Chubby Charmer Bag Fun!

I am actually down in Fountain Hills (Phoenix area) for a couple of weeks. And no, there is no snow here!! In fact it was warm enough for a dip in the pool today :)

But on Saturday, I spent the day at a LQS, Quiltz, here in Phoenix.  There was a class, taught by Barb Spitanly, making a Chubby Charmer Bag...

It was fun meeting some other quilters, and actually producing something so pretty and functional as well.  The class was based on a pattern by Penny Sturgis,

but Barb has added a few little touches, like using "Soft and Stable" as interfacing. It makes the bag very sturdy, but still soft...mmmm....I guess that is what soft and stable means, right?

Anyway, I used some leftovers from my "Arizona Gold" quilt (and no the quilt is not finished yet!!)

The lining has pockets on both sides...and a hard matte board insert for the bottom...

and there are little snaps inserted on the sides to close it up a bit.

I am really happy with this bag! It was quick and easy to make, and such a great size for packing up projects, or taking a quilt to guild for show and tell!

In fact, as I was leaving I found this fabric...

Wouldn't this be spectacular for another one of these bags?? I couldn't resist...had to get some!

hst...extra bonus

I still haven't finished my "Briar Rose" quilt... it is basted and waiting to be quilted! I am getting there!

But...when I was making it, I had to trim off all these little triangles...

I know..probably should just throw them away...but they are sooooo cute!!

And sewn together make the cutest little squares...only 1 1/2"!!  I am sure I will find a use for these someday!

 How about you...would you save them or chuck them out??? 

WIP ...Curio

I wanted to try something different with this layer cake...Curio by Moda.

I have been using a lot of white as my neutral background, and thought I would try going darker for this. I found this really pretty olive greenish fabric...so went with that..

The one problem I am having is matching the colour for borders and binding!! I took it into my LQS and tried out every green, brown, yellow...but couldn't find much that worked. And then when I did pick something...it looked TOTALLY different when I got it home..so I didn't use it either!! I did find something in my stash that seemed to work though.

I think it is a really interesting change...but must admit...I like my white background better!!

The pattern is from England Street Quilts ( I love her blog...so many great quilts ....check it out!!..free patterns too!! Bonus!)

So that is my WIP for this week...and it is nearly finished!!

So lets check out what else people are doing over at Lee's WIP..

And the Needle and Thread Network..

left overs.. to a mug rug!

I had some bits leftover from my 3-dudes quilt, so just played with them...my very first "mug-rug"!!

and soooo easy!!  And big enough to add a snack or cookie beside the mug.

I am actually giving this to a gentleman who has a special interest in researching family tree history!  A friend from my quilt guild (Thank you Elizabeth !) gave me a lot of information about my ancestors, (back to the 1800's) ...who came to Canada from the the same place as her ancestors..Bukovina, Austria.  Anyway, she also connected me with this gentleman who has even more information!! And apparently we are even related back there in history somewhere!! Isn't that cool!!

So I met up with him for coffee while I was in Calgary, and he was amazing!! So much information! And so many links and connections ...I am overwhelmed!!

Lest we forget.

the "Maze " Block

I am having fun with the "Saturday Surprise" blocks from my LQS..Periwinkle Quilting.

This week the block was called Maze...

It is so much fun getting all these little bits, and ending up with something interesting (hopefully!...I am getting better at following the directions..hehe)

and here is the finished block..

I posted my previous progress before...here are the first four blocks..

I think this will be quite stunning when all 20 blocks are added together!!

OK...I know this is a small finish...but I am linking up to Friday Finishes at TGIFF anyway! 
                                                      










and also to Friday Felicities

Something fun coming soon to Canada!!

Isn't this a great idea!! Check out this ...Sew Sisters Quilt Shop is organizing a Blogathon Canada !!

Blogathon Canada runs from the 19th of November to the 24th.

Here is what they say:

Here's how it works:
Each day host bloggers will introduce themselves and their work on their blogs. They will include links to more blogs from their province so you can visit those blogs as well. The two host bloggers will also host a giveaway of some of their favorite goodies from our store and you will have a chance to enter two giveaways each day for five days and three giveaways on the last day!

What a great chance to "meet"  more Canadian bloggers! I can hardly wait for this to start! So much fun.