New Leaf Collection of Bags

 Designing Donna http://www.facebook.com/leafgirl65  ordered another batch of mama's collection bags.

 Because we like to live and create a little bit left of center, she gave me some  inspiration by sending some fabrics that she had lying about. These fabrics shot me right back to her salon in my mind, recalling those wildly inventive cuts that she used to give a much younger me. My designing mojo kicked into hyper mode.....


  I loved working with the fabrics from her collection since they 'told me' information as to what they wanted to be; Designing Donna had selected them, used them, liked them and now they were destined to another invention. Short of speaking right out loud, I got it right away for each piece of cloth.


  The top green bag was an amazing batik print that grabbed my attention immediately.  This bag is packed with pockets and a most interesting tie dye lining.  The strap is a Patagonia Belt; sturdy and well constructed.  The batik flowers have vintage buttons accenting their centers. My favorite.


The second bag is made up of five really swell cloth napkins.  Quilted, sewn together and lined with useful pockets and decked out with key, bead and button embellishments, this very practical tote is about as creative as it gets.

 Then there is the Celtic Tablecloth/bedspread Hippie Bag.  In order to utilize the twining Celtic knots that border and center the tablecloth, I cut it on an edgy triangle and used the border to be the straps. Pockets went high up near the straps on this unlined bag and an embellished weighted flap closed it nicely.  Wouldn't be a Hippie Bag with out bells and beads on the point on the bottom, now would it?

 And for the traditionalist, we have another tablecloth from an entirely different neighborhood.  The Safe Bag, unlined and normal looking because I have to remember that not everybody walks on the edge.  Vintage buttons and a useful pocket on this unlined bag make it a market bag that you can proudly use and use again.

 Because Designing Donna knows that I will try to repurpose anything, she threw in an odd quilted pillow sham so as to mix it up a bit.  Adding some bits of brass saddle embellishments procured at an Amish Store down the road from me, this handy little bag is fun and soft and perfect for those outings when just a small bag will do.

 Do you remember this fabric?  Pretend Daughter Kris bequeathed this lovely vintage Waverly Fabric from her mother's collection to me last fall and  I made a diaper bag out of it for Baby Girl.http://sonowiknow.blogspot.com/2010/11/sewing-sidetracks.html.  This wonderful fabric practically makes itself with all it's wizened history and lineny goodness.  It is so full of linen, that it indeed has bits of flax woven in this very nice finished product.  With some of DD's brocade fabric to line it and a few vintage buttons, it turned out to be high on my list of faves.  DD termed it the Autumn Bag and last I heard, she was calling this one her own.

 Some very utilitarian canvas, sturdy and strong, decided to be retro by adding some flowery buttons and vintage pillow case embellished and I could see it being the hit of the Farmer's Market, able to carry books and eggplant quite aptly.

 On this shipment, I got to premiere my new mama's collection  labels.  Baby Girl took care of this for me and I am quite excited about them.  Hence the blurry photo.

So by now, the bags are being displayed gleefully, proud of what they've become and waiting patiently for just the right someone to come and make them theirs.

Makes a mama proud.......

mama's own...

Ya know, every now and then, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do....
Fall is falling all around and as sure as the seasonal shift, a girl's desire for a new bag occurs.  Remember the Daffodilly Bag back in April http://sonowiknow.blogspot.com/2010/03/daffodilly-spring-bag.html?  Well, the same focused intensity for a new autumnal purse hit me recently.  On vacation, Crazier Don informed me that I needed a great statement of a purse, one that says, I Make Purses.  One that people will notice and comment on.  So in the time that I have returned from Vacationland, my Autumnal Designed Bag has been overtaking my brain.  When I walk the dogs, when I lie in bed in my menopausal insomnia, whilst I cut vegetables, I think of what is the best way to cut my favorite upholstery fabric that is left over from Faithful Friends purse from last fall.http://sonowiknow.blogspot.com/2009/09/miserable.html.  I have doled it out carefully since it came from an tiny upholstery shop up in Indy and not exactly re orderable.  It's small amount was untidily tucked into a corner of the endless rolls of upholstery/drapery fabric.  But my hands found it.  It is soft yet sturdy.  Woven carefully and brilliant as a Joseph's Coat bush in late fall.  It says ME.  That's precisely why I made Faithful Friend's bag from it last year; we are kinda intertwined, picking up where the other left off, so it was only fitting that I used my favorite material.


For this bag, I utilized those interesting giant curtain grommets (isn't that a fun word, 'grommets'??)(Probably why I like Wallace and Gromit so much! :Dhttp://wallaceandgromit.com)  I tucked it up a bit to cinch it around the opening so things do not escape.  I added a zippered pocket (something I do for others but not for myself) and even attached an old Baby Girl earring from her bohemian days (that was before she was a Pregnant Bohemian; different but the same!) for a zipper pull.  I added a pen/pencil pocket because I despise searching for a pen in my purse.  I usually have many floating around in my purses so not to be able to find one, is very irritating.  Not so any more!  All my new designed bags have pen/pencil pockets!  A mama's collection speciality of sorts.  My lining fabric is a cotton paisley from four years ago from Walmart of all places.  Our local Walmart removed their fabric section recently.  Granted, not too much to choose from but every now and then, I could find a nice upholstery piece.  So I haven't spoken to Walmart from some time now anyway, especially when this spring's floral assortment was so lame.  And their aisles are smaller.  The list is building of just my own beefs never mind the global things.


But I digress.


To summarize:  The purse is huge, noteworthy, soft, sectioned and I think what Crazier Don had in mind when he wanted me to create a Statement Bag.


Happy mama.


Now is time for a favorite activity of most women:
Changing To A New Purse!
Seriously, isn't that the most fun?  Taking the time to go through the old, discarding gum wrappers, placing receipts in their right place, finding those rascally pens and organizing the stray papers, is really very cathartic, almost euphoric but that is just me....Or not?


Off to reload the new purse with all it's handy pockets and soft externities......
Watch for it.....!

Michele's Bag

Funny how things work out.  Years ago, while I was caring for my dad in his home, I sought distractions to help with the heaviness that comes with 24 hour care giving.  Baby Girl was in junior high and even though by care giving time line left me with very little time to be an 'Active School Mom', one of the things I enjoyed doing was designing and making purses for her friends.  I made these purses by hand, not having room for my sewing machine amidst dad's sick room equipment.  Working with the materials and occupying my hands was therapeutic to my jangled, sleep deprived nerves.  Since that time, I have wondered what happened to those early bags.  One day, I found one of them at the second  hand store, noting the date that I stitched in the bag for a birthday.  One fell apart in shreds after countless repairs for a stubborn young girl unwilling to let go of it.  She was one of my first customers when my new bags started to be produced.  I believe the current count for her is four.  Then there is the Facebook Connection.  Baby Girl had a long ago junior high bud contact her and ask about my bags.  She told BG that she still had the long ago bag and that her little girl plays with it now.  Her birthday was approaching and she kindly contacted me with a birthday wish to purchase a new and much improved mama's collection handbag.Eldest/Admin had recommended that I develop a purse survey to aid in the creation of a custom made bag.  So Junior High Friend was sent one, returned it filled out and the result is what is pictured here.  And this is a Premiere Edition as well!  A matching cosmetic bag was requested to go along with the purse so after researching and remembering Chicago Friend's lesson at the retreat this past July, I endeavored to design one myself. (See Sewing Simple Saturdays this week for more on that!)   Also, whilst on my Smoky Mountain Vacay, I had the opportunity to pick Crazier Don's busy brain regarding my business.  CD has had his own business for many, many years and since he was on vacation and actually sitting still (well, somewhat), he was more than willing to give this Business Newbie some input.  One of the swell ideas he was to give me after I shared with him my mission in creating bags and totes, was to include, deep down in the seam of my purses, some relatable bible verse that will be read, almost stumbled upon at some later date.  Brilliant!  I remembered a winter coat I had years ago that I had worn for quite awhile before I noticed one freezing winter day, a little tag deep inside that simply said, 'May you stay warm in your heart today'.  I loved that little note and now I want to share that bit of encouragement with my customers.  I asked CD which out of allllllllll the verses in the whole bible I should use and he stated simply, (duh), 'Pray about each one for each client'.  Done.  I prayed over the fabric before I made the first cut and asked the Master Designer to reveal the verse that this customer needed.  And He did.  But I can't tell you.  It's a secret.  But I can tell you that I loved making the labels for other young mama's bags/purses/totes/diaper bags.  I loved thinking of them finding the tag and reading them with a feeling of encouragement as they care for their little ones and themselves.

Fuel your Spirit today. 

Sheesh....

I do not call Eldest/Admin that name lightly.  Yessiree; she earns every praise she gets for putting up with her Technological Deficient Mother.  After DAYS, (did I stress days enough?) of desperately trying to upload photos and deal with Blogger's down time, I resorted to asking my very busy E/A to explain, Why oh Why does my computer not like my camera any more.  And she patiently analyzed the problem and gave good advice.  Then one, two, three!  Upload happened!!  So in the meantime, this mama has been a very busy, albeit blogless, lady......

Let us begin.

Weeding.  The temperate temperatures allowed me to spend quite a few productive hours in the garden.  With my Guard Dog, Pudge, (can you see  him at the gate?) standing patrol, Stella the Ditsy Cat, following me around the Weedy Needy Areas, I had a pleasant day of puttering.  Thank you God.

Summer time brings about Vacation Bible School!  So many memories of VBS with my children.  Personally, I never attended one in my childhood.  Oh, but if I could have!  Please never give up on dragging the neighborhood with you to your VBS.  You just never know.  I think of how my life would have been different if someone, anyone would have invited me to their church for VBS or Youth Group.  Many a year when my children were young, we would have station wagon/van/car full of Unsaved Waifs, just ready for the Gospel Message.  My Hubby always took the week off so we could make it a family affair, both of us usually intrinsically involved as Director, Food Lady, Craft Director, 4-5 year old teacher, Story Lady, etc, etc...It was a long hard but very fun week.  This year, my only interaction is to design and create Space Patches for an astronaut costume for a Space Themed Bible School.  Having made MANY a costume for my Pretend World Children, the thought was exciting and reminiscent for me. So now, between today and Sunday, I shall be embroidering till my fingies bleed.  And happy to do it, I am just that fond of VBS.

Before I started the patches, I did finish The Lineny Vintage Bag!!  It's everything I was hoping it would be; roomy, soft, shaped well and well, you know, of course...Pockety!!!

And the Sows Ear to Silk Purse Award goes to:

The Throwaway 40's Lawn Chair That I Pulled Out of the Garbage!

I wouldn't exactly feel safe sitting in this chair; some rather conspicuous duct tape at some key junctions, keeps me from offering it to guests.  BUT as a proud displayer of my New Guinea Impatiens (and an errant tomato plant!), it works quite well!!

And last but certainly not last, a wonderful photo of Rabbit Rita's http://ritabunny.com/ One of Three Solid Blue Hydrangea Bushes that we visited on the Garden Exchange.  A whole bush this color!  Extraordinary!  Makes me sigh just looking at it!

So that, dear readers, is some of what mama and her collection has been up to....And More.......Tomorrow, if the Kodak gods smile upon me........!

Simple Sewing Saturdays: Volume Four

On today's Simple Sewing Saturdays, we are going to venture to the very useful skill of pocket making. Whether you're making a purse, tote, apron or skirt, when don't you need a pocket? At the end of the day, I can unload my pockets to reveal where I've been that day; scraps of paper with hastily written reminders, receipts, litter found in my yard, wrappers, change, used straws from Vivie.  You name it.  So, we must have good pockets.

To Begin.

Pockets come in all sizes.  Today, I'll use a large rectangle that shall be divided into compartments. The size will depend on your bag lining. And you'll need two of them.  I like to use fusible fleece on the back of one of them.  Helps shape the purse/bag/tote/apron better.  Here is another place to use handy sized scraps.  Carefully line up the lining piece to the top piece, right sides together. Sew a half inch seam on three sides, leaving one of the short sides open.

Trim the two corners diagonally.

Turn the pocket right side out, one end open. Press.  Top stitch around, 1/4 inch from edge. Fold in 1/2 inch on open edge, pressing it down then topping stitch it as well.

Center the pocket on the interfaced bag lining, making sure you have enough room on the sides for your seam allowance on the lining.  Sew pocket onto the bag's lining, back stitch in the first and last stitch.  Reinforce on the bottom of the pocket in case you carry heavy loads. Like dinosaurs.  Do not laugh.  I was known to carry large scale dinosaurs with me in my early Mother of Two Sons Stint.

As previously mentioned, I am sectioning off this rather wide pocket.  The size is approximately 10x7 so I will be taking 2 1/2 inches for a pen/pencil pocket.  I love these.  I hate searching the bottom of my bag for the elusive pen at the check out.  Yes.  I still write checks. And no, I hate to borrow the cashiers. Eek.

The leftover space, I divide into two good size pockets.  Good for pocket mirror, lipstick, comb (yes, I still use those too.)  Didn't realized how archaic my purse is making me out to be.  I also use these pockets for crayons. And small note pads.  And people are glad that I pack 'em.  Manicure set. Hot Wheels.  Gum. Mints.

There now!  You have a dandy, well supported, clean edged Pockey Poo for your most fun purse!

And as a Special Treat, this weekend, Simple Sewing Saturdays, is going to expand to Simple Sewing Sundays!!

Yes! A second edition on Further Adventures in Pocketing!  After all, there is another side to the inside of your purse...Shouldn't we do that side up nicely as well?  Two more types of pockets tomorrow!!

Simple Sewing Saturdays Volume 3

Today on Simple Sewing Saturdays, we shall go through the very basic steps of making a handle for a bag.  Handles are crucial to the comfort and practicality of the perfect purse.  I have skinny shoulders and rounded, too thick handles have relegated more than one purse to the closet.  Since my venture in Purse/Bag/Tote making, I have found that handles length, breadth and comfort is essential.  So off we go to get the basics, the foundations so that future adjustments in your own personal Handle Enjoyment can be explored and created.

To begin, I cut a generous width, usually 5 inches.  Please always cut the selvages from your fabric. Even though it's tempting to have such a lovely straight edge, it keeps the fabric from it's weaves propensity.  It will keep fabric too rigid.  So trim it.  Now.An Iron is a sewist's best friend.  You simply cannot sew well without it.  Press the 5 (or so) inch by however long you want your bag minus 4 inches, well.  Turn up 1/4 inch on both sides. The space between the folded edges will be interfaced for durability.  I like to use fusible fleece; soft and forms well.  Big Secret:  I like to use my odds and ends of interfacing scraps here.  Just make sure you cut pieces that don't overlap much; you could have too bumpy of a strap.  Fuse well.  Turn the handle over and press on the other side for real adhesion.When you get to the two short ends, press up 1/4 inch on these as well.  Open the ends and fold inward so you have a nice edge.  Fold in half lengthwise the entire handle.  Press well, matching the ends neatly. Beginning on a short end, sew 1/4 inch from the edge, all around, making sure that no wrinkles or bumps form. Press again once it is stitched all around.Now you have the handle sewn and here's where funkiness, personalization, fun stuff starts.  Pictured are mere examples of the options of attaching a handle to the body of a bag.  I like to use discarded belt rings.  I buy every woven belt at every garage sale and Goodwill, thrift store that I find, provided it cost .25.  Or less.  I remove the d-rings, 0-rings and whatever fun piece of metal I can find from these items.  Hubby seeks out plumbing and electrical supply aisle at Lowe's to aid in my search for an unique handle attachment.  Or you can easily and cleanly attach the handle to the the bag; between the lining and the outer bag.  Either way, securely, with good thread and a myriad of stitching to hold up the heaviest of purses.  A new thing I like lately is the big plastic (looking like metal but without the weight) grommets that are used on curtain applications...Makes for a new, lightweight look...

Thus ends our foray into Your Handle for Your Purse 101.
Stay tuned next time for more Simple Sewing Tips!

Spontaneous Purseage

Spontaneous Purseage: Unknown origin; Phraseology used to describe sudden, irresistible urges to design and create a gift purse, not ordered or even expected; just simply a desire to gift those we love.  Usually comes in unusual forms and out of ordinary design.  No protocol required; design as you go with fabric on hand; nothing purchased for the project.  Fun as Saturday.  Good stuff.

As you know from other posts, I have an extraordinary Daughter In Law, Lovely Wife.  She has many endearing attributes, but one of my favorites is our passion for all things chocolate.  And that we share a November birthday.  And that she loves Eldest Son unabashedly.  And that she loves my purses and giggles like a little girl when I gift her with one.  She will pet it and caress it and look forward to The Changing of the Purse. (Don't you love it, Ladies, when we get a new purse and the time comes to Make the Upgrade?  Men could not possibly understand the joy that comes from that process.  Akin to opening a new box of shoes....)
So knowing that we would we feting ES in all his birthday splendor, I felt compelled to bring Lovely Wife a new Summer Purse.
Some Amy Butler Scraps from The 2G's Mama's Summer Bag, an old American Eagle belt for the handle and a smattering of vintage buttons, and a lining from the vintage gingham from Pauline's Autumn Auction.  I smiled while I sewed, picturing LW carrying this fun, whimsical bag around.  (I was also grinning because I was listening to Garrison Keillor's 'Pontoon' on audio book while I was sewing.  Hysterical.  Of course.)

As expected, Lovely Wife Loved The Bag.
She loved all the appropriately sized pockets and the silly handle.  She loved the fabric and the size.  And I loved it that she loved it.

Spontaneous Purseage.  Never know when it will hit.  Will you be next??

Break Out!

Sometimes, you just gotta do it.
An idea is just floating around and fabric is just too fun, that something, something not pre ordained or manufactured, pattern-wise, just has to pop out.
2G's mama was needing a summer bag.
2G'S mama loves Amy Butler fabric.
2G's mama is an appreciative audience.
So off I go to the sewing room, eager to produce a One of a Kind design.
Did I have a design in mind?
Nope.
Just stood there looking at the fabric, waiting for the direction. Thought about her needs. She likes puffy, fleece interlined, soft formed bags. Her mama needs dictate that there are lots of pockets, making, keys, pens, change, crayons accessible. Her little shoulders tell me that her shoulder strap should be narrow and strong for all the dinosaurs and dollies and books that will get crammed in for the road. A stout magnetic snap to keep the contents together when she has to throw it down to chase after an errant child bent on destruction.
But it must be pretty as well as utilitarian. Lightweight and feminine. A girly workhorse of sorts.


And so the process begins as the framework and objective is established.
The first cut is made and I follow the needed design from my heart and mind to the cloth.
From that point of committment, it all flows.
From picking out a coordinating lining, to how to finish the pockets, it just flows.
I realize that this in not much help for those of you that rely on pesky things like measuring tape, rulers, algebra and geometry (I kinda just shuddered just writing those two words) but that is how I roll. Experience, familiarity with how things go together and a clear desire to want to make something.
Crazy, huh?


But with time, patience, testing, and a lot of hopeahoping, it starts to take shape and tells me how it should be finished up.

And then the best part.
Giving a bag that has been designed specifically for her, with her needs and likes in mind...
Ah, that is the best part...

Back to Purse Making!

Thanks to RP-New Friend, mama's collection has created a new bag!
Eldest/Admin had me design a purse survey that has been a useful tool in my sewing room.
RP-New Friend simply filled out the survey, gave it to me at church and pointed out some flaws in her current purse, and I was on my way back to Purse Groove (having been distracted, oh so pleasantly, by the things of the holiday season and other nearly one year old 'things'....
One quick visit to Joanne's provided some swell suiting material on sale and lining that was a fine cotton that had a 40% off coupon...Yessssss.
Soon, I was home, plotting, planning and cutting....Ahhhhh, the groove...

The suiting fabric was a different sort of medium but pleasantly agreeable.
It always helps me to have music or an audio book for my sewing endeavors. This purse was my Anne Tyler's Amateur Marriage book.

Two big inside pockets, one external one. One big zippered pocket inside and an old earring repurposed into duty to a shiny zipper pull. Two big buttons on the handle sides and two vintage buttons covering the velcro closure to add to the suiting look.

To be delivered on Wednesday...
Wonder how much tweeking I can do on it till then.....?

Unwrapped

Did Vivie love her grammy-made owl?
You bet!
The crinkly paper idea from another blogger along with soft stuffing and the added attraction of having grammy's old sweater utilized as well, made for a grand companion for a long trip to her papa's home town.
This owl has a brother as well, but I'm not sure he's been unwrapped yet, so we must wait to meet him.

Eldest/Admin Daughter kept me a busy with three orders for her in laws this year!
She had sent out a Purse Needs Survey that I made for each sister in law and her mother in law, this fall.
It was easy to configure a bag for each of them with the help of that handy dandy tool.
If you would like me to send you such a survey for Future Purse Needs from mama's collection, leave a comment....
This tote is for Karyn, an Avon lady/school secretary. Plenty of pockets to handle that(those) job(s).

This pretty pink and brown creation was for Martha....(the real purse is not as blurry as the bad photographer!)
She's having shoulder surgery on Jan 10th, so I left out some of the heavier weights I usually put in the shoulder strap connections and flap....Hope your surgery goes well, Martha....I'll be praying....

And this springy number is Beth's....Favorite color: blue, zippered pockets requested and given....no outer pockets...
See how easy that is??

Back to the sewing room....
Someone's birthay is coming and I'm told that most years, having a January 6th birthday, someone tends to get overlooked......
Let's make a big statement this year......:D