When Work is Fun

A few weeks ago a friend asked if I would make her a purse. She wanted a duplicate of a purse she'd worn out.  I told her to bring me her fabrics and I'd get started. For the outside she found a light canvas in colors she loves and for the inside she had an old dress of her grandmother's. As close as she could figure, it was about 75 years old and well worn. She couldn't wear it and wanted to have this tangible piece of her grandmother with her daily.  She remembers her grandmother wearing it being told it was made from flour sack fabric. It was interesting working with something that had been made by another seamstress so long ago.

I really enjoyed making this set. I hope she enjoys using it!

Whoa Nellie!

When they say saddle bag they mean it.

I cut this out yesterday and finished sewing it this afternoon. Indygo Junction's Saddle Bag pattern and a new fabric line Party in Pink by Fresh Designs for Henry Glass came into the shop on Thursday.  After making so many clothing peices, I needed a break and this seemed like the perfect solution. A sample for the store and a new huge bag. I saw the measurements on the pattern but there are times I am spacially challenged. 13 x 18 x 6 apparently has no meaning for me...... I'm special.

Good news, I love it.

There are no photos of me with it. Sorry, it's raining and you know who is studying.

I feel the instructions were well done up until step 16. I've read it several times and still don't get what they were trying to say. Are they using too many words for a simple step or am I just brain dead? You may ONLY answer that if you are trying out the pattern. Anyway, I think a beginning sewer with a few pattern projects under their belt would enjoy this.

The sides are black cotton twill.

If I did it over again I would probably make the interior pockets a bit larger. It could also be interestiong to try and divide the interior in two. I'm thinking things could get lost in here. Like small children.

For those of you who may also be challenged size wise that's my laptop in the bag.

Roomy comes to mind.

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Lucky Number.........

13 - Mary!
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Gotta love random.org.
No, it wasn't too late. Of course this may have reinforced your tendency to comment on my blog at the last minute. Remember, I need immediate, positive attention when I post!
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Love ya! Buh bye.

More projects

Welcome do my dark home. Seriously, you can see from the reflection in the mirror that there is sun out there. It just doesn't make it inside. Fortunatley, this shirt is bright and sunny all on it's own. It is the shirt I wanted you to see, not me. After making a child's version from the book "Seams to Me" for the shop, (thank you Mary for believing I was small enough to fit in it), I decided I did need one.

My Sis and I have made several versions of these tops over the years. Simple and comfortable, what's not to like. The moment I decided to make it, I knew which fabric I would use. It's bold and fun and I love it.

This is the second of the purses I've been playing with. My first one sold (hooray) which gave me an excuse to make more. I'm almost done with a third but I keep getting interrupted by work, cleaning and the dog wanting to be walked.

More later.

Almost complete, complete, and sneak peek

Lizy helped me with this quilt top..... She got her's done first. I have had this fabric for a year. The line is Basic Grey, Urban Couture. I too used the Turning Twenty pattern. I chose to add in the purples so even though the fabrics are the same and the pattern is the same, our quilts totally reflect what we like! Just like her, I am going to add another border before quilting it. I love it. Don't know why I waited so long. When I got as far as I could go with that top, I spotted this pattern. Well, see, I'd just kinda thrown it on the table and left it there since our visit from our R and Z reps. I was working on same said table and kept shoving the pattern from side to side. After trying not to let any of the same fabrics touch in the quilt (didn't suceed) I needed something a bit more....mindless. I still had some fatquaters left from the quilt and wa la! Kinda funky, kinda 80's but it's done.

Now for the sneak peek. I must apologize for the color in the picture. Who knew energy saving lights could do this? I mean seriously, they not only do not give off enough light, but they totally make colors look icky. This is the Metro Blue goes Green that we just got into the shop. I'd been waiting for it forever! I am using an AMH pattern that's free! I was going to cut out the templates she has until I realized I had a ruler that works. It is one Kimberly Einmo made for flying geese. So instead of tracing all the templates, I was just able to cut 5.25 inch strips WOF and stack the strips to cut them. So much easier. I would like to say I got it done but since I only started it yesterday, getting this far is not too bad. I shouldn't be showing it, but I love it. I lost some of my points but I still LOVE it.

Felting 1st attempt

My title could also be,

This is all Sherie's and Joan's fault.

Or,

Why, why, why don't I take before pictures????

Oh I know! Because I finished the crocheting at 9:30 last night and started the felting.

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So it started out like this. A chunky wool, a bit more pastel than I like but it's pretty. I made the entire form of the purse. My measurements were about 18 by 11 for the body of the purse. The handles were almost 10 inches above the purse.
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I started trying to felt it in the sink since I don't have a top load washer. It was going to take forever so I just threw it in my machine, on hot and hoped for the best. I think it finished at about 3 in the morning..... When I woke up this morning I found this!!!! Well, I did have to attach the button. It now measures about 12 X 6, the handles are about 6 inches above the purse. I have got them rolled in just like I was hoping would happen!

It was kinda scary not being able to see the felting process. I couldn't choose to stop it any sooner. But all in all it was fun. I wonder if I can do it again and get nearly the same results.