Ellie Bags

This weekend didn't seem to get away from me. I feel as if I accomplished something. I wasn't seating around being lethargic. Maybe because I moved my sewing machine into the cool zone. I was only able to sew till around noon, then the heat would be overwhelming, and summer has only begun.
So I did put in all the zippers and add all the handles to last weeks bags. And started a couple more. As I got into it, I couldn't stop. I love the elephant bags! Look at the pocket on the front. I traced one of the ellies and added it to the pocket. Love it!
Remember the reversible bag? All done. This is the inside.
Oh and remember when I said that I would get 3 or4 bags from my fabrics? WRONG. I can get 2 diaper bags and 1 tote. But I'm loving the totes! See the brown one? That's mine. See the pockets on these guys? Hubby drew me a new ellie. Totally love this one!
That Daughter of mine was up this weekend and so of course she saw the bags. Unfortunately, I can't convince her that she doesn't need one of each bag. I tried to sell her on the tote bags. She can't be convinced. So it looks like I will only have one bag to sell. I told her that I had to sell one to buy more fabric. This adventure to Etsy was so that I could make money to feed my fabric diet. So far I've spent more money than I usually would. I keep telling myself that you have to send money to make money, but I'm not feeling it. I wasn't cut out to be a sales person. It's so much easier to just give things away. So I sit here and question myself and my wares. Frustation!
Well I must be off. Time to clean house before the heat wipes me out.
Take care, Brandie

Zippers and buckles

I did manage to finish another girl bag with the "Gucci" pink. I like how theses are coming along, now if only I don't end up with a room full of them. I think I can get 3 maybe 4 bags out of each yard of fabric. And I may just make totes with the leftovers.
I did find some cool things yesterday. How about a purse zipper. It opens two ways from the middle. How cool is that? Of course it was much more expensive than a plain zipper.

And I did find a reversible zipper. The zipper pull goes around a channel so that it can work from either side. A pretty cool find.

Then there are these buckles for the reversible bag. Instead of two sets of handles, you can just switch them around and buckle them to the other side. Easy-peasy!

So I actually enjoyed myself in "that store". This weekend I hope to accomplish more bags and maybe start on the boy bags.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Take care, Brandie

"Gucci" pink

Isn't this cute!? Pink and orange is starting to grow on me. First red and aqua, then Kaffe's, now pink and orange. I love the strips! Hopefully my SIL loves it as much as I do. I am kind of forcing it on her.

So everything is together, but the zipper and the reversible handles. I think I have it figured out. Now I just need to get to that chain that I can't stand. Unfortunately or fortunately, I live 30 minutes away and so I try to lump together all the errands on one day. And today is the day. I will be going down to visit Gail and to go to a board meeting. Fun and not so fun.
The inside is exactly the same configuration as the outside, to make it easier to reverse. I'm really loving the firework fabrics too.

I also got around to the cute giraffes. I had that "Gucci" pink thread in my machine and figured I should continue with the pink stuff. This bag will not be reversible, as it just has plain pink lining. Still cute though. I quilted around every other giraffe, kind of makes them pop and holds the batting in there.
Sorry these pics aren't the best. The lining is just pinned to the bag front, and not very well.
I showed this bag to my Daughter and asked her what fabric she wanted a bag out of. Guess what she said? ALL of them. Boy if she wasn't my darling Daughter...

All day yesterday I had a silly phrase going through my head. It's bad and I don't know where it came from. It just came back, "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts". Where is that from? And why is it in my head?

I'm going to try to get rid of it with something else, but let me know if you know where that comes from.

Take care, Brandie

Upholstery

Last week I order some upholstery fabric, with the intention of making more diaper bags. I really wish I had found this upholstery site before. Maybe then I could have made a different bag for me niece and keep that great plaid bag. Oh well, I'll just have to make one bigger and better for myself.
So I did find a few cute fabrics. What started it all, was looking for pink and orange anything for the twins. My SIL is decorating with pink and orange and we have been having a hard time finding nice fabric that fits the bill.
I did find these 2. They are a bit extreme, but for a bag, hopefully not so bad. I've been trying to come up with an idea on how to make the bag reversible. Still thinking. If you have any ideas, let me know. What is holding me back is the handles. Do you have to attach handles to both inside and outside? I need to hurry it up, those babies are not going to be in there long. Mom comes here for the DR. appointments and to have the babies. I see her once a week. Yesterday her belly button was sticking out. I believe that means she's almost done. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!

Aren't these giraffes too cute? When my Daughter saw these fabrics, she said she needed a bag made with them. I think she wants one of each, specially the animals.

I really bought all this fabric, just for these guys. I love them! Elephants have always been my favorite animal. Someday when I'm rich, I'll have an elephant farm, with pugs as playmates for the elephants. Just kidding, but I would love to around elephants and care for them.

With all the cuteness, I thought I should get something classic. So pink and blue toile. Maybe someday I'll finish these bags and actually get them on my Etsy. This summer has not been going to plan. We have more daylight and I'm too tired and hot to sew. I seem to burn out about noon. So don't hold your breath, you'll turn blue if you wait for me.

Take care, Brandie

Weekend report

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. It feels as if our weekend was extra long. The Hubby got Monday off as well and now I feel confused. Last night I went to take the trash to the road and remembered that it was only Monday. But maybe that has more to do with the harsh way Mother Nature treated me this weekend.

After a heavy dose of any pain reliever, I did get out to help Cousin Linda celebrate her B-Day. We went to one of our favorite restaurants and shopping. Cousin Nikki has only just gotten home from her honeymoon, but she was too busy and couldn't make it. We missed her and I would love to hear about her trip. So we are going to have to do this again.
Anyway, back to the food. Doesn't my udon soup look beautiful? It was full of noddles and veggies.
And look what I had to go with it. Yummy!
I was a fun night, even medicated. After dinner we went shopping and we picked up a couple of needful things. I was a drag that night. In fact I was a drag all weekend. Mother Nature has not been kind to me. I must have really pissed her off! We had a family picnic Saturday and I spent most of it holding my breath or moaning in my chair. Sunday I spent the day curled up on the couch or sleeping. Yesterday was a little better, I wore pants! To me that was a huge improvement. Now if only I knew how can get back into good graces with Mother Nature.
I hope you all had a great weekend. If you didn't post about it, tell me. I what to hear it all, the good, bad and the ugly.
Take care, Brandie

Plant identifier

Yesterday I had asked about a flower that I saw and 2 of my reader told me what the flower was. How cool is that? They are better then the flower identifier that I tried to use. So Grandma Jean and Debbie, I have another plant that I've wondered about. This is what it looked like last October. They have these red-black berries and I believe it's a "weed" in our area. I think Grandma Jean may live in my area, so she has probably seen these plants along side the road and such.
As an indigenous plant, it is quite beautiful. These plants are just coming up around town, but there are no berries till later in the year.

Remember you can click on a pic to enlarge it.

Slow going on the sewing business. I blame Mother nature. Today I'll be doing my own impression of a walnut. I'm all curled up in my chair and that's the best position to be in right now. I'm hopefully that I'll have a speedy recovery and be able to unfold myself and start taking deep breaths by this afternoon.

When I do unfold, I need to finish this super cute dress. WHERE ARE THOSE GRAND KIDS?

You all have a wonderful weekend! And a happy 4th! Oh and if you're in the area, there is to be an outdoor quilt show this Sunday, at the park across from the police station.

Take care, Brandie

Evening flowers

Yesterday evening the temperature was just right to take an evening stroll. The Hubby and I put on our walking shoes and did just that. We have had wonderful weather in the last couple of days. At our house, the outside temp never rose above 73 degrees. To me that's great weather to walk in. Our on little journey, we came across these beautiful crepe paper type flowers. Does anyone know what they are?

It's a little blurry. That flower is as big as my fist. The bush it's self is at least 15 feet tall. That thing that is in focus, is a new bud. Beautiful plant!

We also came across a small field of daises. Aren't they sweet. They are such happy looking flowers.

I did accomplish some sewing yesterday. I finished a few more "Arco" signs and a little pink eyelet dress. I'm in a dress making phase. I need a granddaughter! If my SIL didn't start me on that costume, I'd by fine right now. I'd probably be sew quilts! Maybe even finishing up those UFO's. NOPE! I'm making dresses for little girls. But I am really enjoying myself.

Tonight is guild night, and I have a goal, to round up as many people as I can to help in our quilt show next year! I'm going to be scaring people right back out the door. They'll see me coming with my notebook (Wonder Woman) and they'll run.
Take care, Brandie