Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Birthday Presents


I made this bag for my sister-in-law for her birthday. There are two in the picture because the bag is completely reversible and I made myself an identical one. The pattern is the Chelsea Tote by Amy Butler. I have adored her fabric on her patterns for years, but never found any in a shop. Well, Fiber on a Whim to the rescue. I LOVE that place. Anyway, the fabrics on the tote bags are also Amy Butler. I used YLI invisible thread, and I just loved it. My old Bernina 830 did not have a problem with it at all. I only used it for the top thread, though, not in the bobbin.

I did have to buy a new iron in order to make the totes because my old one bit the dust. It was 18 years old almost to the day and just wouldn't stay hot. So I went to Wal Mart and got the same brand. I love a heavy iron, so I bought the heaviest one I could find in that brand. I also need the auto-off setting. I know most quilters don't like the auto-off, but I do. I have an irrational fear of fire, so the auto-off keeps me from driving back and checking the iron more than once.

Ok, I am off to Back to School Night. Is anyone else tired of these? Or am I the only one who reads this blog who still has these to go to for the next 18 years? It is enough to make me want to home school, Tracey!

7 comments:

Jane Ann said...

Are you crazy? With soon-to-be 4 kids, the freedom of sending them OFF to school is worth those parent/school nights! ;-) I do remember how hectic school start-up and wind-down always were, though.

The Calico Cat said...

Are you crazy - homeschooling.... UGH the though sends chills down my spine. (I'm in the 18+ years to go group as I am not a mommy yet....)

Rian said...

Oooh, those are way cute. I have to find that pattern. As in how to make them. Wouldn't I be hot stuff at the farmer's market with those!

Kay said...

Cute bags, and thanks for the tipon YLI invisible thread. I've never used that brand.

Debra Dixon said...

Love the totes!

I did both public school and homeschool. Can see advantages to both--but if you homeschool, it's often difficult to get the kids back into public schools. It is not something you can just decide not to do one frustrating morning when no one will cooperate and you lock yourself in the bathroom and cry!

My Brain on Quilts said...

Love the bags Jules! Did you know my birthday is in January? Hmmmmm. . . . I'm thinking I like the brown/pink color combo! This week at AQS I saw some adorable Toille in brown/pink/ black/white with the Eiffel Tower on it. I WALKED AWAY without it! What was I thinking?

Tracey said...

Welllllll...you could look at it that way...OR, you could look at it as *only* having to do those nights...and then the rest of your school year (for the most part) is FREE! How's THAT for a run-on? :oP