Art Glass bag #2 and sneak peek at #3

Here's the first sneak peek pic I showed of bag #2 on Instagram. :)

And here's what it looks like finished. Quilted all over in tiny little half inch diamonds. Orange denim and the oranges/yellows of the Art Glass fabric line by P&B Textiles. I cannot stop staring at these bags. The fabric pops!

These are very large totes, perfect size for a weekend getaway carry-on. 

The lining with all its pockets and zips took almost as long to construct as the outer shell took to quilt. Very sturdy bag that stands up all by itself!

View of the front pocket. 

Two out of four are made. 😊😊😊 halfway down with my first ever bag series. 

And here's the promised sneak peek at the next one...

This fabric makes me smile...every single piece. Makes me wish that I had bolts of it all to make a gorgeous quilt and more!

Art Glass Bag #1 and first 1 hour basket

Finished up the first of the Art Glass bags (P&B Textiles fabrics). I'm calling this one an Overnight Tote and it's the first time I've put in a dropped down zipper in the lining. Lining also has pockets all the way around. Lots of room to put all you need for an overnighter. And it shows off this fabric really well!

Before the side seams...

And here's my first one hour bag by Kelly Browser (discovered her on Instagram @kelbysews)...

...love the fabric on this and it fits fatquarters so well...

Fun sewing day today!

Now to cut out some more of those and dream up the next Art Glass bag!

Busy productive weekend!

I love this fabric every single time I get to make something out of it. With free motion quilting around all the letters, it has amazing texture. And I love pairing it with musical note print. This time, I actually made a pattern for my diagonal zip purse as I went, seeing as this is the third one I've made. The teal one downstairs has gotten two custom order requests from it. This time, after seeing this print as the iPad sleeves with ruffles, I was asked to add ruffles on both sides of the diagonal zipper. In addition to the bag, I was asked to make a zipper pouch for loose items like her compact mirror, to have the back lining zipper pocket go all the way across, and to have a front divided slip lining pocket. I think on if my favorite parts of this job (right now...my favorite part changes often) is that I get to custom make bags that meet the need of the person I'm making it for, so that it's completely practical as well as being super cute!

Since things are super busy right now (which is a great thing), I have more to show for my productive weekend!

On my cutting table, as soon as the custom order was done, were other bags I cut out during nap time on babysitting days last week (Monday/Tuesday), and was able to quilt and construct Friday night and Saturday while the girls were with their dad. 

Another quilty texture iPad sleeve. This one is sooooooo textured!  In between every flower are tiny quilted pebbles.  And the flowers have quilted swirls. 

Here's the swirls on the pocket. 

And there was a fabulous sunset Friday night!  Looked like ribbons in the sky. 

Saturday, I let myself sleep in a bit and then jumped right back in. Found this sugar skull fabric at Hancock and knew it would be a good fit for the booth at the women's roller derby double header this weekend. It will be a little weird going as a vendor, after being the Cowtown Butcher's photographer last time I was there...but I'm looking forward to it!

Made one of my convertible bags out of it first...

Then two quilted cellphone wallets/wristlets...

...and two quilted double zips last. 

And took a break in the middle somewhere to groom the puppy with Heather's help. :)

And ended the night with a bonfire. 

Sunday was church and then I ran away to Weston Bend State Park, enjoying some stillness and quiet with God, and killing my feet with a five mile hike. 

The weather was absolutely gorgeous!

Snuck in a little cutting time and decided what I wanted my first bag, in what I'm teasingly calling a series, using the Art Glass prints from P&B Textiles. And loving it!  

...more to come on this soon...

Sneak peek...

As you know, I've been playing around with layouts for a cross wall hanging for months. But sunday, after getting some tough news, I needed a distraction (and would soon need the design wall available for the blog tour project). Anyways, I quickly pieced up the cross quilt the way it was on the design wall...

Here's the distorted, stretched out way it looked after all the column pieces (but not the rows) were stitched. Banana had to stand on a stool, with her arms over her head for this. 

And here's the quilt top after all the rows are done. When I can get to it, this will become a true work of art with lots of free motion quilt work on it, and then auctioned to hopefully help us get safer tires and to start making the sewing room/dining room more sensory friendly. 

There are so many projects right now that need to be worked on, that I am finding myself sneaking in as much work time as I can get. Which means I'm not sticking to my schedule as much as I should be...and my kiddos are seeing me at the machines again, too much. But it's not always this busy. There aren't always so many deadlines. Life goes through seasons...for sure. 

Today's blog title promised a sneak peak...I'm so excited to be one of 20 crafters chosen to make something with designer Pat Bravo's "Etno" line of fabric. For 20 days...March 30th to my birthday, April 18th, 20 bloggers will be sharing their creations made out of these fun fabrics, and Pat will be sharing it all on her social media sites as well. It's her blog tour, featuring her truly gorgeous line of fabrics. And warning... My two sneak peak pics don't do these colors/prints justice!  My blog day is April 9th...so the following pics are all you will see of this until then. Just a tease!  

Last night I stayed up way too late, because this came in the mail...

Gorgeousness!

At first, I just stared at it. Kind of like the last line of fabric that came in the mail. This is fabric that I wouldn't have a chance to work with normally and it is truly a beautiful line of quality fabric in modern prints that made me itch to quilt. 

Here's your sneak peak at this fabric...and the last time that you will see these fabrics on here until April 9th. 

Last night I cut strips, and then squares, and started to lay out a pattern on the design wall. Eventually this pile of gorgeousness will become a small quilt top, than be sandwiched, then quilted, then pieces will be cut out and the duffle will be created. And the next time you will see this fabric will be April 9th, when I can share pictures of the whole process.  Until then, this is top secret... unless you come to my house and catch me working on it 😉 

Excited!

A finish and excitement!

Been working on this cutey all week!  Pink Panther fabric is fun all on its own, but quilting it made it even more fun. And I got to use a super cute Riley Blake print for the pocket and the little bag I made as a thank you gift to go with it. I love custom orders and this little set will be on its way to Florida to be with the cellphone wallet that went there in February. Love it!  

I actually made the little bag out of the leftovers before I started quilting the pieces for the duffle. No pattern, just an idea in my head, and the desire to show my gratitude for a custom project!

Pinned and ready to quilt...and then unpinned so that I could sew the top edge before I started quilting. 

Loving the tiny squares. Half inch. 

This was my progress picture I shared with Instagram while I was working on the two biggest pieces and the strap piece. 

Here's how she turned out. I still have the shoulder strap (and a cushion for the strap) to finish (I was missing the hardware for it and need to run to the store this morning to get it). But other than that, she's finished. 

Added zips to the top of all three outer pockets :)

Back

Inside view!  Loving the way the quilting adds to a "plain" lining. 

Inside view of the end. 

And here's the little thank you gift wih the duffle. Aren't they a great pair?

Love having another finish for the year, and loving the way it turned out. 

As for the excitement (part of today's blog title), I found out last weekend that I was one of 20 crafters chosen out of an "overwhelming number" of responses to participate in a blog tour with Pat Bravo, and amazing textile designer. On April 9th, I will be blogging (and sharing on my social media outlets) about her "Etno" fabric line and the bag(s) I created from that fabric. I cannot wait!  It's a huge honor and privilege to get to participate and feels even more real now that she's given an Instagram teaser pic. 

So so so excited for this opportunity!  

This fabric is gorgeous and modern and fun colors!  Can't wait to have it in my hands and be inspired to make bags that feature this fabric!

Gorgeous fabric!

Oh the possibilities. 

I shared this grouping of fabrics, sent to me by P&B Textiles, in the last fabric post. But here it is again...the beautiful, colorful, Art Glass line. 

I ❤️❤️❤️ this fabric. 

Sunday I spent some time playing around with combos and shapes...

But, after seeing some gorgeous quilts lately on Instagram, I'm really in the mood to quilt. So now I'm leaning towards maybe piecing a miniature version of the "plus quilt" like Missouri Star Quilt Company keeps sharing. And then making it into a duffle, carry-on, or tote. 

Also on the works is a custom order, quilted duffle featuring pink panther fabric. 

Oh how I love my job!!!

(And this spring weather!)