What's is the Bag?

Yesterday was opening day for my Friends In Stitching online group Bag Swap.  This swap we had to make our partner a bag and include five things inside that you would find in the type of bag you had made.

This is the bag I made for Helen

The pattern is called Margo Handbag from Lazy Girl Designs - it was a fabulous pattern and went together well even with the zip in it.

These are the things that I included in the bag.....

a coin purse, sunglasses case, notebook , and some essential chocolate and mints.  There was also a bit of a joke between Helen and I about the type of bag that she wanted (or wouldnt particulary fancy) and that was an orange crochet one....I couldnt resist so I did a small one and popped in some dental floss to help clean those "falsies" that she may have found throughout the bag!!! - Helen - there was 8 of them so I hope you found them all!  The teeth lollies were reminiscent of our time at retreat at Warwick - who knew a simple thing could provide such entertainment!

De xoxo

Spinning Spiders

Dad's quilt is finished as well.

 I loved this one and will definitely put another on my to do list as it was a good way to use up scraps and to challenge me on just putting fabric "where ever" without over thinking about what goes together etc etc.

The quilting on this I decided to keep simple and just did upside down Vs radiating from the centre.

De xoxo

Patricia's Pansies

Patricia's Pansies is what I have decided to call Mum's quilt.  I am so pleased with it.  Last year Mum had sent me the pansy fabric and co-ordinating solid (which had been in my Auntie's stash for unknown projects) and I knew straight away that I wanted to make her a quilt with them so it holds a bit of sentimental value right from the start.   I thought about it for ages and wasn't sure the best way to use the fabrics....some were fat quarters others where about 30cm pieces.  I finally came up with using the churn dash block to make the most of the pansy fabric.

I then decided to use a stitchery for the centre and found this Bronwyn Hayes design in one of her books that is sitting in my cupboard...I just enlarged it

Co-ordinated it with some Lynette Anderson "Summertime Friends" fabrics and we have a finish.  The quilting came together well and I am pleased to say that my Free Motion Quilting is improving heaps.

The only thing left to do now is write on the label and pack it in the suitcase.

De xoxo

Bags for Birthdays - Part Two

Here is the bag that I made for Deb for her birthday

It is the Anni Downs design Sewing Case from the Some Kind of Wonderful book - so it also meets my Stitch-along challenge for this month.

I quilted in the gusset part and pieced the back.


I also included a pattern, some pins, and of course the matching pincushion from Some Kind of Wonderful and a pair of small scissors with fob.

De xoxo

Bags for Birthdays

Today I am heading off to have lunch with my very special friend Deb as today is her birthday....

and the reason that this post is titled "Bags for Birthdays" is quite a few years ago we both decided that we would make each other bags for our birthdays and dolls for Christmas....seems to be working well.

Pop on over and wish Deb a very happy day.  I will be back later to reveal the Birthday Bag.

De xoxo

Getting There

Last night during Friday Night Sew In I started quilting Mum's quilt. After a few technical issues (mainly tension) and picking up a teenager from work this is where I left it when I went to bed

I have been at it again this morning and finished off cross hatching the middle section and have moved on to trying some feathers in the triangle.....looking ok....and the best bit - they are FUN!!!

Right - best get back into it!!!  Have a great weekend everyone.

De

No Pressure

Just not enough hours in my days this month for all the things I want NEED to get done.  The very last day of this month sees hubby and I head off to Tassie to catch up with my Mum and Dad and I decided some time ago that I would have their birthday quilts ready to take with me (Dad's Birthday is end September and Mum's is mid-October).  At this point in time Mum's quilt is pinned and ready for quilting...

Mum's Quilt Top

Dad's quilt is still in pieces but they are all ready to put together. Here is the first bit done...

Spiderweb

I have completed the bag for Friends in Stitches bag swap - no clues - Helen might see it and be disappointed that it isn' t orange crochet.  So just another couple of bits to finish off to go inside the bag and then this one is ready for posting.

I have another bag to work on too which is for Deb who's birthday is next week.

 

So this busy chickie best pull her finger out and get some things happening - wonder if the boss would notice if I took it all to work with me or just didnt go to work at all?????

 To leave you on a much more positive note this is the sweetest little pincushion I received from Carol (no blog) in the pincushion swap!

Time to go to see what I can get done before heading off to work this afternoon.

De xoxo