Double wine bag tutorial

It's easy to dress up a wine bottle with a ready-made wine bag, but what if you want to tote (or gift) two bottles of wine?

I had just this situation earlier in the week. I suddenly became the recipient of my friend's boyfriend's 100-yr-old grandmother's entire fabric stash; one bottle of wine just wasn't enough for a thank you. So I designed and made a handy dandy double wine bag, which I hereby offer to you as a PDF tutorial.

Enjoy!

Snow visit

We drove up to Wrightwood to scope out camp sites for possible summer camping, and got back down the mountain ahead of the storm.

Mudcloth

Since seeing this project in the Fall 2009 issue of Stitch, I've been wanting to lay my hands on some mudcloth. I looked online, but didn't want to pay what seemed like a lot of money when I couldn't see and feel what I was getting. But today I was taking Lauren to a dance academy near Leimert Park Village, home of many African American businesses, and it occurred to me to see what textiles were for sale there.
I hit the motherlode. After some good-natured haggling, I came away with three pieces of mudcloth (52" x 34", 43" x 26" and 63" x 25") for a total of $50. Actually, $50 and a hug. I threw that in to sweeten the deal. Yet another reason why I love living in a large, cosmopolitan city. Happy (African) dance!

Savasana

January 14

I should never complain

January 12

Front view in the rear view

Caught him again this morning.

Everywhere

Message for Josh

Hippie Running Man

Click to enlarge.

For years I have seen Hippie Running Man nearly every morning. He is unlike any other running man I've ever seen. He's pretty dirty, with unkempt hair and a full beard. He looks homeless, but he obviously lives in Topanga Canyon somewhere. He wears the same or similar sweatsuit in all weather. He runs down the canyon to Pacific Coast Hwy and along the beachside road for several miles, with his pink pack bouncing away on his back. I've seen him in the evenings walking ~ never running ~ the reverse route in the darkness. Where does he go every day? Why does he run? What is his story? Hippie Running Man, I want to know more about you.

January 6

Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.

January 5

January 3

I've needed a new bag in the worst way for quite some time, but have been stymied by looking for the perfect pattern and fabric. Last night I just couldn't take my old ratty one out with me, so whipped up this one based on a design in Amanda Soule Blake's book. I absolutely love it. It's slouchy and soft but not too limp, and the straps are just the right length. Sure, it has no pockets, and it's not big enough for all my crap, but it works! And, did I mention, I love it! A timely reminder to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Then, this morning, still on a Soulemama roll, I made a couple of mouse pads. I'm going back to work tomorrow, and taking this one with me. It is a vast improvement over the sad and dirty piece of neoprene that currently sits on my desk.

The new year's shaping up pretty damn fine!

January 2

Lauren and I went for a hike in the Simi hills. We saw lots of wildlife, including

a dinosaur baby,

a bear,

a turtle,

a lion,

and a shark.

There were also a few superhero moments. Fun.

January 1

Tonight we said good-bye to the big guy, who has gone off to slay vampires in Atlanta for four months. We are so going to miss him.

He spent his last day here helping me re-do my studio. I should have taken before shots. Those of you who know my studio will be very impressed by this after shot, anyway.

(WTF? The p key isn't working. The only way I can get a p is to paste it. Ack.)

(Gratuitous sunset shot. Because we don't often get retty sunsets here. pretty. grrr.)