I have a secret....

I have been a "sewist" (I think that is the new term for a person that sews?) for about 20 years.  I have made various articles of clothing for my kids and am an avid quilter.  Here is my secret....I just barely learned how to put in a zipper.  Yes, it is true.  For the last couple of years I have avoided all the cute bag patterns because of my fear of zippers.  This year for Christmas I wanted to make a handmade gift for all of my kids.  I found a cute bag by Sweetwater. It is the "Pack and Go" bag.  You can make it in three sizes and it would be perfect for pencils, make-up, Nintendo DS, and really just about anything. I bought the pattern, fabrics, and zippers.  I was ready to sew and try these babies out.  Then, my friend had a Twenty-One party.  For those of you not familiar with Twenty-One, they are like the Pampered Chef of bags.  It just made more sense to buy them bags than to try to put in a zipper.  Yes, I was really that scared of zippers.  Finally in January,  I was invited to a bridal shower.  I bought all sorts of gifts that were appropriate for a honeymoon and then realized I had no gift bag.  I was leaving for Jamaica the next day and really did not have time to run to the store.  I had no other choice.  I went to my sewing room, dug out the pattern, and started sewing.  I googled "how to sew a zipper" and was amazed at how easy it was. I ran upstairs and woke my husband out of a dead sleep so he could see the bag with the zipper.  I left it on the kitchen table so that my kids would ooh....and ahh.... over it.  They were not that impressed (someday I will learn...they are very rarely impressed with anything I do).  Thing  three (who is a bundle of joy as most 11 year old girls are ) said, "It's o.k. but really, who like flowers anymore?"  Their lack of enthusiasm could not dampen my excitement.  I had made a purse WITH A ZIPPER!!!!  I am happy to report that since then, I have made several more and am no longer scared of zippers. (Zoom in and look at the cool top stitching.  The pattern didn't call for that...I just thought it would look cool.) (Pat, pat...I am patting myself on the back for being so clever.)

Isn't it beautiful???  I think I would like to make some from this, and this, and definitely this (for Thing 4).
Have a marvelous day!
-Stephanie