I'm keeping this.

I have been spending so  much time making these past few weekends.  I have finished projects I started over a year ago, finished a gift almost before the baby arrived (now mailing it is the next trick...), made something I've been promising Graham for a couple months, and even started and finished a bag--in the same day.  Whoo!

I also finished what has become probably my proudest manipulation of materials.  I designed it from start to finish.  I think it deserves it's own post though, so on to the goods:

I've been dreaming of a bag that was big enough for books and my water bottle and my sewing kit I bring to church, but had a long strap.  Seriously, for years I've looked at bags, but I always use the "but-I-could-make-that" excuse and save my dollars.  These materials were all on my shelf: the red is some indoor dec weight fabric I got for 75 cents at SCRAP; the pocket is a remnant I got from Ikea; the strap is fabric I bought in Guatemala; and the lining is leftovers from Taylen's quilt.  Total cost: I have no idea, but I didn't spend a cent on it yesterday.  After some massive seam ripping on the lining, I did have a few moments of "oh this is why people use patterns", but I think in the end it would have taken me longer that way.  I've been toting it around just asking people to comment on it. Feel free to comment on it yourself. :)

Outside pocket is cell-phone worthy

Inside pocket fits the water bottle or just the handy stuff

And here is my Birthday quilt.  Yes, the one I started on my birthday before my last birthday.  That one.  It's finally finished!  And I love it.  And I'm keeping it.  I guess this is a me-post; I feel like I rarely keep the things I make--they are most often baby gifts or birthday gifts or something a friend wanted me to make.  But these, these are for me.  I think that's ok.

my fancy binding clips

 This started out as the prototype for the aforementioned proudest project, and turned into a table runner.  I'm keeping this too.  Since I have to give (get to give!) away the other one.

 And finally, I got another mini-quilt hanging.  It doesn't have a home on a wall yet, but it's at least hang-able.  I made this for Graham for our anniversary.  It's a topographic map of Crooked River, where his family has a home.  It's our little getaway, and a place where he has a lot of memories from growing up.  One of the reasons it took so long for me to get it hung was that I wanted to use a stick that I found out at the cabin.  So here it is.  I don't love it yet, but I think it's because we don't have a wall for it.  I do love the actual quilt though.  I'd like to work on more at some point...it's one of the things I've done that I feel is completely original, or at least I haven't seen anyone else doing it yet.

That was a lot!  But that's what I've been up to in my little sewing room.  I've been up to lots in the kitchen too, but I'll share more of that in another post.  I'll check this one off the to-do list for now.  Happy weekend!