Leather Bag!!! I did it!

 This may be the most awesome thing I've ever made (It doesn't take much to get me excited).  I made so many round denim bags, I got my confidence up enough to cut into the big, beautiful piece of leather I bought last fall. It was on sale at the leather shop, and I had a "wild hair" thinking I would one day make a leather purse. I made it yesterday.  Cut it out a week or so ago.  I normally use a plate for the template, but my small plates were too small, and the large plates were too big. I found a paper plate to use that seemed right.  I made several mistakes -- put the zipper piece in crooked, then ripped the facing of it when trying to remove it, also cut the gusset too small, twice!  Thank goodness the leather piece was huge.  Well, here are the results.

Next are some process pics.  I patterned it after the round leather bags from Portland Leather I've seen online.

And why not put a denim pocket inside?? 

Not sure I'll ever made another one, because it did seem to be hard on my Bernina Bernette 08 machine, but no needles were broken. That machine is a workhorse!

 

Memorial Day 2025

 Remembering those who gave all......

Catching up since last post.  We had the grandkids for a week on their Easter Break.  Lots of fun was had!

The kids taught Puzzle to swim.  She was so excited with herself!

Made several more denim bags.  One from my sister-in-law's paint splattered jeans. 

A few more smaller ones.

My son turned 40!!  Hard to believe....

And I should add my granddaughter is really growing up!

I started, and finally finished another scrap quilt, my fav.  I wasn't really sure what it would turn out like when I started making the blocks, but it seemed too busy, so I added 6" low volume plain blocks.  It was a booger to quilt though, I believe, due to the backing being a batik fabric.  Took me three days, should have only taken a day, but I had anywhere from 2 to 5 thread breaks on each row.  So frustrating, but I finally finished it today.

Not sure what my next project is going to be.  I have some beautiful bible verse blocks I want to make a throw quilt from, but I haven't yet figured out the design.  I also want to make a round leather bag.  I started it today.  I don't really know what I'm doing but that's never stopped me before.  😊

Spring is here 2025

 Already spring and I realized there are some quilts I've not shown here, plus a few other things.....

Here's two little llama quilts.  Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.  I adjusted the second one to make it a little bigger.

Still making sourdough bread......  :)

A made a couple of round purses from jeans.  I watched a video (no english) but it actually seemed a little easier to get the gusset right. I didn't like the way the top zipper was so I made another, and put some stiff stabilizer in the zipper portion.  I am much happier with the way it turned out.

I also got much better at the inserted zipper.  I gifted my first, prototype to a childhood friend. She acted like she loved it.  It looks kind of like a saddle bag and she is a horse lover/rider.

Speaking of that friend, she visited me recently.  We had a wonderful visit. The time between the two pictures are about 52 years!!!  Our cameras sure have improved.

I was asked to show some quilts and speak about how to get a quilt published recently.  It was a fun experience.  I enjoyed getting to share quilts and talk to other quilters whoa are interested in trying to get one of their own published.

And the last thing I want to show is something that makes me so happy!  A portable clothes line......I've been wanting one ever since we moved in this house but my husband didn't really want one in the yard (neither did I). This one is expandable to about 90" and I can use it on our deck or inside the screened porch.  It makes me so happy to have wind dried clothes.

Snowy Day, February 19, 2025

 We had a little more snow today.  Maybe 2".

Thankfully, it wasn't a work day for me but I have kept busy.  Finished this little baby boy quilt for a co-worker.  Hope she likes it.

...and I started two loaves of sourdough this morning.  The pics below are from some of my other loaves I've made.  It's my new obsession.  It is such a SCIENCE project - ha! I've been working at this for a few months now, but have finally learned a few things to help the starter mature and grow.  Just look at this lovely loaf (oops, I had already cut it before I snapped the pic)....

I'm having such a good time, trying to figure this out.  I think I've got it, but I must say I've really made some sumptuous things from the discard the last few months - tortillas, pancakes, waffles, rolls, sandwich bread, brownies, cookies, homemade pop-tarts. So many things you can add sourdough starter to for an extra depth of flavor and some good probiotics.

The baggie, was something I read to help the starter have air, rather than a lid. It seemed to help.  Also doing a 1:4:4 ratio (starter:water:flour), that really boosted my starter.  Anyway, I'm having fun with it, and lots of people really love sourdough so It's a great gift to others.

My next project is to make waxed cloth bread bags.  I'm awaiting on my organic beeswax pellets to arrive.  Then I'll have a nice little package to store the bread in.  Supposedly, the beeswax has antibacterial properties and the cloth bags allow the bread to breathe a little, and it doesn't mold or go bad as quickly as in a plastic bag.  We shall see.

 January 28, 2025

We've had some really cold weather, and the snow even made its way to New Orleans.  The grandkids were ecstatic! They got 10 1/2" of snow and matched a record from 1895.  We had about 3-4 inches the week before.  My beautiful DIL and handsome son.....

You can tell the wind was really blowing!

Time to get out the valentine's quilt.  Puzzle loves it.

I did the Bonnie Hunter mystery "Old Town" this year.  Just finished it this evening and hope to get it quilted in the next few days.  She has the best instructions on her mystery quilts. I've done a few of hers and even though they seem so complicated, she makes them doable, one step at a time.

I've decided 88" square is a good size for a king bed.  It makes like a coverlet, over my white duvet coverlet. It can also be used on all the other beds in the house, even the twins. I think this will be one I'll put in my rotation.

I learned to make the best, easiest pizza.  All you do is put a little oil in the skillet, and spread sourdough discard around to form a crust.  Cook on one side, flip, and while the other side is booking add your toppings.  So yummy and so incredibly easy.  Took maybe 5-8 minutes to make.

I'm still trying to make all the things with my sourdough starter.