Charming Handbags!!

So remember when I posted on Monday that I was going to start a new little holiday project . . . Well, they are finished!!! (and I still have 20 days until Christmas :)   5 Charming Handbags made using this wonderful tutorial from Amanda Jean at the Moda Bake Shop ;)  I am not much of a bag maker, so I was a bit nervous about putting these together.  But the tutorial was great and easy to follow so they went together super easy and I am so excited with the results ;)  I mean, who doesn't love square patchwork and getting to play with Charm Packs!!  I have since made a Charming Tote Tutorial here , with Amanda's permission, to show how I made my totes with a few alterations from this mentioned tutorial.    How about some individual shots ;)

Starting with the oldest, for my niece Ka who is 11, a Charming Handbag made with Cotton + Steel basics :)

And lined with this super fun print from Kate Spain's Daydream line for Moda :)

For my niece Ki who is 9, a Charming Handbag made with Social Club by Eric and Julie Comstock for Moda :)

And lined with this classic print from Fig Tree Co.'s Mirabelle line for Moda :)

For my daughter, Jessi who is 9, a Charming Handbag made with Sew Stitchy by Aneela Hoey for Moda :)

And lined with her favorite color from In House Staffs Essentials line for P&B Textiles :)

For my niece El who is 6, a Charming Handbag made with Spot On by Studio for Robert Kaufman Fabrics :)

And lined with of course Basic Dots from Riley Blake Designs :)

For my niece Ra who is 4, a Charming Handbag made with Butterfly Dance by Cinderberry Stitches for Riley Blake Designs :)

And lined with of these adorable mushrooms from Aneela Hoey's Walk In The Woods Line for Moda :)

And here they are all in a line!!!  I am so excited for them to open them Christmas morning ;)  And I have to admit, not so nervous about making a basic bag anymore.  5 is really good practice :)

So what about you??  Do you like making bags??  If you want to and are a bit nervous, I would recommend this tutorial, it is super easy for beginning bag makers ;)  And they are great because you just need a charm pack and 2/3 yardage for the lining and handles.   And we all know we have a stack of charms lying around (Please say that isn't just me :)    Just a note if you do **Be sure and clip the corners of the lining like you did the bag, it doesn't say this step and I sort of missed it and figured it out later when it was a bit harder to "fix" it ;)

And that is all for today :)

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking these finished bags to Amanda's (love this gal!!!!) and Sarah's :)

Starting some Charming Totes

Tomorrow we are having a little auction to help raise funds for the Youth in our Church.  I am planning on donating a quilt, but I got up this morning and just felt like I needed a happy, fun, and fast project and maybe a little something extra that I can add to the auction.  And then it hit me, Charming Totes!!!!   The perfect, fun, fast, and wonderful gift project.   I have made lots and lots of these, and I always love them.   The only hard part of the process is deciding what Charm Pack to use!! 

In the end, I decided to go with the Manderley Charm Pack from Franny and Jane.  This collection is just hitting stores now and it is so beautiful with its rich colors and gorgeous prints!! It is just going to make up the prettiest tote ;)

And then, as I was trying to decide on a second charm pack, I remembered I had a stack of leftover 5" squares from a secret sewing project in Desert Bloom by Sherri and Chelsi and knew it would be just perfect!!!   And even though they were already cut  into 5" charms it still fills like I am busting some scraps, and that is always fun!!!

So I've got my squares all laid out and ready to sew into bags ;)    They have to be done by tomorrow, so I guess it won't be to long to share the finishes ;)   

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting (or maybe some tote making ) Weekend :)  

Giant Patchwork Quilt

Sometimes simple patchwork is just the best and oh so much fun!!!  And this quilt is extra special because I had a whole lot of help making it!!!    You might recall last year when I shared all of the Charming Totes that I taught the Young Women in my church to make.   Well, several of the girls wanted to try their hand at a larger scale patchwork. 

So we went to pick some layer cakes.    The fabrics chosen were Creekside and Desert Bloom by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda Fabrics.  I love all of  Sherri and Chelsi fabrics because they designs them to read one color.  This makes them perfect for patchwork, as every block stands out and none of them blend into the block next to them.  (or into the background when doing more piecing).  So fun!!!   And don't the two lines just play so nice together.  I love when designers do that!!!

And then the fun began.  We just used the Layer Cake squares as is, so no cutting was necessary to get started.  It was absolutely wonderful to watch them methodically think over where each square should be placed.   They worked on that placement until it was just perfect!!!    And then, time to piece it together.  Same exact way you make the Charming totes, only on a much larger scale :)  So fun!!!!

 This weekend those same girls are hosting a Spaghetti Dinner and silent auction to raise funds for their camps and such.  And of course, the Giant Patchwork quilt that was their special project will be featured in that auction.   Isn't that just so awesome!!! 

So it was time to get it quilted up ;)  I decided to quilt it with an overall loose feathers design.    I have so much fun quilting these, I can't believe that the feathers used to scare me.   This way is so fun and relaxing and it quilts up real quick, which was important as it had to be done by Saturday :)  Sometimes I wonder if the only way to get my quilts out of the to be quilted pile is for them to have a deadline, tee hee hee ;)

And I also love the loose feathers because it creates the coolest texture!!!  Doesn't that just make you want to cuddle up with this queen size beauty!!!   It measures 95"x 95" so it will be perfect for someones new bedspread ;)

And that is the Giant Patchwork quilt!!!  I had so much fun working with the girls on this!!!   And seriously, I want to do some more simple patchwork in the very near future.   2 Layer Cakes and a  5" border and you can whip up a queen size quilt that really makes a bold statement in no time at all.   Oh so much fun and you all know, I have enough layer cakes stashed to make a whole lot of Giant Patchwork Quilts!!!

How about you???  Have you every made a Giant Patchwork Quilt???   If not, do you totally want to make one now???

Linking up this finish to Sarah's and Myra's :)

** This post contains affiliate links. 

Simple Sewing

 It's been a crazy few days, but I have managed to squeeze in a little simple sewing!!!  And nothing is more simple then sewing strips!!   Remember those Jelly Rolls from back here . . . I got them all sewn into blocks and here is a little sneak peek :)  I can't wait to see this one come together.  I just love the Fat Quarter Shop Short-cut Quilts, they are so fun and fast!!  I will be sharing more of this one in January ;)  

But first . . . Christmas!!!  After Jessi finished up her Charming Tote  I thought they would make a wonderful Christmas Present for some special people.  So I ordered 2 special Charm Packs to fit just right.   And they came the other day and I couldn't wait to whip up the Charming Tote sides ;)    The first one is in Notting Hill by Amy Smart.

And the second one is in Gingham Foundry by My Mind's Eye.   I just love both and I just picked out the lining fabric this morning so I am hoping to get these finished up soon and in the mail :)

So I am off to go cut some linings.

Hope you are all having a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

P.S. . . . I am sure by know, you all know these are like my favorite Tote to make and there is a free tutorial for Charming Totes over here . . . but just in case you don't . . . . there is a free Charming Tote tutorial here :)   

Dec 1st Equals Holiday Sewing

Yup, that's me.  I have 25 days until Christmas and so it's time to start the Holiday sewing.  It isn't that bad actually.  I had decided not to do a lot this year anyway, but this weekend changed that a bit.  See, each year we switch off family that we give to.  And this weekend, I noticed that my nieces in our assigned family are still using the totes I made them like 7 years ago for their piano totes.  Now those totes were not great to start with and they are now a bit hammered.

And so . . . .  It's new Piano Totes for Christmas!!!  I am planning on using Amanda Jean's amazing Charming Handbag tutorial found at the Moda Bake Shop here ;)

My daughter and I had so much fun raiding the charm stash this morning to pick out just the right charms for each girl.  We decided on Cotton +Steel  for Niece Ka (11), Social Club for Niece Ki (9) Pink and Purple Dots for El (6), Butterfly Dance for Ra (4) and then Jessi decided she wanted one as well so she picked Sew Stitchy for herself ;)   Can't wait to get started on these!!!  Sidenote - I am so excited to have finally picked a project to use my Cotton + Steel charms in, I have really wanted to sew them up ever since they arrived last month and I can't wait to get playing with them ;)


And just a quick reminder, today is the last day to get all Happy Quilting Patterns at 35% off!!!  You can find Happy Quilting patterns in my CRAFTSY SHOP or my ETSY SHOP and both places they are PDF Instant Downloadable :)

I am off to start sewing some totes!!  Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

I Think She's Got the Quilting Bug!!!

So remember when I shared how I was helping the amazing Young Women in my church to make Charming Totes . . .Well one of those amazing Young Women is my daughter.  This is her with her Charming Tote (which there happens to be a tutorial for right over here ;)  Jessica (shes 12 yrs old)  has done some sewing and piecing before, but only when I have asked if she wanted to make something or with her grandma, and even then, we needed to kind of stay on her to finish her project.   But I think this experience of making this little Tote might have been just the right project for the Quilting Bug to bite her ;)

As soon as school ended for the Christmas Break she asked if she could finish up the quilt that she had been working on for a friend for the last 2 years.   She added the borders, pressed it all, made a backing and then promptly asked if she could quilt it on the long arm.  

And let me tell you, this girl is a natural on the long arm!!!  She wasn't scared one bit.   I helped her load the quilt and gave her a few suggestions on how she might light to quilt it, and she was off.   I was able to work on my own project as she quilted away and  only came and get me to help her change the bobbin or roll the quilt, which she had down by the end of the quilt ;)  Ya, totally a proud moment for this mama!!!

And the best thing was, she absolutely loved it.  Every time I checked on her she was grinning from ear to ear, excited with what she was doing ;)  Yippee!!!  And I was so glad she wasn't scared, because she picked yellow thread, which blended great in the border, but made a super fun pop in the squares.   And she just rocked it!!!

She quilted loops and stars in the border, and alternated between wavy criss cross lines on an angel and wavy criss cross lines perpendicular on the squares.  I helped her with the name at the bottom, but besides that, she did all the quilting on her own.  And just look at all that awesome texture!!!  I know I am a bit bias, but I think she did amazing :)  What a beautiful and fun finish!!!   And of course, her friend just loved the quilt and it made for a wonderful Christmas Present ;)

And then the day after Christmas, Jessica asked if she could start another project!!!!   The quilting mom in me was so excited, I dropped everything I was doing and ran her down to the quilt room to decide on a project before she could change her mind ;)   She opted for the Neverland fabric that I had and wanted to do another simple patchwork with a border, but she wanted a whole lot more squares.   So I helped her with some cutting and gave her a little bit of instruction  (mostly, it's just like piecing the tote but on a larger scale) and she was on her way.

She laid out the patchwork and played for a few days with the placement.  Then when she got it just the way she liked she collected it all back into rows and started sewing.  She has already sewn up the first 6 rows ;)   And she is doing it completely independently!!!   I am so impressed with how she has just taken off with this!!  She is keeping her project neat and organize (so glad I bought the Good Measure Clothespins Set at Black Friday,  they are perfect for her to keep her rows stacked and together :)   so there is room for us both to sew together and that is a dream come true!!! 

I can see sharing a lot of Jessi's finishes this year because that girl is totally "jump into the deep end of the pool" excited about quilting!!!!  Best Day Ever!!!!   

Just a few Bags :)

 Well, I am all packed up and ready to head out to the Quilty Friends Retreat!!  I am so excited to get away and sew for a few days, and I am just thrilled to get to teach again!!!   But I have to laugh, because I never cease to be blown away at how many bags it takes to go to a retreat.      And I don't even have my personal clothes bag in this picture ;)  Guess it's been a little while, I just kept finding more bags and totes to pack this all into, including,  my new Bonnie and Camille Quilt Bee tote, isn't that just to cute!!!  

About half of the bags are for teaching :)   I am teaching 2 classes of my Wishes Pattern and 1 class of my Scraptastic Stars Pattern.  And we even have a square swap planned for our Scraptastic Stars class which should be a whole lot of fun.   I am also taking a class as well.  It is going to be crazy busy, but oh so much fun!!!   I am just so excited :)  

  

And come Friday night, after all the classes, I get to unpack the rest of the bags for a Charming Baby quilts Trunk Show!!!   EEEkkk, I can't wait!!! That's what the two giant suit cases are for.  I am just so thrilled that I get to share all of the Charming Baby Quilts and the Charming Baby Quilt Remix's :)   

And I have to say, I am so glad that  I was at a retreat with Jen Kingwell a few years back, who taught me to roll my quilts to transport them in suitcases.  Otherwise I don't think there would have been a chance to get all 21 of these in 2 suit cases.   And then the super fun part, trying to get them all back in afterwards ;)

I am going to try to remember to grab someone to take some pictures during the trunk show so I can share them afterwards.   I am just thrilled to be "retreating" again.  See you all when I get back.  

Oh, but before them, I will be sharing a Secret Finish so be sure to pop back in on Friday :)

Until then, Happy Quilting!!