The Betsy Travel Bag (Blog Hop)

I am really excited to be a part of the Betsy Travel Bag blog hop! When I was first chosen to be one of the pattern testers, I found it so hard to pick out my fabrics... There were so many great places on this bag to stick little coordinating prints without looking cheesy or overwrought.
I finally decided on a Denyse Schmidt print that I kept ordering without ever realizing I'd double and triple ordered it. I figured that I must really love that fabric if I kept on ordering it, accidentally. And then with this fun newsprint as an accent... I started to get really excited.

I got to work on it as soon as I worked out the fabric choices and got my hardware. (On a side note, one of my biggest notes to the pattern company was that "someone should sell hardware kits for the Betsy Travel Bag so sewists don't have to find everything themselves" (that was ALREADY their plan. Lucky for you - you can find them at the Snuggly Monkey Shop www.snugglymonkey.com... I had to order bulk of most of my hardware (not really a problem since I have already made two of these bags with plans for at least 2 more)

Back to the bag.... As I was making it, I had to marvel at all the cool pockets and features I was putting in. I told someone, "it's like a catalogue of all the coolest pocket techniques". One night when the bag was nearly complete, my husband came in and saw it.

The way he looked at it told me that he didn't think this looked like an ordinary quilted duffel bag. He was really impressed with how "professional" it looked - I think it was all the nice hardware, personally.

I began to think... Could I figure out a way to make him a masculine GUY version of the Betsy Travel Bag? How would I go about that?

Valentine's Day was coming up... Could I do it? I had just bought some gorgeous prewashed chambray from a friend who had a bolt...

I went into my local quilt shop, Sew Modern, and there got the advice and idea to accent with Moleskin fabric. I picked a solid charcoal color. Then I added in some of my favorite old fake herringbone tweed cotton that I have yards of here at home and I cranked on this gorgeous bag and presented it to my husband on Valentine's Day.

 

I have to say, it's the nicest thing I have ever sewn for him. His comment.... "Wow. That does not look homemade. It looks like something they would sell at Fred Segal" - kind of a mega-compliment in my book.

I liked his bag so much (more even than my own!) that I used it to travel to Quiltcon. While traveling with it, I learned even more how much I loved this bag. All the pockets! The straps! The style!

And the whole guy factor is such a major bonus for me. I mean, how many quilted items can you really give the men in your life? Only a few. Well, this is one of them.  But then again, I'm feeling like this bag would also look SO GOOD in metallic linen... hmmmm....

 So now it's your turn! You know you want to make one... You can buy the pattern in the Rebel Craft Media shop - www.rebelcraftmedia.com/shop - The pattern is being released in a few days on April 1 and there's even a sew-along on the Rebel Craft blog that starts on April 2. (Pre-order sales for the pattern started March 17th - you can buy it and get the materials list before the pattern is released so that you can assemble your supplies)
Also check out this hashtag - #thebetsytravelbag to see other people's pics of the bag - some of the details are best understood by looking at what the bag looks like finished.
oh - and here are the other bloggers to visit on the Blog Hop - read about their experiences with the fantastic Betsy Travel Bag!

Blog    Hop   Tour:

March 17
• Rebel    Craft    Media
• Schnitzel    &    Boo
• Snuggly    Monkey

March    19: 
• Daisy    &    Jack

March    21:
• I’m    A    Ginger    Monkey

March    23: 
• Don’t    Call    Me    Betsy

March    25: 
• Libby    Dibby   

March    27: 
• Euphoria    Jessica

March    29:
• Karri    of    Berries

March    31:
• Rebel    Craft    Media    (photo    roundup)

More zipper pouches

I have a LOT of zippers (thanks to Tori) and still a few more of those amazing upholstery samples from my old neighbor (a fabric rep). Remember, those that I used for my patchwork couches? I also had a tough weekend and used my free therapist (my sewing machine) to work out some of my thoughts...
Productivity is comforting to me.

Project 1 of 10 last night -appliqued sweatshirt

Or maybe there were 11. (I love nights like that... I hop into bed around 1am, exhusted and giddy about all I got done)

This is the most exciting project I did yesterday. The inspiration came for it at about 10:30 pm, but I knew I had to do it then, or it would become just another item on my to-do list. I'd actually bought the sweatshirt at a discount store earlier in the day for a few dollars. As I was doing carpool,I noticed some beautiful flowering trees and I daydreamed about maybe stretching a cherry blossom branch across the blank canvas of the sweatshirt... And then last night, while digging through my massive box of scraps, I noticed that the pattern on this vintage piece looked a lot like a cherry blossom... (hmmmmmm...) ... And we're off!

The whole project took a few hours to do because of the detail and I really wish I'd done it using heat'n'bond instead of Beacon's glue (less fraying on all those detailed edges)... And why didn't I think of using my new bottle of Fabric Mod Podge that I haven't tried yet? (it was late...) Anyhow, here it is and I love it. It may end up with another bloom, or not, crawling up the hood or down the opposite sleeve... We shall see.

The cowl

Just realized the last post didn't have a good angle of the cowl. Here you go.
If you are a knitter... Easy recipe... 2 thick yarns used together as one. Thick needles. Knit in the round to measurement. (mine were on size 15 needles with 60 stitches around). K2, P2 for 6 rows at the bottom, knit to desired height then K2, P2 6 more rows. All done!

Unique LA

Come see Libby Dibby, and my pal Mazie Kane www.maziekane.etsy.com at Unique LA next weekend! It's the largest indie design and gift show in the country and it's an honor just to be accepted into it... Come see us and get some great shopping done. (you know we will be shopping, too)

SCRAP bag post

Hooray for my friends that love scraps as much as me!
I sold right around 40 bags of scraps at the sale this weekend and Jill already went home and turned hers into adorable skirts for the girls in her family! Check these out!

Christy Extra-ordinaire also has been using more and more of her Earth Day box of scraps and is working on the most amazing Christmas stockings from her box of happiness. Here are some unfinished pics. Suffice it to say that though we don't really need new stockings around here, (J's mom knitted and felted us some gorgeous ones that we've been using the past 5 years)... I'm feeling the urge to at least make a few quilted ones for display at least.
Maybe I need to just give in to the fact that I love Christmas stockings... they're not really a fashion item, but I seem to feel like we need more than a few around here... hmmmm....

Someone stop me... Or maybe not (mod podge again)

I went to Anthropologie a few months ago and saw some fabric covered teapots that made my mouth water with C U T E... But alas, like everything there, the price was a little steep. Okay, I'd never spend $60 on a teapot... Especially when I thought I could make it at home.
So I tucked the idea away until I found a teapot to try it on. The one I found had a hideous bamboo handle that needed to be replaced... (enter the knotted grosgrain handle)... And then I Mod-Podged the heck out if this happy little piece. I will put it out at my sales that remain this December. (after that, if it doesn't sell, it might be mine...too cute to let go of)

Keeping busy... Upscale yardsale prep

This week is my backyard sale! That means that I'm working every spare minute on fun little stuff for it! Today's project was lots of my favorite "scrap-books"... I love mine so much, everyone needs to have these! Now about 16 more people get to enjoy them now too...

Hot houses

It's still hot. Ze artiste is kinda sick so we are stuck in the house trying to move as little as possible. Today we've gardened, watched movies, practiced whistling and snapping fingers. (Oh, and Z keeps telling me to look at him because he is convinced that he's growing taller each minute.) We've colored clothespins with markers (hey, it's a easy, busy task) and now we've decorated chipboard houses with paper. I've been meaning to play with these houses for a few months, but today became the day as I tried to find anything to keep us calm and interested. Ze Artiste and the Design Director each made one (hers - of course is pink and glittery, and his - of course - is quite abstract). Momma's look pretty traditional, but they definitely reflect my busy happy taste. I think they'd look good in a frame  together, as a series.

Christmas in August (Jen & Vic: don't read, FAMILY SPOILER!)

Please don't call me crazy... Let me explain myself first.

A few years ago, it was my first Christmas as a retailer. It was also one of my first Christmases where I wanted to handmake my gifts... I did what most people do, and waited until after Thanksgiving before I began making my gifts (quite normal)... but I didn't realize that when you are "the store" that people come up to you wanting to shop up until the last day before the holidays... which left me up until 3am every night in December, trying to ship out orders, make my own gifts, and make special orders as well... I was exhausted and miserable that final week...

So each year, I've found reasons to start earlier at working on my gifts... (i.e. having a baby, being very pregnant, planning for different holiday boutiques, blah blah blah). And now... it's August. And the school year is approaching. Which also brings with it about 11 family birthdays between now and the holidays - even after last week... ... And we've got a few final steps to complete before we're certified foster parents, which opens up a whole new can of unknowns... so ... my Christmas fever has begun. Which is kind of fun for me.

I've instructed my sisters to not peek, unless they want spoilers for their girls' gifts this winter... we'll see what they do. But I thought I'd share it early, since now is a good time to get this stuff on sale. This summer, I made my kiddos some personalized beach towels with the same technique that I use for the bath towel gifts... they are super super cute, so I decided all the nieces and nephews needed them. This IS California, after all, and beach towels come in handy much of the year. So here's what they are getting... By the way... if you are going to buy beach towels, do it now, they're on sale, and they aren't easy to find the rest of the year.

so... armed with my trusty HeatnBond, here's what I've been making.

Eye Pillow Gifts

I don't think I ever posted this, but these were a really fun craft to make. I made them this past spring as a goodbye present for a group of women that I was meeting with for a few weeks as we did a Bible Study together.

The study was of the Bible book "Esther" which is where the quote on the eye pillows came from. They are made from a fun corduroy scrap that I used to make Libby Dibby skirts from on one side and the reverse side is a simple satin. They are filled with a mixture of flax seed and lavender.

The label with the words was a new thing for me. I just love words so much, that it was a great project to try out as I am sure it has many applications. I used basic letter stamps that I had in the deep dark (read: never sees the light of day) recesses of my scrapbooking supplies. (insert sigh of frustration here for my kids' unfinished baby albums) I stamped them with an permanent inkpad that I bought through my favorite weird textile design outlet - Dharma Trading Company. They are a delight to work with and are really really knowledgeable on textile dying, patterning etc. I've been buying from them for about 12 years now.

This took me one night to make all of them and they were a big hit with my friends.

If you want to make some, and I left anything out, feel free to make a comment with any questions.

Barrettes giveaway

If I put these on etsy, for about $4 each... Would you buy?
They are awesome at staying in hair, even on playful kiddos - and mamas, all day long.
Write your answer below in the comments section. I'll pick a winner at random to receive a free clip.

Mother's Day -Libby Dibby style

We have a big family - which means lots of mothers around to celebrate on Mother's Day. All of the family (on all sides - that's 3 sets of in-laws) get together for every holiday. It's very tidy, and very loud.... with 7 cousins in 5 years, there is never a dull moment.

That also means there are lots of gifts given and lots of chances for fun pics throughout the day.
Here are some highlights from our day...
The Design Director begged me to make her a dress to match my new green shirt... Though I am not super matchy matchy, I know she won't want to dress like me forever... I will treasure this photo now and know that the night it took to make her dress was time well spent.

My sister, Victory, opens up her "Auntie Vic" present, with Violet watching.

Mimi explains to Nanny how the fairies come live in your tree if you put up these magic windows and doors for them to enter.
These are vases from the Dollar Store that I gave the kids Sharpies to decorate for their grandmas.

The three very happy grandmothers. (left to right... my mom, my sis' mother in law, J's mom)
We are a blessed family, indeed.

Mother's Day Sneak Preview

Okay, Mom and Nancy... sorry you're getting a sneak preview - I'll show our gifts later - since our moms both read the blog... but here is what our Mother's Day is starting to look like.

Once again, fun from the Tori stash of fabric.

re-usable gift wrap.... a la Tori Higa. (an idea she gave me, also)

I made open top bags, and used ribbon and brass tags....

No Sew Duct Tape basket

Since I never do anything just once... I think I have mentioned - or have I just said it out loud and not blogged it? - that it usually takes me making around 5 of something before I feel like I really have a grip on it... so here is No Sew Duct Tape Fabric project #2.
So fun. I'm using it to store my journal and pen collection right now.

though you'll have to look here for the tutorial... a quick explanation... cut the fabric to the sizes that you want for your project with a little bit for seam allowances. Turn the fabric face down and give it sturdiness by duct taping over the entire back of the piece you want to use. We only have red tape around here (it figures, doesn't it)... but any color will do. when you want to join 2 pieces, prepare them with the tape, then staple them together as if you were "sewing" a seam - only you're stapling it... then fold the seam over to one side and tape it down, covering the staples.
Construct as desired!
I'm not sure HOW sturdy my basket handle is, but I'm testing it out around here.
These are really fun. I made this one on the front porch last week while the kids threw wet sponge balls at each other in the front yard on a particularly hot day.

Brass Tags

Here's another shot of the brass tags.
complete with my new favorite saying...
Here they are on etsy...

Scrappy birdhouse

The design director has heard me talking about covering this birdhouse with fabric for a while now and couldn't wait any longer. Nothing like a nagging preschooler to help you not procrastinate... So she started in on it yesterday with Momma's help... Some scraps and watered down Elmer's glue. I modpodged it overnight, just to be sure... But I love it. And she loves it too, I was going to take a photo this morning, but couldn't find the birdhouse because she had stashed it in her room, so I had to wait till preschool was out to ask her where it was.

Matching dresses - a generation ago

My sister found the old pic of mom and us and the dresses she made...

I went and found my copy, too.

how cute is this?

Dollar Store Crafts

I have a new favorite site! This is super fun and great inspiration for all of us DIYers.
Check out this link for an awesome tutorial on making fused plastic (grocery sacks, etc) backpacks. I saw in the comments section that someone used the same process to make lunch sacks... how fun is that?

My first blouse... I actually followed a pattern!

The girl who can't follow instructions finally worked it out! I finished this blouse last night (had started it before we got sick) and I am proud to say it's my first time following a pattern from
start to finish... I like it. I'd seen the pattern sewn up on flickr and asked the seamstress where she got the pattern (Simplicity 3887)... Then bought some cheap fabric... Ahem. $1 a yard to practice on and here we go! I think next time I will make it a size smaller. Pattern sizes are so confusing!
However, I'm pleased, and this confirms my resolution that I will be sewing my own Easter dress next year. (Every Easter Sunday, I wake up, get the kids dressed in their new Easter clothes and then stand half dressed in front of my closet for half an hour trying to find something "springy". I tend to wear dark, vibrant colors like red, coral, grass green and brown.) This past Sunday I vowed I'd get good enough at sewing by next Easter to make my own dress from fabric by one of my many favorite designers... I'll likely shop at Quilt Home  or sew, mama, sew.
Zuma wanted to say hi this morning. She is shy about photos, but thought youd like to see her back and scooted into the shot at my feet.
And the skirt? I tried a quasi-version of the Oliver+S "Lazy Days" pattern- sized up for a momma, but it's not super flattering. I'm thinking it's a house skirt. (i.e. The pocket)
Oh, and not that you can see it here, but last night's other project was dyeing my hair all by myself. The color ended up darker than I want, so I will wait a few weeks and try again, but it went okay for my first try... (thanks AnnaKatherine, for helping me work up the nerve! I love bloggy friends)
Happy Tuesday!
(oh, and yes, it's even happier today... I've not mentioned it here, but my dad -who is a huge inspiration to me and the one who nicknamed me Libby Dibby... Has been fighting prostate cancer for the past 4 years. Last night he got news that confirms via bloodtest that his cancer is pretty much gone. Today is a great day.)