My Latest Project.

Looking forward to our travels next week, I was online searching for a big bag that I could use as a carry on. I was a little disappointed at how much people charge for a stupid bag, between 50 and 100 dollars! So I decided that I would make one. I planned out what it would look like and what I needed then I went to the fabric store and got this:

Just guess how much I ended up spending... 50 bucks!!! So much for saving money! Although, now that I'm done I can see that I bought way more fabric than I really needed and I only used two zippers instead of four.

I think I ran into problems at every step of the way. I broke my last sewing machine needle with the thick fabric, but then the heavy duty needle that I bought wasn't cooperating with the machine settings. Eventually I bought another set of "all-purpose" needles that seemed to work like a charm until I bent one on a straight pin. The FOURTH needle didn't work because I put it in backwards (stupid me), and finally I worked through all the kinks.

I experimented with different kinds of pockets on the inside.
Sorry, this next picture is fuzzy.

I have a weakness for big, bold prints while I'm at the fabric store, then I bring them home and wish I had gotten something more neutral. This time, I tried to find something that I wouldn't get sick of but they didn't really have a good selection of canvas. So big flower print it is. I also wish I would have made it a bit stiffer so it wouldn't sag. I blame that one on the girl cutting my fabric who was too lazy to open the bag of thicker interfacing. oh well. When I fill it full of stuff I think it will work nicely.

On a side note, Daniel's birthday was on Sunday! He spent the weekend mountain biking with his brothers down south. We celebrated when he got home. For the past little while I've been telling my patients at work that he was already 24 in hopes of avoiding the people-get-married-so-young-these-days talk. Now when they ask, I don't have to lie! ha ha

Daniel doesn't know how to smile in pictures.
Those are new bike tires. And that bowl? That's what he ate his enormous salad out of....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOVE!!!