Using Improv to make a tote #1

Voila! The Halloween tote finished  mere days before the holiday... well there's always next year too!
I have to work when I want to work and this wanted to be made. I already made a throw quilt with one concocted pattern, stenciled some sugar skulls, stamped some fabric for note cards  (winging their way to some of you as we speak) and now an improve tote.

Lookie! My motto "USE IT!" is in play because I have had these skelli key rings hanging around for years!
I just slipped it on the handle! What fun! There's a yellow one on the other side. 

 Each time I make something I develop a new technique and this time it was a way to finish off the inside seams. It is so picture heavy I plan to do two posts on the making of this.
I started with left over scraps from doing the quilt (pattern and tutorial to follow in a few days)

 That quilt was made from scraps from a quilt I made my friend Suze about 7 years ago. Heh heh
They must multiply.
So these really stale scraps became improv log cabins. I started with the icky candy fabric cutting it into various size squares. Then adding as I went, willy nilly, growing and growing til they were about 7" ish.

I had 12, and placed them on the wall. Decided where to add a bit, where to trim a bit so they would fit together into two main (front and back) sections for a tote.

then I sewed them together and added a little accent strip for the top of the bag.
I'm loving it at this stage, and wondering how it'll look in 3-D. Decided to add in side strips so when the bottom was boxed in, it would keep the log cabins mostly to the front.

Next step is to add in a strip that will be the bottom of the bag, sewing it to the two sections in order to layer and quilt. I use peltex instead of batting in my totes. It quilts great, the totes have body, but it's a mess to gather through the machine sometimes.Doesn't want to bend.  I broke two needles. shrug.

I quilt it as usual, and usually do an envelop turn to finish off the side seams. I didn't want to this time. so I came up with a way to finish the inside side seams. That's tomorrow.

I'll tell you about the couching, side seams, handles, and boxing the bottom all in this post:
the link is click here
 
Sewing is fun Y'all.
I know someone will ask if I made this! They always do, and I think of course, where on earth would you find this kind of nonsense?