Happy Birthday Bag!

I made this bag for my friend's birthday.  She's actually more like a sister because she's been in my life for a long time.  Let me put it this way, we have children that are the age we were when we first knew each other.    :)
Anyway, she told me the size of bag she wanted and said to use "spring/summer colors." 

Bag front with flower

So, maybe these aren't  the pastels of spring and summer, but they are still spring/summer colors, right?  I was in a BRIGHT mood when I bought the fabric.  :)  I made the bag and thought it needed something a little more.  So, I made a ruched hot pink flower. I found this tutorial on how to make ruched flower. The flower was great but it wasn't working on the bag for me...it didn't seem like the right size and style. So, I put the flower away and decided to make a hot pink bow.  (pic below)

Bag front with bow

I put the bag--with the bow--in a place where I could look at it for a few days.  Again, it just wasn't right.  So, I went back to the ruched flower and decided to add petals.  I searched for fabric that I had to match.   I found the yellow fabric.

up-close of flower
 

WOW!  That is a fun bright flower!  :) 

bag back

After finishing the bag, I thought to myself "all this yellow can get dirty quick." So, I sprayed the bag and flower with ScotchGuard. 

inside

For the inside I used grey/white POLKA-DOTS!!!
This bag is made from a Waverly pattern for Butterick (B5658).
I hope she enjoys this bag.  Happy Belated Birthday my friend!

The Prilly Bag

Front

I have several other bags that I should be making.  I even have another bag completely cut out.  For some reason, I can't get myself to sew together that bag.  I also have several other non-sewing things I need to get done.  So, why is it NOW that I feel inspired and creative?  I HAD to make this bag....it was in my head.  :)  It's been a while since I've made my own bag pattern.  I started it last night and finished it this morning.  I made this bag out of muslin because I wanted a shabby chic kind of look.  I wanted it to be pretty, a little rustic and very feminine.    I had fun playing with my sewing machine ruffle foot.
I decided to call this bag "Prilly"  as in pretty frilly.  :) 

inside

I created a paper template for the bag body.   I cut this template out of muslin and heavy weight interfacing.  I tore several 2.5 inch strips of muslin.  I measured up 3" from the bottom of the bag and marked a line.  I measured and marked 3" from that line....I kept doing this until I reached the top.  I used the ruffle foot to attach the torn strips to the front and back of the bag.  After I had finished adding the ruffles, I decided I wanted the ruffles to be fuller.  I added more rows of ruffles in between the other rows. 

The side gusset of this bag was originally the handles, but I didn't like how it looked.  I ripped the bag apart and restructured it. 

side/gusset

 

It took me a little bit to figure out how to do the handles.  I wanted something a little different...and still very feminine.  So, I played with some scrap fabric trying to figure out how to make handles.  I decided to take a strips of fabric turn each short end under 1/4" then sew strips of fabric in a tube to hide the raw edges. I turned the tube right side out, pressed and edge stitched.   I gathered the handles and sewed them to the top of the bag.   I then added the bows. 

 



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Hoedown #116

While searching on the Internet at some point, I saw a picture--I think of a book--that had "change the way you see everything."  I decided to use it for this card. 

 I used Reading Boy Digital Image from Hambo Stamps. The alphabet is Cricut CraftRoom Basics. 

 

Hambo Hoedown #115

Hello!

 I haven't been making cards lately.  I've barely kept up with my sewing, but it's all good.  At least I had quite a stash of cards to use. 

I wanted to make a card for my friends birthday, which is tomorrow.  Happy Birthday! So, I checked out this week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge.  It is to use punches.  I decided to use Candles-Digital Stamp from Hambo Stamps.  Since, this is a "milestone" birthday for my friend--the BIG 29, again-- I decided that allll those candles would catch the paper on fire!  So, I burnt the edges.  :)

For punches, I used McGill's Burch Leaf, EK Success's Daisy and Scalloped Tag, and Sunburst from Martha Stewart Crafts.

 

ReLoved Clothing Backpack Project 1

 

A neighbor brought over a backpack that she liked and asked if I'd make a similar backpack for her and each of her children out of the clothes the children have outgrown. 

 I started by making a pattern for the backpack.  I decided to test the pattern using an old pair of my hubby's jeans.  The lining is an old duvet cover. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Once I had the backpack pattern the way I liked it, it was time to get to work on the backpacks using reloved clothing. 

Check back later and I will post pictures of the backpack I made for her daughter.