearly) made another version of the Everyday Tote bag:

It's landscape rather than portrait, and I've set the straps into the top seam rather than part way down.

I've added the internal slip pockets and zip pocket as per the instructions, 

and I've also added a few extras: a clip at the top to keep the bag closed as well as a hidden slip pocket and a key ribbon (as I usually do on bags)

New to me however is something I've wanted to try: I've seen holiday bags that attach to the pull up handle on suitcases, and they seem like a great idea, so on the back (below an external zipped pocket) there is a wide band (carefully fussy cut so it's almost hidden)

But this is two external slip pockets, and an open section

I'm hoping this will work on a suitcase.  

This is called my Barbados bag because the fabric came from there, 

oh, 

and because 

I'M GOING TO BARBADOS 

IN JANUARY!!!!!!  

And my bag is coming too!!!!

Whoa, I’m going to Barbados
Whoa, back to the palm trees
Whoa, I’m going to see my girlfriend
Whoa, in the sunny Caribbean Sea

I don’t wanna be bus driver all my life
I’ve seen too much of Brixton town in the night
Fly away on Coconut Airways
Fly me high, Barbados skies

I looked up at the sky and I see the clouds
I look down at the ground and I see the rain go down the drain
Fly away on Coconut Airways
Fly me high, Barbados skies
  

Whoa, I’m going to Barbados
Whoa, back to the palm trees
Whoa, I’m going to see my girlfriend
Whoa, in the sunny Caribbean Sea

Far away from London town and the rain
It’s really very nice to be home again
Mary Jane, with the coconut air plane
Now I know she loves me so

Whoa, I’m going to Barbados
Whoa, back to the palm trees
Whoa, I’m going to see my girlfriend
Whoa, in the sunny Caribbean Sea

Ladies and gentlemen, we are now commencing our approach to Bridgetown, Barbados
The weather is fine with approximate temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit
The sky is blue and the palm trees are really cool
Captain Wilcox and his crew hope you have had a pleasant flight
And that you will fly Coconut Airways again

 
Whoa, I’m going to Barbados
Whoa, back to the palm trees
Whoa, I’m going to see my girlfriend
Whoa, in the sunny Caribbean Sea

Whoa, I’m going to Barbados
Whoa, back to the palm trees
Whoa, I’m going to see my girlfriend
Whoa, in the sunny Caribbean Sea

Me Me Me Monday

Monday 31st August. Fortunately a bank holiday, unfortunately the last day of my holidays! But I spent it wisely! I sewed for me!

A while ago I won a bag pattern: the Everyday Tote Bag. Jackie and I made one and then one each in February, and two more in July.

My July version went to a friend as a birthday pressie and I wanted to tweak a few things in a new version for me.

I wanted wider, two internal zip pockets, the right length straps, a secret slip pocket, a key clip and slightly more subdued colours.

So that's what I did! The blue and cream version is the new one

The main internal slip pockets are designed for my wallet and my card wallet, and there are two zip pickets for car park tickets etc, intentionally different colours so I *might* not have to check both to find anything,

The secret slip pocket is in the lining, and is the full depth of the bag: it's ideal to sling my phone it - no one can surreptitiously take it but I can easily find it.

I like my straps to be long enough I can hold them in my hand and swing my elbow through - so I can put it on my shoulder with the one hand, so I've done that, and I've filled it with all my necessary essentials

My keys are on the ribbon - not my house and car keys, but my work keys: they are accessible but not weighing down my personal key ring.

I used all "home dec" weight fabric so it's quite sturdy, especially as I used interfacing too, but I like bags that stand open for me to throw things into, and there is plenty of room for all my cr@p and shopping too.

A well spent final day of freedom!

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Three Days With the Bestie

Jackie has been over for three days, which has led to a craft filled long weekend - a great time!

We started with an afternoon at Chertsey museum - painting hessian (jute / burlap) bags


And we spent Friday night with washing lines! Yes, four 15m cotton washing lines and two sewing machines and we ended up with these

Saturday morning introduced us to the joys of Dorking: The Quilt Room, Gillian's GladRags, and Georgous Gerties: possibly the best shop in the world!   I love Dorking!

Saturday afternoon saw two more Everyday Tote bags being created

Sunday morning showed us how to make mega credit card wallets - holding 38 cards each,

and purses and glasses cases.























And in the hour before having to take her back to the airport we managed to whip up these two from Noodle-head's design!

 Thank you for a fab weekend Jackie - roll on August!!!

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Friendship and Fabric (part 1)

To misquote various cards and gifts ... There is nothing better than spending time with a good friend, unless it's a friend with fabric!

And this weekend I'm enjoying both! I've got a three day pass and I'm spending it all in Ireland with Jackie

There was an exchange of gifts . . .

There was the making of one Every Day tote bag (pattern won recently, can be bought here)

 

Followed by another (Getting the hang of zips now!)

And another one, slightly modified due to shortage of fabric for the handles

Not bad for day one!!! Especially considering there was shopping and an awful lots of talking and catching up to do, as well as games with young master "nearly one" and having to be polite to other members of the family as well as a meal or two to be cooked and consumed!

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Fabulous February

Oh my gosh - February is pretty darn fabulous this year, and we're not even half way through!  At the very end of January (so able to be enjoyed in February) I received two surprise packages (blogged about here) then on Monday this week I received back my consequence quilt and I cant even begin to tell you how delighted I am

And this morning I woke to an email telling me I had won the instructions to this bag from Emma, from Liz's blog: Moments which ties in perfectly with a recent donation of fabric!

Where to start?

OK Richmond and Kew quilters - we all, all 13 of us, got our Consequence Quilts back.  I didn't get photos of anyone else's but they are all fab, and really diverse.

Mine, of course, is the best!

Just look:

I contributed the fabric together with very vague "any design - what is your favourite?" request.

Sue H made a row of these 1/4 log cabin type blocks, saying " I liked the effect this block gives although its very simple"  She's added some almost solids: great fabric choices Sue!

Julie made a row of crazy log cabin blocks with gorgeous (and prefect) flowers in the centres.  " I chose this 'crazy' design because I wanted to try something new (for me) I used strips to make it, without a pattern. Hope it works!?" - oh yes, it works!!!!

Ruth made a row of these "square on point in a square.  I loved the colours"  She added some calming greens too which work really well, as do the blocks

 

Sue B added a row of pinwheels with a lovely salmonny spraytime tying them all together.  She wrote "I like playing with half square triangles.  Also I think pinwheels always look fun and playful" - I was hoping someone would do HSTs - lovely to look at but I'm not a fan of making them!

And Hilary must have read my mind for my other 'hoped for' design.  She wrote "I love working with bright colours and wanted to introduce some of me own patterned fabric.  the curves in the block 'Drunkard's Path' contrast with the other blocks"  I had hoped for a few curves, but got prefect drunkards path portholes!!!!

In case you didn't realise, I am really chuffed with my returned strips!!  I'm eager to add some sashing and getting this finished!  Thank you all

And the bag - its this lovely every day tote - a PDF with loads of idiot proof photos

Thank you Emma and Liz

Good job I've got a week off next week - guess what I'll be making!