Working on gifts

I have spent the past few weeks working away at getting some gifts finished up. Birthday quilts, baby quilts, and this great tote bag for a friend. I ran across the pattern for the Professional Tote on the Stashbusters website. One of the gals raved over the bag. A quick trip to my quilt shop turned up the pattern and the rest is history. This tote, if you haven't seen it, is probably the best bag I have ever had. If your like me, you have more bags than you'll use in a life time. This one beats them all hands down. I made my first one just before my trip to Alaska in June and was blown away at how great it was to travel with. There are so many pockets in it that I was able to carry on a complete overnight supply of clothes, and etc. I always travel with things to get me thru a day or two. It's my just in case factor, if the airlines loose a bag. With room for water bottles on the sides and so many zippered compartments it's just perfect. As for the sewing, the directions are very clear and other than lots of pieces, nothing was hard to do at all. All the seams are finished when your done and there is a great little strap that is on the back that slides over the handle of your luggage for ease of traveling. Could you really ask for more? The pattern is from the Creative Thimble. I recommend a trip to the website to see for yourself. As for this particular bag, it went in the mail to it's new home earlier this week. A thank you for fetching me at the airport and feeding me for a few days! I had a chance to visit an old friend for a long weekend and had a wonderful time. The wallet, coin purse and luggage tag were all made out of the scraps. She should be receiving her package today. Hope she likes it!

Tommorrow I will be singing that ole song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in my head again. I hope to be on my way to Alaska for one last trip this summer. I live to drive my youngest son crazy with my visits! What are mom's for anyway! I call it my turn. He bugged me for 20 years and the paybacks are wonderful for me! :-) The planes are full though and standby is just that. So we will wait and hope for the best. I have almost 2 weeks off from work now, so I have some time to play. Yeah!! Playtime my favorite! Now if I were only old enough to retire and have playtime forever, then we would be talking!!!

Look forward to future whatever it holds!