Saturday, January 22, 2011

I'm addicted to making bags

I am... & I admit it
but I have 2 problems...

1. I don't need any more bags
2. I usually can't give them away once I make them
edit: i have trouble giving them away because i can't let go of them... not because people don't want them!!

I did give this one away.

My friend Liz had been admiring my birdie sling since I made my first one. In January of 2010 I bought fabric to make 3 more birdie slings. (I was on a roll.)  I cut all the pieced out in January and then did very little on them till the end of last year. I finished one in November and decided I'd make one of the remaining two for Liz. She loves pockets so I added a lot of them. One side has drop in pockets and the other side has a zipper.

Here is another peek at the inside.

Some of the other bags I made last year...


My first birdie sling

My peas & carrots birdie sling

Miranda day bag


and there are many many more.

I probably shouldn't make any bags this year, but I know that isn't going to happen. I have a few new Lazy bags in the works and I did get Amy Butler's new book at the end of last year.

...and then I found this.
Style Stitches Monthly Bag Challenge 2011
12 months... 17 bags

and i was hooked.

So I have lots of things I need to do today, but instead I'm going to spend the day sewing bags with friends because it is what I want to do.
...have you thought recently about your needs and wants?
Tara got me thinking... and today I need to sew a bag & I need to spend time with my friends... sometimes what I think I want is what I really need.





© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/
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35 comments:

  1. Liz HawkinsJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    Oooh I agree Julie! What you want usually IS what you need. Even if it's only for therapeutic purposes. Have a fun sewing day! Can't wait to see what you come up with. I just got my laminate in, thinking of dusting off my Amy Butler book too....

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  2. mascanlonJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    Tomorrow I get to do what I want and what I need..... Road to CA with friends, a hug for Natalie while I'm there and a lazy dinner out. Today I guess I get to do that too...sewing for baby showers with a few strips sets thrown in for Rachel's postage stamp quilt a long. Oh I have so many things I want to do! Love that bag too Julie.

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  3. BeckyJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    LOVE THE PEAS AND CARROTS BAG!!! But all are wonderful.

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  4. UnknownJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    I have lots of things I need to do as well, but I think I'm going to spend it sewing as well lol.
    Love the bags!!

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  5. Marjorie's Busy CornerJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Ohhhhhhhhhh Julie...I love all of them.....they are the sweetiest bages I've seen....

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  6. TeresaJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Love your Birdi Sling!
    The Amy Bulter one is so cute! This print was recently on the Worst Cooks in America show! Ann, the chef, had a skirt made of that print!

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  7. Mary on Lake PulaskiJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    What YOU WANT - yes Julie! I made two Birdie Slings for gifts - I want to make one for ME when I get home.

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  8. KareeJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    your ideas liberate me. my linear self is set free to have fun and function whipped up together! so good. Thank you. Love the Me & My Sisters bag: baby steps to liberation!

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  9. BobbiJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    my name is bobbi....and im a bag addict also. heck, my labels for awhile were "bags by bobbi". have you made any quilts illustrated bags? the charm is my fav. ill be posting one made with pure soon...

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  10. paront1222@comcast.netJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    I love bags too..my absolute favorite though is the peas and carrots bag!
    I need one!!! Gotta find the fabric somewhere...

    Peggy in NJ

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  11. BeverlyJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    I with you, girl. I love bags. Yours are gorgeous. I particularly love the one you gave Liz witht he Pure fabric. I just might have to do that one. Go forth, enjoy your bag making.

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  12. AudrieJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    And I've never made a bag before! LOL! I'm kind of afraid to start because I know I'll be addicted too. Btw I saw a book called The Bag Making Bible (http://www.amazon.com/Bag-Making-Bible-Complete-Customizing/dp/071533624X/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1295720043&sr=8-14) that you might be interested in! Happy sewing!! :)

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  13. CamilleJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    Nothing better than a great bag. They are all fantastic, but especially the Cosmo bag. Love it!

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  14. Andrew JJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    You can never have too many bags.

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  15. bethanndoddJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    Amen, sister! I just orderd my copy of Style Stitches. Looking forward to playing catch up once it arrives! Hope you have lots of giggles with your friends today :)

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  16. webmailaddress2January 22, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    The bags are so cute!

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  17. deborahJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    I love your bags! Each and every one! I am going to buy Amy's book - and I know I will want to make one of each:)

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  18. QDOJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    I love all purses!

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  19. momto2wasdJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Yes! Today is a day when I need to do what I want to do...I might make a Miranda Day Bag. Or a wallet. Or go on a road trip!! Thanks for the inspiration! Enjoy your sewing day!!

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  20. ~Michelle~January 22, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    I go on bag-making benders too! I haven't been into it for a while, but am doing the Style Stitches bag-a-long as well. I'm planning to rope 2 of my girlfriends into it as well (which will be a great stash buster for me too!) :) I especially love the Sweetwater sling (I love their text prints, especially the B&W)

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  21. TimolilyJanuary 22, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    I LOVE the bag with the belt on it (me & my sister?)..I want one of those!! I made bags for the first time this year..loved them..and so did my two girls..oh well!!

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  22. QuiltjaneJanuary 22, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    You better join "Bags Anonymous" BA and get help! Sewing is not always about the need but the wonderful things we can make regardless of its purpose.

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  23. Renegade QuilterJanuary 22, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    You hit the nail on the head with "what I think I want is what I really need." I believe in following your heart & the rest will follow. I hope you enjoy your day with your friends!

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  24. SandyJanuary 22, 2011 at 12:52 PM

    What a darling bag made with Pure! Your friend is very lucky. Hope your day was filled with fun and friends!

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  25. FoxgloveJanuary 22, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    I love the bag you made for your friend! The fabric choices are playful and inspiring.
    I have a bag addiction too.

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  26. MysticaJanuary 22, 2011 at 7:34 PM

    What absolutely beautiful bags. I love the carrots bag - never seen fabric like this.

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  27. UnknownJanuary 22, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    oh i love the cosmo bag.....

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  28. Jo-anne BlossyJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    I can see why you are addicted to making bags. They look fantastic. I love the peas & carrots one.

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  29. StaciJanuary 23, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Amazed that you have trouble giving your bags away, because they are WONDERFUL bags. My family/friends wish I made bags this prolifically. I can't work fast enough to fill the eager, begging hands! Keep doing what makes you happy. Sewing should always make you happy.

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  30. WendyJanuary 23, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    You can NEVER have too many bags! I love the pure one at the top best, but they are all gorgeous

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  31. LeeJanuary 23, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Thanks for sharing all the bags you made! They are lovely - and the peas and carrots one made me smile- my daughter who is in the organic garden club in college would love something like that! thanks for the inspirtation!

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  32. AnnaJanuary 24, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    I love all of the bags you have made...I've only made a few and have given away all but one. I think I need more practice at them! And I agree about wants vs. needs...I find that in my creative time, I need to fulfill my wants more than my needs. I hate it when my small amount of crafty time gets sucked up by "need" instead of "want." Feeding my wants ends up being the therapy that I need!

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  33. AlfaJanuary 24, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    I really love making bags, but i just have one of them, the others were gifts for my friends, but i can´t stop mking more.
    love your bags!

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  34. Sinta ReneeJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    YOu are the queen of bags girl! I love the ones you have made and shown here! Love the Meadowsweet especially! I liked the idea of the bag making challenge... that book is wonderful!

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  35. Purple66pJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    I'm coming clean: I have a bag addiction, too. My daughter is complicit. She keeps picking out fabrics and patterns and such...she's much worse than I am and it all started when she was less that 2 years old. Always carried a bag around.

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