I'm a Bag Lady!

These past three weeks have really gone by in a whirlwind of fun & being on-the-go. First, there was a Quilting Retreat at Aspen Grove for about 4 days. Jim was lucky enough to be able to take some time off work here and there to allow me to go indulge in my addiciton... it was so great! There are few things I like better than being able to immerse myself in a good sewing project without being interrupted every 15 minutes. It makes me feel so productive and it is awesome to actually see the results of my own creativity. This time around I have been working on end-of-the-year Thank You gifts for the girls' teachers. Both my girls have been with the same teachers for the past two years and I am realyl going to miss them. Madi has actually been with the same ones for 2.5 years, and I am really having strange feelings about her starting Kindergarten this fall. Best that I don't think about it too much...

These are the bags I am making for the girls' teachers. It is a pattern made with a stitch-n-flip technique which quilts the layers all together as you go. I've made about half a dozen of these bags now, I love making them because they come together so easily and are so much fun to do.

These little bags will be for the teacher helpers & aides who work at Madi's Preschool. I have a couple more of them to finish up as well, because there are about 7 aides that help out.  I've come to know most of the different aides really well, from driving Madi to school and picking her up each day. I am really going to miss all those guys! So, these bags look somewhat complicated, but they are pretty simple as well. I can put one together from start to finish in about 20-30 minutes. I learned a really easy way to put the zippers in, and the layers are quilted together so I didn't need to put a lining in them. Quilting them also gives them some rigidity so they aren't too soft and flimsy. The perfect size for a pencil bag or make-up bag. I made one for myself and use it as a portable sewing kit. So much fun! I was making these at the Quilting Retreat and the ladies asked me to teach an impromptu workshop, which was awesome amd somewhat intimidating- I've never been asked to teach my own techniques before! I'd be happy to teach anyone else that wants to know how to make them :)