The Midi Bag

Have you seen the Mondo bag?  It's a pattern by M.P "Mattie" Rhoades for Quiltsmart.  I have seen the Mondo bag and it's big!  It was appealing to me because it uses scraps.  When I first saw it I thought it was too big for my needs.  Then I found the Midi Bag!!!

This is just the right size!  My sister wanted a bag to put her knitting in so I made this for her.  I used all scraps!  The pattern comes with enough interfacing for two bags.  The interfacing is marked with a grid.  All you do is line up your 2 1/2 inch squares and press.  Then you sew them together.  I was a little confused when sewing the L shapes but if you take your time and really read the directions (I guess I should have done that first) it is easy.  The handles are supposed to be yardage but I thought the scrappy looked better.  It uses 108 squares.  Luckily no cutting for me.  I just grabbed my 2 1/2 in box and picked out 108 of them.  There are only a few of the same squares.

I like to take my finished projects in to work.  Well, today everyone wanted one of these bags.  I am going to make another one for a friend and then make some to sell.  I had to run to the local quilt store today and they had never heard of the Mondo bag.  I bet the next time I am in there they will have the pattern and the interfacing.

Hope you are having a blessed week.  It's amazing how I can write a blog about my failures in sewing and then find the urge and time to actually accomplish something.

Amy

*I am not a paid spokesperson.  The opinions are my own.

What happened to September?

Hello Friends~

First I have to tell you about my big FAIL!  So I had this great idea that I would sew for 15 minutes a day.  I think I would have done it if school hadn't started.  In the summer when my son is at my parent's house I usually come home from work and sew.  I might take a few minutes for eating but really I just sew for hours.  That is why I could make 6 quilt tops.  Then school starts and my son is home.  I love having him home don't get me wrong.  It's just now I am consumed with cooking and cleaning and being a mom.  I love being a mom it's the greatest gift I have ever received.  He is 16 now and really doesn't care if I am around him.  But I care and so I do not get my sewing done.  I have started a few things that were in my UFO box.

This was a lil' twister wreath that I bought last year.  I just have to quilt it and it will make a nice wall hanging.

This is an applique tree from a kit at Joanns.  I am learning how to applique.  So far I like it.

My friend Christina gave me this kit.  I just have to quilt it and it will be a nice table topper. 

And a Snoopy diaper cake.  A friend at work is going to be a grandma again and asked me to make a cake for her.  I love Snoopy!

So I did get a few things done but not nearly enough.  I have just decided to take it day by day and see how much I can get done.  I am currently working on a purse for my sister.  Any bets on how long that takes?

Hope you have a blessed month!

Amy

Happy National Sewing Month!

Well September is off to a great start!  I finished this project from start to finish in less than an hour.  Now time to cut  out other projects for the rest of the month.  You can follow my progress here or on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Turquoise-Button/575915242433330

 Hope you have a blessed month!
Amy

Good-bye Summer

Well today is the last day of August.  Where did the summer go?  I must say though that I did accomplish quite a bit this summer.  I finished 6 quilt tops.  Included in the count are my two rag quilts that I completely finished. :)  I have just learned how to free motion quilt on my machine and I LOVE IT!!!!  Of course the quilt I started on was the top I just finished-Cherry Jubilee.  It is big-72x72.  I may have to set it aside and do a smaller lap quilt first.  I was having trouble with the thread breaking but I think I have solved that problem.

So tomorrow starts September National Sewing Month.  I am going to do a ton of cutting fabric today.  My goal for the month is to sew for 15 minutes every day.  I can't wait to show you my finishes. :)  I have quite a few small projects that have just been waiting for this opportunity. :)  I hope to get at least 1 quilt completely finished.

How about you?  What are you working on?
Here's to a great September!

Blessings
Amy

Another quilt top finished

I was mistaken in my earlier post.  This new quilt top is from the Quilt Almanac 2012 magazine.  It is called Cherry Jubilee by Karen DuMont.  This quilt top is made from all scraps.  I love it!  I am going to make a scrappy back for it too.  Stay tuned for a complete finish.  I have 6 tops that need to be quilted.  I have never quilted my own so I am nervous.  I think I may have to make some hot pads so I can practice quilting.

Hope you are having a blessed week.

Amy

A few finishes and one more quilt top done

I have had this tote almost done for about two years.  On Saturday I decided to finish it.  I found the pattern in a magazine.  It's big-19 1/2 x 19 1/2 with 5 inch bottom and sides.

I also decided to sew my rows of the Yellow Brick Road Christmas quilt together.  Then I decided it needed borders.  The backing will be a red and green plaid.

This last picture is of another quilt that my dear friend Charisma had made with my scraps.  I finally finished the binding.  It is washed and ready for use.

Now I am working on a quilt called Cherry Blossom from another magazine.  It calls for 100 pairs of brights and 100 pairs of white 21/2 inch squares.  I  have all pairs sewn together now to match them up and sew them.  I will post pictures soon. The sweetest thing about all of this.  I am using up my stash!  I have not bought anything.  I do need to get some batting so I can actually finish the tops that are ready.

Hope you are having a blessed week!

Amy

Busy week and it's only Tuesday. Swoon top done!!!

Vacation is over.  I went back to work yesterday.  It was so nice to get back into a routine.  I really did enjoy my 2 weeks off.  I was able to organize my sewing area and clean the house from top to bottom.  My friend Marilyn came over last Tuesday and we sewed.  This is what I worked on and finally finished tonight.  A gentleman coworker and his wife are having a baby next month.  I received a free fat quarter bundle of flannel just in time to make this....

I had some diapers left over from a diaper cake I made for a friend so I thought I would make them a cake too...

It's not finished of course but I did get a good start on it.

I have also finished my Swoon 2013 top!

Now to find backing material.

I am also needing to finish three projects before I start anything new again.

Hope you all have a blessed week!

Amy