bag lady, me

Clearly, I've been working through some mental clutter! By that, I mean more of my things to make someday list! It started a couple of weeks ago with the maya*made buckets, which we are making good use of, thank you very much.

Next to be checked off the list was the blue zipper pouch. I finished it off finally, after it sat and sat on the project table, waiting for some hand sewing. The gorgeous print is from Echino, and it is full of paper-cut-esque silhouettes of woodland creatures+botany+nature. The navy portion is some linen left over from hemming off some pants. It's lined with part of an old chambray bedsheet that I've been slowly hacking away at (stay tuned). I embroidered a running stitch along the top edge, just for handwork's sake. I carry this pouch in my everyday bag to keep a bitty brush, hair things for Hana, lip stuff, arnica, etc. I love to use it and look at it.

Then another box bag. This time my favorite mushroomy fabric! It's lined with the chambray too. I think it's best for me to make several of these at once, because I forget from time to time all the parts to include: pull tabs + handle! I took this one apart twice before it was done... :( This one's a gift, but I'm not tellin'!

The bright blue one is a bag to house our RushHour puzzle/game. I never did like the box it came in but tolerated it all these years (we've had the game since Koji was little, a pillowcase, I think), always thinking that someday it would get its own special cloth bag... someday came last week! The fabric is from when Koji was little and in his vehicle love, the back is the chambray. I used french seams so the insides would be tidy and not fray. Hooray, I'm so glad I don't have to look at that box anymore!

The light blue bag is my new knitting project bag. The main fabric is from Aunty Cookie. It is every knitter/sewers dream because it's knitting-related phrases ("knit" "purl" "count" "recount") fabric! There's a drawing of two hands casting on too. I think I need to get more... Do you have trouble knowing when to stop; as in when is a project done, when does it need more detail or personalization? I always have. I felt I was teetering on the edge of "too much" when I embroidered some steam rising from the tea/coffee cup on the stamped patch, but now I like it. I probably could've left it off, but I was on a roll, I guess. The yarn ball stamp and the mug stamp are from Craft Pudding. We love them!

The sling bag is my new everyday bag. The fabric is an African batik that I ordered from Retrosaria. I first got hooked on Rosa's blog, then her ribbon, now it's just about anything she picks out for her on-line store! She has fabric, tools, books, yarn, haberdashery, and her own creations. It's worth checking out if you're into handwork like I guess you are. Guess what I lined it with?! Right. I used a pattern from Pippijoe but altered the strap to be one long piece instead of using the cute knot at the top (I thought it might bug me). The bag is functioning very well. Yahoo!

Clearly, I have a thing for bags. :)

Also becoming clear, I have a thing for Etsy. Oh, boy! Don't get me started. We'll talk of that another day, there is so much to say. Fun.

So, I'll leave you with this beauty. We're going on a family trip tomorrow, so I won't post until Friday or so. I'll miss the garden while we're gone. Take care!

ETA: There's a new bag that came off the sewing machine tonight, but I'll have to show you that one when we get back from our little family trip, ok? What is it about going out of town and needing a new bag?! It happens to me almost everytime we go away... it might be a packing procrastinating thing, I don't know. Just sayin'!

Ps - About the commenting, if you're still encountering trouble, please try the Anonymous option... I had my remote support guy test this method and it worked for him. ;)