I had to step away from the Heart Strip Quilts this week because I had other projects with deadlines!

I had a request for a beer bag with a red bandana print for the lining. That was a few months ago and I had to quit procrastinating on it because I was going to her house on Wednesday (as in yesterday). While I had all the tote supplies out and the Brother PQ1500SL was set up, I made a shopping tote for a friend that was having an open house for her new home. I love to give these shopping totes as gifts for a housewarming.

Here’s the beer bag with the red bandana lining. I went to my local quilt shop for the fabric and they didn’t have any! I didn’t have time to order it online so I did a search on local stores and picked up a couple yards at a WalMart on the other side of the county. I would not use this material in a quilt–just don’t know what kind of quality it is–but for a tote that will seldom be washed–I was okay with WalMart!

Of course, I like to put a little buddy in the pocket. Sometimes I buy little creatures. This time I made 2 “very nice mice” but turned them into rabbits since Easter is at the end of the month!

This is a free design from Ann Wood Handmade. I have also turned them into racoons but I usually just make mice.

Athena really likes all wool felt toys and has destroyed a few when I left them out. She was smelling around for them on my sewing table. Fooled her, I put them away in a safe place!

This is the shopping tote for my friends’ open house.

I think the fabric I used for the lining is stunning! I received one yard as a gift for Christmas several years ago. At the time I thought, “what will I ever use this for?”. My quilts are usually low volume or solid fabric. I use busier prints for the backing but it was only one yard. Pulled it out for this bag and was so excited when I got it finished! Wowza!

I added a wine pocket in this tote. And a bunny!

And I delivered the bags to their new homes yesterday. The recipients were thrilled!

I have been making this style of bag for many years. Different sizes, different options, different fabrics. I usually decide what will be in the tote and then design it around the item. Like the “beer bag” is the perfect size for a six pack and the shopping tote is based on the reusable bags from the grocery stores.

You can download the free instructions for the shopping tote here and for the beer bag here.

Next week I’ll show you how to resize the bags so you can make your own unique tote!