My Bag Is So Bright, Ya Gotta Wear Shades

As promised, this is the confidence-builder project number 2: my orange Harley bag.  I have been trying to find a tackle twill hoodie to make a bag for myself.  I've calculated, sketched, planned and searched trying to find an appropriate hoodie and a final prototype. I'm finicky about my bags so this has not been an easy chore.  But, once I saw this bright, hazard orange and black Harley hoodie at a local Harley Davidson dealer, I knew it was the prefect one for me.  This photo does not truly capture the color of this bag.  It is bright hazard orange, the type of orange that you see on state road construction worker, the same color as traffic cones.  But I like orange so that is fine.  The photo is purposefully dark so that the reflective stripes show.  The hoodie was trimmed in Scotchlite reflective material and I've tried to retain as much of that as possible.  Notice the stripes on the sleeves were trim for the pockets which are the sleeve cuffs.  The lining fabric was another fabulous find.  I'm sure it was originally meant to be a open-weave fabric design but at first glance, it looked like diamond plate to me and that was more than perfect for this bag.

What cannot be seen from this angle is a large embroidered Harley Davidson on the back of the back.  It came from the back of the hoodie, not a problem I've had with the previous hoodies.  So, I simply moved the kangaroo pocket to the front which is where I wanted the pocket.  This bag is so roomy, it holds my Slate in the laptop pocket inside and even has enough room for the accompanying bluetooth keyboard. One of the cuff pockets on the end is large enough to hold my two-part power cord while the other will hold my phone.

And another design touch is to keep the labels and the care tags and re-attach them inside on the lining.

Ahhh, I'm finally happy!  I have a bag for me and my toys.  But, now, there are more hoodies to convert into diaper bags and messenger bags and that is just the beginning.  I have my design pencil out making notes on other pocket options.

Long live hoodies!

Meaningful Distraction

So, what to do?  My current quilt project is literally kicking my butt.  It is for a client and I'm having the worst time with it.  It went together flawlessly and now, way too many months later, my mother's health has deteriorated and my projects are piling up.  My sewing machine is soooo NOT even trying to be agreeable.  Quilting it has turned into a nightmare.  I have the feeling I have lost my sewing touch.  All my years of expertise and skill could not be found in my sewing studio.  My heart was breaking over my new machine and my inability to use it.  I finally had a fit.  I mean a throw-down, knock-out fit and decided to seize the situation in my grubby little hands and wrestle it to the ground.   I've been around enough years to know that when I'm struggling with a project, I need to lay it down and come back to it.  So, that being decided, I grabbed up a couple of quickies that would inspire confidence in myself once again.

Thus, you see above, one of the fruits of the wrestling match.  I have an ASUS Eee Slate at work.  My Slate is a lovely little device that I have grown fonder of as the days wear on.  The problem is a cover for it.  The accompanying sleeve is nothing but institutional, generic black and vinyl.  And because of its new cutting-edge design, there are no commercial covers, not that I'd buy one.  I'm not the type to be average.  The Slate is a PC alternative to an iPad but it is different in that it is not the same size so even those covers or carriers won't work.  So, the creative juices have been flowing and an idea blossomed.

I purchased these two place mats at a local Pier One store.  I hadn't been in one in years and suddenly, these place mats caught my eye.  Yes, the ones you put on your table under your dinner plate kind.  Once, very expensive, they were now on clearance for 77¢.  They had a lovely paisley on one side with coordinating stripes on the other.  The large white button is actually a piece of jewelry found in the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby.  The colors are lovely and unique.

One design problem:  I can make a cover for my Slate but it loses battery power rather quickly so I can't take it very far without needing the power cord so I needed a pocket for the large power converter and the associated cords. And this is what I came up with.  It is hard to see in this photo, but a zipper was inserted in the fold on the top place mat and then the place mat was folded and stitched down to create a pocket that barely holds all my accessories.
I really need to spend some time writing this project up.  I've not seen any other sleeve patterns with a similar pocket.  And I don't know how people take their gadgets with out pockets.

Yay!  I carried it in to work today and it looks like part of my mojo is back.  This is the first of my 2 confidence-building projects from the weekend.  Stay tuned for number 2.  It will blind you!

Another Twist on Murray State

I'm so behind on my projects.  Work is consuming my life. But, I managed to slip in a couple of days off to get some sewing started.  And lo and behold, I actually got something finished.  Here is another bag.......identical to the others but for a different use.  This one is a co-worker's messenger bag.  She specifically wanted all the same pockets as the diaper bag.  She supplied the shirt (a bargain find at Walgreen's) and she supplied the lining fabric.  I had not thought of using a black-based fabric but the brightness of the peace signs made up for it.  A tip I read once suggested always using white-based lining fabrics in your bags to help you see when you are digging for those keys or flash drives.  And, an added bonus for this one is all of the peace signs face in the same direction!  It hadn't occurred to me that it was a directional print until I started cutting.  But luck was with me this time and I got them all in the same direction.  Yay!

Now, I have a hoodie squirreled away for myself that I think will make an excellent messenger but I want some small zippered pockets on the front......Mmmmm, must get out the design paper and do some preliminary sketches.  As soon as I finish a couple more projects.

Double Duty Reversible Purse

I couldn't help it. I love this little purse, courtesy of Quilts and More Magazine.  It was in their Spring issue.  It only takes a half-yard for the outside and a half-yard for the inside.  It is so light and easy.  I had to work one in this weekend between diaper bags.  This is my second one out of a really kicky Anthropology fabric.  Love the purple!

There is even a longer strap option:  Pattern

Departing Cincinnati for Parts Unknown

Finally, I have Cincinnati behind me!  Nothing like a 3 day weekend (turned into a 4 day weekend) to get some things caught up.  Here is another diaper bag.  Granted, another red one was just what I needed.  But now, I fear it is back to the old Blue and Gold.  But, the hoodie supply has dried up for this year at this point, so I will have to wait until the temperatures start down before I can get a new supply.

Many, Many Moons Later.....

Once X-Libris was up, it was time to turn to the next project on the To-Do List. Hmmm, maybe I need a To-Do List Gadget here so we can all see what I have in progress and pressure me to stay on task.  Just when I was ready to start the next projects, I got sick.  Then I took a vacation for the annual Quilt Show pilgrimage.  And then I got sick again.  And then a vicious storm hit our area and I was without power for nearly a week, specifically the vacation week I had taken to knock out most of the To-Do list.  I am not ashamed to admit that I do have a treadle sewing machine that needs no electricity and I did have a oil lamp out trying to thread the treadle out of frustration with the piled up projects.  Needless to say, I'm so very behind I cannot even think about it.

Miraculously, I have dedicated (or chained) myself to my sewing machine in the past couple of days and have finally completed a project.  I have a short list of hoodie diaper and messenger bags to complete.  This is a pic of the first one.

So join me in saying, "Goodbye Texas. Hello Cincinnati!"

The Making of a Super Hero Final Chapter

And here, he is! Super hero costume is complete.  Thanks to several hours of patient sewing, X-Libris made his appearance with super shield and mask.  And I think he looks fabulous!  Follow X's story by being his fan on Facebook.