New Messenger Bag

Decided to remake the Messenger bag pattern. Downsized it to a more manageable existence. It is now 13 x 11 inches....give or take. Still has the flap, but not such a large interior. I think they will be more marketable this way .....especially for the Christmas fair.And a little less expensive to decorate, and less time consuming. Still takes about 3 hours to make just one.

Detail from the flap. I've twisted fabric, fibres, wool, netting, trims, all the rough edge to make the overlaps unnoticeable. So fun to make. My favourite of all. Added just a few beads, and that is a good thing. Going to try out this one tomorrow, and see how it works. The strap is about 50 inches long, and can be slung over opposite shoulder....much more comfortable. I think I'll sell these for about $45 at the fair. Still labour intensive, but worth it.

Walls and Corners

Music room. Lotsa old stuff here. Far wall needed something on it to give it some warmth and depth. Right now I have the fall grown quilt. Big thing. Bulky. The fabric is really patterned with brown pointsettias...gives a hint of Christmas to come.

I absolutely adore this Sari. Used it in a play, once or twice, as a costume, but then it just sor to of got shoved to the back of the closet. Found a great place for it draped and dropped over the bannister. Now I get to enjoy it all of the time...

This is a very big quilt. Moved some of the heavy furniture so I could finally hang it on the wall. Irish Chain in various reds and creamy buttery yellow. Love the visual effect of the squares.

Mixed media quilts. Batiks on the closer wall, do not match, in any way, the more traditional flying Geese behind the piano. And that's okay by me. Eclectic is way more fun than anything else.

Sizzling Business Card

New business cards....bright and bold....all ready for Christmas Fairs. Eeek, still a lot of work to do. Must sew, sew, sew.

Messenger Bag on the Wild Side

Trial run for a new messenger bag style. Used fake-leather for the main body, then did a haphazard deconstruction of various fabrics for the flap, twisted wools together to outline seams, added fringe and coins. No beading just yet. May add later. May not! Have a few more to make. These take more time than any other bag. Long strap perfect for slinging onto opposite shoulder, leaving hands and arms free. Lined with lining and fleece and four pockets. So worth the time to make.
I think I love this one the best.

Tea Cozy Countdown

I like these tea cozies. Still have some beading to add.....later......I like the haphazardness of them.

This is the back of the first one. No two sides are alike. NOt sure if people coming to our fair at Christmas will buy them. Oh well, more prezzies for someone else.

Did this as a mini quilt. All paper pieced. Really a pain in the neck. Did all the little squares then put the little squares together, ripped out the paper.....and then still had to sew backing and lining, and etc lots of work. Pretty though.

This is the back. Just needs some sequins I think.......a throw back to the 80's!

Christmas Stocking Countdown

First stocking out of Santa's bag...a plain version to start....no beading, no buttons, no chains, etc. This is the front.

This is the bag. I distressed all the edges, and did them in ragged fashion. Really fun.

Floral Tote

These were pillow sham covers I took apart, because I never used them, and make into a tote. Used the other sham to make a second tote.

This is the back of the totes...just simple squares. Easy. Made separate handles out of part of the shams, and lined it. Even ironed on my own label.

Small bags

Trying to get down to smaller purses......These are 8" x 6". Haven't added beading yet, may not, but fo rnow they have a long strap to sling over, a velcro closure, lined, and a small inner pocket. Couldn't decide on round edge or square edge, so have done some of both to see .

This looks bigger, because of the camera angle. Still only 8 x 6".

I think some of these will definitely get some beading to zap them up.

Bagged

LIttle Black Bag. The pattern was kind of complicated and fiddly. But I persevered and it made sense at last. I finally gave up on the written directions and just followed the diagrams. Much easier. This is made from a 12 1/2 inch by 16 1/2 inch piece of patterned silk scrap. Lined and has flat fleece as a liner. I think next time I'll make fabric handles, though. These were $7.00 handles, and that adds to the cost.

Tote made from desden plate patterned pillowcase slip covers .I cut them apart, took the edges to make as handles, and lined it. Easy. No pattern.

Where's Bo?

Crazy Cat made a nest out ofmy fabric strips for the purses. She is almost the same colour. See if you can find her.....

Black is the new Colour

Black and more black. I like this trend. Making these for the Christmas fair in November. Easy to do, as well....no filler required. I've wrapped wool with other types of wool to stitch along seam lines, to add a different texture. I think I will also try netting and other sheer fabrics, twisted with the wool. My next batch will have leopard prints and stripes. That whole jungle thing is really something.......

Black and White Purses

New. Black and white theme. For the Christmas fair in November.

May add beads. May not. Just depends. Don't want to get too fancy for the craft fair. maybe just a few to give pizzazz.

Janome Just Jolly

Well, I finally did it......got a Janome. Don't know why I never got one before. Not as fancy as the Husquvarna, but sew smooth, has enough quilting stitches to placate that quilting bug. Not an overly havy machine, which is good, but has good weight to not move around on the table. The light is nice and bright, the thread cutter is located at the side ( something I have to get used to......) and the bottom plate is clear, so you can see if you are running out of thread, rather than guessing.

Well laid out. Easy to understand modes for sewing. So the Husquvarna is getting cleaned up and will be sent to the local quilting store for sale , on consignment. The ladies who run the store said they often have people in who are looking for them, and I should get a good price. Janome is really easy to thread, great thread guide ( that actually works) and comes with tons of bobbins that wind incredibly fast. I like the fact that you can choose how fast you want to sew....the little insignia at the middle portion shows a turtle, going all the way to the bunny ( I kind of sew like a bunny.....zoooom)

Janome is all computerized, but in a manageable way. Still have to push the panel pretty hard to make them change back and forth, but I think that's because it is brand new. Best feature is that there is a manual lever for moving the pressure foot....and the machine does not start automatically. A lot safer.

Sewing Machine Possession

Grrrrr.
That is my first comment on this goofy machine I bought over two years ago. It's possessed, I tell you. I even thought I should get an exorcism, but figured that was too weird. Have decided to sell it on consignment and put the money towards a new machine. One with not so many bells and whistles and things that can go wrong, or beep and fall off.
Yes, I did my research on sewing machines and a couple of years ago bought a Viking Husquvarna, after much debate and much trepidation. Income tax money is wonderful to spend on treats ......feels like it's some sort of present. So after about 6 months, I took the plunge and lugged home the Husquvarna.......the thing was so heavy it took two of us to drag into the car.
The first time I tried to sew with the thing, it tried to eat my fingers. I just put that down to it being new and fresh from the factory, and me being green, green, green. Well.....I'm not so green now, and this machine has become annoying."All the bells and whistles, with so many quilting stitches it l sew by itself", was the advertisement.......Oooooh, I thought. Fun. Either that, or it better make coffee.......
Grrrr.
For these past two years, this machine has been slowly, but surely falling apart. First, the pressure foot jammed , wouldn't move, I couldn't raise it. Everything was done electronically. The machine would just shut down and sulk ,when it wasn't happy. Then, after the pressure foot incident, the threader stopped working. Three times I've had it " fixed", and it is still broken. Then the weirdest problem of all showed up...........it started beeping and humming and freezing. Then the sewing needle would come to life, sensuously darting in and out of invisible fabric, nearly sewing my fingers to the metal plate. The stitches would switch back and forth, for reason at all. And the humming.....as if it was laughing at me.....daring me to stick my fingers under the pressure foot.
I must destroy this machine, I decided.........but how, and when? Would anyone notice?
Grrrr.
The latest problem? Well, the pressure foot pedal cracked, the metal bands inside snapped off and the casing fallen off. No one seems to know how to get a replacement. I was told that I would most likely have to send it to Sweden............I could have a vacation there, for what it would cost in shipping charges. And at this point, I am soooo fed up with the Husquvarna I would gladly give it away, either that or toss it into a metal squisher and listen to it grind away into tin foil and plastic.
Sigh. That would be a most satisfying sound.
I've returned to my back up sewing machine...one I got 12 years ago....a Brother. Loud and noisy, and some uneven stitches, but it behaves. But, I still need something with at least SOME quilting stitches, so will be having a look at a Janome today. The Husquvarna sits in its corner, tauntingly. I think it can hear me plotting its demise.
I hope the new machine is not possessed , just quiet and obedient.It better not talk , or beep or have any sort of personality. I hope that I am not losing it.
And it doesn't even have to make coffee......