Grab Bags

Grab Bag

I found this nice pattern on the allpeoplequilt.com website last week.  I like how the single handle works by sliding the long handle through the short handle to cinch the bag closed.  And there are 6 inside pockets in the bags, three on each side making it a great bag for keeping organized.

It was fun to mix and match fabrics to create these and I completed all four during two morning sewing sessions.  The pattern and instructions can be found here. The instructions call for thin quilt batting or craft fleece but I used heavy craft interfacing which keeps the bag's nicely rounded shape. The instructions are easy to follow, even though the completing the handle is a little tricky.

Making Fabric Labels

I am a whiz with a word processing program. I took the time to make some templates in MS Word so I could easily print out fabric labels at my convenience.  As it turned out, it wasn't as easy as I thought.

Making the square fabric labels is pretty easy. First, I insert a table in Word, then enter the text for my label and add a little graphic.  In the cell of the table, I then manipulate the text to the desired font and font size then center the text and graphic at the same time.  After that, I copy and paste the cell into all the other cells. Using the borders and shading option, I make a cute little frame around them, then made the cell borders invisible and then they were ready to print.

In order to print them on fabric, I use a laminated sheet of eight and a half by eleven sheet of paper.  Since I am too frugal to actually buy it, I made the laminated sheet by putting strips of packing tape on the paper.  It was nice and stiff and slippery. I then cut a piece of muslin a little smaller than the fake laminated paper and using masking tape, I secured it to the sheet.  Then I just ran it through the printer. I did have to give it a little shove since it was somewhat thick.  After I let it dry for a few minutes, I took the muslin off the sheet and applied Heat N Bond lite to the back and cut the labels out.

I use my old rotary cutter for all these paper cutting projects, so I don't ruin the blade on the rotary cutter I use for fabric. Ok, so this was much more putzy than I thought it would be.

I then attempted something new.  Iron-on t-shirt transfer sheets. Again, with the Word program, I made a table and added my name and logo and saved the file. All I had to do then is use the mirror setting on my advanced printer settings to print out the labels on the t-shirt transfer sheet.  Only one problem...my Canon ip4200 does not have a mirror image setting. Crap! I thought I would try using my husband's all-purpose printer.  Since we are all networked together, this would be easy to accomplish.  I just had to choose his printer from my list of available printers and open the advanced settings and viola! - there it was, the mirror image setting. Hooray - progress.

Of course, I would print out a sample sheet on plain paper to make sure it was going to work before using up a sheet of expensive t-shirt transfer stuff.  But wouldn't you know it - his printer was out of ink. Grrrrr! So he generously ran out to Sam's Club and bought more ink confessing that he should have done this quite a while ago.

I admit it's a little frustrating when I'm gung-ho on getting a specific task done. Even though I can fill my time with plenty of other little projects, I really wanted to get this one done. Once the ink cartridge was replaced, it worked like a charm.  I printed my page of mirror image labels and ironed a few on the twill tape I bought just for this project.

They turned out great!

Happiness is . . .

doing something significant on Memorial Day with our granddaughters.

Avery, Chloe and Grandpa

Chloe and Grandpa

Tiny Treat Totes

Tiny Treat Totes

I found the pattern for these cute little bags on the allpeoplequilt.com website. The instructions make 4 cute little bags. I like the use of grosgrain ribbon as handles. They are just sturdy enough for the size of the bags.

I have plenty of cupcake fabrics so I think I will make a whole bunch of groups of 4 of these bags. I am certain they are a perfect size for my granddaughters or as gift bags for their friends or even their teachers.

Tiny Treat Totes

Just throw in some candy and they become Sweet Tiny Treat Bags.

Ron Swanson - WIP

I couldn't resist making this Ron Swanson quilt top. I followed the quilt along blog posts found over at Happy Zombie's blog. If you want her free pattern you can find it here.

I use a lot of grays for quilt backs which means I have a lot of long strips of assorted gray fabrics left over. So I decided that if I could pull the necessary 4 shades of gray and black and white solids from my stash, I would make this.  It took me less than 10 minutes to pull out everything that I needed.

The instructions called for two and a half inch squares but I cut all mine at one and three-fourths inches instead. I really didn't want such a large Ron hanging around.  So now I can pick a fun fabric for the back to complement all the solids on the front.

I am totally unsure of what I will do with this when it's done.

Fresh Lemons and Stash Fabrics

Winner #634

At the beginning of each month Faith over at Fresh Lemons Quilts has a big giveaway.  I always get the email notifications of these events and yet I never put my name in for consideration.  So for the month of May I decided to not be so darn lazy and actually entered by commenting on the giveaway post.  You can find that post here.

All it took was 45 seconds to actually type and hit enter and yet I rarely take the time. So guess what happens when I finally do take the time? Yes, I won! So I want to thank Faith and Beth for offering such a wonderful prize.  I do appreciate the fabric bundle and I guarantee that I will use it. I learned a valuable lesson on taking time out to fill out an entry.

Stash Fabrics Bundle

Another Postage Stamp Quilt

I had so much fun making my last postage stamp quilt that I had to make another. To make this quilt it takes many 2-inch by 7-inch strips of fabric. My scrap basket is so large that I was on a mission to reduce the overflowing basket of scraps. So I decided that I would cut no more than two 2" x 7" strips from any given fabric.  That would make for an interesting challenge and yet it wasn't as hard to come up with enough variety as I thought it would be.  So over the last week I cut some strips, sewed them into blocks, recut the blocks and on and on...

It wasn't long before I had the whole quilt top done.  The challenge then becomes finding a backing that will complement all those scraps.  I chose a flower pattern that really had nothing to do with any of the fabrics on the top.  I bound the quilt in a Kona solid that complemented the backing fabric.

Now my scrap basket is much more manageable - at least for now.

Happiness is . . .

Baby Ducks