So I drug out a favorite pattern to whip up a soccer-themed porfolio for the dear daughter. She is an asst. soccer coach and has scorebooks to keep up with and I thought the perfect thing would be my favorite portfolio from Quilts and More magazine. I have made several of these now and I love them. They can be personalized and using theme fabric, make a statement about the interests of the owner.

I used red soccer fabric, found a cool soccer grid fabric and a coordinating checked red ribbon. I even upgraded the pattern by inserting a piece of Timtex for stability between the outer shell and the batting. Proud of my creation, I presented it to the daughter. Her reaction? Who would want that, it doesn’t have a handle?

Gee, I should have known there is no pleasing the children.

Somewhere, there is someone that wants my talents and creations. Ahhhhhhh………..

Once I got the big failure out of the way, I was able to move on and get some more things done this weekend. First, I made a slipcase for the netbook that I am using from work. Mom found a gorgeous piece of quilted fabric with Japanese women in kimonos of rich magenta and greens. The piece was strangely cut, being a remnant from a local sewing business. But I was anxious to get a fitting slipcase. I found a good pattern, Simple Laptop Sleeve, at Sew, Mama, Sew.

I think there must be a problem though. The flap turned out to be the length of the laptop instead of the width. But that is actually the way I wanted it! It worked out perfect.

I also wanted to use some of my kimono foundation piecing squares. Foundation piecing is the thing I most love to hate. Definitely a technique that needs some work, but is interesting.

I know the pics are dark but I can’t do everything right!

One more project done! A sweet girl graduated from high school, and although I don’t see her very often any more, I felt she needed a special gift. She is very into the current trendy colors of brown with green, turquoise and pink so a giant stack of coordinated fat quarters at Hancock Fabrics (the chain store) fit the bill. Then, what to do with them? I’m usually not so indecisive. Hmmm. The timing was perfect to head off to the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah in search of the perfect pattern. I found this pattern, Check It Out, by Pressed for Time Patterns. It turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Now on to the next project!

Immediately after completing this project, I cut out the next one: a Patch Me If You Can bag from Tammy Tadd Designs…….only I modified it! I took a few inches out of the width (it was too wide for me) and I’m using two treasured coordinating fabrics called “Neon Forset” from Fabri-quilt (although I think that’s a typo and should say “Forest). Check back to see how this all turns out!

These bags are the cutest things! I visited Hancock Fabrics in Paducah during the recent Quilt Show to check out the bargains. I’ve been curious about Moda Fabric‘s and their brilliant plan to market fabrics as bakery items. I knew what jelly rolls were but I was on a quest to see a layer cake. I found jelly rolls, layer cakes and these – honey buns. Two mini honey buns came in a little box and were a special quilt show price. I snatched one box up and the box included a free pattern. The pattern is available on their website.

I liked the chance to use a fabric collection, especially in a colorway I would not have chosen of my own free will. But I dislike all of the little fabric pieces, threads and fuzz that fall out of the zig-zag pre-cut strips. Ugh! I don’t know that I will purchase any of this type product again. First of all because I am frugal and fabric collections are usually too pricey for me and second of all because I try to be unique and shy away from a standard fabric combination. And I found the instructions, while free, to be very difficult to follow. I had to read and study on them for quite a few days before, even getting out test pieces of fabric and trying to wrap my mind around what the instructions were telling me to do. I finally decided the instructions and the illustrations were leaving a step or two out. Once I added them in for myself and added a few basic construction steps (in red, of course) I was able to complete these two bags.

They are cute. I don’t know what I am going to do with them. They have no strap and are recommended to be used for toiletries. I guess I will probably find them a good home but as for the instructions, I wouldn’t have done it that way!

Frantic, spastic and frenzied are the only words I can think of to describe my version of the Margaret bag from the Oh Fransson blog. This bag, and the previous bag, were made using fabric purchased at the 2008 Paducah Quilt Show. I had to get some of it out of the way before I could move on to the fabric and patterns purchased at the 2009 show. Using my Google Reader, I subscribe to several quilting and sewing blogs. along with other work-related blogs. I think it is wonderful that there are some brilliant designers out there willing to share their patterns and projects through their blogs. Thus the Margaret bag. The tutorial was excellent! Lots of pics and very well-written instructions.

I am becoming a pattern-snob. I find myself editing instructions that I printed off the internet with a red pen, like when I wrote an English paper and the teacher graded it with comments in red. But with this one, no red ink!

The fabric just screamed to me that it went together. I’m not sure anyone else likes them together. My mother sure didn’t. The bag is very roomy, has interesting patch pockets on the inside and yes, has a big comfy strap for my shoulder!

I will probably make this one again too, although maybe next time I will make the purse body a tiny bit deeper.

Things have been busy trying to get the end of the Spring semester finished. I attended the Quilt Show in Paducah in April and stocked up on plenty of good ideas, patterns, fabric and sewing goodies. Memorial Day weekend came and with the husband at work and daughter camping, I was able to do some serious marathon sewing/quilting/crafting. I will post the completed projects as I finish up the handwork on them. I’m getting excited about using and carrying them.

First up, I have the Grab bag from Allpeoplequilt.com. It is a free pattern from a magazine published by Better Homes & Garden. I’m really starting to love their Quilts and More magazine with each issue full of all the things I love to sew….quilts, bags and accessories. This pic shows the first project. Although I despise handbags, this one turned out to be handy. I love the way the handles loop together and strangely enough, the looped handles then provide an easy access slot for me to reach in and grab my keys or glasses. It is hard to break the habit of trying to put it up on my shoulder!(I must wear purses on my shoulder to keep my hands free for shopping, carrying, or, better yet, catching myself when I trip over my own two feet.) The pic gives you an idea of the wild brown print that I used, but the truly fun part is the brown and turquoise and blue stipes that line the bag. There are pockets on the inside, but they are much too shallow to be worthwhile.

Definitely a cute bag! I will make this one again.

I wanted to make one of these for a long time. Having sewn plus-size clothes all my life, I always have difficulty fitting myself. And the sewing industry had never provided dress forms for anyone over the size of 16. I read all of the websites and blogposts with tutorials and tips and tricks. So when the sewing machine was broke and in the shop, I presented my husband with a large role of duct tape and asked him if we could have a little bit of fun.

Let me tell you, this was the most fun that we have had in a very long time! The jokes and funny remarks that can be made are endless! We couldn’t decide if this project was more suited for a medieval torture technique or a couples therapy activity. But 2 hours, 1 1/2 rolls of duct tape, and two turkey hunting TV episodes later, I had a dress form made in my very own shape.

And the reason I call her Dorothy is because of all the tin man jokes that went on during it along with the fact I already have issues with the flying monkeys.

Boy, has this been a difficult year so far. I had all kinds of plans (and still do) for all kinds of projects. I have the supplies and the patterns and the tools. I need the time to implement the plans. But thanks to the Ice Storm of 2009, the faithful sewing machine breaking down and refusing to stitch and a horrendous bout of bronchitis and pneumonia, the only thing I have had the ambition to do is change the channel on the cable remote.

I was getting motivated after the Ice Storm with some baby projects when the sewing machine died mid-project. Some women do jewelry, some women do mani/pedi’s, some women cannot do without their beauty products. I came to realize that when my sewing machine is not functioning, the world ceases to revolve on its axis. When the husband lost his job last year, I was still able to cope because I could sew and sell things. But I’m telling you. I thought I was going to have to seek psychiatric help. And then my backup sewing machine refused to work. My mother, bless her heart, saw my anguish and offered up a couple of alternative machines of different makes and levels of functionality and it still wasn’t the same. I could not be satisfied. Had it not been for an important baby shower date looming ahead of me, I never could have finished this blanket.

The bear had such personality in his face and I loved that I could get the coordinating stripe with the polka dot fabric. The back is simply pale yellow flannel since there was no back panel. I love this one! And it went to a very needy home.

And yes, after 14 days of agony, the sewing machine has come home, healthy and happy. And then the bronchitis and pneumonia and ER visit and 3 days of bed rest. And I’m still not well! But I have the energy to raise up and gaze longingly at the stack of projects! Soon, very soon, my friend!