Bird Totes

I thought I'd show you the totes I made my sisters and mother for Christmas a couple of years back. Please forgive my strange photo-shoot background...this was in my NYC apartment with zero space and weird lighting. I got the pattern from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, and slightly modified it by accident for each one I made :) The one above is for my mommy dearest. The top is the same fabric I used for my sister's purse, and the plaid is from my mother-in-law. Mom loves peach, bluebirds, and peonies, which formed the inspiration for this bag. I got the idea for the bird applique from Laura Gunn, who got the design from an Anthropologie dish towel. Cool huh?

This one, above, was for my eldest sister who is funky, sweet, and dreamy. Both top and bottom fabrics are from my MIL, and the cool spirals are from an April Cornell skirt I never wore. H is still upset that I cut it up - ahee. But isn't it a cool bird?

This bag was for my second eldest sister. She is warm, artsy, and bold. If I were to pick any of the bags for myself, this one would be it. We're the sisters with back-to-back birthdays, and oddly enough our tastes are very similar. The top is window curtain I scored at a thrifts store, the bottom matches mom's bag, and the bird is a rather bohemian scrap from my wedding quilt. Oh how I love that bird! It was the first one I tried, and my personal favorite.

This last tote was for my sister-in-law. She is hip, artsy, and loves jewel tones. The bottom fabric matches my eldest sister's, and the top fabric is a paisley that came from my MIL as well. The green bird is made from one of H's favorite fabrics, with light blue embroidery. She added a really cool button with her initial to the top and it really makes the bag super special.

What is thrilling is that they have been using their bags! That's always the most fun part of any project - to see it being used in the real world.