I've been waiting since November to share items I made as thank you and Christmas gifts for friends and family. The reason I had to wait is that one friend received her gift this week. Since she reads my blog, I didn't want to reveal her present.
I made these items and gave them away:
- 5 Dayna Packs
- 5 sets of three Humbug bags - small, medium, and large
- 2 bowl buddies (lower right, made with orphan blocks)
- and 1 zipper M&M pouch
I really like the Dayna Packs! I made the first one (not shown) following the pattern's poorly written instructions. (Yes, I'm warning you.) The next five I made (shown here) were made following a YouTube hack that adds a second, larger zipper pocket at the top of the bag! Much, much better!
The Dayna Pack is advertised as a fanny pack (Does anyone over the age of 30 wear those?), but I've found it's the perfect, body-hugging, cross body bag.
The Dayna Pack at the top is made with peace fabric from Spoonflower, and cork. I gave that one to my Peace, Love, and Ukulele club leader. She thanked me and I saw last week that she's using it! Yay!
The Humbug Bag is a very old pattern. I've practically worn out my set - small, medium, and large - from use as cosmetic/toiletries travel bags. A very practical thing to own and use.
This set now belongs to my on-line Bible study leader, and was made by piecing 1½" squares into a rectangle that I quilted before sewing into a Humbug.
For one Humbug in this set, I used an improv block, always quilting before sewing.
I like threading each ribbon with a wood bead because it gives the bag some weight, though I'm sure a large plastic bead would work. Maybe better. I machine wash my bags.
These are really a snap to make, and I was on a roll finding scraps and blocks to work with, and choosing colors to make coordinating sets.
As much as I'd like to say that everyone liked their gifts, in fact, I haven't heard from several recipients. No thanks are necessary. Just hoping everyone finds them useful.
Activities have begun again this week, in earnest!
From Monday through Saturday, I have eight activities to attend - ukulele, line dancing (twice), Bible study (twice), and Quilting Guild of The Villages and Central Florida MQG (thrice). From that, you might be able to discern that it's "snowbird season," when part-time residents and visitors "flock" to Florida for the winter. Activities are ramped-up to fulfill the desires of the influx of people who'll be around until April or so.
Quilting Guild of The Villages will have its biannual quilt show - Showcase of Quilts - January 24-25. I'll have two quilts (two allowed per member) in the modern category. Linda
Lovely gifts! And you used lots of scraps and orphan blocks, which is great!
ReplyDeleteYou have been busy making all those bags.
ReplyDeleteFun sewing (once you learned the hack) and fun gifts! I like the idea of using orphan blocks for the bowl buddies. Snowbird season = full speed ahead!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love all of your gift items. The humbug bag is especially nice. At a recent quilt show I went to, I bought a crossbody bag from a lady who makes purses and bags to sell at shows. She just called them crossbody bags, but it looks very similar to your pattern.. She was charged $35. I bought a two-tone red one with a purple strap. I've used it every week since then.
ReplyDeleteYou are so prolific with sewing gifts for others. And they are such useful items. You are amazing!!
Above is me, Dar in MO.
ReplyDeleteOhh, you made so many beautiful gifts! You didn’t say much about the m &m bag, very cute! 🥰
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Pamela! It was truly a pleasure to make each of these items. As for the M&M bag... no, I didn't say much. I've made dozens of these bags in the past, using bags from potato chip, Twizzlers, peanut M&M, and coffee, so I think everyone has seen them and they're no big deal. Easy to make. I gave the M&M bag to the receptionist at my hair salon because she's the one who has to call me every five weeks to be reminded of my appointment. I couldn't gift something to my hair stylist without gifting something to her too.
DeleteLove the humbugs. The pattern I gave from “ We all sew” uses binding at bottom and spine.. I like yours better. I’m thinking I might try some out your way. Maybe even serging them?
ReplyDeleteDP
Great "3D" sewing you have done! One year I made the grandkids zipper pouches out of their favorite candy bags--so cute. Your weekly life is WAY busier than mine :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun and innovative bunch of gifts! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteWow that’s a lot of bags. I’m sure they are all loved. The Humbug bags are my favorite. I’m hoping to do a lot more quilting this year, but maybe not as much as you. 😄
ReplyDeleteI need to start noticing when my comments are coming up as Anonymous. Just commented that way.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing what you made for gifts, no matter the timing! It inspires the rest of us!!! Great mods, too--another zipper, and the added bead.
ReplyDeleteWow so many nice gifts!!!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth E. of OPQuilt: What a fun collection of bags! I'm impressed that you have the time/patience to do all these; I made one larger one this week and it exhausted me! I love the idea of the wooden bead -- easy to grab to open it up, too. Hope those recipients give you two thumbs up!
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