This is my block for Melissa's month in the Virtual Quilting Bee.  She asked for trees.  I was definitely inspired by this tree Liesl made.

I'm happy with how this came out.  I hope you like it, Melissa.  And I hope you still like me when you see the back.  The geometry was a smidge tricky in parts.

I'm sewing today.

What are you doing?

Here it is!  My new bag!

I used the Birdie Sling pattern by Amy Butler.  All of the fabrics from Heather Bailey's two new lines.  I chose the fabrics with transitional seasons in mind.  I think thebrowns and oranges fit right in with fall while the pinks and yellowsmake it springy.  Of course, I think green is perfect for any season.  I really really love this bag.

It's a big bag which works really well for me.  I'm a tall girl and I think that little bags look wimpy hanging on my arm.  I also like to cart around way too much stuff - I can easily fit a book and a small knitting project in here along with my point and shoot camera, sunglasses, wallet and checkbook.  I could probably even fit more if I tried.  Because it is made of fabric, it is nice and light weight.  I am really trying to take any pressure I can off of my right shoulder and my neck hoping that my wrist will benefit from less stress.  Although I love my green Coach bag, it is really heavy when it's empty, let alone when it's full. 

There are two pockets inside:  one small and one large that is divided.  If I were to make this bag again, I might make the bigger pocket smaller.  As it is now, it'd be great for a baby bottle or sippy cup, but I don't carry anything like that around any more.  I think it'd be great to have a pocket that wasn't so deep, but still divided so my cell phone could have a home of its own.  That is the one thing I struggle with using a big bag - I can never find my phone when it's ringing!

The pattern is very well written and the bag is fairly easy to make.  I would not try it as your first project, but maybe as a third or fourth?  There are lots of pieces to cut out including interfacings and fusible fleece.  The pattern calls for three fabrics - one for the outside, one for the handles and one for the lining and pockets.  I used four because I didn't have enough of my lining fabric for the pockets.  I also had to go back to the fabric store to get more of the brown floral because I was dead set on centering that pattern.  I needed twice what the pattern called for.  It was totally worth it though.

Edited to add:  Caroline reminded me that while our power was out, I toted my laptop around in this bag.  It fit wonderfully, power cord and all!

It was my nephew Declan's birthday yesterday.  He loves to roll and throw balls so I made him a fabric one.

I used the fabric beach ball pattern from the Purl Bee.  This is the medium one and my sister-in-law Georgia said it is perfectly sized for one year old hands.  I didn't sew the fabric circles on the top and bottom because it didn't seem necessary to me.  I also tucked a small cat toy - the kind that has a bell inside a plastic ball - into the middle of the stuffing.  It has a nice jingle when it's tossed around.

Of course, he needed a shirt, too.  I copied the train design that Georgia used on the invitation although I had to change the color palette a bit.  That is a green giraffe, but I think it also looks like the number 1- perfect if you ask me.

We are having a beautiful fall day.  I hope the weather sticks around this weekend.  Have a good one!

I posted this photo on Flickr yesterday and while doing it thought I should blog about this. I really don't like to trace patterns.  I am the type of sewer that wants to jump right in, skipping this vital step.  Also, taping a bunch of 8.5 x 11" sheets of copy paper together is a pain in the rear and tissue paper tears so easily.  I've tried freezer paper too, but I find it kind of stiff at times.  But, after a few cut pattern fiascoes and those crazy overlaid patternsin Japanese craft books, I am beginning to realize that I should justtrace every pattern I sew before I cut.  I think I have found a great solution.

Enter exam table paper.  You know, like at the doctor's office.  It comes on a large roll and is a bit heavier than tissue paper, but still see through.  This is what I have been using to trace patterns for about a year now.  This is the only roll I have ever bought - I got mine at the local store that went out of business, but you can buy them at medical supply stores too.  There is still a ton left on the roll so I imagine that I will be using it for a long time to come.  Big bonus too is that it doesn't take up much storage space and the ends don't curl up so much when you roll it out.  I generally use pencil or pen, but fine tip felt tip markers work great too - they just glide down the paper.  So there you go:  my tip for the day.

And can I just say how completely blown away I am at the number of comments on yesterday's book post?  Wow.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  Who doesn't like free stuff?  If you want your chance at winning a copy, comment on yesterday's post.  Comments here won't count and I am cutting them off at 12:00 a.m. EST (New York) Saturday morning, the 13th.

I hope you all enjoy the weekend.  I'm looking forward to some quality time with my sewing machine.  What do you have planned?

I couldn't help myself.  I started another sweater and I bought a pattern and some fabric for a new bag. 

I have good reason:  this sweater is too hard to knit on the go and this bag has a big tear. 

Did I mention how good I am at justifying?  Very good.

You all are the best.  And wine with some Project Runway and no knitting is pretty good too.  I got up this morning and attacked the yoke again.  I am three rows in and so far so good.  It probably helped that the house was empty and I was able to talk to myself the entire time....you know counting my stitches out loud, telling myself to put 2 on the cable needle to the back, etc.  I'll try to add a few rows each day and maybe by the time it gets cold, I will actually be able to finish it.

I did manage to finish some sewn items.  First up, I re-did my square for the Virtual Quilting Bee.

I had all kinds of different red prints pulled out for the center square and really couldn't decide which one to go with so on a whim, I used this green one.  Pretty much perfect if you ask me.

I finished my orange quilt top.  I haven't decided what I want to do on the back so for now, it's sitting folded on the table.  I keep looking at it, but nothing seems just right.  I'll figure it out eventually.

Happy weekend people.  I can't tell you how happy I am that it is Friday.  Enjoy!

Our nephew Kenan turned 1 on Sunday and a t-shirt was requested.  I couldn't refuse!

So here it is - I did finish it in the carpool line last week. I think the monkey is a bit, um, robust.  Cute, still, but if I do one like this again, I think I will slim him down a bit.

Off I go...I have a yoke to tangle.  Finally.