The Sewing Mom

I have been attempting to push myself to tackle this project for almost a week. I continue to find reasons and excuses as to why I don’t have time to do it, but I really need to get it done. You see, my current project is a tote bag. Now, I love to sew, I love to create and I love seeing and sharing the finished product. So, what’s my problem? Well, this particular tote is wanting to be quilted. I am not a quilter. I don’t enjoy quilting, probably because I’m not so good at it. Therein lies the problem.

You see, I’m a perfectionist when it comes to the projects I sew. I try very hard to do things right the first time around, but I certainly and not afraid to rip out a seam if I don’t like the way it turned out (probably why I own 3 different seam rippers). My machine, although it is quite capable of quilting, doesn’t seem to cooperate very well when sewing through thick layers that include batting. I’ve attempted several different machine adjustments and have yet to get it right.

I’ve spent the last few days reading through various sewing manuals that came with my machine, trying to figure out the best settings for this particular project. I’ve attached the machines “walking” foot and now have to figure out how the heck I attach the guide. The guide allows me to not have to mark the fabric with all of those quilting lines. If I can get the gide attached, I only have to mark the first line and then the guide helps me with all of the rest.

So, my tackle for today is to stop making excuses. Stop being afraid of the task at hand. Get in there and Just Do It!

Tags: machine quilting, tackle it Tuesday, walking foot

I just have to share this with you. My sister Karen just completed this bag and it’s so cute I knew I had to post it here too.

There is quite a bit of detail on this bag including the prairie points with decorative buttons, the loop and button closure and the rick rack. She has done such a super job on this bag! It measures 10″ w x 7″ tall and is made from the cutest cowgirl fabric and butterfly bandanna fabric accents. The bag is fully lined and has interior pockets that can be seen in this picture.

She is selling this bag for $40 (that’s a steal considering all the detail work she did!).

If you would like to see more of her sewing work, including her quilting, check out her website, Winding Threads

Tags: cowgirl, fabric bag, sewing

I have been busy sewing and I took a break to try to catch up here a bit. I’ve started and finished several small bags, this being one of them. It measure approximately 8″x10″, has a zipper closure and an open back pocket. The over cross shoulder strap is approximately 42″ in length. The interlining is a natural cotton batting. Selling price is $15 + $2 shipping.

Tags: fabric bag, sewing, zipper

I am very interested in internet marketing as a means for me to sell my handmade products. Having this blog and being able to post pictures of what I make in addition to the “for sale” widgets I use has opened up a whole new world to me and my small sewing operation that I would never have had otherwise. Through my site I’ve been able to sell to people around the world, including the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

Whenever someone contacts me with an interest in buying something I’ve made, I’m very interested to find out how they found my site. I’m interested in finding out what search engine marketing services can do for me and my small business. GDMI in particular, would help me understand the search engine marketability of my website. Are there terms and keywords I need to be using, is my layout working (there are all types of opinions on this). They would then be able to help me increase the visibility of my site for the search engines. I’d like to know what keywords shoppers are typing in when looking for a fabric bag. I could then make sure I’m using those in order to have them find my site.

In addition to getting my site into the top rankings of search engines (or at least, higher than it is now), GDMI would help me decide what type of advertising could work for me. After implementing their suggestions, GDMI then monitors my site to see if what I’m doing is effective or not.

Selling my products via my website is much more efficient and less costly than having to go and work craft shows. It’s important that I work on my internet marketing strategies.

What do you to to make sure your site is marketed in a positive way?

Tags: search engine marketing services

These blocks were a gift to my grandbaby who was here visiting over the weekend, she’s not quite a year old yesterday. She loves building blocks and the best thing about these is that when she knocks them down or throws them on the floor, they’re soft and don’t make any noise! She had a lot of fun with them and I loved being able to make her something personal.

Tags: sewing

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