Rhonda Bracey: At Random

My friend Char wanted a gift for her good friend MaryEllen, so she asked if I had any frog fabric and if I could make a tote bag for MaryEllen (who loves frogs). I found some musical frogs at one of the local fabric stores — and Char loved it! She said MaryEllen was into music too, and the fabric was just perfect.

MaryEllen's froggie tote bag --- with bonus luggage tag

I was going to make a tote bag using my laptop bag pattern, but then realised that a better tote bag for MaryEllen’s would be one with a base and with inside pockets. So I found a free pattern on the internet and proceeded to adapt and modify it.

The frog bag ended up having inside pockets on both front and back (the original pattern only had pockets on one side), and a wider base, and different handles, and… well, lots of other modifications!

Tote bag: Inside pockets and base; velcro closures

I had fun making it and adapting the pattern, even though I stuffed up the free motion quilting at one point and had to unpick a big section. I added a bonus luggage tag in the same fabrics (which Char wasn’t expecting) and mailed it off to the US. It arrived yesterday, and both Char and MaryEllen love it. A perfect ‘Thank you’ gift for Char’s good friend MaryEllen!

Close-up of fabric and free motion quilting

When I get some free time, I’ll consider writing up the modified pattern in full and making it available on my Etsy store. But not this week!