Suggestions?

So, I've got this fabric...

It's been aging for quite some time I'm guessing. I believe I inherited it about 3 years ago from another mature stash.

I'm guessing it's a cotton/poly blend with some type of poly batting. It is quilted with a clear thread.

I really like it but I don't know what to do with it? Any suggestions?

BTW: You still have about 5 days to finish your T-shirt. What will you do with a T?

Book Review: Simply Irresistible Bags

Simply Irresistible Bags: 45 Designs for Going Out, Looking Chic, and Shopping Green

by Marie Claire Idees

Published in 2008

ISBN: 978-1-57076-403-5

Some Chapter Headings:

• Simply Stylish
• Urban Chic
• For Children
• Storage

I liked:

• The Whimsically Retro Bag (page 18), the Artist's Satchel (page 42), and Off to the Orchard (page 80).
• That so many of these bags require skills I don't normally use. What a great way to learn how to dye fabric, punch leather, or perfect your running stitch.

My dislikes:

• I found that most of the bags lacked structure.
• The templates looked difficult to enlarge. You are given a set length that needs to be enlarged to a certain length, but it doesn't give percentages, so you have to do the math!

Conclusion:
This book has some neat ideas, but I didn't love anything. I checked it out from the library, and since I wasn't planning to make a purse, I didn't actually try any of the patterns.

Would I buy this book for myself? Nope. Should I decided later that one of those purses catches my fancy, I'll check it out again, but no need to spend money on it--unless you love bags!

Would I buy this book for a beginner? Absolutely not. It assumes that you already have advanced beginner to intermediate skills.

Book Review: Every Woman's Book of Fashion Design

Every Woman's Book of Fashion Design

by P. J. Ireland

Published in 1972

ISBN 877492336

Some Chapter Headings:
Lines
Proportions
Sleeves
Fabric Treatments
Figure Proportions

I liked:

• The line drawings showing collar styles, pleat styles, and cuff variations.
• The simplicity of the black and white drawings that illustrate the effects of darker colors and lighter colors and placement on the body.
• The great list of definitions in the back of the book.

My dislikes:

• The model sketched throughout the book was tall and leggy. Not at all true to life (at least not my life).

Conclusion:
This book is a little treasure--perhaps the best illustrations I've seen on using lines and colors to flatter your figure.

Would I buy this book for myself? I can see how this book would be very useful for the person sewing clothes for themselves. So often we sew something because it's cute on the envelope, but this would also help a person determine if it would be cute on a real body.

Would I buy this book for a beginner? This book would be a great addition to the library of a budding fashion designer.