Backpacks are Coming Back

A while back I sent all my backpacks to a shop in Wake Forest, North Carolina - The Lemon Tree. Last month I decided to make some more for my shop. I know, it has been a long time coming. But my production has been sporadic at best recently. This is the first of the new batch. I am so glad I started making them again...they are so fun :)

This time I tried something different with the straps. Instead of 2 separate straps, I made it into one long strap going through a loop at the top. This way there is some versatility in the way you wear it.

I just love the exterior fabric. It was given to me for a custom clutch a while back and she told me to keep the leftovers :) Didn't it turn out cute?

It is rather soft and pliable, so I made sure the interior was sturdier. I went with a solid red denim. Gotta love red!

Don't Be Square

No, that is not an self help statement :P It is the name of the fabric for my 3rd Dee bag. The color they give it is "Tabasco". This is another burlapy fabric. I am really liking this stuff. It has such oomph. I used red canvas for the contrast - it really makes a 'pop'.


You can see the red on the bottom pretty well in this pic...

And with the snap shut...
Okay, I know it won't exactly hold everything in, but in a bag this large, the opening tends to be, well, more open than smaller bags.


And the red pop inside...

Red Floral Skirt

Another piece of clothing down. I cut this out quite some time ago, just like the pink gingham top. This skirt is from the McCall's 5591 pattern. I made the one that is yellow and black above. The only real changes I made were the waistband & pocket edges...I contrasted them the same as the bottom.

The only snag I ran into was the size. I have lost enough that the original cut size was too large. I just took in the sides before finishing it off & viola! Although, by the time the weather matches the skirt, I hope to be even smaller. So it may need another alter.

The pocket edges are the red contrast and the pocket itself is simply muslin. It blends well enough, and frankly, I did not have that much of the floral print left. But I prefer this since if it were floral, it would not line up correctly.

The zipper even went in nicely. It is pale pink, but you can't really tell. And I don't think, well, I really hope, no one will be close enough to that area to tell anyway :P

This is inside the bands - both upper waist and lower contrast. I wanted to give a shot to a better cleaner finish. It went well. I will do it differently next time, but it should look the same, only the method will be messed with.

Now I need to find...or perhaps make...a top that will go with it.

Olive Table Runner and Hot Pad

I started these a while back but did not finish them because I was not sure how I wanted them finished. But then I got sick of them sitting around while I decided and just went with what I had on hand that caught my eye.

The hot pad got a simple purchased binding. I was going to make my own but the greens I had were not quite right. Why is it shown with a glass when it is a hot pad and not a coaster? Well, I

had one nearby & figured it would do fine for showing size. Not that it couldn't be used as a coaster, but it does have a layer of Insul-brite.

I put a small strip across the back corner for hanging purposes.

The runner is on the shorter side. Probably best for a side board or hall table or simply a small table. I just love the color combo. It is one of my faves.

I am glad I went with the bright red underside. It makes for a striking contrast.