Fat Quarter Storage

My husband built this for me, isn't he wonderful?  It is modeled after the letter organizers you used to see in the school office, the place where teachers would gather their mail.  Only turned on end instead of the usual way.  I have it in the corner of my longarm quilting studio.

On the wall to the left is a tattered and worn quilt made for me by my great grandmother when I was born.  It was used by my mother for all 4 of us kids.

Make a great tote bag

I found a free tote bag pattern and thought I'd mention it so you could download the pattern. You have to log into the website in order to download the pattern.  The pattern is found here, on the ByAnnie website.  

 The pattern uses 3 fat quarters.  There are videos to help as you sew each step.  The pattern calls for a soft and stable interfacing to help stiffen the fabric. One of the fat quarters is used to make bias tape to cover the raw edges on the inside.

The first step has you quilting the outer fabric, Soft and Stable and the lining fabric together.  I used 505 temporary spray adhesive to hold my pieces together.  I used a walking foot to do the sewing and the quilted fabric turned out perfect.



The pattern was very easy to follow, I hope you'll try making one!  I needed something to carry my sewing supplies when I travel with my machine.










I had so much fun making the first one I made a second one, and I fussy cut the fabrics for that one.

Take A Stand tote

 Next on the agenda is the Take A Stand tote byAnnie.com.  This tote will carry my mini-iron and other things when I travel with my sewing machine.  This tote is made to coordinate with Running With Scissors.  Notice in the photo it shows the RWS tote on top of the TAS tote.  This will be handy sitting next to my machine when I'm sewing.

Update: August 28th ~  I finished the Take a Stand tote and it holds a lot of supplies!  I used it while on vacation to Williamsburg.  The last photo is the Running With Scissors tool case sitting on top of the Take a Stand tote.

Running with Scissors tool case

 My longarm robotics is down at the moment so I'm using the time to sew an organizing tote to hold my sewing things when I travel.  This tote is called Running with Scissors and the pattern is from ByAnnie.com.  I've made several of the bags and totes from this website and they come together nicely.  I found the fabrics for my tote while I was on a quilting retreat in Virginia!  

Update: July 30th.  I finished the tool case this afternoon!  It has my most important tools I need to carry plus plenty of room for other things.

Insulated lunchbox tote

 I decided to change from brown bagging it when I go to all day quilt classes and found this kit online.  It's called the Zippity-Do-Done insulated lunchbox tote.  Kit includes instructions, preprinted insulated batting, handle strapping, plastic interior base, and a white Zippity-Do-Done zipper.   The kits are available in different colors.  Here's the finished tote!  

I made one change to the pattern.  The white fabric you see on both sides of the zipper is not in the pattern, the zipper is rather wide and I thought I would cover the excess zipper tape with a pretty fabric.  I like how it turned out!

Superbloom tote travel bag

I bought a new sewing machine!  I found a great deal on an Elna 780+ at my local dealer.  Wow, does this have all the dream features a quilter would ever need!  I especially like the retractable LED light you can pull out over the needle.  It makes sewing in the evening such a pleasure!

 I bought the fabric for this tote last summer and am now starting the pattern.  It's a labor intensive pattern I've discovered.  Lots of prep on the pattern pieces before the sewing begins.  Ironing stabilizer onto some of the pattern pieces and assembling the zippers. 

Assembling the outside pockets is definitely for the more experienced person, it's not a pattern for beginners.

The pattern is challenging, especially the part where you sew on the handles.  But here's what I've got done so far!  I'm going to tackle this tote bag!

Update Tues. Jan 3rd:  The lining is finished.  All that I need to do is sew the lining to the main bag!

Update Wed. Jan 4th:  Finished!  I love this bag and I recommend the pattern.  It's called the Superbloom Travel Bag by SewSweetness.

Professional Tote or Diaper Bag

I took a break from quilting to make my daughter and grandson a diaper bag.  I used a pattern called the Professional Tote by Laura Martell from the Creative Thimble.  I'm impressed with the quality of this bag!  It is durable and will last for years to come.  If you are looking to make a tote bag this one is high quality and feels just like a piece of luggage.  The pattern is written very well, it was easy to understand and follow. 

Note:  I didn't use decor bond as the pattern suggests.  Decor Bond didn't 'bond' and shrank when I tried using it.  I used Shape-Flex fusible woven interfacing (Pellon SF101) and it worked much better.  

How can I be expected to cook and clean?

I've been sewing all day!

Not really, but I have been in my sewing room all day.  I decided I HAD to get the piles organized.  And this is what I came up with!  I bought the bins at Lowe's on clearance!  I bought all they had, and still have 8 more ready to be filled.  In another corner I added shelves above my embroidery machine.  Thread went on the wall and I can see it at a glance.

The quilt on the left was made by my great grandmother when I was born.  It's very worn and tattered, it was used for all 4 kids, I'm the oldest.  She used old shirts, aprons, sheets and anything else she could find.  It's entirely hand sewn and tied.

January - the month to organize!

Last month I decided to make life easier.  My baking items were scattered here and there and in the pantry. 

 
Tupperware modular mates go on sale every January so I splurged on my kitchen.  I finally have my baking center organized and it fits in one section!  I bake bread, muffins, cookies, pie crusts, etc.  Everything is in reach!  Sometimes I bake bread with almonds, pecans or chickpea flour.  I use brown rice flour, tapioca flour and sweet potato flour too.  Mmmm, I'm hungry now.