Coasters!

I'm spending time today reworking my photos for my ETSY listings. I have taken so many and they are not well organized! I spend alot of time searching when I go to post a listing.

I have recently made some coasters to list.... they're easy and lots of fun! I use a squarish glass candle holder for the pattern. It isn't a perfect square, so the coasters have a quirky look that I like. I fussy cut the top fabric to highlight a flower or pattern, then layer the individual tops onto a sheet consisting of the bottom and the batting. After sewing, I cut them out, turn them, and give them two rounds of topstitching and some freeform quilting! Done! Since I preshrink my fabrics they are machine washable, warm... but lay them flat to dry.

Camping at Humboldt Spring; way up the Chetco River, Oregon

Lola is in heaven camping! We all stay outside and play with her all day!

Wild flowers.

While I work a sudoko puzzle and read, Frank makes the morning coffee. It doesn't get better than that!

Yes, that is a tennis ball in Lola's mouth! She has the uncanny ability to keep track of them in the woods, even though it has gotten disgustingly dirty! She loves to fetch!

Blue Linenweave Grapevine Bagg

When I was making this bagg I wanted it to be more substancial than some others. I achieved this by using iron-on quilt batting and then freeform quilted both the front and back. It is a medium sized bagg with the following dimensions:

top width: 10"

bottom width: 11 1/2"

heigth: 9 1/2"

strap length from the top of the bagg is 37"

The second photo shows the inside, which is lined with navy blue coated nylon. You can see the huge front zip pocket, and there is one inside as well! Note the details: braided trim on web strap, with D-rings at both ends. I used two vintage buttons stitched together in the hemp macrame zipper pull and woven & fringed trim across the top of the bag.

This is a bag to wear with denim.... very relaxed and casual.

See more pictures at my etsy store:

http://www.ssmartraggs.etsy.com

Yesterday I made a pattern for a clutch purse that I call "Borsetta" because it is inspired by a vintage Italian clutch.

The Italian clutch was made with a zip top, no pockets... just a place to keep your stuff! I kept the zip top, but couldn't resist adding a pocket to the inside. I like a little pocket for business cards or cash.

I kept the diagnal pleats on the bag front. They give the bagg a certain panache, don' t you think?

Overall dimensions are:

top width: 12"

bottom width: 13"

height: 9 1/2"

For this bagg I used a softly patterned rusty brown mock suede fabric and added a top border of tapestry with acorns and pine cones. The lining is brown decorator cotton. I am listing it on my ETSY store today.

See it at : http://ssmartraggs.etsy.com