Patchwork Quilted Cross Body Bag

Hello,

When I went home to Indonesia last July, I bought fabric scraps and lots of them. Hubby and my mom were wondering what I am going to do with the extra baggage. Well, I could not just leave those pretty prints behind, right? 

I've been wanting to make another quilted sling bag after the previous ones, HERE, HERE and HERE

Yesterday, I started to take out my floral scraps and got down to work.  I cut the strip 1" wide and piecing them on my Jack machine. The finished tiny strip blocks are 2 1/8" square. 

I always excited to work with small blocks!! 

The plan was to make 2 big pieces for front and back. Then I changed my mind because I want an exterior pocket. 

Because exterior pocket is always handy, right? I thought of  using magnetic snap as closure but on second thought, it's better using zipper closure. 

On the back is the full patchwork panel! I really love this full panel look! Well, it's always nice to have 2 pretty sides! 

For the side gusset I use the same plain linen as the front panel one. For the sides I just did wavy lines quilting and one the main panels, I did grid quilting. 

When in doubt, grid quilting is always the best choice.

This time, instead of top zipper closure, I did recessed zipper and I am happy that I did! 

I added interior zip pocket too. I thought of adding slip pocket, but after using many sling bags, I found that slip pocket is not really useful (at least for me). I always prefer a simple interior in bags. 

The bag finished at 8"W x 9.5" H x 2" D 

A perfect size for travel cross body bag, right? It can easily fit in the passport covers, wallet, mobile phone and pocket camera.

What do you think?

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a nice day

~ Elvira~ 

Linking up:
Oh Scrap!
Moving it Forward
Handmade Monday
Midweek Makers

TGIFF @ Storied Quilts
Finished or Not Friday

More mini quilts

Hello,

More mini quilts are finished. Some of them I finished a few  weeks ago but just get the time to take a blog worthy pictures!

This morning after breakfast, I set up my camera, gathering the prop and background and taking some pictures.

This pink table topper was finished a couple of weeks ago. The fabrics are all Indian fabrics. I love the multi color floral print matching the small floral pink and the ikat prints. The quilting was done in my Jack industrial machine with organic curvy lines (my new fave!!). 

I also finished another 2 mug rugs. This design is my all time fave. I used 2.5" x 2.5" for the patchwork pieces and added a blue shot cotton fabric to tone down the bright pink and orange fabric. 

I always find simple quilting lines are best! I used straight line and diagonal grid for the mug rugs. 

The green mini quilt above was an orphan block. I called it monsoon in a jar because of the umbrella print! I did the curvy quilting diagonally and I love the effect on it! 

All binding for the mini quilts were finished my hand. 

Stay tuned for more mini quilts!! 

What is your fave quilt size to make?

Thank you for stopping by!

Until then,

~  Elvira ~

Quilted Mug Rugs

Hello,

I finished 2 mug rugs last week and another 2 I still need to finish the binding. Though it's not making a dent in my UFO quilts piles, but I am happy that I am making (very) slow progress.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Mug Rug

I was wondering for a few days how to quilt these two very hungry caterpillar mug rugs. I love straight line quilting and also wavy or serpentine. But I don't feel like setting up my HV machine. So I decided to go organic. People love anything organic nowadays :) 

Since the blocks are quite colorful, I decided to use white thread and did the organic wavy lines. One thing I learn that to be creative, it really doesn't matter what machine you have. We should not limit ourselves based on what tools we have on hand, instead the limitation should make us more creative! 

Reversible Snack Mat

Quilted Mug Rug

When I took this picture, my son was about to have his breakfast and I borrowed the bowl for a quick photo session :D.  Don't you love the back of the mug rug? It makes this quilted mug rug reversible!!

Caterpillar Mat

As usual when I am not sure what to use for binding, the black and white stripe is always my first preference. And I love how modern it looked!

Hand sewn binding

The binding is machine stitched on one side and finished by hand on the back. I always use 1.5" wide binding for mini quilts, like placemats, mug rugs, or coasters. 

Apple core patchwork WIP

Meanwhile, I also started apple core patchwork. I'm doing hand piecing this time. It's going to be a tote bag, Insha Allah. I'm sharing the progress photos in my Instagram

Also, more mini quilts are queing to be quilted now. I have so many projects  going on at the same time. I tried to stick on one project at a time but somehow never work out for me. 

But as long as I can be creative, I'm happy! 

What about you? What project are you working on right now? 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing

~ Elvira~ 

Linking up to:

Handmade Monday
Finish it up Friday
Show Off Saturday

Handmade Happiness 4 - Pelican Tote Free Pattern

Hello and welcome to Handmade Happiness!

When Namrata of Bagstock Designs asked if I could test her new tote bag pattern, I said yes immediately. The Pelican Tote bag is an easy beginner pattern. When I saw the design, I wanted to do a quilted one but I didn't have much time left after finishing my last orders of the week.

Luckily I have a patchwork print fabric and decided to use that instead. I did a simple diagonal grid line quilting on the pink fabric and wavy lines on the denim. The denim I used here is a lightweight denim. The pattern is very easy to follow with clear photo step by step instructions. 

The bag size is also perfect at 15” W x 12” H x 3" D. 

. Though it said to be a market tote, but I think it will be good as college tote or maybe a diaper bag. It has a front zip pocket, interior zip pocket and a magnetic snap closure. Easy and Quick project. The pattern is FREE and is available at Bagstock Designs Website.

That's one of my happiness from last week. Now, let's see who's the MVP from last week post:

Sonalee made this beautiful tulip quilt based on tutorial by the Missouri Star Quilt and the photo she posted on her Instagram even got re-posted! How cool is that!!  The color is just perfect for summer quilt! 

Totally Tulip 

Rashida from No3 Quilt studio is having a quilt a long on her blog. And I really love this blog. If you want to learn the basic of quilting, run along and check her blog. Who knows you might even won the prize!! 

I love this red and black & White version

Julie of Sum of Their Stories shared this quick Play mat tutorial. It's a perfect stash buster project and a perfect gift to make for a new mom! If you need one, go ahead and check her blog. Julie's blog is one of my personal fave. She shared all kind of tutorials with gorgeous photos. It's like a cozy home!! 

Congratulations to all of you! Do share in your social media account that you're being featured <3. Spread the love!! 

Now, it's your turn to share happiness. 

What is this linky party about?

This linky party is some  kind of show and tell party, whether you do it as a hobby or as a mompreneur.

Post anything handmade by you – not mass produced “handmade” please - which you recently completed and have not been shared in here. Your link can be from your:

•  BLOG – do link up your blog if you have one , anything from new product   release to behind the scene story, tutorials, etc.
• Facebook Page – New products from your FB business page. 
• Instagram – if you play more in Instagram, you are most welcome to share your latest creations. 
• Etsy Shop or other webshop - show off your latest listing.  

How to Play:

• Submit your link by clicking the blue button under each handmade happiness’ post. If you submit your blog post , please submit your BLOG POST URL and NOT the blog URL. 
• Visit some of the links that catch your eyes. Give them a comment or a heart to encourage them. Be generous. 
• If you don’t want to miss another link up post, it’d be great if you subscribe to my blog (form on the right panel). 
• Do share the Handmade Happiness post in your Social Media account, sharing is caring :).

Batik Quilted Sling Bag

Hello,

We have  quite stormy weather the last couple of days. Sometimes the sun comes out for a while and suddenly dark cloud with strong wind and rain come. But rainy days are always a good sewing day, right? 

I finally finished this Batik log cabin sling bag. It was sitting near my sewing table for a few weeks waiting to be completed. As usual I got side tracked doing a couple of wallets orders. 

I used this  purple aqua Fat Eighth bundle from the shop. I really love this combo!! 

I started piecing the log cabin  with nothing specially planned. I just trying out a couple of log cabin pattern from the book I bought last January at the Tokyo Quilt Festival. This book is really awesome!

I added a lightweight fusible interfacing before adding a fleece batting. The same way I did the previous sling bag. I liked the sturdy yet soft finish, after the quilting is done. 

This time I did a circle echo quilting using a subtle purple Calypso Thread. It is an embroidery thread which has a silky finished. Mostly used in machine embroidery. 

On the back, I decided to use a plain batik from my stash. The quilting is simple echo quilting in diamond shape inspired by this walking foot quilting by Christina Cameli. 

Instead of zipper closure, I decided to use magnetic snap closure the way I did for the passport covers. It's because the bag is quite small, so I just want it to be simple, no fuss kind of bag. I finished the top with binding. I used 1.5" wide binding strip, sewed it by machine on the lining side and finished it by hand on the exterior side. 

This bag would be perfect to take for your morning walk. It's quite spacious to fit in small water bottle, a phone and maybe a face towel. 

It was a fun satisfying little project, even though I took a little bit long to finish it but I am happy with the outcome. What do you think?

Bag stats:

Finished size : 8"W x 8.5" H

Style: Flat bottom

Closure: Magnetic snap

Fabric: Bali Batik Fat 8 bundle 

Quilting: Walking foot echo quilting

Thank you for stopping by. 

Until then,

Happy Sewing

This blog post is linking up to these wonderful BLOGS

Scrappy 9 Patch Pillow

Hello,

I mentioned in my previous post about the #100dayproject that is going on in Instagram. I decided to play along and sewing up my scraps, UFOs, and PHDs. 

It feels so rewarding when I able to complete something that has been in my UFOs box. Like these Pillows I made last week. 

This week, quilty wise I finished this modern 16 x 16 inches scrappy 9 patch cushion cover. 

Scrappy Patchwork Pillow

I have a small jar of 2" squares which I collected for quite sometimes. I made a couple of 9 patch blocks from them. Some of them, I turned it into mug rugs for a swap.  And a few coasters which I gave them away. 

So last week, I decided to make a dent to my 2" jar and started piecing them into 9 patches, while watching my kdramas. Luckily there are so many good korean dramas to keep me company. 

Work in Progress

This patchwork top is totally made of scraps, right down to the black and white stripe borders, which came from my wallet binding scraps. I add sashing to the 9 patched and added long border. I really love this black and white stripe. I will need to get a few yards next time when I go to Indonesia. I used it alot for wallet. When nothing else work, black and white stripe always the solution!

I am using fleece batting for this pillow which I got from Tina of the Square Inch. Quilting it using straight line quilting on my jack sewing machine while watching Love in the Moonlight drama. I know, it's an old one (2016 drama) and I don't usually enjoy period drama, but Park Bo-Gum and Kim Yoo-jung are just too cute together. 

The back of the cushion cover is a colorful floral cotton fabric. I'm glad I saved up the last piece of this fabric, it matched perfectly. 

Envelope Closure

This pillow will make a cute decorative pillow in the living room or a baby room. I added this cushion in my Etsy Shop and also in my Indian WebShop. There are still many scraps I need to sew and I am so excited to sew smaller projects like this. 

Meanwhile, I made a small progress with the scrappy log cabin. I finished 3 color blocks so far. I hope I will be able to add one or two color blocks this weekends. 

Until next time,

Happy Sewing

Linky Party: 

Finish it up Friday
Show Off Saturday
Handmade Monday
Craftastic Monday

Moving it Forward