This is the front of a bag.

here’s the back of the same bag,
and the bag can be found at Picket Fence Quilt Shop,

and this one is from Charlotte’s Sew Natural Quilt Shop in Newton, Kansas. All of these quilt shop owners know that in order to sell patterns and fabric you have to make a model. It’s a win/win situation and it’s always fun seeing all the different fabrics that everyone chooses for their own bags. I love how each one is unique and made to fit each persons’ personality. I hope everyone is staying cool and having a wonderful summer.

 At some point, we decided  I should make it for her, so she brought me a wonderful stash of linens, hankies, & embroidered pieces to chose from.  It was hard to decide!  I kept asking myself – “what would Bev do?”.  She has a very unique gift of being able to “edit” and her discerning eye has saved me many times.  Only Bev. can be Bev. – too much pressure!

 She loves soft, romantic, clean, crisp, vintage-inspired pieces in the way that I do, so it was a joy to make her bag, even if it was hard to have her “eye”.    She loved it in the end.. I love the brooch an the silk flower on the vintage tag.

There were a few things in her fabric basket that I didn’t want to send back when I was finished.  But,as she said, “now you kow what I’ve got tucked away”.  She brings her Junk Bag to work each week, but what I can’t get over is how pristine and pretty her bag looks!  I think it’s another of her special super powers!

Last weekend at Picket Fence’s annual quilt retreat, I met wonderful, talented women.  This is Terri and her sister Marsha who was visiting from Missouri.  They both made Junk Bags, but with a crazy quilter spin to the pattern using wonderful, interesting embellishments.  I love seeing how they used their imaginations – crazy quilters find the most ingenious ways to use so many different elements in their quilts and projects.

Donna, Lisa’s daughter, who is in the education field, worked on finishing up the Mother’s Love quilt with the ruched borders.  Donna is also a knitter and crocheter and does wonderful work. 

Barbara, who I didn’t get a photo of, was working on two Cute as a Button Baby Jackets for gifts.   Baby girl  Lilly, has  a  L on the  pocket.  She fussy-cut the letter from my Sweetest Gifts fabric.  Both jackets are lined in cotton flannel.

Three glorious days in the quiet country sewing with friends and getting projects finished, what a wonderful treat!  Thank you Lisa for putting together a lovely experience!

PS: I promise I didn’t pay these gals to work on my patterns at this retreat, but what a wonderful  thing to get to see!  I learn so much watching others create and it helps me as a designer to see what the patterns and fabrics can become!

While we rested, Tiffany shook her head that she couldn’t believe she wasn’t wearing or carrying one of the products she sells – and faster than you know, Steph was emptying out the junk bag Tamara had and offered it to Tiffany to carry.  It was close to the end of the day on our last day there and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity for one of our distributors to carry our product!  Tamara couldn’t believe we were going to get all her stuff squeezed into our already full bags.

  Thank you, Tiffany for your kind words, getting the bag back so quickly and being such a sport.  We enjoyed the laughs and friendship!  Thank you, Tamara for being an even better sport and giving up your bag at the last second.  Shameless self promotion? – You betcha, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

And sometimes a girl has to take stuff away from her sister.  Tamara did an awesome job detailing our trip and has some fun photos of herself with all the celebrities we saw at market.  Check out her posts.

You have no idea.  No idea.  There really is no explaining how hard this was, and at the same time, how exhilarating, liberating and exciting.  I have treasured and protected this piece of fabric like a small infant child.  All the while hoping to be able to use it and happily let it serve it’s purpose.  It’s fabric.  I love it.  It is now something I can use daily…

I am using the Junk Bag pattern to make my tote for Quilt Market.

I couldn’t wait to free-motion quilt on this fabric!  The stabilizer used in this pattern acts like a thin batting, so quilting just seems so right!  I had some problems with my machine and just couldn’t wait.. The owner of Midwest Sewing where I am teaching some classes said I could use one of his machines while mine is repaired.  I was so excited to try the 820 Bernina BSR .  The stitch regulator is awesome!  As you move the piece that you are quilting, the sensor sees how fast you are moving the fabric and adjusts the speed of the machine automatically, no need to press on the foot control!  I have never had the chance to use it!  The picture above is a close up of the free motion quilting I did on the machine – awesome, fast, perfect!

While I was at it, I took some pictures of some of the steps used in the bag directions.  I love these binder clips.  They hold everything in the right spot, I don’t worry about holes in my fabric or whether I can get the pin through all the layers.

Also use the clips to hold the lining in place.  I used plenty!  It helps align the fabric and keep it from wrinkling in the wrong spot down the road as you sew.

When stitching lining to bag around top edge, use quarter inch presser foot with guide.  Stitch on lining side of bag (Refer to step 10 on pattern).

Working on the Bernina really spoiled me.  I get asked often by quilters and sewers what machine I use or if I would recommend one.  I really recommend that you visit a shop that specializes in machines and visit with the salesperson about what your needs are.  My experience is really limited to what few machines I have been exposed to and there are so many special features on each machine, I couldn’t possibly keep up to speed like a shop owner can.  I learned quite a bit visiting an open house at Midwest Sewing, here in Wichita and had some time to try a few of the Bernina machines while there.  I have had one in the past and really loved it.

Ta-Da.  I’m exhausted.  Sewing really is a demanding, contact sport for some of us.  But it’s a labor of love.

Bag back, quilted.

Bag inside pockets.

Now I get to add my fabric hang tag and bejewel and bling it up!  It’s what I’ve been waiting for. 

Happy Sewing, ladies!