Nancy Zieman's Florida Tote

Templates

     I made this Florida tote this month using Nancy Zieman's Trace 'N' Create templates.  I have used several of her templates to make different purses.  They are very easy to use and depending on the fabrics you use they all look different.

     For this tote I chose the Key West templates.  My inspiration was from Nancy's book, Innovative Bags and Totes.  I had a bundle of fat quarters that I had bought at Mill House Quilts.  I think I was originally going to make a jacket with them but I got tired of making jackets.

      For the front pocket I quilted around one of the motifs.  Then when I went to cut it out, I made it too small and had to start over.  I also added some beads.  Found some gold piping in my stash that I use for the top of the pocket.

  

Pocket Detail

     I did not have enough Create-A-Strap to make my handles so I used some tie backs that I had bought before with the idea of using  them on a purse.

     I used Shape'N'Create for the purse bottom and behind the snaps and feet.  I used Clover's bag feet and magnetic snap closures.  I did use the Create-A-Strap to make the handle holders and the purse snap.  Instead of adding the bias cover strip to the back of the strap, I flipped it around so the straps had two different fabrics showing.

Detail of snap closure

     For the lining I used the turquoise linen from my Sedona Skirt.  Because I had washed the linen it was limp and slightly skewed.  I tore off rectangles of the approximate size I needed and pressed them with Best Press and then cut out the pieces.  Made it much easier to cut and put together.  Added two pockets on the inside, one I did a decorative top stitch and then stitched down the center to create two smaller pockets.  The other pocket I monogrammed.  

    For the top I used the 3/4" tape maker to use instead of grossgrain ribbon.  I fused fusible fleece to all the outer fabric pieces and then after the front and back were sewn together I fused Decor Bond to the purse and then continued construction.  The tote is not floppy like others I have made.  I like that it can stand up.

Completed Key West Florida Tote

ASG Conference 2012

     This year's conference was held in Houston, Texas.  I had an afternoon flight from Chicago which was of course delayed.  By the time I got to the hotel, the fashion show rehearsal was long over.  I was unable to connect with the person in charge but luckily the next morning I happened to sit at the table with her assistant.  She filled me in on everything I needed to know.  I did get a chance to peruse the vendor hall on Thursday evening and purchase the supplies I needed for Sunday's class.

    The first class I had was Strategic Sewing with Nancy Nix-Rice.  I learned all about column dressing and working with a core wardrobe.  I had really wanted to do a color consultation with her at conference but my schedule just didn't allow for it.  I did get a quick one with a scarf to start working on my pieces.  I got some wonderful fabrics from Louise Cutting to make a jacket, top and pants.

     Speaking of pants, my next class was with Louise and learning more about her updated One Seam Pants pattern.  I had used her older one with success and am looking forward to sewing up some pants with her new one.
 
     That afternoon I had a class with Rae Cumbie, A Year of Jackets.  I found it to be quite interesting since having done something similar as a neighborhood group challenge last year.  Here are some photos of a few of the jackets she had made.

  

     This was such an inspiring class.  After a little time in the vendor hall I had to report for the fashion show.  This was my first time on stage instead of in the audience.  There was a lot of standing around and waiting but I was also able to see everything close up.  I modeled my pink denim skirt in the recycled category.  Here are a couple of photos from backstage.

     The next day I took a jeans fitting workshop with Jennifer Stern-Haseman.  It was an all day class but I was able to walk out with a fitted muslin and the correct alterations on my pattern pieces.  I can't wait to sew up a pair.  Jennifer is the same instructor I took the jeans to skirt class from last year.  It was neat to be able to show it in the fashion show especially since she was in the same group as I was.  Here we are hard at work in class.
 

     That evening there was a scheduled outing to a baseball game at Minute Maid Park.  The Astros lost 12-4 but it was fun getting to see the stadium.  We had seats together and just had a good time.  Here are four of us loyal baseball fans all wearing our team colors.

     The next day was another all day class.  This one was The Carry-All Bag with Cheryl Kuczek.  The tote features faux leather bottom and handles.  We learned how to sew the faux leather and many tips on putting the bag together.  I have the outside and lining done and together and the straps stitched.  Just have to do the belt, belt loops and then bind the top.  It was fun to see all the different combos people were using.

     Sunday evening I went out to dinner with Carole who I met at the baseball game.  She is the Cardinals fan in the photo and I am the Cubs fan.  We did manage not to get into an argument about baseball:-)

 


     This last photo is the view from my room.  It was quite pretty at night with all the lights.  Then it was back home Monday morning on another delayed flight but still made it to O'Hare in time to take the train to Prairie Crossing so my wonderful hubby didn't have to drive all the way to the airport to get me.

     Next year the conference is going to be outside Washington, D.C. I am already making plans to go.  If you ever get a chance, you should attend one.  I am amazed by all I can learn ever after sewing for almost 50 years.

Back to Work, Part Two

     Here is a photo of the completed quilt top.  Last week I wrote about how the mom and daughter did the hard work of cutting apart the shirts and ironing on the interfacing.  I then cut them into neat rectangles and played around with layouts until I got one I liked.

      In order to construct the quilt I had to make the t-shirt rectangles into four columns that I could sew together.  I added fabric to the side(s) of the rectangles to get even widths.  Each column was a different width that helped to give it a more random look that the daughter desired.

     I added fabric pieces between the t-shirts to get the same length for each column.  On a few that were already the same width, I added the fabric between first and then added the side piece.  Each step was measure, cut, sew, press and then back to the floor for the next one.

     For the border, I cut strips of fabric the same width but different lengths and pieced them together.  After measuring the quilt in three places, I determined the size of the borders.  I added the side borders first and then the top and bottom ones.

     The client is now shopping for the backing material and then I will take it all to the quilter to have it quilted together.

     These are the fabrics I used for the quilt.   I think last week I said I had four fabrics but I really used five different ones.  I am curious to see what the daughter chooses for the backing after she and her mom saw the quilt top.

     Training for my marathon is coming along nicely, I did 16 miles this past weekend.  This coming weekend I will be in Houston for the ASG Conference so I won't do my 18 miles until Tuesday next week.  Next week I will tell you all about conference.  I leave tomorrow and am so excited to be going to learn more things.

Back to Work

     Here is a photo of a T-shirt quilt in progress. The client and her daughter did the hard work of cutting apart the t-shirts and ironing on the interfacing. The daughter wanted the quilt to be random sizes of the t-shirts.

      My first step was to cut all the t-shirts into nice rectangles After cutting them all, I played with a layout that would allow me to construct the quilts with columns of t-shirts. I chose to have the two narrower columns on the outside and the wider t-shirts forming the two middle rows.

     Yesterday I went shopping at Quilt Play in Grayslake for some fun fabric. The daughter wanted bright fun prints. I found four great prints that coordinated with some of the brighter t-shirts.

     Now the real work begins. I need to make each t-shirt in a column the same width and then add fabric between them to form equal length columns. Each piece is a different size so I need to measure and cut each one individually. It is a lot of walking between the room I have the quilt laying on the floor and the room next door where I sew and cut. Oh well, according to an article in today's Chicago Tribune, sitting is bad for your health so I am just keeping healthy;-)

      Hopefully next week I can post a photo of the finished top.

Purse-onality Fun 4 Camp

     Here are Nikki and Mia with their Snap Happier purses. Last week Monday morning Nikki and Mia arrived at the house ready to start sewing some purses. I had chosen three purses to make, each a little harder than the previous one. Since neither girl had sewn since last summer I wanted to be sure to ease into the projects.

      The first purse used carpenter's tape for the opening. I helped the girls use the rotary cutter and ruler to cut their fabric pieces. Then they were off to the sewing. On day two they were ready for the fun closure. I did cut the carpenter's tape for them as it can be quite sharp. They were so thrilled as they finished sewing up the last bit by hand. They were having fun snapping open and close the purse.

      Then it was on to the denim bag. I used the Recycled Denim Bag pattern from Birch Street Clothing.  I had already taken apart the jeans to save them some time. I did do a quick demo to show them how it is done. They did get most of the pieces cut and start with some sewing. That evening I finished cutting the rest of the pieces and their lining. Things were moving a little slower than I had anticipated. That was okay. Day three they sewed all day on the denim bag. At this time I realized we would not get to the third purse that I had planned on. Time to switch gears.
 After some discussion with the girls we decided to make Humbug Bags instead. I told them what things they needed to get.

      Day four of camp I helped them with the final part of the purse. It involved having to 'walk' the machine over the teeth of the metal zipper. They paid close attention and were respectful of the damage that could be done if they just quickly sewed over the teeth. Here they are proudly showing off their denim purses.

     Then it was on to the Humbug Bags. I allowed them to choose a decorative stitch to do their quilting. I drew some lines for them to follow and off they went. They had a lot of fun with that part. Another zipper was put in and then the bag sewn closed. They were able to see the difference using a nylon zipper made in the sewing process. Here they are with their Humbug Bags. They were happy to have made three purses in four days even if the last one wasn't the one I had originally shown to them.

     Now a little break from the teaching for me while I get some sewing done for others. I head down to Houston in a few weeks for the ASG conference. I am looking forward to learning for a few days instead of teaching.