Fessing Up

I have a problem, I love making bags. Tote bags, hand bags, you name it. So, here's my latest:

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And the back

The fabrics were some fat quarters that I had picked up last fall, thinking I was going to make some placemats for Christmas gifts. Naturally, that didn't happen.

I made this new bag for just one purpose, to hold this:

Oh yes! We've been discussing getting something to use when we travel and camp so I put my Christmas and birthday money towards it. I love it! It's so easy to use and for just checking emails and reading blogs, it's definitely easier than the laptop. And, of course, I can't forget about those Angry Birds, completely addictive!

The bag is a pattern I picked up at Sew Expo last week. It's called Midpad Case. It was a pretty easy pattern, but the fun part was using Texture Magic in the center panel. I love the way the flowers all "popped".

My oh My!

One day, while browsing Pinterest, I found these lovelies. Then I read this blog post. All of that reading led to these:

  

I took the recipe from the first link but used Guittard chips and tried refrigerating the dough for 24 hours first. Refrigerating the dough seems to lead to plumper cookies instead of my usual flat ones. The Guittard chips are definitely WAY better than good ol' Nestles toll house chips. So, next up will be the NY Times version to try. But, I have to say, the brown butter adds a very unique flavor to these. The bacon flavor, surprisingly is very subtle. All in all, yum yum. 

There has been no sewing going on due to my extended back problems. But, 2 weeks away from sewing of any kind is enough....if I don't get downstairs and play with some fabric I think I'm going to start going nuts. Let's hope my back will cooperate. 

Meanwhile, I'll leave you with a picture of my Spotted Valentine doing what he does best, being a slug. 

Easily Distracted

I admit it, I'm too easily distracted. I know I've mentioned this before....but I can't tell you how many times I walk into my sewing room with a plan in mind and then I run across a project that had been started and put aside. Before I know it, I'm working on that instead of the intended project. So, this week, I really was planning on working on one of the secret projects but in the process of moving things around I ran across about a dozen of these rw&b 9-patches.

Before I knew it, I had more than 30. I figure 48 blocks set with sashing and a border will make a nice size for a QOV. In the same pile with the 9-patches were 2 of these lovelies, improved 9-patches.

They now number about 30 also, although only the top 6 you see here are actually connected. But another 12 or so have the melons attached.

Then I had lunch with a friend the other day and learned that their first grandbaby is finally coming west for a visit. Well that reminded me of the box of I-Spy patches I had run across earlier in the week. Since I had made quilts for both the baby's Mommy and Auntie I felt it only right that little Rowan should have one too.

By dinnertime the center was complete and I pulled the borders from my stash today and got them attached. Tomorrow it will go on the HandiQuilter to be quilted -- that is if I'm not distracted once again.

In the meantime, while starting to write this post I happened to read a most apropos post by Nancy. Yup, there's no doubt, I got it, BAD. In honor of my ADQD I made a little badge. I'm still trying to figure out how to share the code with y'all....if you know how, please let me know.