I am so excited to share this bit of news with you. (insert drum rolls here) I've opened an online store! Right now I am featuring pre-quilted tote bag kits. These kits are stitched out on top quality Kona cotton in either blue or black. I used different varieties of Superior Threads variegated threads to add zing and sparkle to the quilty goodness. Each tote bag kit comes with a free pattern and two prequilted handles. I plan on focusing on each of the tote bag kits in separate blog posts so today I just want to focus on my most popular design, "Swirly Hearts". It takes about 45 minutes to stitch out this design but it is so worth it. I get so many compliments on this tote when I'm out about town. The density of the quilting on this bag is pretty high which allows the fabulous variegated threads to really show off. I used Lava and Rainbows by Superior Threads because these threads change color every inch. That rapid color change gives life and movement to the design and it looks wonderful in any light. The sides come together to make a secondary design that really sets this tote apart. Those types of details are so critical to a good tote bag, in my opinion. I love the handles, too. You get two handles with each bag. I love the repetitive circles on this one. The length of the handles is about 28", but you can make that smaller if you'd like by pinning the handles up a little more and cutting off the excess. The handles I'm showing here I've lined, but the handles in the kit are two-sided so there is quilting on both sides. I was just playing around and cut them in half to see if I liked the way it made the lining pop. I've also got lining kits with enough fabric for interior pockets too. I've got a free pattern with each quilt and I'll be putting up step by step photo instructions in the next week. (I've got 3/4 of the photos taken, I just need to take the 1/4 more! :)) If you are looking for a classy tote bag that celebrates awesome quilting motifs, this tote bag kit would look perfect hanging off your shoulder! I've also got notions like magnetic snaps and acrylic bottoms for stability if you'd like to pick up those items with your tote bag kit. There is even a quilting design on the bottom of the bag! No detail was ignored! It all comes together to make an eye catching, classy bag. This tote was designed by Debra Geissler and is stitched out by me! Of course, there is no tax for purchasers located outside of Kentucky and shipping is just below my cost in order to give you the best pricing I could. I also offer different thread colorways on both the Kona Black and Kona Blue. The photos above show the tote stitched out in Pompeii thread which has yellow, orange, burgundy and green. Or, here is the panel stitched out in Tiki which has Purple, Medium Blue, Lime and Teal. I know the black Kona cotton background looks washed out in these photos but it is a rich, deep black. I needed the color of the threads to pop for you and that dinked with the richness of the black background.

I also played around with Colorburst which has aqua, purple, hot pink, yellow, green. Here is that colorway stitched out. Again, the background fabric is a deep, rich black but these photos it is washed out so you can see the thread better. Finally, I used Rainbows Shamrocks thread which is shimmery and has dark green, medium green and light green. Here's a panel that features the Shamrock thread. Please take a look at my store and think about starting off spring with a new tote!