WIP Wednesday a bag and a happy nephew

This week had some fun sewing for me- I got a call a few months back from my sister with a special request.  Her son, my first nephew, told her that he really wanted a new roll up from me that held his sharpies.  He was about to have his 7th birthday, and in his mind he had WAY OUTGROWN the crayon roll I made him when he was 4.  He was a big boy now and big boys needed sharpie roll ups not crayon roll ups.  He is quite the budding artist- known to spend days on just one super detailed picture that has been meticulously drawn and colored in with the precise lines of a fine tip sharpie.  His art is whimsical and imaginative and the pieces I have are certainly things I will always treasure.  I feel I will be able to say "I knew him when" someday.  So naturally I couldn't refuse his request- it makes my heart happy to know my nieces and nephews still treasure my craft and look to me when they need that certain handmade item that can't be purchased.  I decided to not use a print for his roll up, but to instead use his favorite colors in solids so he could grow with it- I have dreams of him being a 20 something art college major with is trusty but well loved sharpie roll up by his side.  I layered this like a quilt and free motion quilted the outer piece in a meandering square design- to me it looked masculine, which is hard to achieve in a free motion quilting design.  I was very pleased with how it turned out and as you can see by the picture below so was he- I got to be on the phone when he opened it and he squealed with excitement and promptly set down the phone to stuff it full of all his new sharpies.  I loved hearing his excitement and thank his mother for letting be a part of it all. 
I also got my birthday bag all finished- this was all pieced with my dresden template used in different ways.  I used Bryant Park fabric for the print and the lining as well as a coordinating gray solid.  I started this bag way back in May for a birthday gift to myself and haven't had the time to finish it up until this week.  I am very happy with how it turned out and know I will use it a bunch.  I think it will be the perfect bag for my laptop, books and crocheting projects when I travel. 

that's it for my sewing this week- I am excited to show you what I have planned for next week but it will have to wait til then.  Hope you all had a great sewing week too and can't wait to see all the other great posts.  I am linking to Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday