Happy Friday! Thought I'd pop in here at the end of the week and share a lined drawstring bag that I made recently. I used my Wine Bottle Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial to make this bag.

One of my very favorite things about sewing is being able to make handmade gifts, especially at a moments notice. A few weeks ago we were going to a friend’s to celebrate their new homeownership. I realized a little more than an hour before we were supposed to leave, that I didn’t have a gift bag that would fit the bubbly we were taking with us. Rather than have to run out to the store or bring it unwrapped, I went up to the sewing room and in about 45 minutes I had a bag made that I tailored to what I hoped our hosts would enjoy. Not only super satisfying, but helped take the gift up a notch. Double bonus.


I didn't have loads of time to choose fabrics for this bag. I started by choosing a focal fabric for the main part of the bag, and this floral from Strawberry Fields by Rifle Paper Co* caught my eye. It was really easy to pull coordinating prints around it, since it has so many colors in it, and I knew I could also use black paracord for the ties. For the rest of the bag, I went with Sprinkle by Cotton and Steel* for the accent and Widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander* for the lining.


When I'm on a time crunch I try my best to choose projects that I've made enough times that I don't need the instructions. For me, that's got to be a lined drawstring bag! I've made so many, I know I can make them fast.


As I mentioned, I used black nylon paracord for the ties (which I buy from Bored Paracord), and finished it off with 3/4" wooden beads, which I carry in my shop here: Round Wooden Beads.


For the future, I may make a little stash of these to have on hand, just in case! Great for gifting wine or a nice bottle of olive oil. You can find the free tutorial for making this wine bottle bag here on my blog here:

Wine Bottle Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

August Monthly Report

It's time for the August monthly report. See past reports here.


Finally made it back to this space for last month's report! We're going to keep it short and sweet, because I didn't finish a single sewing project in August. Michael was off work the first week of the month and then worked from home the next week. My Mom also came to visit, so there was a lot of things keeping me from finishing things. I did sew though, I worked quite a bit on my green quilt I mentioned last month.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in August:

August Fabric
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 1 yard
Net: 1 yard
Year to date: -36.75 yards

August Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

As I mentioned, no finishes this month so a pretty quiet month on the "used up" front. Only intake was a bundle of holiday fabrics from a friend! :)


My main activity this month was a whole lot of puzzles. I have needed to stay extra cool this summer to manage my autoimmune disease, so I've spent a lot of time indoors when it's been hot. I ended up getting hooked on puzzles like never before! My Mom sent me home with a bunch from her collection and we collected more all month. I've thrifted a few too! It's been relaxing, and I love that it's a non-screen activity. I've been struggling with anxiety and it hit an all-time high this summer. When I get really into a puzzle, it's a chance for my mind to take a break from thinking about everything else. Now I work on a puzzle a little every day!


I've been on a house-plant killing spree, but I must have done something right because one of my houseplants bloomed! This Hoya was finally happy enough to bloom. It was such a nice surprise.



The garden is full of blooms, lucky me! The vegetable garden has slowed down, but the dahlias are in their element at the moment. Still totally obsessed with these flowers. I love bringing them inside and spreading them throughout the house.

Have a great month!

Animal Crossing Maker's Tote

As I mentionted in my July monthly report, I made a Maker's Tote for my brother's birthday last month! I wanted to share it with you all today. I didn't take a ton of photos of it, but that's okay. The Maker's Tote Pattern is by my friend Anna Graham. This is the third time I've made it, and I just love how they turn out! Here are my first two: Sheep Maker's Tote and Corduroy Maker's Tote. My brother recently got a nintendo switch, so I wanted to make a bag for him to carry it in when traveling. I had a feeling the small size of this tote would be a good fit, and it is! I happened to have some animal crossing fabric that was given to me by my friend Amanda. That was the starting point for the bag!


From there I chose some basics to coordinate. I didn't want anything to take away from the main print. I used some blue-ish Essex Linen for the binding and handles (not sure which color!), and this cute black and white blender for the side panels.

The lining and pockets came together from one of my prints from Dreamin' Vintage and this blue fish fabric that was in my "in between bin". I keep a bin with fabrics I don't know what to do with. Usually they are fabrics that I've had for a long time and either way to use up or pass on to a friend. I left both exterior pockets off of this bag because I was short on time.


Overall I think it turned out pretty cute! I was rushing to finish it and I accidently sewed the handles a bit farther apart than I should of, but that's okay. Still works! I handstitched the binding down in the car ride home and was able to give it to my brother in person! Hooray for a successful handmade gift!

You can find the pattern in Anna's online shop here: Maker's Tote Pattern

Happy Sewing!

July Monthly Report

It's time for the July monthly report. See past reports here.


This month my sewing was focused primarily on two projects. The first was to piece backings for my indigo courthouse steps quilt and my kaleidoscope quilt. The second was to make a present for my brother for his birthday. I'm happy to say I succeeded in both efforts! I got both quilt tops/backings in the mail for longarm quilting and I made my brother a Maker's Tote. Hoping to share photos of that project soon.


I also picked up an old work in progress again, what was supposed to be an all green quilt. It's been so long since I started cutting it out though, that I changed my mind about what I wanted. It will no longer be all green. I'm adding in purple and turquoise, because why not! I have about half the blocks pieced, but I still need to do a bunch of cutting for the other half.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in July:

July Fabric
Used up: 3 yards
Brought in: 6 yards
Net: 3 yards
Year to date: -37.75 yards

July Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

I bought a good amount of fabric this month! I ordered some double gauze fabrics from Bunny's Designs. She's closing her shop, and I wanted to show some support. Be sure to check her instagram too (@bunnydesigns) for updates. When we were back in Ohio at the end of the month we stopped at the Polka Dot Pincushion and I picked up a few cuts of Kitty Corn by Urban Chiks*. It's so cute!


The dahlias have really started kicking off! They're so satisfying to grow, I've been cutting blooms every few days. I love to start the day by taking a walk through the garden after breakfast. Exciting to see how things have changed overnight.


We were able to finally go home for a whole week! We hadn't been back in Ohio since December 2019. And Michael hadn't been back with me in the summer since 2016 I think? It was so nice to be back home. I even took two quilts with me for photos, which really felt normal!



Thought I'd leave you with some snapshots of my parent's kitties (Sanders & Chester), on my quilts.

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.