Still Unfinished Blue Monday

Yep! It is still unfinished. 

But I am further along though and that is what I am going to show you.

Today is Blue Monday with Sally

At Smiling Sally.

Be sure to go over there and see others posting 

for Blue Monday!

Thank you Sally!

If you visited me last week, I was working on a tote bag.

This week I was able to work on it some more.

But still did not finish it.

These are the ends which also have pleated pockets on them.

Like I said before, lots of pockets.

Then I added the solid BLUE at the bottom,

just like the BLUE on the sides.

Then I also added the tab closure strap at the top.

The soft side of the velcro is already sewn on to the other side

of that strap.

Upholstry/tapestry fabric is thick, so by this time

 I am sewing through several layers.

Hard to keep the stitching straight.

Then it was time to start putting together the bag.

I attached one of the ends to the sides.

Not quite a perfect match. 

But then I noticed on the pattern it was not a perfect match

there either. The thickness makes it hard to do and 

I was using my flywheel with my hand at times to 

get through the fabrics. Yes I am using a heavy

duty needle too.

The other seam. At least I did not get the pleats caught in the seams.

That is what I was most worried about.

I decided to do each seam separately instead of trying 

sew all the way around. 

This is where I left off. Needed a break by that time!

I also decided to start preparing this piece.

It is the tab that goes on the straps to keep them together

 when carrying your tote bag around.

For something different.

Here is a picture of me wearing BLUE.

Taken in Spokane in July.

At this place.

Yummy!

Happy Blue Monday!

~Linnea~

Crumb Along Post

I just started participating in a new project. Crumb Along Quilts. You can find more information about it by clicking on the button in my sidebar. I just found out about it this week, so I have not done any sewing on it yet. But I did check to see if I had supplies.

A square ruler.

Check.

Mine is a 6 1/2" square.

It will be perfect for this.

Scrap fabrics.

Check.

More scrap fabrics.

Check.

Plus I have more than what is in these pictures.

I think I have plenty to start my project.

Now to start pulling them out and actually starting something.

Maybe after work today.

~Linnea~

Here is the link to the linky

at Jo's Country Junction.

Check it out. 

It is not too late to join if you wish to do so.

Unfinished Blue Monday

Unfinished Blue Monday???

As in Unfinished object!

I have this tote bag I am working on and using this Butterick

pattern because I love all the pockets on it.

I chose my fabrics at Joann's Fabrics.

These are actually upholstery fabrics.

This is the start of the pockets on the long side.

The pocket is lined with the solid fabric.

Now I am adding the pleats and attaching it to the next layer.

Here it is attached to the next layer which is also a pocket.

A closer look.

Can't forget Helmi!

She is inspecting my work. Thankfully it passes her inspection.

So far anyway!

Now you can see the two layers of pockets are attached to the next layer.

Now it is attached to the blue fabric.

 This part will be the bottom of the bag with some of it showing when it is finished.

Helmi decides to get mischievous and get tangled up in my 

pattern pieces!

That silly girl!

After doing the exact same thing for the other side of the bag,

I also attach it to the bottom piece.

There is where I am at the moment.

Unfinished!

I hope to finish it soon and then I can show you a 

Finished Blue Monday!

Thank you to Sally at Smiling Sally for hosting.

You can click to go there and see more blogs participating.

Happy Monday!

~Linnea~

REDnesday Surprise

I don't get around to posting much these days. But I thought I would share something that came in the mail a couple of days ago. And it has RED in it. So that means today is a good day to share it.

I decided to join Annie's Attic Creative Quilters Fabric Club. 

The kits that arrive can be made into the provided pattern or the fabric can be added to your stash to be used for something else. 

This is my first kit.

A table mat! Or I guess it can also be called a table runner.

The instructions are included in the pamphlet that came with it.

This is what it looked like after I opened it.

Pretty fabrics with some RED in them and tied with a pretty green ribbon.

Here they are all spread out. 

I think I am going to make the table runner design that came with the kit.

Now I just need to get it done, before the next kit arrives!

This is a RED prayer shawl I am working on right now. I started a different pattern first and was frustrated with how it was coming out. I ripped it out and started this one. This will be a triangular shawl when it is done.  I started this to take to the Women of the ELCA Triennial Convention and Gathering in Spokane. Women are donating prayer shawls to be given out to those who may need them. Doesn't look like I will get mine done on time. Especially since I have to be there in a couple of weeks. I went the to one held in Salt Lake City in 2008. I am excited about going to this one. The next one in 2014 will be held in North Carolina I believe. I definitely want to go to that one since I have never been there.

I am linking up with Sue at "Its a Very Cherry World" for REDnesday.

Thank you Sue for hosting!!

Take care everyone,

~Linnea~

Three or More Tuesday Redo

I have been meaning to share pictures of what I have done in my sewing room to date.

So I will for Three or More Tuesday because I have Three or More of something in there!

But first I always want to thank our gracious host, 

Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for hosting!

I have posted about what I am doing in the sewing room.

It is painted now. 

In a yellow I love.

The closet got redone and now we have added more shelves along my long wall.

As you can see, the shelving in the closet is pretty much done.

I still rearrange in there.

Now it is time to add the shelving on the long wall.

Three or more shelves added.

But wait. 

Since these were taken I have added even more!

I had gotten a gift card to The Container Store.

So when adding more shelves I had to empty the ones I had there in order to add the new ones.

Ta Da!

This is the way it is right now.

I will be adding more to the right to continue along the wall.

But we have not gotten more shelves yet.

However, look what I have three or more of up there.

Bears!!!

The ones at the top came from my son's mother-in-law.

She gave them to me from her collection when she found out I collect bears!

She put together the four on the top shelf.

Here, let's get a closer look at those bears.

Aren't they pretty?

And my Debbie Macomber books. 

I save them all.

And the other two that she made.

The bear below I already had.

And there are my Jan Karon books.

I love those books too.

More bears and my three boxes of thread.

Here is another view of the wall looking towards the closet.

I am loving it so far.

When I add more shelves I will probably do more rearranging as I go looking for the best way to arrange my supplies and pretty things so the over all effect is pleasing to the eye.

After all it is my playroom. 

I want it to be a fun place to hang out.

Happy Tuesday!

~Linnea~

Crafts at Three or More Tuesday

I have been on a crochet kick lately.

And for Three or More Tuesday I have at least three of 

crocheted items I have made.

Thank you to Tam at 

 The Gypsy's Corner

for hosting every week.

So what have I been making??

HATS!

I found this pattern in Crochet World.

Lots of neat projects in that magazine each issue.

Hard to decide what to make next!

 This is the first hat which I made for myself.

It came out kind of loose for me.

But I still like to wear it when I am cold.

This hat I sent to my daughter for Christmas.

I used a self stripping pattern in sock yarn.

This one I made for one of my nieces.
She loved it.

Here she is modeling it for me on Christmas Day!

I made one for my other niece as well.

Finished it in the car on our way to their house to celebrate Christmas.

This one in brown colors I made for my dad.

He is cold easily these days. 

My mom told me he wore it all day after I gave it to him.

I have since made a couple more hats.

They are fun to make and it is fun to see how they turn out with the different choices in sock yarns.

Happy Crafting!

~Linnea~

Pink Saturday Girls

It has been a long time since I participated in a Pink Saturday with Beverly at 

How Sweet the Sound.

But here I am again finally.

I call this post the Pink Girls because I now have TWO granddaughters!!

Our older granddaughter is now 4 1/2 years old.

Kaylyn the new granddaughter arrived on Nov. 13, 2010.

We are thrilled to have two precious grandbabies, but we are not thrilled to live so far away from them.

But we did go to Florida in December for my birthday to see our kiddies. And to make it even more special our daughter flew to Florida to be there too. I loved having all my kiddos together for my birthday!

Here I am holding Kaylyn and she is in adorable pink. She wore a lot of PINK while we were there.

And yes I did cut my hair. Some of you may remember it used to be much longer.

My shoulders could not handle messing with long hair anymore.

When we found out our new grandchild was going to be a girl,

I decided to make prayer shawls/blankets for them.

Above is the one I made for Shaylee, the 4 1/2 year old.

It is a shawl I made from an adult pattern, but made smaller to fit her smaller frame.

I used a self patterning yarn called Cuddle Muffin made by Sensations.

For Kaylyn I made a prayer blanket in a pink patterned yarn by 

Bernat. I used their Softee Baby yarn in Baby Pink Marl.

We found out I could take a crochet hook on the plane with me.

Since this was not finished yet when we left home, I was able to work on it on the plane trip there.

I finished it before we left to return home.

Our last night there, I presented the prayer shawl and blanket to the girls.

We all stood in a circle as I said a prayer for each granddaughter and blessed them with my

prayer shawl and blanket for them. 

It was very touching and we all got a little teary-eyed.

Here we are as the PINK Girls.

Shaylee with her PINK shirt and prayer shawl.

Kaylyn wrapped up in the blanket. 

And I even have a PINK shirt on under my denim shirt!

I don't know when we can get there to see them again.

My hope is that it will be sooner than later.

Happy Pink Saturday!!

~Linnea~