Purse Palooza 2015 Entry

October 21already, wow.  It's been three months since I last blogged.  Three months plus since we've moved to Florida.  And three months of absolute craziness.  All that aside, here is my one and only Purse Palooza 2015 entry this year.  

Picked up the leather from a warehouse in NC.  The hardware is from my stash.  Bag design my own.  

Gypsy Life...

Ahh, the joys of traveling.  Well, we have moved, again, even further south from Tennessee to Florida.  We have been living out of our suitcases for the past month and a half.  Getting lots and lots and LOTS of travel in.  Some work, some vacation.  Zero sewing accomplished but I've got the best natural tan that I have had in decades!  I'm sure we will settle in soon enough, until then, we are enjoying this the best we can.  Hope your summer is going well!

This is just my pile lol.  I am getting much better at it though!

Peek A Boo......Traveler Bag with Super Cute Bling!

Made up a few of my Peek A Boo Traveler bags with super cute bling.  These are great for tossing into a beach/pool bag.  Happy Friday and hope you enjoy a long weekend sewing! =)  If you are interested you can find the pattern over here:

Peek A Boo Traveler Bag Pattern

Peek A Boo Traveler Bag Pattern

Here's what they look like!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Beltane and Bags

Spring has sprung around these parts.  Today is May 1 and Beltane, who knew.   Not something I can say I have previously recognized, but it seems to be popping up all over the social media sites I've been visiting.  And, it is fitting.  It has been a long winter.  It has also been a good long run of bag making and blogging for me.  I started making bags about five years ago and really kicked it up when we moved here to Nashville.  Doing a little Spring cleaning here and getting ready for what the future will bring.  Change.  It feels good.

Here are a couple of bags I just finished.  Love them both.  The white leather bag was made from the Lekala #3015 pdf pattern.  I really love how I managed to salvage this thing and am currently using this bag on a daily basis.  I can not however, recommend this pattern to a normal, non crazy person to attempt!  First off, half of the pieces downloaded in Polish.  Yes Polish.  Now I knew that this was a Swedish based company, but c'mon.  Even Google translator couldn't produce understandable words for me to decipher on the pieces.  Luckily, I happen to be an experienced bag making queen ;) but, this sucker took me four days to complete.  There was one sheet of instructions numbered #1 - #13.  Yep, that's it.  No photos, etc.  Guess I'm spoiled by all the really great bag pattern designers and patterns like Swoon Patterns.

Here it is.

I also made a messenger bag.  Something I have been wanting to do for a while.  Love this one.  It makes me happy.  The pattern I used was the HippieGirl Messenger Bag by Redlabel on Craftsy.  It was pretty easy to follow the instructions, there are no pattern pieces included, just measurements, so I just made my own.  I omitted the ruffle on the flap and knotted handle.   Most of the fabric I used is Amy Butler and Michael Miller.  It calls for 15 different fabrics!  I think I will try this in canvas using maybe only two different colors, or one color with some leather trim.

Well, there you have it.  Happy Beltane,  Happy Spring,  Happy Colors =)

Sew Sporadic!

Looks like my blogging is down to about once a month here lately.  Well, that's pretty much my life any, sporadic.  I love it.  I hate it (the sporadicalness part) sometimes too.  Mostly love it =)  Constantly moving around like a gypsy can wear a girl out!  But, I crave the adventure if I sit around idle too long.  So, I stay thankful, and grateful for it.  Over the last month or so I have gotten back into sewing and thankfully my yoga routine.  Note to self-  Never Ever Ever give up yoga!  After a looong bout of sickness, it feels good great to be healthy again and have some energy.  With that being said, here is some photo soup for you of some of the things I've managed to create.  Hope you are doing well, feeling healthy, energized and creating!  Be inspired!

Loving my new pincushion caddy!!  Free tutorial over here at Sewing by Moonlight.

Cosmo Bag Love!  I have had Amy Butler's Style Stitches book for four years and finally made myself a Cosmo Bag!

The bag I'm carrying right now.  Modified the Noodle-head Pool Side tote by printing out the pattern at 75%, left out the cut out and added a zipper closure.  Leather fringe fob embellishment by non other than Shelly Jack Handmade of course :)

Cate shoulder bag by Swoon.  Have I mentioned how much I adore Swoon Sewing Patterns and Alicia?  Seriously, the Facebook group is awesome.  Simply one of the best if I do say so myself :)  this is my version, quilted Cate, love her!  Fabric panel is Sea Spirits by Laurel Burch for Clothworks.

That's it for now.  Hope you are inspired.  Next up a couple of nice beach hats to keep me cool and protected for all that paddle boarding in my warm future!  See you then!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  It's been a little quiet around here for the last week or so.  The holidays were great and went by like a whirl wind.  Got to spend some great time with the kids.  That was my favorite.  Cleaned up the decorations and house.  Got sick.  Got better.  All good.  Not too much sewing going on.  Managed to whip up an April Rhodes Popover Poncho out of some great cotton sweatshirt fleece.  Looking forward to wearing this when the temps warm up a bit.  It's so comfy!  Have some cool hikes and walks to look forward to this spring.  Lots of change in the air for this year.  Taking it slow at the start and really enjoying some down time.  It won't last long, but for now, it's great.

Popover poncho.  Pic is poor, sorry.  Poncho is great!

Made a canvas and leather duffle for dad before Christmas.  Swooning over how great it turned out.  You can get the free pattern over here at Sew 4 Home.

Next on the sewing front a Poolside Tote by Noodle-head.  Pleated Tote by Jen Fox.  And, because I can never have too many bags or bag patterns, I'm thinking the Swoon subscription should keep me busy in all my 'spare' time lol.  The beauty of all these pdf patterns is that you can shrink and print them to any size you like.  I'll be modifying my Poolside Tote and making it a tad smaller.  I printed it at 70% and it's the perfect handbag size.  Until next time, have fun checking out the patterns.  I love all of them.  Maybe make a few for yourself :)