The Joy-Nicole Bag Tutorial
Each year, I sew new bags for my nieces and daughters for Christmas. Last year, with my Messenger Bag Tutorial, I started a tradition of designing a bag for them and sharing it in a tutorial here for all of you to use, too. I’m a little behind on Christmas sewing this year. (There was this wedding . . . and it took up just a tiny bit of my time . . . ) I wasn’t ready to give up on the bag or the tutorial, though, so I made some time for finishing up both over the last week.
The first two versions of this bag weren’t quite what I wanted, but I’m thrilled with this final version! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it, too. This one is Samantha’s–as soon as she saw it, she begged for it to be hers. I’m so happy with the piping around the flap. It gives the bag a great finished look. If you’ve never worked with piping before (or if you have without great results) don’t fret–I’ve included my suggestions for perfect piping in the tutorial.
My nieces were here for the wedding, so I had the opportunity to have them visit my sewing studio and share with me their fabric preferences. My oldest niece, Tristen, asked for a bag made with her school colors: green and orange. I had my doubts about how those two colors would work together, but I love the result. I can’t wait to hear what her friends at school have to say about it!
Allie loves polka dots. She showed me a fabric in my stash that she really liked, but there wasn’t enough of it to work with for a bag. These polka dotted fabrics jumped out at me at the fabric store, though, and then I found the button that looks like it was made just for this bag. (The button is just decorative–there’s a magnetic snap under the flap.)
Finally, this is Kristen’s bag. When Kristen walked into my sewing studio, she saw this Michael Miller Dino Dudes and immediately said, “I want the dinosaurs!” I can honestly say that it never would have occurred to me to sew up a handbag with this fabric, but I think it might be my favorite of the bunch. Seriously? How often do you see someone walking around with a dinosaur purse? It’s definitely one of a kind!
I really like how each of the bags that I made this year showcase so much personality. Ready to sew up one or two in your favorite fabrics? You can find the pdf tutorial complete with pattern pieces right here: Joy-Nicole Bag Tutorial. If you use the tutorial, I’d love to see your bag!
Fresh Comfort Quilting Bee Blocks — All Done!
I let myself get terribly behind on quilt blocks for the Fresh Comfort Quilting Bee, but I’m all caught up and all finished now! It was a wonderful year of piecing together blocks. I learned so much! The blocks above are Wonky Log Cabins for Heather. She’s planning to use them in a quilt for her husband.
The blocks below are going into a Zig-Zag Quilt that Joanna is sewing. You can find the tutorial for them on her blog: Zig-Zag Block Tutorial.
Finally, these last two blocks are for Debbie’s Christmas Quilt.
Merry Christmas!
Praying that you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas overflowing with joy in the celebration of the birth of Jesus and the hope that He brings to those who believe!
We were blessed with a Christmas that was filled with love, laughter, fun, food, family . . . and one very happy little boy with a box full of green scary monster teeth.
Green Scary Monster Teeth
Not exactly what you expect to see at Christmas, huh? For the last several months, our almost-four-year-old, Jamie, has answered the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” exactly the same way everytime: “Green scary monster teeth.” Hmmmm . . . What’s a momma to do, though, but hunt the world over (or maybe just the Dallas metroplex) for green scary monster teeth.
Our local US Toy store came to the rescue. The only problem I have now is . . . well . . . you can only purchase green scary monster teeth in a package of 144 scary monster teeth. Anyone else happen to have a child who would like green (or pink, or orange, or purple) scary monster teeth for Christmas? We have several to spare.
A Few Wedding Pictures & SMS Giveaway Winners
Whew! What a wirlwind of a weekend! The wedding was beautiful, and I’ll have lots of pictures to share over the next week or so. In the meantime, I know you’re all waiting for results from my Sew Mama Sew Giveaways!
Up first is the Charlie Tee pattern giveway and the winner is . . .
. . . Desiree of Wee Share.
And, the winner of the doll clothing from Sewing Hope for Asia is . . .
. . . Crissy of Crissybell’s Musings.
Congratulations to Desiree and Crissy! I’ll get an email out to each of you to gather your information so I can send off your winnings. Thank you so much to each of you who entered!
Now, a couple of family pictures from our oldest daughter’s wedding. I was so crazy busy that I only ended up with a few pictures from the day on my camera. These, of course, were taken by someone else since I’m in them. I handed off my camera to a friend of Morgan’s who snapped a few pictures while the professional photographer was setting things up. Here’s our family from left to right: Jamie with my husband, Ray, Me, Morgan, Allen, Sean, and Samantha holding Charlie.
We all look pretty much together, don’t we? I laughed until I almost cried, though, when I saw the next picture because I think this is how we really felt most of the day: “Huh? Did you need something?” . . . “Who’s stepping on my train?” . . . “Will someone please hold the baby for a minute?” . . .
Sew Mama Sew Giveaway #1
Another Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day has arrived, and it finds our household racing to finish up all the last minute details for our oldest daughter’s wedding in just five days! I couldn’t resist taking a few minutes away, though, to put together not only one giveaway, but two! You’ll find my Fishsticks Designs giveaway in this post, and be sure to scroll down to the next post to read about my latest project and check out the second giveaway, too.
I’m loving my new collection of Charlie Tee patterns, and because I hope you’ll love them, too, I’m giving away the winner’s choice of one Charlie Tee pattern. In sizes that stretch all the way from 6 months to Adult XLarge, you’re sure to find one that will work perfectly for you or your little ones!
My two youngest boys were having a blast dancing around the Christmas tree tonight, showing off their colorblocked Charlie Tees, and I couldn’t resist snapping some pictures to share. Each pattern includes instructions for a basic tee, two colorblocked versions, a ringer tee and a hoodie!
To enter to win, simply leave a comment telling me which version you’d most enjoy receiving–the infant/toddler sizes, the big kid sizes or the adult/teen sizes–and who you’d sew your first Charlie Tee for. The winner will be chosen at random on December 18th. (We’ll be a little busy with a wedding the night before, so it may take me until Sunday to post.)
Sew Mama Sew Giveaway #2
Handmade with love, each of the items sold at Sewing Hope for Asia’s new Etsy store represents the hope of new life for women in South Asia. One hundred percent of the proceeds from each purchase goes directly to the Asian mission field to provide women with sewing machines of their own, so they can create and sell beautifully stitched items to provide for themselves and their families.
I’m so excited to be a part of this new venture to allow crafters to create and donate items to benefit families in need in Asia. Sewing Hope for Asia has donated a beautiful handmade 18″ doll outfit for me to give away in Sew Mama Sew’s Giveaway Day to help spread the word.
The seamstress who created this outfit and the many others that you’ll find available at Sewing Hope shares her vision of using her sewing machine and her skills as a seamstress to bring hope to women on the other side of the world here: Madelyn’s Story.
To enter to win, simply leave a comment here sharing either who you’d love to give this doll outfit to or how you enjoy blessing others with your craft skills. The winner will be chosen at random on December 18th. (We’ll be a little busy with a wedding the night before, so it may take me until Sunday to post.) If you have questions about donating handmade items to Sewing Hope, please contact Gospel for Asia at 1-800-WIN-ASIA (946-2742) or email strategicgiving@gfa.org.
Getting Closer to Wedding Day!
Last minute wedding preparations are well under way. Friday is Wedding Day!
Morgan’s shower was yesterday. Our dear friends, Carol and Rhonda, put everything together beautifully! The food was amazing.
Morgan was blessed with many gifts that I know she and Chad will enjoy using in their new home.
And, the games were a blast, especially the newspaper wedding dress challenge. Here’s the beautiful bride-to-be in her incredible (and recyclable) dress with her winning designers.
Handmade Christmas – A Trio of Stockings
Just finished up these stockings for Morgan and her fiance, Chad, and his little guy, Austin. I used my own Stocking Tutorial which you can find here. I’m excited to give them these to enjoy on their first Christmas as a family!
Handmade Christmas: Birdies for Little Hands
My idea for decorating the bottom of the tree with something safe for little hands is . . . stuffed fabric birds! I love these! They take a tiny bit of fabric and only a few minutes of time to sew. The pattern is from Laura over at Spool. You can find the pdf pattern here: Bird Pattern. I sewed up a total of eight to group around the bottom of our tree.
You can add a ribbon or a loop of some sort to hang the birds, but since I want Charlie to be able to pull these off and play with them, I just nestled them between the branches. My friend, Ann, makes these as baby shower gifts because they’re the perfect size for little hands and make great chew toys. Even if you don’t have little ones playing around your tree, though, they’re a great way to show off some favorite fabrics in your decorating!
