Deeve In Progress

I think instead of posting my updates to FaceBook, I need to start blogging them. It's just it's so EASY with FB and my iPhone. I love technology!

I've actually finished this Deeve Bag but haven't had the chance to do a photo shoot with the good camera. Here are some iPhone shots.

The Deeve Bag is denim (out of recycled jeans) with a map-print lining. I also used another tan print for interior pockets. This shot shows the outside of the bag with the map-print as the placket (Trace, that's for you) and the open lining with the pocket pinned on.

Rather than using polypro webbing for the strap - it just didn't look right! - I made a denim one, with a touch of the map print.

Thick, thick, thick! And strong! #90 needle and my #8 foot, for Bernina aficionados. I also had to use my leveling thingies. You know... those plastic thingies seen here:

I have no idea what they're called, but they sure do make a difference. If anyone knows, drop me a line. Or make up a good name and let me know.

Here's the bag, taking shape:

Mmm... no, I'm pretty sure I still had one or two pins left over. I love pins; they are your friends.

Aren't the buttons cool? None of my big ones looked right with this bag, so I went with two smaller ones. They sort of have a compass design on them, so I thought they were a good choice with the maps! I also thought it was incredibly cool that a friend in Scotland has the SAME buttons only in silver.

Sometimes hammering the grommets in can be very enjoyable. Freeing. Cathartic. Going through thick denim, batting, and cotton fabric means pounding hard. Very hard. ☺

Here is the connecting the straps part:

Do you like my screwdriver? It's a Husky. Years ago, some guys who were here to repair the controls for our watering system asked if I had a tiny screwdriver and if so, could they borrow it. I gave them my screwdriver and jokingly said, "Don't break it!" Of course... they did. Ha ha ha. Doesn't that figure? I assured them I didn't care; it was just a screwdriver. They brought me the one above the next day anyway, saying they couldn't find one in their company's color (blue) but maybe I'd like this one since it's a Husky. How perfect! I love it!

Here's how the bag looks!

I like this one a BIT too much; I may not let it go. (Just kidding, Joni.)

I made the Hold the Phone! Bag last - I usually do. Here they are, all set to be photographed:

I attached some wooden beads (this called out for "natural" type embellishments) and a sort of beach glass looking bead.

Will get better photos this week and get it wrapped up and in the mail.

Thanks for reading!

What Else Can I Get Into...

I'm thinking of sharing my personal/gift quilts on this blog, too. How does that sound? I'm also starting to branch out in my sewing, not letting the fact that I don't know what I'm doing slow me down. As readers of the Ao4 Digest know, lately that has included limited slip dog collars...

...and pouffy "quilts" for the pups.

It may not be a fine family heirloom, but Amber likes it. It's two layers of high-loft poly batting sandwiched between two different pink camo twills. Sturdy, yet feminine. And I have to fold it in half to fit it in the carrier.

I could have sworn I measured better than that - but it makes it even more comfy for Am. And ...

...for Dave, Guide Dog for the Color Blind. Apparently not phased by the PINK. :)

Stay tuned for the latest Deeve Bag and then for quilts!

Thanks for reading!

Oops

I meant to add this to yesterday's post, but I forgot. Ooops.

I can't get enough of these fabrics. Sigh.

Thanks for reading!

Behind Again... Naturally

Or something like that!

I'm way behind on posting. I still owe you all pix of the Deeve Bag and coordinating Super Shopper I told you about last time. Let's get to it!

Front and back of the Super Shopper:

Hey... how cool that Blogger's letting me do that! Thank you for the new formatting options! Here's a peak inside:

Two different fabs, plus the pink for a pocket! Check out the stitching along the top of the pocket:

A fun stitch, plus I love how the teal-ish thread ties everything together! Here's a close-up of the outside detail:

That was my first "X in a box" stitching; I thought it would make the straps extra secure.

Let's look at the Deeve Bag! Front:

And the back:

Here's a close-up of the placket area and the glass beads on the Hold the Phone! Bag:

And here the two bags are together:

Sherri, I hope your friend loves her bags as much as I do! :) And if she's out there reading... I'd LOVE photos of you with your new bags! (My email address is over in the sidebar!) Thanks again for your order!

And thank you for reading!

(Thanks to my sis over at Queen of Seaford for filling me in on how to do the sig!)

Catching Up!

... and cool links!

I don't want you all to think I haven't been working lately! Let's get going!

First, I'd like to thank Sharla (and Angel, Isabella and Sadie) over at The Beaded Tail for Thursday's post! Your words brought tears to my eyes! :) Thank you so much for featuring Bags by KZK! I loved seeing your HTP! Bag in action!

Next - thanks to Jan! Her sweet Khady Lyn did a great job showing off the Z Bag I made for Jan. Many thanks for your kind words, too! (And Dave DID work very hard helping me with the colors!)

Next again (lol!) - many thanks to Rhonda (and Joe Stains) for featuring her Huffle Duffel on Joe's blog! I hope it brings your team luck! :) I love seeing the Huffle Duffle heading out to the ball game!

I really appreciate all of you giving blog time to my bags!

Beth sent in a great email and photo of her new Super Shopper! This is from her company picnic Saturday:

Beth (in purple) and friends/family; Super Shopper on the right

She said she loves it - and that it goes everywhere with her! Nothing could make me happier!!! Glad to hear it - and thanks for sending the photo in!

In the Studio, I've been working on a Deeve Bag (with Hold the Phone! Bag) and a coordinating Super Shopper for Sherri. I LOVE the fabs I'm playing... um... I mean working with. LOVE them! The Deeve is done - here's a quick look; I'll go into excruciating detail about it later:

See what I mean about the fabs?

And here are parts of the Super Shopper:

The lining is two different fabs in the spa blue/green, with pink pockets; the outside is also those two different fabs with another in that line as the center panel... with pink pockets. Here's a close up of one of the outer sides:

I'm still doing a bunch of quilting on it. It's coming along swimmingly well!

That's about all the latest. Thank you Sharla, Jan, Rhonda and Beth for some GREAT photos and very kind words.

And thank you for reading!

KZK

Beth's Super Shopper!

I also recently completed a Super Shopper for Beth! She got it a couple days ago and I hope she's enjoying it! Let's start with some preliminary pix!

Sometimes taking a photo of my choices and viewing them on the computer helps me decide if I really like the direction I'm heading. I wasn't sure about putting all of these together but once I saw them on the iMac, I was sold:

The rich green print would be the majority of the outside - see the pockets I've already made (above)? Just a touch of teal. Rather conservative or formal on the outside.... then how about the wild ZEBRA print inside?!!? :)

Here are the lining panels, with the pockets sewn on:

I thought Beth would like lots of pockets!

Here is the bag, all set to go:

See the touch of teal on the pocket tops?

I didn't think those fabs would work together, but I LOVE them! I quilted in a variegated teals quilting thread, to help unite it all.

I toyed with doing the straps in one of the teal fabs, but opted for black polypro. I love the contrast:

I popped the lining up about 3/16 of an inch or so as a playful accent, as you can see in the shot above. Here's a look inside the bag!

How fun is that?!

I also threw in an eyeglasses case for Beth, just because I wanted to.

Beth, thanks for the order! I'd love to see pix of you and/or your boys (two-legged and four) with your new bag!

And thank you for reading!

KZK

Even More Great Models!

I told you I was behind with my posts. :)

Shelli sent some GREAT pix to me from Father's Day! Remember the LapPack I made for her to give as a Father's Day gift? Here's her "Dadders" unwrapping his LapPack!

Shelli told me he loved the fabric and all the details in it! That made me SO happy! Look at him checking it out!

As per Shelli, he commented on a lot of the military motifs, reminiscing about his time in the Army!

It looks like he has some help in this next photo...

We bipeds are always grateful for "snoopervision" by our friends! :) And Mick the pup wasn't the only one getting in on the act. Kali the Kitty just loved the packing paper and my business card!

I just love that photo!

Shelli also took some fabulous photos of her Dadders' LapPack, with the laptop inside. Here it is, closed:

And here you get a good idea of the "fit":

Shelli, thank you so much for the wonderful photos! And many thanks to your Dadders, Mick and Kali for the GREAT modeling job!

Thanks for reading!

KZK