New Purse Design

This is my new purse prototype.  I am loving the size.  I love the inset zipper inside.  Love the loop on the side for attaching my keys to.  I love the pockets all around. 

But I don't love that the pockets ended up being down so low.  The straps look better in person.  But I have to say I don't love them.  I think I would rather some leather straps... Next time. Its definitely back to the drawing board for this purse design.

My new labels. So exciting.  I have been wanting these for a while.  I used Ikat Print.  They did a fabulous job.  Didn't they? Loved getting my little package all the way from France. 

This is my bag before the moment of magic.  You know that moment when you get to open it and see what the final product looks like all together.

 It's emerging.

This is it before I top stitched around the top for the final touches.

My Messenger Bag

I had some scrap corduroy fabric that I bought from a fabric store.  It was part of a bag of scraps that cost me 3 dollars.  Woot woot.  It was a half yard of the flowered print and nearly a half yard of the turquoise solid print.  I decided to make a messenger bag for my daughter.  She weanted a new back pack for school this year.  She has three of them, so I told her I am not buying backpacks this year.  You have several to choose from.  She kept saying she was going to buy one with her own money.  So I made this.  I told her I would give her Monopoly money- a dollar for each chore she did.  When she had 30 dollars, the bag would be hers.  So totally earned on chores. 

She is going crazy wanting to get her hands on this bag.  She takes it out of my sewing room and strokes it, looks inside and dreams of having it.  I take it back to my sewing room.  We are nearly at 30.  It will be hers soon.

No pattern, my own design.  I used that flexible stiff type batting.  I love that stuff, especially for something like this where it really needs some body.

My older daughter is modeling it here.

Purses. I Dream Of Purses

Another purse.  They are like chips... 

I wanted to put something gathered on it.  I also wanted to use my embellishments.  I have lots of ribbon and such to use.  It's time to start using it. Right?

My friend Sandy of Quilting For The Rest Of Us gave me some Annie Unrein Soft and Stable.  That is really cool stuff to work with.

Purse Development Process

I can't stop making purses. Having so much fun with it.  I really liked the size and shape of this purse.  I will be working on developing the idea more.  There are a few things I am not happy with.  One my strap needed to be thicker.  I was so excited about finishing it that I did not bother to get up and find some batting.  Ha.  I was that tired yesterday.  Must have been the heat...

The other thing I did not do- just totally forgot about it because I usually put it in all my purses, is a small zipped compartment on the inside.  But, hey, it is my prototype. 

I wasn't sure about the trim.  I went back and forth about it.  I have TONS of trim and embellishment stuff.  I think it is high time I started using it.  Tell me, would you rather this bag without the trim or with the trim?

Mini Purse: Prototype One

Prototype One.  Here is my first attempt at making my own little purse.  While making it, I had fantasies of becoming a major designer.  Maybe Vera Bradley.  Sad but true.  Does anyone else do this? 

Okay, so it's not like I thought I would be an overnight success or anything.  But a girl has to have dreams...

Really, who doesn't have fantasies of doing what they love and making money at it?

And then I took it to a soccer game.  Yup, lost my tissues out the side and upon careful inspection discovered that my money could have come out just as easily.

As my daughter would say, "Epic fail."  But because I've been around a while I choose to look at it as prototype test one.  On to the next and hopefully the final.

Back to the drawing board.

Iron Craft: Fat Quarter for Fat Tuesday- Pyramid Coin Purse

The challenge for this months Iron Craft was to use a fat quarter for something.  Perfect.  I needed and excuse to make this cute little bag.


This little coin purse, measuring about 5 inches across is so perfect for some money, keys and lipstick.  Or whatever you want.  I saw it on Sew Me Something Good and knew I had to make it.  I followed her directions, which were written so well.  Go step by step and dont be overwhelmed.  It is quite simple after the first run through.  You will be making tons of them, they are rather addicting. 

I did change it a bit.  I made a tiny quilt sandwich with muslin and then used a piece of kona for the lining.  Its sturdier than the first one I made with just two piece of fabric plus lining.

Whip Up a Quick Bag

A few weeks ago, in the midst of all my sewing, I just couldn't resist making this bag. It was quick and easy and what a nice bag it makes.  The pattern and idea came from the DIY Dish.  I need to make a few more after the holidays. Sew cute!

Grab Bag Present

I made this purse for a very dear friend of mine.  A very belated birthday present for her.  When we were in high school black and red were her favorite colors.  All these years later, still the same.

Love this purse.  I think I want one in every color.  Before I show you what I did, I want to pass along two links.  One to allepoplequilt.com for the pattern.  The other one is for Martha Stewart for an instructional video.

Sew all around the body of the bag, an inch or so below where it would scoop if you drew  a line from there to the edges.  Do not sew the arms/straps at all. Then sew the "neck"/the inside of the scoop. Then you turn it out and stuff the one bag into the other so that right sides are facing out.

On both sides fold the edges in a quarter of an inch and press and pin. Stitch a  quarter inch down both sides.

The Purse

I picked up this purse at a garage sale last year for a whopping one dollar.  SOLD!  I used it the whole summer for going to festivals and such so that I could have my hands free but my purse available.  After the whole summer I decided I needed another color for next summer (which would be now).  I also wanted it to be a test pilot to make Christmas presents for all my friends who wanted a bag like mine.  The purse will not win any fashion awards but it sure is handy.

You know the thing that was so difficult about making this purse was that the draw strings for the top are the straps for the pack.  Positioning them within the casing was a bit of a challenge.

                                This one here is the garage sale purse.