Box Bags

I love bags - handbags, shopping bags, wash bags - they all hold some inexplicable excitement for me, so I thought that I would make up a couple for my travels.  I find them so useful - they hold my knitting (I am a sockoholic), wash kit, electronics etc., etc.,!

First up I thought that I would use one of the fat 1/4's that I received from the lovely Phillipa of Gloria & Me as part of the Spring Swap this year.  I couldn't resist this gorgeous seaside fabric:

And this is what it became!  

A lovely little 'box bag' with iron-on batting for structure, 

And fully lined in a great, co-ordinating Amy Bulter fabric.

As you can see I bound the inside seams - I have seen (and made) some of these bags with overlocked/serged seams, and that seems such a shame - if you are going to line the bag - let's make it look good inside too!

And then I made another one.  From some more Amy Butler fabric

Love it!

I showed these to Mr. SDSC and he laughed.  Somewhat perturbed, I asked him what the problem was, and he said that he found it funny (and endearing) that I never make just one item - I make multiple versions of the same items.  Now then, let's think . . . . Sorbettos, 4-gore skirts, Singer Shapely Blouses.  OK, he may have a point!!  Oh, and I have since made another 4 of these cute bags - two I have given away, and two more are tucked away in my suitcase . . . . .

How about you - are you a 'multiple maker'?

Spring Sewing Swap - 2013

I can't resist a swap - purchasing/making/selecting goodies for someone who, like you, just loves to sew as much as you do.  It is waaaay to much fun!  So when Kerry of Kestral Makes announced a Spring Swap - I was all over like a rash.  Yes indeedy!  The lovely Philippa of Gloria & Me was selected to be my swap partner, and I couldn't have been more thrilled!  My parcel of goodies arrived earlier this week, but due to the terrible flooding we have had in Southern Alberta (I wasn't directly affected other than being advised by our fantastic Mayor, Naheed Nenshi, that downtown Calgary was closed for the best part of a week so no driving into the office!) I didn't pick it up until yesterday.

So without further ado, here are the fabulous goodies that I received:

 A quick peek inside that lovely sparkly bag . . . . I see beads, fabric, chocolate . . . .

Magazines, thread, beading wire, lavender . . . . .

Just look!  I am so excited about this magazine. I have seen it on the newstands, but UK magazines are exorbitantly priced over here, so this is a real treat!

The fabric is so cute - I love seasidey things, so I will have fun playing with this gorgeous fabric.  Philippa also included matching thread (oh, she is gooood!) as well as a plain co-ordinating fabric.

And did you see how everything was color co-ordinated. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Oh, and the chocolate?  Well, it is my favorite and I can't get it here in Canada.  Mmmmmmmmm :)

Love it.  Love it all.  Thank-you Kerry for organizing this fabulous swap, and thank-you Philippa for your thoughtful, fantastic gifts xx

And what did Philippa receive?  Well, I know she has received the parcel, so as soon as she puts up the post, I will link to it from here.