Back to Bagmaking — Janet Szabo

Anna Graham at Noodlehead released a new pattern a few weeks ago called the Firefly Tote.

I might stick this in the queue soon. I love the way this design provides a way to feature those fun prints that are too big to cut up. And either size would make a great knitting or sewing project bag.

I should also make myself a new purse. I’m using an Eagle Creek crossbody travel bag, but it’s not ideal.

First, though, I want to make the Slabtown Backpack. I’ve had the supplies for over a year and it’s time to move this project to the finished column. I pulled out the cutting table yesterday—what a joy to cut on a stable surface!—and prepped the waxed canvas pieces.

I still need to choose a lining fabric. I could use some Tim Holtz quilting cotton if I interface it. The pattern suggests a 10 oz canvas. Meh. Nylon or a light cordura is a possibility, although I’d like to use something from the stash. I’ll keep thinking about it and work on the parts that can be done until the point where I need to make a decision.

I’ve been making more hexies and hexie flowers. That’s good handwork for an hour in the late afternoon while I bask in the sunshine on the porch and wait for the husband to get home.

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I talked to our pig supplier yesterday. She has a litter of piglets ready to go, but another customer wants to look them over and choose breeding stock. Once that’s done, she’ll let us know and we can pick ours up. I am anticipating that it will be sometime this weekend.

The husband set up the fencing in the chicken yard last weekend so the babies can go outside without being harassed by the big chickens. It’s always funny to watch them try to figure out how to get out of the coop—usually they fall out—and get back in by climbing up the ramp. The Leghorns that he brought home last month finally ventured out, too. I don’t think they had much outdoor time at their old home, so they were reluctant to leave the coop. Once they went outside, they decided it was Good Thing. I see them out there often now.

My lame rooster died last week. I knew he was failing and there wasn’t much I could do about it. We gave him a good life, short though it may have been. And the two big roosters seem to have settled their differences, at least for the moment. I much prefer peace in the coop.