a sewing saturday

i'm working on a secret bit of knitting. i'm test knitting something for a friend's book that will be published soon, so i'm not able to share it on blogland. but i assure you i am knitting.

i have been multitasking as usual though. my SILs birthday was in march. i remembered, but i had no idea what to get her. i gave a million different suggestions and ideas to my husband, but he didn't like any. she's his only sister, and we wanted to be creative. not just "here's some money" because that's just too impersonal. yes, i am aware that it's mid-july now, but i finally came up with a gift. i sewed a tote bag that i'm calling "the partridge tote"

i didn't use a pattern, it came out of my own noggin. i love the details that make it more than a basic tote bag, like the floral cotton print with the blue corduroy, and the tan crochet lace border.


i love the little birdie too. this was my first time using the satin stitch on my machine for applique. fun, but a little wonky here and there.

such a happy little birdie.

the tote is reversible too!


i love the contrast of the pocket on the main fabric. i had a lot of fun sewing this gift (even though i am very much a novice sewer) and i think perhaps this late b-day tote will be acceptable. :)