Welcome to ‘What I’m Working On Wednesday’ where you are invited to share with us about what crafty endeavor or project(s) you have in the works this week.  Working on items for your business?  Making something summery for yourself?  Crafting with your kids?  Well, we want to hear about it!

This week, I’ve been trying to figure out just how to use this most fabulous, diva-ish Alexander Henry print (Mad 4 Mod) I got my hands on awhile back.   It was only logical to make a wristlet for cosmetics, right?  But I’m stuck on what else I should do with it.  Maybe some other sort of organizer for a purse?  A Wallet-mini, perhaps.  Toss me your suggestions, please!

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON THIS WEEK??!!

Here are a few tips for joining in on the fun! –>  On your blog post (about what you are working on this week), you are welcome to grab my button over in my right sidebar.  I’d sure appreciate a link back to this blog so that others can find us and join in, too.  Use Mister Linky below to let us know you are playing along and so we all can check out your latest and greatest!

GIVEAWAY

As a thank you for participating in our launch of WIWOW,  each person on Mister Linky below will be entered in a drawing to win a Cute2Carry bookmark, as a small token of my appreciation for your support!

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My Blog Crisis has been averted!  Thanks to my wonderful friends Michelle at Creo Communico and my web guru, Cicily of August Afternoon, I am back in the  blogosphere!  Thank you ladies ~ you are the best!!!

My sidebars are not fully re-created, but the blog is functional, and I can post, etc.  So, we are back in business!

Reminder! TOMORROW is our launch of ‘What I’m Working On Wednesday’. I totally hope you will join us, and spread the word to your crafty blogger friends!  Furthermore, I am planning a giveaway for the event!  Participate in WIWOW, and you will be entered to win a prize! WooHoo!

See you tomorrow!

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Just wanted to let you all know that I’m having a blog malfunction!  Stay tuned and I hope to be up and running again soon!

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Trying my hand at fabric covered push pins using Jessica Jones’ (How About Orange Blog) tutorial!

My friend, Cicily, turned me on to these and this is my first attempt at making some.  They are fun and quick to put together and will jazz up any cork board!  The fabric is from Amy Butler’s August Fields home dec collection.

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Join us beginning this Wednesday, July 1st, for a new C2C blog feature called ‘What I’m Working On Wednesday’.

I’ve always got some project in the works, it seems.  Sometimes it’s still an idea in my mind, and other times it’s finished or near completion.  This feature invites you to to share with other crafty friends what you are working on this week that has your creative juices flowing!  Whether it’s a craft with your kids, a sewing project, a home dec or home organizing project we’d love to see it and hear about it!  If you are using a tutorial, please share it with us, too, so that we can gather some inspiration.

My fabulous web designer friend, Cicily of August Afternoon Designs, is working on a super cute badge for you to grab & display on your blog each week you blog about what craftiness you are up to this week!  It will be available before Wednesday’s debut.   And, of course,  Mister Linky will be here, too, so you can link us to your blog post!

Looking forward to seeing what you are up to! Spread the word, and I’ll see you back here Wednesday!

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Why?  Just for fun!

For the next 24 hours (this means through 6pm EST on Thursday!), you may receive 25% off any purchase in my Etsy Shop!  Simply purchase (but don’t pay) and I’ll send you a revised invoice! Enjoy the savings!!

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My husband keeps bringing me home books to read.  I’m loving it!  It’s summer and that means “leisure reading” time!   Last night I was reading and my 6yo noticed my bookmark ~ a $1 bill!  How pitiful is that??!!  He thought it was a crack up; I began to let my creative juices flow!

So today, I began working on a set of bookmarks: one for a paperback book, and one for a hardback book.   I love the result, too! I added some cute “bling” to them, which I think is just the right  touch!

These are available at my Etsy shop.   But hurry! I might keep them for myself!

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It’s time to do a bit of spring cleaning, so I’m offering an assortment of bags and accessories at super SALE prices over at Artiste Congo, beginning Tuesday, May 5th @ 9pm EST.   While there, be sure to take a peek at what my other talented friends have available, as well!

Enjoy the deals!

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Ok, here we go!  Thanks for all the requests for a tutorial for my Magazine Tote, which is quickly and affectionately being called the “Chemo Bag” after I blogged about using this style of bag for a friend’s Chemo Bag that she was going to stash full of helpful goodies one would enjoy during a trip to the hospital for chemo.

Materials needed:

1/2 yd each of 2 coordinating fabrics

1/2 yd Pellon 911 Featherweight Interfacing

Rotary cutting mat, and rotary cutter will be very helpful for this project.

You will use a 1/4″ seam allowance, unless otherwise noted.

Cut the following from your material:

Fabric A (exterior print) ~

2 - 11.5″ x 14.5 rectangles ( body of bag)

1 - 11.5 x 7.5″ rectangle (exterior pockets)

1 - 27″ x 3″ strip (strap for bag)

Fabric B (interior print) ~

2 - 11.5″ x 14.5 rectangles ( body of bag)

1 - 11.5 x 8.5″ rectangle (exterior pockets)

1 - 52″ x 2.5″ strip (strap for bag)*

*You will likely need to piece several strips together to get the 52″ length.  I attach the strips as if I were making bias strips.  Stitching them end to end will work fine, as well.

From the Pellon 911 Interfacing, cut and fuse** as instructed:

2 - 11.5″ x 14.5 rectangles ( body of bag) –> fuse to Print A (exterior) rectangles of the same size

1 - 11.5 x 7.5″ rectangle (exterior pockets)—> fuse to Print A (exterior) rectangle of the same size

1 - 27″ x 2″ strip (strap)*–> fuse to Print A strip that will be used for the strap.  Center the interfacing on the strip before fusing.

*When I have it on hand, I prefer to use Pellon 809 Decor Bond for the strap’s interfacing.  It’s a bit stiffer.  Just personal preference, though.

**Fuse as per instructions that come with the interfacing.

1) Create Drawstring and Strap:

• With drawstring piece (52″x2.5″) from Fabric B, fold in half lengthwise and press.  Open fold and fold each long side in towards the crease.  Press. 

• Fold each end backwards (temporarily), with right sides together, so that you can stitch the end with a 1/4″ seam.  Trim seam allowance, unfold and refold the right direction.  You have just now given the ends of your drawstring a finished look.

• Topstitch each long end 1/8th inch.  Set aside.
• With interfaced strap piece, you will basically do the same thing as you did with the drawstring, except do not finish off the short ends.  Fold in half lengthwise and press.  Open and press long edges toward the crease, allowing the interfacing to serve as your fold-line guide.  Refold (along center crease) and top-stitch 1/8th inch down each long edge.
• 

2) Stitch lining of bag together at sides and bottom.

3) Make exterior pocket.

Place Exterior (Fabric A) Pocket rectangle and Interior (Fabric B) Pocket rectangle together with right sides facing each other.  Line up top edges to each other, pin and stitch with 1/4 inch seam allowance. Open and press seam allowance toward Interior piece.  Fold piece with wrong sides together to match bottom raw edges.  Press.  This will create the trim for the pocket’s upper edge.

4) Attach pocket and button hole.

• Place pocket piece onto the right side of one of your Exterior (Fabric A) Body of Bag rectangles that you lined with Pellon already, lining raw edges up at the bottom and sides.   This will now be the Front of your bag. Pin into place and stitch a straight line up the middle of the pocket to create a double pocket.  A measurement of 5 3/4 inches from either side will be the center line.  Be sure to backstitch a bit at the top of the pocket to make the pockets more durable!

• Using your button-hole feature on your machine, make a button-hole as follows:  Measure 2 inches down from the top center of the Front of Bag piece (the one you just put the pockets onto).  I like to make a horizontal button-hole about 1.25 inches wide.  Open the button hole with a seam ripper and then I would recommend applying some Fray-Check to the button hole.

5) Assemble bag.

• Place Exterior body of bag rectangles together with right sides facing each other.  Pin and Stitch sides and bottom with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  If you have Zig-zag scissors, you can trim the seams a bit.  If not, just trim the corners.   Center, pin and baste one end of each strap to a side seam of the bag (Fabric A).  The raw edge of the strap should line up with the raw top edge of the bag.  To baste, sew in place using a 1/8 inch seam.   Flip the lining right side out and tuck it into the Exterior bag (which is wrong side out at the moment).  Match up side seams and top raw edges.  Pin and stitch 1/4 inch around the top edge leaving a 3.5 - 4 inch opening on the back side of the bag’s upper edge.   This is the opening we will use to flip the bag right side out.    Once flipped right side out, press top edges and fold and press seam opening to make a nice, even top edge.  Pin into place and top stitch 1/8 inch around the entire top edge of the bag.

6) Final drawstring touches.

• To create the casing for the drawstring, stitch 1/2 inch above and 1/2 inch below the buttonhole all the way around the bag.  Using a large safety pin, pin it to the end of the drawstring and thread the drawstring through the casing.  Tying a loose knot makes for a nice effect.  The bag can drawstring itself closed, if desired.

You are done! Congratulations!  All you need to do is press the bag and trim any stray threads.  Load it up with all your favorite items and you are ready to go!

I truly hope this Tutorial is easy-to-follow and fun to make! Please comment and let me know if you have any questions regarding the instructions.

And lastly, if you make one of these bags, I’d love to see it!  Feel free to post it into my Cute2Carry Tutorial Projects Flick’r group!

Disclaimer:  This pattern/tutorial is for personal and gift giving use only.  I’d appreciate a link back to my blog if you publish pictures of your creations on your own blog!

Here’s the Magazine Tote Pattern used for a Chemo Bag.

Don’t you love the fabric?  It’s from JoAnn’s.

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Hi everyone!

Huge thanks for the compliments and emails you’ve been sending about the Chemo Bag!   Several of you are asking for the pattern so you can make some of your own.   I am totally happy to make the tutorial for this pattern and post it here on my blog.

Give me a couple of days to get it done and I’ll have it available for you!

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