haha its how I feel some days!!

haha its how I feel some days!!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Bama bag takes on a new design!!

I almost had the bama bag completed then Marisa from sewing tote bags and purses shared a free bag pattern that she tested for her friend and I thought my bama bag was way too big so I had to borrow this pattern. I did stretch the bag shape to fit the "A" applique and I also took the pattern and adjusted it so that the front would have a few handy pockets to stash a cell phone or keys for quick grabs. But this is it!! no more adjustments needed!! Thanks Marisa and her friend Chris Welsh for sharing the Coco bag pattern. 

I found an Alabama A that would work as an appliqué on this custom order. It has a grey border that was appliquéd first then I added the BAMA print and appliquéd it over the top. I stitched both on my Juki HZL f600 using the blanket stitch.

This is the outer shell of the bag, I took Chris Welsh's bag and altered it a bit, I cut the bottom off added 2 inches to the height and then stretched the pattern top to then fit the re-created bottom. I took the faux pockets and made them usable by putting an exact copy of the front 3 times one for the front and two for the pocket lining, right sides together of course. Chris's pattern also called for large grommets to attach the handles,  I am not familiar with using grommets so I chose to add sewn in straps. The lining of the bag has a layer of stiff interfacing to help the bag stand up and retain its shape, Chris' s pattern called for light weight interfacing. I cut my stiff double sided interfacing about a 1/4 inch smaller in diameter so I could sew the seems without the fabric bunching and fighting me too much. I also used a thin batting to the outer side of the double sided thick fusible interfacing because it can be quite hard to the touch, I wanted softness with keeping the shape. The inner lining of the bag featured 2 zippered pockets as well as a cell phone pocket and an ink pen tab.

Although I very much love Chris Welsh's design, I love the altered version as well! The husband brought his wife and daughter with him to pick up this bag and another, I also made a custom diaper bag for his daughter but that's another blog post :) she absolutely loved it! I wrapped it in a clear cellophane bag from Nashville wraps and tied it with Alabama ribbon purchased from an ebay shop. This bag is now 2 years old and still very much loved!! 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

One Seam Flying Geese Quilt Block

Love how these are made and they really are sew easy!!!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Family Sticks Together

Found this cute magnet idea and have to add it to the blog for a rainy day project!!

Family Sticks Together

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Home made Laundry Soap- found on Pinterest!!

‎Ingredients are:
1/2 bar fels naptha bar soap grated.
1/2 cup arm and hammer super washing soda
1/4 cup borax.
1- 5 gallon bucket with lid
1- funnel
save old laundry containers for easy dispensing

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full with hot water and add dry ingredients mix well. Take grated bar soap and four cups hot water and simmer on cooktop till disolved then mix into other ingredients in bucket, fill the bucket with more hot water, leave about 2 inches of space between liquid and top of bucket, for stirring later. Cover with lid and let mix sit over night to thicken, it will gel, I used a hand drill with a cement mixer attachement to mix thoroughly- also you might want to take this step outside since it could get messy!! then its ready!!!! Happy washing!!!!

Applique

Applique isn't as easy as it looks, it requires lots of patience and time. I have been wanting to do something like this for a while, so decided to give it a try on a new customer order, turned out pretty good!! I think anyway!! I still have to put the purse together and add some embroidery! Then on to a project for me!! Hopefully with my new machine!! Im so excited about getting a new machine, yes I will post pictures of it too!! LOL