Introducing Susie

We had a very eagerly anticipated arrival last week - Susie.  Having waited for her since last summer we're all very pleased with our new family member.  She is sweet, cuddly and happy.  And definitely not house trained yet..........so I may be a little, or a lot, light on the sewing front for the next wee while.

I think for most of the next few days Katie and I will be taking Susie in and out of the garden at very regular intervals.  This would be fine if it just involved a quick trip every 30 minutes or so.  However Katie loves being outside and does not want to come back in, Susie thoroughly agrees with Katie's point of view, and I'm out-voted.  I'm very happy to be outside too - but it makes cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, sewing and other essential actvities rather tricky!

So, if you need to find me, best to look in the garden!  Wishing you all a fun week.  And thanks also for all your very kind words about my Super Tote and Aeroplane Bag -I so much enjoy hearing from you and getting your feedback.

My super Super Tote

I love my new bag, my super Super Tote.  Probably even more than I love my Aeroplane Bag.  The combination of fabrics, style and size make this bag pretty near perfect for me at the moment*.  Apologies now if I sound smug - I'm feeling smug!

The pattern is Noodlehead's Super Tote.  The pattern has a lot of prep and loads of steps but everything is well laid out and straightforward.  It took me quite a while to put together, it wasn't a quick make for me, but the time and effort was well worthwhile.  

I think, with most projects, I usually have at least one or two points which I wish I'd done differently or a bit where I have made a wee error..........but, possibly for the first time, there really isn't anything I'm not happy with.  When I first spotted the pattern on Anna's Noodlehead blog I knew I really wanted to make it but also knew I couldn't unless I could do so without spending much money - but I was very conscious that it would be a shame to skimp and use fabrics I didn't love.

 

When I was digging around for fabrics to make my FQR Name Tag swap I remembered that a couple of the Flea Market Fancy prints I bought last year were in half yard cuts** - which would be just enough to work for the main part of the bag.  Yay!  The handles were eked out of leftovers from a quilt commission (linen from here).  I had just enough metro dots for the recessed zip.  But I did buy the Yarn Dyed Essex Linen in Black for the gussets - once I had looked out the other three fabrics I couldn't convince myself that anything else would work nearly so well (I found it here).

I'm a very happy Super Tote owner -  I hope your week has started as cheerfully!

 *I do admit to having quite a few bags but I do use them all.  I much prefer moving from one bag to the other for different trips and outings depending how much I have to carry, whether the car is involved, how many children, pushchair or not......a lot of variables and mostly they influence which bag suits best.  So, despite John's disbelief,  I don't think I have too many.....I won't say just enough either though (as there's always the chance I'll spot a new pattern that will fill a new niche!).
** I almost never buy fabric in more than a fat quarter cut so I was really chuffed to realise that I did have enough of a special fabric to make this tote.

Fat Quarterly Retreat Name Tag (and finally claiming my blog on bloglovin!)

One of the parts of last year's Fat Quarterly Retreat that looked a lot of fun was the Name Tag swap.  Each person who signs up is assigned a partner to make a name tag for - based on (one hopes) their partner's likes and dislikes.  Being a secret swap, for me at least, makes it extra special - I love and hate secrets in equal measure.

I was quick to sign up for this year's swap (getting to go to FQR is one of the highlights of being 40 this year!) and was pretty excited to receive my message letting me know who my partner is........and then a little nervous coz she is very good at sewing.  I won't say any more or I might let something slip.

As you know I don't normally do small and detailed but there's really not much else a name tag can be.......I have done my best, and think it is her, and hope she enjoys it.  I can't show you the back as that is a bit of a give-away or the middle of the front as that is a bit of a give-away too!

 And finally I need to do a bit of admin and claim my blog on bloglovin.  I am finally used to using bloglovin.....just one of those techie things that feel as if they get in the way.   If you want to follow my blog I now have a wee bloglovin logo thingy on the right-hand side - just click on it and you'll be able to keep track of what I'm up to.  Or you can sign up to get an email whenever there's a new post  - I think my mum just discovered this option!  

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