Quilted Notebook for Rulers

I wanted to make a notebook to hold my small rulers for quilting. I decided to use an applique I made from a free pattern online from Hissy Fitz Designs for the cover of the notebook and then to use batiks scraps and sew around the applique. I have more rulers that don't fit into this notebook, so I will be making another notebook cover to hold the rest of the small rulers too.

I added applique "rulers" on the spine of the notebook.

I put my rulers into zippered pencil pouches and the instructions to go with them stay in the pouch too so I can easily locate them.

This is the back of the notebook cover.

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Bountiful Baskets Quilt Blocks

I made 16 (of the 50) Bountiful Baskets applique blocks. I didn't want to make a really large quilt, so I chose the flowers from the five states I have lived in and the other eleven blocks I chose to make because I liked the flowers. I am not sure how I will put them together yet. I enjoyed making them.

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The Lunar Collection Travel Bags by ChrisW Designs

The Lunar Collection of Travel Bags is the last bag in the Bag-of-the-Month Club for 2016; designed by Christine of ChrisW Designs. I was one of several testers for this bag collection and I chose to test the large version or Full Moon. Don't you love the name (he he)? The Full Moon is not only large, it's huge! After I made the bag, you know what Christine did? She added a third size! So with this pattern you get the large (Full Moon), medium (Half Moon) and small (Quarter Moon) size all in one pattern! Wow that's a great deal. Christine designed this for the Bag-of-the-Month Club (BOM) which runs from January-June each year. So if you want this pattern now you can purchase the BOM now and you will receive all 6 bag patterns from 6 different designers, or you if you can wait, this pattern will be released for individual sale starting July as will all the bag patterns from each designer in the BOM club. Christine also added another pocket supplement for the inside (after I had made my bag) so you will have even more pockets, if you want to add more pockets inside, which some of the testers did.

The pattern is designed with a luggage sleeve on the back to slide over your rolling suitcases. I decided not to add the luggage sleeve to mine as I do not have rolling suitcases and I don't travel much anymore. So I sewed that sleeve inside my bag and turned it into a pocket instead. I love the large drawstring side pockets and the front pocket too. I made my flap larger so that I could quilt a flower design on the flap. You can use the carry handles or clip on the strap for wearing on your shoulder or across your body. I made my strap narrower because I only had a narrow swivel hook. I probably wouldn't use the long strap anyhow.

Some of the testers used faux leather as the accent on the bottom and for their straps, which is a nice touch too. You need to see all the testers bags to see how great they look in the different sizes and fabrics they chose too.

Here's my bag and I just love it!

I quilted a free-motion flower on my flap that I made larger.

I forgot to put on the cord stops when I took this photo. I have since put the cords stops on the drawstrings, which makes it easier than tying a bow, lol!

This is the back of the bag where the luggage sleeve would go if I added it. But I wanted my pretty floral print to show more and I wouldn't use the luggage sleeve so I left it off.

Zippered inside pocket with the floral fabric as the lining.

I turned the luggage sleeve into a slip pocket, which is the black pocket across from the zippered pocket.

Since I have small hands, I folded my handles in half and stitched them in the center where I grab the handles. It fits my hand so much better that way.

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Let it Snow Blocks 4 & 5

I finished 2 of the Let it Snow blocks. Block 4 & 5. I am using flannel fabrics that look like wool and hand stitching them in place.

This is a spacer block between the word "let" and the next word "it".

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Happy Bag

I made this Happy Bag on Sunday. It is an ImazzPattern, but not a new pattern. It is called Happy because of the *smile* pocket you see on the front of the bag. I guess I wanted my bag to be extra happy, because I made the back of the bag with a smile pocket too, lol! Normally, the back of the bag is one fabric (like the blue denim), but I wanted a couple of pockets outside. I could have added a back zippered pocket, but I thought why not add the same pocket on the front and the back. I also did my pockets in patchwork strips. I wanted to use the blue denim and so I decided on digging through my red scrap bag and then I made the patchwork pockets and then quilted them with a red variegated thread. I love how the bag turned out.

I showed the finished bag to Mr. P. and he said he thought it was one of the nicest bags I ever made! Wow, who knew he even paid that much attention to my bags? I think he liked the red patchwork and the denim paired together. It is a really nice bag and can be used as a tote bag or a handbag too. I like the simple style of this bag and it lent itself well for doing some patchwork on it too.

This is the front of the bag. See the *smile* pocket?

This is the back of the bag with another smile pocket and I used some different red print fabrics here too.

I used a wavy stitch as my topstitching and added a "Handmade" button. I also used the wavy stitch on the center of the straps too.

Inside the bag I sewed 2 slip pockets. One is in a light denim color and the other is the same print as the lining. I think this beach lining is so cute and fun. This would be a fun bag to take to the beach! Now if only there were some beaches here in New Mexico, lol!

Hanging in the Desert Willow.

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Oval Fabric Basket

When I saw that Carol, of Just Let Me Quilt, had made a fabric oval basket, I knew I wanted to try making one too. Her pattern is free on Crafsty. Carol made a great patriotic basket and even added applique letters "USA" on her basket. I wasn't sure how large this basket would be in person, so I wanted to use up some fabrics I had on hand to try this out. The basket was easy to make and the instructions were very good too! Thanks Carol!

I chose some Christmas fabric because it would make a nice gift, especially with some goodies inside the basket. I noticed after I made mine, that my handles were placed differently than Carol had placed hers. I must have made a goof there, but you know I like them that way as it makes it easier to carry. This basket would also make a nice knitting basket too. I will make more of these now that I know how easy and useful they are.

I might make the next basket with one exterior fabric next time, which would be even faster to make.

The basket bottom. I quilted the bottom following the diamond pattern of the fabric.

Since the handles were too large for my small hands, I folded them back and stitched on top to make it easier for me to grab and carry. Of course if I had placed the handles where they were meant to be on the ends, the handles would be just fine. Sometimes mistakes work out to be better.

My knitting project fits nicely inside this basket.

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