Baby Needs a Brand New Bag

So, I had this crazy idea to make a gift bag to go along with the baby quilt.  I had some gift wrap made from the same print that I used for the baby quilt (both the fabric and the gift wrap are from Spoonflower), so why not?

I thought it would be quite an easy thing, but I had a few challenges.  The primary one was that the gift wrap is quite thick and not easily pliable.  These are the same characteristics which make it perfect for gift bags, by the way.  It comes in large 36" rolls.

Sea Baby Blocks gift wrap

I took apart my coveted Uniqlo Hello Kitty shopping bag to see how to construct my own bag and used my Martha Stewart scoring board and bone folder to score all the folds.  The scoring board wasn't quite big enough for the size of the bag.  (It's 12"x12" and is meant for greeting cards and envelopes.)  Making a gift bag also requires making diagonal scores.  These did not come out as nicely as I wanted, but I made do.  I couldn't bring myself to look for my compass and protractor since that room I need to clean out is still in need of attention.

Poor little Hello Kitty bag!

I also made a prototype bag.  I wanted to practice since I knew I was making only one out of my precious gift wrap!  DH got a real kick out of this bag!  I made it out of some packing paper that came in a box with some fabric from Fat Quarter Shop.  (I love how they package up their fabric.)

My prototype

DH laughs at me for saving shopping bags.  I can't help it.  I love shopping bags and handbags!  I am certainly happy I had a bag from Nordie's because I used the bottom insert from it to put in my bag.  I used twill ribbon handles from my Rugby (Ralph Lauren) bag.  I am now justified -- it makes sense to save shopping bags!

I decided not to use the size of my Hello Kitty bag -- I used my Orla Kiely bag for size instead.  This is a super cute bag.  DH tried to put it in recycling!  No way!

This Orla Kiely bag had the perfect measurements

OK, so after all that, here is the bag.  The baby quilt fit perfectly!  What do you think?  It is certainly rough around the edges, but I love it.  I feel as though I should make another just so I don't forget all the steps.  It would make a great tute, no?

The bag in all its glory

Perfect fit!

Baby Quilt Complete

** I would like to start off by asking that anyone reading this please say prayers for all those affected by the explosions during the Boston Marathon. **

I spent half my weekend emptying out the basement and relocating my sewing nook.  We then found out that the workers need to get into the room that I put everything in.  The room was so packed that they couldn't get to the closet they need.  Great.  We need to reschedule.  And clearly, I need to purge.

I am happy to say I finished the baby quilt.  It was pretty easy, but sewing the ties was a bear -- 101 in all.  I want to be sure the quilt lasts through several washings.  (The first one I made in 2008 belongs to Jordan and it's still his favorite. I reviewed the pattern here.)  I groaned throughout the entire process but I'm very happy with it.  I will give it to my coworker after I share it at the next BMQG meeting. :)  If you like the fabric, check out my Spoonflower shop!

It feels great to get something done, right?  I have many more projects on deck.  The next one being my Pearl Bracelet hexagon project.  DH made my design board this weekend.  I am so happy to have it.  After looking at what I had already sewn on the board, I realized I need to take about half of the hexagons apart.  Ugh.  As I say, when sewing, you have to be willing to take it out.  On the upside, I already feel the creative juices flowing for other projects.

Take a look what everyone else is doing in this week's WIP Wednesday post at Freshly Pieced.

Super Quick + Easy Baby Quilt

French class is on Wednesdays so I am writing my WIP post early!  I wrote up the post on my Pearl Bracelet hexies last week and of course forgot to link it.  I have another WIP that I hope to finish up soon -- a little baby blanket for a coworker's newborn.  I have made this blanket several times.  The pattern is in Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts.  The first time I made it I blogged about it here.  Wow!  I'd forgotten that was my first post!

It's really easy to make, but sewing the ties is a bear!  I generally sew about 80 of them.  The picture shown is the fabric (designed by yours truly at the design if you check out my Spoonflower shop!

Take a look at this week's WIPs at Freshly Pieced!

Featured on the Boston Modern Quilt Guild

The Boston Modern Quilt Guild featured all the Quilt Market posts I wrote and took pictures for on the True Up blog.  The link is here.

They also featured my Spoonflower gift wrap. Spoonflower offered gift wrap for the first time last year -- during Christmastime only.  I hope they'll offer them this year, too!  If you are interested, you can order the designs on fabric, wall paper or wall decals.

More Gifts Wrapped

My collection of gift wrap now available at Spoonflower

I just received my latest gift wrap from Spoonflower. I had to reduce the scale by about half. The first run can be used only for really large boxes. Thankfully, I have a least one large box to wrap.

To give you an idea of the scale, the boxes in the pictures are all about 10.5" x 6 7/8" x 2". If you can guess exactly what's inside, I will send you one! :)

I am still not finished with my cards. I cannot spend another late night making cards, though! This elf needs her rest! I will finish the last batch tomorrow night. If you haven't gotten yours, there is still hope :)

First Gift Wrapped!

I have been crazy busy prepping for Christmas!  I have a video to upload, but there seems to be a problem with Blogger and videos, so we'll have to wait that is resolved.

I do have my first gift wrapped in my very own gift wrap that I designed and printed via Spoonflower.  Way cool!  I can't say how much I love Spoonflower!

The items in my store look great as gift wrap.  Most of them are large-scale prints.  I have created smaller-scale prints and am waiting to get those back.

Currently, there is one smaller-scale print in my shop.  This is a picture of the first gift I wrapped with it.

If you like this paper, you can order it from Spoonflower! :)

bulbwave royal small

See everything in my shop here:

Tina's Spoonflower Shop

My Own Holiday Wrapping Paper

It's the holiday season...

Believe it or not, holiday season is upon us and it's time to start thinking about those gifts and what you are going to use to wrap them!

For a limited time, Spoonflower is offering giftwrap!  This is right on time for me, because I have been searching for a giftwrap vendor.

Two designs, HollyLuck and BulbWave are in the shop. The others are public but not yet available for purchase because I need to proof them first.

Check out my first giftwrap designs here! I'd love to know what you think!!

My designs on Spoonflower