Red denim bag

Here's the red bag that made everything else wait. it had to be done.

Red denim. I was so excited when I saw it. Bought some, threw it in the basement for future washing, then forgot about it.

Rediscovered it, washed it and made this darlin'. The inside birdie fabric also had to come home with me when I saw it, even though i didn't know what life it would take.

Yep, the bag was born. My 2nd attempt at this pattern. (the 1st is the green one a few posts below) and I have to say that it is that much better. Now I only have to figure out a more polished way to trim the inside of the hole of the handle. Not so sure about the binding thing.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a Friday Finds post. On Saturday of course.

cheers,
Amanda

A new bag

A friend of mine came to me with some beautiful fabric, pins, thread, snaps and an old well loved purse that she wanted made.
I accepted the challenge and sewed up this baby

Love the fabric she chose for the lining. Peek a boo.

Here it is in close range. adorable.
And the inside has a zippered pocket and a few pockets on the other side. One with a pleat.

What was that inside? A little zippy wallet. (pattern./tutorial on Noodlehead.

And here is the whole ensemble with a key thing.

And while I'm wearing my thrifted, happy, wool sweater, here's what one of the monkey heads made it into.


Off to make some more tea pot cozies.

l8r,
Amanda

on the work table

A few stolen moments this weekend made this in the lineup"
weaving a mug rug perhaps. Neve got interested in this and did a smash up job.

I scored this crochet tank top at a thrift store last week, wasn't sure what to do with it.

As I was showing my husband, I turned the side seams as middle seams and then the straps made handles for a bag!
Done deal. here's the lining with a few pockets.


Very easy and thrifty.

Working on this project. it's making me loose my confidence as a precise sewer. Never thought I was, but I'm sure I have done better sewing than what the result of this came to be.

And a few bouts of this.. notice how blurry it is? running from it.


ciao

more creature purses

Howdy!
I've been busy in the sewing room, but just remakes of things you've seen already. Nothing new and exciting.
Here's another creature purse.. this time a car. beep beep


And a little hedgie! i love him.


On the 22-24, the Creative festival is happening here in TO. I'm so excited! I've arranged childcare for the whole day and don't have to get them till school is over at 3:30. Come to think of it, my uncle picks the kids up on Fridays and takes them to swimming after school WHOOT! I can stay out longer. Best go find my good walking shoes! I'll be sure to have a few good posts from that!

Have a good one,
Amanda

who wants to trade??

I feel like getting some hand made "ME" mail. Who wants to trade me something for these snack sacks?


Plus a much larger one for picking up a few fruits and veg on the way home...


A variety of sizes


You can tie this one on the top as a bag or tie it all the way down to keep the vittles snug and in the bag.


How purdy would this look at your picnic?


And here they are all, nice and folded.


What do you have to do to get it? Send me a photo of something that you made, that you think I would like. If I do, I'll trade. I will ship internationally if you will. If I get 2 takers, I'll make up another batch. I will post when it has been filled.

thanks, have a good one,
Amanda

frog purse

Rafael has the cutest interpretation of a frog.

So I asked him to show me how to draw it so I could make a coin purse for him.


He's so cute. Wish I had more room to make the legs longer. But this will do and is loved.

Oh, I made a hedgehog one also, but I forgot to take a pic. Next time....

Have a good one,
Amanda

snack sack

I saw this kind of sack on someone's blog. (if you know where, please tell me)

Then I saw it in Martha Stewarts' Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts

I didn't use a pillow case as she suggested. Hers are more the size of a purse. It didn't take long at all and will take even less time when I get my serger rethreaded. grrrr.
These are holding tomatoes and muffins. Less plastic. yeah. More of these to be made.


And yippee for me, I won...
Sigrid Naturals giveaway

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

ruffle clutch

Here's the clutch that's been in my head. I happy with it, I have many more ideas to alter it a little here and there. So more to come.


Easy to make. I've been losing my little cork clutch from Portugal far too many times. I figure, if I use this clutch with a place to hook on my keys, I'm sure to have it with me..... yes? no?

With a matching clip of course... to come.

Peek a boo zipper. Had fun letting the kids find the zipper.

And here is the back. I had planned to line the clutch with the skull fabric, but couldn't figure out how to do it at time of sewing. I also measured the back piece incorrectly, so I added a new strip with the contrasting fabric as if I had meant it to be that way. of course. As I always say, "There are no mistakes, just opportunities for embellishment."


I think this design is all my own. (as in, it popped in my head while I wasn't looking at other people's work) I'm sure there are similar ones to it. But this is a base for many variances. Think I'll go play with that now...
thanks for looking,
Amanda

wristlet- written word

I've made a few things I've made before in the last few days while I figured out what I really wanted to sew.
Here's a wristlet similar to here.Go ahead, click, it tells you where I got the idea from in the first place and the tutorial for it.


The fabric is from a t-shirt at Urban Planet. It was on the rack outside for 4 bucks! Couldn't pass it up. Bought extra large of course to get maximum fabric for the price. And here is what was across the back!!! Love the red swirl...

And a bit of oomph for the inside...


This one is marked for a relative in Portugal who is tres cool. Thought the script fabric would do the trick. Now to get it in the mail.....

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

mesh beach bag

How about a little bit of summer thinking?
I got this idea from Amanda Blake Soule's Handmade Home
She made a treasure beach bag made from window mesh. I decided to make a larger bag for the beach towels and other beach things. It sounds like a great idea. You don't go home with sand in your bag to track all over the house and it won't get soggy when you throw wet towels and bathing suits in it.

I made this one for my niece who will be going to Florida in a few months. The one for my nephew is waiting for DH to put new needles in my serger. yep, I broke both of them. Sewing on mesh is not easy on the machine or needle. This bag was done with the sewing machine and a zig-zag stitch.

I put a little hook inside to clip on keys, waterbottle, etc.

it is rather large, but she is 11, so it won't be as big on her as it is with my kids.
Look at Neve, I think she can fit in it herself!

My lion is all machine sewed up and waiting for me to put the details on it. I love the wool fabric. yum. I can't wait to start making the mane. It will be the icing on the cake... I hope.

thanks for looking,
Amanda

Everywhere Tote

Here is the Everywhere tote found in Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross...

I love this tote, It is HUGE! I made one prior to this for myself as a gym bag. I put my sewing machine in it to take to the shop. There were no bits sticking out. HUGE I tell ya, HUGE!
I'm having a little trouble with the side bindings. I'm not sure I like the way they tell you. I tried it differently the 2nd time and think the 3rd adaptation will work for me. (I hope)

Here is the matching wristlet I got from Two Peas in a Pod Designs


Another great thing about this Weekend Sewing book... the patterns are in it!! You need to trace them on tissue paper, but they are there! Instant gratification. A lot easier than having to enlarge the pattern on a photocopier. I'm trying to make the guest slippers too, but put them aside for the moment.

Here's the pair...


I think I'll put the odd strip of fabric on the 4th panel instead of the middle in the wristlet. Too symmetrical for me.
Fabric is from Ikea. Sadly, they don't have it here anymore. Can't wait for a new batch to come out... soon I hope....

thanks for looking,
Amanda

wristlets

I found this great tutorial for wristlets from Trish on
Two Peas in a Pod Designs




There is a zipper! there is a zipper. My 1st zipper in 20 years! And now I've done 3! I read her tutorial a few times and got the courage to try it and fail. But I didn't. I did it! you can too!


And it was fun to make a little lining, nothing like the outside. I have a new tote bag to match this wristlet. It's from the Weekend Sewing book and it is huge!



So there you go, I'm a little addicted to these right now. I have a few more polka dot fabrics that I want to do. And a good way to get rid of some scraps you've been holding on to for too long!

Thanks for looking,
Amanda