Today it's my turn to share my projects for the 'For the Boys' blog hop. As always, Mme. Samm of
Sew we Quilt has come up with a fun theme to get us thinking and planning fun projects. Thanks to both her and Amy of
Sew Incredibly Crazy for getting us going and keeping us organized.
For this hop I made two things, one for my three boys and one for my husband, Paul, who isn't often the recipient when I'm making things.
Aiden and Zach needed a bag for carrying their piano books to their lessons and Nathan needed a new bag for carrying toys and books to church, so I made them a messenger bag. Yes, just one bag. They're very good at sharing.
I made the body of the bag and the strap from old jeans, mostly from the three boys. The inside fabric is an old blue sheet and even the batting was all scraps, so only the camouflage fabric for the flap is new. Zach came into the room once while I was sewing and picked up the camouflage. "This is cool fabric," he said. Does this mom know her boys or what?
Here is the front of the bag, under the flap...
...and the back of the bag.
My three models displayed varying levels of excitement when I asked if I could take their pictures with the new bag.
The first time Nathan tried out the bag I just laughed. It's a little long on him! Oh well...he'll grow into it.
I made this cross-stitch for Paul about 10 years ago, after he saw the pattern in a magazine I was using for another project. Then it got stuck in my trunk where I keep my fabric stash. And there it stayed. Every now and then I'd see it and think, "I should do something with that." But I'd move on again and these poor dogs would keep waiting for the right moment.
This hop gave me the incentive to finally make something useful of it. A little Christmas mini for the wall is much nicer than an unfinished piece stuck in my stash. The whole thing measures 14" x 11 1/2".
When I showed this to Paul he laughed and told me he had completely forgotten about the cross stitch! So yes, it was a UFO for way too long!
Be sure to check out the rest of the wonderful projects made by today's participants.
Thanks for stopping by!
How wonderful that your boys are so good at sharing,that is a great virtue! Isn't it wonderful to finally finish a UFO,no matter how small or large,once finished there is such a feeling of satisfaction :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that is definitely a long UFO if he forgot it! =) I love your boys posing with the messenger bag, and that they know how to share.
ReplyDeleteThe bags are nice but that cross stitch piece is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet boys to share the messenger bag! Love your cross stitch doggies, wish I could still see good enough to do it, but alias, old eyes, LOL! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteChristmas dogs...love. Great bags. I need to pull some old cross stitch UFOs out. I don't have any as cute as yours.
ReplyDeleteThe messenger bag is very cool - the boys seems to love it. Those Christmas dogs look very happy to be out of the fabric box and all made up to hang on the wall.
ReplyDeleteThe bags are great...looks like they will hold a fair amount of stuff. Adorable little dogs!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the messenger bag. A very useful thing!
ReplyDeleteGreat boy bag! You have some handsome models there.
ReplyDeleteThe cross-stitch looks great! I hope you get to work on it soon ;).
now that is a BOY bag…totally boyish and the cross stitch is a woofer…dog talk, wow!
ReplyDeleteLove the cross-stitch, and the bags are very useful, handsome, and perfect for your boys!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like that bag is going to be well used and well loved! Congrats on finishing a UFO...there is nothing like finishing something that has sat for a while! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL I love the varying levels of excitement ! Great idea for boy bags.
ReplyDeleteLOl great pics!! Nice to see how he loves it
ReplyDeleteNow that's a great bag which will be well used! The jeans fabric is perfect for it! Great job!
ReplyDeleteLove the bag, a little guy could sure carry a lot of treasures in that.
ReplyDeleteLove the messenger bag. My son wants one of these made. Love the idea of using the old jeans. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe jeans bag for the boys is wonderful.. They modeled it so well. Love the dogs. So sweet and happy to be out of the trunk.
ReplyDeleteNicely done! I hope your boys use them for years to come!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you recycled your boys' jeans. Great job on the bag, and I love the wall hanging. Great work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to make a bag for each of those handsome boys. They are all cool. I love the dog wall hanging for Christmas. Too cute!
ReplyDeleteI love the bag. The camo and denim look great together. My grandson also loves camo, so this would make a wonderful Christmas present for him to carry his school stuff in. Thank you for sharing today.
ReplyDeleteLove those bags and fabrics! Great incentive to go their lessons with such cool piano bags. :O)
ReplyDeleteBags are always a good idea and boys love them also, as girls do! Good idea, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteHve to learn to make messenger bags now- just love yours!
ReplyDeleteDid you make up the pattern as you sewed or did you use an already made pattern you could share a link to? I think the cross-stitch dogs are really cute.
ReplyDeleteIf it's camoflauge, you know it's cool! Great bags and love your cross stitch
ReplyDeleteNice projects...love the puppies!
ReplyDeleteThe bags are perfect. Love the boys expressions while modeling. The dogs are quite cute.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute manly bag! And the cross stitch is adorable!
ReplyDeleteGreat messenger bag and cross stitch too!
ReplyDeleteNeat bags and the fabric is outstanding. Very cute models as well.
ReplyDeleteI like the share idea and bag out of their clothes! I really love the cross stitch!
ReplyDeleteVery nice bags. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThose are some great bags!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting the UFO done! I think UFOs will be my '14 resolution. Great messenger bag; you did it up perfectly with the denim and the camouflage fabrics. Perfectly boyish!
ReplyDeleteYour boys have a wonderful bag and I bet it never wears out! I love cross stitch but haven't done any in many years. blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteHooray for a finish of the cross stitch piece. The bag turned out really cute. Maybe the strap can be adjusted for your youngest? THX for sharing today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great bag. Love the "reusing" of old blue jeans. "Congrats on finally finishing a UFO.
ReplyDeleteLove that they are able to share the messenger bag, and that they all love it! It is as boy as it can be!
ReplyDeleteThis bag is wonderful and I love the mini wall art! Thanks for sharing your creations with us today.
ReplyDeleteThe messenger bag is terrific. Love the embroidered dogs. They make a cute mini!
ReplyDeleteWhat great bags!
ReplyDeleteYour boys look great with the new bag. I love that mini!!!
ReplyDeleteGood looking boys you have. Fabulous "For the Boys" messenger bag. Thanks for hopping. Creative Stitching Bliss...
ReplyDeleteBeing made of jeans, the bag will stand up to wear and tear from the boys. A great refashion and a fabulous bag.
ReplyDeleteThe messenger bag looks wonderful - great idea to use the jeans fabric!
ReplyDeleteYour bag is awesome! I love the denim, especially the different colors. It looks so awesome! And hooray on finishing a UFO. That's always such a nice feeling, right? :)
ReplyDeleteCool! For a minute I thought you made 3 bags :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic finish! And perfect for the boys hop i should say!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to make a messenger bag for the boys, I'm sure they will use it so often, that you have to sew 2 more ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Bente
Oh my goodness Boxers ack!! I love them and have one! He is 9 yrs old,but still has a lot of spunk! You did a fab job on the cross stitch.
ReplyDeletethose are such great bags for a boy- but still cute! and I have a Boxer, so that cross stitch just made me smile!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!
:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
Great bags for your guys! Love the pictures of them! They look like such a fun bunch! Brings back good memories when my boys were that age! Great idea on framing the cross stitch. I think I have one I need to dig out that is hanging and needs to made into something. Thanks for the inspiration!! Like I need another project - LOL.
ReplyDeleteLove your messenger bag :). Love the cross stitch and it's a great idea to finish it that way. Hmm I have a completed cross stitch that might look great finished the same way as yours :). Thanks for visiting my blog :).
ReplyDelete