This week, I had a couple of days where I could spend the whole day in my she-cave. It was a good time to load up the embroidery machine and let it stitch while I was working around the room, pulling things out and working on the decluttering. Here are two of the kitchen towels that will be for sale at the fall festival.

I’m still working on the declutter challenge with my guild area, and got the rulers and applique patterns done while the embroidery machine stitched. I started on the fabrics, and took several yards to guild for the freebie re-home table, along with two UFOs that I have abandoned. I got inspired to go through my stamping stuff as I have way too much of that, too. So, I took two days, pulling and pricing, going through every sheet of patterned paper, all my stamps, embossing folders, inks, decorative elements, stickers, books, magazines, and everything else stamp related. When I was done, I had a table full, plus two more boxes. I have asked a stamping club to come shop next week. If you are local, and a stamper, and you want to come too, just email me.

I made this produce / veggie bag from a pattern I found online, but I don’t like it. It is too small for what I have in mind. I want to be able to take it to the farmer’s market to collect the fresh produce as I shop without using plastic bags. The mesh will keep air circulating.

Anyway, I thought about how I wanted the bag to be constructed, then drafted a pattern on paper. I pulled out the mesh, and the two veggie prints and got to work.

I made adjustments as I went. First, I folded the edges of the top piece over so they would be finished.

Then, the mesh is put on the right side of the print, and rolled up. Note that the mesh is wider than the print. This is by design.

I am using a burrito method to sew this seam so the inside and outside seams are both finished. Roll up the mesh, the pull the bottom edge of the print over it and line up the raw edges on the top.

Sew the seam.

Pull it right side out, then repeat this procedure for the bottom.

Adding the handles, I think I may have a problem with the seam allowances. My intention is to do the side seams using a French seam method to enclose the raw edges. But, I am not sure I have left enough extra on the sides of the mesh section. The upper print section will have a draw closure. I need to make the other side, then put them together to see if this will work in the real world as it does in my head.

I have one other cute little project in the works. While I cleaned and sorted stuff, I set up the embroidery machine to do this little snowman motif that says “Let It Snow!” My plan is to finish it with a bit of fabric that has a navy blue background. Then it will be a cute little mug rug to go with this fun soup mug I found. I like that it can go all winter, not just for holidays. The little bunnies and deer are pretty cute. I found the perfect print yesterday at my local quilt shop, Beginnings. I’ll finish it and it will also go into the fall festival sale.

Registration is open for Virtual Retreat coming next Thursday on April 24, starting at 9:30 am Eastern Time to about 3:00 pm. It’s a fun way to spend a day! You will be sewing in your own sewing space, yet have all the benefits of show and tell, advice on projects, and general chat time with friends old and new, from all over the country. You can work on whatever you like – sew, stamp, knit, crochet, embroider, organize your sewing room, press fabric and do laundry, or just come to chat. Also, you do not need to commit to the whole day, come and go as you can. Come for a little while, or all day, pop in and out as your schedule allows! Click HERE to register. Just $5.

I hope to make progress on my yellow and blue Tango lap quilt this coming week, and during Virtual Retreat. I also want to make a bunch of handle hot pads for the fall festival. I am getting a good head start on that to have a full and overflowing booth for customers to browse.

We are going to be in a parade tomorrow for Easter with our MINI club. That should be loads of fun! What are your plans for the weekend?