I made another item from my Project List - the 1 Hour Bag, well kind of, because it turned out nothing like the original one and it took longer than an hour. If you want to make one yourself, check out Jodie’s fabulous tutorial and while you’re over there, drool over her amazing selvage frock.

It was so much fun sewing this bag, you wouldn’t believe it! It started out with a boring day at work where I, instead of working, drew the pattern for the bag. (My boss will never read this blog so I guess it’s ok to say so :) Back home I was going through my stash and found some pretty turquoise corduroy I bought a while back, and from this point on I just improvised. I appliqued some circles to the front and stitched two circles by hand, one with embroidery floss the other with wool. For the back I actually used the left side of the fabric and while I was staring at it, I felt kind of brave and tried some free motion quilting.

After sewing in the lining it didn’t quite fit, because I used a some polar fleece as interfacing, but I liked how it looked like binding and so I went with it.  On to the handles. I only bought half a meter so I didn’t have enough length in the grain for the handles, and since the fabric is super stretchy I stuck for a moment. But the god of improvisation was kind to me that day, so I just cut 4 strips and sewed them together changing from left to the right side of the fabric. 

At this point it totally looked like a hippie bag and something I would have loved back when I was 17. Again I did some free motion quilting, which will come apart pretty soon because the tension was way off, added two buttons and that was that: my totally improvised, “I’m 17, going to Ibiza and do a lot of *beep*, because I’m a hippie” 1 Hour Bag.

I really love this bag just because making it was so much fun. It was so liberating not trying to be perfect and going with the flow, that for a brief moment I thought this is the way I will make every project from now on. But I know myself too well to realize this isn’t possible. But I will try not to overthink everything I make, that’s the first step, right?

I’m a total book addict. I get really nervous if I don’t have something to read  and it’s impossible to give or throw (*gasp* ) a book away even if I don’t really like it. So when I started sewing it was a great excuse to buy some more books and add them to my existing 400 + ( I really need new shelves). Buying crafting books is a bit like hunting down pretty fabric: they’re great to look at, they give me inspiration and I never can have enough of them. 

So I was thrilled when I found two new books I can’t wait to hold in my hands: Heather Ross’s Weekend Sewing and Betz White’s Sewing Green. I love everything Heather Ross and can’t wait to get started on all the projects, especially the dress and of course the bag, and I’m totally in love with the Leave Scarf from Sewing Green. So hop over to the sneak-peaks and check out the fantastic projects. I can see my project list getting longer and longer.

A couple of weeks ago I visited my mum, checked out her new sewing machine and right next to it I found her little pincushion: I couldn’t believe she stilled used the same pincushion I was sticking pins in when I was little. She told me that she actually made the cushion for my grandma when she was in 3rd grade or so. Years later she bought her a fancy one, but my granny kept using the old one no matter what, and now my mum uses it. The little pincushion is now about 60 years old and and I guess it’s time for it’s retirement, so my mum asked me if I could make her a new one. Yes, my mum reads my blog and even if she doesn’t quite understand everything, because she doesn’t speak English, she knows her “little one” can make pincushions :)

So last weekend when I was visiting her with Tony, my niece and my nephew, I gave her the pincushion I made and I actually got something in return: a heating pad. I guess that counts as swapping :) She used a fat quarter I gave her a while ago, and  filled it with wheat grains. It’s great! You just pop it in the microwave for a few minutes and out comes a hot pillow that I can snuggle around my neck (and it actually stays there) when my muscles are aching from too much computer work or sewing. 

So if you have a fat quarter lying around that is too pretty to cut into, just sew it together, fill it with wheat grains and enjoy warm feet or a pain free neck.

As promised, the second part bag tutorials and I’m sure I could even come up with a third part. Did I mention that I love bags?

Pleated Purse - for everyone who loves pleats

Margaret Sling Bag  - looks exactly like the Taxi Tote from “Seams to me”.

Hip Mama Diaper Bag - you don’t have do be a mum to make this bag

Skirty Bag - gained a few? :) Recycle your skirts!

Pocket Bag  - stupid name, great bag. 

Recycled Book Bag - turn a pretty  book into a pretty  bag

Missed the first part? Click here

I was fabric hunting for my Spring Quilt on Etsy, stumble one this absolutely cute print and had to buy it! The quilt will be mostly green with some pale pinks splashed in and I think this will definitely fit the bill.

Heather Ross West Hill - Tadpoles in Blush

Want to show off your Stash? Join the Sunday Stash at 1/4 of an inch.

Wanna see more stash? Check out the Sunday Stash flickr group.

I actually managed to leave my happy place (the bathtub) and can now cross something off my project list: the camera strap. I found this great tutorial, and had enough scraps from my quilt left over to come up with this:

Now I can wear my camera in style and the only thing left to do, is to really learn how to use it. And I have to built a light box to take pictures because the lighting in my apartment really sucks.  I’m not sure if I should take a photography class or just buy a book. Can anyone of you recommend a good book on digital photography?