I took a timeout this weekend and worked up a cute tote bag. This is the first one I've done and it wasn't all that hard. Now DD wants one! The card trick block was just for fun to see if I could do it. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, I just cut carefully and make sure I pressed the pieces so that the seams nested. Don't know what I'll do with it now...

My DH has a large patch that he wanted to see if we could put it in a quilt. We went to the fabric store and found some cool military branch panels and some neat flag and stars fabric. I'm thinking of putting the large patch in the center and alternating the two other blocks around it. The branch panels weren't big enough, so I'm enlarging them with the red stars and the other blocks will be the flags and blue stars. What 'cha think?

Oh, those are pretty!! The card trick block could be the center block of a cute wall hanging! :D

I like the military things, too! Which branch is your hubby in? Mine was a Marine when I met and married him, and now we're active duty Army. LOL! :D

Thank you!
DH is retired Army and very active in the local Rolling Thunder chapter. He was in the Navy when we met, but switched over to Army the year we were married.

Oh cool! I just now noticed you're in Raleigh! :) We're stationed down at Bragg right now. I'm not sure, but is Rolling Thunder a motorcycle club? My husband and I both ride... and we both ride sport bikes and Harleys. hehe So we can ride with anyone. LOL! :)

It's technically a veterans support group, but most of the members ride. I think there's a chapter close to you. I can check with DH if you want.

Lori-Your tote bag is really nice-I can understand why your daughter wants one too! I also like your military themed project. Please post a picture of it when it is complete.

Very nice.

Thanks Marcia and Quilt4u. Yep, we're off to the store this weekend to pick up charm packs that are a color scheme she likes. I'll post both when finished.

Nice! I love the card trick block. Maybe one day!

vicki, its not that hard, really! One day when you're in raleigh, we'll sit down and do it together.....:)

Really nice and you were super busy.

Lori, I live and work on the airport side of town here in Raleigh. It would be great fun to get together for cofee one Saturday and get aquainted!

Great tote bag. The military project sounds interesting - post pix when done, please.

vicki reno: For some reason I thought you were in the mountains... must have been your avatar. Getting together sounds like a plan. My Saturdays are booked for the next six weeks with DD's marching band competitions, but by mid Nov I'll be free. Do you belong to the Capital Guild? I went to my first meeting last week and couldn't believe how many people were there. I am going to join this next month.

Thanks reneebobby. I took two days off from work and DH was out of town, so I had four glorious days to do what I wanted to do!.... Makes me dream of retirement LOL!

Thanks beachlady, I will definately post a pic when finished.

Who's been a busy girl???? It's you! Nice work on all of them!

Your "Fallen Hero's" block made me cry. I love the fabric you've chosen for sashings. Can't wait to see it all made up.

Your tote is really nice. Card trick block is gorgeous. Love your colors. Thanks for sharing.

Lori is that the tote bag from Connecting Threads??? Mum saw tote bag in the Connecting Threads catalog I got a couple weeks ago and would love to have it. I think I am going to get the pattern for her Christmas stocking.

Hi! loved your projects! Colors are fabulous and sewing looks perfect! I am a fan of the card tricks block; made one using all Christmas prints...so it is called Christmas card tricks....

Harmony: Thank you. It was fun to do nothing but sew for a few days.

Feathers: Yes, it really makes you think. I really like the fabric too, lets hope the pattern will show it off. I'm going to try and put the words from the flag fabric so that they run long-ways of the rectangles and can be read.

Quilting Aggi: yes the tote bag pattern came with charm packs from Connecting Threads. The pattern has three designs and was pretty easy to understand. I only got confused when it came to putting the lining, bag and foldover part together. I ended up putting the lining in with the seams in the wrong place so it's kind of wonky on the inside, but I think I can fix it.

Karo: Thank you very much. I just love my new machine! It makes sewing accurate seams soooo much easier than my other one.

LOVE your tote!