Leader of the Pack

The October Challenge requires the Island Batik Ambassadors to make a bag using Patterns by Annie. We get to choose the bag and the fabrics.

I chose fabrics from the Garden Glory collection and the Leader of the Pack pattern. Here is my completed bag.

Happy Me!

But let's start this journey from the beginning. 

I am in love with this gorgeous fabric collection by Claudia Pfeil. These rich and warm hues sing to me the most melodious Autumn Symphony.

My chosen fabrics

I chose the bright orange as the main fabric, maroon as coordinating fabric and green as contrasting fabric for inner pocket and expanding sleeve.

Supplies from ByAnnie

The process from cutting fabrics to the photoshoot took two weeks. Here are the pictures showing my process.

Cutting the fabrics, mesh, Soft & Stable, straps etc. took one day.

Quilting everything was Day Two. 

Mesh for outer side pockets

Curves & Pins - Slow & Steady

Padded Straps & Handle - Thick Layers and Many Clips 

Front Compartment - Will it Fit?

It Fits!!! Thank goodness!!!

Attaching the Front Compartment to the Bag Front

Making the Padded Straps was the trickiest part. But detailed videos for every step were a huge help. Attaching the front compartment to the bag front was also tricky because we could not use clips and the pins were at an angle.  I recommend using a new 90/14 Schmetz needle and proceeding slowly.

Front Compartment 

I love the bright yellow lining. Everything is visible.

Expanding Sleeve and Broken Pins

Yeah, some clips died in the process. Small price to pay, me thinks.

I made my life difficult by choosing directional fabric but Annie's vey detailed directions tell you how to proceed at every step so that the finished bag has the fabric facing up :-)

Almost there

Making this bag was a big challenge but completing this bag has been a big accomplishment :-) 

Time to show it off.

Finished

Filled

Let's take it out for a proper outdoor photoshoot. Because such a beauty deserves to be shown-off :-D

So bright, I think it needs sunglasses

Do you see the By Annie Magazine?

 The straps are padded AND adjustable

Sturdy Handle

And I am fan of ByAnnie

Love my new bag. If you want to make a bag, I guarantee that ByAnnie has a pattern to suit your needs. The directions are detailed and added videos are great help.

Thank you to the generosity of Island Batik and Industry partners! They generously provided the products to all Island Batik Ambassadors! Island Batik, ByAnnie, Schmetz Needles, and Oliso Iron.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties and Quilting Jetgirl's Favorite October Finish. See complete list on the sidebar.

Rosemary etc.

Rosemary came home on May 1. She is a short-haired almost all-black Bombay cat. 

Rosemary

She is affectionate and agile. Loves to play, and often zooms around the house. Surprisingly, she is not interested in our food. She neither begs nor does she sniff our plates. 

It has been a while since we had a third family member. After Jonesie passed away and Louie displayed misdirected aggression (and returned to the shelter), we had been a pet-free home for a few years.

When we spotted a mouse in the house on Easter, and the mousetraps did not work, it was time to bring home the beast. Since then we have seen neither hair nor hide of the mouse.

I firmly believe that the mouse was the universe's way of telling us - "Bring Rosemary home"

Here she is inspecting Bubbles and enjoying the perch from her condo. 

Just curious...

I am so cool!

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We managed to get away for a holiday weekend, saw some sights, ate good food, had some exhilarating moments (ziplining) and got sunburnt, while tubing in the Shenandoah River.

Mayneview Bed & Breakfast in Luray

The View from our B&B

Lake Arrowhead State Park

Growing Old Together

So Much Fun to get a SunBurn

Yes, we did apply SPF50 cream, but the river water washed it away. 

Pork Belly at Chop House Bistro

Peppers, Mushrooms and Cheese 

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I received the remaining fabrics from Island Batik, including the pattern and bag making supplies from ByAnnie.

The Pattern + Bag Making Supplies, from ByAnnie

The Fabrics to make the bag

Summer Collection - Paisley Pop 2.5" Strips

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July is Purple, said Angela. And nature got the memo.

Crepe Myrtle in Bloom

And here are my completed blocks!

Divided Squares

Framed 4-Patch Blocks

All Purple Blocks, All Island Batik Scraps

Sharing with Angela's Linky Party.

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Island Batik's August Challenge requires us to decorate the carrying case of our Oliso Irons.  That blogpost is coming in August.

I am so naked...cover me please!

Stay tuned and stay hydrated.

Snapshot Bags, By Annie

The October Challenge requires the Island Batik Ambassadors to make a bag using Patterns by Annie. We get to choose the bag and the fabrics :-) Pretty sweet. Isn't it?

I chose to make the Snapshot Bag in both sizes - Small and Large. Here are my supplies.

Pattern, Fabrics, Zippers, Hardware and more

The fabrics are from the Daisy May Collection.

Interfacing and Stabilizer

Annie's Bag patterns are really the very best with detailed instructions and videos to help you through the trickier steps, like Annie was holding your hand :-)

 

Outer Pocket Done!

I started by cutting out fabrics, interfacing and lining for both bags. But somewhere down the line, it got too much.  There was one step in the making of the welt pocket, where I was stumped.  The image showed the pocket smaller than the bag, but my pocket extended beyond the bag.

Inside Pocket

The images in the pattern sheet showed only the small bag with big bag dimensions included in brackets. So I set the large bag aside and completed the small bag.

Straps and Rings (sounds naughty)

Then it was time for a vacation :-) A long overdue vacation :-D To Hawaii!!!!!

Of course I took the small bag with me.

On the Dinner Cruise (Front View)

Matching Colors in the Sky :-)

The Storyteller in Waikiki (Back View)

The idea was to take some on location pictures, but the Small Snapshot turned out to be the perfect bag for evenings and short excursions. 

Wearing Cross Body

Once we returned, I completed the big bag. I was needlessly worried about the welt pocket. Once it was folded it fit neatly within. Time for pictures showing both bags.

What do you think, Bob?

I had to show Bob the inside pocket - how roomy it could be once unfolded and opened to its full size. 

Roomy Interiors

Thank you, Bob!

Bright & Sunny Bags

Small (folded) + Large (Opened) = Happy me!

Snapshot is a simpler bag since it requires no quilting or binding. But it still had several layers and a new Schmetz Microtex 90/14 Needle is an absolute must to sew through multiple thick layers.

I have a backpack, an ultimate very spacious travel bag, storage units in three sizes, and evening bags/purses. I think I am all set. Wonder what I will make next? What else could I possibly need? I welcome your ideas :-)

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.