pretty little birdie...

actually...the term "little" really should not be used in this post's title...because this bag:

is not little!  Not by any stretch of any imagination. (forgive the pics..the bag is on a road trip right now, so I only have my instagram pics of it).

I made this bag for Girl (who picked out the fabric (with a little help from me) and the pattern (pattern was all her)) and finished it up Monday.  The pattern is Amy Butler's Birdie Sling and man oh man...best pattern directions ever!  Very little time spent trying to figure out what it was saying/what I was supposed to do.  Made two changes: added a magnetic snap closure and did not double interface one of the pieces, but that was it. 

Seriously...the bag is huge!  I'm really tempted to make this one again...for me...maybe even the same fabrics...but Girl might not like that so much.  Maybe in Carnaby Street...hmmmmm

I spent a total of 7 hours making this bag...and the first 3 were spent getting pattern pieces ready (I use freezer paper) and cutting out all the fabric and interfacing and attaching all of the interfacing.  I'd also consider the magnetic snap added about 20 minutes because I had to dig around for my reference book (A Bag for All Reasons by Lisa Lam) as this is only the 2nd magnetic snap I've ever installed.  I figure to do it again (make the bag again), the time would probably be cut down a little...but I definitely see myself making more as the finished product is GORGEOUS!

Details:
Pattern: Birdie Sling by Amy Butler
Fabric: Prince Charming by Tula Pink, Moda Bella Solid (unsure what specific color)
Interfacing: Pellon SF101 and Thermolam Plus (fusible fleece)
Thread: Mettler

My Tula Pink Charming Ayumi Bag...

say that 10 times really fast!  A week or two ago I stumbled across the Sew Sweetness blog  (I think I had googled Tula Pink or something) and read about her Tula Pink Sew Along!  I was loving all the projects posted so far, and really wanted to make something...but I didn't have a whole lot of Tula Pink fabric left in my stash, and I was kind of hoarding it...an I wasn't entirely sure I'd finish a quilt top in one of her patterns in time...so I looked but figured I wasn't going to play along.  Until I made my first ever bag (following this tutorial).  And I was so smitten that I wanted to make a bag all for me...and instantly thought of my Prince Charming stash...and so I present to you...

My Tula Pink Charming Ayumi Bag!!!

Isn't it delicious???!!?!?!!  I am just in love with those frogs!  and it's 100% Tula Pink Prince Charming fabric!  (ok...minus the pellon)...here is a pic (not the best one) I took trying to show the lining was also Tula Pink fabric.

I just love this bag!  So glad I sacrificed some of my precious fabric for it!

Finished!

I'm so happy...I had such a fabulous vacation...AND...did some sewing while on vacation!  I tried very hard to get several quilts finished before our little trip (see here)...but didn't quite make the progress I was hoping...so Goldie got to go on vacation with us!  I had a blast visiting Texas and my FAB-U-LOUS family...and the look on my niece's face when we talked about finishing her "blanket" was FAN-FLIPPING-TASTIC!  She helped me push the pedal as I finished up the last bit of binding on her quilt!

Without further ado...here is my Prince CHARMing quilt:

and the back:

I used a variegated thread by mettler for the quilting and I LOVED IT!  I will definitely be using this again!  Details: Fabric - Prince Charming by Tula Pink, Aviary 2 by Joel Dewberry and Quilting Cotton in Indigo, piecing and quilting thread from Mettler.


and here is the Pink Princess quilt:

and the back:

I used Always and Forever by Deb Strain for both the top and quilt back and a straight up Mettler white for piecing and quilting (must admit...might have used some Gutterman at one point).  I followed this tutorial for the quilt top.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE both quilts...they make me smile!  And I'm feeling pretty sure that the recipients smiled too!

And for one final awesome pic...my sis' house lends itself so well to photographing quilts...so I got a pic of all three quilts that I managed to get delivered:

yeah...may have to print that pic out and scrapbook it or something as I adore all of them!

Had an Am-AH-zing week hanging out with my family...love them all...they ROCK!  I have one more quilt to finish up for the baby...but she'll forgive me that it wasn't delivered in person!  Love my family!

Later!

a CHARMING quilt for a PRINCE

so...I was so excited yesterday to get started on my nephew's quilt...and a bit nervous too...this stack of fabric just CALLS to me...

I really didn't want to cut into it!  (btw...figured out the woodgrain print is from Aviary 2!  just look at the selvage doofus!  (that's what I said to me when I realized it!))  anywho...

as my nephew is the oldest of 3...and the older brother of 2 sisters...I wanted to make him something "different" from the quilts I'm working on for his sisters...but I didn't want to be "girly", and I wanted something to go with stuff he already has...my sis told me his bedding is blue...hence the use of different blues...actually I don't think I would have cared what color it was once I picked up these fabrics!  anyways...need to get back on track here...so I started (after staring at the fabric for a few mins) cutting five inch squares:

and eventually ended up with the proper number (this one is 100% a repeat of this quilt...just different fabrics) and included some fussy cutting of the frog...I mean Prince Charming...which I've never really done...and very proud to say came out just perfect!  I got to laying it all out (sorry no pics of this part)...and then just started piecing:

I'm in LOVE with this quilt...and ONLY because it is going to one of my FAVORITE people...will I part with it!  Back to piecing...I'm officially T-8 days to get this one and my nieces quilts finished so I can get them on their way to their new home! ACCKKKKK!  (I love a deadline...heehee!)

FNSI...the results!

Happy National Quilting Day!  Popping in to share with you what I did for:



Well I started out earlier in the afternoon by hitting up the local store and picking up these delightful treats:

(CAN'T WAIT to cut into those!)  But before I can play with that lovely bunch of Prince Charming (by Tula Pink) plus that one section of wood grain on green that I can't remember who it's from, I need to get City for my Sis finished up!  Watched quite a bit of basketball last night while sewing...it was enjoyable...even though my bracket is shot to poo!  Back to the sewing...So I got the back pieced together:

and then got to work on basting the quilt (I used some spray basting):

I normally open up all the windows and get the fan going on high speed when I use spray as it is particularly smelly...but with the pollen in full force...no opening of the windows...so I took several breaks and let the quilt sit for a bit before trimming it up:

I tend to leave a little more than necessary when I trim...it's my "just in case it stretches or shifts dramatically" paranoia...anyways...I decided to quilt this particular one very simply...random spacing (the width of one of my sewing feet) from main seams...trying to follow the overall simple layout of the quilt:

and around 10 p.m. I was about 50% of the way through with quilting...and my arms were tired...so I called it a night!

I definitely got some progress made, which I'm thrilled about...and since today is National Quilting Day...I plan on getting some more done...in celebration of course!  I'll be back later this weekend to share those results!