The Carrie Bag with a button closure

I think this really helped me love this bag pattern even more.  It is wide and sort of gaped open and now it is perfect.

These are McCall's patterns I think but called Sweet seams and really simple and easy to follow and on paper not the brown flimsey tissue paper.

The Carrie Bag by Sweet Seams

I made this bag very quickly because it is the best pattern with wonderful directions and diagrams. I really love the way she wrote it.

I used the fabrics from the Celia line for Benartex.

This is the third time I have written this post and keep accidentally hitting enter and it goes away. LOL

My faborite Bag ++ Kati Cupcake Pattern

I finished making this bag and boy was it a struggle. The pattern calls for fusible fleece on outside pieces and inside and the outside pockets and part of the inside and the bottom and also heavy duty on the bottom.

I have 2 favorite sewing machines. Baby Lock is my favorite, but it couldn't sew through the layers - even with a walking foot and a size 16 denim needle.

So, not to be undone or done in, I switched to my Janome 11,000 with a walking foot and size 16 needle. which I promptly broke-the needle that is- and the walking foot came off of its own accord. I discovered I had attached the walking foot incorrectly.

So, I got the WF on right and added a size 18 denim needle- just in case- and the Janome pulled through.

This bag also has 8 grommets that go through outside and inside, which was an ordeal.

Then after I got it almost finished and was ready to install the grommets, the inside pockets were too tall and bumping into where the grommets would be. So, I had to removed some of the separating stitching to make room.

The purse is so thick, I had a terrible time isntalling the grommets.

If I make it again, I will not use fusible fleece on everything but will use lightweight fusible cotton interfacing on part of it. I will install the grommets earlier if I canfigure out how to do it, LOL And I will make the inside pockets shorter,

The overall design is really pretty and I love her pattern. She included templates for some pieces and also probided color diagrams. Every little bit helps.

 Take a peek.

I forgot to say that this bag is huge and has tons of inside pockets and outside and I think it might have  been designed as a diaper bag. I really love the pattern and found it easy to follow. but would definitely alter it for my machines and talent.

In my ebay store, this has been my most popular pattern as of late.

There is also a pattern included for a diaper clutch or for wipies. I am going to make one to match the bag and use it as a make up bag.

International Quilt Market in Houston 2009

I just returned Monday from Houston and enjoyed so much attending the Quilt Market and seeing all the new products, fabrics, etc, for the sewing industry. While I was there, I helped out in the Bosal Foam and Fiber booth demonstrating my Marlee Baby Bag made using their fusible fleece, poly therm insulated fleece and their craf=Tex sew in heavy interfacing and lastly their cotton woven interfacing!!!!!!!!!For my great niece Marlee, I designed the bag and made the first one for her. Then we worked up the pattern on the computer and had it printed and I sold and gave away copies at the Market. I took several I made which are listed and shown here in the blog. I also made one 1/2 way so people could see the interfacings sewn and or ironed in.
The people from Bosal are fabulous and were great to me-even printed the pattern-and took me out to dinnerand gave me an opportunity to see the Market from the Vendor's prospective.It was fun and enjoyable.
I love their product because of the way my bags look and feel using it and because it is made in the USA.
I met a lot of great people there and enjoyed talking with them.
I went to the Moda Fabric/United Notions dinner and met some lovely ladies from California who make mosaic quilts based on architecture they see all over the world. So fabulous to talk with them.
When I left the Hilton to get a cab to the airport, I chatted with Kate Spain, Moda's newest designer, and we shared the long cab ride to the airport. She designs fabric, paper products, a lot of things. She was so great to talk with and so nice. It was my honor to meet her. Her fabric line is called Verna by Moda. Check it out.
The people at the Hilton and at the George Brown Convention center were wonderful and I really felt at home.
It is great to get outside and travel and see other parts of the usa.

Bungalow Bag

I bought this pattern and of course I couldn't stand it I had to change something. It called for small store bought handles, which I changed to one longer handle so I could wear it on my shoulder. I think next time I would put 2 shorted fabric handles and interface the outside fabric because it is flimsy.
I love the Moda fab ric and using my Baby Lock is such a dream.

Birdie sling Pattern by Amy Butler-top designer

I made the Birdie sling the first time and did not box the outside bag corners and it made it much bigger and less thick. I gave it to Connie and she loves it. Then I made it with pinks for me (my favorite color) and aboxed the outside fabric corners and prefer it that way.

I love amy Butler's patterns and need the lengthy explanations and the way they teach as they explain. She is responsible for my being able to install a zipper!!!!!

Long Time No "See" new creations using Amy Butler's Patterns

Amy Butler -top designer-Frenchy Bags Pattern

I love this pattern and made the cutest purse using Moda L'esprit Provence quilted fabric and did not have to interface it. I also used my Baby lock espire which I truly love, I want the elisimo too.

I love her patterns and attended a workshop she conducted in Texas 1 1/2 ys ago and was amazed at hos sweet and nice she was to everyone and so unassuming and pretty too.

Her designs are awesome and her patterns are worth the extra cost because she explains everything. It was her stash and dash that taught me how to install a zipper. Yeah

New bags for Susan's Christmas Bazaar

I made 3 pieced and quilted smaller totes out of Peace on earth by Moda and they turned out nice.

Every year, Susan has a sale at her house with different people bringing things to sell. Last year, I was invited to participate with about 1 month's notice. I made and took my usual tote bags and sold about 15. She suggested this year I make a few smaller purses and bags and I decided to try to make them more Fallish and Winterish.