TGIFF - Shiny New Bag

This week's been dull and stressful busy at the same time. Like, some days have been dull and exhausting, others pretty busy on the less funny side of stressful. I'd prefer (obviously) to have things evened out between the extremes (who wouldn't), but such is life and at the end of the day woe is not me. Not least because I enjoy the ride and I still did finish my shiny new bag, too!

But first, a look at the old one. One of the million bags my husband thinks I own and have made - as if. I've never been much of a bag girl, actually, and most I've made have been for others. Anyway, this cheerful spring-y darling has been loved for two years and still is. A little battered, a little worn, a little faded, but grand!

Not only did I lengthen the straps a little, but behold the swanky snazzy improved interior - a zippered inner pouch! A key fob! I love it already.  No fumbling around for my keys today!

Filled with essential stuff. I tell you, this bag can carry around a ton of things - I've regularly stuffed tons of groceries, several books, or multiple bottles of wine in the old one and expect to do just the same kind of thing with the new one.

Topstitched straps.

I love my new bag!

The Ink & Spindle is a little less substantial than the Kokka print but the bag still beautifully holds it's form without the exterior being reinforced by interfacing, especially when filled with things. (I'd totally use interfacing if I were using a regular quilting cotton rather than a Kokka or linen mix, though.) I'm considering whether or not to add a row of grey topstitching just below the seam on the outside. Thoughts?

The pattern, Nanette tote by Rebeka Lambert, has once more been a fantastic choice.

Happy sewing!

Oh, and lest you think my old tote will die of disuse due to lost love - it won't. Definitely won't!

Linking up with TGIFF at Sew Hungry.

W.i.P - Slow Progress

I really enjoyed the long weekend after my first full week at the internship and this is what I've been working on when I didn't take care of a poorly husband or household chores.

1) Trying to find the perfect layout for the blue-grey squares. Still not there.

2) Turning my new Nanette tote from this...

...to this and some more.

The topstitching on the zippered inner bag pocket (tutorial) isn't perfect but I was eager to go on and it's a) a detail that 99 per cent of the population won't ever get to see and b) I can deal with it. I decided to add a key fob this time around because I've always got troubles finding my keys, even if I throw them into pockets. Thanks to my sis for always letting me harvest her old bags for hardware!

Hopefully, unlike last week, I can make time for a little sewing in the evenings and finish this baby until Friday. I love it already.


Stats

Finishes - 0

Ongoing Projects - 7
Fish & HSTs
square baby quilt
Nanette tote bag - nearly finished!
baby things
Red Riding - erm, yeah...
Grecian Waters/Emerald HST quilt - finished the top! - still pinching pennies for batting
EPP hexies - 52 finished flowers + 14 nearly-theres

Stalled Projects - 1
EPP parallelograms/stars

Planning Stage - 5
Wedding Anniversary quilt
Quilt for the husband - downgraded to a cushion cover, still needs to be made, oops
Two summer dresses & a skirt

Happy sewing!

Sunday Stash

Sometimes you don't take a break but the break takes you. I cut down my online time and, first thing, the sniffles take over. As in proper sore throat, runny nose, dizzy spells,... as in needing bed rest. Ah well, that's life. Guess I was hanging on for too long. I'm so much better now, though, as is my head. I'm even getting things done that I hope to show you soon. How fab, the break is paying off! Thank you for having my back, friends. Makes it much easier.

I've also freed the recent addition to my special Australian stash from Customs. So so pretty. I'm pretty sure a new handbag is in order. And with that I'm off again, easing back on soon.

Happy sewing!

Linking up with Fiona.

Sunday Stash

Time to share some of my most prized possessions - organic & screen-printed by Australian designers.

First up, this gorgeous cotton/hemp blend - half a metre (1.5 m wide) of Bonsai in Deep Red by Ink & Spindle. Isn't it shameful that I got this over two years ago and still haven't found the project for it? They don't even sell it anymore! If you love it as much as I do, you can still find it on Etsy.

I bought it with a bag in mind but stashed it, and then I made and was so fond of my Echino bag in spring 2011 that I just kept using that through autumn and winter and the next year. It might become a bag after all, or maybe something else. I still have remnants from the commissioned cushion covers I made last year from another Ink & Spindle print, Birch Forest in Almond.

Further, they had a discount two weeks or so ago and I caved in and bought half a metre as well as two 'fat quarters' (actually larger) of three prints, respectively, two new ones and one I'd been coveting for ages. Pictures once they make their way through Customs and into my greedy little hands. Hopefully they'll make it onto the cutting table soon, too. They're much to nice to be stashed only.

Another Australian designer with extremely lovely prints is Yardage Design. Once more skint, studenty me got lucky and I obtained three wonderful fat quarters during a sale late in 2011. However, I actually made something from one of those, namely potholders out of the blue print the second to last Christmas. No pics, alas.

I'm especially fond of the Verano Leaves in Crimson. So pretty.

Yep, I'm addicted to the loveliness of screen-printed fabrics. I'm also guilty of at least three brimful imaginary shopping carts, and that without counting the skirts and fabric I want want from Poppy that I only discovered this morning... Job hunting must be successful soon..

Linking up with Fiona's Sunday Stash.

Happy sewing!