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Saturday, February 14, 2026

Five Green Bags, and Books

 There was more green stitching this week and I completed five green drawstring bags for the foster kids.  So I'm quite pleased with that.  I'm always amazed at what is tucked away in my big bag of bits and pieces.  It doesn't seem to be getting much emptier. 

Bag making bits and pieces

So what did I find to work with?  There was an already made elongated nine patch featuring frogs, and a farmyard scene with a red barn and roosters.


A fat quarter of dark green Japanesy fabric was enough for two bags, plus two small pieces of New Zealand inspired fabric plus extras made the final bag.  I'll add them to last months blue collection, and I'm getting quite a pile.

Five green drawstring bags this month

And what have I been reading so far this month?  Lost Light, by Michael Connelly featuring Det Harry Bosch who has finally quit the LAPD.  But he took a murder file with him to reinvestigate, running foul of his old colleagues and the FBI.  As always, another exciting read with unexpected twists and turns.


Angela Marsons Dead Souls was next, and I'm a real fan of her books featuring DI Kim Stone, they never dissapoint, and I'm reading them in order.  The Thread Collectors was a joint collaboration by Shaunna Edwards and Alyson Richman, telling the story of two women, a black slave and a wealthy Jewess during the Civil War.  Their husbands both enlist in the Union army and form a friendship through their love of music.  Such an interesting tale, about two women in completely different circumstances doing their bit to help the war effort.    I certainly would recommend this book.


Books read so far this month

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

You certainly have been busy. I'm always amazed at how much you get done. I've finally picked up my crochet hook and made a start on a hexagon cardigan! Judith Emery nb Serena

The Cozy Quilter said...

Scrap bags/bins take a long time to go down. Every time we dig around in them, we fluff things up and the bag looks fuller even though we have used up some of the fabric. Such pretty bags for donation. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Jenny!

Julierose said...

Lovely green drawstring bags, Jenny--my granddaughter [she got her first sewing machine for Christmas--she is 11 and really "into" sewing!!] loves learning about making any kind of bags...she just jumps right in to making.
After I helped her learn about her new beginner machine, she made 2 little baggies for her friends...her skills are growing...so heartwarming to see...
btw: her favorite color is green;)))
Happy Valentine's Day from across the seas--hugs, Julierose

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

Nice work! The bags are so pretty and cheerful. Thanks for the book recommendations. I find I'm reading more than ever this winter. So much better than doom scrolling on my phone!

Lyndsey said...

Wow you've been busy. The scrap collection never seems to shrink however much I use from them. I like the bags you've made, very pretty. You are doing better than me on reading this month. I still haven't finished the first book.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Those drawstring bags look fun to make and perfect for scraps! I know they will be appreciated. You've been reading some good books there - I like reading series books in order, too!

grammajudyb said...

I’ll certainly add those titles to my To Read list. Both of us are fans of Harry Bosch and Michael Connelly. And I like historical fiction too. Cute little bags for the kids.

Kathy S. said...

The bags are so cute. I know the kids will really like them. My scrap bins seem to make more little scraps as I go too.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

DI Stone sounds familiar i will need to check and see if I have read that series. I read so many I don't always remember until I read a synopsis if the book.

Anonymous said...

Greens to me are always so easy to sew together and I am always amazed at the many shades there are. When do you go on the South Island trip? A friend left her car at our place, she lives in Whanganui, and arranged to travel to Tauranga with her friend who lives in Levin. Robyn, with a mustard coloured small car, and says she know you.Small world. I guess they will be having torrential rain, looks like we might get gale winds tonight.

Sue said...

Great bags for donation & remember, you used stuff from the bin so there's fewer scraps, even if it doesn't look like it. Cup half full!!

Nancy J said...

I was listed as " Anonymous" had to log into gmail again!!!

Jenn Jilks said...

What a lovely thing to do!
I remember student teaching in 1981. My gr. 1 class kept dropping marbles all over the floor. I sewed them all little bags. My associate teacher didn't like that. I didn't care! He gave me a bad mark.

Carolyn said...

Great job on the bags! My guild makes the drawstring bags for the foster program; we also make quilts for foster kids graduating from high school. It’s a great program to sew for! Good luck on using the scraps—they never seem to diminish.

Jackie said...

Love the donation bags. I see what you mean about the bag not seeming to get emptier.

God bless.

Janice said...

Great work on the bags. Harry Bosch books are always good.

FlourishingPalms said...

How wonderful to find enough greens in your 'bag of tricks" to make drawstring bags to donate. I am sure they'll find good homes. I appreciate your book suggestions, though sadly, they aren't always available to me. Keeping finding joy in sewing and reading!

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

I enjoyed Thread Collectors too. Michael Connelly is such a prolific writer, with really interesting plots. I think he wrote the Lincoln Lawyer series too, one I really enjoy on Netflix.

Karen S said...

Great work with the little bags. And of course the scrap bag never gets lower. You do know that scraps breed in the dark!!!
I enjoy the Harry Bosch books, too. And the TV series as well.