I wanted it to be unmistakably boy, and when searching my stash this is what I came up with, along with the realization that I don’t have much that can be used for a boy!  I have plenty of almost boy stuff, but designers throw in a small flourish, a token flower or something that just tips the scale, for me, even though they are “boy ” colors.  The final measurements are  21.5” x 27.”

and the back…

Out of complete inexperience and probably a bit of ignorance I had the “brilliant” idea to embroider the back to coordinate with Mr. A’s announcements.  This meant I really had no choice but to do some free motion quilting and figure out how to stipple, and you know what?  I love how it turned out, I think I am going to try to do this again, and I highly recommend it!

PROBLEM:  How do I EFFICIENTLY carry little as possible with me on short outings while still meeting the basic needs of a messy one year old?

Obvious solution:  Throw a few diapers and some wipes along with a snack in a bit of an over sized purse and woosh, I am out the door.  Nope, here lies the problem for you childless people, or even you dads who have not had to face such an embarrassment as crunched & mangled diapers falling out of your purse a THE MOST inopportune times!  Diapers don’t stay in their vacuumed packed state, they get mushed and mangled, quickly!  Who wants crumpled diapers floating around freely in their purse or anywhere else for that matter?

REAL SOLUTION:  A pouch to hold your most valuable of wipe holders and two or three diapers!

While searching high and low the closets solution I could find was Skip Hop’s Pronto, and even it, after I saw it in person was HUGE– for my needs at least, and heavy for an on-the-go quick solution.  So here you have it, the result of a months worth of searching, plus I got to stitch a bit which I have been missing since I finishing this.

This super simple pouch is made from 100% linen, and the lining is a print from Free Spirit that Lori used on Ella’s quilt, we used on her window treatment, and these.  It is coming out of my ears, and I cannot stand it any longer as a prominent fabric in my projects, so it has been demoted to lining fabric only, which I actually really like.  PLUS I wasn’t really sure if this project was going to turn out since it was a bag with a flap that I had never done before.  I always seem to get mixed up with all the right-sides, wrong-sides, and the turning, I was sure I was going to end up with something backwards.  Must be beginners luck!

Since this wasn’t suppose to turn out on my first try I didn’t document every step, but here is the gist.  First I made a template out of some muslin then remembered I needed a 1/4 inch seam allowance, so I cut one, and then laid it on one piece of lining fabric and one piece of linen and cut.

Next I did the same thing again, but did not cut the flap out and left a 1/4 seam allowance at the top.  The result was two pieces of each fabric, one with a flap piece and the other without.  With right-sides together I sewed the two flap-less pieces across the top only, turned, pressed, and finished with a nice top stitch.  Then came the fun part, stitching.

Keeping in step with my recent bird obsession, I had this little guy begging to join the world of technicolor.  At first I tried to stitch it by tracing the transfer onto tear away stabilizer, like above, to save my transfers, but that didn’t work out so well and I ended up doing the ol’ taping it to the window and tracing it “technique.”  I think he turned out alright, my satin stitch is stinky, but I figure the only way to make it better is to keep trying.  I sorta think that I should have done him in brown so he would pop a little more on the linen, but hey, live an learn. I am sure I will be stitching him again anyway!

After this little guy was complete I sewed all the layers together as follows starting with the bottom most fabric.  Lining w/ flap right-side up, sewn together flap-less pieces with embroidery side up, and Linen flap wrong side facing up.  Stitch the entire perimeter leaving the entire top open and un-stitched.  Turn, press, and finger press the top of the flap so you can sew it up with a finishing top stitch.  There you have it.  It does need a bit of velcro or something, but I haven’t gotten that far and I haven’t really decided if it needs it, the contents make it a pretty tight fit.

If, and when I decide to do one of these again, I will be sure to give a bit more explanation, some measurements, and better pictures.  If you have questions please ask, I will answer if I can.

yes, those are cut band-aids!

…wait until you see what I have planned for this guy!

… and then of course there is always the token card that Mr. K has come to expect.

The red and white polka dots (which I see they don’t have any more, but they were part of the luxe collection) and beautiful chocolate paper are from my beloved paper-source.