20% Off -- and, much more . . . . .

See this neat bundle of fabric below ?

I know it looks like fabric  --
it's actually a 20% off coupon  and so much more. 

This past week, our local quilt shop sent out a notice of a unique sale.  In emails to their customers, they made this offer:  bring in a fabric donation to the Quilting Guilds for use in their charity quilting projects and get 20% off all cut fabric.   My friend Nancy immediately sent out another email calling all the Stitcher Gals to rally round this worthy cause (and get some great deals on fabric too!).

Saturday morning we all met at the shop - did our part to fill a large box with donations, oooh-aaaahed over the holiday prints, wandered all through the shop debating the merits of florals vs polka-dots, scoped out out the new fabric lines, fondled the fat quarters, tried out new quilting toys --  it was wonderful.  And, with our donations on that day, we were doing our part to add some warmth & care in someone's life -- by way of a hand-made quilt. 

As my friend Linda says,
'It's always a good feeling when you can help others.' 

I'd like to amend that by saying this:
'If you can help someone and walk out with some pretty cool prints at 20% off  -- that's a good feeling for everyone!'

My 20% off fabrics -
Aren't they pretty ?

Warning - these can become addictive . . . . . .

Take one bandanna - cut into two pieces. Lay the pieces end to end and sew together.

With a contrasting fabric, cut a 4" strip and sew onto the length of the sewn bandanna strip.

Sew the ends together to form a tube. Press down 1/4 inch on both top and bottom of tube - turn under bottom hem again (1/4 to 1/2 inch) and press. Stitch down hem. Turn top under again 1" and press to form a casing. Stitch down top casing (making sure to leave an opening to insert elastic), also stitch 1/4 inch from top of casing to form a ruffle edge. Thread elastic through top casing, measuring waist of future skirt-wearer, cut elastic and stitch ends together, stitch opening shut.

Ta Da --

you have a Bandanna Skirt for a baby/toddler girl !!

So simple and super cute

Total time from start to finish: 20 minutes

Check stash for cute contrasting fabric.

Go out and buy more bandannas --

Warning: these can be addictive !

Note - for older girls:: use two bandanna (or three - depending on how full you want your skirt and age of child) -- one each for front/back.

'Jane Market Bag' - 1 and 2 . . . .

I've been coveting this pattern for awhile now. So, last week, with the long holiday weekend approaching, I decided to download the pattern and make some 'Market Bags' of my own over the 4th. And, I'm very happy with the results. This is a pattern for a basic 'shopping' tote bag with the addition of pockets on both sides and a pin-tuck at each corner, making it stand up quite nicely. Here's my first 'Jane Market Bag' ::

I've had these fabrics in my stash for 3-4 years now and think they came together to make an pretty English-Garden type bag. It's currently holding my knitting -- but I like to think it could have also held yarn & knitting needles for Agatha Christie as she traveled around Britain, solving all those murder mysteries. That little bit of fantasy makes me smile every time I look at this bag. Hey, you have your fantasies and I have mine.

Now for 'Jane Market Bag' II ::

I made one change on this second bag -- used a fusible interfacing on the handles, side & center pattern pieces and it gave the bag a bit more structure. The pattern instructions are very easy to follow and I'll definitely be making more of these bags in the coming weeks. I'm even thinking of 'up-sizing' the pattern for an even larger 'Market Bag' -- although the pattern size will hold a lot of yarn, groceries, library books, baby/child estentials or whatever you fancy. And, to cap it all off -- the Jane Market Bag folds neatly when not in use.

Both bags were finished in a couple of hours -- my favorite -- a quick sewing project! You can get your own bag pattern at http://rosylittlethings.com/janemarketbagpattern.html -- it's only $6 ( which is only 2 iced coffees from Starbucks or 3 large vanillla Diet Cokes - easy ice please - from Sonic ) -- however you choose to rationalize it -- this pattern is well worth the cost.

Envy & Re-thinking Scraps

The total blame for the current state of my stash falls on the following:

• Sew Mama Sew http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/
• Crazy Mom Quilts http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/

I have been thinking that I had a 'handle' on my stash. Especially my fabric scraps (see previous post a few weeks ago). Yes, I was feeling 'organized' and 'smug' -- that is until this week. After reading the 'stash posts' on the above blogs; I've been doing some 're-thinking' and 're-organizing' in my little sewing corner. And it's all their fault !!!

Here's the state of my fabric scraps as of 6:30 am this morning - - - (after being messed with & sorted on and off for the past 3 days)

Yep - it's a mess isn't it ?

But, after reading all the interviews on Sew Mama Sew and AmandaJean's describe her scrap organization -- I had to see if it could work for me. And, you know -- it made me look at my stash and scraps in a whole new way. I can see now that there are lots of fabric scraps that are long skinny bits which would work very well in a spiderweb quilt (or a string quilt) -- and, I do think sorting out the different colors is a great idea. The entire process has gotten me all excited about sewing/creating all over again.

So I suppose I need to change the 'blame' into a 'thank you' to both of these two talented Stitchin Gals.