More Fabric Madness

More fabric Madness you ask?

My friend has a contact with a great fabric wholesaler down in Miami.  She and another friend of ours (who I will call V) went down there this week to purchase some fabric.  Since I wasn’t able to partake in the fabric adventure, V took pity on me and armed with my fabric swatches, did the shopping for me.  Not only did she pick up some replacement fabric for me, she also found a few new fabrics for me to try out.  Where would we be without our i-Phones. So, 26 yards of fabric later, here we are.   

Cotton twill, in burgundy, denim blue, olive and army greens and a brown maroon, as well as some suede in Grey and two lovely plaids….I dream of messenger bags.

So Busy....

It’s been a busy past few days.  I have been trying to catch up on some orders for various messenger bags that came through my “Back to School” marketing efforts and being ill for two weeks did not help the HMMills cause.  Oh well such is life, yes?   

Once these orders are completed, I have a new bag that I want to try out so perhaps I will have photos of the finished product after Labor Day.   

Okay, now back to work. 

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

Being sick has it advantages, such as catching up on all my reading.

I found this article on Etsy regarding a Pillowcase Challenge, which is being organized by American Patchwork & Quilting and supported by quilting shops across the nation. 

 From the All People Quilt site:  

make a pillowcase
make a difference

Calling all quilters, sewers and crafters! American Patchwork & Quilting is challenging you to join our efforts to Make a Pillowcase, Make a Difference. Every Pillowcase can make a difference in your community. A pillowcase can provide comfort for a cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing home resident.

To participate, find a shop hosting One Million Pillowcase Challenge events in your area. Once your pillowcases are complete and donated locally..Help us reach our goal of ONE MILLION Pillowcases.

As of this posting they had reached 134,397 pillowcases with a goal of 1M, so they need your help. Visit the 1M Pillowcase Challenge site to find out how to get involved.

Mad about Plaid

Back to School in Plaid

Since I have been under the weather, I have lots of time on my hands. Before my illness I had spent the previous few weekends cutting out fabric and sewing several messenger bags in preparation for back to school.  I did manage today to finally post one of those bags using a new plaid fabric that I couldn't pass by...

Larger Messenger Bag in Plaid - Hunter Green

I did more experimentation with bag and added two exterior pockets under the flap.  It's a great versatile bag with ample interior space to carry books, documents and up to a 17" laptop.  As always, I used a 10oz cotton canvas for extra durability.

There are two other plaid  patterns that I purchase in addition to the Hunter Green Forest shown here.  As I was sewing with this fabric I couldn't help but be reminded of my school days and school uniforms.

Studio Extension

I have been ill for the pass few days and will be in bed bed for at least another week..sigh...And in that time I have watched a bunch of movies, hours of tv and way too many infomercials. Every now and then, I call the day job to see how things are going and stress a little more.

So, since I have a lot of time on my hands, I thought I would start catching up on my blogging since it doesn't appear that I will sewing any time soon, (thanks DH for getting me a laptop for Christmas). Speaking of sewing, last week I spent the whole weekend cutting fabric to make a bunch of messenger bags. I should have known that something was wrong as I was so fatigue while I was cutting.

A few weeks ago I took advantage of a deal offered by my fabric supplier and ended up with a large bolt of 10oz canvas. This large bolt presents a problem whenever I pull it out, which is that it is too large for my cutting table. So what's a girl to do, why use that large island in the kitchen of course!

It makes for a perfect cutting table, (probably to DH's dismal), it's smooth large surface can accommodate a large bolt of fabric. So I guess I have found my new studio extension.