Oilcloth Tote

I had a small marathon sewing session Friday - it felt good.  Finished up some blocks I wanted to make in ongoing projects and also some swap items for the MQG.  Unbelievably early for me on those swap items.  

I participated in a small swap between a few guilds in the DC/ VA/ MD areas.  It was nice to have our Modern Guild invited to join - I am in the Virginia Beach Modern Quilt Guild, we are just over a year old and going strong.

This swap item was a   Lined Drawstring Bag using the tutorial provided by Jeni of In Color Order.  I like that everyone gets the same thing in this swap, simple and fun.  

I modified the pattern to use a polaroid block in the center of the front - the post it is covering my partners name.  For fun I stitched a small key to the end of the ribbon tie.  I just have to fill it with a few items and off it goes - early.

I'm also participating in a swap with my local Modern Guild.  For our August meeting we are swapping totes.  You know me, I love totes - couldn't pass up that swap.  I think I own 20 or so totes, when I get to one for every day of the year, I'll have enough.  Maybe.  

There are 3782 patterns on line for totes, I counted.  Some are free and some aren't.  I'm not a tote snob, I like all of them.  But my favorite tote is the very first tote I made and I made it for myself.  It is an oilcloth grocery tote.  

One of these totes in the photo is mine, which I made in 2009 and the other I made for my sister in 2011.  I still use mine every grocery trip. The pattern is from Purl Soho tote pattern on their blog.  I went to the store on a trip to NYC and they had the bag on display, so I promptly bought oilcloth and fell in love.  I bought how much they said for the pattern and ended up with enough for two totes and more left over.  

I love the linen backing of Echino oilcloth, you don't have to line anything made with this.  It is expensive, so I'm picky about projects using it up.  For my partner in this swap I thought this grocery tote would make a good fit, even though I am sure she would love any type of tote.  

Using Wonderclips instead of pins this time around was such a huge help in the process.  

Both sides

Done early - the new me (at least for this week)

My old bag with the new one.  

I went ahead and made myself a new grocery tote at the same time. Yep.  I think they are pretty equal, but will make sure my partner gets the one with even stitches.  

Keep Calm and Quilt On

Mary

Packages & Conversations

Our phone conversation about a package.....

Him:  You have a package here.

Me:  Thanks.

Him:  It feels like pants.

Me:  It isn't pants.

Him:  It's pretty heavy, I think it's pants.

Me:  I'm pretty sure it isn't pants.

Him:  Well, what else could be so heavy?

Me:  Dude, do you even know me?  

Him:  I don't know why someone would order pants to be delivered.

Me:  It's fabric, it isn't pants!  Open it up!  

Him:  You don't have to yell, I already left the package in the house.  I don't really care what it is.  I thought it was for me, but then I thought it was pants and knew it wasn't for me.  Anyway, you have a package in there.

Me:  Oh, my God.  Thanks.  Do we have any wine?  

It was this heavy oilcloth I bought to make bags.  I'll start by making a wine tote.

September - not as unproductive as I imagined

Linking up with Lily's Quilts and Fresh Sewing Day 

I was a little bit afraid to go back and see what little I had accomplished in September, but it turned out to be an alright month.  I am pleased with what I have finished in the short amount of sewing time I had in the month.  

Some photos in this mosaic have not been shown yet.  

1 and 2.  Bee Blocks for Gone Quiltin Bee, I finished up this Bee in September, but I think it was supposed to be August. Anyway, I did them all!  Yay!

3.  Bee Block for Sewn Together Bee, actually an August block, but I just completed it on 9/30 (you know me - Ms. Procrastinator)

4.  Same Bee Sewn Together, but the September block and since I made it on 9/30, still in the right month!  But it has to go to Norway, so I feel I only half accomplished the task for this one.

5.  One of the two blocks I need to make for September - Running with Scissors Bee.  Also made on 9/30, so technically in the right month.  I still have to make the block for the other September Queen.  Another halfsie.

6.  One of my Minky madness baby receiving blankets.  I'll be making a few more of these in the next few months.

7.  This was a small zip pouch for Mini Scrap Swap, this is the one I ended up keeping because the zipper was skewed, I made another (didn't take a photo) and sent that off to my partner.  The last day for mailing, but ON TIME!

8.  A block for QAWII, I have two more blocks for this group to get to this week.

9.  I am freaking QUILTING this now!  More to come soon on that.  I was beginning to think I could no longer call myself a quilter.

10 and 11.  Zip pouch, mailed late and now I can't participate (BAD) for PLPS5, front and back.  I mailed my partner some extra goodies for being patient with my tardiness.

12.  Her other present, a oilcloth make up bag.  I had to take this photo at the post office before mailing.  

Also, I made this row of blocks for a group project:

Most of the projects were late, for their very important date for the month of September, but I got them done!  I'm working on being more punctual this month.  (Don't laugh too much at that one.)

Nelly's new friend Cooper, we think we'll keep him.  

Christmas Gift Done

I guess it was Nov 2009 I last went to NYC, there are two quilt stores I try to visit when I'm there.  City Quilter is one and Purl SoHo is the other.  Both nice shops with different vibes.  I saw a bag I wanted at Purl Soho, it was in their window.  It was made from Echino Oilcloth and it was simply gorgeous.  Me:  Is that bag for sale?  Saleslady: No, that is for display, but you can buy the supplies and make your own.  Me:  Well, I'm willing to just buy the one already made, how much?  Saleslady:  I'm sorry it isn't for sale, but you really can make your own.  Me:  (inside my head:  hahaha!  just let me buy the damn thing, because I'm sure you think it is super easy, and I will never actually make it) actual voice:  Sigh, ok, where are the supplies?  Oilcloth, it ain't cheap.  But the pattern was on their BLOG, and it was FREE!    

So, $40 later, for supplies for one of those re-useable green grocery totes that you can buy at Target or wherever for 99 cents.  But the pattern was free, so thank you for small favors.   

AND when I printed out the pattern, it was 19 pages long!  Next time I'll just bookmark it!  My tote is on the right, I made it as soon as I got home, because damn, I just spent $40 for a grocery tote, and even though I am prone to purchasing patterns and supplies and letting them sit, even I was like, really?  $40, I'm making this thing.  After making mine, I had leftover oilcloth, because apparently $40 in oilcloth is really enough for TWO bags!  Finally, I am using up the leftover oilcloth, and I even kept the pattern with the oilcloth, which, is so not like me.  I'm giving the new bag to my sister for Christmas.  I think I might have enough left for one more smaller one, yippee, 3!  So, one trip to NYC = $1000 (I'm guessing that figure, I have no idea) - Oilcloth = $40 - 19 pages of paper, photo ink,= $5 TOTALS 3 GROCERY TOTES you can get for $3 from Target.  Merry Freaking Christmas!   

The back that should be a front, pinning this right now (not literally, but when I'm finished here) and needs to be quilted in 24 hours.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!  I hope.

The Front.  

P.S. I love my grocery tote and use it all the time.