A Re-usable Shopping Bag

I'm so behind with everything.  I've managed to injure my arm at work.  Honestly I think I have tennis elbow from pulling and pushing bolts of fabric around all day.  I've no time nor $$ for the Dr. right now so I'm wrapping it and icing it.  I have to moderate my projects so I don't put any further strain on  my arm so projects aren't going nearly as quickly as I would like.
I came across a heavyweight woven cotton at work that isn't quite right for quilts.  I know it will be overlooked, so I thought a quick project to turn it into something useful would be rather fun.

 So I came up with this. A re-useable shopping bag from a half yard of fabric.  Simple to make with two side seams, two strap seams and the edge finishing.

 What makes it look a bit fancier is the fact that I used some wooly poly and a rolled hem on the serger to create the edge "folds" 

A bit of pressing and ta-da, it looks every bit as good, if not better as one you buy from the store.  I still need to work out something stiff to put in the bottom though, I have an abundance of cardboard but don't like how it breaks so easily.  Any ideas?

Vintage Baby Quilt by Yo Yo Mama Designs

No, I don't have a baby on the way, but my LQS had a sample of this quilt on display and it is just too adorable so I had to get the pattern in hopes of making me a lap quilt version.
See, too cute!

Holiday Retail Therapy

Soon into my first marriage I learned that if you want to get gifts that you really want, you have to buy it yourself.
I have gotten the most wonderful gifts ever since and it's great. So even now when I have the most wonderful man in my life that is thoughtful and generous to a fault I still indulge myself.

Yesterday I took Alayssa out to spend part of her birthday money (she's sweet sixteen today) that she got during her family birthday dinner Sunday. She wanted to go to her favorite shop in Gardner Village to get jewelry. Well how serendipitous that my favorite quilt shop happens to be right across the way from said shop. They had some pretty fat quarters on sale for $1.25 and *gasp* as part of their holiday sale the Moda Bake Shop charm packs were buy one get one half off!! Wheeeee!!! (The holiday charm packs were a straight across %50 off).

So, I indulged in a wee bit of retail therapy to combat the birthday/holiday craze...is that an oxymoron?

I loved the Fresh Cotton pack and Alayssa requested the Sunkissed pack and at half price I couldn't resist the Fruitcake.

I've cleared it with Lewis and I get to redecorate out room with purples and greens. I think I've found my fabric in Lilac Hill and Dragonfly Summer. Now to get the 10" layer cakes.

Some pretty browns and blues to add to my fat quarter collection

And finally some pretty florals...and too cute to pass up elephants.

So what am I going to do with my pretty fabric? I was thinking this to give to Lewis' god daughter , and this just because I love it... and maybe this too, oh, and this, and...well, you get the idea.

This morning we had a wee bit of sun which was nice. It shines through my bedroom window and hits right on the very spot of my bed that I sit on while I'm on my laptop.
I promised pictures of my last project yesterday...and I lied. So you get it today instead.
This is the pattern I used

Photo courtesy of Google

I fell in love with the fabric mostly because I love the colors but even more when I saw that it was 60% off at JoAnn's. Love the fall leaves.

The pretty green has gold glitter flecks shot through the fabric, the kind that doesn't shed. Those are the yellow spots you're seeing. It's just so pretty, I love it!
It's got a spot for crochet hooks and you can fit a LOT of crochet hooks in there.
And it fits up to a 14" long knitting needle and it's roomy enough to fit big needles, those two blue sets are US size 13 and you can see they both fit in the same pocket.

What would I do differently? I think it would benefit from two sets of ties at the ends rather than one center tie but other than that I think it's great.

In crochet news...
I'm remembering how much I don't like joining a bunch of little blocks... Pretty though aren't they.