I just finished making gifts for my children’s teachers.  This year we have three preschool teachers, one second grade teacher, and four fifth grade teachers so I set up an assembly line and got busy making eight zip bags.

I cut the outer bags using various large linen scraps and linen look prints.  The insides are all lined with a solid that coordinates with the applique.  To create the bag fronts, I applied HeatnBond Lite to the wrong side of some small scale prints that I used for the bird appliques. Then I diecut the birds using a lovely bird shape called the Songbird. I fused the applique shape to a bag front measuring 7 1/2″ x 10 1/2″. I backed the bag front and back with fusible fleece.

After the fusible fleece was applied, I free motion quilted around the outer edge of the appliqued shape and free motion quilted the word “fly.” I also decided to add a little metallic bead for the eye.

I chose coordinating zippers to pick up the colors in the applique. I just love a good zipper picture! The zippers are all from Zipit.

I was pretty pleased that I was able to use only stashed materials for these gifts. I hope that the teachers will like them. My kids assure me that they will! That’s half the battle; they are pleased with the gifts they will be offering.