sew & tell 3.24 - a lunchbox placemat

 **The Linky is NOW working!  I've opened it up through late late Sunday night.  :) **

Hi friends!  Are you working on your spring cleaning projects?  I don't want you to be overwhelmed thinking you need an overhaul of your sewing space. Or a complete remodel.

The more I'm working on mine, I'm realizing it's more a matter of putting things away, purging (even big things like desks) and find a system of organizing that works. And making most of the space I have.  Notice I keep saying space, not studio or room. I know most of us sew at our kitchen tables or share our space with a home office! 

So set a goal, take a before picture, and keep working.  I'm planning a better all inclusive post soon.  But the sew & tell link up and prizes won't be up until after the 2nd week in April.  So you have a few weeks to work on it!

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I had a fun sewing date yesterday with my local friends.  I was able to cut and prep some bindings and some placemats for my kids.  Sisterlouwho had a great idea and asked me to make a smaller placemat for her lunch box! And this makes her excited to take her lunch! bonus!  I had her pick out some fabric from my scraps and I whipped this up last night in about 20 minutes.

I'm not going to lie.  I think it's adorable and want to make my own! I can see why mug rugs are all the rage!

That's Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom fabric.  She picked out some flannel for the back (that didn't photograph well) and I used some strips of scrap cotton batting inside.  I just sprayed strips of batting leftover from trimming quilts and then trimmed it down where it overlapped so it wouldn't be bumpy.

I finished it off with a serged edge (like my dish drying mats) for a quick finish.  Maybe when my mom comes (yes, she's coming for a month to keep me company! woo hoo! Sew fest 2012!) I'll have her help me learn how to use bias tape, because I know it would look a little more finished.

Here it is folded up in her lunch box!  Mrlouwho joked that people were going to make fun of her.  I said they'll all be jealous! :)

This finished up at just about 11x14.  Totally portable.

What have you been up to this week?


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