Fish in the Sea and Birds in the Air

True Story: My Dad is my biggest fan, and for Christmas he gave me some beautiful fabric. He walks by a certain quilt shop near his work and one day he ventured in and spoke to the friendly ladies in the shop. He has no shame when it comes to showing off my work, and took out his phone to show them pictures of my purses. They were so kind to indulge him in his proud moment and helped him select some lovely fabric for my gift. He has seen the fabric I use and knows I like bright, colourful designs, and also knows I love both birds and fish. I think they did a pretty great job coming up with these picks. If you’re ever in Victoria, go check them out: Satin Moon Quilted Garden on Fort Street. Of course I had to use my Dad’s picks and make them into bags.

The first one is the Super Tote by Noodlehead, which I beefed up with a layer of fusible fleece. The Super Tote is a really versatile bag with a large exterior pocket, a recessed zipper for the main opening, and large elasticized pockets inside. I really love the side pleat for an elegant touch. I paired the colourful birds with a yellow Essex Linen. I used Kira by Stof from Fabric Spark for the top band and handles, and some crisp blue Kona Cotton from Funky Monkey Fabrics for the lining. I think it’s the perfect pattern to showcase this busy print.

The next bag I chose is the Bonnie Bucket Bag by Swoon, which you can get individually or as part of the new Swoon Favorites Collection. I used Essex Linen again, this time in a bright red. Bonnie sews up pretty quickly and the double welt pocket on the front is a unique feature; this bag also contains a recessed zipper closure. I got to use my Make-a-zipper from Stitch in the Ditch and chose a pretty red pull to go with it. I also used gold rectangle rings to highlight the metallic in the print.