Second verse - same as the first .......

I was going to apologize to Peter Noone for borrowing his lyrics but then realized he hadn't actually written that song, so I won't :-)

But it is the same pattern and one of the same fabrics as the last bag I made. I wanted to find something to go with the center fabric, loved the dark brown with it and really, really liked the other fabric as well. Doesn't mean I'm done yet - I found yet another fabric that goes well with the center and outside one and I will try that one, too. But I really, really love this bag. It's mine! I think I'll testwear it later today.

I'm also uploading a new Jerry picture. He follows me wherever I go and always, always comes along when I take pictures outside. Got lucky with this one taken a couple of days ago. Today's didn't work out because he turned his head away. And who wants to see pictures of Jerry's backside? :-)

Those will be the last pictures I will be able to take outdoors for a while. We're expecting our first real rainstorm of the season tonight and it's expected to last off and on through Tuesday. Most of the rain should fall on Saturday. Not a big deal for me. I will be learning to etch on copper in Berkeley.

And another one ..............

Here's my latest bag - again from a Japanese magazine. All the fabrics are Kaffe Fassett and it's quite a big bag, wide at the bottom. A good size, though. I plan on making the same bag in slightly different fabrics again because I finally figured out what to pair with a rather odd fabric - it's browns and fuchsia and the outside fabric I used here will work well with it.

Bags finally mailed

The giveaway bags have finally gone out to the winners - all but two. I never heard from 2 of the winners and without addresses I can't mail the bags. So, unless I hear from them soon, those 2 bags will go back into the stash to be used in some other way.

Bags, bags and more bags

I seem to be spending a lot of time at the sewing machine - when I'm not standing over a kitchen counter measuring and drafting patterns and cutting out fabric. Yes, I decided to try my hand at making my own pattern. Haven't found the exact right and perfect one yet but I think I'm headed in the right direction.

The first bag is out of a Japanese magazine. It's cute and that's the problem. I don't do cute. It's also too small for my taste.

The next bag is my own pattern, the very first one. It is nice but a little boring, I think. Not the choice of fabric but the proportions. I like the width on the bottom but it needs to be narrower at the top (I'm working on it).

The last one is too narrow, I think. The top part is good, but the rest needs to be wider.

And that's what happens when I try to design. I don't know how other people do that, how many "wrong" versions they go through before they arrive at the perfect design/pattern, but in my case it's taking a little while.

A second unexpected gift

Today's mail brought another wonderful surprise: a necklace from my friend Marilee - Marilee J. Layman. The scan doesn't do it justice (but I scan better than I photograph close-ups), the colors are much richer in real life.

The necklace is absolutely perfect: the color suits me so well, the length is exactly right and the design is wonderful. I love the cab, it took me a while to realize that it is made from polymer clay. There is such a depth to it and the shine is amazing. Thank you very, very much, Marilee.

I don't know what I have done to deserve two such wonderful gifts in such a short time but I am certainly enjoying them.

I've been tagged

AJ - ErtheFae's Meandering Thoughts - very kindly tagged me.

I have to reveal 7 facts about myself and then tag 7 other people (that may be a bit of a problem).

Here are the "official" rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are the 7 facts about myself:

1. I like liquorice - to me, it's a basic food group.
2. My little dog is named after Jerry Garcia.
3. I have always "lusted" after an old pick up truck, preferrably in shiny red. Probably will never happen and I probably like the idea of it more than the reality.
4. Not only do I have too many beads (yes, there is such a thing) but I have too much fabric. At least, we'll never be cold.
5. Two of my favorite colors are and have always been blue and yellow. I remember telling the principal who "interviewed" me before I started school that.
6. I can bake bread, I just don't these days. And I don't mean with a bread machine, but really from scratch.
7. My favorite get away spot is the ocean, somewhere at a non-crowded beach. Just walking, counting the waves and collecting beach glass.

Here are the 7 people I am tagging:

1. Grace from GraceBeading
2. Katie from Coconutbead
3. Beki from Beki's
4. Katie Liz from KatieLiz Knits
5. Pat from Pat Winter Gatherings
6. Arline from SharedstuffbyArline
7. Kate from Kniterations

And the winners are ...................

Without further ado, here are the winners of the five bags:

No. 1 - abeadlady - you won bag No. 3, the polka dots

No. 2 - Katie Liz - you won bag No. 1, the yellow flowers

No. 3 - Pat Winter - you won bag No. 2, the blue circles

No. 4 - just jennifer - you won bag No, 4, the women

No. 5 - Rhonda P - you won bag No. 5, the red one.

Would the winners please contact me at summerfield89 at gmail dot com with their snail mail addresses so I can mail the bags to you.

And please know that the bags will be smooshed when they arrive. You'll have to manipulate them, punch them a bit to get them to look nice and straight.

Congratulations to all!