Window Bag DIY

Hey everyone!  How's it going?  Life is still pretty crazy around here (see my last post) but I really wanted to get this tutorial on here.  If you follow my Facebook page, you know I have been working on it for a couple of weeks now, and you might be wondering exactly what I did with that lovely pile of supplies I shared!

If you are in direct sales, you may have already heard of this really cool company that makes bags with clear pockets on the outside so you can advertise your business wherever you go.  The bags are totally cute, and I can attest to the fact that they WORK.  People see your products and do ask about them!  It's awesome!  What isn't so awesome, especially if you are on a very tight marketing budget like myself, is the $70 price tag.  Worth every penny...but you have to have the pennies!  So I decided to make my own!  You can call it a knock of Luci bag, a window bag, or whatever you like.  :D

First up, the supplies list:

• You will need a bag.  I had this cute "Shop Small" bag from my sister :D I recommend a simple canvas tote, or a similar bag with no liner or pockets.  
• You will need two zippers the width of your pockets, or however you decide to make your pockets. 
• You will need some clear vinyl.  I got 80 weight.  You'll find it in rolls by the upholstery at your local fabric store.  The roll is long, so you will probably have extra for other fun projects. I got 1/3 yard and probably could have gone with 8" or less if I had done my math first, lol. 
• You will need some cute sturdy ribbon or bias tape, enough to go around all of your pockets.
• And matching thread 

I'm not sure if you know this, but I love sewing.  However, I'm often a "sew by the seat of my pants" kinda girl.  I will use patterns, but I also love just throwing things together, not worrying too much about the details. So "these be more like guidelines."  (My family will tell you that's kinda how I cook, too....)

First step - figure out your pocket pattern.  I decided to go with a pocket on one side for my catalog, without a zipper.  I added about a half inch on all sides so I can fit more than one catalog or I can slide my receipt book in behind it.  

For the other side, I made two long pockets with zippers, each divided into three sections.  

Cut your vinyl the size you want your pockets, no seam allowances needed.  

Next, your zippers will have long tails on them.  Go ahead and tack them back so the zipper is about 1/4' longer on each end then your vinyl.  Sew one side of the zipper to your vinyl. 

Take your ribbon or bias tape and sew it to the outside edge of your pocket, leaving a tail to fold over the ends of your zipper.  When you sew, you want to have the vinyl over half of the ribbon or bias tape, so that when you sew the pocket to the bag, you are only sewing through the ribbon.  If you are not putting a zipper on the pocket, sew ribbon along the top edge, too.  

Corners are tricky.  I think I got this one right.

  Pin your pocket to your bag, starting with the bottom pocket.  We won't be turning the pocket, so pin it right side of bag to wrong side of pocket. Take those long ribbon ends and fold them over the zipper to hide the end. Then trace around the outer edge - we will be doing a lot of maneuvering and scrunching, so this will help you keep everything lined up, hopefully!  Don't pin on your next pocket until the last is sewn, or you will get pricked by the pins and have more stuff in the way than needed. 

Now for the fun part!  Sew around the pocket, going slowly to keep everything lined up.  The hardest part will be the bottom corners.  Just take it one stitch at a time, and it will work!  When you sew across the top, be sure to sew the OTHER side (edge) of the zipper, NOT the side your vinyl is sewn to! You will find it helpful when sewing near the zipper pull to unzip the zipper to get that out of the way.  

Repeat with remaining pockets.  

If you want your pockets divided, sew lines from the zipper to the bottom.

Pull your threads to the back and tie off. 

Fill your pockets with products and a fun "ask me" card :D Or anything else you want to show off! 

You could also add elastic loops to hold your product before sewing the pocket onto the bag.

My total cost in materials for this project was less than $9, thanks to JoAnn coupons, and because I already had the bag.  And it has already paid for itself :D  Actually, I could have bought the real thing off the sales it's generated just today, but I think I'll stick to this one for awhile :D.

I'd love to see your finished and filled bags!  Head over to my Facebook page and leave a comment! 

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A Gift for Our Lady

One of the many beautiful statues at the office

  It's volunteer season here in Kansas!  Lol.  My husband works for the Organization "America Needs Fatima," and a large part of his job is working with the approximately 150 volunteers who travel to Kansas from all over the country (and sometimes internationally!) to make phone calls for Our Lady.  It is a CRAZY time for us, but a really fun and rewarding time, as well.  I'm blessed to be able to work in the kitchen serving meals, and getting to visit with everyone.

    The volunteers come, as I said from everywhere and from all walks of life.  Right now there is a young man heading back to college when he leaves us, and another couple is celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary today! Some are able to trace their family back to the American Revolution, while others are new to our country.  The one thing they all have in common is that they love Our Lady.  A love that is so strong that they are willing to give up two weeks every year to come make phone calls for her.  They often find themselves leaving message after message without talking to someone.  Or they get hung up on before being heard.  Some have even been sworn at! Yet they keep calling, working for Our Lady, and asking for prayers for our country.

   So why are they here?  They are making calls asking people to be captains for the 2017 Public Square Rosary Campaign.   The Public Square Rosary Campaign was started in 2007. They had 2,100 rallies across the nation, and 30 volunteers manning the phones.  Last year there were 16,323 rallies.  This year, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions in Fatima, the goal is 20,000!

  Now, I know you would love to do something for Our Lady, especially on this major anniversary.  You don't have to come to Kansas (although I'd love to see you!) It won't cost you a dime (unless you still pay by the minute on your phone plan, I suppose.)  Here are the super simple steps to being part of this great gift to Our Lady.

First:  Open up your Calendar to October 14th.  It's the Saturday after the 100th anniversary.  If there is already someplace you are supposed to be at 12 noon, see if you can reschedule.  Otherwise, put down "Public Square Rosary Rally" from 12-1 pm.

Second: Pick your rally location.  The only requirement is that it is outside so it can be seen by the general public.  For some people, this is in front of their homes or at a local park.  Others pick a busier street or intersection.  Some choose to do their rally in front of the local capital or even an abortion clinic.  The important thing is that you are visible. Some locations may have ordinances about where you can be, so look into that - but don't worry about it too much.  Most places there either aren't any rules, or it is as simple as filling out a form.

Third:  This step is pretty important.  Register as a Rosary Rally Captain.  You can either call us here in Kansas at 866-584-6012 and make a volunteer very happy OR go to America Needs Fatima's website  https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/rrtoolsinfo.html.  They will send you a banner and a manual with the prayers of the rosary, some helpful suggestions, and things like that.  It's all free, so you can't argue it isn't in your budget, lol. They will want to know at least the city where you will hold the rally, and you will have the option of posting your information on the America Needs Fatima website so others can join you, but neither thing is required.

Finally, tell your friends and members of your parish! You can have a rally with just one person, but the more the merrier.  And also encourage others to sign up as captains!  Yes, a large crowd will be noticeable, and wonderful, but many smaller groups spread across town will have an even bigger impact and more people will see them.  So spread the word!!! Not sure why we need these public square rosaries? Go to https://americaneedsfatima.org/Rally-News/why-public-square-rosary-rallies.html for ten great reasons!

A couple of our local Rosary Rallies! 

Where will you be holding a rally?  Anything else you are doing to celebrate the Centennial? 

Happy August!

  I think this is going to be one of those "snapshot" posts.  I always like those on the blogs I follow - just a quick glimpse at some of the things going on.  Which for me right now is plenty! One of my goals  is to each day create something, learn something, and enjoy something beautiful.  And then to share those things.

~~Creativity~~

I found a box of embroidery thread, needles, and an embroidery hoop at the local thrift store a few months ago, and remembered how much I enjoy embroidery!  I made these towels for my sister-in-law's wedding shower.  I'm working on another embroidery project now, but since it is a gift, I think I'd better keep those pictures to myself for now.

   There are a few reasons why I try to work on creating something every day.  The first is because it helps me to unwind.  Second, because I think it is important to give something of ourselves to improve the world, no matter how small that improvement is.  When we create something, we give something of ourselves.  Right now those creations can beautify our homes or the homes of our friends.  Eventually, hopefully, they will be sweet memories when we are gone.  Is it often easier or cheaper to just go buy something? Sure.  But which would you rather have?  Something someone bought for you, or made for you?  "But I'm not creative!!" you say.  Sure you are, you just haven't found your talent yet.  Maybe it's needlework or knitting.  Maybe it's cooking.  Maybe it's music.  Maybe what you are best at is creating a good atmosphere or a story or a friendship.  

~~Knowledge~~

   It's so easy to stop learning, isn't it?  Especially I think for those of us not "in the workforce."  We get into our routines (hopefully!) of dishes and cleaning and cooking, and there just doesn't seem to be the time or energy to study.  Now if you have kids, I'm sure you are doing LOTS of studying to keep up with them, but what about what you want to learn?  Isn't that what we really want to instill in our children, that desire to keep learning?  But we need to make the habit for ourselves!
    My studying today? Youneedabudget.com.   Now, I am a long way from making sense of all of this financial stuff.  I'm good at math, but I just haven't had the resources to learn the finer details of things like budgeting, finances, etc.  Until, I think, now.  A friend of mine introduced me to You Need a Budget a couple of months ago, right when I was looking for how to budget (I had actually just checked books out from the library!)  The software is easy to use, and they offer a free trial, so you can see if it works for you before you commit.  Now, so far it hasn't saved us money, what with hospital bills and the like.  But it has definitely saved me stress.  And, as a bonus, they have tons of free videos and articles on budgeting (of course,) investing, and other very useful money related information.  They also have live online workshops, so you can ask questions and get answers real time.  https://www.youneedabudget.com/classes/
   One more note.  Sometimes what I learn is practical, like budgeting.  Often it is creative, like a new stitch or technique in one of my hobbies.  And sometimes it is more intellectual, like the life of a saint, something historical, or even classic literature.  The important thing is to keep learning, right?

~~Beauty~~

   It was actually this goal, of enjoying something beautiful every day, that inspired me to this whole idea of daily creativity, knowledge, and beauty.  Last summer my father-in-law gave a talk to a group of volunteers (more on our lovely volunteers in another post) on how our ability to appreciate and enjoy beauty really has to be cultivated, and how it really brings us closer to appreciating and recognizing goodness and, ultimately, God.  And as much as people say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," it doesn't mean that beauty has no standards.  In fact, if you look at one considers beautiful, doesn't it really show something of the state of their soul?  Beauty, true beauty, needs order and form.  It needs truth.  It needs that something that makes it more than ordinary.

   I think classical music is really a good example of that need to cultivate an appreciation.  I grew up with country music mainly, along with some old favorites like Bing Crosby and Dean Martin.  Oh, and lots of Irish. And I still love that music.  A lot of it is beautiful, especially the more traditional irish tunes.  But it is simple music.  It is easily accessible, because your brain can tune into the story in the lyrics.  A few years ago, we were introduced to the Piano Guys.  I love the Piano Guys, because they are really a terrific introduction to classical music, music that doesn't rely on words.  Now a lot of their arrangements are of contemporary pieces, but they do both.  Now I'm gradually listening to more and more classical music, and recognizing the true beauty in so much of it.  10 or 15 years ago not only would I have not turned on that type of music - I wouldn't have really been able to appreciate it.  It was beyond me.  One other thing that I think makes a huge difference in the appreciation of classical music is whether or not you are watching it.  Especially when starting out, watching the performance I think really helps to keep you focused and enjoying it.  Which is why I love the YouTube videos of the orchestra Flash Mobs.  This is one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gww9_S4PNV0


   Thank you for reading!  Please comment below with your own creativity, knowledge, or beauty!  And let me know what you think.  Do you have similar daily goals?