Collage Sound Check Bag

Another entry here for the Pantone Challenge, this time for the Mini's Category.  Now I wasn't sure if a bag applies as a mini and if it doesn't then you can cross me out.  But I did "Quilt" the interior, so does that count :)
This is the 12th pattern inside of the Big City Bags Book by Sara Lawson "Sound Check Bag".  I used Collage Fabrics from Carrie Bloomston, Border Birds in Purple and Newsprint in Purple, the interior and accents are in Brussels Washer in Silver.

The bag can stand on it's own.

I added an interior zippered pocket cause I like zippered pockets in my bags.

with a pop of that blue that you can see a little bit of in the fabric

My quilted interior is loosely based off of the Tutorial by Don't Call Me Betsy: FMQ Baptist Fans
(SMWACK, ohh.. did you hear that)  Actually it really was an awesome time to practice my FMQ skills (or lack of)  I will be doing it with all of my bags for now on.

The Interior measures 15"x27.5", a mini quilt, right?

The variegated Metallic Thread was a gift from Mary of Mary Moon Designs and Jeifner helped me out in understanding how to use it,  I used a 90/14 needle and increased my stitch size to 3.5, it was great for all of the topstitching and edgestitching (like shown above) but didn't do such a great job in the FMQ, but that could be because I am a little jerky in my movements.

I didn't have any cool ruler's so I used a stack of circle lids to mark the circles, I tried one as a freehand you can see it's the one that looks really crazy.

This bag is a present to me for my 7 year Anniversary, yep! married 7 years today, A-Mazing!
You can see my other Pantone entry here.  And I am having a small handmade postcard giveaway going on here.

As you can see it's a pretty big bag.

Note Added: I have been carrying this bag around for over 5 months now, and it is by far my most favorite bag, I love it and plan on making a few more, it is a great pattern.

Linking up to:

Star Light Star Bright Pillow

I love it!

I machine quilted and washed it yesterday and then did some big hand stitches on it today and put the back and zipper on.  This is my first time doing a side zipper (or bottom, guess how you put the cushion on your couch) I followed this tutorial here on Pretty Bobbins. (all links will take you to a new page)  Worked out pretty good.

I like my zippit zippers, I cut a little notch off the ends and glue them on the card she includes with the order, that way it is almost like a thread card but instead it is my zipper card.

I matched the Aquamarine 049 perfectly with my Teal Coblestones Textures fabric from Angela Walters.  I quilted a cathedral window echo thing, in the Swirls Jade (Variegated Aurifil 4662) and Swirls Citrus (Variegated Aurifil 4658).
And hand quilted in the AG Pure Elements Mystic Grey areas.

I think my Star Light, Star Bright pillow looks pretty darn cool next to my Star Surround pillow.

Close up of threads used and hand stitching.

Both of these patterns are FREE and available from Melissa at Happy Quilting, check her Quilt-A-Long's page.
More pictures of the sewing process can be found here.
Linking to Pillow Collective over at Amy's Creative Side.
Linking to

March Goal 30/30 Sewing Challenge

Carving out 30 minutes of me time sewing time for 30 days of March, are you ready?  I hope I can meet this Challenge, one thing about sewing is that it relaxes me, so any type of sewing is relaxing even if it is making something for someone else.

I have my every month monthly goals:
1.        Every month I plan on following along with  

The "Classic meets Modern QAL" this month is the Drunkard's Path (first time doing that block)  Lots of different block inspiration can be found here.
2.       Every month I plan on making a block for the

 Aurifil Designer of the Month  This months designer is Emily Herrick a very easy borders block
3.       Every month I plan on making something from a

 Craft book Sew Along.  I haven't decided what yet, I am getting some new books in that I won.
4.       Every month I plan on meeting the challenge over 

at Le Challenge.  This months theme is "Order"
5.       Every month make a bag from

"Big City Bags" also a Sew Along.This months bag is the Meringue Clutch.
6.       I want to make 4 Quilts this year, mmm... should be interesting, maybe one will be from the Feathers QAL  I am going to try to finish the Feathers Quilt, I finally got in my orchid colors.

If I get this quilt done it will be for me, also the Meringue Clutch will be for me and I am also making another bag called the Wonderland this month that will be FOR ME!  So lot's of sewing just for me.
I am making another bag for a swap partner, so if you are counting that is 3 bags!
And one last item that I need to do in the next 2 days is quilt and do the backing for my pillow FOR ME, or actually for my husband, but they do say that husbands and wives are 1 unit, right!

If I do get it quilted in time I will enter it in the Pillow Collective Challenge. going on over at Amy's Creative Side.

I will be linking to these great linky parties this month with my finishes.
A Lovely Year of Finishes
Celtic Thistle Stitches for the Christmas Ho, Ho, Ho and So We Sew and also the New to Me 2014
And a Stitch in Time over at Such a Sew and Sew.

January Finishes

I am super proud of myself this month, I did an amazing job at finishing up on all of my projects!
Plus I got my first commission, well I begged a friend to let me make something for her and she has to pay me, hehehe, but still so excited, I will be making 3 suitcases for her little nephews who go to visit her.

My every month plans:


1.        Every month I plan on following along with  

The "Classic meets Modern QAL"

this month was the Polar Bear Claw

2.       Every month I plan on making a block for the

 Aurifil Designer of the Month

This months design was from Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic, so I thought I would make it out of my favorite Aurifil thread colors, the grey fabrics turned out darker in the photos, they are AGF fabrics, the grey variegated fabric is Rod & Reel Grey/White Plaid and the green is Kona Olive (my fav. green color) Aurifil 2600,2625,4670,and5016
3.       Every month I plan on making something from a

 Craft book Sew Along., that was my project from the book "Modern Bee" it is showed below,
I had another project from a different book also, but it didn't get finished.
4.       Every month I plan on meeting the challenge over 

at Le Challenge.  I still have 15 more days left, this months theme "The Rising Sun"
5.       Every month make a bag from

"Big City Bags" also a Sew Along.

The Fireside Bowl Bag that I finished in December.

6.       I want to make 4 Quilts this year, mmm... should be interesting, maybe one will be from the Feathers QAL  

started working on the feathers, lol

Specific January Goals:

I finished my 3 messenger bags for my nephews, Andrew, Owen and Caleb.

Also including my sons Nik.

And I made this cute little Table Runner.

All the letters are courtesy of Alyce over at Blossom Heart Quilts, they are easy and fun to make.

The center heart is made of hexagons a design from Stacey at The Tilted Quilt.

This was the first time trying out the binding from this tutorial.  I like it, but I think on a quilt I would be kind of bummed about the waste of the flange fabric that you don't really see.
I also finished my "Modern Bee" Mosaic Tiles Quilt Along project, a bag for the Mosaic Tiles quilt that is being made by my Sibling Together Bee.  I finished it tonight so I don't have good photos and I plan on doing a tutorial for how to make the quilt bag, here's a sneaky peaky.

Linking up to a Lovely Year of Finishes 2014 January.