Secret Santa Gift - Personalized Bags

We are doing a small gift exchange in our little department at work. I was struggling with what to gift my co-worker and friend who's name I pulled out of the Santa hat. Should I just buy a generic store-bought gift? Or should I try to make her something? And if I do make her something, what to make that doesn't take a huge amount of time and money?

After talking with another co-worker and my mom, I decided on a personalized bag.

Emily spent 1-1/2 years in Peru as a missionary and has a strong love and connection to Peru. So, we embroidered her name on one side of the bag and the Peru flag on the other side.

I was so surprised on how fast and easy this bag was to make. I am very afraid of zippers and avoid them whenever I can. However, it was so incredibly easy to do! I need to rethink my aversion to zippers.

My mom has made several of these bags in the past. These bags are so useful and can be made in any size you like.

• My 2 children with peanut allergies keep their medicines and epi-pens in their personalized bags that go everywhere with them. The strap on the bag makes it easy to carry on your wrist.
• One son uses his to keep all his contact items together in one place.
• We have a few large ones made out of mesh we use as clothing/lingerie bags while traveling. 
• I have one I keep all my cords and plugs for my electronics when I travel.
• I keep mine personalized bag by my bed, which holds my sleep mask, ear plugs, etc.
• A niece uses hers as her make-up bag.

I'm excited for the gift exchange. I hope she likes it. 

Linked up with Show Off Saturday here.

Updated Picture - Red & White Quilt

As promised. Here is a picture of my completed top for my Red & White Quilt. I had to get 2 little helpers to hold this one up for me.



 

Red & White Quilt

My boys are used to this request: Will you hold a quilt for me? They know the drill and are good sports about it.

I'm having moments of panic about the size. I intended this to be a Queen sized quilt. Technically, it is. However, it is on the small side of Queen size. After taking measurements of this top (76" x 96") and my Queen sized mattress, I realize it will work. But, I want it just a tad bit wider for comfort.

So, it's been decided to add a boarder. I'm thinking a red and white striped border. Well, it would actually be white, red, white stripes with a red binding. This would add another 6" (3" on each side) making the quilt 82" x 102".

My goal for December is to add a border to this quilt.

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.
Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.

Quilt Top Done

Just in the nick of time, I completed my November Goal: Complete the top for my Red & White Quilt. And because it is 11:30 pm, I can't get a good picture of it, so I'll use this almost completed picture for now until I can get a good picture to post and still be able to link up to the linky party.



Red & White Quilt Top

I did want to have this done for my Quilt Guild's meeting a week and a half ago, but it didn't happen. Oh well! Just happy to have it done.

I do think I will add borders to it to make it just a bit bigger. We'll see.

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Almost Done

I am so close to finishing the top for my Red & White Quilt. Only thing left is to sew the rows together. 

Red & White Carpenters Block

I have had so many good intentions of posting pictures of my progress, but life gets away from me and I would forget. So sorry!

I am very happy with how this is turning out. And I love having a design wall I can lay out my blocks on.

Nine more passes on my sewing machine and this is done! Yahoo!

November Goal: Finish top for Red & White Quilt

My crazy goal for November: Finish the top for my Red & White Quilt.

Babco Unlimited - Red & White Quilt in Progress

This is what I get for starting my challenge so late. I really should have the top completed by my November meeting in 2 weeks...but I'm not holding my breath on that one. I just need to be able to bring a completed top by then.

Wish me luck!

Linked up with a Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Red & White Quilt Progress

I can't believe I almost forgot to post about meeting my October goal: to have all my strip sets sewn for my Red & White Quilt. I am happy to report I accomplished my goal and surpassed it! Yahoo! I sewed all my strip sets and sewed all my mini blocks. (88 of Block A and 64 of Block B)

Babco Unlimited - Red & White Quilt in Progress

Sorry for the dark picture. It has been cloudy and rainy in Utah all week. I meant to take a picture this afternoon, but soccer and Halloween and weekend cleaning happened.

I now have all the pieces I need. It's so fun to watch this quilt come together.

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

WIP Wednesday # 41 - Sample of Red & White Quilt

I wanted to do a small sample block of what my quilt will ultimately look like.

Babco Unlimited - Red & White Quilt in Progress

I kept looking at that LARGE pile of fabric strips I cut previously and hoping I didn't just cut up yards and yards of fabric for something that wouldn't work.

I have to say it: I'm very excited now.

Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.
Linked up with WIP Wednesday here.

WIP Wednesday # 40 - At the Cutting Table

I've been busy at my cutting table.

Babco Unlimited - Red & White Quilt in Progress

I turned yards of fabric into the following:
Red Fabric: 109 strips (WOF x 1-1/2")
White Fabric: 50 strips (WOF x 1-1/2")
White Fabric: 5 strips (WOF x 3-1/2")
White Fabric: 8 strips (WOF x 5-1/5")

And I will still need more cut for borders and bindings....but will do that once my blocks are all done.
This will give me what I need to get my top done.

Now, I'm off to sew strips together.