One of my favorite categories of things to make and own are BAGS!!! I love little zippered bags, bags big enough to carry hockey equipment, and everything between. They are functional, pretty quick to make, and they each have their own personality. Here are a few of my favorites:
Starting in the back, that’s my “hockey equipment” bag. I took it with me tonight to quilt guild and it easily carried two wall quilts, a 2-liter jug of diet coke, a dessert tray (I was on the treats committee this month), a ream of paper printed up into handouts (I was on a panel), plates and cups, a block of the month, two pillowcases for a donation project — and I’m sure there was more, but you get the idea. Next is the tan tote bag I blogged about here; it is completed now, and I added ties to the sides to snug up so the bag doesn’t gape open as much. The black/red/tan one is a Celine Perkins (Perkins Dry Goods) design; the black and white is a Grids and Grommets; Elvis is on a Kimmy bag deviation; and the two little bags in front are made from placemats.
I LOVE making a bag out of a placemat, and I’ve made a bunch of them. Well, I bet you could never guess what the “basket” is going to be for the giveaway items??? Oh, you saw right through me. Here is what you start with: one placemat (not too thick), a fat quarter of fabric for the lining, and a purchased handle. And did I mention, NOT TOO THICK??? I never learn. I broke two needles on the black bag. Check for the thickness in the corners where all the seam allowance fabric all overlaps. There are lots of tutorials on the web for making these bags/purses. To me, this is a bag. When I put a zipper in, then it’s a purse.
And about three hours later here is what you end up with. And all the sur-prizes fit very neatly inside! (In case you’re new to this week-long saga of introducing one gift at a time, so far we have Clover fork pins, Mary Ellen’s Best Press, Bengal Spice tea and cookies, and now a little bag.)
The fine print: 1. Give-away runs Sunday 4/26 through Sunday 5/3. 2. You may enter once each day by posting a comment on that day’s new give-away posting (that’s what THIS is). 3. Each day I will add an item to each ”basket” (there will be two); to have the most entries in the drawing, check back and add a comment each day. 4. There are two baskets because there will be two names drawn on Monday May 4th. 5. Be sure to include your e-mail when you make your comment so I can contact you if you are one of the winners! 6. I will close the comments on this post at midnight CDT (sorry, West Coast, but that’s the latest I can stay awake). Also at midnight CDT the next day’s give-away post will come up, so if the comments are closed here, go to www.suehecker.com/blog (unless it is after May 3rd — then you’re too late!).
Again, it’s been a lot of fun to read through your comments and see what you collect. It helps me not to feel quite so odd about having teapots on top of my cupboards! And now for today’s comments. (Elvis looking out from the side of the Kimmy bag inspired me.) If you could only listen to one kind of music (or one artist) all day today, what would you choose? I’ll start. My all-time favorite CD is Norwegian Wood. It is Beatles music done in a classical style, and it’s hauntingly beautiful. It is so mellow and peaceful, it always makes me feel good. Your turn!
SORRY, THE GIVE-AWAY IS OVER.
Only one kind of music would just kill me, but if I must list one artist it would be ‘Denver and the Mile High Orchestra.’ They play all different types, from swing to praise music. Great dance music.
those bags are great!!! My kind of music would be praise music, and I’ll take Hillsong, please.
What fun bags! Tough question today…I love most kinds of music. But, if I had to choose just one type to last the whole day, I think I’d go with classical…heavy on the piano.
Thanks for your giveaway, Sue!
I love the one black and white cat bag, so nice! My favorite music for all day listening is likely Bach, Brandenburgische Konzerte being a favorite. Otherwise I really like Blues and BB King is another favorite.
Oh it’s Motown for me all day long!
Harry Connick, Jr. In fact, I’m probably starting to annoy my parents with it.
Love all the bags! My music–depends on the day, yesterday was Michael Bouble and today is George Strait.
Most days it’s whatever is on shuffle on the MP3 player.
I love KLOVE, contemporary Christistian radio. Michael W. Smith, Matthew West, Newsboys. Can’t pick a favorite, although when I was in high school it was Barry manilow
The Elvis bag has to be my favorite since I have one just like it. These were a big hit one of our trips to Las Vegas and were noticed by many while we were standing in lines. Elvis has an alias too – we know him by “Alvin”. My music is country with Alan Jackson my favorite.
Love the bags and you know I love that Cat bag! (smile)
The one music I could listen to all day (and have done this already) is Mannheim Steamroller. I have just about all their CDs.
Love the bags! I think I could listen to country all day long.
My favorite CD is “Days of Elijah”…a collection of worship songs of Robin Mark. I can listen to these words of praise all day long! Love the bags and they are even cuter in person cause I got to see them last night at guild!
Now this is a hard one. It depends on the mood I’m in and the type of day I’m having or what I’m doing at the time. I tend to have the shuffle on when I’m at home with the CD player however we don’t have CD’s of everything that I like. My interests are varied from southern rock, to some country ( not the old twangy kind!), to classical, to classic rock, blues and even newer stuff that teenagers would listen to. And sometimes the strangest stuff catches my ear. When I’m driving I will change stations frequently if something comes on that I don’t like and will turn it up loud and happily sing along which gets me many strange looks!! LOL! Most of the time lately I don’t have the TV or radio on when I’m home- I’m just enjoying the peace & quiet.
Wow, I like so many different types of music. Right now I am so enjoying Patsy Cline – everyone knows I love country! But her voice is absolutely amazing!
Wow, what a wonderful collection of bags! I love all music and listen to different music depending on what I’m doing (ie workout music=cleaning] I like the old school music R&B, soul where I can understand the lyrics.
I collect Prescious Moments figurines. There is something about looking at them that is so soothing.
Robin posted my sentiments EXACTLY! Depends on the mood of the day. When I need the noise, just about any kind of music and shuffle keeps it interesting. Gotta change the station in the car if I don’t like the song. When everyone is gone, peace and quiet is heavenly! If I really have to decide, mood of today is Celine Dion, “All the Way… A Decade of Song”
Give me country! Must have been all those years we lived near Nashville TN, but I always set the radio on country music when I’m driving.
Oldies! Great to boogie to with the kids. On the opposite end, I was tortured with a “Kidz Bop” CD today. It came with a happy meal and it will mysteriously go missing before anyone wakes up from naps!
I’m pretty fond of old piano jazz — Willie the Lion Smith, for instance — and I can listen to it all day!
Beautiful bags. I would have to pick Golden Oldies.
I’m a Beach Boys fan………those boys just know how to put me at ease. I love the bags……..I make all my own too…….It’s been years since I bought a store bought purse………I have them to match all my dress clothes…..now I’ve started making the handles(purchased) interchangeable with several purses so I get more bang for the buck.
Karen L