artsy-crafty babe

Come sew with me at Craftsy!

Hey guys!  I hope that things have been going well in your world.  As usual, things have been super crazy around here, but that’s not what this post is about. I’m excited to announce that I’ll be leading a Craftsy Sew-Along this month!!!

If you’re not familiar with Craftsy, it’s an online learning website where you can sign up for classes for all sorts of creative craftsy  things.  The sew-along is a little different from the classes in that you’re purchasing a package - materials, pattern, step by step instructions, and ME!  There is an online forum for us to interact as we go through the process.  Pretty cool, huh?

I have to admit, I’m a little nervous about it, but excited to be doing this with you.  If you’d like to join in, head on over to Craftsy.  I hope to “see” you there!!

inspired by bangles

This past spring (I think it was on my birthday) I came across some fun bangles that I had to have.  I’ve enjoyed wearing these all summer with all sorts of outfits.  One day I got the brilliant idea to turn these bangles into a tote, just for fun.  Why not?  I like the mix of colors on the bracelets, surely I’d like a tote version.

Remember my last inspiration project?  It was about a year ago when I turned a magazine page into a quilt.  Little challenges like this get me going :)

It was fun cutting & piecing and before I knew it I had the body of the bag pieced together.  And  then my sewing machine petered out on me.  Yes, Miss Kitty met her demise.  I pulled out my big machine (I was in the groove - I didn’t want to lose my mojo!), but something wasn’t working right on that one either.  Grrrr!! I had no other choice but to put it aside.

Needless to say, a whole lot happened between putting the project aside and finishing it (vacation, back to school, also a new machine), but it’s finished now.  I wish my white on black stitches we better - that’s all Miss Kitty’s fault.  I ripped some of them out, but with this being an experimental piece, I let the rest go.  This was certainly a “process” project.

 

I’m happy with my bangles inspired tote.  It's easy to forget how much fun it is to make something just for the heck of it, because I was feeling inspired.  Here's to many more inspiration pieces!!

triangle tote

After abandoning this project for a month, I picked it back up and finished this thing!  I don't know why I do such things - this tote was almost completely made.  AllI had to finish was putting it all together.  

I think I had a hang-up over those straps.  They're attached with rivets.  RIVETS!!  Really, rivets are easy peasy, but because I had never used them, it turned into a BIG THING in my mind.  Seriously, when will I learn to get over myself?

As you can see, this tote has all my favorite things - raw edge applique, vintage sheets, and repurposed leather.  I'd like to say that I love it, but I don't.  Because I was a big ninny and left this bag sitting for a month, when I picked it back up today the details were fuzzy. For some reason the lining didn't look right to me, so I decided to chop off a few inches.  Big mistake.  It was the right length, so that made the lining too short.  I wasn't about to start over, so I made it work.  That's why my triangle tops are chopped off on the top row. Yes, I know it looks funny, that wasn't on purpose, just due to my stupidity.

The tote is for me, and I think I can live with topless triangles, so there.  It's done.  What's not done is this whole idea of combining leather with fabrics.  I can see a whole lot more of that.  And I'm ready to get started NOW.  Gotta go :-)

P.S. second post in a week - what's gotten into me??

 

 

new Nanettes

It never fails.  As soon as I finish up a new pattern, I get the urge to freshen up my old ones.  This time around Nanette got the spruce up.  

I made both versions - the rounded bottom and the boxed bottom - in bright solids and polka dots, always a favorite combination of mine.  These make me think of spring time and warm weather.

Even though I wrote this pattern, any knowledge I had of the construction flew out of my brain the moment it was finished.  It’s like a sieve, I tell ya.  I even had to go back to my flower tutorial to freshen my memory on how to make that.  

The way the top of this bag is constructed is a little unusual, so I had to really pay attention to the directions while making these.  I read through them before I started, but all I could think was “what?”.  Then my thoughts turned to “omg, I wrote this crappy pattern that will never go together!”.

Much to my surprise, I followed each step and Nanette came out just like she was supposed to - and now I have 2 cute spring bags to choose from.  Whew, what a relief!  I should know by now, but this happens to me every time I go back over a pattern.  I guess I’ll never learn.

leather!

Craft ADD, I tell ya!  Remember when I made my leather bag out of that handmade leather jacket?  Well, I immediately made another one from an aqua leather skirt, but I never did get around to telling you about that one.  

Yes, an aqua leather skirt - can you imagine?  This one posed a bit of a challenge because it wasn't near as interesting as the jacket.  It was just plain (and aqua).  I decided to add some diagonal seaming to give it a little interest.  Incorporating that little zippered pocket set the tone.  At this point I'm still getting my feel of working with leather, so there are a few issues (probably only noticable to me, I know- I'm a bit of a perfectionist, remember?).

I moved right on to a suede tote made from a jacket.  This little jacked had some great pockets, so coming up with a bag design was easy.  It's a simple tote, but just perfect.  

While I was making this one I had some issues of the sewing machine variety.  I got mad and threw it aside (left it crumpled on my sewing room floor was more like it).  That was November and now it's February.  I picked that thing back up and finished it.  I literally had one seam to sew.  Richelle (my industrial sewing machine) must have been having a bad day that day because when I tried it again it worked fine.

And now that brings me to my current leather bag, which I made last weekend.  For the past several weeks I've been using a black leather bag that I bought a while back. I HATE that darned thing.  It's a cute bag, but every time I tried to get something out of that stupid bag, I fought it.  I used more curse words using that bag than I care to admit.  That's when it dawned on me to make myself a new one.  Duh!  

While I was on my first leather kick I acquired a few jackets that I never did anything with, and one happened to be black.  There wasn't anything particularly interesting about this jacket, but I wanted to use the pockets on the front.  I love exterior pockets on a bag.  

So far, so good!  I can easily get into the bag, and those two pockets are quite handy.  I'm still learning how to sew on leather, which I imagine will get easier the more I do it.  

I spent some time this weekend deconstructing a few more jackets - this new interest isn't going anywhere any time soon!!

**Thanks to all of you who have answered my survey.  Y'all are too kind!  I plan to do a post addressing some of the comments because I'd love to respond to some of them.  Thank you!!

 

I *heart* my pattern testers!

I don't know what I'd do without my pattern testers - they are the BEST!!  

Just look at these adorable Rubies...

Beth made the front pocket version.  That yellow print fabric + navy = perfection.  And those buttons totally make it!

Kara chose to make the plain version, but there's nothing plain about it.  That fabric is excellent.  I love seeing a such a stunning print used in this way.  She said this was the first "proper purse" she's ever made.  Um, it looks like she's a pro.  Great job, girl!

Vickie made a center panel Ruby. Love love love the fabric combo and the ric rack.  She said that she added 2 poskets on the inside, one of which is divided for cell phone, keys and such.  So clever.

My testers have excellent taste, don't you think?

I love that they all chose different versions of this pattern - I had nothing to do with it.  A happy happening, for sure :)

If you haven't gotten your copy of the Ruby Bag Pattern, go get it!!  It's on sale right now ($5), but won't be forever.  I can't wait to see that YOU come up with.

Ruby Bag + sale

Oh geeze, did y'all forget about this one?  I FINALLY finished this pattern.  I don't know what took me so long on this one, but it is done and ready for the world :)  And to celebrate finally getting my act together, I'm offering all patterns in my shop and on the patterns page for $5, including the Ruby Bag.  Easy peasy. 

As I've mentioned before, the Ruby Bag is Phoebe's big sister.  When you purchase the Ruby Bag pattern you gain the rights to make and sell the Phoebe Bag in limited quantities, just as you would with any other purchased artsy-crafty babe pattern, (Phoebe is currently for personal use only).  The Ruby Bag is my solution for all the many requests I get to make and sell the Phoebe pattern.

So there you have it - go forth and SEW!!

*a little bit of trivia - Phoebe and Ruby are both dogs!!  Phoebe was my first fur baby, and Ruby is my current :)

 

olive tote :: free pattern

How about a free pattern? Do y'all remember that cute little bag I made out of Olive the Ostrich fat quarters back in the fall? I had every intention of offering the pattern as a free download soon thereafter, but I seem to do everything slower these days.  Well friends, here it is!  I've also added it to the right sidebar over there under "tutorials and freebies" along with my other free patterns----> 

This is a fairly simple design, great for a beginner.  Appliquing the raw edge scallops is a great exercise for sewing curves, if you'd like some practice with that.  The great thing about the scallops being raw edged is that you don't have to be perfect.  You can always throw the bag into the wash after you've sewn it all up to get that ravely look on the edges, which would probably disguise any imperfect stitches.  If you don't want the ravely look I suppose you turn under the edge, but that seems like an awful lot of work - I don't have that kind of patience (or time).  Another option is to zig-zag the edge.  It's your bag, experiment - do as you please!

This is the perfect size for a child.  Ava uses the original Olive tote for dance class, but I have a feeling she'll be taking these over as well.  Wouldn't one of these be great to stuff with art supplies to give as a gift?

Since I've been playing with these, I'm thinking that I need one for myself, in grown up size. I use a tote everyday to carry all my stuff (lunch, magazine, knitting, etc), why not use a fun one? (I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm currently using a very blah Trader Joe's canvas tote) Based on my choices for the samples, clearly, I'm craving some color in my life!  Hmmm, now there's an idea...

I have to say, working on this pattern was a little more than just working on a pattern. I feel like it's been a long time since I worked on something fun for the blog, something for you.  Yes, I always have projects going on that I blog about, and I thank you for cheering me on and hanging in there with me, but that's all me me me.  It's time that I did something for you.

I hope that you enjoy the pattern and put lots of cute scalloped totes out into the world! As always, I'm here if you have any questions. I can't wait to see what y'all come up with! 

cross THAT off the list

It only took me a year and 10 months, but I FINALLY made myself a bag from that sweet leather jacket I found while thrifting (a year and 10 months ago).  

Remember that story? I bought the jacket with the intention of turning it into a bag, then discovered that it was handmade with "I love you" written by the maker on the interfacing of the front pockets.  I know!

Well, with that much sentiment infused into that jacket, I felt pressure.  I had to do right by it, know what I mean? The ripped up jacket sat and sat.  Oh, getting pregnant and having a baby didn't help with the siruation.

I pulled it out a month or so ago because it was time.  I've been searching for something to do, something familiar yet different.  I'm pretty sure I found it.

This bag is made entitely from that jacket. The front pockets done by the original maker totally make this bag.  I couldn't help but line it with another thrift store find, one of my favorte sheet prints.

I still have so much learning to do, but I'm enjoying it.  I think this first bag turned out pretty well.  Yes, there are mistakes and skipped stitches, and the leather itself is pretty beat up, but I love it.

Dare I say that I feel like I'm getting my groove back? I've already made another, but I'll save that for another day :)

one more

After FINALLY getting my Corabelle Bag pattern finished and listed, I decided to make another.  You know, just to make sure that it was okay.

Vintage linen fat quarter in harvest colors?  A bit of ric rac?  Yes and yes.  A sweet little white vintage button?  Of course.

I love how all those elements mix with the gray.  It seems just right for this transition time into fall.

If you're ready to give one a try, the pattern is for sale in my shop.