6 posts tagged “bags”

Since my partner and I both received our stuff, time to post it!
For those who don't know, on Craftster there are 'swaps' with different themes that people create and you sign up for.  There is a set number of projects (and the sizes of the projects) and then you send them to the person the swap mod set you up with! 
So, since it was the beginning of summer, I signed up for a Vegan/Vegetarian swap!

Here is the stuff I SENT

One of my market bags, inside all fused plastic as usual.  'Too Cute To Eat' on one side, and 'Powered by Tofu' on the other.  Then, the box is a recipe box, with recipe cards inside, double happiness on the top in gold paint.  I had fun painting that :)  And then little magnets, ideally, to hold the cards up while cooking.
And no, I didn't send my cat.

Next post: What I received!  Really awesome stuff, so prepare yourself :)

~Nikki

I'm so excited!!  My partner looks great!  An artist, which is always a good sign!  She is a semi-vegetarian (I've already stalked her blog :P) so I'll have to come up with something to push her all the way!  Man, this'll be awesome, I have so many ideas!  I'm annoyed I can't really get started until after finals. It'll be a nice treat for getting through  MY LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL.  Crazy.  Seems so unreal.

Maybe I shouldn't work on it till after the mother's day presents anyway...

Anyway, expect updates on my Mum's Day gifts!  My swap updates will be on LJ since it is friendslocked and she can't see it :P

Mum
I started 2 bags for her.  The first just didn't work out because I couldn't find any applique fabric to match the colour/design of it.  So, I opted for a plain canvas instead.  It is going to have a green band around the bottom, which I haven't done before, I hope it turns out.  And since I'm totally at a loss of what to put on it, it is just going to be flowers and butterflies and bunnies and happy things :)  She enjoys that.
Btw, here is the market bag I made her last Christmas
She is using more and more reusable bags and always gives them to me or my sister when she brings stuff to us, so she needs more.  Mine are cuter than the ones at the grocery store :P

Anyway, that's all for now.  Off to school to dread finals.

~Nikki

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Finished this today instead of doing homework....just wasn't in the mood, lol.
Patches all done by me, two pockets on the inside.  Very durable bag as the only thing I had lying around to line it with was a heavy black canvas material. 
No pattern, just threw it together off the top of my head.  There needs to be some sort of closure on the top, though.  I'm thinking button + loop, unless I can find one of those magnetic snaps or something.  But, other than that.  Ready to be used!

Reoccurring theme?  I chalk it up to getting burned out after nearly a semester of school and work, but I know that is just an excuse.  Anyway, the reoccurring theme being that I have books to read, homework to do, research to find, and 3 papers to write (I won't go into it again) and what do I do?

That's right.  I made a grocery/tote bag.  Did I mention what a pain in the ass these things are to make?  Ironing plastic bags together as lining just takes FOREVER.  Why do I make so many you ask?  They are just so handy.  Well, this is a Christmas present for my mom (who likes bunnies, obviously) so I kept away from writing anything terribly political/controversial on it (unlike my 'I'm mmmmelting' sad world/globe).  And I took Lady Jane's suggestion to just put the back of the bunny on it.  All cut felt, machine appliquéd, blah blah.  I added some pink to the back side of the ears after I took the closeup, but you get the idea.  One present down, a gazillion more to go.  Just one a cute little apron 'how to' from the 40's on ebay.  Sweet :)  *recites mantra: Itisagift.Itisagift.Cannotkeep.Cannotkeep.*
You'll be happy to hear I did get that jacket done that I was working on last (a while ago).  I really need to take pictures of some of the projects that I've finished, I have tons of them that I never posted.
I did other things, started some other projects, went shopping to buy more patterns and fabric for things I won't get around to, you know, the usual.  Friday-Monday I swear I'm locking myself in Starbucks and writing essays.

Happy Thanksgiving USians.

~Nikki

*insert maniacal 'success' laughter here*
Finally finished something!  I'm over half done on about 20 projects (exaggerating).  I spent nearly all day working on the waitress swap I'm doing, and when I realised I didn't have something I needed, I figured I'd finish my bag.  Takes longer than you think, lol.  It may not be much, and I may have been nearly done already (everything was already appliqued on), but it is nice to have something to show for my only day off work (and they tried to call me in!  Can you believe it?)
Anyway, here we go, my first ever machine applique.  I got approval from my sister on the polar bear, but no one liked the melting earth.  It is a statement!  (Less disturbing than a seagull with a plastic ring around it's neck, or some of the other ideas I had) Actually, I think I subconsciously like to try and make people feel uncomfortable, I put this in the same category as drawing a cute cow on the 'special' board at work when there is beef on the menu. Forgive me for thinking that people should at least think about what they do. People think I am strange.
So, without further ado, the bag that I probably won't get many comments on, just weird looks.

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And, the finished product

~Nikki

Emphasis on the above 's'.  I generally work on one thing until I finish, but due to extenuating circumstances, I find myself with a couple of projects all at once.  I'll give you all a little update :)

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Making this pattern (bottom right picture on the cover) with this crazy awesome fabric that I've been trying to figure out what to do with (bloody one-way designs).  It was turning out really well (emphasize WAS) and all the pieces are sewn together in the top, and in the skirt.  And I'm about to sew them together and figure out that the top and the bottom don't line up the way they are supposed to!  The top is bigger than the bottom, which is strange since I even made the bottom and size BIGGER.  So.  I decided to put that one aside until I get my dress form and can figure out what is wrong.

I'm also working on this bookcase that I put up last week.  It's really plain, so I'm adding some embellishments, as you can see below.  I was inspired by this thing I have hanging

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  in my room (see left).
Sewing all those things together is a pain in the ass.  Especially because pieces of each have to be hand sewn.



I'm also adding some molding to the bookcase.  I'm going to paint it some bright colours to make it look more Tibetan.  I have high hopes for this book case.  But, I'm needing some backing fabric for it, so I'm stalling on this one also.