I’m going to tackle one, hopefully 2, of these messenger bags from Michelle Patterns.
Wesley asked for a bag like that, probably because Mommy and Daddy have messenger bags. So of course Nate wants one too. I’ve taken their colour requests and if I’m lucky I can get both finished this week! I’ll let you know on Friday how far I get.
Posted in createalong, kid fun, sewing
Tagged keyka lou, messenger bags, michelle patterns, tote
Well I finished this tote and I really love it. This is the first project I’ve made from my ever growing Pinterest board and I’m thankful to Michelle Patterns for presenting me with this challenge. I may be addicted. I picked the fabric up for $3 a metre at a quilting shop and I loved the vintage look of it. As a tote it’s turned out great!
I used this free pattern from UHandbags. The recommended handles are longer than the ones I used but I grabbed what I had on hand. It won’t go on my shoulder but it’s great to carry down at your side.
The pattern was pretty easy to follow but man, oh man, I’m not a fan of pleats! Also, I’m not sure what I did wrong, there were supposed to be 6 pleats and somehow I had room for 7 *shrug* But that doesn’t change the bag. However, that meant 7 pleats times 4 pieces of fabric, it was tedious. I do love the way the topstitching works and holds the pleats down. I’ve put pleats in totes before but they’ve only been sewn at the top.
Sewing the handles on was killer on my fingers, going through all those layers and trying to aim for the holes. I also tried to keep the interior stitches really, really small since I matched the thread to the handle colour but foolishly used black for the interior fabric.
Every time I make something new I take it into school to show some of the ladies I work with. The tote was well received. And then a bunch of them asked if I’m done the projects I’m working on for them. Good thing the weekend is coming!
See the other Pinterest Challenge participants here.
Posted in createalong, sewing
Tagged floral, michelle patterns, pinterest, pleats, purse, tote, tutorial, uhandbag
Yipee!! It’s giveaway day!!
So I’m going to give away a scrappy wallet! Just like the ones in the photos, but I’ve got to make it still. I promise it will be super fun and wallety. Leave your entry below and make sure there’s a way for me to contact you. The winner will be chosen at the end of this week.
Posted in scraps, sewing, uncategorized
Tagged giveaway day, michelle patterns, scrappy wallet, scraps, sew mama sew, sewing
Lately I’ve been bothered by unfinished projects lying around. They sort of eat at the back of my head and nibble away, annoying me. It’s sort of like how you make resolutions, or unrealistic goals and they end up just bothering you rather than inspiring you. This weekend it’s been my scrap bin that’s driving me batty.
Last night I had the idea to sew from my scrap bin all week. I didn’t set a Create Along goal for Friday since this week is busy for me but I do vow to go to my scrap bin for every project I tackle.
See it’s HUGE! I’ll keep you posted.
Here are my fat quarter produce bags from the Sew Mama Sew tutorial.
I couldn’t find utility mesh, as the pattern called for, but the nice lady at Fabricland helped me out and what I ended up using is a meshy drapery fabric. Hey it works.
I’m not sure yet how these will work being weighed at the grocery store, or if they’re see thru enough to be used, but we hit the farmers market all summer and these would be great to separate our fruits and veggies instead of tossing them all into the same sack. I promised my hubby I’d make some manly ones.
Next up is this this fun door stops from Mollie Makes. With warmer weather coming some of our doors like to slam shut with the ‘down by the lake’ breeze we get moving through our upstairs. This outta fix that!
Posted in createalong, sewing
Tagged door stop, eco, fat quarter, grocery, mesh, mollie makes, reusable, sew mama sew
I finally finished stitching on the frame for this fun sunglass cozy.
Well I intended for it to hold sunglasses but My iPhone fits perfectly, and you could put eye glasses in it too. I’m debating writing out the pattern and even making kits. I’ve got a few frames left but I’ll need to stock up on more.
The fabric is a fun piece of Japanese print I had lying around. I quilted around the square designs to make it look even more like a quilt.
I didn’t announce my next Create Along pattern. This one’s a freebie and I hope someone will play along with me! Add a pic to the Flickr group, I’ll share it here, you’ll have more friends, you’ll be cooler.
Ok, back to the task at hand, I’m going to make, hopefully some, of these produce bags.
I’ll have to be disciplined this week in getting things done this week. Friday night I’m heading to Ottawa to check out the Urban Craft Market. I really want to be part of it but I’m busy for the June one and then the next pile of weekends are holiday weekends and October is Wesley’s bday. So I’m hoping to table at the November show. Right now all my stock is on sale at the local art gallery and with all the NYC trips I wasn’t able to build up enough to table at this months show.
I’ve read that you should check out a show before you table there and I’ve never actually done that. Plus, I went to university in Ottawa and lived there for 9 years. I’m looking forward to checking things out, seeing how it’s changed and meeting up with some friends. I think these NYC weekends have given me the bug for wandering cities on foot until I can barely walk anymore.
Posted in createalong, sewing
Whew. Ok so here’s my completed NapKitten hamburger wallet thingie. (honestly, I talk like that, meet me I’ll prove it)
It’s cute, but it’s also ridiculously wonky. I had a hard time with this one. I’ve completed 3 NapKitten patterns and I love them all. The wallet was just involved, the phone pouch is super easy and fun, and this . . . I’m not sure what I did but it’s embarassingly crooked and made. I think I choose thick fabrics and because of that I should have bypassed the fleece inside. I might get brave and try another.
The two zippers were interesting to work with, and the assembly is interesting. I, as usual, didn’t read the instructions all the way before starting and the whole time I was thinking “it looks all unfinished inside, how’s it going to get all pretty in there?” then I saw you have to cover it all with bias tape that you make yourself. Bias tape is sort of my nemesis. So for now it’s pretty thready in there.
I’m not done my Keyka Lou camera pouch, which is sad because I have a 9am flight to NYC and I was hoping to pack and pad my camera but oh well. Life sort of got in the way of sewing this week! Silly life. There’s always next week.
I had the pleasure of meeting Celine of Blue Calla a while back at a local event. She makes these beautiful bags and purses so of course I nearly trampled people to get over to her booth. And not surprisingly, I made a purchase.
She uses absolutely fantastic fabrics for her projects and often she uses Keyka Lou patterns *currently on sale*, which I also have a soft spot for. Honestly, she’s after my heart!
Here are some of my favs from her shop. Click images to go to listings.
And in her not a purse or bag category she has some amazing items, like these.
When you’re crafty it’s easy to look at things and think “I can make that” and with many of Blue Calla’s items I actually *can* make it as I have the pattern too, but I still drool over her creations.
I love randomly making stuff. I was in my work space looking at a coin purse frame and had this little brainwave.
I really need to learn to draw these patterns out in a way to share/sell them.
I actually cut into a fat quarter Echino fabric I’ve had lying around forever.
My sunglasses fit in perfectly. I took it into work and some of the ladies I work with have sunglasses that are thicker when they’re all folded up, which was sad, but it works for me!
I even managed some fancy print placement.
I’ve got some others in the works, just have to get sewing those frames on.
