Lazies, When looking for fabrics to dress my bag designs, I focus on fabrics that will work together as well as compliment the design features of the bag. Sometimes I draw fabrics together from all corners of my stash, other times I find what I need in one fabric collection. I think this ‘Lilliana’ line is perfect for my bag designs because of its combination of colors, prints and scale.

Claire Handbag (LGD125) dressed in ‘Lilliana’ by Gail Kessler for Andover Fabrics.

Scale
We first saw this scrumptious Claire Handbag back in October here. The main gold fabric has a medium scale flower. As it’s used on this bag, the size of the flower is large enough that we can’t see the whole pattern, but small enough to give you an idea of the flower/stem/leaves. We know what the design is, but we want to see the rest of it. The partial flowers invite your eye around the bag. The medium flower is a vastly different scale than the smaller plaid. Where the two fabric abut creates interest due in part to the difference in the scale.

Lazies, I’ve missed you and I’m back! I spent much of December and January embroiled in a family-wide crisis as my dad was diagnosed with a fast-moving cancer. We called ourselves to action to help, poke our noses in, and work together to find the best course of action. Dad didn’t ask for our help. We don’t wait for invitations. As patients, the members of my family are pro-active, occasionally to the dismay of our health care providers and sometimes each other.

My hubby modeling a hospital gown. Sorry about the mug shot, dear.

Sewing to cope, distract, and help
When it became clear that surgery and some time in the hospital were going to come into play, I ordered some beautiful and fun quilting fabrics, threw myself into sewing and made a few pillow cases and hospital gowns for dad. Sewing was my calm in this storm. Here is my seemingly unamused hubster Michael modeling a gown so I could get a pic.

Lazies, I hope you’ll join me in raising a cuppa cuppa as I wish you all a happy, safe, tasty, and joyful holiday season! Embrace this special time of year and take care of yourselves and each other. Eat well, but have a treat, too. Relax, travel safe, have fun, enjoy yourselves, enjoy the moment and love each other.

Happy Holidays!
Joan, Michael and our little dog Honey

PS: Blog Schedule – I’ll be on a blog break for a few weeks as I tidy-up year-end stuff and wrap my mind around 2010. I’ll be back in mid January.