Fabric Giveaway – YES!

Go to this site for another fabriculous give away.

 

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A new Amy Butler Frenchy Bag

Hello All -

Well yesterday I put together a zebra shoulder bag and then I got my store up at ETSY for all my bags I’ve been doing. Been a tad tired but still clickety claking at the sewing machine. No embroidery this week-end. We wouldn’t want to wake up the daughter and loose all her beauty sleep from my noisey machine.

Today I did another Amy Butler Frenchy Bag. I made modifications to it because I just don’t like certain flat purses and this shoulder bag shouldn’t be flat. It reminds me of a bag to put the new flat Apple puter in.

What I did with the purse is add darts to the bottom to give it symmetry. It gives the purse more fullness and balance than just flat. There are purses that are flat, but this one doesn’t look good flat.

I took the top panel and resized it, smaller in height. Even though this purse has straps, with the large top panel, the straps are not long enough and the top panel would lay in the armpit. Hey I gotta view my opinion, right! Still I should have lengthened the straps because it still needs room. I will eventually make another frenchy bag and either I will put the straps into the top panel, make them longer and if I do the later, I will sew down the straps onto the top panel.

So whats on tomorrows agenda when the boys (son and hubby) are putting the last screen door on and daughter is at work. Well let me show you the fabric. My daughter made fun of the above purse, so I asked her how this was. She said it was better color choice. Excuse me. This will be another Amy purse, that is if I have enough material. I was suppose to make the birdie sling today, but fabric not enough.

If I don’t have enough material, then I will use this for a pleated purse that I want to make. Oh well, we’ll see how it goes.

Later All

Machine Embroidered Boys Sweatshirts

Last week I did some little boy sweatshirts using EmbLibrary designs. Here are the end results.

On these sweatshirts tear-away stabilizer is on the front of the sweatshirts. This way the dark colored fabric would not bleed through the design. On the back of the designs, covering the design’s threads is a iron on stabilizer to protect the skin.

I have soooo many designs from EmbLibrary for machine embroidery. I think this one is cute and its on a sweatshirt for a 12 month old and of course, they don’t know better and they think they are the boss.

This one is age appropriate because it has the cartoon character of a plane and is on a 6-9 month old sweatshirt.

Then finally the 18 month old sweatshirt. I merged two designs together to get this design. Did a complete swap of colors from the color chart and tada! This is a nice bright design and I really do like this one over all of the ones I did.

I wish they had these machines decades ago. My kids would have had real cute clothing and not like every other kid in town. Then again, I could have been doing other kids clothing too! But my son, if I hadn’t said it yet, he said he’s glad it wasn’t around when he was young cause he could have imaged his backpack covered in machine embroidery – yuck!

Til next time - 

Bye!

More completed Vintage Purses

Well here we are again. Sorry ’bout the pictures not being clear, but my eyes are tired and I thought they turned out okay.

Didn’t get 3 purses done today wasn’t feeling to good this morning after my visit at the hospital. This purse on the left was finished the other night. Not too sure if I like the handles because they are a tad too big. I might change them out if I can find something smaller.

Purse on the right, completed last night. This is one of the ones that I had blown up last night. I really do like the size and the purse handle goes well with it. Thinking of putting some big black buttons on it. If you notice, the flap the design is going the opposite way then the purse. Planned it that way.

This afternoon I had to remove the purse handle holder and the flap that goes through the ring. The holder was up to high and when you put the flap through the ring it was not laying flat. So off with the items and put the holder down further into the purse and cut off the excess. The flap I had to rip apart and take in on both sides so that it would go through with ease. After this screw up I will check to make sure that any flap that goes through a ring I have the right measurements. As far as the lining, since I cut two inches off the bottom, it lays right on the bottom.

This afternoon I was feeling better, so I pulled out another vintage pattern that I blew up last night and just finished this one. I really do like it, however, I have to see if I can find a large ribbon flower to put on the left side. The design calls for one and it really adds to the purse.

When I bought this remnant, I knew that it had to be a big purse to show off all the detail in the fabric. I wasn’t too sure about the handle and the flap, but it works well. With the flower on the left side it changes the appearance completely. The lining that I used on this purse is a silky fabric that was also a remnant. I am famous for looking at remnants and not paying full price!

Like to give a hint about purses with flaps. Patterns don’t tell you to add boning or some other method, were some do. If you put a extra piece of stabilizer all the way across at the top (here I put 1 1/2 inches) it adds some additional support. You have to make sure that you put it in the right place though or your flap will sag – been there, done that.

So these three vintage bags were all made from upholstery fabric that I purchased last week. Stabilizer was used for the cloth handle and flap in the third purse and the second purse’s bottom lining, so if would not sag with so much stuff in it. 

Purchased some Betty Boop fabric and one of the designs would look good as a flare purse. The flare purse has handles, but I purchased some lightweight chain from the local hardware store that I would like to incorporate into this particular design. The fabric has Betty as a biker chick.

Need some funky purses for my ETSY purse shop, once I open it up. Got some furry fleece, made a shoulder bag for a teenager. She loved it cause it was unusual and different. Animal prints are popular, want to make a big zebra shoulder bag, incorporate black screening into it for a cell phone pouch on the outside. So I am going to move directions for a little bit, cause I like assortment! 

BTW – I found a site that sells magnetic purse closures. Look at my sidebar for the site. I added two different ones, but one sells them a buck a piece, but you have to order a quantity for that price. I have to get my order in, I’m LOW!

Evening

Well earlier tonight I went to the office supply store and Xeroxed a bunch of purse patterns. I did the vintage ones that I have shown here on my blog and some others. Like I indicated before the purses are very small and are great for going out. So I wanted to make them bigger. So I wanted to enlarge them 150% more.

Well I was running into problems of getting the whole pattern onto one 11 x 17 sheet, something would be cut off. The original patterns in the book were front and back pieces of the purse or lining. They were not half, where you would put them on the fold of the fabric. So in order for me to get all of it on one sheet, I had to get the center of the pattern and then copy it. 

I noticed on the first copies that I made the purses, the author of the book did a lot of the right and left sides freehanded, thus they did not match. When I centered the pattern, I looked for the best side and used that so that when I use the new patterns, that are put on the fold, both left and right sides will match exactly.

Once I got home I started on a new vintage purse. The length of the purse is now 16 or 17 inches long (that is without the bottom gusset). On this particular purse I am working on the opening is still small, but you can at least put your hand in and get what you are looking for. I don’t have any pictures tonight to show you of the one I started last night, nor todays.

However, I did start off on the wrong foot. When I grabbed the pattern, I didn’t read. Then the material I used (the first vintage purse with the black bow), I wasn’t watching what I was doing. I pinned the fabric and pattern and cut. When I finished cutting I realized that I did not cut the pattern for the purse, but the lining. The pattern for the purse had pleats in them. Well the upholestry material being used is too heavy for pleats. The next thing I did wrong, I didn’t make sure I would have enough material to make the other piece for the back. Whew, I was lucky, but I was cutting it short. Had enough material for the handle holder and the flap. 

On this purse instead of doing the lining the full length of what the purse calls for, I cut it shorter by 2 inches. On the bottom gusset, so I wouldn’t need to add plastic canvas, I took and fused heavy weight stabilizer to the cotton material. Boy does it hold the shape great.

So far everything else is going as planned. Instead of leaving an opening at the bottom, I will be doing it on the side. Since the stabilizer is on the bottom with the fusible stuff, there is no way that I can flip the lining/purse and keeping the shape at the bottom. The other issue with this and the other I started yesterday, since I have handles, its a tight squeeze sewing and flipping it inside out.

Tomorrow after my hospital visit, I’ll make some more purses. See I opened a new shop today at ETSY. “Not Your Ordinary Bag”. I still have my other shop, but thats going to be just for my machine embroidery. I will keep my purses on that site, cause I don’t want to confuse people who have already looked at them and maybe put the item as a favorite for a future purchase. Hopefully tomorrow or Saturday, I will put some items on that shop.

Depending on my energy level, I might do some girl sweatshirts with embroidery while I sew. I still have to take pictures of the boys that I did last week.

Well, guess thats it for now. See you again soon.

Donna

Vintage Bags – Part Deuce

Well I finished my second vintage bag that was shown on here the other day. This one and the one from the other night are from the 1950s era.

I’m amazed at how simple these are to put together. I would say about 3 hours to complete.

Below is a bag from the 1920s. Of course a tease because its not completely put together yet, but you get the idea of what I am working with. Going with green lining, accent the stripe applique insert. 

These bags are again small and just perfect for the night on the town. Am planning on enlarging the pattern, because no matter what size they are they are gorgeous.

I’m going to have to find a source on the internet to purchase magnetic closures. I am running low. If anybody has a site that they would like to share on where to purchase hardware for purses, please post a response and I will approve it shortly.

Plan to finish the 1920s bag tonight and then tomorrow plan on getting a couple more done.

Have a great evening. Hope you like my purses.

Donna

Vintage Bags – Photos – Upholstery Fabric

As promised here is the vintage bag that I made yesterday.

The bow needs to be fluffed and pulled a little on the right side.

The material that I used for the body of the purse is upholstery fabric that I bought at Hancock’s the other day. The bow and lining I believe is black canvas. I was able to put a tiny pocket inside. This is a very small purse and would make a nifty evening bag.

Here is the vintage bag I am currently working on. All I have to do is sew the lining together, add the handle and then sew the top. Of course there is some additional hand sewing needed. I have to add some dainty flowers in the middle of the front. They are done with ribbon and sewn by hand.

Yup this is upholstery fabric too. The lining is Martha Pullens. I believe I picked this up 2-3 years ago when Hancock near my house was closing. I’ve got lots of it and will use it most likely on another vintage bag that I will be making. I have to see if I have a beaded handle for that project. On the right side you can see the small pocket that is on this bag.

I machine embroidered 5 sweatshirts today for 6-8, 12, 18 months boys that I’ll be posting on my ETSY account this upcoming week-end. They turned out really nice. I only had one that the design moved on me cause I ran out of thread, but I was able to finish it by hand. Then there were two sweatshirts that I had a tad problem of hooping, but I was able to get them completed. Because the sweatshirts were dark, I put my iron on tear away stabilizer on the front instead of the back. This allows the colors to show their trueness on darker fabrics. On all the shirts, I put some sort of stabilizer that is iron on, that you put over the threads, so it doesn’t irritate the baby’s skin. I used three designs and boy they turned out beautiful.

Since I go back to work tomorrow for only 2 days this week, I won’t be able to do the little girls designs. Will do them probably on Thursday.

Well I gotta run for the evening.

Enjoy and like to hear some feedback.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Bag Finished

Yeah late as usual. I like this 4 day week-end. I could really get used to this. Next week will be a five dayer and only 2 days at work <smile>.

Well around 9 I started a vintage purse and as of 1 am, I finished it.

Its late and I want to take pictures of it tomorrow. I am really impressed, its really cute and wasn’t complicated at all. 

I even made a bow for it. I showed it to my daughter and I said black bow or no black bow. She said Black Bow… So I had to sew a few things by hand, no biggie.

Come back tomorrow to see it.

Night - 

Donna

Amy Butler Frenchy Bag Completed

Okay all done with the leopard Amy Butler frenchy bag. I hand sewed the lining to the top panel because I went ahead of myself, not following the directions from Amy. I know some people indicated that they didn’t like the pockets (run seam to seam, all the way to bottom of purse). I did a seam down the middle of the pockets to create two medium pockets instead of one great big one. On the other side, I made a pen pocket in the middle and then two on each side. I am not showing the inside of the purse because it is black material. I put rhinestones in the middle area of the front panel, between the two pleats that I sewed down 6 1/2 inches down.

 

Bracelet will be using as a purse handle

Here are my new fabric birds that I was doing last night. Don’t know how many more I’ll do, but my daughter has indicated to me her g-friend that just got a job at Disney in Florida, would like some for her apartment. Well now to go and check out which vintage bag I plan to start. Have to look over material and patterns. Later….

My shopping spree

Well today, really yesterday cause right now its midnight Sunday, I went to Hancock Fabrics. Its a drive, but it was worth it. They have a four day sale and they had the new Singer Steam Press on sale for 199.99. I picked up the last one. So that was my big purchase for the day. I already have a Singer Press, but it wasn’t steam. With all the sewing I do, I really want the steam press. I didn’t bring it in the house until before dinner, hubby wasn’t too thrilled, but I told him you have your jeeps, leave me alone in my sewing room. Now to find a new home for the old press….. I am impressed with the steam press because it is smaller than the other one. I didn’t try it yet, but will hopefully tomorrow.

When I got home from Hancocks and Home Depot, I took my material purchase upstairs. Hubby was outside finishing the painting of the door trim from yesterday’s installation. He wanted to get it done before the screen doors are done next week. I haven’t bought home decor remnants in a couple of years when our Hancocks a mile away closed down. I had fun going through them all and made a big purchase. 

These pieces will make fabulous vintage purses. I’m not going to show you the material, until I start the purses I decided. Give you a tease, but I got lots of stuff that’ll accent each other. I then bought some heavy duty snaps that were on clearance at 40% off and purse handles that were at 30%. One of them that I bought will be for the vintage items. They are black, but what I want to do is sandpaper them and spray paint to the color of the purse. I hope it works. If anybody has tried this, let me know.

Tonight when I was at Target, I looked at the thick bracelets to see if there was anything that I could use as handles. My vintage purses use handles that are as big as a bracelet. Bought two clearance items. One bracelet set has a total of 3 bangles and the other one is very thick at one end and then tapers off. They will work nicely as handles. I kept taking the thick one and holding it as if there was a purse at the end of it. Where it tapers off , that’ll be the perfect area to attach to the purse. BTW, I got JoAnn’s flyer in the mail today, their purse handles will be 50% off during Aug 29th through the 1st of Sept. Got another question to ask, has anyone made berets with fleece? Their anit-pill fleece solids are going to be 50% off and before I buy some, I want to know if the fleece will work on berets.

I didn’t get that lining done on the purse I started yesterday cause I was helping hubby with getting ready to dispose of all the storm doors and then cutting the grass. I didn’t want him to do the lawn cause with his hip replacement he had in April, when he gets done doing our backyard he is limping all over the place, so he started the lawnmower for me and I did the walking. Today was a very hot day and I was sweating all over, but that’s okay, I lost weight and sweating if off is going to make me loose more.

Right now I am stuffing my fabric birds, but I need to go downstairs and get more stuffing so I thought I would write more.

If anyone can help me out about the plastic purse handles and spraying them let me know. And also the berets. I got a pattern from Martha Stewarts craft site and I want to give it a try.

Thanks and night.