Christmas Gifts

I had vacation days left that I took this week (Thanksgiving) and so I've been working on some Christmas gifts.

When I first started making purses/totes, I made some for friends for Christmas gifts.  That was about 7 years ago, I think.  One friend has apparently used hers - well - to death.

She made a comment one day that she was going to have to quit using it.  I'm sure it was a hint for Christmas.

So here it is!

I'm not a big orange fan, but I do love the cheerful look of this one.  I had a fat quarter bundle of 8 fabrics, I cut 4" squares and made a big piece of patchwork, then cut the tote out.  I have enough of the patchwork left to make a few small items, and I still have about half of the bundle left, to make other items at some point.

I used the twin needle for the quilting (you know I'm just a basic quilter - straight line is about the extent of what I feel good doing).  The thread I used was orange.

Happy Sewing!

Susan

Custom Orders

I've had a few custom orders come from friends and other local customers the last couple of weeks.

My neighbor asked me to make another cross body hipster purse for her niece for Christmas.  I made her one earlier this year for her birthday and she loved it.


A local customer who had me make a purse for her mother in law also this summer has asked me to make her a 'winter' one - for her 90th birthday!  She loved the first one, but it's a bright print, so she said she wished she had one for winter.

I have another friend that I'm making several items for, but I can't talk about them here.....

Happy Sewing!

Susan

Patricia Tunic

Months ago (yes, only months!) I got the Patricia Tunic pattern from Sis Boom. Every time I thought I was going to have time to make one, something else would come along.  Plus, I hadn't selected a fabric yet.

In October, Jennifer Paganelli and I were discussing on Twitter which fabric I should use.  She thought this Happy Land green would be great, so I bought the required amount.

 Yesterday, I finally decided it was time to get started on it.  I don't make many clothing items these days - sometimes I make something for one of my great nieces/nephews, but I haven't made anything for myself in ages.  I feel like it takes me forever to make something new.  I spent most of yesterday morning working on it - so maybe 4 hours.

And here's the final result.  It looks pretty good - the only thing I found was that I should have measured the slit in the front, because it's a little long for my short body - so I'm going to have to come up with something to close up the bottom part - otherwise I'll be exposing myself.

I do love the look of it!


Happy Sewing!
Susan

Birthday Backpack

As you may be aware, I took my sewing machine into the shop for annual service, so I was without it for a couple of weeks.  The timing was good, because I had a week where I seemed to have something every afternoon or evening, and then I had some family company for a few days (ok, a week).

The great nieces and nephews are always getting some of my items - usually the samples that I make when testing a new item, but something something they have asked for.

Several years ago I made one of my nieces a backpack, and they were using it when they came here.  It was a little worse for wear. So her daughter told me 'I need a new one'!

I had her pick fabric - she picked a pink paisley on pink and a purple floral on purple.  Hmmmm,

How am I going to make those work together?

On my shopping trip last weekend, I found this really adorable pony print.  Pink and purple.

Can't wait to get started on it this weekend!

Happy Sewing!
Susan