Covered in Threadmalaka’s adventure in sewing

So the story goes something like this.. I made the Amy Butler Birdie Sling for my sister Jameela, and then my sister Elizabeth got upset (in a non-upset sisterly kinda way) that I hadn’t made her a bag yet.  The issue here is that Jameela saw the purse she wanted and I bought the pattern and made it.  I have NO IDEA what kind or size Elizabeth would want.  I improvised.

I took the Birdie Sling pattern and scaled it down dramatically.  Seriously, this bag is likely 1/4th the size of the original pattern.  I loved it so much that I asked Tia what I should do.. keep it or give it to Elizabeth?  I showed her a picture and she said SHE wanted it.  Oh goodness.  I stomped back upstairs and made 2 more, using the same pattern.  One for me, one for Tia.  The one for Tia looks -exactly- like the one I made for Elizabeth.  I used a different fabric on mine — I was sick of looking at that same fabric and I didn’t want to be twinkies with either of them.

This is my blog so I don’t need to make a long story short — I’m keeping it long!  Elizabeth got here and claimed to love the one I made for her but wanted to learn how to make one for herself.  She also LOVED the material I used for Jameela’s bag… so we trucked on over to HoneyBee Quilt Store on Black Friday and bought up some more material.  I’m glad she appreciated the quilt store fabrics as much as I did.  We literally sewed for 2 days straight, taking breaks to eat and buy more supplies.  It was fun, but I was left with a HUGE mess in my sewing room.

Oh I need to make a note here about the quilt store.  They have those frequent buyer punch card thingies, and after something like 15 punches (I think you get a punch for every yard of full-priced fabric you purchase) you get $25 in store credit.  I had about 1/2 of my card punched, then adding what I bought, plus what my sister bought, I was only a few punches away from filling the card.  This nice lady who was also shopping there, from out of town, asked the sales clerk if she could put her punches on my card since she lives out of town.  They agreed and she bought nearly $200 worth of material!  This filled up my current punch card and half of another.  I wanted to kiss the stranger but I think just chatting with her about quilting was enough to make her day

We also purchased another Amy Butler pattern, her Madison bags.  We both started one but I haven’t finished mine.  She took her supplies back to Houston, so I’m not sure if she’s finished it either.  Overall, it was nice to have someone to sew with, but at the same time.. it’s nice to know where everything is.  When someone else is using the scissors, seam rippers, etc.. they get lost in the mess!

Right now I have so many works in progress: Nico’s quilt, my Civil War Crossings quilt, and the Madison bag.  Of course, I’m supposed to make another Birdie Sling for my brother-in-law’s cousin, by Christmas.. and I promised a purse to my mother-in-law as well.  Oh yeah, I forgot about Shara’s shoulder bag.. ahhh!!!  I guess it’s good that all of our TV shows are ending for the season, I have a lot of work to do!