Dots and Posies Fabric TourForty-Five Tote and Accessories

Happy Monday and happy new year - welcome to the Poppie Cotton Dots and Posies Fabric Tour! I am super excited to be the first stop on the tour...and I have a new tote bag design and several accessories to share...all created with the new Dots and Posies fabric collection. It was quite fulfilling to put on my quilt designing hat and work on several projects that were swimming around in my head. When Jina first reached out to me about this collection (months ago), I instantly knew I would be making a large quilted tote bag and accessories. This new collection has a lovely vintage look with soft colors and exquisite tiny details...I truly enjoyed working on these cheerful projects. Let's take a look at what I created...

Forty-Five Tote
The first piece I designed was an over-sized tote bag, perfect for carrying everything you need to a retreat or class...or as an overnight bag. I've named it the Forty-Five Tote, because it is made with 40 - 5" squares...that's right, this tote bag is 5" Precut or Charm Pack friendly! It is a hefty size at 14" W x 18" H x 4" D (plus handles) - it has two pockets outside (sized to fit a large smartphone) and two extra-large pockets inside to organize the contents. I love how this tote highlights all the prints in the Dots and Posies Collection...and you can use your favorite print for linings, handles and outer pockets. The inside pockets are each made with four 5" squares, so the inside of the bag is pretty too! I used Poppie Cotton Country Confetti ("Strawberry Lemonade") for lining the bag and pockets, the bag handles and the bag base...and I used my favorite Dots and Posies print ("Birds & Hexies") for the outer pockets. I found the mix of large scale and small scale prints eye-pleasing and the retro look full of cheer!
To purchase a digital download PDF pattern for the Forty-Five Tote, visit my Etsy Shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRibbonDesigns OR
https://www.etsy.com/listing/941372669/forty-five-tote-bag-quilt-pattern 

Joyful Journal Jacket
I always like to have a notebook with me, especially at classes and retreats...so I designed this swoon-worthy journal cover. It can be used to keep a list of current projects or to take notes - you can use it to journal, sketch or jot down design ideas. This cover was designed to fit a standard Composition Notebook (9.75" x 7.5") which you can find at your favorite office supply store with narrow or wide lines, unlined (my favorite because I can sketch in it) or graph ruled (perfect for charting projects). I used a large focal print for the bottom section of the cover and inside flaps - then, pieced smaller squares for the top section of the cover...adding a coordinating rick rack between the two. Again, I used my favorite print in the collection to make a Velcro tab closure. This rosy quilting/stitching journal is the perfect complement to any retreat/class tote...or ideal to be placed at a bedside table for keeping a journal or diary. The comforting colors of Dots and Posies worked perfectly for this design...
To purchase a digital download PDF pattern for my Joyful Journal Jacket, visit my Etsy Shop:
https://etsy.com/shop/BlueRibbonDesigns OR
https://www.etsy.com/listing/928107884/joyful-journal-jacket-quilt-pattern

Pretty Posies Pouch
This adorable patchwork pouch is a versatile addition to any tote bag. It can hold quilting/stitching tools or a small project...or can be used for health and beauty items, if using the tote for an overnight bag. Small patchwork squares show off the variety of prints in this lovely fabric collection...and you can always fussy cut the squares to feature your favorite motifs. I added a removeable wrist strap and a coordinating zipper pull for added embellishment. This mighty little bag measures 9" W x 8" H x 2" D, making it a perfect accessory for a tote bag. I used a large print focal fabric for the back side of my bag ("Prize Roses"), using the patchwork only on the front...this gave me the "best of both worlds" with a variety of small quilted squares on the front and lovely rose print on the back! This small soft-colored pouch brings me joy every time I look at it...
To purchase a digital download PDF pattern for my Pretty Posies Pouch, visit my Etsy Shop:https://etsy.com/shop/BlueRibbonDesigns OR
https://www.etsy.com/listing/943706179/pretty-posies-pouch-quilt-pattern

Pretty Posies Project Bag
Finally - if you follow my blog and social media, then you know how much I love to make project bags! I just had to make a special project bag for this tote bag set...I decided to make my large signature project bag with a twist. I strip pieced several fabrics, then fussy cut a large beautiful rose ("Prize Roses Blue") in a hexagon shape to appliqué to the top right-hand corner. I used the "Stripe Green" print for a narrow strip between my top strip set and the bottom focal fabric strip of "Birds & Hexies", which I thought made a nice divider. I created the front and the back of the bag the same, matching the seams on the sides and added a coordinating zipper pull. I think I need to make a couple more of these...because who only has one project in their retreat/class tote??...and because it is just so C.U.T.E.!

There you have it - my tote bag and accessories using the Dots and Posies collection from Poppie Cotton. This fabric line is shipping and in shops now, so be sure to check your favorite local shop or online shop to find these gorgeous prints. 

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour - thank you for visiting. Could you feel the sheer happiness I put into each piece?! I am already working on quilt ideas for the next Poppie Cotton fabric tour in March...it is for the upcoming Goose Creek Gardens collection...and it is GORGEOUS. 

If you make a project from the Dots and Posies collection featured in this post, I would love to hear from you...happy sewing and quilting!