WOYWW 321

COME BACK AND FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED......

Very little crafting happened this week...life got in the way.  But I did manage a visit to a friend who I haven't seen for a while. She's just got a new job as a lecturer in Child Care, so I thought I'd make her a tote in which to lug all her college paraphernalia around!


The metre of Botanicals fabric I bought in Shrewsbury was cut into (I rather like this warmer toned colourway) and a black and ivory spot lining added for a contrast.


Just giving it the once over for stray threads etc.....


Ta dah!  Hope she'll like it and find if useful :-)

I also had a quick sort out after finishing the triangles quilt last week...and have rationalised my fat quarters to this quite small cardboard box. This is NOT a reason to buy more...I'm on a serious stash busting mission!

And the reason that I haven't had much time in the past few days??


My elder son, Owen, has moved back home after finishing university! We spent last Sunday washing/sorting/throwing/recycling/putting in loft.  Isn't it amazing how much more bread, milk and cereal you get through again?!

Have a great week :-) xxxx

36 comments:

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hullo there Lunch Lady Jan.. ah adore your totes and this botanicals too.. so a very, very sure your friend will be totally rapt with it!
Ah the wanderer has returned... so the house needed reorganising yes I understand that totally. :D
Happy WOYWW Shaz in Oz.x #6 I think

{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

Helen said...

the tote looks fantastic with that black polka dot trim!! so stylish.. Your friend will love it I am sure. You may get through more milk and bread but I bet it's great having him home! Helen 5

Annie said...

Your latest bag is gorgeous Jan......love the fabric [if you need more just shout ;-)].
If your Owen is anything like our Mark a saying my mum used to say comes to mind...."I'd rather feed him a day than a week".....don't they eat a lot? When Mark lived at home I barely had the cupboards filled and turned round and it was time to shop again :-) ......but don't you just love having them around :-)
Enjoy your coffee with Julia later and give her a get well hug from me.
Hugs,
Annie x # 22

Unknown said...

What a gorgeous bag for your friend! I love that material and as usual you have made something fantastic. I keep forgetting to blog the material I have bought to make 2 nursery cushions for colleagues who are expecting. I shall have to call in a few favours cos I probably won't be able to finish them by myself! lol
Have a happy week
Lynda B 19

Sue Jones said...

the tote is once again GORGEOUS! I KNOW she will love it . Mine is used to carry my corsework around in ( although i HAD intended it for craft supplies!) Lots of peopl have commented on it .
My hubby ,son and one of my daughters came back after a week away and already the house loos a mess and yes no food left!
have a good week x
Soojay27

Neet said...

How lovely to have our son back home with you - or not (tee hee)? I often think I would love to have my son back home but then think what a disruption it would mean to our lives - still there is not much chance of that, About time I realised he is a man and not a boy. Do they ever grow up in a mum's eyes?
Love the bag - bet yur friend did and it will get lots of use I am sure.
Enjoy your week.
Love
Neet xx 25

Twiglet said...

Oh Jan - that tote is beautiful - you are such a neat and careful stitcher. I am always a bit slapdash. Enjoy having the "boy" home. Having only had one girl we never had the "eating us out of house and home" bit but I know the feeling of having to wash sort and pack away loads of stuff. In fact even tho she has had her own home for 6 years I still have a wardrobe full of her stuff!! lol. Enjoy your coffe with Julia! x Jo

Lisca said...

The tote is beautiful! I remember you bought that fabric and I sort of 'knew' it would end up as a bag....
Great to have your son back home! Do you see much of him? I know all about all that extra bread and cereal. That's probably what they live on at uni. Got to gradually wean him on normal food.
have a good week,
Lisca#24

Robyn Oliver said...

Hi Jan, another yummy tote...gorgeous fabric and great contrast. Son back home - bit more work etc but so nice to have them - our son will be living with us when we return to Townsville in 4 weeks...the bed pic looks familiar. Thanks for dropping by my desk. Enjoy your week RobynO#15

My name is Cindy said...

You always find such gorgeous fabrics!! I love this warmer tone as well, really lovely. Oh seeing al those clothes on the bed - DD is threatening to come home later this year so she can save up to go travelling - and my craft room has kinda crept into the spare room as well as my craft room! That is going to be a horror of a weekend if it happens (grin). Still it'll be worth it to have some female company again. I think. Happy WOYWW Cindy x

Sue said...

Your friend will be thrilled with the bag.

Hope you can keep your son supplied with the necessities:)

Happy WOYWW
Sue #38

sandra de said...

That bag is stunning. My son is in the process of moving out and I am sure my grocery bill will be halved. He assures me he will always pop back into say hello. Have a lovely week.
sandra de @37

Karen Dunbrook said...

love the bag you created....gorgeous!

Barb said...

Your tote bag is gorgeous. What a lucky friend she is! How lovely to have your son home again. Enjoy your week. Barb#33 xx

Anne said...

Love the tote! My eldest didn't move back after Uni. He went working/ travelling for a year and left everything here!!! I had no dining room for 12 months! :-) Anne x #41

Anne said...

Love the tote! My eldest didn't move back after Uni. He went working/ travelling for a year and left everything here!!! I had no dining room for 12 months! :-) Anne x #41

Anne said...

Love the tote! My eldest didn't move back after Uni. He went working/ travelling for a year and left everything here!!! I had no dining room for 12 months! :-) Anne x #41

Unknown said...

Gorgeous tote! And a nice stash!
All our kids are married, got great jobs, and so busy that we have to travel to see them. They rarely come to us. Bummer.
Hope you have a great WOYWW!
Carol N #39

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Your bags are just to die for, they are so gorgeous and the fabrics well!!!!
I'm not sure whether it's better that they come home or get a job somewhere miles away.
At that age they can really eat but I am sure you will enjoy having him around for a while again. Have a great week and happy woyww, Angela x 29

jill said...

Thanks for dropping by earlier. We've had a fun morning Geocaching & found three. It's a great thing to do & its free which is even better. Happy woyww Jill #11

shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan, lolled at the moving in pic! I only said to Doug a couple of days ago, it's amazing how fast the washing gets finished since Mikey moved out and I don't have 25 hoodies/12 pairs of jeans to wash! Always all at once, as he only used to bring it down after continuous nagging.Love the tote, as will your friend. How could she not, its gorgeous! Just read SandraDe's comment- I bet he brings his washing with him too,lol. Lots of love & huge hugs, Shaz xxxx

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

A nice manageable stash of FQs. I don't have many of those, but my dressmaking fabric is getting out of control! Enjoy having your boy back home.

Diana Taylor said...

The tote is soooooo gorgeous - I love the warmer colourway too and it looks stunning with the spotted fabric - such a great choice. Loved the photo of your son moving back in - I bet it's lovely having your chick back in the nest though!

KraftyKaren said...

What a beautiful tote - I am sure your friend will love it. Good luck with the stash busting.

Karen #51

Unknown said...

Life can get in the way of crafting...oh...every day! I totally understand. I wonder what it would be like to not have them at home for a bit, and then they're back and you have to readjust your grocery shopping and things. My sweet girl is living at home while going to college, so none of that has ever changed really...except during the school year she eats out more with her friends. Her BookTube channel is doing very well on YouTube and she's been knitting hats and a blanket all summer. She is very fast. When hubby and I are alone for dinner we like to go to a little dive called Amigos that has incredible Mexican food. We also have a cute little "downtown" that is full of fun restaurants, cute little shops, flea markets, and the Little Theatre. So anyhoo, yes, I'm thinking of making Midoris for a little Etsy shop, maybe open it in October or November. If I start feeling like a factory though, I'll get tired of it. So we'll see! Have fun with your sweet boy. Hugs! Sandy Leigh #42

Belinda Basson said...

Well it sounds like a nice bit of life got in the way of your crafting. I do love that butterfly tote you made and as for the pile on the bed... the things I have to look forward to I guess! Thanks for visiting my desk already. #45

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jan, I've had a lovely read through your last two posts and this one - so nice to catch up with what you have been up to. Your holiday photos are lovely and that shop looks fabulous ... I wonder if they would consider relocating to Scotland! I love the quilt you made out of your forgotten bunting - it's just beautiful. And how nice for you to have your boy back home, for a while anyway. He'll be off again soon enough, taking his appetite with him :) Have a great week. Elizabeth x #52

Artatag said...

This new tote is absolutely gorgeous! You really have a good hand in combining materials. Eeh, stash busting mission?? Do you think it works??
Thank you so much for your visit.
Hugs
Gabriele 12

Tilly Tea Dance said...

Woah... now your first born's 'stuff' really makes your stash of fat quarters look diminutive. I think you need to get back down to Watson and Thornton before the stash vanishes completely!! Hope you enjoy the next few makes as part of your stash busting mission, the tote bag is lovely - what a thoughtful gift. Happy crafting :-)

Tilly Tea Dance said...

Woah... now your first born's 'stuff' really makes your stash of fat quarters look diminutive. I think you need to get back down to Watson and Thornton before the stash vanishes completely!! Hope you enjoy the next few makes as part of your stash busting mission, the tote bag is lovely - what a thoughtful gift. Happy crafting :-)

Ali H said...

Love the tote bag! Have some lovely beachhut fabric but it is furnishing weight not quilt weight so am contemplating a bag! Will a metre be enough? Thanks for visiting earlier Ali xx

MrsC.x said...

hello Jan lovely tote bag your friend is sure to use it cos its so nice :)
happy woyww
charlie :) #20

Kim said...

there is that lovely fabric again!!! I'm sure she will love it!! Ohhh; I hope my step-son never moves back...I'd lose my craft room! LOL!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Ah, it looks like Owen is going to have to share the bed with the box of fabric quarters. I'm sure he won't mind and will understand. I love the tote you made for your friend--great fabric combo. I used my LLJ Designer Tote today since I had to go to a meeting with a bunch of big wigs. I thought that way I would look more professional instead of my usual discombobulated self. Most of them knew me so I don't think they were fooled. Thx for the visit earlier. Judy #50

AnyOldCraft said...

Sorry I am late.
That Butterfly fabric is to die for I love it.
Oh gosh yes.
My boys are both into body building and with their protein shakes and cereals we go through almost six pints a day.
I keep telling hubby we need to invest in some cows, I am sure it would be cheaper LOL :) #30

Nikki said...

Your tote 8s just wonderful to look at I love the pattern you picked it's funny how easy we can stock pile supplies for us to use later happy late WOYWW hugs Nikki 8

WOYWW 769

 WE'LL MEET AGAIN.... I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - please don't worry, all is ok! - think I just need a...