Bag Along Bag

I tested this bag for Katy at The Littlest Thistle and what a time I had of it. What with having to visit doctors and my industrial machine packing in on me it took forever to complete but Katy was very patient and understanding. Seems like a few of the other testers had problems also. Hopefully Katy will have better luck with her future designs.

The pattern is beautifully illustrated with loads of photos and instructions. I learned new sewing techniques with this bag and the thing that struck me the most was the amazing accuracy of the bag measurements.

This is a huge bag which also includes instructions for base, front and back, end and divider cushions so it can be used as a camera bag. This would be too big for my camera so I'm using mine for when I go visit my daughter. It's the perfect size for carrying all my essentials as well as my camera.

The floral fabric on the flap was a remnant left over from a friends sofa. I did some wavy quilting on the flap.

This bag has an adjustable strap.

This is something new I learned. Apparently the front pocket under the flap are called bellows pockets.

Something else new to me were the twist locks. I've never installed these before but they were quite easy. Mine were the screw in type.

Also under the flap is a zipper closure. The inside of the bag also has a zippered pocket.

The outer sides of the bag have elasticated pockets.

And the back of the bag has a large zipper pocket.

 

Katy is making a few amendments to her pattern and then it will be ready for sale. Make sure you check Katy's blog to see the bags the other three testers have made.

Thanks for letting me test your bag pattern Katy and also thanks for your understanding.

~ Maria ~

Evelyn REVISED win a copy & a Feature

Christine at ChrisW Designs has just posted about this gorgeous bag she's just finished revising and you have FIVE chances to win a copy of the pattern. Don't miss out on this one, go over and you could be the lucky winner.

Isn't it just divine. I love the colours. When Christine made the original pattern I still wasn't a tester for her but now I'm definitely going to make this one. She's also made one up in a chevron print which is really fun and cute and there are photos of the bag made up by two of her testers.

Best of luck to all of you.

Also I was really pleased to learn that the pajamas I made for hubby here have been featured on Threading My Way

Pam has ongoing linky parties in different categories covering practically everything so make sure you go over and check out her blog as well as the other featured projects.

Thanks Pam

~ Maria ~

Scrappy Lily Bowl & Plate

A couple of days ago while browsing through Pinterest I came across this tutorial by Michele at michele made me. Pop over and see how pretty hers is.

I just had to make it straight away so dropped what I was doing and made it up yesterday. It's a super quick project that uses up scraps of fabric and batting, something I know we all have alot of.

In the tutorial Michele slip stitches the top and bottom of the bowl and plate together before doing the echo stitching. I'm not keen on hand stitching so I machine stitched mine along the top. I also used interfacing with the batting to make it even more sturdy. Mine's quite stiff and holds it's shape really well.

The only hand stitching I did was around the hexie's on the top and bottom. This one looks a bit messy which will please Samantha but in fact it's the way it came out in the photo. Sorry Samantha. LOLL

I threw in some thread so you could get an idea of the size. It is actually deeper than it looks and could be used for many things in your sewing room or even on a table by the front door for keys, wallet and a cell phone. You could even put sweets in it, or use it on your dresser for jewelery or make up, the list is endless.

I'll definitely be making more of these.

~ Maria ~

Patchwork Tote

This patchwork tote I started a few years ago, yes you read it right. LOLLL

I started it when I was learning how to do patchwork and make bags. This was an easier block to learn with so I made quite a few different ones back then. The FMQ was also a first as was the little embroidered flowers in the bottom right hand corner. I wish I could remember where I got the tutorial from because I don't have a clue how to make them again.

The reason I've finished it now is because a lady came round and saw it lying unfinished and insisted she wanted it. 

I even tried my hand at sewing beads on the front.
 

The back is just strips of fabric that I used for the front.

And I stitched over the seams with a decorative machine stitch. Back then doing FMQ on the front was more than I could handle.

It's a good job I left it until now to finish as I didn't have a clue how to put in zippers then. I think that was the main reason it got shoved to one side.

This inside just has two slip pockets.

These are so cute. I must search for that tutorial.

Now it's finally finished I'm reluctant to part with it.

~ Maria ~

Lapin Noir Bag

The Lapin Noir Bag is another beautiful design by Sara at Sew Sweetness. I love this bag so much. It was very quick to make. I cut out the pieces in the evening and made it up the following day.
Not wanting to buy fabric I decided to use what I had in my stash. It's quite a large bag so I was a bit short but managed to improvise by adding a brown stripe down the side to give me the width I needed. For the fabric strap I was short again so made it with the two colours of the bag. You can see it better in the last photo.

Then came the short handles. These were supposed to be cord covered in fabric and knotted in the same way. My cord was too thin so I put six lengths together and plaited them. I was really pleased with how they turned out.

The colours are pretty plain so I decided to add a nice green zipper.  There is also another zipper pocket inside and two slip pockets. The pocket on the outside is perfect for a cell phone.

This is the front of the bag.

I can't wait to make another of these bags and maybe next time I'll do fabric straps like in Sara's pattern. If you'd like to make one you can find the pattern in Sara's pattern shop or you can go over to Liz's blog, Moments. Liz is doing a giveaway and if you win you could get to choose three of Sara's bags. You have till the 10th July to join in the giveaway. Also make sure you pop over to Sara's blog to check out all the gorgeous bags the other testers made. The fabrics used are amazing.

~ Maria ~

Scrappy Tree Mug Rugs

These mug rugs were made a about a couple of years ago and I used the tutorial over at Pleasant Home.

~ Maria ~

Scrappy Mat and Coasters

This is a project I did complete two and a half years ago.
I'm on a yahoo group called sewingtotebagsandpurses which I joined when I wanted to learn to make bags about 4 years ago. Kathy the group moderator taught me how to do this kind of patchwork. It was so much fun to learn. Kathy made bags with hers and you can see her bags done like this here. Make sure you pop over to her blog.

http://www.creativeideaguru.blogspot.com

Fabrics I used were left over from sheets and pj's I made for hubby.

~ Maria ~

Log Cabin MemoriesTable Runner

This runner is kind of special to me because I made the blocks when I was first learning to quilt and didn't have a fabric stash, only remnants from clothes.

This one measures 45" x 17 1/4".

This block has fabric used to make my daughter a couple of dresses, the brown patterned one on the left and the brown and blue patterned one on the right. The dresses were made by my mum so these fabrics I kept for about 20 years.
The light brown along the bottom and center square was from fabric left over from the first bag I made. I'll have to do a post on that soon.

In this block the patterned fabric on the left was fabric I used to make curtains about 25 years ago and the green and red patterned strip along the top was from fabric from a dress made for my daughter when she was little.

In all of these blocks I used a mixture of cottons and home decor fabrics.

I made the blocks using Oh, Fransson's tutorial only mine are more randomly cut as the pieces of fabric I had on hand were all different sizes.

~ Maria ~

Scrappy Strips Table Topper

Yet another unfinished project. I can't remember where I found the tutorial for this block but I do remember that the blogger had made a beautiful bag with hers.

I made two blocks the size of the large one at the top of the topper then I cut it in half to make a Crazy Patchwork CD Wallet found here. I even did a tutorial for the wallet, if you take a look please excuse the quality of the photos. They were taken with my cell phone way before I got my nice new camera.

Again not knowing what to make with one and a half blocks, I turned it into a runner.

 I find that sewing the border like this is much easier and looks nice too.

~ Maria ~

Crazy Nine Patch Table Topper

This is another project that was unfinished. The blocks I made ages ago following the tutorial by Oh, Fransson, all that was needed was a border and backing.

This one is slightly bigger than the topper on my last post, this one measures 23 3/4" x 23 3/4".

I'm really pleased with this one and would like to make more blocks like this.

Again I used a clear nylon thread for the quilting.

~ Maria ~

Disappearing Nine Patch Table Topper

I think I must have Gremlins in my house. Just when I thought my computer troubles were over problem #2 came along. One of my RAM readers broke. My son has just replaced it with a new one so it's much better now. No sooner had I turned it on ready to have a problem free time blogging that problem #3 happened. My mouse stopped working, I've just had to run upstairs to get my sons until I can buy myself a new one. I'm hoping that this is the end of the computer problems but then knowing my luck these days the whole thing will probably explode in my face.

Anyway, before anything else happens I'd like to show you a small table topper I made. I used a disappearing nine patch block. The four center blocks I had on my design wall for months if not a year and never knew what I wanted to do with them as I didn't have any more of these fabrics.

This one measures 19" x 19"
Do you prefer measurements to be in inches or cm?

I used a clear nylon thread for the quilting.

I think I like the back more than the front.

~ Maria ~