
Hello, everyone! I’m here to kick off the Get on Board with Sewing Blog Hop for commemorating the fact that September is National Sewing Month!! I would like to thank Melva of Melva Loves Scraps for inviting me to co-host this hop with her. Now let’s have some fun!!
Our instructions were to sew something that ties into the theme and then write about it. Your “something” could have a tropical or surf feel. It can be clothing, a quilt, a bag, a toy, or whatever you choose! It might include some tropical themed fabric or novelty print… or not.
Well, I tried to hit a few of those ideas in my project, which is an insulated tote for keeping those cool items as cool as possible in getting them home from the grocery store.
When I thought about “tropical feel” my mine immediately went to an AccuQuilt die I’ve had for a while and needed a good excuse to use! LOL That die is the Flamingo die, which just happens to be on sale right now! This is such a fun die and certainly reminds me of the beach and surf!

I headed to Joann’s to get some of this beautiful blue canvas for the outside and picked up some extra Insul-Brite while I was there. Then I started digging through my Island Batik scraps and picked out the two pinks, the blue eye, and purple for her beak. Since flamingos don’t have hair, per se, I decided I had to add my signature color in there somewhere! And yes, I did have purple hair at one time – not totally but some cool highlights! So my flamingo got a purple beak! I used a green batik from my stash, that reminded me of a cool Hawaiian shirt. Fortunately, I had a lot of webbing for the handles that I’m not sure how long has been in my stash, but I was glad to get to use it!! LOL You know, saving it for just that right time! Do you do that?? OK, so without further ado, here is my tote!
I used Aurifil thread to stitch it all together because it is so strong and I didn’t have to worry about it breaking! I also used a Schmetz Chrome 90/14 needle because stitching through canvas, Insul-Brite, and another layer of cotton batik is pretty thick. No problems whatsoever! I would like to thank Schmetz for providing these needles as part of the Island Batik Ambassador program!
Another cool thing about this die is that on the AccuQuilt site there is a free embroidery design you can download and stitch the flamingo out in your embroidery hoop, which is just what I did. The pieces cut from the die fit perfectly inside the design!
But wait…there’s MORE!! We are having a grand prize giveaway. One person will win everything, which includes a $25 gift certificate from Gardensong Fabrics, $25 gift certificate from Rebecca Page, Aurifil thread, a digital pattern from Melva – Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail, a book, Fabulously Fast Quilts donated by Patricia from the Faith, Trust & Breast Cancer Blog, three stash builder bundles generously donated by Island Batik, and a crib sized Quilter’s Dream Dream Angel batt from Songbird Designs. Just leave a blog comment, but you can earn extra entries by following the additional prompts (these help us build or followers for the blog, Instagram, and Facebook! Enter through the Raffle Copter below. The Raffle Copter will close at 12:00 AM on 9/12/22. The winner will be announced on the blog and will be notified by email as well! Good luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveawayThere will also be an Instagram photo challenge which is a simple daily posting or sharing of various sewing notions related to that day’s number. For example… Day one could be one thimble, or one pair of scissors, or one seam ripper… Day 2 could be two pins/needles, or two pairs of scissors… Day 13 could be 13 spools of thread. Follow Melva on Instagram for the daily prompts and use the following hashtags: #NationalSewingMonth2022, #NationalSewingMonth2022Day1 (change the day’s date each day, ie. #NationalSewingMonth2022Day2, etc.)
And last, but certainly not least, here is a list of today’s bloggers. Please visit them and leave a sweet comment. Some of them may even be holding their own giveaway!
Thursday, September 1
Anorina – Samelia’s Mum
Denise – For the Love of Geese
Cheree – The Morning Latte
Brenda – Songbird Designs (you are here!!)
Thanks so much for stopping by! I’ll send a list each day of the bloggers who are participating so you can follow along. Until then, keep on stitchin’ and grinnin’!!
Ok, that flamingo die is too cute! What a great idea! I have never thought about using Insul-Brite for cold storage! I’ve learned something and will probably end up making some cold storage totes as well! Thank you for sharing such a great idea!
Just the cutest tote ever Brenda. ?
Flamigos are Fun! Truly- they would make a good quilt block as well – love that tote!
My favorite sewing activity is making quilts. I hope someday to branch out a little more, but quilts are my go to for now.
I love your flamingo tote. I’m trying to get in the mood to get one of my quilt tops finished and quilted. My sewing space is a disaster and needs to get cleaned up so I can get it finished. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love making quilts, and crafts.
I love flamingos so I really love your bag
Your bag is great? My sister would love that flamingo on anything. I have enjoyed this blog hop so far and plan to spend a little more time checking more stops out.
I first learned to sew at a Community College where I took a night course when I was in my 30’s. It wasn’t until I retired in 2005 that I bought a new sewing machine and took more lessons. I have loved it ever since. I basically love to make gifts, quilts, and purses. This is my happy place everyday.
Flamingos are certainly tropical, and they are so charming to view. Pretty and practical, how can you lose. A sweet project Brenda.
I love making anything on my sewing machines. If it can be sewn, I will sew it.
Love to make quilts. But I love to do machine embroidery as well!! Have been quilting since the early 90’s!!
Love the purple beak, I have yet to make a bag, need to try one.
I enjoy sewing so many things, quilts, garments, bags, home decor. When I get tired of one thing, I try another. Such a great hobby when you’re retired.
Cute tote! I love that flamingo!
What a fun project! I have yet to try the embroidery files for the dies, gotta do that soon! Congrats on this great hop….I’m looking forward to it.
Always admire sewing that makes something useful like this. It is perfect…wonderful colour and design. I’m surprised too that there is a flamingo die.
Great bag idea!
My favorite thing to sew right now is quilts, but with two young grandsons I’m also doing a lot of replacing feet in footie pajamas, sewing clothes for them, and of course, making them quilts!! 🙂 Thanks so much for the chance to win!!
Your flamingo tote is SEW cute!!! Thanks for sharing and co-hosting the blog hop! 🙂
Thank you so much for co-hosting, Brenda! What a perfect time to use the flamingo die. And absolutely, I think we all have things in our stash waiting for the perfect day / project to be used. I hope you enjoy using the tote and it makes you smile every time you see it. 🙂
Love the flamingo accent!!!
I love to make quilt tops that never get finished – by finished, I mean quilted. One of these days this will change! Love your flamingo bag.
My favorite sewing is making bags and purses. I am sewing all September during National Sewing Month creating purses for Sew Powerful’s Sew-a-thon happening now. Brenda what a cute tote with the flamingo. That flamingo would look great on a purse flap for the purses I am sewing.
I love your bag Brenda. This is one die I have looked at but just haven’t found the inspiration to purchase it.
Your bag is adorable. I love that flamingo die. Thanks for co-organizing this hop!
Your bag is so cute! I love flamingos! I want a big one for my yard. LOL I mostly do embroidery on things for the grandkids, but I also like piecing lap quilts.
Cute bag! Glad I found your blog in this hop. September should be fun!
thank you for sharing your wonderful tote. I love your flamingo. Especially her purple beak. And the inside fabric is lovely. I will be getting my hair highlighted in purple today
Nice job on the bag Brenda – that flamingo is too cute! Thank you for all your hard work – I know it is a lot of detail plus making your project. Great post!
Cute tote with a cute flamingo! Love how you added your touch with the purple beak!
I absolutely love your flamingo bag. I dont have accuquilt but this sure makes me want to get one.
I love to make quilts
That’s about all I do now, Connie! It’s my first love in sewing, though I do enjoy embroidery and occasionally making other things, especially bags…but not so much garments anymore!
I enjoyed making baby quilts from panels, stuffed toys, and Halloween outfits for my children and grandchildren when they were small. I just made a pillow cover for my youngest daughter a few weeks ago. I enjoy using my embroidery machine for different projects that my family wants and embellishing jean jackets and jeans for myself.
I hope they enjoy your efforts, Gail. Fortunately, mine have liked what I’ve made them…for the most part! LOL
I love your awesome Flamingo bag, and the purple beak makes a fun and cute touch.
Thanks so much!!
Pretty and practical and fits in perfectly with the theme.
Thanks so much, Karen! It was really fun to make!
I will make garments or bags occasionally, but my focus is definitely quilts.