Bow Bag

I had gotten a cute bag from Etsy a few years ago. (you can buy it here)

It was cute, but much too large for my needs. I had been thinking of making a purse with a bow for awhile and had collected a nice little cache of photos for inspiration.

 

So then I went ahead and did some sketches for my BOW BAG.

 Yes, they DO look quite sketchy. Because sketches are just that. Badly drawn ideas. Or at least mine are. If I wanted to do a nice technical drawing or illustration I would never had gotten around to making he actual bag.

I decided on a version of the one I checked off, and a version of the top right one. I changed fabrics, patterns and whether or not to add a bow at least twice.

But after what seemed like forever here's my finished purse. Due to my being a lazy bum, I didn't do a tutorial, or even take pictures for those of you who'd like to make your own. So sorry.

I have pockets on the outside and inside, because originally, the yellow polkadot was going to be just the lining on this fabric below. And the fabric of the bow.

But it just got too busy. So, I said, forget the chevrons, for now, and just use the polka dot. I'm glad that I did.

Now, onto the next project.

Ruth

Quilts and the eternal fabric stash

I will admit. I like to sew. Those who know me know this tidbit. I went to school for fashion design and graduated with a BFA. I sewed a lot in that time and I bought a lot of fabric. Well, the urge to sew and craft and use fabric has not changed, even though this past year I have been a full time mom and only a part time freelance designer. None of those jobs require me to work with textiles but I love them and I'm never stopping.

I'm presently quilting a lot. I used to love making clothes, drafting patterns, draping and re-working muslins. For a while I designed apparel, but it didn't involve any sewing or pattern-making as we had a sample room overseas that provided the samples. I then spent two years designing jewelry. Not much fabric around there. So when I was home I gorged myself on the love of fabric. I quilted a lot, mostly because I had fabric scraps and not enough to make apparel. Also, I had gained a lot of weight and had no interest in finding out what my measurements were to accurately make a garment.

So, quilting has stuck around as my 'sewing fun time'. I've made, hmn, four this past year, and that's actually very few. I'm starting on another that was inspired by Anna Maria Horner's Sixth time's the charm quilt but more on that later. 

I just went to one of my favorite blogs.........The purl bee and found this amazing and wonderful quilt using Liberty of London fabrics and prints.

I am in love.  It love the polka dots. Of course these polka dots are 'lovingly' appliqued. I did a polka dot quilt last year to benefit 'Operation Stinky Big Brother."

Let me show you:

This was the idea. 

This was the completion. The picture yellowed a bit.

  

Here's the completed quilt in open air on Lake Dunlap.

I have to say, I really like polka dots. Check out my dining room in college:

Yes, it's filthy, IT WAS COLLEGE. Yes, that is an old spool we stole out of a K-mart parking lot, painted blue and then covered in pennies. And yes, those are posters of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. God, it's like you never did anything WEIRD in college. Note the batting on the floor, and the polka dot covered chair in the right hand corner. There's even a finished quilt wrapped up like a burrito and sitting on my penny table. 

Here's a picture of me and my college roommate/best friend with polo shirts we 'fancified' for our study abroad trip to Malaysia. I guess I really liked polka dots. Damn. No, it's not a good picture, we had just gotten off a 4 hour plane ride from Hong Kong and then a 20 hour plane ride from LAX. I was tired. Also, this was a time in life where I rarely wore make-up. More's the pity.

So, what was I talking about. Oh yeah. Polka Dots. I sure do love them.