a messenger bag in fall colors...

...that's what tee said when i showed him the fabric i had chosen for this large messenger bag. i won't spend too much time talking about it since, if you're here and have followed me for a while, you're very familiar with it. i've made it in several different sizes with many pockets and lately an adjustable strap.

i do think it's pretty, though, in this bright, bold amy butler fabric and i did want to post it here continuing this online, visual journal of my sewing projects.

this bag is for a new friend. she saw this one that i've been using to carry my notebooks to a wonderful poetry class i'm taking (an 8 week course...for free!), heard me mention to someone that i sew, and asked if i'd make her one. why, of course! she told me to pick the colors and the fabric. for some reason, maybe because of the time of the year, i felt this was perfect.

now if only the fall like temps would return and stay!

for mom. with love

at the end of july i suddenly found myself in nyc, a trip i had not planned anytime this calendar year. but some members of my immediate family were gathering at my sister's house and needed me to be there. fortunately it wasn't all business and what was passed uneventfully. there were some great moments, too, like spending time with my niece and nephew and long chats into the night with my big sis.

tee and i were also able to hitch a ride into the city on a friday with my sister. we left her to her day job in the early morning and hopped on the subway with a list of places we wanted to go in a few short hours.

on that list was mood designer fabrics. because i'm a fan of Project Runway and have been since it's first season.

i hadn't realized it was on the third floor of a building and that it took up three floors. so cool. as soon as we walked in i immediately noticed a few of the employees i recognized from the show. how exciting would it have been to spot a designer or Tim Gunn?! it may have been more than i could have handled. i got totally tongue tied when i came face to face with Jessica Mendoza at the 2012 wcws. but that's another story!

i asked tee to take this one photo of me with my iPhone to record my very own Project Runway moment.

we walked up and down all the aisles through all the racks on all three floors looking for some fabric for my mom. sometime back she had asked me to make a specific purse. this one. when my mom has asked me to sew something before, it's been for a gift, a bag or an apron she wanted to give to a friend, never anything for herself. she knows i won't let her reimburse me for the fabric and she doesn't want me to go to any unnecessary expense. moms are thoughtful and considerate that way. i'm grateful mine is, anyway.

so i found some beautiful fabric. actually tee did and i agreed with him. my mom specifically requested something mostly black. i don't think she'll mind the dark brown, the backdrop to the black flowers. this way she can use it with either black or brown shoes, slacks, coat, anything.

it's home deco of a nice weight. it held up so beautifully, even to the fusible fleece used to line the exterior panels, sides and handles. i could hear the needle "pop pop pop" as it slipped in and out of the fabric. i love that sound. it means tight, straight, even stitches to me!

for the inside i wanted a fabric with a lighter color that would pop, but nothing too obvious because i knew it would be visible from the top. i think it's perfect.

it's also a home deco weight, but 100% cotton and flat, not shiny.

the bag is very simple as you can see. i gave her an outside pocket in front and back. the inside is nice and open, has one small pocket for a cell phone or a small wallet and has a sturdy base. i inserted a piece of foamboard in the bottom of the bag between the exterior and lining.

the sides are tacked to give the purse shape and structure. i really like it. and i hope she will, too. i'll get it in the mail to her early next week and see what happens upon arrival!

a weekend getaway bag

this is it. the bag i'm going to be using for my next weekend getaway. of course, i don't have any immediate travel plans. gosh darn it! regardless, should something come up, i'll be ready.

i love this bag! i was totally intimidated because of the...gasp!...zipper. probably even more so than the tubular frame which i've never used before. so i procrastinated. i had the fabric and fleece cut out two weeks ago. and i sat contemplating it until this week. i needed to release some anxiety. sewing is my meditation. and it worked. all my troubles went right out the door! or my consideration of them anyway.

i broke two needles trying to sew through all the layers of fleece and canvas in the straps, including a super duty jeans/denim 100/16. holy smokes. i would have broken more had i not really taken my time and helped the machine along. i'm thinking the models are made on industrial type machines? no, seriously?

so, let me introduce you to the bag, the bohemian carpet bag by sew liberated. i made a carpet bag a few years ago, this one, for my older sister. and it came out really nice. but i'm thinking i like this one, a lot, because of the frame. which i got here, by the way, along with the swivel snap and feet i used.

here's a full view of the bag...

and a close up of the zippered outside pocket and the frame...

another view the frame, open...

and one of the bottom with the feet...

i really like the corner accents, that they meet at the sides and at the bottom. i like the straps sewn into the bottom seam for extra support. the feet, besides being super cute, will be nice when i sit the bag on the floor. i like how roomy it is inside, as is, with no pockets. this really is a bag to carry your clothes in for any overnight trip. the outside pocket is enough for your cell phone which most of us can't live without. and the key fob, which i didn't take a photograph of, well, it's sewn into the frame casing to hang inside. it's handy dandy so your keys don't get lost.

i would recommend this bag and this pattern, i really would. i would just warn you that the materials can be costly, depending on what you choose to use. i went with this printed cotton duck i bought quite a few years ago. it's woven and durable. i like the bulky handles from the fleece, but it is tough to sew through. just take your time. if you don't need something quite so sturdy, but like the bag, you could easily line your exterior, handles and lining with canvas and skip the fleece all together. those are my thoughts, anyway.

oh, and that zipper? super easy to insert. phew! maybe now i'll take on more projects with more zippers!

i can see more sewing in my near future, of course. i'll be back then!

amy butler's sunday sling

i had intended this pattern and this fabric as a giveaway. sadly, no one expressed any interest. perhaps the questions i suggested to qualify scared people away. or perhaps because i posted on a friday everyone was out and about enjoying the start of a fabulous weekend. i hope so!

regardless, i ended up pulling the post and i decided to make the bag myself with the fabric i had selected.  and i am so happy i did!

i took my time as there is quite a lot to cut out from the exterior and lining fabrics, making sure my designs were straight, and from the fusible fleece and interfacing. and there are quite a few steps for all the pleats and pockets, from ironing to basting and topstitiching. and the bag will end up costing you a pretty penny as these materials aren't cheap. but it's well worth it. the bag is sturdy, a really nice size (this is the small one...imagine how big the large sling would be!) and you could pretty much pack everything you need for an overnight getaway. seriously!

i like the little attention she gave to details. like trimming the outside and inside pockets with the reverse fabric simply by cutting the pocket panel a little smaller than the "lining" panel. and i love the small, pleated cell phone pocket that allows your mobile to fit snuggly and within easy reach. my otter box just happens to be the same color as my fabric, but perhaps you can see it in this photograph at the top left.

and the side pockets on the exterior are handy. the pleated pockets and main panels are a nice, decorative touch giving the bag some shape, too.

if i were to change anything it would be the handles which are designed to tie. it's pretty. and different. but for me, i'm not sure how easily the bag will stay on my shoulder. or how comfortable it would be should i be taking a long walk in the city, sightseeing, let's say. but that is a minor detail. i wouldn't let it deter YOU if you like what you see of this particular bag. and you're an amy butler fan who buys all of her patterns.

cute skirts

it's the first official day of summer and i just happened to finish this super lightweight and super cute skirt today.

a dear friend from Brazil sent me this fabric a few years ago. after giving it some thought, i finally decided to go with a sweet skirt from this pattern. i wasn't teasing about the title!

i've been working on it for over a week now, whenever i had a free hour or so. but it really should be a quick sew. it is constructed from eight panels which means a lot of stitching, but that's pretty straightforward.

i was a bit confused with the instructions when it came to attaching the gores to the adjoining panels. from the illustrations it looked like you sew to the end when you sew one gore to each of the panels. i think you should really leave whatever your seam allowance is at the tip. i confess i never read the instructions beforehand so, though i was confused, i wasn't going to rip anything out, especially when i had all the gores done. i just had to "make it work" as one of my favorite public figures, Tim Gunn, says on one of my favorite reality shows, Project Runway, which is premiering July 19th, by the way! if you've worked with gores before, it's probably a no brainer. regardless of whether i did it right or not, it looks perfectly fine, outside and in; however, if anyone has any suggestions for me, i'd be grateful if you left a comment!

those little details aside, i really like the skirt. i like the narrow waistband and the elastic that's threaded through the back only. it makes for a nice, clean front. it fits well. do be sure to consult the chart to find your measurements. and though i'm curvy, it lays down flat on the front, back and sides, no bunching or bulging. that's a winner as far as i'm concerned!

i like it so much you may see another some time soon.

now, go out there and celebrate! hope you've sunny skies and bright sunshine in your corner of the world!

what more could i need?

i've this new bag. and this new top. and now this new skirt.

throw in some hoops i also made from 1" and 3/4" 100 psi poly pipe with gaffer tape in bright, fluorescent colors and i'm not only ready to hoop dance into summer, but i'm color coordinated, too! would you expect anything less? tee most certainly wouldn't. LOL!

i'd forgotten i'd made this skirt before, some time ago. i saw the pin marks in the pattern pieces, but i couldn't for the life of me remember when or of what. until i had finished that is. the gathers on the front and back jogged this middle aged memory.

i never wrote about it. obviously that skirt is still packed away where it'll stay, for now. it's in solid black and much too dark for this time of the year.

this version is the belle skirt by favorite things. it looks nothing like the cover photo. that's because i decided to omit the contrasting band so it would be shorter. also, the fabric is a bit sheer so i made two skirts of different lengths then sewed them together before stitching both to the waist band. it's still rather lightweight and i won't feel self-conscious without a slip.

for a little fun flair and because i positively love machine sewing double fold bias tape now that i know how to do it, i hemmed it with 1/2" tape in canary yellow. it's what i happened to have on hand and i'm all about stash busting these days.

i've also made the double circle skirt from the hip skirts pattern which is very similar. you'll see them here. the size of the waist bands are not the same though they are made the same way. fortunately i fit it on myself before i made the skirt. have you noted that, too? i think i like the double circle skirt better. it fits my hips and thighs more comfortably. fabric type has a lot to do with it, too. go for a voile if you want it to flow and twirl. this was sold as an embroidered voile at hancock fabrics a few years ago. not all voiles are alike, however. maybe you can see that from the photographs. check the fabric weight before you buy to be sure you get what you want. i do like that it wrinkles nicely and you can wear it right out of the dryer without putting an iron to it.

i've a cute peasant top in a pale yellow that will pair sweetly with the skirt. but wouldn't these finish the look from head to toe?? or these???

if at first you don't succeed...

if any project merits such a title, it's certainly this one.

i know, i know. this should have been relatively easy, sewing 101. but i confess i struggled a bit. if you've visited with me here before, perhaps you remember this post. i've yet to do anything with what remains of the garment. this time, i was determined to finish and have something to show for it. and i desperately wanted something cute and fresh to wear this summer, something i made.

and so i persisted and i'm rather pleased with the results.

it's the shearwater kaftan by make it perfect. a friend has made it before. and it looked super cute.

i struggled to topstitch around the small half circle at the bottom of the placket until i chalked a line around it to follow.

and i gave up trying to serge the raw edges on the inside. i've never taken a class. i need to to learn how to manage curves and seams, especially curves within the seams. i discovered this nice small zip zag stitch on my sewing machine instead.

i did learn how to machine sew double fold bias tape thanks to youtube. i liked it so much i hemmed the sleeves and bottom with it! you'd better believe i'm going to be using this method again and again.

overall i'm super pleased with myself. there are imperfections, especially for this perfectionist. no one but myself will know them.

most importantly i got over my fears of armholes and fit. the measurements are spot on. this was a good beginning pattern, for sure.

i did make a few changes to suit me. for example, i decided against the tabs to roll up the sleeves and shortened them by a good 7 inches instead. i like three quarter sleeves the best. and i shortened the length by 4 inches. it's not too long and not too short.

another lesson well learned. i'm ready to dive into my next apparel piece!

have bag. will travel.

a few friends have asked to see the inside of the cargo bag. here are a couple of photos with slightly different views that i hope will give you a good idea of how i've set the pockets to organize my must-have gadgets and things.

in the open middle of the bag is plenty of room for a daily planner (which i'm phasing out thanks to my handy dandy iPhone 4S with all it's cool apps), a journal (i can't seem to live without paper and pen no matter how much i love technology!).

on the inside back panel is a large, deep pocket divided to hold my kindle and a checkbook (or anything else you may have of this size, like, in my case, reading glasses).

and on the inside front is a more shallow pocket divided to hold my smartphone, wallet and pens.

remember i've the pockets on the outside as well. this would make a great travel bag because the pocket on the outside back is left open to the full width of the bag where you could easily slip a map or travel guide. and the outside front has a pocket divided in half for your passport, airline tickets, etc.

yesterday i added some sew on snaps (while multitasking) to hold the flap down which would make the bag even more secure for zipping around town and across the country, by foot, train or airplane.

Oh! and to clarify about the buckles i found at jo-ann's. check if your local store sells notions for purses and bags such as handles. that's where i found them.

happy creating!

a cargo bag with an adjustable strap

should you have been here yesterday, you know i was working on a new cargo bag with an adjustable strap. it's really a simple bag as far as construction. what's most time consuming is the small details I'm particular about. As you may be able to tell from the photograph above, I like to topstitch, a lot, to give the bag a nice, finished look. I repeat whatever pattern I choose on the strap, each one of the pockets, the flap and the top of the front panel. And I do a lot of ironing. I don't see how you can sew and not like to iron. I want my edges crisp and my panels as straight as possible.

i positively love the adjustable strap. i've had a devil of a time, however, finding the slide buckles locally and online. the few i've managed to get my hands on came from jo-ann's. they weren't with the sewing supplies, but in crafts. when i find more in various sizes, i'm stocking up. an adjustable strap just gives you so much more flexibility.

if you've read this post, you'll see i've made a similar bag with the same number of pockets...one on the outside back, one on the outside front that's been divided in half, one on the inside back that has been divided in two of unequal widths, and another on the inside front that has been divided into four of varying widths for my cell, wallet and a couple of pens. tee said i could live out of my bag. that's not far from the truth!

i've shared that the fabric is Sugar Snap by Melissa Averinos for Free Spirit in cocoa for the outside and jade for the inside. because of the bright colors, i decided to "go wild" and use this thread. it's super cute. i've picked up a few more spools in different colors for future projects.

next up i really want to try to make a kaftan. i've got this pattern which looks pretty straight forward. apparel always makes me nervous, but i want to give it a try. hopefully, by watching every episode of Project Runway over the years, some techniques about sizing will have sunk in and it'll turn out looking good!

the long and short of it

I finished what turned out to be an intense online Photoshop course yesterday and am so happy to have more time to get back to my sewing. I've had the panels and straps cut out for a new cargo bag for some time now. When I had an hour or so to spare, I'd work at basting and constructing.

Today I'm ready to finish it. The outside of the bag is complete and I'm piecing together the inside.

I wanted to visit here since I've been away again for a spell to share a photograph of the work in progress.

I've decided to add an adjustable strap to this bag since I want the flexibility to wear it over my head and across my chest or off my shoulder. It's something very simple, but as I've never added an adjustable strap to any of my previous bags, I'm excited.

The fabrics I've chosen are from my stash, Sugar Snap by Melissa Averinos for Free Spirit, bright, but not too loud, perfect for the summer, to coordinate with casual tees and flip flops.

I'll be back soon with more photographs and details!

pick a pocket

pockets. i like lots and lots of pockets in my bags. for my cell phone. my wallet. my journals. the pens i use to write in my journals. i even want pockets in my shopping totes.

and so i added lots of pockets to my latest bags.

this first is one from heather bailey.

i added outside pockets to the gussets and believe you could easily carry a large bottle in each. even a wine bottle. it's deep enough that it shouldn't fall out.

and i added two pockets inside to the front and back panels. i didn't divide them, but you could, especially if you want to carry your wallet to market without it getting lost or slipping out.

this bag is BIG, much bigger than you are led to believe from the photo on the cover. at least that's how it appears to me. i am rather short, however.

the fabric is something i've had in my stash for a few years now and i believe is no longer available unless you were to find it on etsy. it's al fresco from michele d'amore for marcus brothers.

as with all of my bags, i line the outside fabric with a nice sturdy canvas, including the pockets and straps, and the inside fabric with a muslin. i like extra stability.

this bag i just finished this morning. it's what i'm calling a cargo bag in my previous post for all the pockets. like those cargo pants and shorts you, too, may have in your closets.

front flap with decorative topstitching to match the strap 

 outside front under flap

outside back 

inside

i divided the pocket on the outside front in half as well as one on the inside. the second inside pocket i divided into three, the third slot being long and narrow to slip in a pen.

i have all kinds of ideas to make this "cargo" bag with buckles for adjustable straps and mixing and matching fabric on the individual panels and pockets to make it sew groovy.

the fabric is also from my stash (i've committed myself to using what i've on hand before buying anything else!). It's Olive Rose by Valori Wells as seen here.

i'm already at work on another simple, but fun and functional bag using totally different fabrics, something a little more bohemian. let's see how it goes!

digressing from sewing for just a little bit, because the weather has been so incredibly warm and spring has sprung, it's time to dedicate myself to renewal. i've decided to join my sister in law in a spring cleansing and have encouraged tee to do so as well. we're off to a good start having a delicious salad for our lunch today.  should you be interested, you can find more information here. i've also added a button to my sidebar and shall keep it up for the duration.

listen to your body. nurture your mind. create in your special way!

off the cutting room table

Here I am! It's been a busy, but very exciting year. I started Morning Pages again which has really helped me focus and get back to work doing the things I love like sewing.

Here are a few things I've made over the past few months.

Reversible Stella Apron 

Satchel For Two by Fig Tree & Co. in Blue Camo

Spice Market Tote in August Fields Dew Drops

A Second Satchel For Two in a Black Floral Print 

Messenger Bag by Valori Wells

New Leaf Folding Tote in August Fields Dew Drops

I'm working on what I'm calling a Cargo Bag because of all the pockets inside and out. It's a small messenger type bag and I'm using a Valori Wells fabric, some bold roses in reds and browns, that's been in my stash for a while.

And I've a couple of things I've not yet taken photos of. When I do I'll share them here as well.

I've missed writing and hope to spend a little more time here this year. What have you been up to? Add a link to your comment, should you care to do so,  that I may visit!

the messenger

what's nice about blogging, however frequent or infrequent the posts may be, is that it serves as a visual journal of a particular year.

and as this year is quickly coming to a close, it's about reflection.

and change.

i've no idea how the time has passed. i know i didn't sew as much as i would have liked to. but it's not about quantity when it comes to any of our creative endeavors. it's more about understanding and accepting the demands of a day, a life, those events and occurences planned and unplanned.

and mixing it up a bit, exploring all our interests, talents and abilities.

i last left you prior to the thanksgiving holiday. tee was on vacation. we enjoyed a fantastic week together. i look forward to these christmas holidays, too.

he headed back to work leaving me fighting a virus, the effects of which i'm still trying to understand and correct.

not a word of bad attitude shall i utter, however. it's been years since i have been so ill.

i did want to share a little project i completed this year that i had neither recorded elsewhere for myself nor here for you.

the pattern is this one by valori wells.

and the fabrics are by kaffe fassett (as can be found here and here).

both the pattern and fabrics i've had for quite some time.

during the fall and winter i tend to veer towards a larger bag, perhaps because it's more about "business" and not the outdoor activities the fine weather of spring and summer demand when you want something small and carry less.

this one is perfect for the size and the many pockets, including one on the outside front.

it's large enough to hold a composition book which i use daily as a journal. and the padded sleeve with my kindle. there are divided pockets where i can easily slip in my cell phone, wallet, checkbook, etc.

the strap is long for easy access and doubled for comfort.

if i were to make any changes, i would stabilize the bottom with some pellon peltex 70 ultra firm stabilizer so it wouldn't sag. and i would attach some pellon fusible fleece to the outside and lining main panels for extra stability.

i've been thinking of making this bag again, but a bit smaller. when i do, i'll do so with these changes in mind.

should the end of the year pass without us meeting again, i wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, a safe and prosperous new year. we grow not older, but younger in keeping body and spirit alive in celebration of Mother Earth's goodness and kindness abundant.

peace out!