The New Set Bag

The New Set Bag

I've been bored while I've been off work and that means I've had time to concentrate on PROJECTS! Woo Hoo! So the other day I was wandering through my favorite little craft store and got the idea to make myself a new bag. I work in production so I always have, what I call, a "Set Bag". My set bag is a durable carry-all that I use when I am literally "on set" during production. It needs to be able to hold my laptop, clipboard, pens, walkie talkie, and every other little thing I need to have with me on a shoot. But my set bags take a beating and often get dirty so I don't want to take my nice leather purse with me. Just because it needs to be functional, durable and rough and tumble doesn't mean it can be cute too, does it? So I made myself a set bag. And I love it!

Close-Up on the Front Details

View of the Lining and Inside Pockets

View of the Back Pocket

But as I was finishing it I thought maybe I should give it to my friend Candi instead as a gift. I am helping throw her baby shower tomorrow so I thought it might make a great diaper bag for her second bundle of joy. She's having a little boy and I thought the colors fit her and her little boy-on-the-way well. I may just have to make myself another one. And one for my sister, my mom, oh, and my friend Alyssa who fell in love with it as I was making it. I guess I'm taking orders!

Red & Aqua Part 2 May Block

So my second attempt at paper piecing went much better. In the Red & Aqua Part 2 Bee, May's Block gave me an opportunity to further my paper piecing skills. The request from Canada was a Laced Star. Sigh. It was daunting at first but thankfully she included enough extra fabric so there was some room to play and I quickly discovered that this is - for me at least - one of the keys to paper piecing. Having the extra fabric made all the difference. Paper piecing can produce an excess of waste, and I tried to minimize this as much as possible, but it helped to have extra fabric especially since my distinctly non-mathematical mind has difficulties figuring out the angles backwards. Does that make any sense? This time around there was definitely less frustration and it was a little easier than the last - so much so that I discovered that I don't hate paper piecing as much as I thought I did, especially after seeing the finished product.

Laced Star for May in the Red & Aqua Part 2 Bee

I fell in love with this block. It was sad to send it home. And I was thrilled that I got one of the packages with the special Eiffel Tower fabric. I can't wait to see this quilt all put together. It's going to be amazing!

Sewn Together May Blocks

I haven't updated the blog for a while, but that's not because I haven't been working on any projects, quite the contrary. At the end of April I got caught up on my Bee Blocks for the month and I got a head start on May.

In the Sewn Together Bee Sorrel couldn't decide so she sent out fabric for two different blocks and let us decide which one we wanted to make. I don't go back to work until June and I absolutely love piecing so I was happy to take a stab at both - plus she had the best stories behind both of the quilts. The first block she asked for was a Los Angeles Lakers inspired wonky log cabin. Her grandmother had started a quilt for her cousin with Down Syndrome but never finished it before she passed away. Years have passed and Sorrel discovered the old project and has decided to update it for her cousin who is now living in his own place.

Lakers Inspired Wonky Log Cabin #1

I had enough fabric left over to start another block but I ran out of yellow so I sent her a block and a half for the Lakers Quilt.

Lakers Inspired Wonky Log Cabin "Half Block" #2

The alternate block she wanted was inspired by Denyse Schmidt's "Drunk Love" quilt. This quilt she is making for her husband. She told us how supportive he's been of her quilting habit, even creating a workspace for her in their house. Her mother-in-law wanted to buy her a display case for her quilts and she had to admit that she never keeps the quilts she makes. That's when her husband asked the same question my wonderful and amazing fiance asks me every time I sit down to my sewing machine: "Why don't you ever make me anything?" So she is making the second quilt as a surprise for her husband because he commented positively on a similar block she made for another bee. (Please ignore the dark spots on the photos I had an issue with my camera. It's since been fixed!)

Drunk Love Inspired Block #1 for Sorrel

Again I had leftover fabric and time on my hands so I started a second block for her but ran out of white fabric this time. So I'm sending her one and a half blocks for each quilt.

Drunk Love Inspired "Half Block" #2

As I was working on these I really fell in love with them. I loved the colors and I was happy with the way they turned out. I was inspired to maybe do something similar for my own wonderful and amazing fiance one day. I hope Sorrel is as happy with them as I am!

Red & Aqua Part 2 April Blocks

Since I was away for most of the month I had to scramble when I got back to finish my bee blocks for April. In the Red & Aqua Part 2 Bee Mary wanted us to make a Strip for her Strip Quilt. I must admit I wish I had been a little more creative with this one. I like how it turned out but looking back on it I think I could have pushed the envelope a little more.

Strip #1

Here is some close-up on the details for the first strip.

Close-Up on the Details on Strip #1

I actually made two strips for her.

Strip #2 for Mary

More detail on the second strip.

Close-Up on the Details on Strip #2