My Bag

After quilting the Kaffe zig-zags, I pulled out my stash of vinyl that I purchased from a scrap bin at an upholstery shop. This huge piece of mulberry soft backed vinyl  was a whopping $3.00.  I knew it was destined for a bag, rather " My Bag". I want to make more projects for me. This bag I had no pattern for, of course. I basically did what I normally do, I used an existing bag I own as a pattern and alter it for what I really want. I decided to use the quilted Kaffe piece as a "flap" for the top of the bag.  I wanted the vinyl  to be on the bottom since I knew it would hold up best.

I have decided year 2014 is dedicated to perfecting zipper installations. I have not used many zippers in my sewing, mostly because I make quilts. I am trying to branch out in my sewing. I bought about 10 zippers to try with different projects. I always start my zippers by closing the ends up with tabs, as seen below.

Then, I flank the zipper and press and top stitch, as seen below in my lining pieces. I chose light grey lining, so that it would be easier to see way into the bottom of the bag. I ended up machine sewing the bottom and sides of the lining and then hand sewing it in the bag, by tacking in the bottom corners and stitching into the zipper edge along the top.  I debated over this approach to the liner, but ultimately I loved that it looked great!

Most of the time took in this project was determining what I wanted to ultimately get out of it. I spent a lot of time with the lining making sure that I would get the pockets I need for the things I carry. I want to use this bag everyday. I think the vinyl looks nice and sturdy while the Kaffe fabric panel helps make it trendy and adds the detail a signature bag really needs. My beast of a Bernina powered through this project with ease. I really love that it handled the topstitching with such precision. 

Boxing out the bottom corners helps the bag stand up and gives it a better bottom to hold my goodies.

Here this the almost finished bag, sans strap. I made zipper extend a few inches down the side to maximize access to the deep bag. I live in a town that banned plastic shopping bags and taxes paper ones. So I often find myself with out a good bag at the store and shoving groceries into my purse. This bag is perfect, because I can lift up the flap and fill it full. 

The strap was a difficult task. There was blood spilled, cuss words flying and backups brought in. All in all, it was a team effort. Basically, I made the vinyl tube too small and it kept sticking to itself and kind of stalled in the middle, as we tried to turn it. Yes, I say we, it took 3 of us. Lesson learned. Honestly, I learn something every time I set out to make something with out a pattern, I wouldn't have it any other way!

Journal Cover

Here is the journal cover I made for my self recently. I am a list maker, doodler and all around space cadet. This requires me to always need paper and pen. I make many lists through out the day, most are work and shopping related. My favorite list are pros/ cons and bucket style lists. I have gotten to many goals in life from a silly list. Silly as it may sound this is a huge tool that has gotten me here today.
I needed something pretty to mask how busy those lists make my life.
I love the mix of these fabric scraps. The teal to the right gets folded over to make the lining, don't forget a ribbon and a pocket.

Here it is  with the teal lining folded and pressed under.

Yellow quilting really made this item more modern. I found a perfect purple velvet button for the ribbon to wrap around the back. Next time I'll  make it a tad roomier and pocket much longer. I still love it and did you catch that it matches my sun glass case?

Texas in panels

I am one star away from having a Texas quilt. Here are the panels of strips. I am also including my favorite snack... chocolate and popcorn.

Went faster than I thought!

I started putting my blocks together for the mountain fence rail quilt. I got my self set up really well and utilized the diagram I made back in the beginning.

This really made the process go super quickly. I think that I would have gotten myself really confused had I not done this. The colors on the diagram are very close to the colors on the blocks. I was able to keep track because I used the actual color. I was also able to visualize what the final product would be. As I put the blocks together I kept them in chains so I could match them up later on.

I got quite a few rows together. I really like my color combinations of teal, purple, green and yellow. I have placed in a few embroidery blocks in rows. I am trying to be very conscious of where I am putting them in the quilt. I am even marking them on the diagram. I started doing rows on the left side of the quilt, then I jumped over to the right side to make sure that the embroidery pieces are throughout the whole quilt.  Below are the two sides of the quilt. The long rows are folded up on themselves. I am super happy so far.

Texas Quilt

My hubby's parents live in Texas and are very proud of this. I can relate to this emotional attachment to my home state. I have put a bit of thought recently into making them a Texas quilt. I have looked for Texas/Cowboy/Boots theme fabric. Mind you I live in N. Carolina. I have not found anything that would pass. I talked to my hubby about ideas for the quilt. I originally thought I would do a crazy quilt with Texas fabric. This is not looking like the easiest plan. I went on a search and found these beauties! I really love the first one, but I think the second one will be more similar to the finished creation. I have some time, but I like to think ahead on my projects!

More Art Nouveau

So, I mentioned the other day that I love Art Nouveau. Well, here is more. These two images are from my favorites. 

I particularly love the ones by Mucha in peach, gold and green tones. I love patterns like the ones he creates in the halos. I have a handful of prints that I have found at the thrift market. I want more to create a nice collection. I think that when it gets warmer outside I will dye a bunch of yellow and peach and orange and green cotton. I want to make a quilt out of these tones from the images

Fabric Dye

Well, I had a wonderful labor day weekend.  We were fortunate enough to have very good friends come to visit. It was also hubby's birthday weekend. At the last minute, I decided that I would want to do something crafty outside with our friends. I made hubby take me down to the craft store. We miss gaged the amount of time that I would take us. The actually beat us there. 

I ended up getting three colors of fabric dye.

 I have tied-dyed a few times, but I was never too thrilled with the result. The men did not want to really participate. I should have guessed. My GF and I produced some real works of art. I had a bolt of  cotton that I planned on making curtains out of. I thought I would be nice to bring in more color. I picked Black which looked slightly Purple, Orange which was yellow and torquoise which looked slightly green. I seems hard to judge the color on the box.

 I dipped just the ends of some of the bigger panels of fabric in the dye for the curtains. The graduation of color is beautiful especially on the Black piece. I had black dye on my hands for days.(I can never keep gloves on) Some smaller pieces we twisted and rapped in rubber bands and experiemented with color. Unfortunately, my GF took pictures with her camera of the finished product hanging on the line. I just have my freshly ironed pieces waiting for the sewing machine.

I  can't wait to do this again and make a quilt out of the difference shades that you get in the colors. I think it will be absolutely beautiful. 

Quilt Ideas

This is the type of quilting I want to do, I know that this image is of a lap quilt and I would like to create a King size. I still find inspiration from it. I am not crazy about the border or the harshness of the mountains. (These are Rocky Mountains). I would like to create a quilt of the Blue Ridge Mountains like this image, not quite as much green. I think that I need to go get more white fabric to create the distance for the quilt.

My Quilt Project

I am getting ready to make a quilt for our new king size bed. This is only the fourth quilt I have ever made and the first king size. I am using scrap fabrics that I had in a trunk for a few years. Some are silks and vintage. I am concerned on how the fabrics will hold up. I saw Georgia Bonesteel's quilting show recently on PBS and she was talking about using ties to make quilts. She suggested washing them and only keeping the ones that survive. I followed the Master's suggestions and most scraps survived. However, I am concerned about the wear of my husband and tear of the dog's paws. (I know they shouldn't get on the bed but, it is soooo nice when you are sick.) I am also concerned about the actual quilting process and how the materials will work. The quilt has been nice to prepare for but, I am concerned about actually finding the time and skill to complete.
The first quilt I made was very basic pinwheel pattern. I enjoyed the piecing the materials more than binding the quilt and hand quilting. This was made easier by the help of a dear friend and her large screened in porch. The second was a very sturdy corduroy and I simply tied the corners of the patches with yarn. The third mimicked the second except the fabric was blue jean.
I have decided to create an image of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the quilt. This is the most creative and largest undertaking I have ever done with cloth. I enjoy a challenge we will see how progress continues through out this blog. I just wonder how long it will take me!