A Secret Revealed~

When Jennie of the wonderful team of Clover & Violet asked if I'd do a little bit of pattern testing for them~ I leaped at the chance! :-) I love the challenge of sewing a new pattern!  Jennie and her Mom, Clara are a great team. They design wonderful bags that are stylish and versatile~ and completely machine washable!

As a mom to little ones, Jennie definitely understands the need to be able to wash your purse when a little oops happens. :-)  And she also understands how little time you have to sew when you have little ones. So if you find your time is crunched, but would like to be creative and make yourself a purse~ this is the pattern for you! And you can get started right away with a pdf download from their shop! :-)

The inside features a zipper pocket and an open pocket. The top has the option of a zipper closure, or not.  The zipper insertion was really easy~ so if you have never sewn one before and need a pattern that is easy to understand~ try the Penelope Purse. Seriously~ it is easy. :-)

And just so you don't think I'm saying these things because I was a pattern tester, I'll tell you I'm not. This is my honest opinion and I wasn't compensated for it or asked to write nice things. :-) Its all me! LOL

Until next time,
Happy Quilting!

Fun Stuff...

I've been doing a little 'fun sewing' lately and now it is time to spill a few beans. :-)  Jennie of Clover & Violet asked if I would test their new pattern~ the Stella bag....

photo from Clover and Violet

It is marketed as a diaper bag~ but it is so much more!  My 12.5 inch ruler fits in it nicely~ and so does my small cutting/pressing mat. :-) Do you see where I am going with this? LOL It is the perfect quilt bag!  It has 6 outside pockets, and a few inside pockets~ one specifically for your cell phone. I like that!  :-)

It would also make an awesome sport bag~ it would easily hold your tennis racket, shoes, towel, water bottle.  Or how about a picnic bag? It could hold your quilt and accessories and you could have your food in the cooler.

I'm sure new Mom's would love this bag too~ lots of room for all baby's things! I well remember those days when it felt like you had to pack half the house to go on an overnight trip. The Stella bag will hold all the necessities. ;-)

The pattern is very well written, has good photo's to guide you and numbered steps. (I like that especially as I often get called away when I'm sewing and it helps me keep my place).

Here is my version~ done in all my Thimbleberries scraps. Since there are no wee ones in our house, it is my new take along bag for road trips... it holds all my stitching supplies, plus my wallet etc. And the sides cinch up nicely when I'm carrying less.

 I went out in the sunshine to capture a side shot~

Thanks for stopping by! Now head over to Clover & Violet and see the bags the other testers made~ (say hi from me too!) I'm thinking I will need to make a few more! ;-)  Be sure to look around if it is your first visit~ they recently posted a free lunch bag pattern and it is on my list. ;-) LOL

Happy Stitchin'!

Having Fun!

I had a little secret this week and now the cat is out of the bag~ or maybe I should say, The Bag is Out! :-)
Jennie and Clara at Clover and Violet have a new bag pattern out. I felt so honored when they asked me to test it~ and I am in love.  :-)

photo courtesy of Clover and Violet

I love the side pockets and ties~ easy to cinch up if you aren't carrying a lot of things, or let out if you are. ;-)
I adore Clara's blue bag!  I went to my stash of black and white, and grey and reds to make mine~ it is so nice to have a stash! ;-)

on my newly painted red bench ;-)

in the hydrangeas

I was so excited I forgot to take an inside photo, but there are pockets! ;-)  And ya know~ I love pockets! :-) LOL  Thank you Jennie and Clara! 

Until next time~
Happy stitching!

My New Bag~~

Remember in my last post I showed a peek at my new bag? And gave a little hint about it not being any of the bags or patterns I had previously shown you? I was tickled pink to find an email from Clara of Clover and Violet.  :-)  Clara and Jennie are a very talented mother/daughter design team~ they have a PDF shop and also an etsy shop and they embroider. :-)  And they asked me to try one of their patterns!!! :-) 
I made the Brooklyn bag....

Yes! Mama has a New Bag!! LOL   I love it! They rate their patterns as to skill level and this one was rated as 'advanced beginner'. I like that~ if you have never sewn a bag before, and have just a little quilting experience, you might find the pattern slightly challenging. BUT~ they give you their email right on the pattern and invite you to write to them if you are having any troubles~ how sweet is that?  :-)  One thing I had to chuckle to myself about~ remember I shudder at the 'quilt as desired' line? This time it really was easy to decide what to do~ follow the lines. ;-)  LOL

The inside has pockets, lots of pockets~ I like pockets!  :-) And did you notice there is no button or snap? That is because they used a sew in magnetic snap! Very clever! It gives the bag such a smooth look.  I had no idea these things were even out there until I went shopping!  I  did a search and found them here~ but that price is crazy! Go to your local sewing store. ;-)  They also have a very clever way of stabilizing the bottom of the bag, and a nice lining technique, but I'm not going to give away all their smart ideas! ;-)  Just trust me, they are really easy. ;-)  I am very happy with my new bag, and still a little tickled that Clara wrote  to me. :-) Hands down it was the best April Fools Day surprise I have ever had! ;-) Thank you Clara and Jennie!

Now I need to get back to working on all the things I can't show you yet~ my row robins and HGTV BOM blocks for next month.... I have a long list.  ;-)

Until next time~
Happy Stitchin'!!