Tuesdays With My Needle

And it was smokin’, let me tell you! I started a new design Monday night after doing the finishing work on those three pieces. I was fondling my stash and discovered that I accidentally ordered 2 of the Pennsylvania heart kit from The Victoria Sampler’s Hearts of America series. So, if anyone wants a brand new Pennsylvania kit, I’d be more than happy to offer it up for sale or trade.

Anyway, I managed to get more than halfway through the heart on Monday night, so I went ahead and finished stitching it Tuesday night, in between making loaves of bread for my friend Mary (that’s a story for another day).

After that, I completed the stitching on another project called Cancer Awareness Blackwork by Kristine Herber of Dragonfly Stitches. I love this design and have been carrying around the materials and chart in one of my travel bags for a while. I got a good bit done while I was waiting at the gastroenterologist’s office Tuesday afternoon, so I went ahead and finished that off, too.

I even had the impromptu idea to finish the design onto a tote bag that Mary could use to carry a paperback book or something to her chemo treatments. I started the bag Tuesday night and am totally winged the pattern, making it up as I went along and following my instincts. I was even able to stitch to my idea of making it reversible. Considering how bad of a seamstress I consider myself to be, the fact that I’ve never done a lining in my life, I think I did really well! The stitched piece was cut into two components, the wording and then the celtic knot-like motif. I did little peek-a-boo cut outs to insert the stitching portions. I still can’t believe that I actually made it reversible, too! Let me clarify that, at no time, did I have any help (except a little brainstorming with Terry) or follow any type of pattern or directions. Don’t ask me how I figured any of it out, it just came to me.

Next time, I want to try doing a squared-off bottom to allow more room for the contents. Oh, and fusible interfacing is practically my best friend! I fused interfacing to both sets of fabric, the handle and used it to secure the stitched pieces in their little windows.