A Tote Bag for a Giantess

QuiltCon 2025 has come and gone.  Many of my quilty buddies went to Phoenix. And before you feel sorry for me that I didn’t go, I made a conscious decision to not go.  My current life’s rhythm has changed.   The ones I attended were heaven on earth.  And this year I am watching several of the lectures on line.  Best of all, quilty Holly - with assistance from Sarah S and Eileen - shopped for me.  There’s a terrific piece of fabric from Sarah Bond.  And some very pretty zippers and strapping for handles.

These are the best purse zippers - look at the double zipper pulls.  And the colors!  AND they are 30”.  Think about the top of a bag you carry that has a zipper.  I bet it is 14” long, maybe 16”.  It’s really a challenge to use a 30” zipper!  

And you know I buy zipper tape by the yard, right?  Look below. So many colors.  So many zipper pulls.  The last bag I made was Sara Lawson’s Dot Dash Dot bag - it had SIX zippers.  But this current challenge was how to use a beautiful 30” zipper.

I took a pile of my favorite current scraps and made a panel that is 32” x 22.” And of course I had to make a back panel.

This bag is perfect for carrying a quilt.  Or a pillow.  Or maybe both.  The bottom of the bag has boxed corners.  And the top corners are slightly boxed.  Look at the zipper! And the finished product.  Such a fun way to play! 

Brandon’s Quilt

It’s a definite work in process. Grandson Brandon moved to Atlanta with his mom.  They painted his bedroom green and burgundy and sent me the paint chips,  so I found these great fabrics, a lot of grunge.  As I was checking out, the woman said, “Christmas?” Oy.  Wise friend Sarah Shulman suggested incorporating some navy.  Perfect! I’m hand quilting this, and it’s a big one.  When it’s finished, like maybe in 3 weeks, we’ll head to Atlanta.  There are a couple of exhibit at the quilt museum in Paducah. As Chaucer wisely observed, spring makes people want to go on pilgrimages! 

A Dozen Sew Powerful Purses for March

 I am trying to be more consistent with my Sew Powerful purses efforts.  One dozen a month seems a doable goal.  And although it’s early days in 2025, so far so good.  The March purses will be shipped along with 13 purses from February.  And my new project is Brandon’s quilt.  I have finally figured out what I want to do! So tomorrow I will pack up these purses and go to UPS.  And then?  I’m putting all purse makings away and getting busy! (And yes! three of these purses are from Cecilia’s drapes.)