Sewing Fall and a Tote

It's been a busy couple of weeks since we came home from Sacramento.  I haven't done as much sewing as usual, but did manage to finish a couple of projects.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned to Drew (my 12 year old granddaughter) that I  needed to go shopping in the storeroom for some fall fabrics as it is time for fall nesting.
She said "Oh, can I go?" as if I was going toStrawberry Patches. Well in a way I was, because a good portion of my stash came from Strawberry Patches. Some of it 15 or more years old, but fall is fall and I was sure I could find some pieces to work with.

We took the market basket (of course) and did some shopping.
Drew is a big help getting those big tubs down for me and is more than willing to search for just the right fabric.
We came up with a pretty good variety to choose from.

While searching, I came across something that I had forgotten about. Two years ago when we were packing up to move, a sweet blogger friend had posted something she had made for her fall table and I commented I had not seen the fabric with the scriptures on it. Renee from Sewn with Grace very generously sent me a panel of "Table Graces" and a cute Thanksgiving panel to go with it.
Not having time at that time to sew, as I was packing, I packed it away and it was so exciting to find it along with some of my fall fabric stash.

Another fun find was this roll of binding left from some placemats sewn long ago.

I considered several ideas with a pieced border and latice with corner stones and some other creative stuff, then said to my self, "Self, if you are going to have this done to use this year, go simple and  get it done"

So after doing some math I came up with this. I used only things I had (even pieced some batting).

I love it and it is just the right size for my small RV small cottage table.

It literally took me only two evenings to cut, piece and machine quilt. (Yes, I said machine quilt. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with that. Of course it is just stitch in the ditch, but hey...it's machine quilted.)  Then an afternoon sitting watching the kids play to bind it.

My other project was not made from fabric I had in my stash.

When I saw this at Strawberry Patches (click on this to see the whole line)

I knew it would be perfect for the bag I wanted to make to take to Bible Study.

I designed it as I went along, so I did a lot  little bit of ripping.  Mr. SS, my resident carpenter always says measure twice...cut once. Well my measuring lacked a lot.

But, I finally got it right. It could have been shorter, but I wanted the background to show on the front.

The panel was perfec to make a pocket on the front for my notepad.

I embelished with buttons from my favorite button jar (There were button already printed  where I placed mine)  Then I did a little quilting.

I love the way the sides look with the measuring tape straps framing them.

This is the back. I was tempted to put a pocket here too, but love the background fabric so much I didn't wan to cover it up.

The inside has a pocket that I divided with a space for my cell phone, a pencil and my Kindle.

Even though I have the bible on my Kindle, I still carry my Bible. There is something about leafing through the pages to find a Scripture that I love.

So my Bible and the Bible Study book fit perfectly. Right now that book is

Beth Moore's Breaking Free.

Well that's it.  What have you been working on this week?  I get so inspired seeing what all of you that I follow are doing.  There just needs to be more hours in my day or I need to sleep less.

Speaking of sleep, I guess I had better get to bed.

We just got home from our grandsons's football game and tomorrow morning I am helping my friend Gail sell antiques at a local show.  The Peddlars Faire at Pioneer Museum is tomorrow and Sunday for any one who lives close enough to come. 

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!