Creating a Set

I saw on social media where a woman my age had purchased a set of bags, totes, and pouches for traveling. She mentioned that she had never had a matching set before and it really made her happy. So, I decided that creating a set of bags, pouches, and a tote for family members is one of my challenges. I have one completed. 

Yesterday, I worked on the second set. I'd already completed the tote. So, I worked on crafting three smaller bags and a wristlet to go with it. I love that I can personalize them with my new sewing/embroidery machine. 

The first pouch I completed this morning was a coin purse. I didn't add a magnetic snap to this one because I wanted to try out a new technique. First, I made a long, narrow lined pouch with a zipper closure at the top. Then, I gave it a good pressing. I embroidered a granddaughter's initial onto the bottom and turned it up and stitched the sides. So, there is an outside pocket and a zip-closure at the top. I added a tab with a swivel clip on the side so that it could be clipped to a keychain if desired. It measures about 3 1/2" x 4" and is a perfect little size for coins, lip gloss, or gift cards.

The second one is an open-wide boxy triangular pouch. It measures about 10" x 5" and was fairly simple to construct. I followed this tutorial but changed the dimensions just a wee bit to suit the supplies I had on hand. I had already begun constructing and decided to add a name to the pouch. So, that slowed things down a little bit. I really like how it turned out even though it took me a little finagling and rewinding and replaying and scrolling through the tutorial to figure out the different steps.

I think it will hold lots of treasures for the teenager who will be the recipient but I like how it forms sort of a triangle when it is zipped up . 

Then, when it is completely unzipped, it will open wide and forms sort of a square trough. Pretty versatile! I used leftover bandana scraps I had after making her tote bag to construct all three of the pouches I worked on today. 

For the third one, I needed a zipper that would coordinate but didn't have the size I wanted. So, it is still in pieces but will go together quickly once I get the right size and color coordinating zipper. It is a variation of the color-blocked zip pouches I have made before. I will probably add a tab and a D ring to it as well. The finished dimensions are about 8" x 5" and I've found that is a pretty handy size.

I think these pouches will be good for most anything the girls might want to use them to catch and carry round. Plus, they will coordinate with their tote that I've made them and they will have a matching set!

Today I noticed...Sometimes it is easier than it might look!

I have been reading and watching tutorials. I have made note of the different ways folks go about making a square Dopp Kit type bag. You know, the kind that is sort of square-ish. They have a zipper across the center of the top and usually have a handle or loops or something near the ends of the zipper. It is a pretty typical bag for a guy.

I have seen all sorts of sizes and all sorts of methods for putting one together. Today, I finally took the leap and gave it a try. I used some scraps left from a project completed earlier this week. I wanted it to be pretty simple, yet, still be personalized. 

I had noticed several zip pouches and bags that had the busiest part of the pattern on one end and I wanted to try for that look. I had just the right scraps from a couple of bandanas left from the tote I finished yesterday. So, I dove in and used those. I lined it with the same bandana fabric that I had used for the tote as well. It is a pink background with boots and hats and horse shoes on it in browns and hot-pinks. 

I had the zipper work done and decided at the last minute that I would personalize it with one of the granddaughter's name. I used pink thread for the embroidery to match the zipper and the bag lining. I set it a bit off-center as well to continue onward with that decor on one end concept. I sort of wish I had just centered it on the bag but I still like it that way as well. 

One thing I would definitely do differently for the next attempt is that I would make the loops on each end lots shorter. I didn't have the perfect piece of ribbon to stitch on as a zipper pull. So, I stitched some chocolate brown rick rack onto a piece of pink twill tape and attached that as the pull  It really set the zipper off and finished it well.

Just like my finishing up a tote bag yesterday, completing this cute boxy rectangular bag really encouraged me to want to give another one of them a try. I have ideas about how I will adapt the steps with different measurements and create different sizes of this type bag.

Sometimes when I am uncertain about how to do something, I drag my feet and overthink things. I think that is what I did with this design. I'm glad I finally just dove in and gave it a try. It was far easier than it looked!

More Wreath Sash Gifts

I've said before that wreath sashes are my Go-To and that really is true. When I want to try out a new design, I almost always go to a wreath sash. They are perfect for a three-inch embroidery design. They are easy to assemble with long straight seams. They don't require lots of extras like zippers or snaps or buttons or tabs or anything. They make good gifts.

Side one of an H wreath sash - patriotic and monogrammed

Side two of the H wreath sash - floral and monogrammed

I've been seeing that people are easing into fall already even though the temperatures are still in the hot summer ranges of the nineties around here. I had bookmarked and added things to my shopping cart and all the things one does these days when scrolling and thinking and gathering ideas. So, I pulled the trigger on a few new designs and decided to stitch them out.

Side one of a B wreath - patriotic and monogrammed

Side two of a B wreath - fall pumpkin and monogrammed.

I used a few pieces of leftover and found fabrics to make them. I'm not sure where I got the yellow gingham but it was a nice squared-off piece that still had selvage edges. So, I just ripped widths from selvage to selvage. I remembered that the last time I had made a sash out of the light yellow gingham the fabric on the back side sort of peeked through. So, I used and iron-on interfacing and backed it to try to prevent the color peeking through. That also helped to make the fabric have more heft. However, with a design that is pretty dense with stitching, like the pumpkin, there still was some puckering. Most people who are the recipients of my gifts don't notice or care but it frets me somewhat. However, in the big scheme of things, the product is still beautiful, personal, and one-of-a-kind. Isn't that sort of the definition of a good gift?

   

   

I made a couple with patriotic designs on one side and floral on the other and a couple with the fall pumpkin on one side and patriotic on the other.. They will go to different folks and I really like the look of both options. I'm guessing the patriotic design could be used in the summer for Flag Day or Independence Day or for most any patriotic holiday such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, etc. Then, the simple fall pumpkin design could be used from late September all the way through till Thanksgiving. The floral monogrammed sides could be used most anytime no matter what season. I feel like that is a nice gift for some of my women friends and family members and offers some versatility.

Side one of an O wreath - fall pumpkin and monogrammed

Side two of an O wreath - turkey and monogrammed with a swag of greenery

I had seen some monogrammed wreath bows. So, I gave one of them a try. It really takes a very long strip of fabric to make one of those. I'm not sure how the bow will stand up to wind and rain either and we all know that most doors are going to have a bit of weather exposure. I do like the look but I think I like the shorter one that is just looped and knotted better.

Side one of an H wreath sash - greenery with bow and monogrammed

Side two of an H wreath - pumpkin and monogrammed

I think one of the fun things about creating wreath sashes is how each and every one can be different. Even though I used the same fabrics on all of these wreaths, each looks completely different. They could all be hanging on doors in the same hallway and each would have an individual and unique appearance. The stitched designs vary or the font can vary or the monogram is different for different people or the colors can be mixed and matched. Sometimes simplicity really provides a whole lot of variety.

Wreath sashes lined up on a bed

I catch myself walking by the bedroom where I have the finished products laid out flat to prevent wrinkles and smiling a little smile of satisfaction. I hope the recipients enjoy them half as much as I have enjoyed creating them!

A Bigger Project Than I Expected

I just took on a project that I was SOOO excited to get started on. I had seen these tote bags made from bandanas. I thought, "What a genius idea! That would be so cute with a personalized monogram." After all, a good southern gal thinks everything needs a good monogram. I also thought this would make great Christmas gifts for the daughters and daughters-in-law and maybe even the granddaughters. I was thinking big, ya'll! 

So, I began exploring tutorials and examining different handmade options and discovered that purchasing a ready-made bag was going to be quite expensive. I liked one I found on Etsy and decided I'd better keep searching.

Etsy Bag - $155

I also found a few at the Bloomingdales website. They were already decorated. Yet, again, it was cost prohibitive, though.

Bloomingdales Bag - $403

I kept thinking about those cute bags and, of course, options would pop up in my social media feeds, since I had searched for such an animal. I also saw loads of other cute bags constructed from bandanas. I began saving ideas and kept thinking about it. Then, a blog that I follow, My 100 Year Old Home, penned by Leslie Saeta, posted a really wonderful tutorial showing how she made a bandana bag. So, I decided to tackle it.

Leslie's Handmade Bandana Tote Bags

I cannot convey how much I learned from this project. I cannot say enough about how thankful I am for the wonderful tutorial. My completed bag looked so professional that the Mister suggested I make some to sell.  Well, I will tell you, I'm not sure folks could afford mine either! Let me share what I learned and some modifications that I added to Leslie's instructions as I mad my own personalized bag. I'll also share my ideas for how I might make my next one. Yes, it is such a cute finished product that I have spent a lot of time thinking about how I could make it simpler and more streamlined.

First, I had never machine quilted anything. I had never used fusible foam batting. I had never made such a big bag. Next, I knew that I wanted to add an inside zip pocket. There are so many times when I need to stash something in a tote bag that I don't want rolling around in the bottom of it. I also had seen a tutorial for adding an inset zipper closure to the top of a bag and I wanted to give that a go.

I used Saeta's tutorial for the most part. She had great instructions, measurements, and photos showing just how to craft a nice bag. Knowing that I wanted to insert an inside zipper pocket, I also noticed a few tutorials about that. I primarily used this one. One thing that I did differently than the tutorial showed is that I used one strip of scrap gingham fabric. I used an 8-inch zipper. Since I had the one strip of fabric, I thought that would be better than having a seam at the bottom of the pocket that might come unstitched. Instead, I just folded the piece in half and have a fold forming the bottom of the pocket. Of course, in my learning experience, I inserted the zipper with the zipper pull facing the wrong direction. Thank goodness it was easy to pick out and didn't destroy the lining piece of my bag. 

inserted zipper pocket

I also added a recessed zipper closure panel to the top of my bag. I basically followed this tutorial. Since I was using bandanas, I used the already hemmed side as the finished side of my panel and just top-stitched it one-and-a-half inches from the top edge of my bag. I stitched the front side to the lining before assembling the lining and the outer part of the bag. Then, top-stitched the other side of the panel to the back of the bag at the end by just measuring with a ruler and marking a line across the lining back and stitching through all of the layers of the bag.

recessed zipper closure panel in the top of my bag

To be honest, I don't think I will use the zipper closure and will probably remove it from my tote bag. I sort of like having it open with easy access and just the inserted zipper pocket like the example below. (I don't know the origin of this photo but I do love the color combination! I also like the simpler construction method of the bag below and how the square around the bandana sort of frames the top of the lining where it is most visible. I may give that a try on my next effort. Plus, notice the inside zipper pocket. the zipper looks like it is framed out with the edge of a bandana, which is a cute feature. So, I'm guessing the pocket just has finished edges and is stitched on top of the lining fabric.

I don't know the origin of this image

I wanted my bag to have a bit more structure than Saeta's tutorial showed. So, I pinched the seams of the bottom of the bag and the corner seams of the side of the bag and ran a top-stitch along those seams. That seemed to give it more detail and structure and I'm really glad I thought of that.

My Bag Hanging From Longer Straps

I'm not sure how long my handles are. I didn't measure them. I just used scraps that I had left over from cutting the side pieces. I'm also not certain that I really like having two sets of handles. On any future bags I make, I might just have one set of handles and add a tab with a D-ring for attaching longer straps to the inside somewhere.

My Bag Hanging From Shorter Straps

I must say that another of Saeta's tips was helpful. I used the magnetic hoops that she recommended for monograming my bag after I quilted the front piece. I don't think using the regular hoop would have worked on such a thick piece. The magnetic hoop held the flat front perfectly. I still used a tear-away stabilizer under the quilted flat front piece just to be sure that it would smoothly stitch the monogram. The fonts I used were from Etsy - The Stitch Ready Hub I used the Jumbo Fishtail Two Color Font 4" for the letter O and the Fishtail Two Color Font 3.5" font for the letters B and N. I debated on using two colors but in the end I decided that I liked how Saeta's looked with one color and just kept it all one color and simple. 

This really turned out to be a bigger project than I expected. I really didn't think it would take me so long to make a tote bag. I've already purchased more bandanas and plan to give this another go. I do plan on trying a simpler technique. I was learning loads of different things with this one. However, it still took me the better part of two days to stitch this up from start to finish. Notice the uncredited blue and yellow bag shown earlier in this post. It looks like the sewist used two full-width bandanas and sewed them together with a side seam. I'm guessing that the sewist just squared off the bottom corners by cutting a square out of the bottom and folding the side and bottom seams together for stitching or maybe just stitched all around the edge of the bandana and folded the corners and stitched and trimmed to form a boxed corner. I am probably going to give that a try to see how I like it. Remember, we have a lot of girls to give gifts for Christmas. So, simpler is better when crafting multiples of something. For my bag, I used a total of ten bandanas - five of each color. Using the simpler method would also cut back on the number of bandanas and the number of pieces I would need to quilt without compromising much on the size of the tote. It would make fewer seams and that is always helpful when crafting multiples and makes the process go faster.

My mind has been racing for ways to make the process simpler and for other ways to use these bandanas. I've seen so many cute zip pouches that are embellished with embroidery, beads, rhinestones, sparkly vinyl, and more. I've seen them used in combination with other fabrics and lots of denim. In our farm family denim and bandanas are hard to beat when it comes to usefulness. So, when those two fabrics are used to create something cute as well as useful, I'm all in!

I am still excited about this cute tote bag and am looking forward to making more. 

Not Much Sugar for a Nickel

I remember my grandparents saying that phrase quite a lot. I've heard my Mama use it as well. Some things really are a lot of sugar for a nickel. Now, the English teacher in me comes out... For those of you who don't know the meaning of that idiom, it is saying that some things seem like more trouble than they are worth. 

Heart Bag Tag

I have been making Bag Tags.  I understand that some of the grands really like bag tags. So, being the grandmother that I want to be, I am trying to craft something they will like. Evidently, I am not so good at making bag tags. It seems to take me an inordinate amount of time to get one completed. 

Smaller Heart Bag Tag - 1st Side

I thought maybe I needed to use some sticky tear away stabilizer to make them sit tighter in my hoop. Oh my goodness! I wound up with my hands sticky from trying to get everything positioned just right. I found a tutorial that showed sticking the sticky stabilizer to the back of the hoop. Then, sticking the fabric to the sticky stabilizer. That seemed to work better. However, my question is do I just use two layers of the sticky stabilizer or do I baste a less expensive tear-away to the sticky tear away stabilizer?

Opposite Side of Small Heart Bag Tag

I like to have a finished look on both sides. The designs I'm using don't seem to include that option. So, I'm having to finagle around and make it happen. That adds a whole different layer of difficulty to such a small project. 

4" Square Bag Tag - Side 1

Today, however, I decided that I am not going to make them reversible anymore. That is just to headachey. Getting everything lined up and straight is a whole added level. I don't mind just adding a plain fabric back or a puffy foam back but a decorated back just makes it W - A - Y too much sugar for a nickel!

Opposite Side of 4" Square Bag Tag

Puff Foam Sports Volleyball Bag Tag

The Bag Tag designs that I am using include:

• Set of 10 In-The-Hoop Bag Tags by Embroidery Byte
• Sports Bag Tags by FabuloEmbroidery

I purchased them via Etsy and they have been a wonderful guide as I am learning to use my new embroidery sewing machine. 

3" Circle Bag Tag

Cute fabric back for tag shown above.

The heart, square, and circle bag tags are part of the 10 In-The-Hoop Bag Tag bundle. Again, I purchased them via Etsy. They feature just the outline or shape and the little circle to guide where to poke the hole in the tag. I've added the designs on each of the tags using other designs or fonts that I purchased. The designs include:

• Lamb by Rainbow Sublimation Company
• Cambridge Royal Embroidery Monogram Font by StitchMonogram
• Fishtail Embroidery Font by Stitch Monogram
• Maxwell and Merit Font by AnnMargaretStudio
• The Bow from Crossed American Flags by Tiny Treasures 804
• Split Paw Applique by RiverMill Embroidery

Maybe I am trying to do too much with one little project. Maybe I have my standards set too high. If I use a cute fabric that coordinates with what I have on the front, I think the tag looks finished and is still quite cute. So, I am satisfying myself and changing - not lowering - my standards!

I am enjoying making them and am still learning with each new project I tackle. I think the tags are cute and I think the recipients are going to enjoy them! I'm hoping to get a sweet hug or two and that might make it worth my while and not too much sugar for a nickel.

Just 3 Things | #34

This has truly been a week of practicing, learning, successes, and failures for me. The Mister has been busy with projects of his own and I had lots of uninterrupted time for four days to spend time at my sewing machine. I am still loving the experiences I'm getting with it and those long stretches of time to practice and learn.

- What I've Been Watching -

I've watched a lot of YouTube tutorials this week. I'm learning all I can about using my new sewing machine and have lined up a few projects for myself. My daughter, Bridgette, suggested that I could practice different designs with my sewing machine by creating wreath sashes and bows. She sent me some links showing some that were available for custom order on Etsy. Of course, I was inspired right away and had to give it a try using some scrap fabric I had here. So, I also watched a tutorial or two on how to create one from start to finish. 

My sash  sort of overwhelms my little wreath but it is what I had handy and it does show off the sash well. This was really the first start to finish project I've created while using my new machine. I didn't have these designs and went to Etsy to purchase them. I am so glad I did, too. I must confess that I spent hours down the rabbit hole of font selection and design selection but I am pleased wit my purchases and how my project turned out. 

Almost immediately upon completing the project I realized that I could have made the sash reversible and put a different design on the other side where I have a checked fabric lining or finishing off the sash. Oh well, live and learn!

The font I used is called Cambridge Royal Monogram by Stitch Monogram. I really think it is beautiful and I will use it quite a lot. The hydrangea vase design by EmbRoseArt is just gorgeous and is another one that I think I will use frequently. I wasn't compensated for this endorsement but I do like their products and found them easy to use. Of course, I didn't stop there, I also bought other fonts and other designs. So, brace yourself for me sharing more fun projects.

inspiration link

- What I've Been Reading -

I started reading one of Carol Burnett's memoirs this week. I remember as a kid that we all enjoyed watching her television show as a family. It was broadcast during the years of 1967 and 1978. So, maybe my sister who was born in 1965 might not have enjoyed it as much as the rest of us but I'm certain that she got to see some reruns and probably didn't miss much. 

link

I always have loved Burnett's sense of humor. This book has already enlightened me in that I always thought she was a natural redhead like my sister but, alas, no. She confessed that she always colored her hair herself because she didn't like sitting in a hairdresser's chair so long to have it professionally colored. I am enjoying the stories she shares about the different aspects of getting the show up and going and especially enjoyed the part where she introduced Vicki Lawrence. They just don't make television like that anymore.

- What I've Been Working On -

As you might guess, what I've been working on this week is mostly stitchery projects. I monogrammed a towel, stitched a design onto another dish towel, made a mess on a practice strip of fabric, and started a project for the basement bedroom. 

The mess I made is really just a practice strip that I would have used for something if it had worked out but alas, it did not. Sometimes, though, I learn as much from the messes I make as from the projects that turn out like my vision. One of the suggestions Bridgette sent me included a shield that had a letter inside. My sewing machine has several different frames and some of them are shaped like a shield. So, I selected one and stitched it onto a small fabric strip. I couldn't find a pretty capital O within the designs pre-programmed into my machine. So, I decided to try to add a swirly letter O from one of the fonts I had purchased. 

As you can tell in the photo above, my design did not work out to be like my inspiration and the vision I had. I can still use it for something, I guess but it really is just a practice piece and helped me to know more. First, I know that I really like the swirly O that I chose and will probably use it on a project in the near future. (I guess O is just one of those letters that doesn't have a lot of options for fancying it up and it still looking like an O!) I like the size - that is the smallest size that came in the bundle and the O and lots of the other letters will look nice in the right project and I know that I have it in a larger format as well. Secondly, I learned that I like the shield and it will work with some other font just fine and will frame out something nicely. I now know what size it is and how it looks. I also learned that when I am embroidering on a small strip of fabric that it might pucker up a wee bit. So, I will need to be sure I am alright with that before I try it again. 

So, the only thing lost was a bit of time and some thread. Everything else was a scrap that was bound for the waste basket anyway. Truly, failure is not the end. Instead it is just a part of the learning process.

I hope you week was filled with more successes than failures but I also hope that both rounded out a week in a good way where you can learn and move forward progressively like I am.

Satisfying Little Projects

I have been tackling some little projects around the house and I have found such satisfaction in completing each one. 

Last week I decided that I had procrastinated long enough about repotting what the Mister had proclaimed was a jungle. I must admit that I did have a lot going on with my plants in the kitchen.

The first little project was to separate and repot my lemon/lime trees. I read where growing lemon trees is a fun endeavor and that it is simple to start a tree just by saving the seeds and letting them dry a bit before planting. So, I saved a few seeds from a lime and some from a lemon. I laid them on a paper towel on the counter to dry for a bit. Then, I bumped them and knocked the paper towel onto the floor, mixing the seeds. I was not deterred, I still planted them. I decided that it didn't really matter to me which was what and I would figure it out when and if they ever produced fruit. For now, I was just going to give the growing thing a try.

So, I put the handful of seeds into a small pot and set it near a window on the kitchen counter. Sure enough, a handful of little green leaves poked their heads out of the soil and began to grow up into tiny trees. One had gotten tall enough that it was a bit crowded under the cabinet. 

I didn't have many spare pots sitting around. So, I dug into a closet and found an old brass planter that had come from a thrifting adventure where I got several items for one price. So, I went off to the barn and found a plastic pot that would fit inside it and brought it to the house along with a few other plastic pots.

I'm hoping it will grow into a stately tree and be worthy of such a fancy pot. 

A couple of the other trees went into the plastic pots and I had a basket that fit around the outside of one of them to dress it up a bit. I'm still searching for something to hide the serviceable but not pretty pot. The remaining three little trees are in small pots and back onto the kitchen counter corner for now.

The other jungle that the Mister had pointed out was the dish garden that had been living on the dining table for a couple of years. 

The photo above shows how it looked last fall and it had grown even more. The tallest plant with leaves that are yellow in the center and green around the edges had fallen over and I feared it was a goner.

Again, I needed pots that look sort of nice and I had none. So, one day last week I stopped in at the local Goodwill store. I found a couple of nice pots and figured that would give me a pretty good start. One has a raised vine design around the top and an attached drip tray. The other did not have a saucer or drip tray but there just happened to be a square plate sitting nearby on the shelf. So, both pots came home with me.

In the pot that the Mister said looks sort of like a deep dish fudge pie, I replanted a Madagascar Dragon tree and a small little prayer plant.

There were two or three other prayer plants in the jungle. So, I put them into a blue and white pot.

The peace lily went back into the pretty green ceramic pot and is still gracing the center of the dining table. I've learned that I like having a live plant on the table and it serves as a nice center where I can add seasonal decor but also looks alive and welcoming on the daily.

The poor plant that laid over got put into the thrifted pot with a raised vine pattern. I staked it up with a small dowel rod and some raffia. I've learned that it is called a dieffenbachia or dumb cane and is a member of the peace lily family. I think the species I have is either Camille or Tropic Snow. I placed it where it was leaning away from the window in my office. I am telling myself that it is straightening up and moving itself toward the light of the window a little each day. Fingers crossed.

I saw on a plant care site that it can be propagated. So, I will give it a bit of time and if it doesn't straighten back up, I will give propagation a try.

I'm so glad I got the inspiration to visit the local Goodwill for my pots. While I was searching for plant names, I also learned that glazed ceramic pots like those sell online for anywhere from $20 to $70. I really got a deal, paying only $6 each and the additional plate that serves as a saucer on the brown glazed pot was $2. So, I got all of my planters for less than one that was advertised at the lowest price. Deal! Deal! I love getting a good deal! 

And I love having projects like repotting plants that help me to feel like I accomplished something worthwhile and have even more opportunities to spread greenery around our space. Little projects like that are so satisfying!