Angie Pedersen's The Blog of ME

Handmade Christmas: Fabric Gift Bags

Last year I experimented with wrapping Christmas presents in fabric, and while it wasn't a total failure, it wasn't a complete success.  I basically hemmed large squares of fabric with iron-on hemming tape, and tried to create closures with adhesive velcro dots, but they didn't stick so hot.  So I tried stitching the dots on, but hand sewing doesn't work so great with adhesive velcro.  The needle gets all gummy, and the seamstress gets grumpy.

So this year I have a couple of sewing classes under my belt, and am able to take advantage of the loan of my mother's sewing machine.  I "whipped up" some super cute fabric gift bags with which I am greatly pleased.  I say "whipped up" in air quotes because, while the actual bags do come together in about 30 minutes, the research and development phase took significantly longer. 

I scanned webpage after webpage, looking for simple and easy, but many seemed to be much more elaborate than I was looking for (or capable of).  Many were lined, and that was intimidating to me.  So I finally settled for sort of a half-lining, just enough to peek out the top when the bag is tied shut.  I also managed to square off the bottom so it sits slightly flatter.  The end result - 7 seams, some iron-pressing, and done.  I'm in love.

I just finished five small bags for my Knitting Group, none too soon as we are meeting at my house for the Christmas get-together the day after tomorrow!  :)

I hope to get together some sort of tutorial, because if they're easy enough for me to mass-produce, surely the tutorial would be worth sharing for other sewing newbies!

(Below) This is the complete set of bags for my knitting group, each bag different (though not necessarily by recipient personality, but rather fabric available in my stash!)

(Below) Closer view of a blue calico bag, with sort of a blue bandana lining, and white polka dot ribbon.

(below) closer view of another bag, red with small white polka dots, and a sweet holly lining.

(Below) This bag isn't for Knitting Group, but is a variation of the style.  I made it taller/longer, so it's the perfect size for a rolled-up tshirt!  I LOVE this fabric because it reminds of the chairs on UW-Madison's Union Terrace.  I hope to keep this bag "in the family".  ;)

  

(below) another tall/long tshirt-shaped bag.

Please feel free to share links to pictures of your own fabric gift bags, ideas for reusable gift wrapping, or links to tutorials on making your own bags, in the comments below.

Holiday Card How-To Ebook Giveaway

In the spirit of upcoming holidays, here's another giveaway!

Download a FREE copy of the Artella eBook, Artella's Step-by-Step Vintage Holiday Cards, an eBook featuring 10 beautiful handmade cards, complete with photos and descriptive "how-to" instructions, showcasing a variety of techniques such as rubber stamping, collage, and innovative paper and mixed media arts. Download your copy here!

FCC disclaimer: I have an affiliate relationship with Artella, wherein I earn a commission on every sale for Artella eProducts that I refer.

Real Women Gift Card Giveaway

Win a $25 Gift Card from Real Women Scrap - QUICKIE GIVEAWAY ENDS TOMORROW!

My friend, Tasra Dawson from Real Women Scrap, has opened up shop at a site called OpenSky. OpenSky is a new site that connects experts and the products they love, with others who have the same passions. From scrapbooking to sewing, beauty to books, gardening to grills, there is a little something for everyone. Tasra has put together a great holiday gift guide to get you started browsing the site.

Tasra is also offering a $25 Gift Card to one of my blog readers.  It could be YOU!  To enter to win, just browse the OpenSky shoppe, then hop back here to leave a comment below with which OpenSky product you'd most like to get this Christmas. I'll choose one winner Saturday evening and you'll have all day Saturday to shop!

Happy Holidays!

FCC disclaimer: Tasra is a friend of mine, and has also offered me my own gift card for posting this giveaway on my blog.

6 Crafty Things to be Thankful For

As mentioned in this post, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving this week in the United States, I present to you Crafty Things to be Thankful For.

1. Chunky Knits are a Fashion Trend.  You can wear all your hand-made items with pride AND be in vogue! And all your holiday gifts are a slam dunk.  Sweet.


2. Hand-cutting all your titles and embellishments is a thing of the past, thanks to (fairly) recent inventions of the Cricut, the Gypsy, Sizzix Big Shot, Cuttlebug, and this cool cutter for fabric, the AccuQuilt Go.


3. Photobooks combine (digital) scrapbooking with gift-giving.  OK, perhaps the wordsmith-y-ist turn of phrase, but I am just loving putting together photobooks for gifts.  I've created several, and done them different ways, from digitally scrapbooking the pages from scratch in Photoshop Elements, to digitally embellishing the photos with overlays and wordart, to just uploading photos and slapping 'em in the pages.  Any way will produce slick professional results.  I've created mine at Shutterfly, but also plan to try my friend Kim Guymon's business at Photobooks ETC.


4. The Internet provides endless resources for crafty learning and inspiration.  Any crafty thing you want to know more about, or find a pattern for, or survey a group of enthusiasts about, you can find it online.  And that's a very good thing (especially for night owls, who like to craft into the wee hours of the morning!)


5. The Internet also fosters crafty connections.  We don't have to hang our heads in crafty-geek shame - at any hour of the day or night, there is someone available who can understand and applaud our love of a good yarn (whether superwash merino, or scrapbook journaling!).  In fact, the Internet provides ways of proclaiming one's craft-geekiness - loud and proud.


6. Digital scrapbooking continues to grow as a hobby, and inspirational and educational resources abound.  I remember the days, just a few years ago, when there were only a few community websites dedicated to digital scrapbooking.  Now digital storefronts open weekly (if not daily), and user-friendly programs and tools are readily available.  Digi designers are abundantly generous with their freebies, and thanks to open source programs like GIMP, anyone with a computer can try their hand at preserving their memories digitally.  Photosharing sites like Shutterfly, Scrapblog, and ArtsCow allow people to create digital photo collages and have them professionally printed - even if you have no interest in "digital scrapbooking', per se.

And because it's getting to be said wee hours of morning, I'll stop here for now.  I'd love to hear your thoughts of what crafty things you're grateful for this year!  Please feel free (indeed, encouraged) to leave a comment below.

New Series: Things to Be Thankful For

I recently read a post by GeekDad at Wired.com on 10 Geeky Things to Be Thankful For. I thought I would 'blog-lift' the idea, and put together my own list(s), but on a variety of topics, with the goal of a post on a different topic each day this week, in honor of Thanksgiving on Thursday (here in the US, anyway). 

Here are the topics I've chosen:

1. Sunday: Scrapbooking/Crafty Goodness
2. Monday: Geeky
3. Tuesday: Kansas City
4. Wednesday: mom
5. Thursday: Family
6. Friday: blogs/social media
7. Saturday: books

Anyone care to join the challenge of creating a different topical gratitude list post every day this week? An ambitious goal for a holiday week, to be sure, but just the thing to get those blogging juices going!

Today's Clicks Count Double at The Breast Cancer Site

Today's clicks count double at The Breast Cancer Site - have you clicked today?

Your click on the "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button helps fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Fortune True Re-Usable Bags

Over the past year or so, I've become more interested in reusing and recycling. I've blogged a bit about various related activities, such as experimenting with 'plarn', and crocheting a sturdy re-useable grocery bag.

So I was quite pleased to see digital designer Clara Wallace's new venture, Fortune True Re-Usable Bags "of delightful design".  I was even more pleased when she sent me a handful to 'test drive'. 

The bags came out of the package in a rainbow of color was indeed delightful.  The pink, blue, and green are so bright and vivid - just make-you-smile springy colors.  The black zebra print is very cocky and sassy, while the black damask is very stylish and classy.  Clara's bag designs are just as happy and professional as her digital scrapbooking design work. (her chick graphics are legendary!)

The bags are very sturdy, with strong straps that can handle a good yanking.  They are obviously suited for carrying groceries, but I also use them for corralling knitting supplies, and toting my "digital scrapbooking ambassador kit" to crops.  Very roomy, with an extra little pocket on one of the outside side panels, great for a spare key or cell phone.

I'm thrilled to add these bags to my reusable arsenal - I'm armed with 'delightful design'!

(will edit to add photos as soon as I can!)

International Talk Like William Shatner Day - 3/22/09

This instructional video will give you tips on how to Talk Like William Shatner more effectively.

New Gluten-Free Food & Lifestyle Magazine: Delight

I just heard about a new magazine for the gluten-free and food allergy audience - some of my friends fall in that category, so I thought I would mention the magazine here.  Here's the official blurb from their website:

Delight gluten free is a fun food & lifestyle magazine for people with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance and food allergies. It hosts delicious gourmet recipes and easy semihomemade as well. Don't miss the Gluten-Free Meals on a Budget either. Whatever your food allergy you should be able to find something that fits your household.  In their February issue they offer gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, soy-free and even some rice-free recipes. The magazine also has a travel section coming in May that will host lots of fun ideas and good advice for when you venture out on the road. Personal stories, inspiring articles on Autism, Q & A with the Doc are among the other features of this magazine.

For more information and to subscribe, visit their website: http://www.delightgfmagazine.com

TwitterMoms Holiday Shops

From TwitterMoms.com:
This list of links comes from the TwitterMoms Holiday Catalog. You'll find literally hundreds of places to shop (and great gift ideas) here, for you and your readers. Shopping is easy -- just click any link to visit the site directly.