The Sewing Mom

I hit up the fabric store and hobby store today.  The fabric store was having a huge sale and I was able to thread and interfacing all at 1/2 price.  I also had coupons that I was able to use on zippers and trim, so I am stocked up and ready.

My plan, as soon as I get off of this computer is to cut out and sew together 3 zippered bags.  Tomorrow I’m hoping to make a new tote bag that will be large enough to use for just about anything, including going to the gym, grocery shopping or the beach.

I have to drop EC cards too.  I just checked and I’ve had about 260 dropped on me today and it’s not even dinner time!  I’ve got some serious catch up to do!

Tags: sewing supplies

I am so excited!  My daughter and I were out running errands today and we headed to the quilt shop to get some fabric and supplies for my fabric bags.  We then headed to my daughter’s guitar lesson.

I was driving in from a different direction than if we had come from home.  When we arrived, we were on the opposite side of the building than where we usually park and my daughter casually mentioned that there was a quilt shop right across the street.  I said “WHAT”!?  I couldn’t believe it.  She has been going to this guitar studio for about a year now and I drive her there myself once a week.  I have NEVER seen this store.  I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to go check it out.

It wasn’t an overly large shop, but they did have some nice fabrics and some good information.  I learned that they had been in their location now for about a year and a half.  I just couldn’t believe that I had not found them sooner.  I also learned that there is a quilt show this weekend in Mesquite, TX which is only 25 miles from where we live.  I might just have to go check it out.

I bought a kit to make a tote bag from blue and brown fabrics.  It’s really pretty and can’t wait to get started on it.  I think it will be a great bag for grocery shopping.  It also has quite a few pockets in it so it will come in handy for many other uses. I think I need to go get started, I’m anxious to put this fabric to use!

Tags: fabric, quilt shop

I created this bag not too long ago. It’s a simple over the shoulder strap bag with a back pocket and a front zipper. This style of bag is great for carrying just a few items at a time like a small wallet and sunglasses. Perfect for taking to the amusement park. My daughter has one that she uses to carry her Nintendo DS in.
I’m happy to say that this one has been sold. These are fun bags to make though and so I know I’ll make more. I need to see if I can find more flip flop and beach ball fabric. It’s not shown in the picture, but I added a flip flop charm as a zipper pull.

Tags: sewing

I finished this bag a month or so ago and never got a chance to post it. The bag fabric and the outer pocket fabric is opposite black/white pattern from each other. You have to look closely to see it. The flower on the middle pocket was machine embroidered by me and there is an identical one on the back side. This bag is made from 100% quilters cotton and interlined with craft fleece. I used fusible interfacing in the pockets which adds to the firmness and provides support to the bag. This tote bag is fully lined and the 26″ handles are lined with craft fleece for additional comfort and support.

This is one of my favorite tote bag patterns and I love being able to add the embroidery work.

Tags: embroidery, fabric bag, tote bag

I’ve currently got two fabric purses under construction and they would be done, except that I needed the decorative trim to sew onto them before I can attach the handles. I hate it when I have to stop in the middle of a project to go get supplies, but I had some time the other day to cut out fabric and I took advantage of it and went ahead and started sewing the two purses together. I hadn’t originally planned on these two particular bags, so I hadn’t purchased the the trim for them.

I set aside this past Friday as my day to run errands and that included going to the fabric store. My only problem was that I never go to the fabric store without coupons and I didn’t have any. I hopped onto my computer and hunted for coupon codes because I for one, love to save money. I’ve even started buying alot of my supplies online because it saves me gas money. Did you know that you can find a coupon for just about any thing and any place? I read once that if a retail site has a box to enter a coupon code, then chances are that there is a coupon code available, the buyer just has to find it. I was able to find 40% off one item coupons as well as my favorite, free shipping coupons.

So. I now have my trim and just need to get in there and sew it on so I can finish my two bags.

Tags: coupon codes

Several of my readers have asked to see what bags I have for sale. As I’m just starting to get them listed in my Etsy shop, I’ve decided to post what I have available here. If you’re interested in anything, leave me a comment and I will contact you via email with specific detail of the bag you are interested in. I have several more in the works that I hope to finish in the next day or two and will post those pictures when I’m finished.

Tags: fabric bags, sewing

I’m progressing in the sewing of fleece blankets that I’m planning on selling at our booth in July. I was able to use my serger a week or so ago and finished the edges. This is a photo of one of the blankets as it’s being run through the serger.

Yesterday I spent time sewing the lace and trim to the edges of the blankets. This red one is now finished and the blue one is also finished, I added fleece binding to it instead of lace, I think it looks more boyish that way!

I have two more fleece blankets that are almost done. I am going to do the machine embroidery on them today and then they will be finished. Then I will be back to sewing a few fabric purses and bags.

I’m working hard to have a productive sewing week, which also means I am having to spend less time at the computer. That’s not an easy thing for me since I am totally addicted to my computer! I am still checking in though and will reply to all comments eventually!

Visit 5 Minutes For Mom if you’d like to participate in Tackle it Tuesday.

Tags: machine embroidery, sewing, tackle it Tuesday

This is what I’ve been doing today. Well partially anyway.

I sewed the lace edging on to 4 fleece blankets today and am now getting ready to embroider on 3 of them. I also sewed binding onto one blanket and it is finished, I had all ready embroidered it a while back.

I’m trying to use a variety of bunny designs, I don’t like all of the blankets looking the same. I now have 2 new designs downloaded onto my card reader and am getting ready to set up my machine to do the embroidery. Hopefully I’ll have pictures of the completed projects by tomorrow.

I better hurry, my daughter’s 6th grade awards ceremoy is tonight!

Tags: machine embroidery, sewing

I decided to go do something different today and try to forget about my head hurting and sinus problems.  I met my friend at the mall, something I haven’t done in 6 months, and we enjoyed a nice lunch in the food court and some much needed retail therapy.  I bought myself 2 pairs of sandals, and some new under garments at a famous “secret” lingerie store.  Definitely not something I do on a regular basis!

After leaving the mall, I swung by the fabric store looking for frog buttons.  I didn’t find any, but they fat quarters on sale so I bought several to make fabric building blocks.   I even found a new gnome for our front yard, do you know how difficult it is to find a decent gnome?!

Anyway, while my head still hurts, mentally I feel much better.

Tags: retail therapy

I made a couple of fabric bags yesterday and I really would like to accent the one bag with a couple of buttons.  The fabric I used is a green frog print and I’d like some accent buttons that are cute little frogs.  Does anyone know a good place to buy cute decorative buttons?

My camera returns this evening, along with my husband, so I’ll try to post photos of my two completed bags tomorrow. 

Tags: buttons