Last February at the quilting retreat, one of the ladies had made this beautiful tote bag which my friend and I admired a lot. It had two big side pockets, one on each side of the bag.
After the retreat, my friend got right to work and made a bag from the same pattern. The one pictured below is the second one she has made. I admire her for making a second one after I learned how much work it was to make the first.
She encouraged me to make one too, offering her help (which I would definitely need). We had two sewing days at her house and I was still slow-poking along, but with her help through the hard parts, I managed to finish the bag (below).
For buttons I used the ones the Captain made for me about 43 years ago from deer antlers he had found. Since they are purely decorative, it doesn’t matter that they are not uniform in size or shape.
The bag is reinforced with “Soft and Stable” and this batting lives up to its name.
I struggled with sewing this bag and swore I would not make a second one, but now that it’s done and I have more of an idea what I’m doing, I may reconsider this.
Like anything in life, “It’s easy once you know how.”
September 2, 2019 at 7:01 pm
Those bags are beautiful! I’m not sure I’d use one as a tote bag, though. I’d probably just put it up on a shelf and admire it!
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September 2, 2019 at 7:07 pm
*smile* Thanks for that nice thought.
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September 2, 2019 at 7:30 pm
They are gorgeous! And I love the deer antler buttons.
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September 2, 2019 at 8:16 pm
Thank you, Raili! I think the antler buttons add a special touch. I’m especially pleased that the Captain made them.
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September 2, 2019 at 7:41 pm
Wow, those are amazing bags! I love the colors in each one of them. Your bag reminds me of the ocean colors. Just gorgeous. Great job!
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September 2, 2019 at 8:15 pm
Thanks, Sonja. They can be made out of any colours you want.
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September 2, 2019 at 8:52 pm
So lovely- and love the buttons and story behind them!
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September 2, 2019 at 10:59 pm
Thanks so much, Lauren. I was trying to imagine what you would put in a bag like that. Maybe a whole bundle of herbs from your garden, or packages of seeds that you bought from the store.
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September 2, 2019 at 9:14 pm
The fabric color selection of your bag speaks to me! Lovely, well done!
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September 2, 2019 at 11:00 pm
I love blues. The other bags might work in a more formal situation.
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September 2, 2019 at 11:24 pm
Those bags look fabulous! You are very talented. 🙂
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September 3, 2019 at 8:12 am
Well … I don’t know about talented, but I do have good friends who have helped learn a lot about quilting. Glad you like these bags. I’m a bit surprised myself that they turned out so well.
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September 3, 2019 at 12:50 am
Wow, such beautiful bags! Nicely done, Anneli!
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September 3, 2019 at 8:14 am
At first I thought I wouldn’t want to use my bag (the blue one) and get that first smudge of dirt on it, but I saw yesterday that this isn’t an issue anymore. I had poked my finger with a pin and a smear of blood got on one tiny spot, so it has been “baptized.” Thanks for the nice compliment, Jill.
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September 3, 2019 at 2:51 pm
LOL! Sorry your bag has been “baptized.” I’m really good at that…especially if I’m wearing white.
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September 3, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Isn’t that always the way? Wear white and you get a splash of coffee, gravy, or wine on it. I should wear an apron all my life!
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September 3, 2019 at 5:11 am
Your bags are gorgeous — love the fabrics!
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September 3, 2019 at 8:16 am
Many (not all) of the fabrics used are batiks and they always have a special look about them. Thanks for visiting and for your friendly comment.
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September 3, 2019 at 6:50 am
A perfect “book bag” to be used lovingly by members of my local book group! Doing pre sales?
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September 3, 2019 at 8:20 am
Ha ha! If I had to make this bag to sell, it would cost a small fortune, just in labour alone. Then I’d have to charge for mental stress when I was frustrated about putting it together. My other bags are much more straightforward to sew. This one was more of a challenge. But I’m glad you like it and I agree it would make a nice book bag with side pockets for notepads and pens.
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September 3, 2019 at 8:18 am
Wowzer! I especially like the ‘homemade’ buttons…Proof that everything has a home somewhere – just takes time.
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September 3, 2019 at 8:21 am
The Captain will be so pleased that you like them. He has already promised to make more of them for me. Thank you!
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September 3, 2019 at 8:52 am
Beautiful bags, especially yours, I love those blue colours as well as you do. And then the buttons, handmade from antlers – well done Captain! Lots of work!!!!
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September 3, 2019 at 8:53 am
I was really glad to find a use for those buttons after all this time. I once had them on a sweater I knitted (43 years ago).
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September 3, 2019 at 10:06 am
Nicely done Anneli and what unique buttons!
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September 3, 2019 at 10:34 am
Tnx, Belinda. I was glad I saved the buttons all these years. Just think, some deer walked around with this button material on his head about 45 years ago and then dropped it for the Captain to find. I found two more antlers in Montana last year that will become buttons sometime soon.
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September 3, 2019 at 11:05 am
Pretty remarkable!
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September 3, 2019 at 10:34 am
This looks like a time-consuming project… all that strip piecing! But the results are beautiful and well worth the work. Enjoy.
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September 3, 2019 at 10:36 am
The good thing about the strip piecing is that it is sewn right onto the Soft and Stable batting after the lining fabric is lightly glued onto the back of the batting. The harder work comes when putting the pieces of the bag together with joining strips.
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September 3, 2019 at 5:48 pm
That makes sense. Bag construction (especially zippers) are usually the hardest part for me.
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September 3, 2019 at 5:49 pm
Exactly. Me too.
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September 3, 2019 at 1:44 pm
It looks complicated. Congratulations!
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September 3, 2019 at 2:23 pm
Thanks, Darlene. It was a struggle at some points, but I feel good about it now that I’ve done it and I would tackle another one sometime.
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September 5, 2019 at 8:07 am
That is gorgeous and unique. And probably easily washable (meaning doesn’t shrink!). Lovely.
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September 5, 2019 at 8:11 am
Thanks, Jacqui. Now I need to go fill it with books and pens and notebooks.
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September 11, 2019 at 7:15 pm
Best work Anneli, you should place them in the Fall Fair 2020, People will enjoy the marvel’s you have created in useful , gorgeous bags.
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September 11, 2019 at 9:22 pm
Thanks, Marsha. It’s great when something turns out well.
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September 24, 2019 at 7:48 am
Anneli, when I saw your bag I immediately felt no surprise that it was blue. Those beautiful blues on your bag suit you wonderfully. All three bags are gorgeous. Bravo to you for persevering. 🙂
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September 24, 2019 at 8:37 am
You know my tastes very well, Carol. I love blues and greens. Nature’s colours. Some day I may get brave enough to make another bag of this pattern. It’s gratifying to see the finished product.
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