Easy Zip Wallet Inspiration from Audrey Hess

I wanted to share these photos and comments on my Easy Zip Wallet pattern courtesy of Audrey Hess. I think she did a great job, I love the fabric choices and the zipper pull! Thanks so much for sharing Audrey!

Here's what Audrey had to say,

Hi: I wanted to share photos of the easy zip wallet that I made. This is the second wallet I've made using your pattern and I'm sure it's not the last. I have found that matching the 18" zipper color to the binding color looks really sharp. I used a machine applique stitch to attach the smaller zippers and this not only looked good, but made the zippers lie flatter. I added a zipper pull to the 18" zipper and it really set it off. It also makes opening and closing the wallet a lot easier. Thanks for a fun pattern, Audrey Hess

Have you tried my Easy Zip Wallet Pattern yet? If you have I'd love to see a photo. If not, the pattern is available at your local independent quilt or fabric store or online. Try it you'll like it! ;~)

This sewing pattern is available for immediate download at The Scrap-bags Shop.

And the LUCKY 13 Winner is . . . . Bette Loyd

And the Lucky 13 Winner is Bette Loyd! Not because her comment was the longest. But because of what she said. It is gratifying to hear that a pattern that I created has the power to not only inspire the sewer and in Bette's case rekindled her enthusiasm for sewing! But, that the finished product created (in this case a handbag) has an impact beyond that and brings positive social interaction and fun to someones life!

Bette, I am so grateful that you chose to share your story with me and the rest of the world. Thank you! It's customers like you that make my job a joyful experience!

You can read Bette's entire post below! And thanks ever so much to all 79 of you who participated in this giveaway. I appreciate each and every one of you!

My first sewing project after 20 some years of raising a family was the YinYang bag. It turned out great, and my best friend liked it so much I gave it to her, intending to make another for myself. I never got around to that, but my sewing enthusiasm was rekindled! So much so that my mother & sons surprised me with a super-duper sewing-embroidery machine for Christmas. I have so much fun playing with it, but my first real project on it was the Original Scrap Bag. It is my favorite because of its perfect size & shape, but mainly because I get so many comments and compliments on it-from girls & women of all ages. The cashier at Al's pizza (not much more than a teenager) now remembers me as the "lady with the cute purse". The hardware store clerk( also very young) admires it every time I come in. I have had people stop me on the street & in the mall to ask where I got my cute purse. Don't I love to say "I made it myself"! My neighbor (in her 70's) gave me a brand new computer printer and all she asked in return was "Please make me one of those adorable bags!" That will be my next project. I am anxious to try many more of them, so I would love to win the contest. Mainly, I am grateful for patterns that are easy to follow & quick to complete. To have a new and productive hobby at age 62 is great fun! My Social Security check seems to be going for fabric these days. Thanks, Jamie for the inspiration! Bette Loyd (BHL8185 at yahoo.com)

June 30, 2010 8:13 AM

Gel Printing Day in the Studio

Gel printing in my new "wet studio" with my friend Chris Kimmins. Chris is a weaver but I enticed her to give this a try. She is excited about working her prints into garments! I can't wait to see what manifests.

New Work Station Location

The weather has been glorious here all week. Sunny, cool, low humidity absolutely perfect. And I've decided I don't want to work inside when the weathers so beautiful. (Especially on a holiday weekend) So I set up a workstation on my front porch. Now I can enjoy the weather and keep on working!

Happy 4th of July weekend to all my readers in the USA! Have a good time and stay safe!

Tips, Tricks and Secrets

Tip of the Day . . .

Never put your coffee next to your brush rinsing cup when painting. Inevitably, you will rinse your paint brush in your coffee.

Ask me how I know?

(At least I didn't lock myself out of my house today)

Have a great day, enjoy each and every moment.

One of "those days"!

FYI-This post has nothing to do with sewing or quilting, crafting or anything creative.

Yesterday I tried to get my lawn mower started all day long - off and on. At the end of the day a friend of mine came over, diddled with some thing-a-ma-gig and started it with one pull. When he left I went in to put on my lawn mowing shoes and when I came back out and tried to start it . . . NO LUCK. Ugggh. I then had supper and tried again. NOPE.

This morning I walked down to the coffee shop and had coffee with my mother and her friends and when I walked home I found I had locked myself out of my house. Ugggh again! I didn't have my cell phone. I didn't have the keys to my car. And so I just sat down. . .

Later, after walking around my house a number of times and trying the doors over and over. I decided I could remove the screen from the bedroom window and climb through. Now mind you that the bottom of the window is higher than the top of my head. Yes, I have a ladder but it's in the basement. So, I pull the old rotting garden table over to the window. Remove the window box with flowers. Climb up on the garden chair then the table and then using one of my new red tomato cages I rotate the six clips that hold the screen in place, and then remove the screen. NOW, how do I get my 53 year old butt up and through the window. This would have been an easy maneuver 20 maybe 30 years ago, but now??? I turned my back to the house, put my hands on the bottom of the window sill and about the third try I managed to get up high enough. I grabbed the headboard of the bed through the open window and pulled myself up. Then promptly banged my head on the bottom edge of the raised window. Dear God, I hope none of the neighbors were watching. Now all I needed to do was push my bed far enough away from the window so I could get in. And I did it. (Photo below, yup that's the old mower and the window I heaved my big ol butt through)
OK, New number ONE priority. Go to ACE hardware and make a spare key.

While at ACE waiting for the key to be made I take a peak at the lawn mowers. (logical right?) I talked to the 'helpful hardware man' and tell him my problem with my lawnmower. He shows me a shiny new black (sports car looking model) for around $150.00 and assures me I can start it on my own. He even has me pull the cord so he can evaluate the strength and speed of my arm. NO PROBLEM he reassures me. So I take home my shiny new mower and my shiny new house key.

Back home, 1st thing, try the new key. NOPE it doesn't work. Line it up with the old key and see that it's too short. Oh, well. I will take it back later. Now for the lawn. Unload the mower from the Element fill it with gas, push the primer button three times as per the instructions. Pull, nothing. Pull, nothing. PULL again nothing. Then I think maybe I should push the red primer button a few more times since it's brand new and has never had gasoline in it before. Push it 5 TIMES and PULL, PULL, PULL, PULL, PULL. NOTHING!!!!

Load the mower and the key back in the Element and head back to ACE. To make this very long story short(er). The helpful hardware man made me a new key. Then came out to the parking lot and pulled and pulled pushed the red primer button a few more times and 'three times a charm' it started for him on the third pull.

I took them both home, (the key and the mower, NOT the HARDWARE MAN) the key works beautifully and so does my shiny new back sports model lawn mower!

Just one of those days I guess!


Jamie

Oh, and I do realize that I just explained to everyone exactly how to break into my place. What I didn't mention is my two dogs a male Airedale & female Rottweiler inside and the fact that I live next door to a cop, plus I am only two blocks from the police station.