Halloween Bits

Halloween was so much fun this year.  I think the pictures speak for themselves!

Jennifer's Bag

My friend Jennifer asked me to make her a bag, and she picked out this fabric from Amy Butler.  It was a bit more challenging working with such a geometric print, but I am pleased with it (and I hope she is, too).

The Overachiever Bag

Because I lug a lot of stuff back and forth between school and home (nursing bottles and paraphenalia, my lunch, piles of essays, etc.), I decided to sew a BIG bag for myself. This one is made from Joel Dewberry's Ginseng fabric in a shade of celery. The inside is a super luxe cotton sateen in hot pink. I interfaced the whole thing inside and out.

Although I was a bit hesitant about the LARGE size, I tested it out by filling it up with my stuff, and it pleases me :)

It measures roughly 16" wide at the bottom 14" wide at the top, 17" tall and is mitered for 3.5" of depth. I also gave it some roomy pockets (for snacks) and a key fob, so I can get my classroom door open quickly without digging through my bag for keys.

Denim Bags

For my mom's birthday I decided to make a bag. I wanted to use really special material, but by the time I found the perfect print for her - one of Joel Dewberry's Ginseng prints - I was afraid that it wouldn't arrive in time. So, I used this beautiful dark denim and a really pretty olive & navy print that I had earmarked for an outfit for my daughter. I still have enough fabric to make the outfit for her, too.

Making the purse for my mom inspired another idea for a denim bag. I wanted to use vibrant squares and quilt them along the top band of the purse. Red stitching and wide offset handles give the purse a bit of a funky look. Here is how they turned out.

The Dewberry fabric arrived the day after I made the denim bag for my mom, of course! Now I am trying to figure out what to do with it.

Jumping in the Leaves!

Just a quick update here... Maddie has a new fall swing jacket. My mom found the perfect button for it, and I was able to squeeze in the time to hem it and finish it before it's too cold to wear it - yay!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

We carved out a bit of time this weekend to take the little ones to the pumpkin patch this weekend (pun intended). Maddie LOVED the pumpkins. I think she would have stayed in the patch all day just trying to pick them up and sit on them. Good thing she wore her boots.

Ryan & I waited outside the corn maze while Daddy ventured through the mud with the toddlers. Upon exiting, Maddox (insightfully) announced that they couldn't get back to where they had started from so they had to find a new way out... Quite a life lesson for a three-year-old, I thought. Who knew he'd be a little philosopher? Maybe Ryan will have to let him borrow his wise owl hat.

Charlotte's Bag

Recently, I had lunch with the best English teacher that I ever had. She has quite an energetic flair for teaching writing and a style all her own, but her students love her because she genuinely cares about them. Her name is Charlotte, and she continues to be an inspiration to me. As a special thank you, I made her this bag. She has retired but is going back to school to fill in for a maternity leave. I wish her well, and I hope she loves her new bag!