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| One of Two Tote Bags |
I had the day off from work, today, so I was able to sleep in till 10:30 a.m. After I had my tea and checked emails, etc., I changed my bed sheets and did a load of laundry. One of my aunts called and I chatted with her for a bit. Aunt was calling because she had been trying to call one of my cousins who was not answering her phone; I told aunt that perhaps cousin was on another phone call. Aunt wanted me to go over to her house to tell her that aunt was trying to call her! I told aunt that I could try to call cousin on her behalf, but I will not go over to her house as I am persona non grata at her house (her husband is angry with me). I called my cousin and later, aunt called to say she was able to speak with cousin. Apparently, cousin was on another phone call that lasted a long time.
Then, I decided to do some sewing. Initially, I wanted to sew new cushion covers for the family room sofa throw pillows. But when I looked in my stash, I didn't see any fabric I wanted to use for the covers. Instead, I saw this piece of fabric:
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| Apples and Alphabet Fabric |
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| Lining Fabric |
I was able to make two totes from the fabric. I cut out the bags and straps in such a way that all the fabric was used. One more piece of fabric used up and gone from the stash! I shall give one to one of my aunts and one to one of my friends as they are both Montessori teachers.
The tote bags took most of the afternoon and early part of the evening to make (partly because I had to unpick the first straps that I made).
Later in the evening, I watered the garden, both front and back, took the trash cans to the curb, chatted a bit with one of my neighbors who saw me watering the front garden and came over to say hi, washed the dishes, and video chatted with my daughter.
Today, I am grateful for:
- A day off from work to play and relax
- Leftovers from last night's dinner for my lunch
- Washing machines, sewing machines, fans, etc.
- An afternoon spent sewing two tote bags with fabric from the stash
- Electricity to run the fans, washing machine, fans, etc.
How was your Monday? Have you sewn tote bags?
The bags are great Bless and a good way of using up the fabric. I do wish I knew how to sew.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to sort out the mix up with your Aunts telephone call. Some people do worry if you do not respond to them immediately. I expect she was relieved. X
Thanks, Jules. I am planning to make a few more bags, especially since I need a few new reusable grocery bags. You can learn to sew, Jules. There are so many good videos on-line or you can take a class, maybe. A sewing machine helps, but you can sew by hand, too. In fact, I learned to sew by hand, first. Even now, I am more comfortable sewing by hand than by machine.
DeleteYes, I'm glad aunt was able to get through to cousin. Whenever she can't reach cousin, aunt will call me to ask where cousin is! LOL.
Love your Apples and Alphabet tote bag. Do you have to pay for the plastic/brown paper bags from the store? You always seem so busy and productive.
ReplyDeleteThis morning it was time to get my hair cut/colored. I go every 5 weeks and then I went on to the grocery store and did my weekly shop. Glad to get home into the A/C - our heat wave continues on. We are now under an excessive heat warning thru Sunday with triple digit temperatures expected, the worst heat wave since 2012. We did have a brief thunder storm shower but we are still in desperate need of rain. This weather has more or less put a stop to much walking!
Best wishes for a good day at the office.
Sandy, thank you! Yes, we have to pay $.10 for a plastic/brown paper bags at the stores. Or sturdier bags for $1. I've been using bags that I received free when the law first went into effect, two years ago, but those bags are beginning to show wear and tear.
DeleteGlad to hear you are getting your errands done in the mornings when it must be cooler. Definitely a good idea to stay indoors where it is cooler. Do you have a mall close by? If so, maybe you can drive there and walk inside the mall? Just make sure you don't window shop, otherwise, you might find yourself spending a lot of money in addition to walking!
Keep cool!
I love the fabric that you chose for the lining. Was it flannel or a cotton poly blend? I have a nightgown in that pattern that is flannel and I absolutely love it!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, it is a cotton poly blend. I, too, love the pattern (I made some pillow cases with the pink of that same fabric).
DeleteVery pretty bags, Bless and they are always so useful to have, even just to store things as well as to take around. Your teacher aunt and friend will enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. I am hoping they'll find them useful, maybe to take their lunch to school or some papers, or something. I have several I've made and I use them to take my lunch to the office, to carry knitting and sewing projects around, etc.
DeleteThe material is lovely and making 2 bags is a very productive way to spend an afternoon. I find it hard to believe anybody could be angry with you Bless. At least aunt and cousin finally made contact thanks to you xx
ReplyDeleteI had fun making the bags. Ha, ha, you'd be surprised at my ability to anger some people, Suzanne. :) This particular cousin's husband decided to get angry with me this time because, after he had quoted $7,000 to refinish my hardwood floors (less than 1,000 sq. feet; he's not a professional floorer or handyman, but he was unemployed and I was trying to help), I decided to go with a professional floorer that a friend had recommended, who charged me $1,150. This was more than 7 years ago. Prior to that, he was angry with me (and my mother) because I wouldn't accept his "advice" when I had marital problems; I was shunned for 6 years, that time. *shrug*
DeleteGood grief, I'd have been happy to fall out with him if I was saving myself nearly $6,000. Fancy trying to rip off a family member who was only trying to help him out anyway. Did he think you were stupid? I think it's him that could do with some advice regarding how to get business! xx
DeleteOh, I think he thinks he's something else, if you know what I mean. I once asked him how much he wanted to paint the inside of my house - this was back when I was quite healthy and able; I asked him because I wanted to give him some work to help out. I just wanted a coat of white paint over white painted walls and ceilings, just to freshen things up a bit. He wanted $3,200; it cost me less than $200 to buy the paint and brushes, etc., and do it myself.
DeleteLove the tote bags.. and they are always so useful.. Can never have too many..
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy. I hope my aunt and friend will also love them. :)
DeleteGreat bags! I love them. I use a lot of that kind of bag probably more than a handbag. I wish I could learn to make one - it's on my list of things I want to learn how to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon. There are lots of great tutorials on-line, but I can also do a post on how I made mine, if you like. I'm not very good or particular about measuring and so forth, though.
DeleteYou're very resourceful, Bless! I was just thinking that some of my reusable bags are starting to break so I ought to replace them at some point, but never considered making my own. I don't have any good fabric anyway so I think I'd probably just find tote bags at the local thrift stores!
ReplyDeleteNathalie, if you have any spare T-shirts, you might do a search on-line for a tutorial on how to make tote bags with T-shirts. There is even a no-sew method, where the bottom edge is tied!
DeleteWell, let this be my punishment for waiting so long to comment on this post... I just donated a huge bag of clothes on Wednesday and before that I threw away all the un-donate-able Tshirts. Too bad!
DeleteOh, well, as you said earlier, you can get some tote bags from the thrift stores. Or, buy a t-shirt from them and make one! :D
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