GeoCentric Summer Totes

It's no secret that I love making bags.......I mean LOVE it!  I've picked up a few tips in my bag making adventures, the most important of which is to choose the right fabric!  I rarely, if ever, make bag exteriors with quilting cottons.  I always prefer to use a home dec, linen, or canvas--something sturdy to stand up to being tossed around.  I am super smitten with Cloud 9's canvas line, Geocentric.  Not only is the canvas perfect to make bags, but I love the bright colors and simple, modern prints.  

I was SUPPOSED to be making a Pretty Pleats Reversible Tote designed by my good friend, Michelle, but there was a, um, cutting error.  What can I say?  I'm human!  No matter how many bags I've made, I still make mistakes!  This time, I accidentally taped the pattern pieces together incorrectly and cut out something that shouldn't have been.  Michelle's pattern is awesome and easy to follow and I have totally rocked it (the right way) before: 

See?  I can follow directions, really!  :)  Anywho, I had a Tim Gunn moment and decided to make it work!  The resulting three totes are a bit smaller than Michelle's design, but functional and cute all the same!

I even took the extra time to put my labels in these bag!  Usually, I'm too lazy to put my labels on bags, but I do like the "finished" look they give.  

These totes ended up being the perfect size to take to the pool or run a few errands.  The strap fits over my shoulder and the bag profile is slim and unobtrusive.  Since the GeoCentric line is canvas, the bag holds it's shape well without being stiff.  I see these bags making many appearances this summer!

Pixelated Snowflake Tutorial: Christmas in July Challenge

Merry Christmas in July!!!!  Christen of Love By Hand is have a great Christmas In July blog hop and sewing challenge!  You can read all about it HERE.  I was a bit ambitious in this challenge and decided to make a quilt!  Pixelated quilts have been super popular lately--I've make two pixelated heart quilts!--so I decided to pixelate a snowflake!  

Chrissy From Sew Lux Fabric sent me this super pretty fat quarter bundle of Winter's Lane which is 10% off right now, no coupon needed!

I promptly sliced and diced it to make this quilt top!  Sorry, my ambition got the better of me and I didn't have time to quilt it yet! :)  

Fabric requirement:

FQ Bundle of Winters Lane or whatever holiday fabric you want

2 yards background fabric (technically, you only need 1.75, but I like extra to be safe)

Cutting:

(120) 2.5" print squares***

(165) 2.5" background squares

(4 10.5"x20.5" background rectangles

(4) 4.5" x 10.5" background rectangles

(4) 10.5" x 10.5" background squares

Yeild:

50" x 50" quilt

***You can easily make this using any size squares you want to make the quilt larger or smaller.

This is actually a super simple top to put together, so long as you follow the diagram below!  For the most part, I put the small squares together in 5x5 blocks, but you can divide it up however you'd like.  I find working with only 25 squares at a time prevented mixups and seam ripping.  

This would make a great wall hanging, table topper, lap quilt or bed quilt depending on the size of the squares you want to use! 

Check out all the great holiday tutorials!

July 8 – Christen, Love by Hand

July 10 – Sarah, Stitching & Bacon

July 15 – Kelly, Kelbysews

July 17 – Lyanna, Purple Panda Quilts

July 22 – Tessa, The Sewing Chick

July 24 – Kristen, KD Quilts

Then, during the month of July, start and finish your own holiday sewing project to link up July 26-30 for a chance to win one of three amazing prize packs from these amazing sponsors!

Grand Prize

$40 gift certificate to Sew Lux Fabric

Pearle Cotton Sampler from Sew Lux Fabric

3 Sewing Prints from Pen & Paint

Paloma FQ bundle from Dear Stella

1 pattern from LBG Studio

Second Prize

FQ Bundle from Michael Miller

2 sewing prints from Pen & Paint

Pearle Cotton Sampler from Sew Lux Fabric

1 pattern from LBG Studio

Third Prize

Havana FQ Bundle from Monaluna

1 sewing print from Pen & Paint

Pearle Cotton Sampler from Sew Lux Fabric

Winners will be selected by the judges, which will consist of all of the bloggers plus Chrissy from Sew Lux Fabric. Entries will close on Tuesday, July 30 and winners will be announced on Friday, August 1. 

How To Enter: The Details:

Enter any project you’ve made during July to get ahead of your holiday sewing. It can be anything (not just the projects we post here) and can include any fabric – it doesn’t have to be Christmas fabrics or colors.

Starting July 26, you'll be able to link up your entry at Love By Hand. You'll have until 10:00 PM EST on July 30 to add your entry – one entry per person. Link a new post from your blog, your Flickr account or your Threadbias account – you don’t have to have a blog to enter!