roll-up tote bags

after my quilting oops the other night (about that here), i decided to take a wee break from my little apples to work on some roll-up tote bags, which i've been meaning to do for some time now. since september, to be specific, as soon as i saw this fab tutorial from Stumbles & Stitches:

beyond the fact that i just really wanted to make one for ME, i thought this would be a great gift for my friend Donna, who is one of the five facebook friends to whom i owe a handmade gift "sometime" in 2011... and, my friends, 2011 is almost over. i wanted to make something for her that would coordinate with the custom imagine gnats brooksher bag (in moda fabrics, below) that she received last year for christmas:

i really like the pop of linen on the bags that Jenny showed in the tutorial, so i wanted to incorporate that into this bag as well. for the main exterior fabric and handles, i used the same floral as the contrast fabric in the brooksher (freebird by momo for moda #32241).

and (the exciting part for me!) i used my very own handprinted bird fabric for the exterior contrast piece. these birds were actually the very first block print i did and it's neat to see it as part of a FO. the fabric is a cotton canvas, which i think lends a similar look to the linen that Jenny used in her bags. i did use linen for the interior... though it could be the exterior if she chooses, as the bag is completely reversible. i used jenaveve linen (in gray) by valori wells, which is kind of a ridiculous fabric to use for a lining (at $17/yard or something), but sometimes you just have to do these things. 

very pleased with the bag for Donna, i thought i would go ahead and whip up that bag for ME... but then Nick really liked it and i thought how nice it would be for him to have something like this. and i thought about how lovely that linen would be with a bold echino print... that right there is what got me. so i put aside the fabrics i had chosen for my bag, and cut into some echino in my stash for Nick (very proud of my stash usage lately, btw) 

i especially love a happy accident... i happened to cut out the helicopters fabric (from spring 2011 collection, i think?) in such a way that both sides of the fabric have the mustard stripe, so it wraps nicely around the sides.

and here are both totes, all rolled up. perfect for throwing in your coordinating purse. or man bag ;) 

if you're looking for a simple handmade gift for the coming holidays or any time, these bags are a simple, quick sew. and *bonus* chances are, you already have everything you'll need to make them. to make gift-giving even easier, Jenny included with the tutorial a card showing how to roll the bags... so head over to Stumbles & Stitches and get started. 

what are your go-to sewing projects for simple, handmade gifts?