Box Pouch Bounty

I recently worked out the details for a custom order that was for 14 small box pouches for a wedding party.  I usually make 2-3 box pouches at a time, so decided that the best way to approach this project was to break it up into parts and do some other work in between.

The long holiday weekend also helped with this - the picture shows the final result.  These will be going out in the mail this week. 

Happy Sewing!

Susan

Almost there....

I'm in the final stages of the duffle bag.  This photo shows the last stages before it actually takes shape.

The body of this bag is just one large piece.  The webbing is both for accent and to give structure/support to the bag.

There is a great handle on the top - I special ordered it.  It's attached with the webbing and I did some of that corner to corner tacking to make sure it's firmly attached.

There is welt on the top, and around the side pieces, which will make the edges more sturdy.

It's hard to tell from this picture (I had to stand on a chair to get it all in one frame) but there is also a fold up flap on the front that velcros down.  It's for holding a fishing rod, I've been told.

At the bottom, there are velcro strips - I bought this 'one wrap' that has the loop on one side and the hook on the other, which makes it a great option for attaching to the hooks on the back of the seat.

Just three more seams and it's done!

Happy Sewing,
Susan

New Cases

I've been experimenting with a couple of new cases - I'm not sure what to call them - cosmetic, travel, project?

The styles/sizes were requests based on a case someone had, or a specific use they needed a case for.

The first one ended up a little larger than intended - ok, I read a measurement wrong is all.  So this is for cosmetic, traveling, it zips around the top, has a small handle on the top and pockets around the inside.  It measures 8" x 12" and ended up about 10" tall - it was supposed to be more like 8" tall.  So I'm not sure if it's good or bad that it's bigger.

I put peltex in the top and bottom to help keep it's shape, I didn't put any in the sides and I'm not sure it needs it, although maybe a layer of craft fuse would be ok.  I don't want it to be too stiff, but it might need a little more structure on the sides.

The zipper for this one is a little down from the top, so it actually isn't too hard to maneuver.

The next case is a similar style, it is 8" x 10" and is only 3" tall.  On this one, the zipper is actually in the top of the case,  I had a bit more trouble getting this case to 'finish' the way I wanted, but I think I've figured out what I need to do to correct that.  On this case, I also put the peltex in the top and the bottom, but I also think it's needed in the sides for the smaller case.  So I'll probably test that theory out on the next one.  The purpose of this case will be to hold the essential oil bottles, so there will also be an insert that will hold them with some organization - not just floating around.

I will probably be working with this style case for the next couple of weeks, perfecting it, and possibly writing the pattern for it as well.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Happy Sewing,

Susan

End of Vacation

The last segment of our vacation, before the drive home (I won't even go there!) was to finally visit the area where my husband went to camp growing up - the actual purpose of the trip!

We left the Portland area, and I decided it was at last time to visit a quilt shop! So looking at the route we were headed, we ended up going to the Calico Basket Quilt Shop in Windham. I found a few fabrics to purchase!

We traveled on to Weld, where we were staying at the Kawanhee Inn. We were a little early for checkin, so we drove around the area a little - Jamie trying to remember where things were. We found a little bakery to get a sandwich and pastry and headed to a picnic area and had a lovely view of Center Hill. I sat and relaxed after our lunch, while Jamie took the hike up the hill.

Below are some pictures from the inn.

We checked in, relaxed with our books down by the lake, then took a canoe trip down to the end of the lake in hopes of catching a moose - no such luck!

We had a drink on the porch watching the sunset, headed in for our dinner time, and ran into some folks that Jamie knew from his days at camp.

The next day, we headed over to the camp - they had made several changes since Jamie was there (ok, he admits it was too long). One of the items he found was this plaque with the names of all the campers who had passed the Junior Maine Guide program. Yes, his name is on there!

Our second night there, we had the 'New England Boiled Dinner' - lovingly called corned beef by the rest of us, and spent a great evening with Jamie's old friends that were also there.

The next day we started our trek home - just in time to avoid Hurricane Irene, which was headed in that direction.

I hope you enjoyed reading about our trip - now it will be back to business!

Susan

Continuing the Vacation

On the next part of our trip we headed back down Maine to Portland. Since this was our 'anniversary' trip, we splurged and stayed at the Black Point Inn in Scarborough for just one night.


Our arrival there started with some drama. We checked in, got our keys and the porter was taking our bags when they stopped us and said they'd put us in the wrong room - and updated everything and gave us new keys. So we get up to the room, open the door and start to get stuff set up, when we realize there was already someone in this room! Glad they weren't in the room at the time - it could have been very embarrassing all the way around! So the original room was the right one.

We got there just in time for cocktails by the pool - free wine (well, maybe not free exactly!) and cheese and crackers. A quick stroll down to the water, then some relaxation in the Adirondack chairs until people with wound up kids joined us.


We dressed up a little for dinner (it was included in our package also) - since we were celebrating early! Breakfast the next morning was included too, and then we headed off to check out some of Portland.

We headed to Old Port, checked out some of the shops, which were many and varied - some of your typical tourist type of shops, and then some really nice art shops.

We headed out to the Portland Head Light,then headed back to Scarborough to check in at the Higgins Beach Inn for our last night on the coast.

We headed to the beach, it was late enough in the afternoon that I wasn't too concerned about getting a sunburn, and spent a little time there relaxing, reading our books, and watching the waves.

Dinner and breakfast there are the inn were both great, too!

Stayed tuned for part 4 - this will be the best part!

Susan

Vacation Tales - Part 2

Our vacation continued from the Adirondacks to Maine via Vermont and New Hampshire. Little bit of a slow drive through the Adirondacks, especially when they close the one road for a parade.

Our next stop was in Southwest Harbor and Acadia National Park. We spent a couple of nights at the Cranberry Hill Inn, which we loved. We got there somewhat late the first night, so just went up the street to get some dinner and relax. We had planned to go whale watching the next day, but the fog didn't cooperate with us. Instead we did some shopping in Bar Harbor (yes, I did buy t-shirts for my great nieces and nephews), along with some other novelty gifts.

We decided to head back to the Loop Road in Acadia and stop at some additional places we missed the first time, and along the way, we ran across signs for an arts & crafts show, so we had to stop there! Wonderful works of art!



We headed to the lobster pound for dinner that evening, and had another relaxing night at the inn. I started reading 'The Help' - I can't even tell you the last book I read before that.

What's next? Stay tuned.

Susan

Vacation Tales - Part 1

Hello Friends! The next few posts are going to be about the vacation we just took - not too much about sewing or crafting or my regular stuff.

This September is our 10th wedding anniversary. So we thought we should go somewhere special (not that it's not special, but we normally spend our vacation with my husband's parents at their place in Northern Michigan). We had originally talked about going to Hawaii since that's where we went for our honeymoon, but I've become somewhat averse to flying. That's entirely different story

My husband spent many years of his youth at a boys summer camp in Maine. I've heard endless stories about it, and met some of the friends that he made there, and we've talked many times about going to Maine, so we decided that's what we would do for our special year.


Our trip started out with an overnight stay at a friend's cabin (she calls it a camp) in the Adirondacks. It was about half way between home and our first Maine destination, and a really lovely place. Neither of us had been to the Adirondacks before, and we enjoyed seeing the area. The ducks came by in the morning to say hello, and we headed on our way to Maine.

I will say that not a lot changes between us when we drive - when I'm the navigator, and he's driving, he doesn't listen any better than when we are at home.

Stay tuned for where we went next!
Susan

New Fabric, Continued....

My last post was about the fabrics that my mother-in-law picked out for a new purse and accessories for her.

I did a little shopping of my own that day.

I usually buy quite an assortment of fabrics when I shop, and this trip was no exception.

Sometimes I have specific themes or colors that I look for, and other times it's just what catches my eye.

This time I was looking for some masculine fabrics, which I found a couple, and I also look for new cat fabrics (because I don't have enough). I also found the companion fabrics to one I'd bought a while back, so now I have matching fabric for lining/straps when I make the totes from the fabric.

I also try to keep my eye out for dog fabrics, because I always have someone accuse me of being prejudice against dogs. It's not that (well, maybe a little), it's that the dog fabrics just aren't as cute or easy to use as the cat fabrics. I did find this dog themed fabric, so hopefully it will satisfy a few dog lovers!

You should see some items from this fabric in my etsy shop this week, as I already have some items made from it!

Susan

Road Trip - GASP!

Last weekend, the husband and I set out for our first vacation together (without family) in about seven years. We headed to Asheville, NC, to Biltmore. I had been there as a child - I'm thinking I was probably 9 or 10 - so many years ago - and have talked over the years about going back.

It's about an 8 hour drive from Columbus OH, and all interstate, so really a pretty quick drive. We spent the first night in Bryson City NC and took the Great Smokey Mountain Rail Road trip on Sunday. The weather was pretty much as we had been having at home - warm and humid.

We spent a couple of days in Asheville, toured the Biltmore house and grounds, took a trolley around the city to see more and learn some of the history, and headed back home on Wednesday. I would attach some pictures from our trip, but we really aren't picture takers, so there were only a few.

Why GASP! in my title, you may be asking? Well, I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've been anywhere that I didn't go to a fabric shop of some sort. So my fabric stash didn't grow with this trip!