Christmas Ruffle Tote

My sweet friend, Tammy, called me a while ago and ask if we'd like to use their beach condo for a few days in November. YEAH! We took our parents and had a great trip. As a little thank you, I made and mailed her a Christmas tote today.




What are you making these days?

Bag Bottom

Aria's Bag needed something sturdy in the bottom...

I have never put anything in the bottom of the bags I've made though I have always been thinking "what is a cheap way to make a bottom???" While at the dollar store this week...it clicked...placemats!!!

And cover them with a pillowcase type cover...aka dish towels from the dollar store as well...

So I cut them to size and taped all four pieces together to build a nice sturdy piece...

Sewed the little pillow case type slip covers and slid them on...

Weekender bag bottom liner!!!

Etsy Shop

All prices have been slashed in my ETSY shop...more items will be added over the next few days...so jump on over and take a look around...perhaps a birthday is coming up and you need a one of a kind gift to give...

Now You See It?

Ok...it is pinned and ready for a final stitch around...this will sew the liner to the bag and attach the handles in one big circular motion. Who is this for? Oh yeah...I still am not sure...oh well time to go see Santa at the crazy Mall....Say Cheese.

Ps...once again fabric is by Jennifer Paganelli...cause she always gets a plug from me.

PSS...Mom claimed the bag as her birthday present...it was intended for her...just not like I wanted...since I was distracted and sewed the corners at 5 inches...making this bag...square on the bottom...and not the right layout for 6 large pockets which I think makes for a good big Weekender bag. Anywho...

Brown & Turquoise

Back in the saddle again...finally...working on a Jennifer Paganelli bag...sewing machine feels like it needs oil? It is just not running very smooth? Rented a free Redbox movie for C so I could sew...and I got what I paid for a movie that skips so bad I have no idea what it is about...Hotel for Dogs. Oh well no money lost.

(Thats one lined bag, an outside pocket, 2 ruffles and 2 straps...in the works...so 30 minutes of ironing and sewing today and finito...new bag...for who? I'm not even sure yet? Really? Really. See it is just not as big as I wanted it to be for someones birthday present...so...Urg. I got a little carried away on my triangles...now it's more Tote than Weekender...)

Miss Scarlett in the Kitchen

My parents have some really good friends in Wetumpka...Miss Scarlett and Daddy Bob. Daddy Bob fixed my sewing machine for me...and as a thank you I told Miss Scarlett I'd make her a bag to carry her scrapbooking supplies in. Boy Howdie...I'd don't want to part with this bag now. It looks like a big Jennifer Paganelli sister to my diaper bag. It is almost as big as a Vera Bradley Miller bag...which I want another one of...cause the size is just right for weekend getaways...

FRONTs...
BACKs.....the new bag has two outside pockets...one on each side...(they blend in-can you spot them?) Inside...I made a little tie together...(the inside has 6 pockets)...
Sis Boom yummy bags.

Pouchy Pouch Pouches

Learning CURVE!!! I have not made a perfect one yet...the zipper goes the wrong way...or the strap is sewn inside...or i don't sew the strap together 1st...or the roof is totally wonky...or one side of the liner is turned the wrong way...they are all functional and cute...just not goood enough yet. My next ones will be golden...I can do this...


All fabric is by Jennifer Paganelli. I love her.

House Pouch

Here the link to what I'm attempting...though I am not using her directions or pattern...just the idea...

The Long Thread House Pouch Directions

I really am trying a house pouch...but I don't have another zipper...

so...now I'll just work on Brittany's quilt...

Quilted Scrap Pouch

Inspired by this on Whip Up today... Little House Pouch

I wanted to try making a quilted pouch from scraps...and I save every smidge of Jennifer Paganelli's fabric...incase I need them for small projects like this...




This was my 1st attempt at anything with a zipper...I had to cut an old purse pocket out to have a zipper to use...cause I didn't want to get ready and go to the craft store 25 minutes away...and I thought I'd photo this test run along the way...and make it into a tutorial...well...maybe after I make a few more...

I worked out alright...I think I'll give it to a friend who I owe a scrapbooking bag...cause I'll make it out of Jennifer Paganelli fabric too.


And I still want to try the little house pouch...but with a zipper.

Shirred Something?

So I got my new elastic thread out this a.m. and tried to make myself a red floral shirred dress. After 8 rows of problems...I decided to call the doctor and schedule myself an appointment to have my wrist cyst drained (gross...sorry). It has been killing me lately...thus I have not wanted to read...Eclipse...stinking hardback is just that much more painful to hold...or sew...and anyway the lady said can you be here in 1 hour and 20 minutes. I said sure....scramble to get ready and off we go to get a referral.

So we got back home...I decided to get my sewing machine book out and read about tension. Wow...this made a huge difference. Another problem thus far...well using your bust size to cut the material...is NOT right...who told me that and why did I not see that info was WRONG!!!? So I can shirr another piece and sew them down the sides? Or make this into a dress for a little girl...that the stitching is not so pretty on? I guess I will shirr another piece and sew on the sides...at least I can salvage it as a pool cover up?

Ps. Perrywinkle's called to say my purse was in so I picked it up (my Mother's Day purse)...is it totally wrong that I bought Vera and didn't make one like it myself? Oh well. I love you Cupcake Green Morgan. Thanks C.J. I love being your mommy.

"Anna's" Diaper Bag Tutorial

CoCoJ Designs “Anna’s” Diaper Bag

Why did I come up with this bag? 3 reasons: 1-Because I have never used a stabilizer and don't really want to? 2-I wanted to use fabric I like, not pre-quilted fabric and I wanted the quilted look and feel and stability. 3-I wanted lots of big pockets for diapers/wipes, sippy cups, snacks, crayons/toys, my wallet/keys/cell phone, etc. All things need their place and should be easy to grab. So here we go… And please read through the entire tutorial before you start…looking ahead at the pictures helps you see what my words did not explain very well...and click on all pictures for more detail. Good Luck!

1-Free motion 1 yard of fabric onto a piece of pre-quilted material (Here is a tutorial on free motioning if you need to start there
Crazy Mom Quilts Free Motion Tutorial

2-Cut 19 x 28 inch piece leaving the 28 side open to cut the long straps from

3-Cut outside 8 x 9 inch pocket

4-Fold top of pocket down twice and sew it to hide the raw edge


5- On pocket fold and pin under other 3 raw edges

6-Pick a spot (I like to match the pattern up), pin in place and sew 3 sides onto the outside of the bag (leaving the top of the pocket open…I’m just reminding you not sew your pocket closed!)

7-The body: fold in half right sides together, pin and sew 2 side edges closed (leaving the top of the bag open)

8-Make triangles 4 inches and pin, then sew…now the outside body is finished! (this forms the rectangle in the bottom of your bag and gives it body, do not cut these off) Then turn this outer body right side out.



You should be here…Yeah! ! !

9-Now cut liner 20 x 28 inches from a pre-quilted material

10- Cut 2 pieces of pre-quilted material 13 x 20 inches to make the inside pockets with

11-Fold down 20 inch side of inside pocket fabric twice and sew to hide the raw edge (Yes I am still in my robe and I have hairy arms, moving along now…)

12-Pin wrong side on the right of liner turning the bottoms of each pocket piece under and iron. Leave 3 ½ inches open between the pockets

13-Sew the bottom of the pockets straight across onto the liner
14-Sew 2 pocket slits 6 inches from each side (or as many you like…one for diapers, one for sippy cup, one for snacks, etc)



15- Fold liner in half right sides together and sew the 2 sides closed (like Step 7)
16-Make triangles 4 inches, pin and sew (like step 8) Do cut the triangles off on the liner. Ta-Da your liner!

17-Lets make straps. Cut 2 pieces of self quilted material 33 x 5 inches

18-Fold the short side in half to 2.5 inches right sides together and sew 33 inch side…same for both straps
19-Turn straps right side out. Iron flat. Sew a seam or two to give the strap some body (I free motion these to match, I hope you can see this in the 2nd picture)


20-Let’s make the ruffles. Cut 2 pieces 6 x 44 inches (or the width of your material, this leaves finished edges) not quilted material. Fold in half to 3 inches with wrong sides together and sew 2 rows of basting stitches (long stitches) along the 44 inch side.

21- Scrunch ruffles until each are 20 inches long and tie off ends with the thread (if you do not know how to do a basting stitch…go here and learn really quickly…
Gathering Fabric into Ruffles
22- Putting it all together. Iron and pin down edge of the OUTER BODY to hide the raw edge about ½ inch. Then Pin the ruffle to it and sew ruffle in place (I use the inside of my presser foot as my guide) Sorry for switching bags on you…I didn’t photo this well when I made the red bag)


23-Iron and pin down the liner to hide the raw edge. See pictures above.
24 -Slip the liner into the shell (already did this in picture sorry)
25-Place straps between the liner and shell with pins (I usually put them in about 1 inch) but place with the straps to your comfort level before sewing them in.
26- Pin liner and outer body together and stitch in the ditch of the shell. Ta Da! Finito! Good Job! If it is not that cute, try again…now you know what you are doing. Finished size about 18" wide, 12.5" high with ruffle and 3" deep.

Red Floral Diaper Bag

Jennifer Paganelli's Sis Boom Patchwork Fabric Quilted Diaper Bag

I will work on posting a printable version...Please comment or email me with questions or problems...and I'll try to address them. Thank you...and Enjoy my 1st tutorial!

Ps. You should have enough material left over to make a matching wallet...so scoot over to That Darn Kat and she'll teach you how.
That Darn Kat Quilted Wallet Tutorial

Pss. Printable tutorial is now ready...see side bar for link.

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