A good start to the sewing year ...

Like most sewers, I plan on getting much done this year - much stash denting, and much less shopping.  For fabric, that is - I've already sent an order to Connecting Threads for 15 spools of thread, hehe.  I put fabric in my cart and then took it out ... which made me happy and unhappy at the same time :D  Baby steps!

Here are some of the quicky finishes I have under my belt for January.  With the exception of the pillowcases, these items will be going to the counselling center (I'll be delivering them to my contact tomorrow, as long as she shows up at aquafit, lol!):

A couple of denim zippies, and a use-up-some-Batman-fabric-scraps cat pouch :D

6 flickies, using some of the fleece leftovers from my dinosaur quilt :D

Doggy and soccer pillowcases - these are part of several birthday gifts I'm working on for spring birthday gifting :D

Eunice zipper pouch (a $$ pattern from IThinkSew)

Monkey Retreat bag (without the frame) :)

Orange Retreat bag

Floral Retreat (blue zip)

Floral Retreat, pink zipper

Skip to my Lou Pleated Pouches

I actually have more finishes - I'm hoping to get some pictures outside but the back yard is sheer ice, so I need to wait until it's safe for me to be out there :D

Last finishes of 2012 :D

Here are a few more of my finishes for 2012 - I had them sitting in a pile on the table until I could get around to photographing them, lol.

I Think Sew pleated pouch - size medium (7" x 5.5") :)

In Color Order drawstring bag :)

Use up bits and pieces zipper bags :D - note the twin needle stitching on the denim bag [top row, right] - the denim was upcycled from a pair of DS2's work jeans :D (for Blue Hills)

Patchwork pieced zipper bag (for Blue Hills)

Prairie point added to the pouch for fun!

Canada boxy handled bag and zipper bag (for Blue Hills) :)

First Nadia bag :)

I'm participating in the Happy Little Pouch Hop for the next 2 weeks, so I got my butt in gear and tried a pattern I got a while ago - the Nadia bag, by IThinkSew.  I increased the size of the bag piece to 11" x 13" (instead of 10.5" X 12"), and constructed the handle a bit differently (one piece of fabric 3.5" x 8").  I would do the zipper install differently next time, and I zigzagged the seams inside instead of covering them with bias binding - the rest of the construction was pretty much as per the pattern.  It worked out quite well, IIDSSM!  A few more pics:

The completed 11" x 13" QAYG block

Close-up of the QAYG quilting

Completed bag

The Warm and Natural batting gives it just the right amount of body :)