Toddler Book Bag

 

 

My oldest daughter asked me to make a book bag for my three year old grandson to take to the library.  She wanted it to be wide enough to accommodate large books that were 12 inches wide, so I modified the pattern that I used earlier this year for a bag for my mother, and made this bag.  It measures about 15 inches tall, with a base that is 5 inches by 12 inches.

She suggested either trains or big trucks for the theme.  I couldn't find any train fabric that I liked, but I found this fabric with heavy equipment on it at Hobby Lobby.  I think he should like it, and I think it will hold plenty of toddler books.  I hope mom and son both like it and enjoy it.

Quilt Shop Hopping

 On our way home from Washington state, we decided to take a short detour and do a little quilt shop hopping in Missouri.  We visited both Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, MO, and Quilting is My Therapy in Liberty, MO.  

I really haven't ordered much fabric from Missouri Star in years, but I used to order regularly.  It was really a lot of fun to visit the shops there in person.  Missouri Star actually encompasses several building in the little town of Hamilton.  It is a nice quiet place with lots of beautiful fabric.  I'm really glad we stopped and explored there.

 

 

 

We also went to Quilting is my Therapy, which is a much smaller shop, but also nice.  I've been watching long-arm quilting tutorials by Angela Walters, the shop owner, on YouTube, and I wanted to get one of her quilt-along panels to try.  I also bought one of her quilting rulers (Elvira).  I got a ruler base for my machine just before we left for Washington, and I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

Over the Rainbow

 

 

I finished the binding on this little quilt while we were traveling home from Washington state last week.  I went round and round on a name for it.  I finally settled on "Over the Rainbow," because I like to name quilts after songs and that song mentions both rainbow and star, so it seemed appropriate.

It is machine quilted on my new Moxie XL long-arm quilter.  I used rainbow variegated Isocord thread on the top and black cotton thread from Hobby Lobby on the back.  I quilted it in an all-over meander pattern.  I'm still working on getting the tension just right, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

I decided to make the label for this quilt with my embroidery machine, which currently lives in our condo in Washington.  I haven't used it much, but making quilt labels was the main reason I bought the stupid thing, so I figured I'd give a try.  It turned out okay.

 

This quilt makes the 7th UFO that I've finished this year.