broccoli bag

Remember this bag?  Well, sadly- I have still been carrying it around.  Do you know how horrible it looks with my black wool coat?

Everyday when I fetch it from the hooks by the door I think, "ugh- I really need to make a new bag."  But I was struggling to find some inspiration. This thought of a new bag has been intensifying as I look forward to a girl's weekend away in the big city.  Overnight.  Shopping.  So, what's a country mouse to do?  

For a long time I have loved this. 

So I made this:

(This bag was so difficult to photograph on such a gray day.  I finally had a measure of success after I hung it from the dining room chandelier)

The pattern is found here.  I modified the straps.  The bag body is made out of wool, the applique from wool felt.  I am in love with the fabric that I used to make the straps.  It's made from silk linen and came from a skirt that I picked up at Goodwill.  (It was a size 2...the lady at the counter looked at me like, "yeah right lady!") 

When they woke up this morning, I proudly showed the girls what I had made.  Hannah bluntly blurted out, "Looks like broccoli to me" and returned to her cereal.  Emma agreed in a disinterested sort of way and of course Laurel copies whatever anyone else says, "Boccy" she giggled.  They are usually so encouraging!?! 

Better don't you think?

Quilting Along

So 3 weeks ago Amanda had this great and very generous idea to host a "quilt-a-long".  I have been itching to try making a quilt, and couldn't resist this opportunity for week-by-week help and inspiration.  After 3 weeks of procrastination/fear and fussiness over fabric- I jumped in. 

Square from Week One

 

Square from Week 2

Square from week 3

I am using fabric from my stash- which is hard for me.  I would rather have gotten new...but for the first go around- using old scraps will have to work.  My background color will not be uniform as the directions suggested. Instead, I have a little collection of vintage sheets which will hopefully give it some character.

What I have learned: I hate measuring.  Linen is squirmy on the cutting mat. Lots of thread tales to trim! I really rely on pictures in the directions.  I could never be an architect.  It was easier than I expected (especially the triangles).  Perfectly matching corners are not that important to me :)  Making a quilt is really not so overwhelming.  One square at a time. 

I am a "real" crafter!

I know I said that Thanksgiving deserves more laud. I will get there (keep reading), but please allow me one tiny Christmas forethought.

These lovely little roll-ups are a more grown-up version of this.  I am making them as Christmas gifts for all of my nieces and nephews.  It was my first attempt and something patchwork-y. 

   

Now that I have invested the time in selecting all the colored fabrics and laying them out in the correct order...making more should be a breeze. Emma helped me decide which order they should be arranged in.  I should have done the cutting for all of them at once.  The choosing and cutting is what took the longest. But, I was so excited to finish one...that I couldn't help but forge ahead. 

The pattern is found in this book.  The instructions for every project in this book seem to be very well written.  Clearly they would have to be simple for me to understand them.  I did, however, have to make one phone call my "expert carpenter" Brother for a little measuring help (he was kind enough not to make fun of me when I asked him how many little marks past 1/2 inch line on the ruler equalled 5/8 inch.) I also purchased a walking foot for my machine. I felt very "official" using it...like I was a "real" crafter- no longer a wannabe.  So helpful! It makes a big difference when sewing layers. I am glad I did, because after the Christmas making and giving is done...I think there is a quilt in my future.

So the week is off and running.  My kids went to school today- whereas I think that public schools had the day off.  Emma's class went to an assisted living facility and sang Psalms for some of the residents, giving special honor to the Veterans who were present. Over our cereal this morning, we spent some time talking about what a Veteran is, and why they are worthy of honor.  I wanted my children to understand the great, great sacrifices that courageous individuals have made for their own personal freedom.  I think about Carl's grandmother who was pregnant when her husband left for the Korean war.  By the time her husband (Carl's Grandfather) returned home, their daughter was already 18 months old.  This type of reality is so far from mine.  I cannot even imagine what that would've been like.  Needless to say, I am thankful for those who have gone so far as to give their lives in their service to our country.