Manchester Metallics Summer Bag Challenge

I was so excited to hear about the summer challenge that Robert Kaufman Fabrics was having, from Sew Mama Sew, featuring Robert Kaufman's new line Manchester Metallics. While I am not usually a metallics, glittery or shimmery type of girl, I do love a good challenge. So you can imagine how thrilled  I was to be chosen to participate!! I had such a fun time choosing which fabrics I wanted to work with. After much back and forth debating...with myself,  I finally chose the Manchester Metallics in Evening Shade and Eggshell along with a Kona Solid in Watermelon...because what is more summer than watermelon🍉😉

When my lovely bundle of fabrics arrived and were unwrapped, I was so surprised at how soft and drapey (is that even a word?) the metallics were. Truly lovely and not at all what I had expected, in the best possible way. So now my only other concern was, unravelling. Again, I was going on my old knowledge of what metallics were...while there is some for sure, I was surprised that it wasn't much different than regular quilt fabric and once I added the Pellon Shape Flex to my pieces, it wasn't an issue at all. This really is lovely fabric, I wish I had the talent to sew cloths....with the shimmer and all the texture, light weight, it would make for some pretty outfits too.....and everyone I've shown my project to, just gushes about it!!

I want to take a moment right here to say, yes I was given the fabric by Robert Kaufman for this event, but the only stipulations I had to follow were....1.) I had to only use the fabrics I was given or any Robert Kaufman solid fabrics I had in my stash(a cubby full of choices)  and 2.) I had to sew a summer bag. I was never told what to say, my blog...my words....always!  😀

So what did I choose to sew......a Poolside Tote of course.  A pattern by Anna Graham of Noodlehead.....I think this is number 6 for me....love this bag.

I added a few extra pockets, because you can never have to many....

.....instead of one outside zippered pocket, I made 2 pockets one on each side of the bag....

and added two inside hidden zipper pockets...because.....you can't have too many pockets., remember!..lol

 and come on, how fun is this...the lime green zippers hint of the colour to come...Lime Green Kona Solid

If that isn't enough to inspire your desire for this fabric, maybe this will help.....

I can't seem to help myself....when faced with a challenge I need to think outside of the box....I wanted to share something different.....so I printed my Poolside Tote pattern again, but this time at 50%....and this is what happened......

I had to figure out a few of the pieces that are cut and not actual  pattern pieces, but that wasn't too difficult....and the results were so worth the effort......

So now it's a set. A little bag for lotions and such....or a mother/daughter tote set....or just the cutest little purse....or you use your imagination. Whatever the answer, its adorable, sitting at 7" high by 11" wide.

That's it for me, but....

Don't forget to check out the other participant in the Manchester Metallics Challenge, and don't forget to take a moment and leave a comment on what you think! Share some encouragement, and show your enthusiasm for this new line!! Can't wait to hear your thoughts!!

Looking for more inspiration...

Check out the other bloggers participating in the Manchester Metallics Challenge....

Sandy Whitelaw of UpStairs Hobby Room (you are here)

Monday
Anne Zeitler of AnneZPlace
Natalie Strand of Vegetablog

Tuesday
Kathy Green of Designs by KTGreen
Sanchia Gair of Red Brolly

Thursday
Sara Johansen of The Sara Project
Jenny of My Handmade Home

Friday
Devida Bushrod of The Driftwood Thimble
Michelle Morris of That Black Chic
Carrie Federer of carrie bee

Saturday
Sarah Sharp of No Hats in the House
Michelle Webster of michellepatterns

Monday 4th
Marni Weaver of Haberdashery Fun

Mo Befell

And don't forget to check in with 

Kristin from 

next week for all the highlights....

#96 Week 2 Wiggle Me Colourful Sew Along

I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and found time to collect your fabrics!! 

This week is all about strip sets, cuts, sub-cuts!!

Week #2

Wiggle Me Colourful

• Once you have your strips laid out the way you want, you need to sew them together in their groups.
• Sew strips together along the longest side, sewing the first seam from top to bottom and the second seam from bottom to top. This trick should help stop the sets from bowing/warping, because of feed dog pulling(unless you have a machine with IDT, which should eliminate the need to rotate your seams), it feeds top and bottom evenly. 

• 

 What you do when you want the window open and there is a nice breeze making ironing a little difficult....(use a fancy amethyst stone as a weight)

Trim edge....

Sub cut according to pattern directions...

Background cuts....

That's another week done!! 

If there are any questions or if I've missed something don't hesitate to voice them over on the 

FB group page

See you all back here next week!! 

Have fun and I can't wait to see your pictures!! 

#wigglemecolourful

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#88 Sew Along/ Tutorial Coming in June!!!

I'm so excited that you were all so interested in doing a Sew Along Tutorial with my                       Wiggle Me Colourful pattern (name is still up in the air) 

I'm working out the details of the pattern and coming up with an alternative if you are crunched for time, but still want to join in on a smaller scale.

I am also working on some surprises to make it fun to join up/sew along and stay current with your project, as well as complete the top by the dead line. (Quilting and binding will get you extra entries, but is not necessary to qualify)

My goal is to start the Sew Along in June and run it for approximately 4 weeks. More detailed info will come in the next few weeks, so click the email or Bloglovn button to follow my blog so you don't miss any posts. 

Let me know if there is anything you specifically want to see in the blog posts, for the sew along/ tutorial,  as I will be working on this in the next few weeks, tweaking the pattern and taking pictures as I go, so now is the time to speak up......

#WiggleMeColourful on social media 

so we can see what lovely progress you are making and final projects, I am also looking into the Linksy Tool so we can link up pictures at the end of our SewAlong right here on the UpStairsHobbyRoom blog.

#87 Spring is Here with Distractions of Colour

Even though things are still pretty brown here, there is sun and some warmer days. So I will call that a definite plus and the sun and warmer weather has inspired a new design with lots of colour, totally distracting me from that WIP list I am determined to complete.

I started out to make the One Hour Basket that I have seen lots of IG friends displaying in their feeds, by Kelbysews. If you follow the link you will find the tutorial and download., But.... I got so distracted I still haven't made one yet, lol.

I decided to sew some jelly roll strips together thinking that I could use them up and make an interesting basket. When I finished making 6 sets, I fell in love with the way they looked and I couldn't make the basket.... I wanted to make a quilt. So I sat down at EQ7 and got to work.

This is what I came up with.....Working name...Wiggle Me Colourful

and I'm half way done testing the pattern!!!

How fantastic is this!!! 

So the question I am putting out there is..... Anyone interested in the pattern? It is a great jelly roll pattern (other then the 3.5" border I plan to add) and I think a great beginner project. Even with the matching, if you press each row alternating they nest up easily!
I will be done sewing the test project this week and then I might be setting up for a free sew along with this pattern if there is enough interest!!(leave a comment) It would be a fairly quick sew along too, especially if you use precuts instead of yardage!

In the What I've Been Up To part of the post.......

I've been so distracted by springs arrival, which gave me an urge to work with bright happy colours, my poor WIP list has been a little neglected, so I'm posting it again to inspire me to get back on task.

(After adding the list and updating it.....I've got to say I am in better shape than I thought!! I am going to have to update and remove some of the categories that I've completed!!! Ya, I love lists and seeing the progress!! But with the completion of WIPs comes a longer list of quilt tops that need to be quilted, eek......)

To Complete This Year List

Blocks to Piece (blocks not finished)

• (3)Triple Star Blocks
• Playing Cards (Bee Blocks)
• (?) Scrappy Trip Around the World Blocks 
• Fusion Quilt
• Flower Patch Quilt
• Lattice Bones Quilt
• Colouring Box Quilt
• Sew Kitchy Paper Pieced BOM (one more block, Miss Betty)
• Craftsy BOM 2013

Quilt Tops to Sew Together (blocks are complete)

• Sugar Block Club 2013
• Sugar Block Club 2014
• Block Rock'n
• Classic Meets Modern
• Aurifil Designer of the Month 2014
• Globe Trotting BOM
• Layer Cake Challenge
• Come Together (Bee Blocks)
• Playing Cards (Bee Blocks)

Quilt Tops: to Quilt

• City Sampler
• Churn Dash QAL
• Nested Churn Dash
• Parade (tester pattern)
• Square Deal
• Trifle Dish Moda QAL
• Modern Blocks QAL
• Virtual Quilting Bee
• Triangle QAL
• *Globe Trotting BOM
• *Classic Meets Modern
• *Sugar Block Club 2013
• *Elephant Parade
• *Playing Cards
• *Block Rock'n
• *Auriful Designer of the Month 2014
• *Layer Cake Challenge
• *Sugar Block 2014
• *Come Together Blocks

Quilts to Bind (that's all I have to do, you would think I would just get it done)

• Bloom Bloom Pow
• Craftsy BOM 2012
• Mystery Quilt

New Projects to Do this Year:

1. 15-30 adult size bibs for special needs children at an orphanage in the Philippines (church missions trip in April) (the number turned out to be 21-just need to bind them!!)*6 left to sew
2. Design 2 original projects and write up the patterns ( I am excited about this challenge) more info on this in the future  (I did one and may still try for another, but done for now)
3. 2 quilts (one niece/one nephew )
4. Set of Placemats (12)
5. 4 mini Sew Together Bags
6. 4 Regular Sew Together Bags
7. 6 Duffle Bags
8. 6-11 purses, yup not kidding, I join the Bag of the Month again this year over at Sew Sweetness and last year of the six I only made one of the bags. This year I am determined to complete them all. (1/6 done)
9. New Christmas Stockings (8)
10. Christmas Tree Skirt
11. Misc sewing of pouches, because there is always a need for a simple pouch or 10, lol.
12. *Elephant Parade, because it was so cute I couldn't resist!! Which makes an even dozen new projects. One per month....that's doable.......

*updates

#46 Virtual Quilting Bee Finish

I had such a great time participating in the Virtual Quilting Bee with Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter, every designer's block was amazing. I learned so much and grew so much  during the process. Now the big reveal linky party is happening and even though I wasn't able to get the quilting done I do have a quilt top. I love how this quilt came together! It is one of my favourites that I've made. First time doing all solids and wow what an impact it made!!
So here is a revisit to the blocks and the quilt top! And as soon as I am able to get my long arm problems solved I will post pictures of the completed quilt, because this quilt needs to be done right!!