Awesome Quilted Tote Bag

Yesterday I decided to try my hand at making a quilted tote bag. I wanted a roomy one with lots of pockets inside and out. A friend and I are going to Cincinnati in about 10 days for the National Genealogical Society annual conference. I wanted a bag that I could use as a purse and a tote. I searched the internet and came up with a tutorial here at Moda Bakeshop. I didn't follow it to the letter, but close enough. I did have a little difficulty understanding the tutorial at first. But, I think if I made another bag it would be easier now. I've seen several cute ones on the web.

I have been collecting black and white print fabrics for several years and decided to use some. I wanted a vibrant color for the lining and found just the right fabric in my stash. The lining is really bright yellow and gold print. 

The lower part of the outside of the bag forms a large pocket all the way around. I stitched down between some of the strips of fabric to form several pockets to hold a bottle of water, a camera, etc. Both the outside pockets and the main part of the tote are padded and quilted. I put pockets all around the inside of the bag, too. And, I made a little hanging pocket toward the top for my cell phone. It will be easy to reach in and pull it out. I love the results!

Now, I plan to make a little zippered bag to match to put lipstick, etc. in. I will use the black print fabric with the yellow print for the lining. I'll be all set for my trip!

Color, Color, Color!

My sisters and I recently divided up the quilts and afghans my mother has made over the years. She still has a beautiful one that she embroidered and hand-quilted on her bed at her assisted living. She made embroidered quilts and pieced quilts. All her quilts were hand-quilted. My favorite has always been her Grandmother's Fan quilt with royal blue settings. The base of the fans are bright yellow and the fan pieces are scraps. It is now mine! I also got a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.

For the last two days I have been cutting some bright colored fabrics myself. The predominate colors are lime greens, oranges, pinks, purples, and turquoises. This will be made using Bonnie K. Hunter's Crayon Box quilt pattern. The pattern is free. This is a quilt for a very special person. Here are some of the pieces I have.

Below are a few of the blocks I have pieced. The center block depicts something about the recipient's life. Hope she gets the meaning of each block. This is a very whimsical quilt. 

I'm Hooked and It's Not Crochet

For the weeks prior to my DD's visit from California last week, I was extremely busy with Spring cleaning, etc as described in my previous post. I had also managed to read the first two books in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.
Once I read The Hunger Games (book 1), I could hardly wait to read Catching Fire (book 2). Now I'm really hooked. So, instead of starting the next major project, I am reading Mockingjay (book 3).