February Bag of the Month, The Hyacinth Bag

Well, here it is the last day of February and I have not shown you my February Bag of the Month yet.  I actually completed it last week but have been busy testing a couple of bags and fulfilling orders that I haven't had a chance to post it yet.  I thought I better do it today so that you knew I actually completed it in the month of February.  I don't want to get behind.  The Hyacinth Bag is the second of six bag patterns that arrive on the 1st of the month for 6 months.  This is the 2nd year for it and this bag was designed by Sara of  Sew Sweetness.

I receive a lot of  discontinued samples of upholstery fabric from a local furniture store and I thought this bag would be cute if I made it in a solid color and highlighted one of those samples on the flap.  Those of you that follow me regularly realize I rarely use blue.  I don't know why that it.  Well, that was the color I chose this time and I think it really set the flap off. (I rarely use solid colors, too, except in linings sometimes).

Under the flap is a zippered pocket and 3 card pockets so you can reach a few key items easily.  The flap closes with a magnetic snap. (Looks like I better iron it again!)

The back of the bag has a zippered pocket

 The inside has a couple of slip pockets.  (Looks like when I get done ironing, I better get the lint roller out, too.  It didn't look like that with the naked eye).  The bag uses Soft and Stable to give it structure.

A new pattern arrives tomorrow morning.  I just wanted to show you that I am ready for it.

123 Book Bag / Book Cover with Handles

I had the great pleasure of being able to test the new 123 Book Bag from Imazzpatterns.  This fun pattern includes a chart for you to calculate the perfect sized pieces to assure the cover is the right size for any book you choose.  How fun would this be to give with a book for a special gift for a friend or family member?  Oh, and did I mention that the pattern is FREE on Craftsy.  You can find it here.

I had recently picked up a remnant piece of double sided prequilted fabric in black and white.  It was just the right size for this project.




















Because this fabric was prequilted, it already had a layer of batting in it which allowed me to forgo the interfacing and get a substantial cover.  I just love it!

I used it to cover a sketch book that I use to sketch ideas or draw bags I am making to decide on fabric placement.

This cover went together so easily and quickly.  Even a beginner can have great success with this professional looking cover.  The pattern also includes a pocket to put on the flap for bookmarkers or notes.

Don't forget to look at Imaz's  other patterns.  They are simplified patterns with great looks.  You can check them out here.  She also has this pattern posted on her Etsy site for a small charge to cover the cost of posting it.

I'll be making more of these and trying out some of her other patterns.  I'll share them here.

Lighthouse Fabric Get Carded and Eloise Wallets

I recently was contacted by a customer that saw the lighthouse Convertible Bag by Sewing With Mrs H that I made a while back.

 She collects lighthouses and was interested in purchasing this bag.  She grew up on the East Coast and now lives in OH and has been to many of the lighthouses pictured on this fabric.  I still had this bag in my inventory so I met with her to deliver the bag.

I got a call from her a few days later after she had gone through my blog and she wanted an Eloise Wallet by Swoon Patterns and a Get Carded Wallet from Dog Under My Desk made from the same fabric but with blue contrast fabric instead of red.

I used a solid color of blue for the inside of both of these wallets.

I made a wristlet strap and a lanyard for the Get Carded Wallet.  I'll deliver these tomorrow and hope that she loves them like she does the Convertible Bag.  You can get the pattern for the Convertble Bag here.  You can get the pattern for the Eloise Wallet here and the Get Carded Wallet here.

Sugar and Spice Bag Gets an Honorable Mention

What a great surprise!  The Sugar and Spice Bag Sew Along is over, the prizes have been awarded and my bag got an Honorable Mention.  How fun is that?  I got to pick a free pattern from Chris W Designs.  It wasn't too hard for me to decide.  I am such a fan of hers that I had all of her patterns but two.  I chose the Eve Clutch. (That only leaves Emma).

Congratulations to the first place winner Heidi Simkin, and the other Honorable Mention, Michelle Brown Burke.  All of the bags were so beautiful.  I think we were all winners.

I didn't have this bag very long.  Someone saw it and contacted me to buy it.  I was only too happy to oblige!  She wanted a wallet to match, so I just completed a Necessary Clutch Wallet from Emmaline Bags to go with it.

These two patterns are among my most favorite patterns to make and both look so professional when done.  I have made nine Sugar and Spice Bags now and probably close to twenty Necessary Clutch Wallets.  If you haven't yet tried either of these patterns, you are really missing out.

You can find the Sugar and Spice Bag here, and the Necessary Clutch Wallet here.

Amy Backpacks, For Boys

I recently got an order from a customer to make backpacks for two young nephews.  She told me that one of them liked soccer and cameras and the other liked things "that go".  She left the fabric selection up to me.

Soccer, that's easy.  I wanted to keep the fabric dark on the outside so it wouldn't show the dirt young boys can seem to carry home with them.

There were many fabrics to choose from for things "that go".  I chose the race cars.  

Even the backpacks have to have some shades of bold!  I used the same bright orange inside each one of them.

I chose to use the Amy Backpack pattern by Christine of Chris W Designs.  I love her patterns.  This pattern is designed for a younger child so I knew it would be perfect.  This pattern, like all of Christine's patterns are well written, loaded with photos and are fun to sew.  You can get this pattern here.

I did make a couple of changes.  This pattern did not have adjustable straps and since I don't know what these boys look like, I knew these bags would have to have them.

Also, because the car fabric was a directional fabric, I had to add a seam at the bottom of the gusset so that the cars would be right side up on both sides of the bag.

I delivered the bags over the weekend and the customer loved them.  I hope that the boys feel the same way.

Amelia Hobo Bag

I had the pleasure to be a tester again for Maria Petrova of Delinda Boutique.  This time the bag was a large hobo bag that was fun to make.

The great part about the Amelia Hobo Bag is that there are several variations to choose from.  The bag can close with a magnetic snap or with a recessed zipper.  There is the option of adding a slip pocket on the outside of the bag that matches the one on the inside.  While the bag can be made using a variety of different fabrics, the look of the bag can change, too, by your choice of interfacing.  It can be made with no interfacing, interfacing or fleece depending on the how "slouchy" (no, I don't really think that is a word) you would like the bag to be.

I chose to use a quilting cotton for my bag and used no interfacing or fleece.  That is something I would probably change next time.  I would have used a heavier fabric for the exterior or used some fleece on the inside. My personal preference is a little less "slouchy". (There is that word again...spellcheck isn't correcting it so maybe it really is a word).  I've had this fabric for a really long time but could not find a good bag to use it on because the print is so large.  This was the perfect bag for it because the front of the bag is one large piece of fabric.

I chose the recessed zipper closure for mine and it was pretty easy to do.

You can also see the top of the handle detail that I made from faux leather which matched what I used on the bottom of the bag.

Inside there is a zippered pocket on one side and a rounded slip pocket on the other side (not seen).

This bag is a fairly quick sew.  It is a large bag (18" across at the widest point, 14" tall and 5.5 inches deep).
It would be a great bag to take shopping because it can hold a lot of treasures!

If you would like to make this bag, too, you can get a discount if you purchase it February 13 or 14, 2015.

To apply this discount enter the coupon code 40OFFPATTERN at checkout in her ETSY shop here.

The coupon code is valid on any purchase of AT LEAST 2 sewing patterns and expires on Feb 14, 2015.

Sew Along Sugar and Spice Bag Completed

Well, my Sugar and Spice bag from the sew along on Chris W Designs Patterns facebook page is finally done.  Those of you that are familiar with my blog know that I didn't just choose the name Shades of Bold for no apparent reason.  I love rich, bold, bright colors in the bags that I make.  I often have to tone my colors down for some customer orders but this bag was my choice of fabrics so I made myself happy.

I just love the bright colors combined with the polka dots.  It makes me yearn for spring, but one look outside at all of the snow piled up reminds me that it is still a long time away.

I really like how nice the zippered top is.  It is really easy to do, too.  Don't shy away from it just because you are afraid of sewing zippers.  You will surprise yourself with this one.

I brightened the inside of the bag, too, by adding bright pink pockets.

Thanks, Christine for such a great pattern.  Thanks Rachel Anaya for putting together such a fun sew along.  I am so happy with how mine turned out.  Hope you feel the same way with yours if you participated.

First Anniversary Free Fabric Winner

Thanks to everyone that took the time to enter a comment and thus enter the contest for the free fabric.

This pack of fabric is going out to

Congratulations, Cynthia Knapp!

I will email you to get your address so the fabric can be on its way.  Enjoy!!

Sew Along - Sugar and Spice Bag Part 4

This week, I completed my next steps for my Sugar and Spice bag for the sew along on Chris W Designs Patterns Facebook page.

The outside of the bag now looks like a bag.  There is so much going on with this bag that I cut the piping down to just the pockets.  You wouldn't find them if I didn't pipe them!

The zipper is attached to the lining.

And, the inside of the lining is done with slip pockets made and attached.  I used the bright pink for the pockets so they could be easily found as well.  If I would have used more polka dots, they would have been hard to see.

So, this week I will finish.  I need to finish assembling the lining, make the base sleeve, assemble the bag and attach the straps.  Almost done.

This week, I also have a new bag to test before I can even think about the February bag of the month pattern that just arrived.  I better get sewing!