Grocery Bags for Peace

Well, sort of...Sew, Mama, Sew has had several "Quilting for Peace" blog posts, and now they're challenging you to make re-useable grocery bags. Make at least five and you're eligible for one of their prizes!



I've made so many of these "uglytotes" -- using upholstery samples! They're quick and easy. Maybe 15 minutes, including cutting...pockets add a couple more minutes, but not much!

Grocery bags are super easy to make, and there are dozens of styles. Loads of free tutes, as well, so you don't even have to buy a pattern! Grocery bags are a great way to improve your speed and skills, and try out new techniques.

Whether you make one or fifty, whether or not you enter Sew, Mama Sew's giveaway, you'll be helping keep plastic bags out of the landfill. Plus you'll be having fun!

k

Autumn Quilt Swap

Sure, it's just a few days until Winter, but I wanted to post the Autumn Quilt I made for a Sewing Mamas swap. It was a little late, but not this late. Just late posting it here!


It's called "Turning Over a New Leaf" -- because of the fabrics, but also because the binding is made with the back side of the leaf fabric. I'd wanted something that complimented, and didn't just blend into, the backing.




The backing fabric inspired the zig zag design of the front.

The quilting is simple: just four lines inside each zig-zag, using a varigated thread called "Autumn Leaves" (or something like that). It's a doll-size quilt, about 18" x 20" or so.

k

Crafting on the Radio

Want to hear a fun radio interview? Check it out!

Christy, Korinne and I recently got together and chatted with Jerry Johnson of NETradio. He was interested in how etsy brings together crafters, and of course we were happy to talk at length! We even encouraged him to put his music in an etsy shop!

I do believe that hand crafting will be more and more popular as people take stock and realize that mass produced doesn't mean "better" -- it just means "not unique"

My hope is that we'll become less "big box" thinkers and more of a "unique is beautiful" society.

k

Christmas Tote

It's been an exhausting week. My tyke's been "sick" -- not terribly, just enough to have her stay home from Montessori. Which means that crafting time is just not there. Don't get me wrong, we do crafy/creative things, but I don't have the ability to do my cutting/sewing/ironing while she's underfoot.

Last night, in spite of the exhaustion, I had an idea for this tote bag. Granted, it's probably not terribly original; what is truly original anymore? But I digress. It was too late to start it last night, because I know better than to try cutting/sewing/ironing while it's late and I'm exhausted. So it had to wait.



But not for long! My sweet husband put off his Saturday office time just so I could craft! I managed to draft, cut and sew up this tote within a couple of hours.

I totally love this bag! The applique. The size (huge!). The *look*. Even that crazily-shedding silky "fun" fur didn't make me curse (much)! It's made with bright red velvet and is fully lined with a Santa "vintage postcard" fabric.



What a blast! I'm soooo looking forward to doing some Christmas shopping now!

I'm thinking about doing a tutorial for it. Would you be interested?

k