Currently, I am working on three super secret quilts and one is in the mail, so those will have to wait. In the meantime, I thought I could do a little catch-up. While I feel that 2015 was not my most productive year due to some health issues, I did get some fun stuff accomplished. Here is a look at a majority of the bags and pouches I made. I’ll start with the most impressive and work my way down.

First up: The Blanche Barrel Bag by Swoon Sewing Pattern 

The inside has a lovely zip pocket and orange sewing machine fabric. I made it to handle my new little travel machine which is a Janome Derby.

Although it fits beautifully I think the bag will need to be repurposed because the machine is not quite right. The price was right at well under $100 and it is about 5 lbs. which is awesome but it really is for a little kid. The presser foot does not change out, it only goes one slow speed and there is no light…oh, and it is loud. I think I will find a worthy friend with kids for it. In the meantime I will wait for an occasion to buy a different travel machine.

But I digress…as I do…

The next bag is my “Sew Together Bag”  by Sew Demented. If you are in the quilty, bag makey world, you may have heard of this bag. Making one is supposed to be like crack, one simply must make more! As of yet, I have only made the one and although I love it, I may leave this bag obsession to my friends in quilty land.

I made it (in two-ish days after I had cut the pieces…I understand it goes faster the second time) at a lovely retreat with my quilt guild up in the mountains of Big Bear, California.

 This is where all of the sewing magic happened! The retreat is called “Inspirations” …so awesome! I hadn’t been to the mountains in ages and it was so peaceful..and we were fed…and we had quilts on all of our beds…and our caretaker Lorraine even made little quilty type gifts for us all. I hope my guild has another one there.

At yet another retreat I made the Beatle Bag by Abbey Lane Quilts

The retreat was Sewtopia in Portland, Oregon. I went with my mom and she made one too.

This bag took a few days as well but I fully expected it on this one. Although I really like this bag, and I know what it is intended for, I have not found a good use for it yet. It seems kind of bulky. Perhaps my next English Paper Piecing Project…

I also made myself a little “pencil bag” which ended up being too small for pencils and frankly, a horrible pattern. I guess it was free for a reason, it did come out cute though.

Lastly, I made some relatives zipper pouches to put Christmas gifts in:

The good Apollo had to help with the photo taking.

…and there’s a little update on the bag-o-rama of 2015. With luck, I can show you some of my super secret projects soon.