Quilted Bag

I had bought these fabrics a while back.  When I first saw it, the landscape and blue color just captured my eyes but I was not sure what I could make with it cos of the size of the painting.  But my heart says buy it and not knowing how much I would need, I bought the rest of the bolt which added up to quite a many yards ...... :)
The other day, as I was putting away some fabrics, this fabric was calling me again.  So I took it out and measured the painting size which came to be about 25" square.  I thought about a quilted bag that my fingers had been itching to make for a while now.  I search the web for some design ideas.  I decided it has to be quilted, many deep pockets on the inside, magnetic closure, either shoulder or hand carried, and both sides will carry this beautiful painting.

This is a good project for me to start breaking in my new machine.  I had bought another Juki as I love my other Juki very much.  Yes, I have four machines already but this Juki HZL F600 is different.  It has one embroidery stitch which I love that my other machines don't have.

So I started on this project by quilting over the painting with diagonal stitches.  At first, I was lazy and just pinned the sandwich with quilting pins (the long sharp ones that can draw blood ever so easily if you are not careful) instead of the curved safety pins.  I thought since the sandwich is so small, I could probably get away with it.  Wrong.......the layers won't stay still and the pins kept pocking me.  But the machine was just awesome.......very smooth and quiet, purring along as I stitch, stitches and tension was beautiful and it didn't take me long to get to know her and some of the stitches that came with it.  Very practically and professionally designed.

So the first piece, I had to fight to keep it laying flat and even.  The second piece, I decided to spray glue it instead of pinning and it worked so well that I wish I could turn back time to spray the first one too.....:)  After that, I had to decide the size to trim the painting and start making the lining and pockets.

This is the first time for me to use a magnetic closure and I have to say, I wish I had learn sooner.  Yes, it took me three tries to do it right and thank God the handles didn't break on me (but I have 2 back ups just incase).  Because I was so involved in the process, I had forgotten to take pictures along the way.  I have to remind myself to keep the camera close by next time and fully charged too....:)

A panel of the fabric with a repeat of the same painting.  I only had to use a panel for this bag which means I have many yards left over.....:)

The finish bag without the base insert hense the bottom is drooping.

....with the base insert.....looking sharp here....:)....I would probably need this when carrying books or heavy stuff like that.

.....the inside with lots of pockets all around......there's 6 pockets which means I would probably be going thru 5 pockets to look for the one thing I need in the sixth one......:)....and my pretty magnetic closure.  I also added two strings on the side which allows me more closure and to change the shape of the bag if I tie them.....(see below)

....shape of bag change when strings are tied.