The Motherload Tote by Cozy Nest Designs

It is time to show you a great bag pattern that I tested for Sarah of Cozy Nest Designs.  It has been released today and the name of it is The Motherload Tote.

This bag can carry it all.  It measures 21" wide, 13" high and 5.5" deep.  Wait until you see the inside.

It is divided into two sections.  You can keep gym shoes or wet bathing suit on one side and everything else in the other.  There is a zipper pocket divider and a water bottle sleeve separating the two sides.  There is a zipper pocket on the back of the bag.

The bag is closed by an inset zipper.  I used a double zipper here because the bag is very large.

There are so many options for this bag.  There are optional extended straps that allow you to carry a blanket, yoga mat, or towel below the bag.  This strapping feeds up through d rings when not in use.  There is also an optional luggage strap to attach this bag to your pull luggage.  You can add a d ring to the strap to hang sunglasses, keys or gym or swim pass.  What a great and fun bag!

I kept my bag fairly simple.  I used outdoor fabric for durability and ease of cleaning.  I also used Pellon flex foam to give me a sturdy bag that will stand up on its own.

Go to the Cozy Nest blog page to see all of the other testers' bags and to see some of the optional items that I did not add.  You can find that here.

The Motherload Tote is a pattern designed for intermediate sewists.  You can purchase it from Craftsy here.

Thanks Sarah for another great pattern!

The New Sharona Hobo Purse from Delinda Boutique

I had the pleasure to test another bag by Maria at Delinda Boutique.  This one is called the Sharona Hobo Purse.  There are a lot of options with this bag depending on what type of fabrics you are using and the different options for stabilizers.  How much structure do you want or how much slouchiness?  Here is my Sharona.

As you can see, I went with a more structured version.  I used Pellon Flex Foam for the inside of this bag,  embroidered rust colored suede for the lower body and a Kona rust solid on the top.  The lining was a quilting cotton.

The finished size of the Sharona is 14" wide, 10.5" high and 3.5" deep.  There is a slip pocket on the front, a zippered pocket on the back,  a slip pocket inside and another zippered pocket inside as well.  The bag closes with a magnetic snap and also has bag feet.

I was happy with how my bag turned out but would change a few things the next time.  I loved the structure on the bottom part of the bag but not so much on the top. I would use a heavier fabric for the bag like a denim so I would not have to have the flex foam go up into the handles.  I would also make the straps a little longer.  I think it would be cute with the big pocket on the front and the back.  That would allow you to put the flex foam on the pocket pieces and the gusset and allow the bag pieces to be slouchier.

The Sharona Hobo by Delinda Boutique is being released today.  It is a fairly quick and easy sew.  You can get this pattern here on Craftsy or here on .Etsy.

The Seneca Creek Bag

The Seneca Creek Bag was the May bag for the Bag of the Month Club.  This bag was designed by Betz White and will be available as a single pattern purchase on her page starting July.  This unique little bag can be used multiple ways.  Without a strap it is a clutch and with the adjustable strap it is a crossbody bag or get this..a waistpack.  This is the modern name for a fanny pack and don't laugh, they are becoming popular again. I had some fabric that I had been itching to use and I paired it with a faux leather that I had been viewing for some time.  The price had come down on the faux leather and it was the perfect time to grab it.  It was meant to be.

The front of the bag has a cute envelope style pocket and the tab in the front is supposed to have a metal ring on it but I had this vintage belt loop that I thought looked great and that is what I went with.  The bag measures 7-1/2" H, 10-1/2" W and 1-1/2" D.

 The back of the bags shows off the teal colored poppies.  (I know poppies are red but I wish they came in these colors!)

I used a turquoise and teal cotton for the lining.  The inside of the pouch has a zippered pocket.

OK, I have the April bag to complete.  I have started it but am awaiting an order of hardware.  I should still be able to complete it before the end of the month when the Bag of the Month Club ends for 2015.

Two More Kristine ID Wallets

Here are two more Kristine ID Wallets from Uniquely Michelle that I made for customers.  You'll recognize the lighthouse fabric for the first one.  No matter how many things I make out of it, I never get tired of it.

I don't know why blogger rotates my pictures sometimes.  Here are four pictures all very similar and it rotated two but not the others.  It can sometimes be an adventure but I guess you can still see them.  The second customer wanted something to remind her of a certain mouse but not so obvious.  Hope I captured it for her.

You can get the pattern for this Kristine ID Wallet from Uniquely Michelle here.

2015 Bag of the Month Club Finale...The Penny Inn by Chris W Designs

How can it be the last bag of 2015 Bag of the Month Club already??  I still have to post about my finished May bag and I have to make the April Bag (that I cut out over the weekend).  I should be able to finish them all because I was a tester for the June Bag and it is completed.

The June Bag is a nice surprise as it is a wallet, something we haven't seen last year or so far this year.  Don't you just love the look of this one??  Here is mine.  I love those decorative corners.  Emmaline Bags is now carrying them.  You can get them here.

I used a fat quarter as the highlight piece (wish I could find more or these but I still have the same look in other colors) and paired it with a Kona solid.  Have I told you how much I love Kona solids?  I digress but back to the star of the show...The Penny Inn by Chris W Designs.  Don't you want to see the inside?  All in good time.  If you open the front latch (from Emmaline Bags, really pretty, right? Get them here.), you will see that this wallet has a snap tab to hold it securely.

If you open it again, you start to see how huge this wallet is on the inside.

There is an ID pocket, 20 card pockets, 3 bill pockets, a phone pocket, 3 zipper pockets and still has room for lipstick and keys!!!  This picture shows it empty but look at it filled....

It is big enough to hold everything I need.  Plus, it comes with a wristlet strap and an adjustable crossbody strap.  And do you want to know what else is pretty cool?  The way the straps hook on to the wallet with a cute decorative strip.

 I think this wallet is adorable.  Don't panic at the number of pages in the directions.  Christine is thorough and shows so many pictures along the way to make it easier to understand.  Take it step by step...ask for help on the Bag of the Month Club facebook page if you need it, and persevere.  You will love what you get for your efforts.  Can't wait to see all of your wallets.  Have fun.

You can still join the Bag of the Month Club until the end of the month.  You can join here.  All of this year's designs will be available to anyone on each individual designer's page starting next month.