Style Stitches Challenge--February

January's challenge was a success! I love my Cosmo Bag and I've even already used it on a trip as my very large "personal item" on a flight. The bag fits everything I need and fits under the seat on a plane. Enough said. My bag was even featured on JemJam's recap of the January challenge!

Go on over to the Challenge's Flickr group to see all the other lovely bags!

For February, we are creating the Reversible Everyday Shopper. I will be gifting this one (to a very special person--wonder who it is?!?) since I have 8 billion shoppers like this one. Ok, maybe not 8 billion. It's more like 8, but (as they say) Eight is ENOUGH!

Style Stitches Challenge--January

For January, we are to make the Cosmo Bag from Chapter 1 of Amy Butler's Style Stitches:


I think that this bag will be my new computer/carryall bag. I have plans to add some different pockets than what's indicated in the pattern. I have lots of things I must carry, you know. I'd like pockets for my: Mouse, handheld GPS and cord, mouse pad, iPods (yes, I have two), iPod cords, computer charger, pens, notepads, SD cards, etc.. Because I might need all of those things at once and must carry them all at all times, right? Anyway, the bag is big enough to carry a small farm so I shouldn't have an issue. I just have to make sure that the pockets are the right sizes and that I reinforce all the seams. I'd hate for it to break, causing all of my pretties to go crashing to the ground!

I've already traced my pattern onto freezer paper and labeled/marked all the pieces. Now, the most difficult part, I have to choose some fabric. I bought some corduroy from Melanie at Above All Fabric a while back, just for the purpose of making a computer bag. I'm thinking that the lining will be hot pink and want to try to find some matching orange Kona cotton for the handles. If it doesn't match almost exactly, I will go with brown.

Do you have any other ideas about handles? Or what else I should put in my bag? I guess I could carry around my little dog, huh?

Style Stitches Monthly Bag Challenge

I lack the ability to just sew things for myself. By the time I think I have time, something comes up or I'm tired or (insert your own excuse here). It's never a priority. When I saw that JemJam was hostessing a challenge that goes through the new book (Amy Butler's Style Stitches) I got for my birthday, which was December 1st, that I have yet to even look at because (you know, insert your own excuse here), I signed up immediately. You don't really have to sign up, per se, but I tell myself that I've signed up for something.

You can go over to JemJam's blog to see all the details. There is also a group on Flickr you can join to post photos of your monthly bag/progress. Oh and there are prizes from my virtual Twitter friend Melanie's fabric shop, Above All Fabric.

And last, but not least, here is the button you can grab to post on your blog if you want to join us!