The Drop Coth/Linen Reveal #1

OK, if you are playing this weekend and not reading my blog......haha, you will miss the first incredible reveal!

I plan on making more things with the drop cloths but here is the first one.

OK, I did mess it up a bit, but I am sure the recipient won't even  know!  Maybe you will notice, maybe not.  Let's see.......

These are the fabrics I chose.  The green is one leg of the linen pants.  The drop  cloth is ecru and the flowers are from my stash.  It is just over a yard, but I used a yard for this project.

Yes!  You can see the makings of a tote bag here!  I made the decision to let the drop cloth be the"stiff" part of the bag and not add additional fusible interfacing like I usually do.  The drop cloths come in two weights, 8 oz and 10 oz.  This one is 10 oz.  My Husqvarna machine had no problem sewing over several layers of the drop cloth which included several layers of seams.  A smaller machine may not, so be aware of that.

For this tote, I cut two 18 x 18 squares of the drop cloth fabric and then chunked out a 2.5 inch square from each of the bottom edges.   I cut the same measurements out of the flower fabric for the linings.

The drop cloth was 4 feet wide and the leftover piece was just over 10 inches.  It would make great short handles.  I cut that piece in half long wise.  I made the handles the way I make all my handles regardless of the way the pattern wants.  I fold the strip in half long wise, press.  Open it up and fold in both sides to the center mark, press.  Fold one side over the other and press again.  And top stitch down both sides.

 I wanted to use the linen pant leg for the bottom of the bag.  It really doesn't matter how tall it goes up the side, make your  own decision.  But remember that it has to cover the bottom, which is 2.5 inches on each side.  So account for that  depth before it is visible on the side of the tote.  I made two of these, one for the front and one for the back.  And you will have to chunk out the corners as well.  I used the cutouts on the bag as the guide so they would be the  same size and position.


I added a decorative strip to the linen with a strip of leftover flowers.  And I added the strip down the center front with the rest of the leftovers.


I hemmed the top of the strips by just folding them down one time and top stitching it to the bag front. I did this before I sewed the sides together.

I made the body of the bag and the lining by stitching the sides together and the bottom.  I used the finished edge of the drop cloth for the top of the bag so I did not finish the bag in the regular way.  I did sew the bottom of the lining together instead of using it to turn the bag.   The bag was finished by putting the lining inside the bag, right side visible, and turning the top of the bag down for top stitching.

I want to add some decorative stamping tomorrow.  I have several things I can use, paint markers or shiva sticks, or even some thickened procion dyes.  I will decide that tomorrow.

I did add the handles before I top stitched it all down, but I had to add them after I had pinned it all down.  It doesn't count unless I have to rip out.

I do have one glaring error.  Can you spot it?  I didn't notice it until I hung it up to photograph it!

Geez.....

I want to make 6 different bags for the girls who help me at the rehab center.  They are all young and cute and nice.  And there is the problm of Luke.  Luke is the director who does all the patient plans and the hands on things like bending my knee further than it wants to go.  And pushing down on my knee to get the leg straighter than it wants to go.  Both hurt....a lot.  Way lots.  

Sometimes when I leave, I say, have a great day....everyone but LUKE!

And he smiles, knowing he has done a good job for me.

Whew......That Was Tough!

Anne of the Desert and I decided we would do a tote bag.  She had never done one, so I volunteered to teach one.  If you have ever taught something over several states without looking at each other and having no pictures and not being able to talk to each other, you would have an idea of what we just went through! It is like being in one of those sensory deprivation chambers!  Augh!

(Undeliverable - Hey stupid computer, you just delivered 7 emails to her, what do you mean you can't deliver this one?)

We started off well, but when we got to the part of making the handles, which if you have never made handles before, you really have to see a visual.  Nothing would make the photos go.

(Anne does not exist - yes she does, she breathes and eats and sews, I know she is not a figment of my imagination!)

(Computer shutting down - Oh no!  Not that!  Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh.............)

Here's mine

Don't piss the computer off now......

Anne's bag, hers has longer handles

But we persevered and finally, by sheer willpower, finished two bags tonight!

I guess I need to clean up all my posts to her and put up a tutorial for anyone wanting to make a basic tote bag.  With this one you can make all kinds of changes and make the bag you have always wanted to own!

You can even add a big flap and make a messenger bag. So many possibilities once you have the basic stuff down.

I know just where this one is going!  It won't be "undeliverable" !!!!

Stash Report and a Productive Sunday So Far

I just posted a wonderfully witty and informative post.....that disappeared into cyberspace.

Let me try to recreate it for you. 

I have had a productive Sunday so far getting some work out of the way in my quilt room.  I cut up my made fabric into 6 1/2 inch squares so they would store flat and even.  Nice

I used some leftover batting to make three batting squares for constructing blocks.  I made two 12 1/2 squares and one 8 3/4 square. That got fiber board and batting out of my way.

I finally made the bottom of a tote bag I had gotten in a Bag Swap in CyberSisters a couple years ago.  the bag has tons of pockets, everywhere. Outside and inside!  I love lots and lots and lots of pockets, don't you?

Stash report:

I cut up a ton of shirts for the plaid bargello from Bonnie Hunter and the pattern said it uses 8 yards of fabrics.  So I went with that since it is impossible to tell how much fabric is used in those shirts I cut up.  I also counted the Olivia fabric I used for the tote bag bottom.

I used exactly the same amount this week as last week.  If I can do that for the rest of the year......I will BUST some stash!  LOL.

Added this week:  0 yards
Added this month:  0 yards
Added year to date:  0 yards

Used this week:  8.125 yards
Used this month:  16.25 yards
Used year to date:  16.25 yards

Grand Total:  16.5 yards DOWN!

A Fun Filled Day of Sewing

Ohhhhhh!  I was so bad.  I did not send off my checks for the investment club at the end of the year and now they are upset with me.  I have gotten 3 phone calls from them today.  Accounting lady is really not happy with me.  Too bad, the investment club was the furthest thing from my mind when my dog was dying!  I did, however, get a nice check from the club for last year.  It will keep me in quilting supplies for a while! 

 I spent the day sewing with Paula and her daughter Kim.  Kim was working on a Bow Tucks Bag in LSU colors.  Here she is quilting the front panel.    And this is the pocket she finished.  It will be on the front of the purse.  I should have taken a couple of shots of the fabric.  Too cute LSU fabric combined with some tiger print.

The whole time we were working Anna the Cat was right there with us supervising.  At one point I thought she might lose her tail on the cutting table.  But Paula was careful to cut around the tail parts.  Anna is so sweet and she LOVES fabric.  What more can a quilter ask for in a kitty?

 Here is the project I was working on.  It is a vinyl tote from a shop in Northern Utah.  The kit contained everything you see here.  I would have done the handles in a different fabric, but it does go with the bright flowers on the tote.  I am thinking I need to go to Hancocks and pick up some of that fabric and make a tote for Patsy for our Cruise.  Won't she be surprised, unless she is reading this post, then she may still be surprised!  LOL.

The vinyl is not like the table cloths but is actually fabric covered with the chemicals that make vinyl (I guess that is how they do it.)  I is soft and pliable.  The shop owner told me that I needed to sew carefully because the needle leaves holes in the vinyl that do no heal like they do in normal fabric.  So don't make a mistake.  The portable machine I use, a small Brother, handled the fabric nicely.  No problems. 

glen:  another long time UFO done from about 5 years ago!

LSU! LSU! LSU!

Spent a great day at Ann's yesterday putting together the LSU Tote Bags.  It was a true workday for us.  I had the fabrics and the fusible batting cut and ready to go when they arrived.  The girls worked hard  putting together their bags and with some help from me, they all got it to a stage where the finishing can be done next time we meet.I brought two sewing machines and helped everyone progress from setting out their squares and sewing them together to fusing the batting on the back of the bag pieces.

I don't really like LSU stuff but this bag is wonderful.  It is really big too! 

All my sewing stuff is still in the car.  I will have to show you my completed bag later.  I left Ann's and rushed to a meeting then on to the Londoner for CAAWS night and two meetings there.  The Parade Committee is gearing up for the CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts parade in late January and the Santa CAAWS people are gearing up for their November 13, 2011 date with Santa. 

Some major decisions got made.  I am always impressed with the people who do these things for CAAWS.  They love what they do and it shows.  Jenny had to be out of town for work and she conference called in to be at the meeting!  Imagine that!

The theme for the parade this year is "The Good, The Bad and the Furry".  I love it.  I can see DiNozzo as Clint Dogwood!  LOL.  He needs guns and a cowboy hat!  Chloe the Smelly Basset can be the Saloon Girl!  Yep, that is what she would have been too!  It certainly wouldn't have been that nun in Two Mules for Sister Sarah!

Santa CAAWS will have a new backdrop again this year.  Santa will sit in front of a real fireplace and ask the good little doggies what they want for Christmas.  Gene will be Santa again I think.  When he is not, we get complaints that he is not the Santa.  He just is SANTA!

This is one of the best photos from any of the Christmas Photos.  This is my friend Dan who was Santa at Petsmart last year.  He did a fabulous job of holding dogs all day........and he doesn't even own a dog!

Today my other sewing group got canceled due to a family death causing one to be out of town.  I was sorry to hear of the passing, but know that the relief is welcome when our family members are in pain. 

I have made some major changes in my life, for the better I believe.  Some I have implemented and some I am practicing.  I think that every once in a while we need to take stock in our lives, sift the chaff from the wheat and move on.  I am sifting.

glen:  moving on to Parades, Santa and Sewing.......not a bad combination of things .......  oh, yeah, and cleaning up my sewing room........No....I have not done it yet.........yes it needs to be done........I am in here today........I know, get 'er done!.............Alright, I am going.........

Biking in the heat, quilting in the cool

Whew!  Things have been so busy lately.  I feel like Charlene!  LOL.

Even though the weather has not been cooling off like Frank says it is, we have gotten back into the swing of biking again.    Last week we did 9.1 miles one day and this weekend and today we did about 4 miles a day.  Even though it looks cool in the photos, it is not.  However, it is much cooler riding in the tree forests than on the asphalt roads so we stick to the Forest Park or White Oak trails.  

It feels good to be riding even if we are sweating!  The last few days has pushed the mercury very very close to 100 degrees, and by our 10:30 PM dog walk it is still in the upper 90's.  This morning at 6:30 AM it was actually cool, we walked 1.5 miles with the dogs.  Then by the afternoon it was 101! 

Dutch has been walking 1/2 mile every morning and again at night.  He trots a bit when he forgets about his leg.  But I am glad he is even attempting to trot.  He took off after DiNozzo a few days ago, totally forgetting about his leg.  If it were a muscle pull, I would think he was getting better.  But I know it is just a matter of time before the cancer takes over.  He still is on rimadyl twice a day and I have upped the tumeric to 3 morning and night.  I know the turmeric won't help with this kind of cancer but I am hoping it helps as an anti-inflammatory and thus with some pain.  I still have moments when I sit and cry.

You probably can't see the perspective in this photo, but Dutch is about 108 lbs and that is a big dog bed.  He just barely fits.  But since I won't let him step up to the cooleroo bed he so dearly loves, he has taken over this one.  He looks so silly!

Wednesday I am going to meet Charlene in Lafayette and we head to Ami Simms Twisted Sister class.  Ami Simms is the brain of AAQI (Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative) http://www.alzquilts.org/

I have contributed several quilts over the years for auction, the proceeds go to research.  I have three of them there right now for sale.  Check them out #7145, 7146 and 7184 (http://www.alzquilts.org/15miplgrnyon.html)  Hey, bid on one! 

Over the weekend I brought cookies, chocolate bars and chips for my mom's stash.  Today I brought some drinks for her mini fridge we got her for her birthday.  She loves the chocolate Yahoo! drinks so I loaded her up with those.  Red drinks and blue drinks fascinate her as well.  and those little coke cans.   Hospice checked her in and approved the application based upon her Alzheimers diagnosis so she is getting another level of support from them.  Of course my brother has yet to even call me about her.  You would think he would be interested. 

I am teaching a class on an LSU tote bag in two weeks.  Ann and I spent two days gathering the fabrics.  I spent a day and a half doing all the cutting and making kits for everyone.  I included a pouch as an extra since I had some fabrics leftover.  It should be a good class, I will make up a sample this week.

All that, and I am writing an article I hope to have published soon, we shall see.  But that is for another day.

glen

Swissy Raffle Item

This is what I made today.  I took some dog related fabric scraps and tossed together a tote bag for the National Specialty Raffle.  It will go off with some other items that I will fashion out of the remaining scraps of dog related material.  I also have some printed fabric sheets with kaleidoscopic Swissys that were supposed to be in a quilt but I got concerned about the washability of the items.  I think now they will go into either tote bags or wall hangings. 

I made a wall hanging a couple of years ago with Lulu on the beach as a test.  It was fabulous!  They loved it.  So I think that is what I will do.

Any other ideas?  I have to ship these things and they have to be dog related.  BIG dog related.

glen