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| I have made a lot of Jane Market Bags in the past. Like, a lot. |
There has not been a lot of sewing around From Bolt to Beauty world headquarters since my last post. In part, this is a result of my guild’s upcoming Cape Cod retreat. I missed our spring retreat, so I’m super excited to go and have been prepping projects to work on there.
I don’t find retreats conducive to being creative or to making important design decisions. To me, they’re temporary sweatshops, and I use the time to try to get through as much sewing as I can. I like to choreograph my weekend away by planning some smaller finishes and taking a bigger WIP or two.
This year, I have two Jane Market Bags cut and ready to go (see some previously made bags in the pictures above and below). And I have two quilts—both destined to be Christmas gifts—that are in process. All the remaining bits of those quilts have been cut and organized to minimize the math and rotary work I will do on retreat. (Retreats are also not conducive to accurate calculations and the cutting decisions based on them!)
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| This Jane Market Bag was part of a swap gift. |
A weekend of sewing seems like a lot of time to get things done. It’s really not, especially when you factor in catching up with good friends, leisurely meals, and fabric shopping. Perhaps I’ll come home with two completed bags and one finished flimsy? We’ll see ...
UPDATE: The giveaway is closed. Carolanne is the winner!
The pageant rules are simple:
- Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
- Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
- Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.
I really like the look of your Jane Market Bags! I bet they make great gifts. Where is the pattern available?
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking, Diann! The pattern was designed by Alicia Paulson, a long-time craft blogger: https://aliciapaulson.com/collections/sewing-patterns/products/jane-market-bag-sewing-pattern
DeleteHahaha! You were so accurate with a little bit of country and a little bit of rock and roll. I love most genres of music and almost all fabrics. I am excited to host your link up this week Michelle. And, who knows... maybe someday we will meet in person!
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head about retreats! They are sweatshops! Like you I bring a big project and several smaller ones. It's always nice to have a quick and gratifying finish! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle! I love Bernie and agree that she has a wonderful selection of fabrics. I haven't met her yet either. I haven't attended a quilting retreat, either, but they sound like fun. Not too productive I would suspect because they is a lot of chatting that needs to be done, plus general visiting to see what everyone is working on. I don't imagine you sleep too well at these either - at least I wouldn't. Happy Friday to you! ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the retreat! I've never been to one but I hear they're lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I am too old for retreats. I like my own bed these days but I like to go for the day. Like those shopping bags.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a retreat, but am tentatively planning to go to one next year. Thanks for the heads up that it's not a great time to do concentrated thinking. I'll plan to bring some mindless sewing and expect lots of socializing :)
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the retreat, it sounds like a good time to me! I have enjoyed looking at the projects posted on this link, they are indeed Beauties!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about retreats Not being conducive to being creative or to making important design decisions. However, for me they weren’t much like sweat shops either. I always find myself doing a lot of socializing and admiring the work of others. I don’t do a lot of retreats, but they are fun.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a beauty to link up, but we've been on vacation to Yellowstone for the past 2 weeks! What a beautiful place! Now that I'm home (and the laundry is almost done), I'm looking forward to creating some beauties in my sewing room!
ReplyDeleteI too like your bags. Many stores are doing away with grocery bags so I’m desperately needing to make some
ReplyDeleteI have a finish I am excited to share tomorrow and link up. I'm not much of a bag sewer, but these look like something I wouldn't be too intimidated to try. I hope you enjoy the retreat!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the retreat! I really like your bags!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your Market Bags. I haven't accomplished much this week myself. Enjoy your retreat. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI have a one day retreat coming up, and I am looking forward to my time away.I know I will be prepping some projects to take.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have fun on your retreat, and get a little stitching in!
ReplyDeleteI went on my first retreat last spring, after missing the first day due to an allergic reaction. What a blast it was! I spent the missed day doing all the cutting, and it turned out to be a great plan. I am going again this year, and will, as you have recommended, do cutting ahead at home, and "sweatshop stitch" while there. I was amazed at how much I accomplished- almost ran out of projects! Our retreat is at a wooded camp, and no shopping trips to stop our stitching- just meals and sleep! Have a great time, Cape Cod would be a beautiful place to stitch.
ReplyDeleteI have never participated in your Beauty Pageant before - how recent of a finish does it need to be? Any other rules? Or just share a favorite project?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Jane Market bag - I've made two or three for gifts and first received mine in a Flickr swap years ago. Retreats are great but you are right - go prepared and with several projects to match whatever mood your are in!!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same place as you - preparing for a retreat. I love going and just being able to sew. Right now I'm in the middle of cutting and sorting out my blocks so I can sew like the wind at the retreat I'm going to in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting not only the giveaway but also the Friday pageant of finishes. :)
ReplyDeleteI have never been to a retreat but I am planning on going to my guild's this upcoming spring and am very excited. Have fun sewing!
ReplyDeleteNext weekend is our guild's retreat. I am helping plan it this year and hopefully won't be too exhausted to sew. I have a list of projects!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about retreats. They are great for finishing projects already cut and in process, but not for creative moments. I need the mess in my own sewing room to really play. Thanks for hosting this pageant. I'm looking forward to seeing all the beauties!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, that’s a cool bag for pretty much all my carrying needs. Thank You for sharing the link.
ReplyDeleteRetreats are gab sessions and rarely do I get my goals accomplished after dragging half my sewing studio to the site;) Thank you.
schimmel(dot)db(at)gmail( dot)com
Darn it, I missed the link up, but I will try and brag about my next beauty, for sure!!! Thanks for a fun new linky party, and the giveaway too!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been prepping for retreat too, and it's a different kind of organizing. Can't wait to see you there! I agree; not really conducive to big spurts of creativity.
ReplyDeleteI've been so busy with moving that I've barely sat at my machine for the last few months. I'm so excited for retreat to just sew all day long!
ReplyDeleteI often describe retreat as a sweatshop -- but then no one at work understands why I'd want to go. :D So now I just describe it as a "girls' weekend". HA! So excited!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your retreat prep info ... I'm going to bring some projects to finish and we'll see about starting something new. There are so many possibilities, it's hard to decide. Looking forward to the sewing time!!
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