For Fall...

A new schoolbag fashioned from vintage barkcloth and assorted trims, buttons and pins. It's hard to tell but I cut motifs from a second barkcloth print and appliqued them into the design. You can see the leaves overlapping the little doggie embroidery in the corner. The lining is in the second print as well. Here is the back of the bag.



Hope you like it. Happy Fall!

James and Sarah go to Homecoming

Yes, it's fall and that means Homecoming! James took his sweetheart, Sarah to the dance. Aren't they adorable?

Art Unraveled 09 Shopping Extravaganza

Saturday was the "Shopping Extravaganza" at Art Unraveled in Phoenix. Somehow, I never get registered to take any actual workshops at the event (next year...) but I always get to the shopping!

Here is lovely Ruth Rae. I purchased one of her DVDs. She has a new book coming out soon called "Layered, Tattered and Stitched."



This is Leighanna Light. She is as charming as her name.



Here is author and quilter, Jane LaFazio.



This is Lorri Scott of L.A.S. Fibers.



I purchased a fabulous old ledger from Flatwoods Folk Art....

and lots of goodies from Hannah Grey....

I wanted to purchase an angel by Julie Haymaker, but my budget was a little strained at this point.

It was really fun. Thanks to all of the vendors and organizers of this event.

Tue-Torial Bag #2 From Anthropologie Dishtowel

Thanks for you comments on last week's tutorial. I have another bag this week - slightly different. Please give this a try :)

I started with this "Bambi" towel.



Cut off all four edges, then cut off one side just to the left of the last deer. I use my big "Quilter's Rule" to measure and mark the lines.



Make additional cuts as shown. The two strips will become the tab and the handle. The third deer will be appliqued to the back of the bag. The front and back are tapered like this. (Sorry, I didn't take as many photos of this process!)



Refer to previous tutorial and cut a tab pattern from an index card. Cut two tabs from heavyweight stabilizer. Cut two tabs from the bottoms of the two strips. Stitch stabilizer pieces to the wrong sides of the tabs. Install the "male" half of a magnet to one of the tab pieces. Sew tabs together, right sides facing, around the sides and rounded bottom, leaving the top straight edge open. Turn to right side, press and topstitch.

Sew the strips together, right sides facing at the short ends. Press seam allowances open. Fold the long strip in half wrong sides facing and press. Unfold and fold long edges in to the center and press. Pin and topstitch both long edges to form one long handle.



Apply heavyweight stabilizer to the wrong sides of the tapered front and back pieces. Use these pieces as patterns to cut front and back lining pieces from contrasting fabric. Also use an index card to cut two pocket pieces from lining fabric.



Stitch the sides and bottom of the bag right sides together. Also stitch across the bottom corners "Paper Bag" style.



Turn bag to right side and add tab and handle. Install "female" half of magnet to the front of bag.



Stitch up pocket and apply to one lining piece.



Sew front and back lining together at sides and bottom leaving a 5-inch opening in the bottom. Also stitch across the bottom corners.



Place the bag inside the lining and sew right sides together around the top edge. Turn bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining.



Stitch the opening closed and fold the lining down into the bag. Topstitch around the top edge. All done!


Here is the back!



Please let me know if you have any questions and please send me a photo if you try this project. Thanks for reading my blog.

Tutorial: How to make a Bag from an Anthropologie Dishtowel

It's been a long time since I posted any sort of tutorial - this one is way overdue. The kitchen towels from Anthropologie are so cute that it's a shame to wipe your dirty hands on them. Also, after a few cycles through the washer and dryer, they become a little droopy - so I selected a couple of favorites from the sale table at my local store and made them into summer handbags. This is a fun and easy project - please give it a try!

Here is the towel that I started with.



Cut off all four edges. It's a shame to waste the lace, I know. You can save it for something else.



Cut a 3.25-inch strip from each side for handles.






Use an index card to make a pattern for the tab. Cut two of these from heavyweight stabilizer. Cut one from one end of the 3/25-inch strip. Cut the second from lining fabric and install the "male" half of a magnetic closure.



I trimmed the top of tab with rick rack, a small blue doily and a yellow button. Use whatever you have on hand.



Stitch the tab pieces right sides together, turn, press and top stitch around the edge. Cut the second handle piece to the same length as the first piece. Discard extra fabric. Fold the handle strips in half lengthwise and press. Open up and fold the long edges in to the center and press. Pin and topstitch down each long edge. Center rick rack on handles and stitch through the center.



Cut the remaining large towel piece in half. Now you should have a front, a back, a tab with a magnet and two straps.




Mark 3/4 of an inch in from the top edge of the front and draw a line from this point tapering to the bottom corners as shown. Cut these sections off. Repeat for the back.




Pin the front and back pieces to heavyweight stabilizer. Stitch around the edge and trim.



Trace the front and back to your lining fabric and cut out a front and back lining. Also cut out two pocket pieces using an index card for a pattern. Stitch your pocket pieces right sides together leaving an opening for turning in the bottom. Turn, press, topstitch across the top edge and then pin and stitch pocket to the right side of the inside back lining.



Stitch lining pieces right sides together along the sides and bottom leaving about a 5-inch opening in the bottom for turning. (Sorry the opening doesn't show in the photo!) Sew across the bottom sides of the lining "paper-bag" style about 1-inch in from each edge.



Sew the bag front and back together along the sides and bottom. Again, "paper-bag" the bottom edges to give a little dimension to the bag. Sew the tab to the back (right sides together) and the straps to the front and back as shown. Turn the bag right side out. Fold the tab over to determine the placement for the "female" half of the magnet. Mark and install the magnet on the outside front of the bag. Leave the lining inside out.



Place the bag inside the lining and pin around the top edge keeping the tab and the handles between the layers. Stitch around the top. Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining. Stitch the opening closed.



Turn the lining to the inside and topstitch around the top edge. All done!



Please let me know if you have any questions and if you try this project I'd love to see a photo.

Project Runway on Lifetime August 20th!

Happy Birthday Dan!

Dan turned 21 yesterday and we celebrated with dinner at Cowboy Ciao. Dan's sweetheart Katelyn joined us. Happy Birthday Dan!