Handmade Top 10 Bags and Purses

I am very excited because two Scrap-bags purses are in the running for the Handmade Top 10 Bags and Purses List!

YOU should VOTE because there are some lovely bags there AND because you might just be inspired!!!

Here are the two bags of mine that are in the running. Here's the link to vote: Handmade Top 10

There's only two days left. You can vote as many times as you like! Have fun. I hope you're inspired.

Scrap-bags Knotty But Nice - Listed in the Top Ten under TextileAlchemist

Scrap-bags Hexagon Block bag - Listed in the Top Ten under TextileAlchemist

"Let my patterns be the canvas for your creativity!" "Create something unexpected . . ." Jamie Kalvestran

Hexagon Block Bag in Red sighted at Sew Pieceful Quilting in Tomahawk Wisconsin

I made a trip in Mondays snow storm to find fabric for a special project I am working on. I went north to Sew Pieceful Quilting in Tomahawk WI. I found exactly what I was looking for and MORE . . .

There was a group of ladies in the back room and as I was introduced my eye went straight to this bag! It's made from my Scrap-bags Hexagon Block Bag Pattern.  This is Ruth Ann R the recipient of this little gem. It was a gift from her cousin, Jane R. of Estes Park, Colorado. Ruth Ann said she really likes the bag and that it's functional and holds a lot for it's size. I like how her cousin customized it with a toggle button rather than the snap. It's a nice touch!

Ruth Ann it was so nice to meet you and thank you for letting me take advantage of the photo op!

The Scrap-bags Hexagon Block Pattern is available in your local quilt or fabric shop, as well as online to be mailed or as a downloadable pattern.

Hand Pieced, Hand Quilted Hexagon quilt for my Grand Daughter!

My grand daughter (and first grand child) was born a year ago. She was premature and I spent lots of days in the hospital with my daughter while she was in pre-term labor and then weeks waiting for little Miss Makena to be strong enough to come home. So how did I pass the time??? Quilting of course. Here is a photo of my daughter and Makena one year later at Makena's birthday party, draped in the quilt.

You can CLICK HERE for an earlier post about the quilt too.

What We Did with Winnie's Mother's Fabric Scraps.

Back in March of '08 I posted about a quilt top that I had made from fabric scraps that I had purchased at my neighbors estate sale.
You can read that post here . . .


Well, the other night at the art quilt opening (see previous post), Winnie Johnson brought the finished quilt in to show me and now I'd like to share it with you. Photo above holding the quilt left to right: Winnie Johnson, Myself, and Loretta Stacy.

In a nut shell, I purchased vintage fabrics from Winnie many years ago, they were her mother's scraps. I pieced the quilt top using the vintage fabrics for the hand pieced hexagon flowers and machine appliqued them to newer fabrics from my stash. When the top was finished I sent it to Winnie. She had it quilted by Loretta and finished it herself.

Below, Winnie is showing Loretta the documentation text she added to the edge of the quilt. It reads: "Grandmother's Flower Garden Variation...Pieced by Jamie Kalvestran Using Ruth Aanerud's Scraps...Quilted by Loretta Stacy...Finished by Winnie Johnson."






I asked Winnie how many of the fabrics she remembered from her childhood. It was amazing how many memories it brought back. Even her husband Russ pointed out a fabric that had been formerly a pair of culottes that Winnie wore when they were first dating! How cool is that!

And even though I had never met Ruth, (Winnie's mother) in person, I hope she is looking down from above, smiling and nodding her approval of what we did with her scraps!

Russ & Winnie Johnson operate Woodland Cottage a Textile and Craft Retreat in Elk River MN, read more about Woodland Cottage here.

Loretta Stacy owns The Needle's Eye a Longarm Quilting Business, in Princeton, MN. You may email Loretta here.

'LOVES' combined . . . Horses and Hexagons

The most recent stop on my Giant Shop Hop was at Touchstone Farm near Lexington Kentucky. No, it wasn't a Quilt Shop it was a horse farm in the heart of blue grass country. And even though the blue grass was white with snow the day I was there I was still inspired!

My Love of horses and hexagons will be incorporated in one of the samples of my new Big Easy Tote bag, watch for the finished product in a future post.

Hexagons are only ONE of many options this bag pattern will give you!

What 'loves' will you combine in your next project?

Grandmothers Flower Garden - Variation for Makena

Did you know I am now a Grand MaMa? My first grand child has arrived. Her name is Makena. I started this quilt in the hospital while I was waiting for her arrival. I find hand sewing hexagons is an excellent way to pass the time and quiet my mind. I continue to add to it in the evenings in front of the TV. It's going to be her 'big girl' quilt for her twin bed.

More Vintage Quilts! Grandmother's Flower Garden!

More images from the Buffalo, MN - 1st weekend outing!

Lonni Rossi - Paint Box Fabrics from Andover Fabrics - Prom Bag Possibility?

Look what I discovered! A grandmothers flower garden block made with 2.25" (cut size) hexagons fits perfectly with a Hexagon Block Scrap-bag™ pattern!


Fabrics used are from Lonni Rossi's Paint Box Collection.

Sewing Hexagons - Techniques/Instructions

Lately, I have been posting a lot of hand pieced hexagons projects. Piecing these little gems of fabric together are one of my creative addictions.

If this appeals to you and you would like to give it a try, I have searched for a few online technique resources for you. Fare warning . . . it can become addicting . . . in fact while doing this research for you, I have discovered that I am probably what they call a Hexaholic!

The Jax Collection - YouTube Video

Everything Else Quilting - May Miller

How to Make a Hexagon Quilt . . . Quilt-O-Rama Blog

Keeping us in Stitches: Quilts & Quilters

CD Designs - Sewing Hexagon Instructions

Twiddletails - Freezer paper templates

If you want to do your own search, I'd encourage you, there are many, many, many more resources out there.

Photo above - features Lonni Rossi's Cherry Blossom Geisha and Impressions Fabric collections.

Scrap-bags™ Fat-Quarter with appliqued hexagons

This bag is made from our Fat-Quarter Scrap-bags™ pattern.

It is embellished with hand pieced hexagons that are appliqued
with a blanket stitch.

Inspiration from your cupboard!

Looking for inspiration for your next project? I found inspiration for this hand pieced hexagon quilt from my set of Riviera dishes. You could also do an un-quilted table cloth, napkins or placemats.

I had a blast looking for fabrics in the right color family to match this brightly colored set and when I had enough variety . . . the sewing fun began.

I've had this table top quilt for a few years now and it has been washed many times. So don't be afraid to eat on your quilts!

Hmmm . . . I think I may have just inspired myself to buy some new dishes . . . and then buy some more fabric . . . and . . .

Happy Sewing and Quilting!

Jamie

Vintage fabrics makes a sturdy new quilt!

Years ago, I purchased a box of scraps from my neighbor Winnie's estate sale. The scraps had belonged to her mother.



Of course the box of scraps sat around for a long time . . . and then one day I took them out and began to press them. Before long every surface in the room was covered with scraps. I wish I had a photo of that to share.

I gathered them up by color families and started making . . . you guessed it . . . HEXAGONS!

All of the hexagons are from this vintage fabric stash of Winnie's Mothers. Because some of the older fabrics were a bit fragile, I decided to applique them via blanket stitch to a new piece of fabric to create the quilt block. Below are photos of some of the blocks (in audition mode) and three rows (on the bed) of the quilt top.

Not only did I forget to photograph the room-o-scraps, but I forgot to shoot the finished quilt top before giving it to Winnie. Anyway, I hope you enjoy seeing these oldy but goody fabrics!

Fat-Quarter Scrap-bag™ project with hand pieced hexagons!

These hexagons need at least a 4" x4" scrap, but you could do the same project with smaller hexagons and smaller scraps.

I love hand piecing hexagons. I do this mainly while sitting with my husband while we watch TV. I never have a plan for those hexagons . . . I just do a batch and then set them aside and eventually an idea will strike and I apply them to a project. (PS. I get my best ideas while I am hand piecing or hand quilting, but the TV has to be off)




Here's the back side of the pieced hexagons with most of the paper hexagons removed.



After pressing the entire piece, I trimmed it to 11x17 (half of a fat quarter because I used the Fat-Quarter Scrap-bag™ Pattern) I used a coordination batik fabric for the lining.

Then I fused the piece to a fusible fleece and did a decorative top stitch. I finished the bag by following the instructions from the Fat-Quarter Scrap-bag™ pattern.



Back of the bag.