Two bags, two bears paws and some retail therapy

I made this bag twice.  I cut it out, sewed most of it together and it would not work.  Much swearing and despair later I gave up.  A friends advise was to make the small version first, so I did and it worked.  Much sewing of incorrectly cut pieces later I got the large version finished.  Its shallow but wide, so great for carrying fabric bundles or even a large quilt.  Disappointingly I have used a lot of very expensive fabric to make this bag, so learned my lesson, always make the smallest version in scrap first!

Small bag was gifted to a nephew who is one and just at that age that carrying things around, hiding things etc are fun.

On the making front I also completed two blocks for donating to a lady who was making teenage boy quilts.  I used some striped fabric I had picked up from a online destash.

I brought a large collection of reproduction fabrics online from a destash also, but dont have a picture. Hubby didnt say a word, but he must have wondered because the bag was super heavy, as I got meters and meters, mainly $10 p/m, so bargain prices!  Most of them were either backgrounds or backings.

This collection I purchased from Periwinkle Patchwork, over the phone with some help of a few photos emailed.  I want to make another chevron quilt, after the easy success of the tennis quilt, but this time a smaller HST, because it is a cot quilt. I am not sure if rabbits go with sea creatures, but its all cute, so that is good enough for me!

Happy quilting Sue

Fabric shopping breaks sewing drought!

In order to find my sewing mojo I knew I needed some mindless chain piecing.

 Late last weekend I found the bag of pre cut half square triangles for Rainbow Scrap challenge and sewed up some stars (my first pink for October before the month ended),  to get me started.  

 Then made some four patches.  For no reason I have started a new block - no idea what you call four half square triangles, but I think they look cute and it helps use up the surplus triangles.  

When I ran out of pink I started on purple and yellow scraps.

I hadn't showed off the lovely booty that Lisa brought me at a destash sale...four packs of reproduction charm squares in purple, blue, black and brown.  I love them! 

When I went looking for patterns suited to charm squares, I unearthed my stalled projects; 

a top that needed a back (blue), a mini that needed borders (pinks) and a quilt that needed binding (red). 

I was very mean (didnt dial a friend) and just whipped up the highway for a solo shopping trip, to get these purchases.  I was short on time and was only going to buy what I needed and come straight home to start sewing.  Well that was always the intention, but you know, life gets in the way!

Well, I did come straight home, but I did buy a bit extra, some hot pink yardage and this is a sea green with a fine dot.  I have a vague plan for some little girl quilts after seeing this fabrics, so brought up and left the shop before I could spend anymore money! 

And so after all this inspiration I have made a good start on the quilting (quilt as you go) for my photo quilt.  Its working out better then expected...but only about 40% done so far, so got to get stuck into it today - deadline is looming!

Happy quilting, Sue.