Eco/shopping bag instructions

I said a while back that I would put instructions here for the bag that I gave away on the One World One Heart tour.  Each time I write them, I get myself confused.  But here goes!

First the bag:

I made these for gifts and I wanted to use "eco friendly" as my theme.   I had this handy little shopping bag and it became my inspiration.

Here is it all folded out. 

So, I figured what is more eco friendly than using a bunch of fabric that I already have?  I looked through my stash and found this huge piece of fabric that I bought for a project that I never finished.  There was a LOT of it!

So, I just cut a couple of large pieces to get started.

The bottom was the fold, so I would only need to sew up the sides.

This fabric would look cool on either side.  I even ended up mixing the sides for variation.

On the top I just folded under, ironed it and sewed.  

I ended up folding under twice.  It looked better and seemed sturdier.

I sewed the sides up.  On the next few bags I ended up making french seams.  That made the bags pretty much reversible and sturdier.

So there is the basic bag.

I used the same fabric to make the straps.  You can make them any length you like.  I just made them the length of the fabric that was left over when I cut out the bag.

I made two strips about 2-3 inches wide.

Folded.

again

and ironed.

Then I sewed each strap.

 This is the outside pocket.  I just wanted something big enough to put a magazine or such in it.  

Some velcro to hold it closed.

This is where the inspiration piece came in handy.  There was a flap that made the bag stay rolled up small.

I sewed the soft side of the velco on the top of the outside pocket, and the sticky side on the inside of the flap.  That was so that the velcro on the outside of the bag would "catch" on everything.   Do the flap, but wait on the pocket so you can put it in just the right spot.

I sewed the flap on to the pocket before I sewed the pocket on to bag.  As I made more bags, I realized that the pocket should go on before I sewed up the sides....much easier. 

Then I sewed in the straps.  I folded the bag first to decide where I wanted the straps.

I made the little box with the x inside to make the handles sturdy.

This fabric frayed very easily.  I decided to make that a feature in my design and I pulled all the threads around the pocket and the flap. 

Getting ready to fold it up and decide where the pocket velcro would need to be.  

Fold each side in.

And then fold the entire bag twice, so it's in thirds.

With the flap out.

fold it up.

That's where your matching velcro needs to be.

Sew it on and you are done!

Here is another one with the wrong and right side of the fabric mixed up.   I like the way it turned out. 

They are really cute if you fold them up with the handles out.  

Hope that works for you. 

OWOH WINNERS!!

 I was supposed to draw my winners on Feb 17th!  That very day we had a huge storm and our power was out for 4 days, and even on Monday...it kept going off!  I've been catching up ever since!   So, I am JUST NOW announcing my winners for the One World One Heart giveaway.  And, just in time, because ANOTHER big storm is coming in as I write this!!  Ugh....please send me positive thoughts to keep our electricity ON!!

Here are my two winners:

Lynne at http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.com/

and

Wanda at http://needlewings.blogspot.com/

Congratulations!  

Thank you to all who stopped by to visit during OWOH.  I look forward to getting to know you better!!

OWOH I almost made the whole trip!

Whew!  I tried to get to all of the blogs on the list before the deadline and I stayed up late late late.  I think I had less than a hundred left when I finally gave up.  Wow.  What fun!  I found so many great new blogs to follow!  

I am going to do my drawing tonight just to let those last minute entries count....because I was one of them myself!!

I received almost 800 visits from all over the world during the event....wow!

I'm looking forward to going back and visiting new favorite blogs at my leisure!  Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a visit.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

One World One Heart 2011- ECO bag

It's time for the magic carpet ride again!!  I'm so excited!!  I've been waiting and waiting for this.  This will be my 3rd year to participate and each year I have had the most fun visiting blogs from all over the world.  Each participant gives something away and let me tell you...it's incredible how many talented and creative people there are!  I have been so lucky to receive many precious treasures!

I'm so happy to meet you!  I love blogging and I have loved meeting all the terrific bloggers out there.  My name is Stephanie, I'm married to my high school sweetheart (very cool guy!), empty nester (woo hoo!), I'm a grandma and I live in the mountains of Northern California.  I like to make things, usually with fabric.  Since I joined a Rock band (read all about it http://stephaniesbandblog.blogspot.com), I haven't had as much time to create....or at least my creation has taken a different track! 

For the OWOH occasion, I am giving away TWO of my latest creations, a handy ECO friendly tote/shopping bag that folds up for travel.  I made these for Christmas and got lots of compliments.  You can keep it in the car or leave it in your suitcase.  There will be TWO winners!

The tote/shopping back opened:

And here is the same bag rolled up and closed with a velcro flap, it looks like a cute little purse:

This is the second bag opened out.  And, this one is reversible:

There is a large pocket on the outside:

You fold it the long way and roll it up with the handles out:

This is the bag all folded up, it has velcro to keep it closed:

If you like these bags and would like instructions to make your  own, let me know and I will post them.  It's a very simple process.

To enter, please leave your name and email address.  If you don't put your email address, I have to go searching for it and when there are hundreds....that can be a lot of searching!!  If you win, I will notify you by email. 

The drawing is February 17th.  I will announce the winners here on my blog the following day. 

You simply MUST take the trip around the world with me and experience all the wonderful blogs.  

Visit the One World One Heart headquarters here:  http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart-1.html  

I have to say how much I just LOVE Lisa's artwork...isn't it wonderful??

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your trip! 

Keeping up with technology...or trying to

I have always loved gadgets.  When I was little I was in love with my "cassette" recorder.  I didn't even know anyone else who had one.  I recorded everything and everyone (ask my sister...he he)!!  Remember the first "walkmans"?  And, I remember our first computer, which was just a glorified typewriter.  Remember DOS?  We had the blue screen with white letters.  I thought it was amazing.  I remember floppy vs hard disks, and don't even get me started on ZIP disks(ugh).    Those first games that our kids played...they seem so lame compared to what they have now.  And my first car phone had a SUITCASE to carry it in!  But, wow...the idea of talking on the phone from my car.  It was like magic!  My kids have often asked me what kind of music I liked when I was young.  I tell them that I liked whatever was on the radio!  We didn't have the internet.  If the radio didn't play it, how would I even know about it?  

Fast forward.  I have been carrying around these wonderful "high" tech items:

digital recorder, ipod, camera, pda/phone:

And it's just too much.  My purse doesn't have enough pockets for all this and besides, it's too heavy.  So, at the urging of my daughter who got an Iphone, I got this:

And, it is supposed to replace all of those other items.  So far....NOT.  I'm starting to use the Ipod on my phone, but I haven't transferred ALL of my music...I have too much.  I want to go in and choose just my favorite music to put on my Iphone, but that sounds like a daunting task.  I'm still in transition on that.

I haven't given up on my digital recorder yet.  I still use it to recorder music to practice for the band, and I still use it to record our shows.  But, I don't carry it with me all the time anymore.  If I need to record a thought or a note, I will use the Iphone....but admittedly, I still have to search around to remember how to do that!

The PDA was a favorite of mine for many many years.  And, the Iphone has replaced it completely!  I am syncing my calendar and can go online and play games.  All things I used to use my PDA for.  So, there's one!

The camera.  Here is a picture from my old camera

My camera was not without it's problems.  It often had those little dots that look like water spots.  But, always in different places. 

Here is the same picture from my Iphone:

I prefer the other one, spots and all.   So, how can I NOT carry my camera with me?

I was talking to a friend who is a professional photographer and he told me that the problem was ME and not the Iphone.  So, with his suggestions, I downloaded some "filters".  

Here is a regular pic (from the Iphone):

Same picture with a filter applied:

So that was cool.

Here is another:

Here is the same picture with a filter applied:

That was also cool.

But, this whole ...take a picture...save the picture...apply the filter....save again....well that's not me.  I don't particularly like taking photos.  I just take a picture to save a moment or to show on my blog.  I don't want to take any extra steps at all!  

It would be nice to have my Iphone be my camera, but for now, I'm still carrying around my old one!

Yesterday I felt particularly HIGH tech.  I wanted to get a movie.  Hubby told me to go to Redbox.  I went to the one I always go to and they didn't have the one I wanted.  I was shopping and running errands and he told me on the phone to go to another one.  So, I pulled over and opened the Redbox "ap" and found the movie at a location just seconds from where I was.  I got there and there was a line.  So, while I was waiting for my turn, I got on my phone and reserved the movie.  Just like that.  If someone in front of me wanted my movie...TOO LATE!  I already got it.  I was feeling pretty smug!

I'm still learning all the wonderful things this phone can do.  And, I'm sure I have just scratched the surface.