One thing I can tell you is that Austin takes two things very seriously: live music and food. We had a great time exploring some of our son's favorite restaurants and sampling just a bit of the nightlife.
One of the places he took us to is the Elephant Room, a jazz club. It looks a lot like one of those clubs you see in the movies--down a flight of stairs, dark, mysterious. The only thing missing was the smoky atmosphere--apparently Austin has banned smoking in bars and restaurants. We heard a good jazz group the night we were there: the Elias Haslanger Quintet.
Both my husband and son love jazz, so they had a great time. Me? I'm a notch above neutral about jazz, but I had fun just drinking in the atmosphere. And a beer or two. And I was a little bemused to be clubbing with my son. He was, by the way, very polite and patient with us and didn't roll his eyes when we decided to call it a night about 12:30.
On our last day we had a few hours to kill before our flight out and it just so happened that I had the directions to a quilting shop not too far away (care of my delightful, thoughtful son). The Quilt Store is a great place to browse. They offered help but let me just wander around and browse.
They had a good selection of Kaffe Fassett fabric. Around here just a few stores are starting to carry it. I bought some fat quarters--actually more than you see here....
to make this....
I had ordered the pattern just before we left for Austin and it arrived a day after we got back. And me with a bag full of Kaffe Fassett fat quarters. What to do?
This bag calls for 7 fat quarters. It's called the Cross Town Carry-Regan's Bag by Marlous Designs. What I love about it are the pockets--there are three on the outside and three more inside. Plenty of places to stow stuff. The directions left just a little too much to imagination as far as I'm concerned. But, I haven't sewn many of these bag patterns before, so maybe it's just me.
It also gave me a chance to practice quilting using the stitch regulator on the machine. I'm going to need more practice, but making small projects like this will help.
I'm glad you had fun in Austin. Did you finish Harry Potter yet?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteLove the design of the bag. And the jazz scene does sound like an evening of fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you enjoyed Texas!
ReplyDeleteAnd the bag is great! so colorful and fun. It must not have taken long to make.
Gorgeous bag!
ReplyDeleteCute bag! and you did that quick!
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit neutral on jazz, myself - but an evening with music and the chance to people watch is all it takes *s*
ReplyDeleteOh that bag is fantastic and I LOVE the fabrics you chose. Do you have a link to an online shop where the pattern is available? That one is just too much fun to pass up! (and has POCKETS)
ReplyDeleteKaffe Fassett's fabrics are fabulous......such wild colours! I have several fat quarters but haven't been daring enough to actually use them yet. I guess a bag would be a good place to start. would
ReplyDeletegorgeous bag! love the colors
ReplyDeleteAwesome, cool bag, great fabric!
ReplyDeleteWell, your bag looks perfectly magnificent to me! Love those bright colours.
ReplyDeleteThe bag is fabulous in those Kaffes!
ReplyDeleteYou were in my neck of the woods! Glad you enjoyed /Austin. If you go back, give me fair warning....my daughter lives in Austin. I could schedule a visit at the same time!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful son to scope out the local quilt shops for you. The bag is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove your bag. I'm practicing the stitch regulator too and smaller projects are just nice to do it
ReplyDeleteGreat bag ... the colours and pattern are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric is so bright and colorful, I don´t think I would dare to use them but still I like them a lot.
ReplyDeleteWhen are you going to update again? :(
ReplyDeleteBook shelf does look good...and he is a nice son. Smoking is banned as of a month ago in all pubs and clubs here as well, wont miss that soky atmosphere!
ReplyDeleteBag is gorgeous! Tracey
Where have you gone? We miss you!
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, just dropping by to say hi, and making sure you are ok. How are your Dear Jane blocks doing?
ReplyDeleteYour purchases look lovely. Kaffe's fabrics are available here but are very expensive....up to NZ$10 per metre more than other good quality cotton fabric.
ReplyDeleteYour bag is beautiful, well done.
Nice bag! Great fabric!
ReplyDeleteYour bag is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI come from Austin, and every time i go home, my sister and i make an expedition to the Quilt Store. Such a great place. I love their selection of batiks. Haven't been home in years, so yr post made me all nostalgic.