I Made A Duffle Bag!!!!

 I am so glad I took on the 2023 Quilt Goal Challenge  from my good friends at Fat Quarter Shop :) And here is the end result, my very own, Get Out Of Town Duffle Bag and it just makes me so Happy!!!

I went into this project with "bag making experience" basically from my Charming Tote, which is next to no bag making experience at all.   I am glad that I planned this project around a quilt retreat so that I could have Barbara (my amazing MIL) sitting next to me whenever I was working on this.  She was able to explain some of the more in depth directions and terms that went over my head.   And slowly but surely, I gained more confidence and things started coming together.   Although, I still had to laugh when a few pictures were snapped within one minute as I went through a whole range of emotions.   It starts with panic and fear,  moves to total concentration (my tongue always comes out when I am super focused) and ends with a little bit of confidence and an almost smile.  

But, again, Barbara would calm me down and get me back on track.   And in the end, I even managed a few steps while she was in a class.   So I can say I totally learned a lot and was almost independent by the end of the process.   ;)   And now I have this amazing duffle bag to show for it!!!  And I love that even in this picture, there are still mixed feelings on my face.   Half total excitement that I made something so cool, and half considering if I would ever attempt this again ;)  

This is going to be my new Quilt Retreat/Teaching bag and I am so excited to fill it with all of my favorite quilting notions and fabrics.  

And this duffle is full of pockets so there will be lots of little places to tuck away everything I need at retreat.   There are fabric pockets on the inside of one side and mesh on the other side of the inside.  There are 4 padded pockets on the outside and one zipper pocket (perfect for my phone).  And I couldn't help but add the little Handmade Zipper Charm.   Because this was indeed handmade and I am so proud that my hands made it!!!!  

 

So now the question that everyone wants to know is. . . what comes next???  This was an experience, and I can share that while making the bag I could be quoted saying "I will never do this again" several times.  But now that it has been a few weeks, I am considering more duffels.  Especially because my girls all love it and want their own.   And besides, at least I have a clue what I am doing now, and the second one is always easier, right :)  So who knows, there just might be more Bag Making in my future Happy Quilting endeavors.  (Which truly, quilting the panels was my favorite part of the whole process! Surprise, Surprise :)  

And just in case you are wondering, here is a list of the supplies I used to make this duffle bag.  And super fun, all of the By Annie Products are 20% off this month for Fat Quarter Shop's Notion of the Month, just in case you want to make your own duffle ;)  

Get Out of Town 2.1 Pattern by Annie                            Multi Floral Daydream Fabric for Bag Outside

Ellipse Iris Oval Stripe Fabric for Bag Bottom               Pomegranate Endpaper Fabric for Coordinating

Cross Stitch Plum Yardage for Lining                             Soft and Stable White Stabilizer

Turquoise Lightweight Mesh Fabric                                Turquoise Fold Over Elastic

Eggplant 24" Handbag Zipper                                          Eggplant 30" Double Slide Handbag Zipper

White 1" Polypro Strapping                                             Pellon Fusible Ultralight Interfacing

1" Black Swivel Snap Hook Set                                      1" Black Strap Adjusters

1" Black D Ring Set                                                         Handcrafted Zipper Pull

So how about you????  Is there a project that you want to try that is outside of your usual fare??  Join in the Quilt Goals 2023 Challenge.   And use the #QuiltGoals2023 to share your progress ;)  I can't wait to see what your goal will be ;)   

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting (and maybe even Bag Making) Day!!! 

Quilt Auction for The Sandpiper Project

I was so happy when Monique reached out to me.  Monique is part of The Sandpiper Project, a group of amazing volunteers who use quilting to raise money for organizations and programs that serve children who have been diagnosed with critical diseases.   Monique's daughter is a Wish Ambassador after receiving her Wish in 2019, which prompted her to begin The Sandpiper Project to pay it forward ever since.   I am honored to be a part of the many quilters, textile companies, businesses and others who are a part of helping these children.  

So to aid in the cause, I have donated my Baby Scrappy Carpenter's Wheel quilt to be auctioned.   This quilt and your donations will help "Camp UKANDU", the largest and longest-running provider of medically-supervised camp programming available to families battling childhood and adolescent cancer.  How cool is that!!!  

The auction will be live for the next 4 days ending on Sunday, March 26th at 2pm pacific time.  And of course, if you want to help but don't necessary want to bid, you can always donate.  All the details for bidding and donating can be found here.    And for more details on this Baby Scrappy Carpenter's Wheel quilt, you can see this post ;) 

Thanks again to Monique for reaching out to me!!!  I am just so grateful that this amazing love of quilting can help to bring joy into others lives, especially those who are so affected by childhood cancers.   And to find out more about the Sandpiper Project and see how you can help, visit here ;) 

Thanks for stopping in and I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting day!!!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

 It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we are going to announce the winners of last week's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the $25.00 Gift Certificate from Olie and Evie is . . . #163  . . . Congrats to jonescheriee!!  I have messaged you :)

    

         

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop .    Did you know that Jamie makes a new Lou Lou Bundle every Tuesday . . . a Lou Lou Bundle is 8 fat quarters curated by Jamie and they are always gorgeous!  I love this new Springtime Bundle, isn't it just so adorable in it's pastel goodness!!!   And be sure to also check out all of Lou Lou's  Amazing Sale with over 2000 items at fabulous prices!!!    Such Fun Shopping :)  

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for some shopping goodness!!  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop is offering one lucky reader a $25.00 Gift Certificate perfect to use on anything in the store, including the awesome Lou Lou Bundle pictured above!!  Just perfect!!!!

You have two entry chances here on the blog, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.   Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me your favorite thing about Springtime??  

 ENTRY 2 - Lets show Lou Lou's Fabric Shop some Love!!!!   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.  Or you can follow their blog or  visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Lou Lou's Fabric Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, March 28th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Fast & Fun Sampler Quilt Along - Materials Needed!!

Well I said the Fabric Requirements would be released on Friday and here they are!!!!   You can download a PDF of the Fast & Fun Sampler Fabric Requirements here!! 

This Fast & Fun Sampler Quilt Along is going to be so much fun!  I so hope you will be quilting along with me.  And just in case you missed the last post, this sampler is made with blocks from each of the 9 quilts in my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book and will finish at   92" x 92" making a lovely queen size.  

The Quilt Along officially starts on April 5th , so by then you will want to have gathered up:

2 Layer Cake/10" Stackers - You can use 2 similar layer cakes, or use 2 different ones, or just cut 10" squares from your scraps.   Whatever way you want to mix it up ;)  

9 Yards of Background Fabric - And remember it doesn't have to be white.  And yes, I know that seems like a lot of background fabric, but 1 1/4 yards of it will be used in the pieced backing we will be making. 

5 1/2 Yard of Backing Fabric - And yes, I know that seems like a small amount for a queen size quilt.  That is where the pieced backing will come in and use the extra Background fabric.

A copy of my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book

(and no need for a binding fabric, we will be making a scrappy binding from our 10" squares as well)

I will be sharing more on this quilt along in the coming weeks,  but I wanted to make sure you had plenty of time to gather your Materials so you would be all set starting next month!!!  

Oh, and you can always check my Happy Quilting Quilt-Along's Tab for all the Fast & Fun Sampler Quilt Along links and the most up to date info. 

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we are going to announce the winners of last week's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the Spring Hare Fat Quarter Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop is . . . #562  . . . Congrats to cheryloquiltz!!  I have messaged you :)

  

         

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Olie and Evie.  Rhonda's shop is so fun and full of so much amazing quilting goodness!!!!  Of course, there is the amazing fabric shop we all know and love along with longarm quilting, gift certificates, preorders, and an awesome Clearance Sale!!    Rhonda has so much to share so be sure to pop on over and check it out!!! 

And Rhonda's has a fantastic Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!!     Olie and Evie  is giving one lucky winner a $25.00 Gift Certificate to use in her shop!!!    So awesome, someone is going to get a wonderful shopping spree for some end of the year fun :)  

You have two entry chances here on the blog, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.   Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me what fictional place would you most like to go to??

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Olie and Evie love.   You can follow them on  Facebook, Instagram  or Pinterest or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Olie and Evie Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, March 21st, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!