Potatoes and Onions in Bags! Oh, MY!

I've been busy sewing for myself instead of for a shop - what a surprise - think of that -- sewing for myself! One project I made was burlap bags to hold onions and potatoes. Since up to this point I didn't have a good storage solution, I decided to make bulap bags and embroider them to identify what's inside.




I made them of 2 layers of burlap ... it still allows the air to circulate and the double thickness makes them quite sturdy, so they stand on their own. And they're completely washable. Woohoo!
Since I made this in a flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants method -- ummmm - my usual method -- I used a satin stitch to join the layers at the top, but I think if I make these as gifts (or to sell in my shop) I'll make the bag out of one long piece of burlap with a long seam ... fold it in half with the seam inside and then I'll stitch along the top of the fold. Maybe I could embroider along the top edge .. like Pommes frites .... Spuds .... Taters ... etc. Hmmm, I guess I'll have to research names for onions.

The potato bag holds just over 10 pounds of potatoes and the onion bag holds more than 3 pounds. I like it. Works for my kitchen!

Also, recently I took a twin-needle sewing class. I haven't had a formal sewing class since Miss Nowatny in 9th grade home economics . This is the finished project.




I think it almost looks like heirloom stitching. I didn't notice until I took the picture that the center pintucks are slightly off center! DOH! Nevertheless, I learned a lot of really good techniques in the class and now I've signed up for a towel embossing class. I have several embossing designs already from Emblibrary.

Hellooooo! Good Christmas gifts! Can't wait!

TODAY I'm working on a "test" apron. I call it a test apron because I'm testing my pattern on cheap-o fabric before I commit scissors to the expensive stuff. Sooooo I'm using beige cotton with red trim. Sisters may remember the red fabric from my retirement Girls Only Party. I used yards and yards of it for the tablecloths. Doesn't Amanda look sweet?

Gotta go now. My break is over and my sewing machine is calling out to me.

Sisters Weekend Part II

Sorry it's taken so long to get the remaining pictures on here. Reason? DH and I went on a long trip shortly after the last post and when we got back, we couldn't access the internet. Boyz howdie -- who knew how much we depend on access to the internet?!?

But, I'm ba-a-a-ck and ready to finish the wonderful sisters weekend memories.

When we went to the Pine Mountain Jamboree, we noticed a tower nearby and Billie wanted very much to climb up it. TO THE TOP! So we came back the next day. It's a tall one!

Nancy and I decided to forego the fun (LOL), so I took pictures of our adventurers. Ginger suggested she go first, Billie next and Alice last. I think they were worried about Billie getting scared -- even though this fun treat was HER idea -- so they made a Billie-O sandwich!

Going thru the turnstile. Gee whiz! You pay to get in so you can climb your bu** off!

Going up.

GOING UP. (The letters show the position of Ginger, Alice & Billie.)

Almost there.

Finally there!!!! And Billie takes a picture of us safely back at the bottom . She's taking a picture of me happy, happy, happy that my calves aren't quivering from the trek up and down. Okay ... maybe it was a picture of me secretly wishing I'd been been braver. Perhaps I can do it next time!

After our climbers made it safely back down, we hopped the trolley to the Crescent Hotel. It's a wonderful old (haunted) hotel we stayed in last time we were there and they had the BEST Margaritas ever, so of course we HAD to visit it again.

Sitting on the balcony, we could see the tower! Looks pretty tall there -- sticking up out of the forest!

And then .... sisterly laughter among the drinks. Really, those people didn't have to leave the balcony. We weren't laughing THAT hard. Were we?

Anyway, it was another WONDERFUL sisters weekend. Definitely a special treat! Can't wait till next year. Sooooo, Alice?? Where are we going next year??? Maybe we should call ahead and get them prepared.