Just in Time

Classes start tomorrow, but I finished the bag tonight.  Whew!  The pictures are not good on color.  If I can grab some time tomorrow, I’ll try and take some outside.  Meanwhile, here’s from one side.  You can see in this photo that the lining fabric folds over so that it looks like binding on the top edge.

Here’s from the other side. 

Hmmm.  Taken in another room with different lighting.  The actual color is perhaps somewhere in between the two?  Not so light a gray as the top photo and not nearly as beige-y as the second.  The top one is definitely closer though.

Here’s the inside – I do love having lots of pockets.

And here’s why everything is moving so slow:

A healthy pup, saying, “We can play some more, right?  Right? Right now?”

Still in Process

The tote bag is coming along.  I have two pockets-to-be sitting on my worktable.

Just because, here’s a photo showing one of them with the foundation in process, patches being added:

My progress has been a little slower than I’d like.  Our accident prone pup (who may need a miracle to survive to adulthood) got sick over the weekend.  We spent yesterday afternoon at the emergency vet’s trying to figure out what was causing him such major intestinal distress.  Bizarrely enough for Jeff and I, this was the same emergency vet, in the same examining room, where three weeks earlier we lost Wyatt.  It was not a place we wanted to be.  This time, however, we walked out the door with our dog still with us so that was a plus (even if we did spend more than I like to think about finding out what wasn’t making Cooper sick).

The good news is that today, finally, he seems to have bounced back.  (Fingers crossed for tomorrow).  One of the results of his being sick though was a day without walks.  Uh-oh.  Suddenly, as he felt better, there was a sudden onslaught of puppy energy.

Figure me still valiantly trying to get work done in the sewing room.  As Cooper rolled around on his back and barked just because he really had to do something:

And when that didn’t work, there was always dragging bolts of fabric around the sewing room:

Well, bolts of fabric, and Fast2Fuse, and fabric stacked on a chair, and wool stuffing found under the dresser and . . . 

I think we’re both going to be happier when he’s well enough for a good (tiring) walk!

I can’t complain at the moment though.  One, because we much prefer a happy trouble making pup to a too-sick-to-be-bad one.  Two, because he’s curled up on his favorite spot (the stone slab of the fireplace) sound asleep.  I’d take his picture but no way am I going to risk waking him up!

Tote Bag In Process

The new school year is nearly upon us.  That means a new school bag is in order.  Not that the old school bags aren’t still good, or won’t get used.  It’s just – the school year always begins with a new school bag.  I’m not quite sure what this one is going to look like yet, but  I have a basic idea.  And I have faith: the bicycle trunk case may have kicked me in the patootie but I know I can make a bag. 

Anyway.  I know the design is going to include two outer pockets that show off a couple miniatures.  Often times I know what I’m going to do before I start cutting fabric.  (That is time efficient).  Other times, I just cut a bunch of patches.  Like this.

Then I just play till I get a design I like.

Then, I prepare the foundation.

Create the Patch Layout Guide:

And sew it up.  (Here it is with the patches all added but the rows not yet sewn).

After the rows are  joined, the foundation trimmed, and paper removed, it’s time to square it up.  I like to draw a square on freezer paper – in this case, a 7 1/2" square since the finished foundation is 7" by 7".

After the mini is squared:

So, now it’s time to design another foundation and think about how exactly I’m putting the bag together.  (I’m rather pleased to say that the dark brown linen is actually a pair of pants that no longer fit me since I’ve lost weight.  Yippee ki yay, indeed.)

During all of this, Cooper was my helper. 

He helped by putting his nose in all the messiest places in my sewing room, ever so tactfully reminding me there is some clean up that should be tackled soon. 

He did finally settle for giving his chew toy a good work out.  Is that slobbery or what?

And then, gave out and got past me to another messy corner I didn’t particularly want him in.  Thank heaven he just wanted to nap and not chew on those cords!  (which will be out of the zone come tomorrow).

I’m missing Wyatt fiercely but it’s comforting to have a new companion deciding the sewing room is a good place to hang out.  (That is when we’re not on walks – and I’m getting a whole lot more walking in these days.  Those walks just keep getting longer and longer.  I know it’s good for me, but frankly my middle aged muscles are saying, “What the heck?  Another walk?  Are you kidding me?”)

Until tomorrow.  Cooper’s words of advice for the day: “Play hard.  Sleep hard.  Be happy in the morning.”

Nothing like a puppy to get down to basic wisdom.  Cheers.