Diagonal Flat Bottom Pouch

I've returned to the sewing machine after our trip to Jess and Alex's, but it's been a little slow getting back into the groove. Summertime gets busy with other things. However, I've completed a couple of projects, the first of which I can't show you for a bit. It's a gift, so I don't want to take a chance of spoiling the surprise before it is received. I'll show you as soon as it's safe.

I just finished the second project yesterday. Cloud9 Fabrics asked me last week if I would test a new pattern for them. I said I would, so they emailed me the PDF pattern and shipped me the fabrics and supplies they wanted me to use.

Here are the fabrics I received. The print is a canvas from the Lines and Shapes collection by Leah Duncan. The solids are Cirrus Solids by Cloud9.

Included in the supplies was a beautiful gold metal zipper. It looked so lovely with the fabrics. I couldn't resist taking a picture of it installed.

The fun and unique thing about this pattern is the diagonal design....

.... and it has a method for getting that diagonal angled just right from corner to corner.

Here's the pretty zipper again in the completed pouch.

The dark blue cirrus solid became the lining.

So there you have it. A new twist on a basic pouch. It also has a flat bottom created by boxed corners, which are very easy to do. Thus the pattern is called the Diagonal Flat Bottom Pouch. It will be a free pattern, and you'll be able to find it soon on Cloud9's Make it Sew projects page. Take a look at that page - there are lots of free cool patterns there!

Another sewing project awaits me (ha - more than one... my list is long!), plus Miss Crafty Courtney has just bought fabrics (well, her mom did) for a couple of 4-H projects that yours truly will be helping her with. Lots of fun stuff coming up, and Grandma G will be busy!

Where I've been

* Updated... see below...

If there happens to be anybody still following the ol' blog, you might think I've disappeared into thin air... or given up on the blog completely. Nope! Neither is true. I have a good excuse for my absence. We made another trip to visit Jess & Alex in Newport, Kentucky, and we were gone a week. We had a great time and enjoyed pleasant weather while everybody back home was enduring abnormally cold and wet weather. Good "planning" on our part! ;)

This post is photo-heavy, so I'll  try to be brief with the narration. 

Of course there were 'projects' to work on while we were there. This time most of them were outdoor ones. Grandpa and Alex were into a building project... look at the lumber.

There were consultations with Jess as to how to get it 'just right'.

There were more consultations.

Jess's and my part of the project was to plant plants of many kinds.

When the project was completed (almost), it looked like this, a huge planter box that served a dual purpose of hiding the not-so-attractive wall behind it.

It was deemed a success! The 'almost' part that hadn't been finished when we left was to stain the boards. They needed a couple days drying time, and the weather wasn't cooperating, with off-and-on showers while we were there. I'm looking forward to seeing photos of the staining done and the plants huge and trailing over the edge of the planter box! (Hint, hint, Jess!)

* Update: I don't know if Jess saw this post or not yet, but here's the photo she sent of the newly-stained planter box! I think it looks great! What a place to lounge, eh?

Jess has flowers on the fence, and there is a little garden below.

After her hoeing job, she got fancied up as she usually does to water her plants.

Okay... truthfully, she was headed to a funeral visitation, but needed to water in the new plants first. Here's a closer look at that pot.

They'd had their backyard redone, with the old deck torn out and pavers put down, and arbor vitae planted along the fence.

Here's the table and chairs (note the lights hung on the fence)...

... and this is the lounge area. It's very comfy, as Grandpa is demonstrating!

More lights were strung on the opposite fence, for a little ambiance when sitting out there after dark.

Did you notice what was planted in the garden below those lights? There was lots of kale (Alex likes to juice it)... AND Jess bought and planted a rhubarb plant while we were there. We don't know if it'll do well down there in that warmer climate or not. Time will tell.

We ate lots of good food, much of it cooked right there in the backyard. YUM!

Speaking of rhubarb, we brought some along from home. Part of it went into this creme brulee, which turned out just perfect!

Another portion of it went into rhubarb mojitos! Very tasty!

We also ate out a few times, for some more new taste experiences.

Last but not least (well, it really wasn't even last), we went canoeing for a couple of hours. It was very fun and produced a lot of laughter.

So that's the gist of it. Projects, food, relaxing, fun and laughter. Couldn't ask for a better time than that!