A Giveaway and a Tutorial!

I have been wanting to make one of these "Lined Drawstring Bags" for a long time, I think they are so cute!

I have a board dedicated to them on Pinterest, here.

Jeni Baker, author of the blog, In Color Order designed the pattern, and you can find it on her blog.  

The bag pattern can be made in many sizes, but the smallest size is written as a tutorial and can be found here.

I decided to try out my new sewing machine, and I made 4 Lined Drawstring Bags :)

This is the fabric I chose for the first bag, it's from a Mary Engelbreit line.

I love it, and it was fun and easy to make!

One of the things I love about this bag, is that it's completely lined.

I liked the bag so much, that I made another one in blue.

Oh, how sweet!

Now there are two :)

I looked through my stash and found this combination.

Riley Blake chevron, Anna Maria Horner and Sandy Gervais.

Instead of using fabric for the drawstrings, I used some twill tape.

 There is too much light in this photo, sorry.

This bag pattern can be addicting...

Doesn't the green chevron pair well with the bright pink?

There's that pretty lining, it's almost a shame to hid it!

I had time to make one more, Little Apples by Aneela Hooey.

I have a thing for red and aqua together, and children themes.

Each side is different from the other.

I like the lining, it's from the "Red Riding Hood line".

I made 4 lined drawstring bags in two evenings.

I'm offering this bag in the giveaway!!!

I hope you love it as much as I do :)

You have 3 chances to win this bag.

1.  Become a follower on my blog (Join this site to the right of the    blog).  If you already have, just tell me that you already follow.

2.  Leave me a comment.

3.  Like my Facebook page here.

The Giveaway ends on Sunday,  Jan 5 @ 11:00 pm Pacific time.

I'll post the name of the winner on Monday, Jan 6.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing from all of you :)

Happy New Year!

I would like to wish you all much health and happiness for 2014.

I enjoy your thoughtful comments and appreciate your interest in my love of sewing and quilting.

Thank you so much :)

My New Sewing Room!

This was my Christmas present from my husband :)

He is very thoughtful and took weeks and weeks planning this.

I wasn't allowed in here for over a week.  

It wasn't so bad since I was busy preparing for a visit from my daughter and her family, although I did dream a lot of sewing.....Lol!

I should have taken photos of my room before the makeover.

I did remember to take a photo of my husband removing the little boy wallpaper border from the wall.

It was really difficult to remove too!!!

This is the furniture that was in the room(in a different house).

It was some furniture that was in my husband's office years ago before they redecorated.

We were able to buy it, and it has served me well.

This is what I saw when I opened the door, fresh paint on the walls and a beautiful work table.

Not just any table, but a gorgeous table!

It's made of recycled telephone poles and is really smooth :)

The holes are perfect for threading the cord of my sewing machine and the light that sits on the table, or any other appliance or thing that has a plug!  

Beautiful and practical.

Isn't the lamp incredible?

I've admired it at the store before and yes, the pulleys are functional!

There was never a light on the ceiling before, now there is!

A really cool one at that :)

What a neat little space, "This is the Life".

This little cabinet will hold my quilting books.

I can look over at them and be motivated and inspired :)

While I'm sitting at my beautiful new table, this is the view I have.

My husband told me that he went to so many furniture stores, looking for the right pieces.

They had to have storage and fit into the space.

The little red piece has two drawers on the top row and two cupboards with shelves on the bottom section.

The cupboards on the side both have cupboards with shelves on the bottom also.

I don't have to look sideways to watch TV (or DVD's) anymore.

Isn't that the cutest clock?

Maybe some vinyl lettering on the space above?

My husband decorated this cupboard with some of my treasures!

I think he should take up a hobby as an interior decorator :)

My daughter Lindsay decorated this cupboard :)

This is a view out the door and down the hall.

My paper doll quilt is on that wall :)

Most of my fabric is behind those closed doors :)

See the awesome red leather chair?

I'll show you a closeup, but notice the floor lamp behind it...

Look at the cute modern/vintage chair that I get to sit in while I sew!

It's really comfy :)

Did you know that red is my favorite color?

My husband does :)

It hugs me while I sit in it and it also swivels.

My husband said that I could sit there and embroider by the window in the day, and have the light of the lamp at night.

Pretty fancy!!!

On Christmas morning, my husband told me to look in my stocking.

It looked empty, but I felt inside and there was an envelope.

There was a clue and I had to search for the gift.

It said: 

"In your stocking it would not fit

so you're going to have to look for it.

Need a clue?  Here's one for you....

In a place that washes....

But has never washed.

(We [my grandchildren and I] looked in the washing machine, and then remembered that we have a full bathroom on the main floor.  The shower in that room has never been used, because there isn't a bedroom on the main floor.)

There it was, in the bathtub :)

The most beautiful sewing machine I've ever seen!!!

A Bernina 750 QE.

I'm dying to learn how to use it!

I hope you've enjoyed the tour, I'm so happy with my new sewing digs.

Thank you Ricky, I'm thrilled to death!!!

I'm definitely spoiled :)

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas!

Christmas is a wonderful time of year!

It's a time to spend with family and enjoy each other's company.

Christmas is a time to reflect on what is truly important to you.

This year we are blessed to share Christmas with our daughter Lindsay, her husband Jeremy, and these four darling munchkins!

Bridger (8), Kennedy (6), Charlotte (3), and Lucy (4 months)

I am very happy ♥

We will get to skype with Elder Horst in Brazil, yippee!!!

He has 3 l/2 more months, and then he will come home :)

I will miss not seeing these little grandchildren today, but I know they will have loads of fun with their families.

Won't all of these children and their parents have a magical time on Christmas morning!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes and much happiness in the new year!

Thank you for reading my blog and being my friend :)

Personal Progress Clutch Tutorial

I am serving as a Young Woman leader in our ward at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

We made these clutches for the Young Women ages 12-18, to hold their books, important papers and a pen and a highlighter.

We made them out of a placemat. 

These are the measurements, you fold up the bottom half of the placemat 4 l/2" and then stitch in vertical lines.

It's difficult to see, but the lines are all stitched, and the ribbon is sewn on.

These are the books we added in the pockets, although you could add any books.

One of the leaders is going to make one for her Cub Scout, because he has books that will fit in the different pockets.

I am going to buy some scripture or value cards to insert into the 4" pocket on the right.

It's a tri fold clutch that is perfect to grab and take with you to any meeting.

All your books are in one little clutch.

We made about 25 of them and will be adding some candy canes tied into the ribbons :)