A couple of projects finished

Beautiful jacket. Love the abbey bag. I just might have to get the pattern.

Ooh! that jacket is gorgeous Sandy. So elegant and beautiful. Sorry you had such a hard time taming the pattern. But, all the struggle was very worth it. Well done you.

. In message , Sandy writes

The jacket was well worth the trouble - in my eyes anyway! I too decided a long time ago to give up on clothing projects, but this one is almost enough to tempt me back into it again! Very nice.

The quickie project is just cute as can be - now that I might tackle!

Thanks, Louise. If you made the jacket, I'd recommend using her technique for making the bargello pieces, but use a different pattern for the construction. I love my new Abbey Bag -- it looks so cheerful on my cabinet! :)

Thanks, Pat! :) I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, though the fit isn't *quite* right (I'm leaving well enough alone, though!). It may be another 20 years or so before I make any stabs at clothing, though I used to make everything I wore.

Thanks, Mary. :) There's a good-sized supply list for the bag, but the instructions are all very straightforward.

Thanks, Roberta! :) Oh my! A plastic bag??? No, no, that will never do! ;) Just think how this sort of bag would cheer you up on a dismal winter's day .... ;)

OK....that bag is stinkin cute! Was it fussy to make? What did you put in it for weight? Did it take long? (As in, is it a bit too much trouble to make for each person in a small group?) CUTE!

Well, my golly Sandy. There I was thinking you were just a pretty face and look at what you can do! I'd babble about how talented you are as well as such an excellent seamstress and how brilliant you are at choosing fabrics but . . . naaah. That would probably embarrass you. Oh my. Wow. The jacket and bag are terrific. Polly

The jacket is beautiful, Sandy! And that pincushion and scrap bag is too cute!!

Thanks, Donna. :)

LOL! I love that "stinkin cute", Kathyl -- thanks! :) No, it wasn't fussy to make. I used crushed walnut shells to stuff it, and that gave it plenty of weight. With that and the non-slip shelf lining underneath, it sits very securely on my cabinet. I made it over the course of two partial (*very* partial) days -- I'd think that making them assembly-line fashion would go very quickly if you were making several. I'm sort of thinking of making a few more as gifts; I'm going to need a Christmas gift for our group swap, and I think a friend and my DT might like them, too.

Thanks, Polly. I do love hearing what you have to say -- it's always good for a giggle and a blush! :)

Do you think there is any chance the walnut shells could stain the fabric eventually? I suppose they've been treated somehow so they won't. I may have to track down that pattern for my collection. It's really fun.

The walnut shells are in a muslin "inner" bag before being placed into the "flower", so I think the staining would be minimal, if anything. However, you could use emery or sand instead, according to the pattern. I'd heard that the walnut shells were good, so I gave them a try. The only downside is that I had to buy a 7-lb. bag! LOL! Needless to say, I have plenty left to make more pin cushions. ;)

If you want the pattern, I put a link on my site where I described the photo. Have fun with it, Kathyl! :)

Oh my goodness, no! Roberta do not leave a gaping teddy bear next to the machine. Some small child might come visiting and think you were a cereal killer. (Sorry. Couldn't help myself.) Polly

"Roberta" Well, it does have the advantage that the snips don't stick to it when

LOL! That would probably work just fine. ;)