Author Archives: Jan

And there will be more to come! Every couple of years, designer Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness designs a collection of bags and pouches that are relatively easy to sew and comparatively less expensive due to a minimum of hardware. Yes, the bundle is pricey, but always worth the expenditure, in my opinion. There are typically twelve or thirteen patterns in the bundle and they make great gifts. And a gift is just what I needed. My elder son, who lives in the D/FW Mid-Cities, has a lady friend now, after a long spell with no special person in his … Continue reading →

I love the excitement that enthuses a family when a new baby is on the way. I first learned about this Little One shortly after her grandmother-to-be did, and have felt a special kinship because of that serendipity. So it’s natural that I would want to sew something to welcome the babe. I decided to make a bag that would benefit the grandma, the mom, and the babe. Since the grandmother and the mother work together, I chose a tote bag the mom could use when Little One was being transported to grandma—something that would carry all those baby necessities … Continue reading →

We have a sextet of friends who dine together most Sunday nights at a Mexican restaurant that’s midway between our homes. In the week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, Mary Lou suggested she cook dinner on Sunday evening and we eat at their lovely new condo so we could escape the noise of the restaurant as people cheered and screamed over the game. (A lot of local football fans are partial to the San Francisco team, as the owner is from Youngstown. And other diners are just passionate about football, no matter who is playing. That much passion adds … Continue reading →

Took off for Northern Michigan after packing the car with—I thought—everything I would need for a visit of indeterminate length. And I left the new bag for my granddaughter on the dining table. Argh! Fortunately, I had packaged enough projects to keep me busy, including another pouch for the granddaughter. And I was able to complete it before she left on her class trip to Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; and Montgomery, AL. Here’s her new JanBag (her term, not mine ) to carry her makeup. Pink and purple are her favorite colors. So now she has a new Cotton Candy … Continue reading →

My younger DGD said to her mom the other day that she needed another “JanBag.” So I decided this ByAnnie Clam Up zippered pouch I made before heading out on vacation on January 1st will become a new JanBag for her. I love this bag pattern. The pattern gives five sizes and I made the size Large. The fabric I used was from Tula Pink’s “Evergreen” collection. Again, I used the “Good Hair Day” print, only this time in the color Karma. For the lining, I used the same Neon Tent Stripe in Spirit that I used on Harper’s Packing … Continue reading →