Laptop Bag #2

I like how this laptop bag turned out. The two different woven/quilted sides are beautiful, and there's a coordinating side/bottom panel which makes this case a nice sturdy little box. It fits my 11" x 17" laptop beautifully. The handles are sturdy and just long enough to put on my shoulder and secure the laptop against my side and under my arm. Now if there were just a zippered compartment inside the case. Perhaps the next one...

This laptop case is for Payal, Chris T's girlfriend. She's starting her 4th year of med school. She charming and personable AND she knows how to sew! The one condition with this laptop is that Payal give me feedback about this laptop case, like the length of the handles, etc.

Three New Bags

I know my stash is too big. So I have begun to take out fabrics that are at least 15 years old. If I haven't used them in a quilt by now, then I'm probably not going to use them in a quilt at this point. So I've begun to experiment. The bag on the left is too large for groceries or anything of weight. It is perfect for pillows or quilts. In fact, I loaded it up with a couple of bags that I have made along with 2 baby quilts for my No Guilt Art Quilt Group which met this morning. It has outside pockets that will hold a manilla folder or a notebook. The middle bag is an unlined MORS bag - I think it's perfect for carrying in a purse or a car. I want to do more unlined ones. The bag on the right is lined BUT the bottom is boxed. I followed the design of the canvas grocery bags that we've had for over 10 years now. It's a perfect bag for carrying heavier groceries. The handles are sturdy.

Weaving

At LaGuardia Sunday I saw a woman with a fabulous purse made from seat belts that had been woven together. I love the texture that weaving creates. So I've been weaving fabrics for a new laptop case. Both of these pieces are very attractive. But they might as well have been pieced - it's hard to tell these have been woven.

Gotta rethink this technique...

For Katherine - and Prince Charming

Sometimes you meet someone and something clicks. That happened with Katherine from Long Island - we met her on our Central Europe tour in 2005. This past weekend John and I went to NYC to see niece Jen Peters dance . This terrific weekend concluded by having Sunday morning breakfast with Katherine and her husband Tony, one of the greatest men ever. For Katherine I made a flat-bottomed purple shopping bag. (Next to it is another flat-bottomed bag which also has pockets on either side.)

Neither John nor I will ever forget our night with Tony and Katherine in a castle in Warsaw. Tony and Katherine were dancing, and John cut in. Tony and John then waltzed off. 2 men cut from the same cloth, both very charming with a great sense of humor. Now we'll also never forget our ride to LaGuardia with them after our breakfast!

Purse 10 - for Cristina

My two favorite teenagers - grandson Ryan Patrick Sheehan and neighbor Cristina Muzzio - are having graduation parties tomorrow. Ryan graduated from 8th grade earlier this week, and Cris graduates on Sunday. Ryan gets money and a tin of gulab jamuns, his favorite Indian dessert. Cristina gets money in a fabulous gift container: Purse 10! Notice that this purse has feet! Both of these fabrics are ones that Cristina has used in various quilts she's made with me over the year. Ryan will go to LT and Cristina is off to the University of Iowa. Both will do very well in their new adventures!

FM Jazz at Autumn Green

My husband John has started a monthly jazz club at Autumn Green, the "active living" senior community where my parents live (67th and Cicero in Chicago). It's called FM Jazz for First Monday Jazz - an easy memory device. This monthly session focuses on a musician or a group, using cuts from CD's and DVD's and a graphic organizer to tap into prior knowledge and information discussed. When we were in India, my dad took over. So far topics have included Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Louie Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holliday. Today the focus is Dave Brubeck. One of John's techniques with staff development involved door prizes,and he still like to do this. This Mors bag is perfect for a door prize.

For Baby Elle

Who isn't even born yet - she's still incubating in Laura's tummy. But when she comes out, sisters Amelia and Olive will be there with their quilts and this quilt to welcome her. (Not to mention her grandfather and grandmother, Poppa Doug and Memaw Kim!)

For Laura's Baby #3

It's one thing to number purses. It's quite a different story to number great-nieces. Niece Laura is having her 3rd baby in August, and she knows it will be a girl. So, Laura, choose the palette for the new baby's quilt: The bright jewel tones or the pretty mod softer fabrics.

Update: Laura chose the pastel mod dotted fabrics for new baby Elle!

Purse 9

I know - I know. It looks like Purse 8. Purse 8 now belongs to niece Leslie. Purse 9 has a cell phone pocket (see the phone peeping out? The pocket is much deeper than that, but I did such a good job of integrating the pocket into the design of the purse that you can't even see it). But I'm putting away all things connected with purses and going back to flat things for a while.

Purse 7 and 8

If you're thinking, "So? More purses," you're right. But there are a couple of differences with these two. First, I used for the first time a fusible batting/interfacing. It combines 2 steps into one, so for time alone I like this product. And it feels right. The second difference is that the inner bigger pocket has been moved up 1.5". And I think this is a good move (although I moved it up a bit too much on #8. Lesson learned). I can't believe I'm about to write this: I need to play with Purses 6 and 7 and see if the 2 aforementioned differences are worth institutionalizing.

Here is the big lesson I've learned from purses 6, 7, and 8. And it's a lesson in design. I don't care for the light-colored purse 6. The darker colors are more striking. And with 7 and 8, the same fabrics are used but reversed. I prefer the purse sides, handles, and tab in an accent fabric with the front and back of the purse being a plainer and darker fabric.