Christmas Bag with a Flair

Yesterday was Embroidery Club and I wasn't too impressed with the projects this month as they were made out of felt. I did make the Poinsetta and added crystals for the center and it turned out gorgeous and with a mark on it. I can't find my Tide and Go so it won't be posted until I find it and fix the mark.

The second project was a wine bottle bag. The embroidery was beautiful but how it was made up left me feeling cold. So the instructor made hers up in cotton, added piping, and lined it. It was so darling done in Christmas fabric. But I wasn't in the mood for Christmas fabric so mine has a western flair with navy blue bali batik for the top and lining. I put in a few small items for under the tree for DD and I will embroider a tag to go with it. Now to do another one with moose on it. These are just too cute not to make.



I will add a picture of the other one when I get it done. It will be cute also.

Grocery Bags

These bags are a breeze to make with 4 fat quarters, a meter of interfacing and a piece of webbing for the 2 straps. The hardest part of the bag is choosing the fabric. I did both of mine in teal as I was on a teal kick at that moment.

Bag Number One

This bag is simply done following the pattern. I worked on making the bottom rectangular and then pressing it so it can fold up nicely into another bag for carrying into the store.

Bag Number Two

For the second bag, I had to add to it to make it different. I did not like the pocket on the front of the bag, I thought it looked cheap. My opinion here. I happened to look at my gym bag and it has a zippered pocket on the inside. Light bulbs went off (my poor brain) and I added a pocket to the second bag that sports a zipper.



Next
What will I do next with these bags? I want to try one that is plain fabric with no center seam and embroider on it. The lining will be the same.

Pot Holders

I made my first pot holder using an Amy Bulter pattern. I have changed the pattern quite a bit. It is evolving to become my design.

Front:

Back:

Fabric Used:
100% cotton - the design replicates Victorian wall paper. I loved the design, espcially the one that has the large flowers on it.

What I Did:
The back of the pot hold was suppose to be made up of 4 squares so I eliminated that and used one large square. I really didn't want to loose that gorgeous toile print.

I put two layers of Insul-Bright between the two backing fabrics and cross hatched all the pieces.

The parts your hands slip into also have two layers of Insul-Bright in them also.

I cut the binding on the bias. I did add binding to the two edges of the top that were not in the pattern.

What Will I Do Next:

I will continue to block cut all the pieces but I will cut the top parts into two strips and after cross hatching add binding to one raw edge.

I will cut the binding 3" wide and on the straight of the grain and sew it on like I do a regular quilt. Cutting it on the bias uses to much fabric and is not necessary as there are no curved outside edges.

I will be making a 2nd one like the first pot holder so there will be a set. The third pot holder is made up of the scraps and will be done in the new method so I can figure out my process. When done in my manner, I should be able to get 3 pot holders out of 4 coordinating fat quarters.

Sept 2009 Embroidery Club

We had our first embroidery club project on Sept. 5 and I really like it. It is a casserole carrier. I just opened my Diamond that morning so I used my mega hoop to do the design.

I chose browns for something different. I really love the coffee bean fabric and Erin at Around the Block helped me get the rest of the fabrics. Good choices as someone else did the same colour block as I did.

I can really see this project as gifts for people who go to potlucks a lot. I know I will use mine when I take something hot to our daughter's house.


Lying Flat on a desk at school


Ready to take to a potluck supper.


Embroidery detail.

My Sewing Room

It has happened. We have moved into our new to us home and I have a sewing room. It is a big room that is as dark as the Black Hole. It has red carpet on the floor and an 1950's kitchen light to light the room. And it boasts cupboards where someone's hunting guns were stored. The only thing two things right are the size and the rug isn't glued to the floor.

Here are pictures of it just after DH removed some moulding, a small piece of the ceiling and checked the walls.


The east wall with the only window. Nice size window for a basement in an older home.


The gun cupboard, which will probably be removed to be part of the bathroom.


The west side of the room which has a large closet.


I got the lady's dress form and will be dressing her in a vintage dress from the patterns that were left behind.

Our plan is to paint the walls a light colour, the ceiling white, add a good ceiling light and to put down easy care flooring. DH found that the walls are insulated to the floor which is will keep it warm in the winter. Not sure if I get the gun cupboards or if they will be removed to add room to the downstairs bathroom.

And the next pictures are of the small bedroom across the hall from my sewing room and the second bedroom upstairs. Most of the items in those rooms will be put into my sewing room. Right now I have to sew at the dining room table. Lucky me.


Upstairs room.

Basement room.

The pictures are horrible due to the poor lighting and the dark walls.

July's Project

Jewlery Wrap

This project didn't take long to make. I chose to make it in red, black, tan, and green as I am experimenting with colours. I am not happy with the zippers as I should have starched everything. I will also make this project a little bit bigger so I have some cloth to trim rather than trim away at the finished size. Bonus - I have enough fabric to make another one with black zippers rather than red ones.

Rolled up and tied



Untied but still rolled up



Unrolled showing zippers

Designer Cloths Pin Bag

May's Project

It is done and what a journey. I didn't get to make this in class as I went to Lethbridge AB to a conference. I had to make it at home and there were some major issues. The first one I made looked like this:



Yes, the embroidery is upside down. What a surprise I had when I saw that but it didn't surprise me as I had some problems with all my sewing that week.

I made a new one a couple of weeks later and it went together without a hitch. I like this pattern on the 2nd go. There is 2 layers of fabric fused together throughout to strengthen the bag. In all, a good gift to make for someone if I can find another wooden coat hanger.


Done the right way.

We have had a lot of rain in the first half of July. Here is what it looked like after one of our storms.

This and That

It has been a while since I have posted. I have done one more item but didn't get a picture of it but will do that in the next couple of weeks. I missed one class - the clothes pin bag but will do that over the summer. The last class was a chatelaine and very cute. The embroidery is done and now I need to sew it together. It will get done, I promise you.

Julia has given me an award for this blog and I truly appreciate it. I will chose 5 people when I have time to think about who I wish to bestow this wonderful award to.



On a happy note, our daughter's mare had a little stud colt. He was born on Sunday June 14, 2009. He was about 2 weeks over due. On a sad note, the mare died very early on Wednesday morning. Our daughter was very upset as this was the first horse she owned on her own. And she had a 2 1/2 day old colt to look after. She found a brood mare that lost her colt 11 days prior and the baby and her have bonded. Here is a picture of Luke and his blood mother when Luke was only a couple of hours old.