Experiments in Bag Making

 My next bag will be the Pony Express by Ujamaa Bagettes.  This bag is a tribute to the classic Dior Saddle Bag. Vintage versions of the bag have velcro as the closure but the latest versions have a flat magnetic clasp as the closure.

I decided that mine needed a magnetic closure. I have lots of magnetic purse snaps (left over from last summer's hand sanitizer pouch blitz.) but those show and a single snap didn't look like enough . So I started looking for something like the Dior bag has. It is encased in fabric (or leather) so the magnet is invisible. 

After cruising the internet, I found these.

They are intended to be used instead of a pin closure on a name badge. They came in a package of ten, so I have room for experimentation.

They go on either side of the fabric. Without fabric between the magnet and the keeper, they are really hard to get apart. So I started by trying them with denim between the layers.

With 4 layers of denim between them, they hold firm, but the fabric needs to be stiffer.

Bring on the stabilizers.

In my stash I have Fast2Fuse, Stiff Stuff by Lazy Girl, and Fashion Fuse (woven fusible interfacing). The Fast2Fuse and Stiff Stuff proved to be too thick to get a good bond from the magnets. However, the Fashion Fuse was just right. 

Next step was to figure out how to make the fabric holders. I cute two strips the size called for in the pattern for the Velcro. I added the interfacing and ironed them to shape.

If you clip the folded edges while they cool the folds stay in place .

Time to find the rest of the required hardware,

I think this will work. I still need a magnet snap for the exterior pocket, but I have lots of them near the machine.

Now to sew. I tried sewing as close to the edge as possible. I ended up with a mess.

As you can see it is hard to keep the stitching straight. Also, the flat keeper fit into the channel but the magnet half was too thick. So, I will add a half inch to the width of the fabric and try again. 

Meanwhile, I am sure the foster cat fans would like a current picture of Maggie, Foster # 187. 

Here she is, enjoying a nap on a quilt. Cats are so good at that.

A Walk in the Park

 I live in a lovely suburban area with lots of trees and parks. Yesterday, my grandson and I went for a walk in a nearby wooded park.

Trilliums are the provincial emblem for Ontario. The grow in deciduous forests before the trees put on leaf.

The woods were full of them.

There were also Trout Lilies. They aren't as abundant as the trilliums.

Though it is hard to tell from the picture, but in places the path goes nearly straight up and is bare rock. Good exercise for Nana, my fellow adventurer ran straight up.

Oddly, there was a lone little lilac bush next to the path near the edge of the woods.

We walked a total of just over 3 km. I was sore and tired at the end.

But somebody was still going. Only an offer of a snack convinced him that it was time to head home.

Today it is raining. However, I have some apple blossoms to keep me company in the house.

Decisions

 Did you ever start planning a project, with an idea of exactly what you want to do, and completely change your mind, as soon as you get started?

I had decided on a bag pattern for my on-going project of making some of bag patterns I have collected, and even knew which fabrics to I wanted to use.

The bag has piping and a contrast flap, so I was going to use these three fabrics. They look great together, and I had two small problems. The fabrics didn't feel very summery and  I didn't have any gold hardware in my stash. So, I will file this combination, and add gold hardware to a future hardware order. I still like it, but it needs to be a fall bag.

Second idea: If the Laurel Burch wasn't going to work, how about some Tula Pink? 

Definitely more like summer, but I just wasn't feeling this was right, either. The fabric for the piping didn't quite work.

Okay, one more try.

Wow, this suits my mood, exactly. It is bright, summery, and would look great with nickel hardware, which I already have. Now to find a lining.

Yes, that all works. I can see it together as a bright, fun bag, just right for running errands in the warm weather. Now, we just need two more things: Warm weather, and my immediate world to start opening for me, again.

As April Ends

 Last week, we had snow, because April in my part of the world is totally unpredictable. Fortunately the bulbs didn't suffer. This week, we have snow, and rain, and warm, and sun!

So, I have some lovely flowers.

A few daffodils are hiding under the forsythia. 

Some grape hyacinths are making friends with dandelions.

There are some regular hyacinths nearby.

Just in time for the Tulip Festival, the tulips are out. The tulip festival is a big thing around here and we are all encouraged to "Paint the Town Tulip" . This year out of town visitors will have to enjoy the tulips virtually. 

As you can see, we kind of favour an English country garden approach. So we plant bulbs in the part of the yard that is heavily shaded in the summer, but sunny in the spring. 

During the cold and snow, I was sewing and finished both my wallets.

The cork exteriors look very nice. I like the little sparkles of pink on the back one, and thought the rainbow hardware suited it.

The paisley wallet is blue inside.

The pattern said that the interior required 1/2 yard of fabric. Actually, it needs 1/2 metre of fabric, which meant I was short by about 2 inches. So, the inner linings are the polka dot fabric.

The pink splash has an equally bright interior.

I'm keeping this one for me.

The pattern for the wallet is Roxy, by Serial Bagmakers. The wallet frames are from Emmaline Bags. The cork is from MM Cork Supply.

I need to decide what I would like to do for my May project. I want to do everything at once, and I need to choose just one, for this month. Of course, if I finish early, I can make two projects in the same month.

A New Goal

 I have been cleaning, sorting and tidying my sewing stuff, and decided that I need to make some of the bag patterns, and supplies (zippers, I'm looking at you!) that I have collected. So, I have decided to set a goal of one bag project per month. I am going to try planning ahead, so I can make sure I have the supplies that I need. 

Last year, I was suppose to go to quilt retreat, in April. I had the supplies to make a wallet, so I am going to start there. This morning, I checked in my sewing room, and decided I had enough to make two wallets.

Wallet #1 (ignore the polka dots, they are next.) Very busy, but cut into small pieces, I expect it will be fine.

Wallet #2, with a bit of bright pink metallic sparkle. 

The outer fabric is cork. The interior will be quilting cotton. The clasp for #1 is gunmetal and for #2 id rainbow iridescence. 

I even have enough Decovil to make two wallets. I don't think it will take much longer to make two than it would to make one.

I have plans for the next two months. this afternoon, I will check my supplies, order what I need, and cut out the wallets. 

I'm not sure what I will do with all these bags and wallets. If you see something you like, we can talk!

Suddenly It's Spring

 The weather has been unseasonably warm.  So, my flowers have come on with a rush.

My incredible forsythia bush is covered in flowers. It has survived ice storms, frigid cold, and having the city dig it up, when the watermain broke. It just keeps blooming, year after year.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

The crocus have all come at once. I had some yellow and some lavender ones, but they have disappeared and I have only purple, this year.

There are tulips, waiting in the wings.

Daffodils that will show their sunny faces, shortly.

In the shadier spots, I have scilla.

There is bloodroot.

As well as hepatica.

It is such a pleasure to see it all again.

My friend, Lois, spent her winter making a couple of quilts to donate to charity. I offered to put the bindings one. This is the first one.

It is all hand quilted, because that is what Lois does. It is great that I can help with the binding.  I'll also put a label on it.

Happy Mail

 The lack of in-person Quilt Shows, and days at home, sewing, has meant that I am running short on Aurifil thread. I have used Aurifil for quite awhile. My machine likes it, and I never have a problem with it. 

So when Karen of Sew Karen-ly Created posted this great special on her blog, I decided to treat myself to some pretty threads. I love it when the seller takes the time to make my purchase special.

Yesterday, the box arrived, and as soon as I opened it, I could see the care that Karen had taken.

First, some pink tissue.

A cute little note.

The pattern ( I may need to buy some fabric.)

Aren't the threads pretty and spring-y?

More pretty tissue.

And the threads I actually needed along with the Aurifil box that will be handy for taking my thread to workshops and retreats.

Thank you, Karen, you brightened my day.

I finished another pair of socks.

Baby socks with a twisted cast on using the leftovers from my last pair of adult socks. I have already sent them to the grandma-to-be.

Spring has sprung!