A Swap, A Tote

After the sewing summit, I received an e-mail about a post sewing summit swap; which I decided to jump on.  This was my first "handmade" swap, so admittedly I was a little apprehensive.

Now most of you are swap veterans, so you can skim past the details to the good part.  ;)

The idea of the swap was to keep up with something we learned from sewing summit.  Everyone who wanted to be involved filled out a "profile" form with likes, dislikes, what they would like to receive, etc.  My one sewing class was a pocket one, so I thought this project would be good. 

My partner (who I will not reveal as she has not received this yet) said she would like to receive a zippered or metal frame pouch, a tote bag, or a pin cushion.  I fixated on making a tote.  What's silly is that tote bags are probably one of the easier bags to make (depending on how you make yours), yet they are not my strong suit.

However, I am also not one to back down from my faults challenges!

I found this pattern in an issue of Modern Patchwork.  Duck fabric makes up the body and the pocket is pieced with fabric from Pat Bravo's Indie collection.  The original pattern had interchangeable pockets, which I decided not to do.  It also did not call for lining the tote, but I did do that to make it seem a little more refined.

I hope she likes it!

Photo Friday - Sewing Summit Trip

Sewing Summit Recap

Hey guys!  Well, I'm back from Sewing Summit and so inspired.  I am just overflowing with new ideas, new changes (more on this later), and new friends.

There was just so much going on I don't even know where to begin really.  As you may or may not know (did I even mention this?) we drove.  Yep.  My little family drove from New Mexico to Salt Lake City - 22 hours (round trip) of all of us in a car.  Our first "major" road trip - and a whole lot of nothing for miles and miles and miles....

There were so many talented people.  I felt small and timid next to many of them; being a natural introvert didn't help either.

Many great sponsors made up this year's sewing summit such as Craftsy, Riley Blake, Babylock just to name a few.  Here are just some of the goodies that got to come home with me.

The keynote speaker - Joel Dewberry!  He showcased his new fabric line Notting Hill.  Which I think is just gorgeous!

Erin Singleton and her staff did a terrific job! I couldn't even imagine putting on such an event. All that time and effort!

I won a prize at the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild mixer on Friday night!  Riley Blake's Puppy Park.

 It was a privilege to take a class and meet Carol Van Zandt.  She gave me this beautiful fat quarter bundle - Tokyo Rococo.  I'm thinking this will make a really pretty new bag!

There was much, much more that went on and happened.  I am still wrapping my mind around it all. 

This Weekend

Boy this weekend sure flew by!  And I have so much to do still before I leave on Wednesday for Sewing Summit! 

Remember those pieces of fabric I wrote about in my last WIP post?  Well, they are now blocks ready to go to Utah for a Quilt of Valor.

 

Saturday was spent working on the house we are trying to move into.  Logan's teachers came out and helped.  Seriously, we probably wouldn't be as far as we are if not for them!  Speaking of Logan, my little guy has a loose tooth.  Already?!  He is growing up way too fast! 

 

 

That means a tooth fairy pillow was in order!  And since it is pretty loose and can fall out at any time, a tooth fairy pillow needed to be made ASAP!  So, I dropped everything and went off to create.

 

While growing up, mine was a green plaid elephant with a little pocket on it's body.  I love that little pillow.  All of my siblings used it as well.  I think one of my brother's got it as they had kids before I did.

 

 

Okay, done reminiscing.  On to Logan's pillow.  He LOVES his trains, so I figured a train pillow was in order.  I ended up making a caboose, with the windows as pockets to hold the tooth and coins the tooth fairy brings.

 

The back is some leftover fabric I had from the I spy quilt I made his class. The fabric is The Little Engine that Could.

 

 



Logan was so excited, he brought his pillow to school today to show all his friends, as well as his loose tooth!

Sewing Summit 2012

 

Hey there!  For those of you attending sewing summit this year, you know that Tuesday was quite the hectic day with class registrations.

After scouring the class schedule, info sheets, and much careful planning, I got two classes that were my first choice.  From reading about last year's events, I know that the classes are just a small portion of this conference.  Many of the instructors have been posting that they are willing to do "after hour" classes to those of us who didn't get in their classes anyway!  Aren't they just fantastic!!

There are so many other "unofficial" events going on as well.  A mixer Friday night hosted by the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild, fabric shopping, swaps, a 5K fun run entitled "Running with Scissors."  It will be a busy funfilled couple of days.

I am so very excited to be attending this year!  To finally have the chance to meet in person all those wonderful, creative people whose blogs I stalk admire. As well as many other talented folks. 

Will you be attending?