September
Good morning! The first of September has brought a nice crisp fall-like morning. I LOVE it! When I woke up this morning it was like Christmas morning because I have some new projects I get to work on and I'm very eager to start!
First thing is first though, I had to start my day by throwing on a nice comfy hoody, my hat (I like to wear a ball cap when I sew, it keeps my hair out of my face), and my slippers! I bought the comfiest slippers years ago and I still look forward to putting them on every chance I get.
Once dressed, I made a bagel thin with apple butter and a pot of tea. Can't think clearly enough to cut fabric without a strong pot of black tea!
That material you see in the background is a little foreshadowing of the project that I am most excited about today!
Snack Bags
Last year I made some plastic lined snack bags for my boyfriend and I to pack our school lunches in. They have worked very well and I have to watch them closely because I have some colleagues who have sticky fingers ;) One colleague in particular asked if I would please make some for her daughter who was going through approximately five plastic bags everyday. Anything for our environment! So of course, I said I would. Below is a picture of one of my snack bags that has seen much use and the material I will use to make her bags (left over material from a diaper bag).
Mailbag Duo
Last year I made a pair of
mailbags to use on my school bulletin board in the hallway. I don't get to that school until mid-day, but students can still have access to what they need in order to be prepared for class ahead of time. They proved to be so handy that I desperately need to make more! I use them to keep important papers, assignments and extra copies in for each of my performing groups (bands and choruses). Last year I had a pouch for Middle Level (both band and chorus together) and a pouch for High School. The kids truly used them, but requested that each group have their own bag so they can find things faster. Very reasonable (and actually quite mature) request! School colors are black, orange and white. I will be sewing up two more mailbags in this great fabric.
Christmas
Finally, the project that I've really been waiting to talk about! My father is like most fathers...incredibly difficult to shop for. This year, for Christmas he is getting his very own quilted throw! To start, it took me awhile to find a pattern that I thought would suit him. Wouldn't you know after a lot of searching I ended up going through the same old issue of The Quilter Magazine that I got my Summer Blooms wall hanging out of and there was the perfect pattern! It is called Once Upon a Dream. Here is the picture from the magazine:
Next came material choice. I thought for sure I would be doing lots of shopping around to find the 'just right' material. Locally, I have three stores to choose from. A quilt shop, Marden's (a discount store), and Walmart. The day after picking the pattern, I was waiting while my boyfriend got his back-to-school haircut so I wandered down to the fabric department. I don't know how it happened, but these fabrics just appeared in my basket!!
My father is a retired forester. Nothing frilly or flashy for him! I will use the green in place of the white, the tan and dark brown will be the light and dark blue solids and the leaf print will be substituted for their medallion print.
Time to get cutting! My goal is to complete the snack bags and mailbags this weekend. It shouldn't be too difficult as I've made them before and it's a long weekend. My goal for the quilt is to get the quilt cut out and bagged because I am going to take it with me on my very first quilt retreat in two weeks!
Stay tuned for more! I'll post pictures of completed projects.
Respectfully,
Harmony
