My sewing machine is going to the Maintenance Spa (A Common Thread, Portland, Oregon), so I am at loose ends. Literally. When I first constructed this zipper bag, I wanted shoe laces, but used what I had. I felt proud as I heard Tim Gunn’s words “make it work” in my head. It didn’t. Work that is. So now, the bag features shoelaces to cinch up the sides. After shopping, let the ties loose and the bag expands. Magic!

Carol Webb demonstrated her UnBlock Of the Month August 10th, at the Mountain Meadow Quilt Guild. First we cut, then we sewed, and at no time did we stop to think. This is my block.

July 9th I woke up with an idea for a Skinny Scarf. I made one using shot cottons and shot silks and absolutely loved it. It’s a Love/Hate thing- others either love it or hate it. Pat Pease requested a Skinny Scarf with the seams on the outside, washed and dried so it ravels to the utmost possible. I made a few more- they need to be turned right side out. Project Runway here we come!

The Owl Zipper bag is in the hands of Kari Hicks, recent college graduate who is doing an internship at a law firm before going off to law school herself in the fall of 2011. She loves her zipper bag and I love it that she loves it! Congratulations, Kari.

And finally, this is my great-niece Sydney Smith, who is a pretty great niece! I designed this ballerina skirt for her two years ago, with a way for it to keep fitting her into the future. It worked! She loves her skirt and again, I love it that she loves it.

I love the owl fabrics (Alexander Henry) and the zippers and the canvas. Altogether, I think it adds up to a wonderful tote bag. The lizard just wanted to join in the fun. He sits on the quilt storage shelf and watches over me.

My sewing room looks like a tornado roared through it. I started the day with 5 projects in various stages: the Krista Quilt; underwater coral reef; table runner; and two zipper totes. Hours later, only 4 projects litter the tables and walls.

This tote is grocery bag size, with ties on the sides to cinch it in along the top. I rustled through my fabrics and supplies to find everything without having to shop. Of course, I had plenty of zippers, but I had to find zippers (in the right colors) under 10″ long. That took some searching. Then I had to find matching thread for all the zippers…

But now, the first Zipper Tote is done. And as fellow quilter Kathy says, “done is good”.

The Zipper Obsession began in 2008. I have more ideas than time, but so far I’ve completed 3 quilts and 1 necklace using zippers and zipper parts.

I put out a call for zippers in our electric coop magazine, called the Ruralite, in the summer of 2008.

I’ve received over 90 packages of zippers since then, from all over the western United States.

The smallest package held one zipper, folded up and mailed in a legal size envelope.

The largest package came from Chugiak, Alaska, with two big boxes of over 300 zippers, all still in their original wrappers, but not new.

I bet you’ll see zippers everywhere now…