First Christmas Present

Just finished my first present for this Christmas. Mark it on the calendar, it is just November 2nd and one present is completed!!! This is a Hi Tech Tote for college daughter, I used her sorority colors and embroidered her Greek letters. I am very pleased with it. I need to buy a tassel, as recommended by the pattern. I believe it needs the tassel to add the correct proportions between the zipper and the embroidery. I did put the embroidery in the spot recommended by the pattern. I think if you are going to omit the tassel, the embroidery should be moved up. I sure hope she likes it. I am planning on making Amy Butler's Weekender Bag from this fabric for her, too. Here's a couple of pictures. If you want more information on the Hi-Tech tote please see an earlier post on the tote for myself.





It has not been a great couple of weeks here at our house but all is much better now. God has answered many prayers, which we are very thankful. I am hoping to get back to some regular posts on my blog now.

My Couch Soap Opera

I contacted the store on Thursday after the couch was delivered (see Room Redo post) and told them my new cream couch was delivered with 13+ black-brown spots on it. Oh, please give us your name and number someone will contact you on Friday. Guess, what no call on Friday. I call them after 4 pm. We are so sorry mam, the technician will call you on Saturday or Monday. Can you guess? Yep, no call. I call again after 4 pm, get Mr. Smarty Pants, oh you are the lady with the 13 spots on her couch. How do you think they got there mam? I said, probably when the delivery man picked one end up on the truck and all the cushions fell face down on the delivery truck floor!!! He got a bit nicer but stammered and stuttered about coming out to look at it. We are very busy, just 2 of us here and I can't make it this week. Oh, well, that is fine but let's set up an appointment for next week, I get off at 2. So Halloween afternoon, Mr. Smarty Pants technician is coming out.

Wondering where I bought it? Ashely Home Stores it is the second couch I purchased there. We had no problems with the first couch, for college daughter. Just thought I would let others know and I will let you know how the soap opera ends. Here is the couch

New Bag for High School Girl

Daughter #2 wanted a new bag and looked through my Bag Boutique Book and picked out Louise Bag made from Amy Butler fabric. Also, one additional quilting cotton. I also made a tissue holder to match, fun and quick. Now look at the tissue holder in comparison to the purse, yes, the purse is tiny. I added the top border otherwise the bag is only 2-1/2" deep. Now it is about 4" deep. Still a cute bag for a date and the colors are great.

It was a great end to a great day. Our family went to a Chiefs game, pretty good drive for us, but too fun and they won!!! Yea, Chiefs!

Room Redesign

I have been working on changing my living room. My couch was a plaid and not good colors, lots of knick knacks everywhere in the room, busy valances and other things that pointed to "Mom, time to do something with this room!" Oh, teenagers, they keep you humble, but they were oh, so right. I will show complete before and after pictures when I am all done. At this pace, it might be a bit.

Last weekend my daughter #2 helped me paint the room, hubby hung the new curtain rods, and moved some furniture around. I was pleased with the color, until the new couch was delivered this afternoon. It is a beige fabric with more gray undertones, my walls looked like a good neutral until the couch was put in. Now they appear to have a pink undertone, I will wait for daylight to make my final decision.

Now let's get to the couch, it was delivered with no plastic around it or any covering, in the back of a furniture truck. I mentioned it was beige, right? I did pay for the fabric protection, that is a good thing. After it was put in place, the delivery guy notices a spot on the cushion and asks for a wet rag. Rubs the spot, doesn't look any different but tells me to clean it again after it dries. They leave, I move the end tables back, plug in the lamps and really look at my couch. We have counted at least 13 spots. I have called the furniture store, someone will be contacting me to look at it. They say it will be cleaned or replaced, you betcha!!! I have waited a long time for a new couch. With this, the room is again at a stand still.

I decided to make a couple of pillows for my new couch and to lower my blood pressure. Sewing is relaxing. I used this freebie pattern from Amy Butler's site - it is a great pattern. Fabric came from Wal-Mart and it is home dec fabric.

More Pictures of the Hi-Tech Bag

Detailed review of this pattern in the post below but blogger wasn't cooperative last night for more pictures. I am just adding the pictures here with a short descriptions.

Inside of bag - you can see the seam with the coordinated fabric binding and the other seam wiht the serged edge.

Bottom of the bag, inside view. This is a covered piece of Timtex, hand stitched so the bottom seams are hidden under the Timtex.


Inside view of the bag:

Holding my laptop:

One comment asks about the cost.... let's see do I really want to add it up- ha ha!!! Hubby doesn't read my blog so it is okay. No, I am just kidding, he wouldn't care.

Fabric - Just over 2 yards for all - so that would be $10 to $20 depending on type of fabric. Upholstery foam - I think I paid $20 for a piece and it will do 2 bags. Joann's doesn't cut this just sells it by the piece. Zippers, d-rings, heavyweight interfacing probably another $10 total. I guess I have $40 in this bag, I don't have any idea what a laptop bag costs but I know there isn't another one that looks like mine. Call that priceless?!?!!!