Today is another anniversary, not quite on par with my wedding but still important to me - my 4th blogging anniversary! When I look back at some of my old posts, I feel like I have come such a long way, in my crafting skills, my photography, and even what crafts I enjoy.



I wish I had something fun to giveaway, like Beki. Instead I'm sharing the quilt I finished over the weekend for a friend's soon-to-arrive baby girl.



If you had told me four years ago when I started this blog that quilting would end up being one of my favorite activities, I probably would have chuckled and rolled my eyes. But now I love picking out the different fabrics, watching how my designs on paper turn into a finished quilt, pulling the quilt out of the dryer for that crinkly goodness.



I'm here in large part because of all the inspiration in the craft blogging community, all the wonderful folks who share tips and techniques. Thank you!

And, as always, thanks to all of my wonderful readers for your kind comments, and stopping by to see what I've been up to. You're all the best!

Labels: 2008 Quilts, me, quilting, sewing

I had a baby shower to go to yesterday and limited time to make a gift, so I fell back on one of my favorites - a taggie blankie, and some goodies to go with it.

Labels: sewing, simple pleasures

Happy 5th wedding anniversary to my sweet husband.



Today is also the 11th anniversary of our first date. We were just kids when we started dating. I was only 16. Everyday I feel lucky that we have known each other so long, and grown so much together.



He went out early this morning to pick up these roses. I love them.

Labels: family, photography

Today was casual Friday (funny since in my office many of us wear jeans all week) and I wore my new purple shoes, and am now enjoying a gorgeous evening. It is unseasonably cool for September on the Gulf Coast!

Labels: simple pleasures

I started a new felt project this week... It's nice to have some hand sewing to keep me company during the fall season premieres!

Labels: needlework, simple pleasures

Fresh flowers arrived back in our grocery store, and I am really enjoying the fall colors. The sweet kitty lounging nearby helps, too.

Labels: simple pleasures

It was so nice last week to have time during the day to craft, take pictures with good lighting, compose blog posts... But now that I'm back at work I'm finding it harder to post here. The evenings are getting darker earlier, taking away my photo time, and I'd rather spend my free time crafting than writing.

This blog was never intended to be stressful, and in the past when times have arisen where I struggle to post I have just disappeared for a while. I don't want that to happen this time. Instead, for the next month, I am going to try to post regularly, but with shorter posts, sharing some of the simple pleasures I encounter that keep me going.



For example, opening a mystery package from Amazon and discovering this book. I pre-ordered it ages ago, and with the hurricane and new kitten and general busy-ness, I'd forgotten it was on its way. I did a little happy dance when I opened it. Now it is waiting for me when it is finally bedtime!

I made a little "Simple Pleasures" button if you want to join me (once, weekly, daily, whatever!) sharing simple pleasures of your own! Download it over there to the right.

52 Nights Update - Night 29 - Last night was a miserable failure from a no tech standpoint. I did get the laundry done, and started a little felt project, but I also got sucked into the Family Guy episode that recreates Star Wars. I was powerless to resist.

Labels: 52 nights, simple pleasures

I finally have to go back to work tomorrow. I would have worked all week and more if it meant others would be spared the devastation of the hurricane, but I did try to make the most of my time off! My house is very clean (for the moment) and we took care of a lot of to-do's that have been on our list for ages.

On the craft front, I finished another zipper pouch - this one using upholstery samples picked out by my mother-in-law again.





I also made some progress with some of this fabric. In fact, it is now a finished quilt top.



Going back to work is the last step in life getting back to normal. We are so lucky to have it be so easy - a lot of families with children are struggling with childcare because many of the schools are still closed, not to mention all the people that haven't even been able to get to their houses! We were so blessed to make it through Ike, and be able to move on.

Labels: bags, sewing, wip

I have really been enjoying my zipper pouch. It holds all the essentials and keeps them organized, so I can toss it in a larger bag or just grab it for a quick errand. I thought you might enjoy a how-to. This is really long, like all my how-to's, but trust me, after a little practice, these go together really quickly from start to finish!



You Will Need:

Main Body --> 6 pieces of fabric 11.5" x 7" (2 upholstery/home dec weight, 2 cotton for lining, 2 fusible interfacing)



Pockets -->
2 pieces of fabric 11.5" x 5" (cotton for lining)
2 pieces of fabric 11.5" x 2" (upholstery/home dec weight)



Strap --> 1 piece of fabric 9" x 2.5" (upholstery/home dec weight)



9" zipper



* If you're using scraps like me, you can get all this from ~2 12" x 12" upholstery samples! Lining was from my stash.

Prep the Pieces:

Iron the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of your 11.5" x 7" lining pieces.



Take your 9" x 2.5" strap piece, iron in 1/4" on both long edges, then iron in half. Top stitch both long sides, about 1/8" or less from the edge.







To make the pocket, place one 11.5" x 2" piece of upholstery weight fabric right side down on one 11.5" x 5" piece of lining fabric. Using 1/4" seam allowances, sew along the long edge.



Then sew the 2nd long edge of the upholstery piece to the second long edge of the lining piece to form a tube.



Turn right sides out and press so that the upholstery forms the top of the pocket.



Top stitch if desired. This is what I usually do:



Repeat with the other pocket pieces.



Begin Assembly:

Line up one pocket 1.5" from bottom of one lining piece. Mark the center with a small line, and 3" on either side of the center (adjust this dimension if you are making a pocket for a specific item, like a cell).





Stitch carefully along the bottom edge of the pocket, close to the edge. When you reach the marks, leave the needle down and pivot your work 90° and sew towards the top edge of the pocket. When you reach the top edge, leave the needle down and pivot 180° and stitch back to the bottom edge.





Your pocket will look like this:



Repeat with the second pocket and second lining piece:



Install the Zipper:

Center the zipper face up along one lining edge. Place one upholstery piece right side down to create a sandwich.





Using the zipper foot on your machine, sew in the zipper. Start and stop your stitches at the zipper stops, not the edges of the fabric. You'll also have to stop sewing halfway, remove your work from the machine, get the zipper pull out of the way, and finish sewing. Overlap your stitches a little when you start again for security.



Pin the lining and upholstery layers away from the zipper and topstitch. Again, start and stop with the zipper stops.



Create a second zipper sandwich with the remaining lining and upholstery pieces.



Sew as you did for the first side of the zipper. Pin away and topstitch. Your pouch should now look like this:



Final Trimming:

Now that the zipper is installed, square up the fabric by trimming the upholstery layer and the lining layer to be the same dimensions.



Make a mark 1/2" in from each edge by the zipper:



Trim diagonally from this mark to each lower corner, making sure not to cut the webbing of the zipper.





Finishing:

Position the strap and pin, catching the upholstery weight fabric only.



Pin the outer pieces and the lining, right sides together. Make sure the zipper is at least half way open so you can turn.



Using 1/2" seam allowance, sew as shown in the diagram, leaving an opening in the lining for turning (1) and overlapping your stitches on the outer fabric for security (2). Back stitch as close as you can to the zipper, making sure the open zipper ends stay aligned.



Box the corners, feeling to make sure the side and bottom seams are lining up; mark a line where the corner is an inch wide. Repeat with all four corners. Sew back and forth a couple times on this line and then trim off the corner.







Deep breath, we're almost there! Turn the bag right side out. I've found this is easiest if I tuck the outside and inside together first, then start pulling through the hole I left in the lining.





Close up the opening in the lining with either hand stitching or a neat machine stitch. Tuck everything back together with lots of smoothing and stretching. This is where I like the interfaced lining.

And voila!!



I hope you stuck with me through to the end and this all makes sense! Good luck, and let me know if you try it!

Labels: bags, how-to's, sewing