Gift Making - Bag Tag Style

Well, I've made a little something for all the girls in my daughter, Bridgette's family with the exception of Lydia. Bridgette got one of my first projects as I was testing out my machine. I made her a reversible wreath sash. One side was patriotic and one side was floral. I still like it and I hope she does as well. 

Then, I made a couple of pouches for Lillie for her birthday. One was a cute makeup pouch that is lined in a really cute clock fabric and the other was a simple stand up zip pouch with nail polish embroidered on one side and her name on the other. It is lined with a cute nail polish print fabric. 

I used scraps of fabric for the outside of both pouches. I just love how they turned out and I think they will be useful for our aesthetically minded Lillie.

Next came Luci's birthday gifts. I made her just a simple zip pouch using scrap fabrics. Embroidered on one side of the pouch is her name in her current favorite color - purple. On the other side is the name of her school mascot - Tigers. Since she recently earned a spot on the middle school volleyball team, I thought she might use the pouch for things to take to matches or practice. 

This is such a versatile little pouch that it could gather up all sorts of things and be dropped down into a tote of backpack. 

I'd also done some practice work making some cute bag tags. Bridgette got a couple of them.

I even threw in a multi-colored ribbon tassel for her as I was learning to make those at the time as well. Middle school Luci also needed a bag tag, I thought. So, I put a couple together for her as well. 

Again, her volleyball interest became an easy theme for those bag tags. I later added another bag tag for her that I mailed in her birthday card.

The birthday bag tag is one of my favorites that I've made so far. The designs and fabrics just seem to be a perfect fit. Those little tags are really cute. I can see why they are trendy but they also are quite a bit of trouble, especially since I seem to think they should have something on both sides whenever possible.

So, three of the girls in Bridgette's family have gotten treats from my new embroidery machine. However, Lydia was a bit left out. Her birthday is in the spring. So, she didn't get a birthday gift. I didn't use her as a practice project. So, she had no little cute treats from me. I decided I'd better remedy that shortfall this week.

I did a little head scratching to decide what I needed to stitch up for her. As a senior in high school who is taking college classes as well as high school courses, I knew she probably didn't wag a book bag or back pack full of books around. However, she does play in the band. So, she has a saxophone case. Plus, she just recently got her driver's license. So, she would need a keychain. I decided bag tags would be just the thing. 

I adapted one of the designs that I had purchased to use for decorating a zip pouch for her for Christmas and featured the sax on the center of a bag tag.

I tried out a new font I had gotten as a bonus with another purchase and put her first initial on the opposite side. 

On another bag tag, I tried out a music note design that I had purchased. One of the reviews says that the machine stops after stitching the heart and would allow for changing colors. I must not have been paying close enough attention to do that. But I do like it all in one color. It stitched up smoothly and beautifully. 

On the back side I used a scrap of fabric and added a bit of a LaVergne and Shirley touch with the swirly L. I'm sure Lydia won't know about LaVergne and Shirley but I have fond memories of all her monogrammed items.

As I was stitching up those two, I got a brainstorm to create one for her as a senior year sort of thing. I've been wanting to make a long narrow bag tag and this Bengal Tiger design was perfect for it. I got it free with another purchase. So, I decided to give it a whirl. As sometimes happens, the colors did not translate well for this design. The first one I stitched had the tiger body in a brown color. While I know that tigers do look sort of brown, I wanted that true orange look for this tag. So, I stitched it out a second time using a true orange. (That's one thing I wish these sellers would do - tell what thread brand they use. Giving the number of the thread is just not enough for me sometimes.)

Then, on the back side, I combined a couple of fonts to commemorate her graduating class year. One came with my machine and the other is one I purchased. I kind of like the long, narrow bag tag. I strung them on a carabiner and added some ribbon to a key ring to finish them all off.

Now Miss Lydia will be all gaudy with her keys or her instrument case or something and all four girls in the family will have a stitched up something from me!

Happy Birthday, Luci!

Hope the old 1-2 is the best one yet!

Musical

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a theatrical music presentation at Luci's school. The theatre teacher for their small school district worked with the students to prep them for the show. There was also a student director who worked with the students. One of the high school classes created various pieces for the set. It was a simple production that really showcased the work by many students. The cast included a dozen or so fourth graders and a dozen or so fifth graders. The production was called Disney: The Movies and Music.  

Image from the Teacher Edition of the script.

Cast members had choreographed routines, speaking parts, and sang numbers from several Disney musicals.

Luci and her classmates did a wonderful job of engaging the audience and presenting an entertaining performance. I truly enjoyed the night out.

Costuming was pretty simple. The cast members all wore Mickey or Minnie Mouse ears, black shorts or skirts, and a white shirt with their name on it using a Disney-type font. It reminded me of The Mickey Mouse Club from the olden days. From time to time, one or two of the cast members might don a recognizable costume and come out looking like Donald Duck, Mary Poppins, or the Little Mermaid.

Members of the cast would add a hat to go with the theme while they danced and sang along.

Each cast member had a box of hats and props right there on stage where they could quickly update their look before a number. I was amazed at how quickly they all would jump into their costumes and dash into place all while singing along or while another cast member was reciting his or her lines.

Of course, Luci recited professionally when it was her turn at the microphone but, most importantly, she smiled and seemed to be having a really good time.

It seemed to be a fun night for all in attendance and who doesn't want to see a grandchild who is having a big time?!

Well done, Luci!

Grandparents' Day

A while back I went to Grandparents' Day at the school where one of our grands is a student. They had different times for different grades to assemble in the gym. Then, grandparents were led from the front door of the school down to the gym to see the grands. I was glad to see Luci and she hopped up and came over to greet me with a hug as soon as I entered the gym. 

A couple of her friends did not have grandparents who were able to come; so, I adopted them on the spot and they tagged along with us for the activity. The activity was to make friendship bracelets. The school staff had done a good job of preparing. There were two rows of tables lined up down the middle of the gym floor and a couple of spots decorated to serve as backdrops for photos on either end of the gym. Atop the tables were pans of beads and the students reported to a staff member to get a strand of cording for stringing the beads onto in making a bracelet.

Luci and her friend, Natalie, have made bracelets a lot and they quickly began sorting through a couple of the pans to find different beads that they liked. They chose a color pattern and selected beads with letters and laid them all out into a row. Then, began stringing them onto the cord. When they had their cording full, they reported to a teacher who added a clasp and they were done. They returned to the table to help a couple of their friends find specific beads and lay them out for stringing. I loved how they demonstrated lining up the beads in a desired pattern or row and then threading those onto the cord. The concept came pretty easy for some of their friends and was a struggle for a couple of them.

Near the end of our assigned bracelet-making time, Luci and Natalie circulated round the gym and picked up stray beads that had dropped and little bits of cording that had been cut from the bracelets. They were tidying up the space for the next grade of students and grandparents who would participate.

It was a fun experience to watch Luci in her daily environment and how she interacted with her peers. It sort of made me puff up with pride about the job her parents are doing to guide her toward adulthood. I'm sure that the school staff learns a lot about students on days like this that can help them to be better teachers, guides, and mentors for these young folks. Seeing them interact with family members or friends' family members can be eye-opening. It also gives the community an opportunity to see the school and their family member's friends and peers. 

Just another perk of retirement for me! I had the chance to enjoy time with one of the grands and to see how things happen in their world. 

Happy Birthday, Luci!

 

Hope it is your best ever!

Happy Birthday, Luci!

We love you so much!