A bag for Sara

This bag was also made from the scraps of another project.  I added a little yo-yo to the front pocket.  The inside pocket a nice pleated detail.  The straps are store bought.  Now Sara and I have matching bags but in different styles.

Love to make bags from fabric scraps.

I made this bag for my daughter Natika.  I used scraps from another bag project.  I really love the pleated detail and the magnetic snap closure.  The strap is store bought.  I added little ties to the straps that can be removed if desired.  This bag would also look nice in a solid ultra suede of fuax leather.

Lastest Projects

It's been quite awhile since I've posted anything.  But that doesn't mean that I haven't been crafting.  I took the first 2 weeks of March off from work and enjoyed every single day.  During that time, I got to do alot of sewing and jewelry making.  I made several bags, my own designs.  It's funny, I have a few store bought patterns (Mc Calls, and Simplicity) but could not bring myself to use them.  I think it's more fun to design my own and really, it's really not that difficult.  When my kids were little, I was a stay at home mom.  I made alot of our clothes, #1, it was more afordable and #2, sewing kept me creative.  It 'seams' to me that every time I start a new sewing project I fall in love all over again with fabric and thread.  I love the sound that scissors make when I cut through fabric.

Jewelry making, however is a new hobby for me.  My daughter Sara really got me inspired with this one craft.  I had been buying bits and pieces of jewelry charms, findings, beads and tools for probably the past year.  I felt like I finally had enough to play with.  Well, I had so much fun playing with my collection of goodies that I found it to be addicting.  Now I know why the jewelry supply section at my favorite craft store is always so sparse and well shopped...messy.  The women in my my town are crazy about beads and bobbles. 

I'm sad that I have to go back to work tomorrow...back to the old grind.  I'm a little bit nervous too, feeling like I'm out of the loop and have to catch up all the new processes.  But, I do get alot of my inspiration from work.  I always make sure I check out the scrapbooking asile and well I'm always sure to get my crafting challenges from Jenn, my crafting buddy.  I'm lucky in that every day I go to work, I am surrounded by pretty things.  I love that there are butterflies hanging from the ceiling. 

Well, soon the kids will be moving out and starting their new adverture in adulthood.  I'm glad they won't be moving too far, cause I would miss them too much.  Not looking forward to that empty nest syndrome, again.  On the plus side, I get my craft room back.  Something to look forward to...nesting into my creative space.  IKEA here I come.  I really want to get that room organized and know that I can do it on a budget with all the neat shelving that can be found at IKEA.

I think my next sewing project will be going back to the old days of when I used to make my own clothes.  Summertime clothes are so easy to make.  I have plenty of patterns I just need to head to the fabric store.  The hard part is choosing which fabric.  So many choices....

Denim Clutch With Crocheted Flowers

This is a little denim clutch that I finished today.  I attached several crocheted flowers in various sizes and colors to the front side of it.   At first I tried sewing the flowers on and then quickly decided that using fabric glue was so much easier.  The glue I used is amazing.  It dries fast and doesn't leave the flowers feeling stiff.  I can think of so many other projects to try this glue on.  Well, anyway, one of my girls is getting this little creation for Christmas.  I can't believe how close the Holidays are.  The outdoor Christmas Lights are already set and stocked on the sales floor of the store I work at.  We are selling solar powered string lights that would be awesome to keep up year round wrapped around potted tress and maybe even my outdoor furniture.  This year I'm buying a Rosemary bush.  They smell so good and they might even hold up in our Arizona weather.  I still hope to acquire a green thumb.  What is it they say...Practice makes Perfect? 

A tote bag for this coming Fall season

I made another tote bag from the fabric I purchased at Ikea. I really love this print. I think it will make a nice fall accessory. I made the straps from a length of black cotton webbing and attached a crocheted lace trim to the inside pocket. I think I'll make some more trim tonight while I'm watching a DVD. That's the awesome thing about crocheting, once you get the rhythm of it you can crochet while watching TV. I love that I've given myself the opportunity to be so crafty this year. What it all comes down to is intent. My intention was to be artsy crafty daily and for me that includes sewing, drawing, crocheting, photography, reading craft or art related materials, watching craft Podcasts, scrapbooking, anything that's creative. I'm having such a great year.

sweet birds tote bag extra little details

sweet birds tote bag

I finished another sewing project this evening. My daughter Sara wanted me to make her a tote bag out of the lovely fabric I purchased from Ikea. We both fell in love with the sweet little birds printed on the black background. This was a really easy bag to sew without a pattern. I added some crocheted flowers and a little side tab for a little extra detail. I think it came out really nice. I can't wait to start another bag.

finished handbag project and little cell phone bag

I finally found the time to finish the handbag I started working on about a week ago. Sometimes I find it hard to devote anytime to crafting after a long day at work. So I have to squeeze in crafting time on my days off. Today was a very creative day. I not only finished one bag, I also made a little cell phone bag. I was just playing around with some scraps of fabric and the next thing I know my daughter tried it out on her cell phone and it fit. Funny...and cute. Oh, the cute kitty in these photos is my May May. She has to be in the center of everything going on in our home. We love her so...and we can't forget her sister, Baby Kitty.

Well I finished my denim handbag. I had a little problem with curve on the side strip and the top stitching was kind of hard to keep nice and straight. Catching the seam allowance under the facing just didn't happen for me so I used a print ribbon to cover my sloppy seam. I also added a small pocket on the inside to put my cell phone in. On the front side I attached two wooded flower charms instead of buttons. It looks homemade and that's the way I like it. I can't wait to start another bag! I could easily become addicted. I still have quite a bit denim left over, maybe enough for 2 more bags!

Free-Style Demin Handbag

Today is a great day to start on the denim handbag thats just waiting for me to sew. I found the pattern in this awesome book "Free - Style Handmade Bags and Skirts" from Woonjin Publishing. I fell in love with the bag on the cover. I'm going to attempt to make it in denim. I'm using a different style wooden handle. It's really cute. I haven't worked on a serious project in awhile and I feel a little rusty. I hope it comes out nice. I'll post a picture when I'm done with it. There are a lot of nice handbag projects in this book and the directions are easy to follow. The skirts are more for younger women but I can probably adapt them to my style. Well it's time to get started. Ive got some sewing to do.