the doting tote

so last week i had high hopes that this project would be quick especially since sebastian was out of my hair, i mean, visiting with my folks for two nights. it's not that i forgot that nico would still need my services but rather i mistakenly thought needlecrafts and wee ones could be balanced within the respectable hours of the day. of course, i complicated matters. i could have skipped the tea dying but i wanted the canvas to be a little darker so it wouldn't get too grimy too quick.

i could have used fusible interfacing instead of hand basting the applique or i could have done a freezer paper stencil and skipped the applique.

or at least constructed the applique more like a seamstress and less like mother nature. the upper limbs don't show but for some reason i tackled this organically and let the tree come into bloom.

in the end (i hand sew slow enough to remember the camera but once the sewing machine is on, i become too absorded to consider taking photographs of the process) it turned out fine. a simple sturdy tote for a friend's 28th birthday. (happy b-day a! 28 is super great!)

i didn't originally intend to include lining but the bobbin got wonky during the applique so i needed to cover that up. the pocket i am happy with except the tiny little wonky part with the bias tape. that was when sebastian got into the fingerpaints so i was distracted. it is good to have little mistakes that serve to document where my head was when i made this but i will strive to have the next one wonky-free.

next, printing the postcards (and um, finishing the block).

then some shorts for the boys and some appliqued and freezer paper stencil tee shirts. i'm hoping it is something sebastian will help me on.

now, to clean up. maybe sebastian will help with that as well. take care.