Little Motifs and a Messy Cave

My cave has been one busy room today!  (It also looks like a tornado hit it - ha!)

I needed to get some tatting time in, so I dug through my thread to find some to match my new bag.

Wait. I had to finish the bag first.

Yesterday, I decided to make another of a bag I really like for carting around many different items.  It is divided into 3 sections, so it's great for work, my camera stuff, or various projects.  I decided to make one to match one of the dorset bags I made with the same fabric. (Fancy, no?)  

This is the "X" bag:

It actually holds a lot more than it looks like it would.  Maybe that's why I like it?

Then I needed to cover up my horrible sewing on the little tab closure. So, I thought a little tatted motif would be better than a large button.  I found a couple of matching threads, and quickly realized that size 20 was too large - so did it again in size 80. (This rifling through the thread contributed to the tornadic look of my cave. Who puts bins back until thoroughly satisfied?)  

The New Tatting book by Tomoko Morimoto has many great motifs to choose from - this is the Square Flower Motif.  It's still a little big, but it will be fine when I get it tacked down.   I'm still deciding if maybe a burgundy motif would be better before I do any final tacking.  More rifling ahead, I'm afraid.

Since I'm obsessed with the amount of time it takes me to tat something, I discovered this little bugger takes me 40 minutes to make.  No wonder it's hard for me to work on a large project.  I have a hard time sitting still that long! The button would have been faster - but I like the tatted accent.  This does explain why I turn to sewing in between tatting projects, though.  I feel like I really accomplish something for the hours I spend in my cave :)

Now I have a complete set.  I really do love this fabric ;)

And, a few folks have asked about some wedding photos!  We are ANXIOUSLY awaiting the professional photos to see some great shots of that beautiful day.  Unfortunately, all we have are a few phone pictures that don't show off the dress and sash, but I'll share a couple of the beautiful bride!  The straps made from mom's wedding dress show the best on this one:

And someone grabbed this shot from their seat:

Makes me tear up just reliving the moment.  There WILL be more photos.  Eventually.  You can be sure I will be sharing!

P.S.  Did I mention we will have another wedding in October 2016?  My other daughter!  It's such an exciting time for our family right now!

Finally - Vacation!

I'm finally enjoying some much needed vacation time to work on those "someday" projects.  While everyone else is getting ready to get back to school or get kids off to college, I'm enjoying some  post-wedding free time to do whatever I want :) I'm excited to have some time to hide out in my 'cave'!

It's very hot and humid in Minnesota this Labor Day weekend, so I am choosing to stay indoors where it's cool and sew.  My new tatting print fabric was calling me to do SOMETHING with it, so I made a few Dorset Bags. Cuz I need 4 of them, ha!  Gifts maybe?

This pattern makes my favorite tatting bag because of the two outside pockets - so handy for needle cases, extra thread and scissors.  

I'm thinking I can make some table toppers with this fabric as well, and add a tatted edge.  Maybe a new larger carry-all bag?  I also have some dish towels to make and another quilt to bind - not to mention enough fabric to work on another quilt (or ten).  What to do?!

I should prepare for Christmas.  I'm always too late to make much, but maybe I could change that?  In any case, here's to a productive week of Bluebird time!