Project Bag with a difference

A recent trip to Craft Alive at Toowoomba resulted in 3 of us purchasing a "Mad for Plaid Project Bag".  It is made of nylon mesh.   Tempting as the bag is already made.
I chose the Lilac version - there were a couple of other colours available at the time....but when I searched online - there are 6 colours different colours - I found them at Rural Stitch Co - look here.
Of course, there was a lovely cross-stitch pattern that perfectly suited the bag.  'Stitch' cross-stitch pattern by Shepherds Bush.  I recently made 'Sew Mini Bag by Shepherd's Bush".  Here.  Though at the time I didn't realise I could buy the plaid bag.

It was awkward to sew on as it is quite firm, and of course, the back is exposed....I tried to keep it neat, but Perle thread (size 5) can be obstropulous!   (Defined as 'Unruly, defiant, noisy, or difficult to manage'...definitely that - apart from noisy!)

A quick project - I bought it Friday 6th March - Finished about the 23rd March!!!!!

Chookshed Challenge #2 - March - Denim Bag

Last November, whilst on retreat at Glenrose, we were able to do a class at Sew Pretty Patchwork to make a bag.  We had seen a bag on Facebook, and after making a few enquiries, Gemma organised a class for us with Libby.  We had such a fun day with Libby - she brought in huge bags of denim and bits and pieces, and we were able to raid her stash.  She was so generous with her artistic advice and tips.

I didn't finish mine in class....and it sat for a bit - too many other projects to do....

Then somehow some of the Chookshed people thought #2 could be a bag...AND . . .we are going back to Glenrose this month and I had hoped to take my bag back to show Gemma & Libby..  An excellent number choice for this month Deana - thank you!!!

Here is the bag.  I tried to use bits of jeans and other denim pieces from Libby.   The tree is from the lining material that I spied in the shop months before we did the class.  It is quite a heavy cotton...combined with several layers of denim in parts, I was grateful for my walking foot.

The front

The back

The lining fabric

It's great to have my Chookshed Challenge finished so early (It was finished on17/3/2026).

Cute Little Purple Cup

When we were in Warwick on retreat (19-23 March), we had a bit of time to fill in before we could settle in at Glenrose.   I wandered into Bed Bath & Table.  All their Easter stuff was 40% off.   I don't really decorate for Easter....though having seen the goodies on display, I was tempted.

I spied a very pretty little cup... A silly purchase really...I have multiple pretty cups...too small for a decent cup of tea...And I have multiple pretty mugs . . .but I "had to have it". (and it WAS on special.)
I used it a couple of times at Glenrose for tea . . .but thought it needed a special coaster.

I found this machine embroidery design online - from Kreative Kiwi - and it was free - so whipped one up.....

and if I am going to take this cup anywhere - it needs a drawstring bag...doesnt it??

A very quick result...unlike some of my projects that linger for years....which I will now get back to.

Needle Girls March Retreat - Glenrose House

My first retreat for the year!!!

I keep a "Retreat Book" - I head each page with the venue and dates and list what I plan to work on (tick it off when done), and include other notes, such as who went and for one retreat - who was in which cabin.
The book was nearly full - not enough pages for the planned retreats for 2027 - so I selected this Journal that Deb had made and gifted to us at Sunday Stitchers last Christmas.

It is very pretty and will keep me going for a few years....

My plan included:

• DV Baby Quilt
• Baby Quilt for Alana
• 28 Square in a Square blocks for Flower Pop
• Squares for the centre panel for Village Green
• Placemats - if I got to them

I am happy to say I got it all done except the placemats, so I spent some of my free time making large scrappy blocks for a DV quilt - it takes me a while to get my head around the "randomness" and the "just hack it" as De suggests.
Anyway - I got 4 done and brought home a fair stash of fabric pieces to make some more...

My projects:

28 Square in a Square blocks

Baby Quilt for Alana

DV Baby Quilt

Village Green centre

These all need to be trimmed and joined.   There are two I might replace before that happens.

As always, a fun time was had, much chatting, some snacking and a glass or two!!!

Not too long til the next retreat!

Sunday Stitchers - Challenge #1 - Red & black vase of flowers (ex Inca)

An easy finish for this month's challenge.

This block had been well and truly started by my friend Inca, who is sadly no longer with us.  When helping to clear out her things, I found this block, probably 75% complete and thought it would make a good block to pass to Helen for her "random blocks quilt" that she might get to one day...LOL

Fortunately, I had a collection of felt flowers made in a Wendy William class many moons ago, so I was able to use them to finish off the barren stems.

I have left the orange flower at the top unfinished, so that it can be placed as high as possible and go over the seam line.

Needle Girls Birthday 2026 - Flower Power - De

We decided our Birthday gifts for 2026 would be based on the theme "Flower Power".  To be interpreted any way we like.

My present for Lynda in February was a cute crocheted pot with bunny ears and a flower.  I didn't take photos of that as it wasn't my creation.

March is De's Birthday.

Sometime last year, I purchased some fabric that had "De's Texture Basics" on the selvedge.  It was a great fabric for the placemats I was doing - but the selvedge was also very appealing.  So, I stashed the selvedge away.

Then Maureen bought some fabric that had the word "Daisy" on the selvedge...I had to get some of that!

When I was going through some selvedges for my door stopper boot (future post), I found another perfect selvedge - "Petal Power": and "I think of you every daisy"

I had a blue/yellow daisy fabric and teamed it with the orange daisies and the selvedges and made a bag for De.
The outside

The Inside

That sorted the "Flower" bit and a little bit of "Power" - but then I thought of some Powerade.   As I was about to cover the "ade" part of the bottle, I realised that if I just covered the A - I had "DE" left.  I added a 4 so now the bottle reads "Power for De".

I guess she will get the joke...

Some Placemats

One of my groups is a collection of ladies with very varied craft skills. and we meet in a Co-op shop that is run by a group of very talented crafty people.  Their skills cover not just textile art, but glass fusion, paper, leather, silver....

We meet monthly and usually have a bit of a project where those who know share with those who don't know.  In 2025, at our first meeting, we made some name tags from random pieces of textiles.  

At one session, I showed how I make a couple of my angels, we have had a session on diagonal crochet blocks, one session of scrunching up paper with hand lotion etc...I missed that one sadly.

I also ran a session about making EPP hexie flowers.    A lot of the ladies had done this before.   I took along some fabrics left over after another group that some of us were in stopped, and I took the hexies "papers" and needles and thread.

Once the hexies had been made, I used them to create placemats - the plan being that we would donate them to the Meals on Wheels group in that area.   (Different groupd to my local one.)

I appliqued the flowers to fabric - added wadding , quitled and bound them.   Some of the ladies helped with the hand sewing of the binding of the first lot and then I put on the big girl pants and machine bound some of them - still not my preferred method, but it is a bit quicker...LOL

We have 17 to donate so far......

Here are a few:   

Not great pictures, I just like to record a few to jog my memory later on.