Yoga mat bag

It has been a little over two years since the day Shannon and I hopped on a treadmill to test our ability to run a mile under 14 minutes, two weeks later we signed up and ran our first 5K, and so the journey into running began. I have since run three half marathons and am loving this new habit of mine.

Running then took me to yoga. I had tried yoga a few years ago and found it to be too challenging, I now think I went to a really advanced class back then, this time I fell in love with it. With everything I was learning at work and as a new runner I became conscious of the importance of stretching and breathing and yoga fulfilled that.

We recently moved to a new area and a yoga studio is just down the street. I decided to make a yoga mat sling, all I need is my mat, I am one block away. The problem is that yoga studio is not as affordable as my old gym, so I cannot go as often. I might have to travel farther and a bag would be more appropriate. I was so pleased with the way my sling turned out, I decided to finally make the yoga mat bag I had been planning for months.

I followed a free pattern from Amy Butler, you can find it here. I also followed Jane's Girl Designs tutorial and made a few little changes along the way. I used a stiffer interfacing on the exterior fabric, I do not like the look of flimsy bags. I also do not like slip pockets, so I made an elastic pleated one instead.

Fabrics: 

• Namaste Yoga Poses Oatmeal 1/2 yrd
• Namaste Geo Light 1/2 yrd
• Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend Black 1 yrd

A HUGE thank you to my good friend Diana, aka LadyDi, for taking these awesome pictures, and for her patience and her time.

Rag doll

This is Vania and her mom, just a few days before her first birthday. I made her a doll that looks like her. Her mom had put Vania's hair up on a bunt once and I thought it was the most adorable fashionista baby girl on the block. So, for her doll I wanted to show that beautiful hair. Also, I bought her a pretty dress and took it from their to match the doll. 

Spoonflower is the website in which I was able to print this doll. They had a tutorial and some sample dolls you can tweak around or change completely with my basic photoshop knowledge.

Cut it up and sew it together.

I added a skirt.

I am in love with this project! Are you?

Yoga Mat Sling

We recently moved to a new area and a yoga studio is just down the street within walking distance. I decided to make a yoga mat sling, all I need is a simple way to carry my mat.

I made it using my big pile of scrap and Kaufman's Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend Black.

I made an extremely long strip, 77" long

Leaving a 2" hole.

Pass one end through the other.

pull all the way through.

Pass that previous loop through the other end.

Pull all the way through.

Finished!

Ready for use! 

A bag for Kristal

I was looking to make the BEST bag for when I start my college program next month! I really love the Pritemps fabric collection from 3 sisters, and after falling in love with the fabric combination of my yoga mat sling I went ahead and used the left over scraps. Oops spoiler alert, I haven't made that post yet...coming soon.

 A few months ago I bought Sara Lawson's book, " Big City Bags". I have made a total of three bags from that book. 1. Lucky Denver Mint Bag owner can't be revealed yet , 2.Fireside Bowl Bag ,  for my mom's good friend., and 3. Piccadilly Circus Handbag for my good friend Marcia, a lover of handmade and handbags.

This is bag is the fourth one I've made from this book...and every single one I make I love even more!

Organized!

I made the side panels using "the crazy 9 patch squares", a pattern given to me at the San Diego quilt run, you can read all about it here.

This is my back to school bag, but I finished it the night before a trip, I was so excited about how beautiful it turned out I just had to bring it with me. Also, it was a great opportunity to take some great pictures of it in beautiful locations.

Fine! I've been sold. The beach is AWESOME. 

About my personal labels

I keep getting asked where I got my labels. I bought them from world wide labels on Etsy, you can check them out here. I kept putting it off because I didn't have the perfect design. 

They are great at World Wide Labels, just like they tell you, "buy with confidence", they work with you once you make your purchase. I just drew my idea on this piece of paper and emailed it. They traced it and made it into a logo for me.

They have several options, These are the ones I bought.

My labels took about 5 weeks to get here. Not bad considering the multiple emails for corrections we exchanged and the fact that they are traveling from Korea. The package arrived very well packed and filled with fun!

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Happy sewing!

Black and White Bag

Another beauty from my "big city bags" book. Again, this was made pre-blog, and these are the only two photos I found. Lovely bag!

A bag for Letita

I had originally bought this fabric to make pillow shams, but I haven't explored that area and it was a shame having it sit there for months. So, I put to good use once I bought the book "Big City Bags".

 This was made pre-blog. I am thankful I thought about at least taking these pictures. It now lives with it's new owner, which I just went on a weekend trip with and she brought it with her. I saw it in use! but I forgot to take pictures. This I made for one of my mom's good friend, and why not? my friend too. Do to health issues she has to travel every month and I thought it would be a nicer trip if she flew in style.

A bag for Marcia

My friend sporting her new bag. 

Very smart, kind, and generous, are only a few words to describe Marcia. She is one of the most awesome teachers I know, dedicated and committed to her students' learning and development and some one like that is always in need of a new bag and what better than in a numbers themed fabric.

This was again pre-blog so details and pictures are scarce. I had just purchased my new book "big city bags" and was excited to jump on it and start sewing.

Looks like she loves it...right? Just as much as I love making it for her.

Mason Jar Straw and Sleeve

Every once in a while I'll send Seth off to work with a green smoothie or some sort of freshly homemade drink, like "agua fresca" or iced tea. We all prefer to drink from a glass container and that is why mason jars are so great. I searched all over for a tutorial to add a straw, read several different ones and this is the bottom line.

What you need:

• A drill with a 3/8 inch drill bit
• Mason Jar with lid (any size) I prefer the regular one, but I know the wide mouth is easier to clean.
• Rubber grommets These are hard to find, only because they are so small and get lost in the store. I found them at my local home depot, also at Pep Boys in their electronic section.
• Plastic reusable straws These are very seasonal for stores, Target and World Market carry them over the summer, you can also buy them on etsy.

1. Drill a hole into the lid.

2. Add the rubber grommet.

3. Jar and Straw

ALL DONE!

For the sleeve I measured around the jar and allowed 2" more. Applied fusible interfacing Pellon 101 on the exterior side, then sewed around the edge 1/4" leaving a 2" opening to flip around, edge stitched and added the button.

IT IS THAT EASY...YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!
Good Luck!