On my first day as director of an after-school program, one of the kindergarteners was making an absolute mess during snack. I looked at her and told her that she should only make as much of a mess as she's willing to clean up. She looked right back at me, and without skipping a beat said, "My mom says, 'If you didn't get messy, you didn't have fun." In the last five years, or so, I have completely embraced that phrase as a life philosophy.

In order to embrace that kind of philosophy, though, you have to be willing to make certain changes in your life. The first and probably most obvious is that you have to be willing to clean UP the mess. I tend to know just how much fun we've had in an activity at the shop, or in life, by how long it takes me to clean up. My best dinner parties aren't fully cleaned up for days. If I have no clean-up, people must have been bored out of their minds.

I have also, though, learned to love certain products that make my messy life easier and slightly faster to clean up. One of those is laminated fabric. Last week we showed you some great bags that you can make out of laminated cotton. This week, though, we're going to talk getting messy. Laminated fabric protects you, your children, your furniture, your car, and so much more! It's also easy to clean. It can be wiped clean, or it can be thrown in the washing machine. Laminated fabric couldn't possibly make your life any easier unless it grew legs to walk itself to the washing machine.

When people see the rolls of laminate, they often think of making little rain jackets. But, what about something even simpler? Mary has whipped up a couple of rain poncho samples for the shop, one for the kiddos, and one for the adults--because why should only the kiddos get to jump in the rain puddles?

Our young friend Rin is modeling Fig Tree Quilts' Raindrops Rain Cape made in Wildflower laminated fabric by Dear Stella. Aren't the cape (and Rin) darling?

And don't you wish you had your very own rain poncho, modeled here by Jeanne? It's made using the Partly Cloudy Poncho pattern by Indygo Junction and Kaffe Fassett's Plink laminated fabric.

We also have a sample laminate table cloth (made with Teardrops laminated fabric by Dear Stella) in the shop right now. These are so easy to stitch up for both indoor and outdoor use, and they really brighten up any table. And for quick spills? Just wipe them up! No need to throw in the wash each time!

Be sure to check out all of the messy-repellent laminate tutorials we found. Now the tough part: which project should you start with?

• Rainy Day Wellie Liners 
• Laminate Baby Bib Tutorial 
• Laminated Fabric Placemats Tutorial 
• Reversible Laminate Coasters 
• Kids Laminate Umbrella 
• Laminate Art Smock Tutorial 
• Laminate High Chair Make-over 
• Laminate Shower Curtain
• Laminate Scalloped Tablecloth 
• Laminate Changing Pad 
• Laminated Strawberry Placemat Set 
• Laminated Tabletop Tutorial 
• Laminated Mommy and Me Apron Tutorial 
• Laminate Easy-Clean Baby Bib

As we have been overwhelmed with new fabric the last several weeks, we have been lax in mentioning the new laminates that have also arrived. These new laminates are soft, very wearable, and fun to work with. We currently have four new laminates in the shop:

Dear Stella's Wildflowers

Dear Stella's Teardrop

Brandon Mably's Gone Fishing

Kaffe Fassett's Plink

We have gotten the impression, though, that many people can be a little fearful of working with laminate. We're here today to assure you that it's not all that scary to work with. As a matter of fact, Mary discovered, while making some samples that you'll get to see next week, that even the serger can be used! There are a few tips we give to people in the shop when they are considering laminate.

• Use a Teflon foot on your machine. This will help keep the laminate moving.
• If you are having trouble with the laminate sticking to your machine, place tissue paper over the base of your machine so it will slide more easily.
• Laminate is not forgiving. Once you've poked that hole in the fabric, it's there to stay. So, you do want to take some extra care while working with it.

Amy Butler has written a wonderful tip sheet for working with laminate (click to see). Check it out for much more information, including care info, suggested notions and tools, and sewing tips.

For those who like face-to-face instruction and assistance, Jane is offering a laminate class on Tuesday, May 29 (click to go register!). You'll make a fabulous and fun beach bag that will be the talk of the boardwalk this summer!

• Laminated Insulated Tote
• Laminated "Just in Case" Bag
• Laminated Messenger Bag
• Reusable Laminate Gift Bags
• Laminate Checkers Game Board and Piece Bag
• Laminate Lunch Bag
• Tote Bag with Laminate Bottom
• Laminated Wallet
• Laminated Organizer
• Laminated and Insulated Fabric Chic Lunch Bag
• Laminated Cup-holder
• Laminate Beach Bag

Quilter's Way's owner, Jane, has a standard tote bag pattern in her head that she always uses when she makes bags. She also shares it with customers when they come into the shop. She walked me through it, so I can share this easy and versatile pattern with our extended community. You got a sneak-peek at the bag last week:

What You Will Need:

• 1/2 yard 60" wide canvas (We used Dear Stella's Peacock)--you can also use a cotton, linen, etc. for the outside of the bag
• 1/2 yard 45" coordinating fabric
• 1 yard DecorBond
• Thread
• Coordinating buttons (optional)

Cut your fabric:

1. Decide the size you would like your bag. You've purchases 1/2 yard of fabric, so the widest your bag will be is 18". Your height should not be more than your width. Also, remember that you will have a bottom in your bag, so that will take about 3". For this bag, we assumed a 15" height. So, we cut a piece of canvas that measured 18" x 30".

2. Cut your main fabric. Be sure to set aside your remaining fabric to make the handles.

3. Cut your coordinating fabric. Your coordinating fabric is both your lining and lip, so it needs to be longer than your main fabric. We added 7", which added 3.5" to each side.

4. Cut a piece of DecorBond to match the size of each piece of fabric you just cut.

Affix DecorBond to your fabrics: 

1. Line up the sticky side of your piece of DecorBond to the back of your fabric.

2. With your iron on a high steam setting, press the DecorBond to the fabric.

• PRESS for 10 seconds in each section, especially with the canvas, otherwise it is not going to stick, and you will just get frustrated. Take the time from the beginning, and you will be much happier in the end.
• Press DecorBond side UP.

Construct the bag:

1. Sew the two width ends (shorter sides) together, wrong sides together. Leave a 6" opening on one side.

• Remember, your pieces of fabric are not the same length. That is ok. This will all work out in the end. The picture below shows how it lays "flat" once the two sides are sewn together.

 See the opening that was left:

2. Line up your seams in the middle, and pin. Butt the seams together so that they are snug.

4. Now that you're all centered, pinned and lined up, sew together your side seams.

Construct the bag bottom:

1. Grab one of the four corners, and position it so that the side seam is positioned in the center on the top layer. Pin it in place..

 2. Lay the corner flat on your cutting table, and take your cutting ruler to mark where your corner will be. To get a 4" bottom, as we did, you'll want to mark 2.5" from the edge of the corner, as shown below.

• This is something you can play with. If you would like a wider bag, you can move the ruler to 2.75" or 3" from the corner. For a skinnier bag, move the ruler towards the corner to 2.25" or 2".

3. Repeat this, and mark your remaining three corners. Be sure to be consistent!

 4. Stitch all four corners, along the marked lines.

Finish Bag:

1. Turn your bag inside out. Pull your fabric through the opening you left while constructing the bag.

2. Now that your fabric is all out, fit the lining into the canvas. You should have a 3", or so, lip.

3. Once the lining is fit well into the bag, press the top edge of the bag.

4. Top stitch around the top edge of the bag.

5. Top stitch around the top edge seam of the canvas (or main fabric), which will also secure your opening.

You're almost done!

Make the Handles:

1. Cut 2 6"x18" strips from the remaining canvas fabric.

2. Press the outer edges in 1/4" of each strip.

3. Fold the strip in half, then quarters and press, as seen below.

4. Topstitch around all four edges the handles.

5. Stitch the handles to the outside of the bag.

6. Hand stitch decorative buttons over the handle edges on the lip. 

TaDa! You are done! Wasn't that easy and fun?

Now we have a challenge for you. Create your own bag, using this tutorial, and post a photo of it to our Timeline on Facebook. The first five people to do this before April 30, 2012 will receive a Dear Stella fat quarter pack! So, be inspired! Make a bag! Get fat quarters!

With all of the new fabric that has come in, we've had our working bees making fabulous samples and wanted to share some of them with you. Today, we'll showcase the Dear Stella fabrics.

 

Sew Liberated's Schoolhouse Tunic in Dear Stella's Orange Stained Glass.

Izzy and Ivy Design's Macy Giggles Dress in Pink Sunburst Stripe and Peony Basketweave by Dear Stella.

Laminated Teardrop tablecloth, Peacock canvas tote bag, and blue and white polka dot and Sunburst Stripe with white linen miter-bordered napkins.