Numbers Tote

I’ve sewn a thing!  

My thing is a tote bag.  Man-O-Man has it been a long time since I’ve sewn a tote!  Back then they were all very simple.  This one also was (should have been) simple, but it seems I wanted to sew everything from finish to start rather than from start to finish!  I also tried new things.

Slowest thing about it coming together is that I made it up as I went along.  Which means it is riddled with mess-ups and made-up fixes.  That works for me!

I went to a quilt show last weekend and caught a huge sewing bug!  I bought all kinds of new fabrics and patterns and went home and decided to sew with a fabric I already had.  I can’t explain how that happened.

I couldn’t resist buying this Tim Holtz numbers fabric.  I love numbers.  Of course it had to be a one-way print.  Why ever would I choose something that could go either way for a tote.  Because I am my own worse enemy, that’s why.

I hardly ever buy fabric for a purpose.  99% of my fabric purchases are because I love the print.  Then I buy yardage according to how much I think I love the print.  I do not usually buy more than a yard.  But the number fabric I REALLY LOVED and bought 1 and a half yards.

That lining was an ancient purchase of a half yard.  There isn’t much left.  That means there is an open spot for a new piece of fabric to lie in wait.

Rather than batting and for durability, I stitched a strip of ultra suede inside the shoulder straps.

Sewing the straps gave me a new inspiration that I’ll be stitching up soon.

Inside the tote.

I have a Dymo label maker and wanted to try some iron-on tape.  It ironed on but I don’t trust it so I added stitching.

I also thought I’d like to corral my water bottle.  However, I don’t think that was  the best plan.  I have my doubts that I will like it.  Not a problem, easy to chop out if I decide to.

It’s pretty roomy inside.  When it goes to the next quilt show, I’m fairly certain I will run out of money before I run out of room to add purchases to it.

There are extra wide selvedges on this fabric.  I decided to add some wordy interest to the numbers print by stitching the selvedges along the side seams.

I also seemed to have had a need to add my love of cycling for a bit of added interest.  No other rhyme or reason.

Another selvedge section from a bicycle theme print.

I found these leather Hand Made labels so added that also for a bit of interest.  From a distance you might think this is a designer bag with a big name on it.  NOT.

That’s the “thing” I’ve sewn.

Sadly, I have nothing coming up to use it!  Sad face.

Fabric Postcard Mail Art

I’ve been in the mood to make fabric postcards lately.

An idea or two for designs presented themselves and I didn’t resist.  

T

This snail simply had to be turned into a snail mail postcard.

The image of the girl has been in my stash of printed fabrics for quite a long time.  The sentiment that it sometimes takes all day to get nothing done spoke to me.  It seems like that is a rather common occurrence for me.  LOL. The other pieces on the postcard are all washi tapes.  I’d already started sewing them down on the edges before I thought to glue them down for extra security.  My hope was that they wouldn’t get caught in transit and tear.  I know the postcard arrived but I haven’t heard yet how the tapes survived.

And here’s my life in August.

While I wait for some new fabric postcard inspiration to pass by, I’ll just keep myself busy working on finishing up other “started” projects.

Happy September...already!

150 Years of Postcards

The world is celebrating the 150 years of the birth of postcards.  You know that I want to be part of that!

The interesting history of the postcard is documented

here

I sent in a couple of cards to get in on the celebration as I so love making and sending postcards.  One had to be fabric, the other art.

There is a bit of a contest for the front and written side of the cards as well. 

That meant a chance to express how you feel about postcard mail.

I’ve shared this art postcard before but had never sent the original to anyone.  Since it had a little bit of a postal theme, I sent it in as well.

My expressed words for my love of postcards.




As I say many times on my postcards...

Happy mail day!

Calendar Journal

Catching up on sharing my life with my calendar journals.  My nosey blogging friends have made requests.  I’m glad to know I’m not alone in being a Nosey Nellie.  I love reading what other’s are doing in their daily life.

Hmm, I wonder what I did on the 31st besides work.  Obviously nothing noteworthy.  And forgot to go back and fill it in with something that means nothing noteworthy happened.

Creepy Birthdays

My children and grandchildren love themselves some creep.

I got into my daughter’s creep stash and made them all creepy happy birthday cards this year.

Grandson’s card

Daughter-in-Law’s card

Son’s card

Granddaughter’s card

Daughter’s card

It was fun to make cards outside the ordinary box.

Especially for birthdays.