Monday 17 June 2013

A Sunday off and 2 fat quarters

I have not had much time for sewing in the past few weeks, working 2 jobs looking after 2 boys and a husband and not to forget the 2 dogs leaves little time to do anything else.  But yesterday I snatched some time, I just left the housework for another day :) I figured the dust would still be there waiting for me.  I bought some fat quarters a while ago and was trying to figure out how to make one bag from 2 of them.  Since I liked my inside out bag so much I applied the same technique to this bag.  I cut a 4' inch strip of each quarter to make the straps and used some double sided ribbon for the tie closure.   This bag was easy to make and has a lovely shape, I call it the 'Boat Bag'.  Next time I will add some pockets in coordinating fabric which I think will enhance the bag even more.


One side in black and white paisley material


Turned inside out and Voila' a new bag


While I had the sewing machine out I made a small gift bag for my great niece Saskia.  I use the tutorial by Kim Walues you can find the tutorial here http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/07/charmed-gift-bag.html .
I did not use fat quarters for mine but some material with crowns and wands on for the outside and a pink flower print for the lining. I am really pleased with it.  What do you think :)


And as there was time left in the day ( a rare commodity for me ) I made another bag from the 'Birdhouse' material by PT.  I just love the cheerful print :)

I bought some more lovely printed material and will be sewing Thursday and Friday, I can't wait YAY.  I would have never thought sewing would make me feel so satisfied lol !

Sunday 19 May 2013

So I love bags...the passion begins :)

It is no secret to the people close to me that I love handbags....can't get enough of them.  But over the past few years I have not found any which really create a ' OMG' I need that bag.....so what to do?  I just make a bag myself.  No sooner thought the idea I set to work.  This is the first I made, well actually made 2 for my great nieces as present.  I made them from an old pair of jeans, lined them with a funky star design lining and put some wide lace ribbon through the belt loops ...and voila a really cute little bag for the most trendy 9 year old.  I will add some dangly's later to finish the bags off and give them the Bling factor.




After making these I scoured the internet for easy sewing patterns for bags and found this adorable bag by crazy little projects and just had to make one.  You can find the pattern on her website http://crazylittleprojects.com/2013/04/summertime-beach-bag-tote.html .  It is an easy to follow tutorial with (most important) step by step pictures and a pdf pattern you can print at home.  And after a bit of fiddling and sewing I produce a summer bag with bottom and to embellish it I made a fabric flower with a lovely button from my stash (I knew I kept all these odd buttons for a reason ).  And voila here it is, what do you think :)


Now my confidence grown I set to work to make a present for my lovely sister.  My sister lives in Germany where I am from and I live in England.  So once a year we go on holiday together in Denmark and I like to make some handmade presents for her.  Since it is only 46 days to go I set to work this morning to made this lovely reversible tote.  The fabric I bought was a remnant and as soon as I saw it I knew she would love the cheerful print.  I just love the fact that you can turn the bag inside out (always good to have 2 bags in one me thinks ).  I got the pattern out of a magazine I bought 'Bags, Beads and Brooches' but there is lots of free tutorials and patterns on the net when you search for 'Inside out Bags'.  I am so pleased with myself for making this bag and I just know my big sis will love it :)




Now the passion is born and I have a feeling I won't be able to stop :)