artsy-crafty babe

the purse project

Did you join in the Purse Project fun? The theme this time around was using a tea towel, which is right up my alley. I couldn't pass this challenge up! I even used one of my "good" Martha tea towels to make a little fun party bag.

Making this bag is pretty simple, but I'm sure I'll confuse the crap out of you with my directions.

First, I folded my tea towel in half matching up the short sides. I then measured up 9" from the fold and cut off the excess. What you're left with is an 18" piece that will be used for the body and two other pieces (the part you just cut off), which you'll use for the handles.

You don't have to line this bag, but you can if you want to. I did, but it made it kind of bulky. If you line it, cut a piece of lining 18" x whatever the width of your tea towel is. It should be the same size as the tea towel piece you're using as the body. With the fold as the bottom of your bag, stitch up the side seams, leaving about 1/2" unsewn at the top. To get that curve on the bottom corners, I traced a saucer, using that as my stitch line. Do the same for the lining.

Make straps out of the two pieces you cut off earlier.

For the top rectangles, I cut 4 pieces of my lining fabric 4.5"x 10". Sandwich each strap between two of the rectangles, right sides together, spacing them to your desired width, then sew up the rectangle on three sides - short side, long side (with the straps), short side. Leave the bottom open. Turn your rectangle right side out. Next, press to the inside 1/2" of the open edge of the rectangle. At this point, all the raw edges of the rectangle should be on the inside.

If you're using a lining, put your lining inside the tea towel body, wrong sides together. Gather the top, using your machine or a needle in thread (my preferred method). The gathered width should be that of your finished rectangle.  Now comes the fun part - shove your gathered top inside the rectangle about 1/2", use lots of pins to keep in place, the sew.  Do this for the front and back of the purse.  I found this part most challenging because my canvas lining made it all quite bulky.  That's it, you're done.

Please excuse my wonky sewing on the twill tape trim, it was an after thought. It was one of those things that I wasn't even sure I was going to keep, but I liked it, so it stayed. Then, I decided that a fluffy flower would be the perfect finishing touch. Lucky for me, I had the perfect fabric and button in my stash. Voila, my tea towel purse!

girlfriends skirt

I finished up my WIP skirt from a few weeks back.  Eh.  I really like the colors and fabrics, I'm just not so crazy about it on my body.  I feel like a deranged cheerleader wearing it.  Perhaps I'd like it better if it actually fit!  Yeah, it's about two sizes too small.

I started by drafting a straight skirt pattern using the Sew What Skirts book (love this book!).  Why straight?  Well, I only had a yard of the yummy aqua fabric (from the Girlfriends line by Sis Boom), so it had to be straight.  If I had a half yard more I could have made an a-line skirt, but that wasn't the case.  Because I needed more flare, I split the front and back pieces into thirds and added godets of the pink & white print at each seam, using the godet from the Cute Skirts pattern as my guide.  If I had known going into it that I was going to make it this way, I would have made it wider to account for all the seams - lesson learned.  I then used more of the pink & white for the waistband. 

As I was sewing it up I just knew that I'd love it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I tried it on and saw how ridiculous I looked wearing it.  I thought maybe Lily could wear it if the waist was small enough, but that didn't work.  I guess for now I'll admire it from the hanger and work on losing 10-15 lbs, but it may still look stupid on me!

pleated tote

I got the kinks worked out.  Can I tell you how much I love this tote?  This one is mine, all mine.

Like my first attempt, I used a vintage sheet.  Gosh, I love these colors and this print!  I've been holding on to it, waiting for the perfect project.

I really wanted a contrasting lining, but this Amy Butler stripe coordinated so well I couldn't not use it.

I love this vintage button.  I believe it's from my Grandmother's collection.

As soon as I can, I'll post the pattern and a little tutorial on how to make one for yourself.  I hope you like it as much as I do!

weekend in pictures

A makeover birthday party for a certain 6 yr old.

Should I have gotten these?

A crawfish boil.

Snowballs at the Jambalaya Festival.

Pooped kiddos.

The winning pot of jambalaya.

Congrats Jeff & Scott, the World Champs!!!

just playing

Last night after the house was quiet I got the chance to clean up my sewing studio.  That place was a mess!  There was fabric all over the floor, threads, buttons, you name it, everywhere.   In usual Beki fashion, as I was picking up I got sidetracked by pretty fabric.  Ahh, pretty fabric.

Putting fabric combos together is my most favorite thing to do.  I can lose hours doing this.

This, I have discovered, is the reason why I can't keep my folded fabric shelves neat - I'm constantly playing with them!  Of course I always want the one at the bottom, which causes the rest of the stack to tumble over.

I like making little piles of fabric combos for future bags, just in case I get the urge to whip out a bag on a moment's notice.

Will any of these fabric combinations be made into anything?  Probably not. It's more fun to play.

On this day...

6 years ago today, I became a mother.  Today is Lily's 6th birthday.  On one hand, that seems so long ago, but on the other, it feels like yesterday. 

Oh my, how you've grown!  I am amazed that you're only 6.  From day 1 you were above average, entering the world at a whopping 10lbs 2 oz.  You walked early, you talked early, and you continue to do things beyond your years.

Happy Birthday sweet Lily!!  I love you, you're a special little girl!!!

cartwheels

Here you go, me acting like a fool.

Like mother like daughter.

At least it was a good workout.

More stupidity here.

daisy fresh

This is one of the things I worked on this weekend that wasn't up to my expectations.  For some reason on Friday night I woke up at 12:30, then couldn't go back to sleep until 4 am.  So what did I do?  Come up with a purse pattern.  It's okay, though not what I envisioned.  My proportions are a bit off, I think.  What I do like about it is the thrifted sheet I used for the exterior combined with the green polks dot.  I love flowers and polka dots, ya know.  I think once I get this pattern worked out I'll post it for y'all to make, if you want it.  Until then, it's back to the drawing board...

If you'd like to own this particular bag I'm putting it in my etsy shop, for cheap.

Weekend Recap

Boy, do I ever live for weekends.  They don't ever seem to be long enough.  This weekend I attempted to work on quite a few crafty projects, but nothing went as planned.  I don't know, I just wasn't in the groove.  I'm certain part of the problem is due to how my weekend started out - a speeding ticket on my way home from work.  CRAP!  I was totally caught off guard, as in I didn't even realize that the cop was pulling me over.  I thought he was trying to pass me up for an emergency or something.  I was supposedly going 41 in a 30 mph zone.  Whatever.  Speed demon Beki in the blue minivan, that's me.

The highlight of the weekend was the glorious weather.  We had dinner outside on Friday night.  We would have eaten out on Saturday night, but we got supper together too late.   I actually still wanted to, but Matt didn't.  Perhaps if our patio was put down *hint hint* it would be more enjoyable.

I have such plans for our little patio area.  I've been going through gardening books and magazines taking note of of all the fabulous ideas.  I know nothing will happen out there anytime soon, but I can dream.  Being patient is the hardest part.

I'd say my next favorite time of the weekend was playing with the kiddos on the front lawn.  Lily and I did cartwheels, hand stands, and back bends.   Yes, I'm sore today.  I had no idea that I could still do that stuff!  Today my wrists and back are killing me!!  I'm sure my neighbors think I'm insane.

This is what it's all about - hanging out, enjoying each other's company, just being.  So what if my house is a wreck, my sofa is hidden under a mountain of laundry and none of my sewing projects turned out.  I spent quality time with my family, it's what gets me through the week.

WIP Friday

Ah, Friday again.  I'm hoping to spend a little quality time with my sewing machine this weekend.  Though I've been making a few things here and there, I feel like I haven't sewn in ages!  The first thing I want to work on is this skirt.  I'm trying something different, and as of this posting, it isn't working.    My seam ripper and I will be BFF.  This is going to be a whimsical, weekend skirt, ya know, kind of funky, wear with a tank top & flip flops kind of skirt.  The only reason I'm breaking out of my shell is because I don't have enough of that aqua fabric to make my regular pattern.  We'll see if my idea works.

I don't really have any other WIP, but I would like to play around with this new fabric that arrived this week.  It was a "from: me" "to: me" gift.  I have a feeling there will be more purses in my future.  Well friends, that's all I've got.  Have a great weekend!!