This was a busy week, but aren't they all? :) On Wednesday I had a marathon sew day to work on making "happies" for my friends for our Gruber's retreat weekend.
"Happies" are simply little gifts for friends to brighten their day. They've become a tradition at our retreat and it is fun to think up something unique to make for them. We've been exchanging gifts for at least 5 years now, so the bar is getting quite high!
I do love making these WIP bags, but I wouldn't recommend trying to make 8 in one day. :) (The pattern is available here, and I have a whole blog post about sewing with vinyl and zippers here.)
These are the "happies" from this year. See what I'm saying about the bar being high? It's so fun! Getting together with friends for 3 1/2 days of sewing is such a treat and I'm so thankful for these lovely ladies! I'm so happy to have a decent finish for this week, too. Yay!
Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week! Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday!
Oh they're lovely! What a treat for everyone, they're definitely beautiful and useful. I keep meaning to make some for myself but that might mean I actually have to address the extent of the fabric stash!!
Your WIP bags are so great, and I love that I now have one without having to make it myself (even though I do plan to make some myself for gifts) ;-)) Our annual retreat is one of my favorite events, and I definitely needed this one! I love spending time with you and the other Gruber gals! Happy Friday!
What great finishes! Thanks for hosting Finish It Up Friday again this week. I don't always have a finish to share but it gives me a goal to shoot for.
What a great group you must belong to, to make each other so happy! Lovely little bags, but I doubt even they could contain my ufos. Have a great weekend!
I just love these, I have to say I'm a bit intimidated by your wonderful quilts and it's also nice to see project like this that I think I oculd attempt and not make a hash-job of them. well done you :0)
Great bags - your friends must have been very happy to receive them. I especially love the orange chevron one! Not sure whether we can get the vinyl you use in England - I will have to investigate. Such a neat way to store WIP's.
Fun happies! There sure are a lot of link ups today! Glad to see so many summer sewists. Hope I have time later today to revisit and try to make it through the list?
How sweet to exchange gifts. I went to my first retreat for one day this past spring, and was so jealous of the girls who were swapping at their tables. I hope I get to make friends before long who will include me next time!
Beautiful WIP bags; colorful and happy, as always. Do you use any special technique to attach the binding, so as not to have to sew twice around the edges of the vinyl? (Hope you understand my question, thanks.)
Great fun ideas. I bet you have a special relationships with each dear quilter. Thanks for sharing your ideas and patterns. Is there a pattern for the flower?
The quilt I'm working on followed me to MO from WI and I had every intention of working on it during the evenings before the movers showed up (a week later!), but was too exhausted by the end of the day from cleaning our new house all day. I finally got it out yesterday and thought maybe I should call it something other than "Girls Just Wanna have Fun", but then realized that this WAS what this girl wanting to have fun is, so am sticking with it. Being voile, it's so easy to hand-quilt.
I really love my WIP bag, which makes me happy! It was wonderful to receive it in person at our retreat this past weekend, and to exchange the rest of our "happies" in person. It was even better than Christmas gift exchanging. Thank you for sharing the pattern with us! I am looking forward to making more, especially since I created a few new WIPs while at retreat. xo
GAH! I just had a flash of untimely brilliance while at the store. I want to make my two kids a bunch of "quiet bags" for an impending road trip, and the pencil case selection was super shoddy. I think those zippers would bust if my 18 month old LOOKED at them wrong. In a perfect world, I'd whip up a bunch of these WIP bags! Alas, the trip is ten days away, I don't have vinyl, I have to finish sewing a flower girl dress for my daughter for a wedding (which is happening the day before we leave on our trip). Maybe next year! I just wanted to share the idea in case any one else could benefit from it. :D
Those bags are awesome and 8 in a day is a marathon. It's the kind of marathon you kick butt in! Your swaps always make people happy. They couldn't be more aptly named.
Oh they're lovely! What a treat for everyone, they're definitely beautiful and useful. I keep meaning to make some for myself but that might mean I actually have to address the extent of the fabric stash!!
ReplyDeleteYour WIP bags are so great, and I love that I now have one without having to make it myself (even though I do plan to make some myself for gifts) ;-)) Our annual retreat is one of my favorite events, and I definitely needed this one! I love spending time with you and the other Gruber gals! Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteWhat great finishes! Thanks for hosting Finish It Up Friday again this week. I don't always have a finish to share but it gives me a goal to shoot for.
ReplyDeleteWow - the WIP bags are lovely and you made 8 in a day?!?! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThose WIP bags are awesome. Congrats on making 8 in one day.
ReplyDeletehoping to see you one night for dinner!!
ReplyDeleteI love your WIP bags, such a cute and useful gift!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great group you must belong to, to make each other so happy! Lovely little bags, but I doubt even they could contain my ufos. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThose bags are so cute and such a great idea! I could think of a million uses for them!
ReplyDeleteI just love these, I have to say I'm a bit intimidated by your wonderful quilts and it's also nice to see project like this that I think I oculd attempt and not make a hash-job of them. well done you :0)
ReplyDeleteGreat bags - your friends must have been very happy to receive them. I especially love the orange chevron one! Not sure whether we can get the vinyl you use in England - I will have to investigate. Such a neat way to store WIP's.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your "happies"! I wish I were a recipient! You never cease to amaze me! Such a useful and lovely gift!
ReplyDeleteI tried to click on the link to purchase a pattern but it didn't work.....how can I buy a pattern?
ReplyDeleteLove your 'happies' WIP bags. Lucky ladies to have received them :))
ReplyDeleteFun happies! There sure are a lot of link ups today! Glad to see so many summer sewists. Hope I have time later today to revisit and try to make it through the list?
ReplyDeleteHow sweet to exchange gifts. I went to my first retreat for one day this past spring, and was so jealous of the girls who were swapping at their tables. I hope I get to make friends before long who will include me next time!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful WIP bags; colorful and happy, as always.
ReplyDeleteDo you use any special technique to attach the binding, so as not to have to sew twice around the edges of the vinyl?
(Hope you understand my question, thanks.)
très jolies poches. est-il possible de savoir comment vous faites cela
ReplyDeletec'est très sympathique
merci
Great fun ideas. I bet you have a special relationships with each dear quilter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your ideas and patterns. Is there a pattern for the flower?
The quilt I'm working on followed me to MO from WI and I had every intention of working on it during the evenings before the movers showed up (a week later!), but was too exhausted by the end of the day from cleaning our new house all day. I finally got it out yesterday and thought maybe I should call it something other than "Girls Just Wanna have Fun", but then realized that this WAS what this girl wanting to have fun is, so am sticking with it. Being voile, it's so easy to hand-quilt.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I want to get one of the patterns, too!!!
ReplyDeleteI really love my WIP bag, which makes me happy! It was wonderful to receive it in person at our retreat this past weekend, and to exchange the rest of our "happies" in person. It was even better than Christmas gift exchanging. Thank you for sharing the pattern with us! I am looking forward to making more, especially since I created a few new WIPs while at retreat. xo
ReplyDeleteGAH! I just had a flash of untimely brilliance while at the store. I want to make my two kids a bunch of "quiet bags" for an impending road trip, and the pencil case selection was super shoddy. I think those zippers would bust if my 18 month old LOOKED at them wrong. In a perfect world, I'd whip up a bunch of these WIP bags! Alas, the trip is ten days away, I don't have vinyl, I have to finish sewing a flower girl dress for my daughter for a wedding (which is happening the day before we leave on our trip). Maybe next year! I just wanted to share the idea in case any one else could benefit from it. :D
ReplyDeleteThose bags are awesome and 8 in a day is a marathon. It's the kind of marathon you kick butt in! Your swaps always make people happy. They couldn't be more aptly named.
ReplyDeleteFantastic bags just love them and so handy . Must put on my to do list
ReplyDelete