Christmas Project list... (Part 2)

 D1 will be getting these bags, but not the blue one.  I intended to give her the blue one and made it months ago; however, I recently found out she prefers green.  I will keep the blue one (love blue).

You can see the binding clips indicating it still needs hand binding.

D2 will receive these.  The round bag is completed while the other one is getting close.  I need to alter the pockets as per what I learned on the previous bag just like it.

D-in-law will receive these...

So,  I made the one with snowflakes and the winter scene months ago from a charm pack I had.  Well, she moved to California where there is not snow or frosty weather.  It just doesn't seem fitting anymore.  I made her the new one to match her round bag.

The big is done except the bows need to be tied and the bottom insert (makes the bag sturdy and is pillow cased with fabric for ease of washing.)  The little bag needs hand binding.  I am not yet sure what to do with the extra bag.  I may give it to her anyway and tell her to let it remind her of Utah winters.

Interesting story.  My D1 was visiting at Thanksgiving and saw my Duck Duck Goose quilt on the wall.  Knowing that it will be gifted to her new nephew (not born yet), her mind began to spin.  When D2 showed up for Thanksgiving, D1 asked if her baby boy would have a nickname.  D1 suggested to D2 that perhaps they could nickname him Goose for two reasons.  #1: he has a brother named Maverick and #2:  his quilt has a goose on it.  

This part is for Denise - Now little Goose has a quilt, a bag, and three "Gossie and Gertie" books to go along with his nickname.  

Little Cowboy and little Goose will receive these bags.  They just need hand binding to be complete.  These bags took FOREVER!  I learned to use my Bernina on these thick bags with loads of zippers.  I broke literally 12-15 needles.  The Juki will plow through and bend/break the needle.  The Bernina will stop applying pressure and not go through them.

I plan to hand bind all four bags on our drive to California and back!!!  I may also be doing Duck Duck Goose Embroidery too.

Ok, this CRAZY GRANDMA also needs to make 5 more simple bags for the five grand boys.

I have matched up the vinyl mesh with the fabric.  These should be simple and go fast.  I think they will enjoy seeing what is in their bags to assist them in finding what they want.

Yes, this CRAZY LADY still needs to...

1. bind 4 bags
2. embroidery, assemble, quilt, and bind Duck, Duck, Goose
3. start and finish 5 vinyl mesh bags
4. Finish one Bow Bag
5. wrap presents
6. teach school for one more week
7. go help my daughter for a few days when the precious baby comes 
8. travel to California and back over the holidays
9. smile and be happy while doing it

Honestly, I am happy and not stressed.

Christmas sewing progress/alterations with hicups & post for the Chookshed Challenge 2025 is coming...

My next post will be for the Chookshed Challenge 2025 linkup, so keep your eyes peeled for the post and make your list of 10 goals.  Your goals are yours.  They don't have to be finishes, and anything related to sewing goes. We have lots of fun working together and seeing those fun projects progress.

Here is the new badge!  You all truly brighten my day!  

First off, my three grand daughters are each getting a quilt.  One still needs a binding.  The littlest gets the blue and pink one.  "Q" gets the elephant one, and "A" will get the tea pots.    "A" asked me months ago if I would make her a quilt.  I told her I already had a few made but hadn't decided which one was hers.  We talked about them (she never saw them) and she insisted that the tea pots would be perfect for her.

The three are shown below with the binding cut and ready for the tea pots. 

 

I need to press the creases out of these babies before I wrap them.  They have been stored all year.

Let's get up close and personal...

Look at the cute backing...

Elephant Celestial Stars

Teapots - made from my stash...

Yes, I love using the leftovers on the back.  Yes, I think it is cool even if it makes some of you cringe.  The "not so favorite" blocks often make the back more interesting.

I have to show my Christmas quilts around the house as well.  We quilters love to share the holidays with our quilts, don't we?  I do have more to put on the beds, but I have been crazy sewing and haven't gotten to it yet.

I thought I would take a minute and share some success and hiccup stories about my Christmas sewing these past weeks. I have learned SO MUCH about bag making!  I will say, that even with some hicups, I have absolutely enjoyed them!

For some reason, I love to design and make things my own.  Whenever I make someone else's pattern, my mind is constantly thinking about what changes I want to add to make it my own style.  Well, I have certainly been doing that with my bags.  Yes, it has slowed me down.  Yes, I have made errors.  Yes, it has been fun anyway.

First alteration...

I added a collapsible pocket to my "A Place For Everything Bags".  This was easy and went with perfect smoothness because it is the same size bag (horizontally) as another ByAnnie pattern bag I made earlier this year.  The "Carry-All Tote" had these kind of pockets in it.  I LOVE THEM!!!

The orange one on the left is a collapsible pocket.

You can put wider things in the collapsible pockets like books, diapers, little shirts,  etc...

Note:  I added a little "Chris" to my photo.  Thanks for the lovely book about your daughter.

The rust one on the right is a collapsible pocket.

These bags will go my two new baby boy grands.  Their moms will appreciate having pockets to organize "little" things in.  As the boys grow, they can pack up their little toys and still have room for their clothes, shoes, whatever.  The pages velcro in and can be used in the bag or as a separate organizer all by themselves if you remove them.

2nd Alteration...

I added applique' to the Duck, Duck, Goose bag to go along with the Duck, Duck, Goose quilt.

I also followed Denise's wonderful advice and bought some Gossie & Gertie books to go with the set.  They are PERFECT.  One more is on its way from Amazon.

Duck, Duck, Goose still needs hand applique'.  Don't worry, I will get it done.  Yes, I did some minor altering on it too.  Where you see smaller square was supposed to be very large blocks of one color fabric.

Of course little cowboy needed some books too...  He has two more coming as well.

Third Alteration...

I added a slip pocket behind the zipper pocket on the front of the bags.

So, I didn't like seeing the handles inside the zipper pocket like the first bag I made for myself.

All I did was add an extra layer with interfacing sandwiched between two pieces of fabric and bound the top.  Result = extra pockets & no more window into the handles.  

Look at this cute zipper...  I bought an old bag at a thrift store and picked the zipper out.  It was cheaper than buying the zipper and looks great on this bag.  Need hardware for your bags?  Just cut it off an old one.

Yes, I do plan to make zipper pulls for all my zippers in these bags.  It is last on the list!

4th Alteration...

I added pockets to the inside of a pocketless bag.  I mean, any bag is better with pockets, right?  Well, I was successful adding collapsible pockets to the inside; however, I forgot that the lining wrapped around to form all sides of the bag, not just one side.

My collapsible pockets really would look better if they came further around the inside of the bag.  I am not fixing this bag, but a lesson was learned.

5th alteration

Zipper pocket inside the bag:  Ummmm... it was a little too low.  I learned on the first bag, so I will be trimming this one down and adding more to the bottom of the lining to improve it.

I will made adjustments to the collapsible pockets as well.

6th alteration...

I love my Diddles bag but have wished it has see-through pockets.  When I made these bags for my girls, it took some effort, thinking, rethinking, and error making to make it happen.  I do love the way they turned out.  It WAS WORTH IT!  I used both mesh and vinyl to create every pocket with a window.

Still bagging it for Christmas!

It was a super busy week last week, as I am sure it was for all of you with Christmas coming quickly.  I had two Christmas parties, book club, hair and nail appointments, and meetings after work.  Whew!  Needless to say, I somehow got my stitching in.  

Please excuse the dark photos.  The lighting isn't good in the evening this time of year.

Somehow I thought this photo made the last post, but it didn't.  You can see my grands modeling their aprons.

The bag making is still a pile of WIPS.  This one is finally  ready for binding.  It should be done soon.

This is the inside.

These are the pages that are removeable with Velcro.

This second bag has the pages, zippers, and zipper bindings ready to sew.  It is on its way.

 I combined two Byannie pocket patterns and put these pop-out pockets on the inside cover of both bags.  I really love these collapsible pockets.  They make the bag so much more versatile.

Duck Duck Goose is finally all cut out, appliqued on, and ready for embroidery.

How are you coming on your Christmas festivities, sewing, projects?

I will be hosting another Chookshed Challenge beginning in January.  You can start your lists any time.  Watch for a post in the next week or so for details.