So far 2011 has brought a new line of goodies geared towards the Mama's!
(or any grown woman who loves a good bag!). That's right folks, we have purses!
(and soon make-up bags!)
Working on Rag Totes is always fun and can be super creative, but with prepping over 30 for the craft show and filling holiday orders I was a little Toted out for a bit and wanted to try some new patterns out that I could show off in the new year. So I browsed. Browsed patterns. Browsed fabrics. Browsed clasps. Browsed handles. Browsed. Browsed. Browsed. I came across a ton of cute things, but nothing that screamed YES! This should be your next project!
Then it happened, I was reading a cute little article about things to do with all your scraps. And they had some fun suggestions. Nothing that was exactly like I was looking for, but a few things that were sooooooooo close. So I thought to myself..hey self...why don't you combine the things you like from each and do your own thing. My own thing? Really? Do I know enough about a a purse to just wing it? And then it hit me...it's scraps...it's fun...and what harm would it do to try
(not like i hadn't tested out a bunch of different things with the totes...monsters...blossoms...and well projects that never made it to the shop...lol). So I pulled out my Box 'O Scraps and started pulling out things. I referenced a few ideas to formulate an overall plan and then made a cute pattern piece and went to town with my scraps.
Now that is how it looked finished
(didn't think to snap pics as I went along) but when it was just the two sides...quilted to the fusible fleece...I found myself stumped for a bit.
(and in need of some cute handles). So not quite sure what to use for the lining...and lacking handles I decided a trip to the store was in order.
(as you can see i found the perfect handles!) and while browsing I stumbled across a few other things that launched a whole new set of ideas!
- B-E-A-Utiful Linen fabrics! (pointed out to me by my ever trusty store employee...who always seems to be the one at the cutting table when i hit up the store, so in the midst of our chattering she pointed me to a section and said she thought i would find some goodies! boy was she right!!)
- An assortment of handles that were super cute!
- A deal on Black Minky material that I couldn't pass up (and why not have a lush liner for a cute little purse!)
Armed with my stash I headed home and spent the next few days creating...pattern making...and cutting and sewing samples. My next attempt was a cute red bag:
The fabric was amazing and I wanted something a little unique. So I started with the general shape from the pieced together scraps and traced it on some paper...I then straightened the bottom edge for a more trapezoid shape
(with a slight curved top) and went about sizing and measuring and perfecting the pattern.
While working I deciding the plain white lining I chose went rather smashing with the red, but lacked the pizazz of the red fabric...so I quilted it with a leaf stitch in a random pattern...hard to see in these pics, but believe me...it is CUTE!
Onto the purple linen fabric. It may not have the same zip as the red...but something about it caught my attention and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It couldn't be the same as the red purse. I was enjoying the pattern process as much as the sewing process and I thought with a few changes to the trapezoid pattern that I could make something equally fun and unique. So out came the rulers, tape, pencils, and card stock paper. And I drew up a fun new pattern that I was ready to test. And Viola!
The only problem was all the fun handles I had bought days earlier were...oooookaaaay. But not perfect. So I left it mostly pieced together and set about thinking...do I use one I have here, or venture out in search of the "right" handle. Well those who know me know that when I get a thought in my head it digs its heels in and nags me. Sooooooooo, to the store. Yup, a new handle was definitely needed. And there it was...tucked on the back of the rack...last one...and PERFECT!
Home and with the best handles ever I quickly put together the purple purse and it was better than I pictured in my head.
(and i have been happily using it for a bit now and love it for quick outings...smaller than my tote it still easily holds:
- 2 diapers
- a pack of wipes (not a full pack, but a 1/2 pack)
- my wallet
- my cell
- my Money Monster (ok...in my case Business Card Monster...lol)
- a pen!
- a few napkins
- and a couple of times i have tossed in my camera :-)
yup, that's right, i fit all that in there!) I am a purse magician!
(not just in making new patterns and impressing myself...but in my ability to fit what i need in my bag without carrying around a luggage sized monster).
So there you have it...the inspiration and journey of the new set of bags for the shop. And up until now just
FashionableLore Facebook Fans have seen these pics and been able to place their own custom orders for purses. But don't worry...there will be etsy listings coming this week.
Tada! (and i do have to say they are rather cute and fun...and now i am addicted! lol) These cute Monsters have a pocket mouth (except for the orange mini...his pocket is in the back) and are stuffed with just the right amount of filling to make them squishy and soft! The one pictured on the right my daughter helped me make...she declared it a Mini Lorelai Monster and insisted that it needed blue eyes and yellow piggy's.
These guys and gals make great friends! They keep all your secrets, stash tiny stuff in theirs mouths and can even hold that recently lost tooth until the tooth fairy arrives (they are very good friends with the tooth fairy!) Each one is unique and made with love!
