A four hour meeting I had today turned into a three hour meeting so I took advantage of that break in my crazy day to hop in the car and make the quick trip to pick up my sewing machine. I’m so glad to have her home.
After work I had a zoom presentation by a local sheep dog trial handler who competes on the national level. It was interesting to hear how he thinks about his dogs, sheep, and trialing.
Then we ran out for a brisk but fantastic three mile walk. And when we got home I dug in on my Octopus Frankenbag. And I got it all done!
I have to say, I wasn’t crazy about these panels once I got them done. They felt really chaotic and I thought the Octopus fabric just disappeared amidst all those crumb pieces. But now that it’s sewn into a bag, I think the chaos has subsided and the Octopus is the star! I’m thinking it’s because most of the crumb pieces disappear into the side and bottom of the bag.
Here’s the other side of the bag.
It’s a little more chaotic that the front of the bag, but I like that it helps make the front more obvious.
I used Brandon Mably’s jumble in turquoise for the lining and used his Onion Rings for the pockets and zipper placket.
I’m just loving making those zipper pockets! I need to make a few more before I get the hang of getting the finishing just right, but I’ll get there. They are so easy and quick to make. I’m wondering why I was so intimidated by the thought of making them.
Here’s the tutorial I used to learn how to make these pockets. So easy!!!
And once again I forgot to sew the zipper plackets onto the lining before I sewed the lining together. This makes it a lot more cumbersome and difficult to get it sewn in. But I did get it put in nicely with some work. And at least I didn’t wait until the bag was done to realize I’d forgotten the plackets!
Facebook fed me the memory below earlier today. It’s from four years ago when I was excited that I had a drawer full of Kaffe Fassett Collective Fabrics.
My Kaffe stash now exceeds what that large chest of drawers will hold! The drawer in the photo now holds just my red KFC fabrics!
And now I have to decide what I’m going to make next. I’m thinking something that involves an animal of some kind.
agilejack 
I do love your octopus 🐙 bag! The “outer limits “ fabric goes so well and love the zipper pocket opening up to see it. Very good idea! Very pretty. Yes, I just bet you are going to make something with an animal 🦓 or two on it…..it will be gorgeous and colorful 🥰
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Thanks! I love that pop of fun in the pocket lining! It’s like a little prize!
I have some Lauren Burch dog fabric that’s been in my stash for years. I might pull that out and combine with some dark/black KFC fabrics. I have some ideas in my head. Just need to look at the fabrics and see if it will work.
Anne
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Love the Octopus bag! Sometimes when I forget a zipper or get too lazy to put one in I decide to make a fabric loop and button closure. It can be put on easily after the bag is all finished.
Also- do you have a blog entry explaining how you got into trialing? I’m curious…
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I have some magnetic snaps that I bought a few years ago and never installed in anything. I should give one a try.
I haven’t written anything about how I got into sheep herding. Probably mostly because I got into border collies!
Anne
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Great frankenbag! You mentioned you are thinking of an animal design, check out Ann Shaw patterns, she has great designs and lives in Vancouver. Hope we get to see more projects and the boys 💙💙
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Oh, I think I’ve seen her stuff. I she the one that does the roosters with freezer foundation paper piecing?
Anne
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The Octopus bag is fun and playful! Yay your Bernina is home. I am hoping you sew something with the menagerie panel – you have my interest on those. My 1st Frankenbag is not looking so great – but I can always use it for a fun grocery bag 😄. I am having fun making it and learning all the fun stitches and embroidery my new Bernina does. Life is all about adventures and learning new things!
Thanks again for all your fun inspiration💕💕
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YOur first bag is a learning experience! I made all kinds of mistake on my firs one… even twisted one of hte handles. I love that process of getting better and better and faster and faster at making things! Then there’s the fun of adding and perfecting new features.
Anne
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That turquoise with the black and white jumble and onion rings just knocks my socks off. We’ll done! What a delightful bag
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I love that turquoise. I made this for a friend who loves purple and had planned to use something purple for the lining. But that turquoise was just too perfect! I love the cool feeling it gives the bag. I think it was a much better choice than purple.
Anne
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Can you please bottle up your energy and send some my way. Your work is beautiful!
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It just LOOKS like I have a lot of energy. Rest assured, I spend plenty of time napping on teh sofa!
Anne
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Congratulations on getting your “baby” back! And I think the octopus bag looks great!
I also wanted to thank you for the notecard inspiration – I just finished about 15 note cards and 20 Christmas cards for next year, and dispensed with lots of scraps in the process. A really good feeling!
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I love having some note cards on hand for gifts. I have some left over from what I made before the holidays and love having them around.
Anne
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I love your emails and especially the Frankenbags. The zipper tutorial…thank you for including that!
Now I have no excuses, I must get down and make a bag.
PS I would also be devastated if my 35 year old Bernina had to be in the infirmary for 2 weeks.
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BE sure to visit my blog too at http://www.agilejack1.com and look around. You can scroll through posts, read comments, etc…
anne
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Seeing your fabric drawer makes me want to learn more about how you select, organize, and store your fabric–by size, by color, by designer? Such a post would delight me and many others.
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I’ve been thinking about doing something like this. I’ll give it some thought.
Anne
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It was fun watching that video for the zipper pocket. Having come from a garment sewing background I recognize the method as one I did with bound buttonholes on a wool coat.
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I’ve run across an Instagram account recently that has quick little videos on doing things like those zippers, welted pockets, etc… and makes them all look so incredibly simple. It makes it all less intimidating. https://www.instagram.com/thesewpatternlovers/
Anne
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Glad to hear that you got your machine back. Still think you should give that old Singer a whirl. Love the octopus fabric and bag. Octopuses (or is it octopi?) are so smart. I’ve always been fascinated by them. By the way after posting that menagerie fabric, I ordered two panels. I hope it is a beautiful in person as it is in the photos.
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The menagerie panel is gorgeous. Very vibrant colors. The texture of the fabric is different than the quilting fabric I’m accustomed to but it will be fine in what I’ll use it for.
I will eventually fire up that Singer. I just need more time to dedicate to it.
Anne
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Thanks as always for the inspiration! And thank you for the tutorials. ♥️
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Thanks for reading!
Anne
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After following your blog for the past year I just had to comment! First, LOVE your creativity soooo much! You’ve inspired me to make a couple frankenbags and more on my to do list! I’m from your neck of the woods (born in Salem wayyyy back when😜and lived in Eugene til last June when we moved to Arkansas) so seeing the pics you post of the Oregon weather/environment makes me miss good ol Oregon! I also have a fur baby who has seizures…heart wrenching! He is now 15 and went nearly 6 yrs without one…til last fall. Sadly, he’s had quite a few (I think 6-7 since then). We have 3 schnauzers, him being our senior dude. I’ve learned in the past few months that I seem to have a tougher time getting past the seizure then he does! He seems to bounce right back pretty quick…it’s me who frets and worries and feels awful that he has these awful things! I sometimes wish dogs could have a few mins each day to tell us what’s on their minds…how their doing, what they need, how they feel-wouldn’t that be a hoot?! I can only imagine the conversations my 3 and I would have…LOL!
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Thanks so much for commenting! I lived in the desert all my life until I moved her almost 12 years ago. It took some time to get used to all the wet!!! But it’s really a gorgeous part of the country, but definitely NOT desert!
I would love it if my dogs could verbally check in once a day, but having them talk all the time would probably be annoying! “What ya doin? What ya doin? Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey.”
Gotta love ’em! So sorry you’ve had a bad streak with your pup. Epilepsy it a tough road. Bender’s good nature makes it a little easier to take.
Anne
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