Solstice

I almost couldn't believe it, but apparently I made the quilt top for Solstice more than 5 years ago! It felt like I had made it much more recently than that, so that's kind of crazy.

Solstice is designed by Rebecca Bryan, and this was part of a quilt-along that I joined. I was enamored by the color scheme, which looked like a sunset explosion.

I knew for a long time how I wanted to quilt this, so there was no hesitation once I started, and it was just a matter of actually doing it. I wanted the star in the center to be highlighted by geometric designs and lots of straight-line designs.

The solid background space of course has to be filled by swirls. I didn't want the background to take any attention away from the star in the center.

My opinion has always been that print fabric quilts have the soul in the prints, but solid pattern quilts don't have soul (no matter how beautiful) until the quilting is added. I haven't changed my mind about that, but I'm happy that now the soul has been added to Solstice! I really love it.

Cosquilla and Dogwood Pouch

It's official ... I'm slowly but surely replacing every store bought bag or pouch in my house with something handmade. There is simply no comparison to the joy and pride I feel seeing something I made myself, in the fabric of my choice, every time I use it. While making bags is frequently no picnic, and there are usually a few hairy bits in the process, it's all worth it when it's finished, and I can use it for a long time.

The Cosquilla Pouch is a combination fabric / vinyl pouch that has 2 compartments, and I plan to use it for my travel toiletries bag. I love the fabric I picked out for it so much, and the quilting on the bottom and side panel gives it some great texture.

The second pouch I finished is the Dogwood Pouch. I have many pouch patterns, but what drew me to the Dogwood Pouch is the pattern hack: an optional tool wrap. I had been using the Enigma Pouch to store my makeup, and while it works great, I realized I wanted a smaller makeup bag for just the bare essentials, and the tool wrap is perfect for makeup brushes and such.

As always, the patterns and video workships are by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness. Sara is basically my Yoda on my bagmaking journey.

And of course, the final stitches are barely completed for a day before I start dreaming about my next bag project ...