Maritime Touring

A few more pictures of the Maritimes.

A friendly alpaca at the Magnetic Hill Zoo. Isn't he adorable. I bet his fleece makes really interesting yarn.

The sign on the hill near Fort Howe (we were geocaching nearby).

The "reversing falls" (I was expecting more after geography class in elementary school).

The view of the harbour in St. John, from Fort Howe.

The view of the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island, from the New Brunswick end.

The beach in the nature preserve at the foot of the bridge. I would love to try a quilt of this, or at least part of this.

Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium

While visiting the East, I had the opportunity to drop in on Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium, in Amherst N.S.

I first heard about Mrs. P's on Karen's blog, earlier this year. Beth, the owner, put together the kit that I used to make my Maritime Beauty at Spring Retreat.  Beth got her store open, earlier this month, and I was so pleased to be able to actually visit.

The store is on a heritage building at 50 Victoria Street, in Amherst.

Beth has filled it with interesting antiques and an eclectic mix of fabrics.

The mirrored counter used to be in a barbershop!

I love this chair!

This fabric tickled me, although I couldn't think of an excuse to buy some. It is A Ghastlie Holiday, by Alexander Henry. The cat is so funny. I may end up with some yet!

Beth is a pharmacist and has a collection of antiques from the pharmacy that was originally owned by Sir Charles Tupper.

Mrs. P's is not your average quilt shop. You can bet I will return!

Meanwhile, if you want to see what is happening at Mrs. P's check out her blog.

I hear her web site is coming soon!

Maritime Visit

We are just back from visiting southern New Brunswick, northern Nova Scotia, and Charlottetown, PEI.
I realized after we got back, that I have no pictures of PEI. I suspect this is because we never left the city, and I like to take pictures of scenery.
I will share a few pictures from our trip.

This is a stowaway in my luggage, who wanted to come west. He has moved to his new home now.

A sampler of beer from the Pumphouse Brewery (I was drinking their house made rootbeer).

Sunset and moonrise over the Petitcodiac River. I thought the clouds were really interesting. The flags are Canada, New Brunswick, the Acadian flag, and City of Moncton.

I have some more pictures to show you in another blog.

A Bag for a New Season

I have finished my modified Mail Sack bag.

It fits across my body and has plenty of room for all my stuff.

I showed the zippered pocket I added to the front here.

I added a zipper to the top, so things don't fall out.

And it has 2 pockets inside, one with a zipper, and one with a seam to divide it in two.

The pocket fabric was a prize from a shop hop. It was just begging to be part of this bag.

Thanks to Bethany and her wonderful tutorials and sew alongs for zippers and pockets, on her blog "Sweet Bee Buzzings"  Your instructions were wonderful!

Not Quite Gucci

I like to make bags and it has been awhile since I made one. I decided it was time for a new "purse".

I get comments all the time about the bag I am currently carrying. It is made from some of my beloved Laurel Burch fabric, from the Celestial Dreams line. It is bright and cheery, and makes people smile.

When asked where I got the bag, I have trained myself to say "It's a designer original". When asked how much I would charge to make them one, I started at $250. When  someone was seriously considering that price, I bumped it to $500. (I don't like commissions because I don't usually like to repeat a project.) Today, as I started making a new bag, I went looking for something similar on the Gucci site. Would you pay $1695 for this bag? I am obviously undervaluing my art!

I chose that bag because it is kind of like the one I am making.

Here is the outer shell.

Isn't that wonderful fabric? I got it at Ikea, for about $8/metre. It is a home dec fabric, about the weight of denim. On the other side of the bag, there is a guy on a motor scooter.
I am using a pattern for a Mail Sack but it didn't have as many pockets and zippers as I wanted so I am adding a few more!

Here is the exterior pocket I added, for my cell phone and keys.

I got carried away with the top stitching and forgot to add the fabric to the pocket, so it got slip stitched into place, then I top stitched again.
I must make notes for the next time I try this, so I can remember what I did if I want to do it again.

The lining is complete, but I need to make the strap, and add the top zipper, so things don't fall out. I tend to carry too much in my purse, so a smallish bag needs a zipper to keep everything confined.