My Bella Bag

Finally I get to make a bag for myself. For ages now I have been using the Slouchy Bag designed by ChrisW Designs. It's held up really well, in fact it still looks like it's been hardly used, I loved the bag design but wasn't keen on the colours so yesterday I finally finished the Bella Bag to replace Slouchy. Then in the evening decided to make me a wallet to match my bag. It's about time I treated myself. LOLL

This design is by wait for it....................... yes you guessed it, Chris W Designs. I can't help it if I like her patterns. LOLLL
If you'd like to make one too you can buy the pattern from here.

http://www.chriswdesigns.com/bella.htm

As you can see it has a pocket on the front and two at the sides.
The back also has a zipper pocket. The only thing I did different was the straps. Christine's design has grommets and egg-shape snap hooks to attach the straps. Mine were too small for the straps I had already made and as it was a holiday here and everywhere was closed I made my straps like this.

The whole of the bag has been free motion quilted. I'm really pleased how it turned out.
Inside there are two slip pockets and an extra slip pocket behind a zippered pocket.

After making Bella I decided I needed a wallet to match so I made this one. No it's not a Christine design. LOLLL This one is a Keyka Lou Design. It's the Zip Pocket Pouches pattern.
Here's the link if you want to make one.
http://www.michellepatterns.com/product/zip-pocket-pouches-sewing-pattern

The pattern uses a Velcro closure but I'm not too keen on Velcro so used a magnetic snap instead.
All that's left now is for me to go out shopping. Maybe some more fabric. LOLLL

One last thing. Just thought I'd show you my green runner beans that have just sprouted. I can't wait for the harvest. LOLL

I'm going to be making a clutch next so don't leave it too long before you check back.

Thanks for stopping by

~ Maria ~

Crazy Patchwork CD Wallet Tutorial

I've never done a tutorial before but have wanted to give it a try for some time now. It had to be something simple to start with and as I needed a CD wallet to store all the CD's I have scattered around my room, thought this was the perfect project.

It's a FREE tutorial. Here is the link.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8ZRbAGmrcVaTkR6WF9tal8ydm8

If you have any problems with the above link. Just send me an email, found in my profile, and I will send you a copy.

I hope you enjoy making the wallet. I've made two and could do with some more.

If you make one I'd love to see a photo of your creation.

NOTE   I don't mind what you do with the tutorial. You can sell the wallets you make from it, share it, make it for yourself or friends and family, all I ask is that you give me credit for the tutorial by linking back to my blog in some way.

Thank you.
Have fun

~ Maria ~
                                              

Sunglasses Case & Yo-yo key chain

I had some time to spare this morning, just enough to make a quick project, so I made a sunglasses case and a matching yo-yo key chain. The key chain was really supper quick. I'll definitely be making more of these.

The sunglasses case is a free tutorial that can be found here http://sew-fantastic.blogspot.de/2010/06/tutorial-summer-sunglasses-case.html and the yo-yo key chain is just basically two yo-yos sewn together with a tab sandwiched in between. What could be more simple.

~ Maria ~

Play Time

Hi

I was just taking a rest from sewing and decided to play. LOLLL My idea of playing is searching the internet for ideas and inspiration and came across a blog by Liz called 'Moments'. She's just made a post about pincushions and there are loads to choose from with links to all of them for you to make. In fact I'm dizzy just looking at them all. Liz has also made some lovely bags. When you have a some time to play grab a cup of tea or coffee and  go over to
                                                   
 http://liz-moments.blogspot.de/

 and take a look for yourself.

Another find was at Sew Sweetness where Sara has posted a tutorial with pattern pieces for 'The Underwater Stripes Bag', really pretty.
This is the link    

 http://www.sewsweetness.com/

This is the first in a series of blog hops brought to you by Canoe Ridge Creations that runs for two weeks and is called Festival of Half Square Triangles. I can't wait to see the other projects. You can grab a button on my right side bar.

Ok I'm off to do some more searching.
Hope you have fun playing too.

~ Maria ~

Matilda Dance Tote in Pleather

Hi
Remember the Matilda Dance Tote I tested for Christine well this is the pleather version also included in her pattern.
I made the larger size and am so pleased with it. Of course this is another one that my daughter has claimed. LOLLL
She took photos with her own camera and what a difference, so much nicer than my cell phone camera ones.

   Thanks for letting me test it for you Chris.

I have some left over pleather so may try to make a wallet to match.
Here is the link to Chris's blog where you can take a look at her pattern which will be available soon.   http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/


~ Maria ~

Joint Effort Bag - The Abby Bag

This is the Abby Bag which I have made several of but this one is a special one because it's a joint effort by me and my daughter. She's studying Fashion and Textile Design at university and has been learning weaving on a loom. The woven panel in the center of the bag is her own design and work. I just love the colours. The bag is my work. It's so nice that we have a common interest.

This last photo is the inside of the bag. It's reversible. This side I made with a velvet upholstery fabric in brown.
Sorry I don't have a link for the bag but it's by Vanessa Christenson of V and Co.

~ Maria ~

Matilda Dance Tote

I've just finished testing a bag for Christine at

 http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/

It's a drawstring bag in two sizes and can also be made in pleather as a handbag. I'm going to try that one out tonight.
Here's mine, if you go to her link above you will be able to get a sneak peek of her bags and also the size and description of each one. I was going to use mine as a make up and accessories bag but my daughter liked it so it's now hers.

As you can see there's loads of room inside for everything to be kept tidy and organized.
Great bag. Thanks Chris

~ Maria ~

Bags From The Past

Hi
Just wanted to share with you some of the bags I have made in the past.
The first one is the Olivia Bag. This one I made for my mum. The pattern for the bag can be found over at
http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/

Front view:

Back view:

                                                                                                                                                    

Reversible Schlep Bag #1

Reverse side:

                                                                                       
                                                                                        
Reversible Schlep Bag #2

                                                                                  

Reverse side:

Tohoku Tote:

                                                                                    

Bridesmaids Drawsting Pouch:
This one was my own design.

        

                                                                                        
                 
 Pleather Phoebe Bag:

                                                                                      

Phoebe Flower:

                                                                                    
                                    
Crazy Patchwork Bag Front:
This one is my own design.

                                                                                       

This is the back of the bag:

                                                                                        

Ladies Wallet:

                                                                                    
 
Hope you enjoyed looking through some of my work and that it has given you some inspiration.
I'll post some more of my work at a later date.                                                                                                                                                                
~ Maria ~
                                                                                          
                                                                                      

My Coco Bag

Here it is finally. I had to wait for the grommets to be put in. I take my bags with grommets to a man who makes his own bags for sale, he very kindly puts them in for me.
This is the front of the bag

 I chose a brown velvet upholstery fabric and a curtain fabric for the handles and the top corners.
My handles are made slightly different from Christine's pattern because the tubing that I had was just too rigid and didn't look right.

This is the side view.

 And this is the inside of the bag. It has a magnetic button and a slip pocket.

It was so much fun making this bag. I'm planning on another one, this time with a zipper closure.
Hope you all go over to Christine's blog and get your freebie. Once you try her pattern you'll be hooked.
Check the previous post for the link to her bag or click on her button on the right hand side of this post.
It's the cute pink bag.

~ Maria ~

Free Coco Bag Pattern & Tutorial

Hi
I think it's safe to say that most of us like freebies and I know you will love this one.

It's the Coco Bag designed by Christine over at

http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/2012/02/free-bag-pattern-coco.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChriswDesigns+%28ChrisW+Designs%29

It's a great bag to sew. Really easy thanks to loads of step by step photos and instructions.
I tested the bag for Chris so I know. I've tested other patterns for her also and I can tell you she certainly hasn't cut any corners when it came to making this free pattern.

Give it a try. Just click on the link above and download the pdf pattern.
I will be posting a photo of my Coco bag tomorrow hopefully.

~ Maria ~

Wall Clock

Hi

It's been a tough few weeks. I just haven't been in the sewing mood and it's been driving me crazy. Still at least it gave me time to do my spring cleaning a little early.

In an attempt to get me back into the sewing mood I was looking for something to make that wouldn't take up much time, without much success. Taking a look at a clock that was a freebie from a spaghetti company I decided to remake it. Didn't look very nice with the advertising on it.

I wish I'd taken before photos.

Anyway I took it to bits

Then I wound the outer ring with some burlap.

Cut out a piece of fabric for the center and added some buttons. The ones for the 12, 3, 6, 9 I tied on with some embroidery floss and the others I stuck on with my glue gun.

And this is the end result. I think it looks kind of cute.

Now I'll see if I can make some coasters. Deciding on the fabric is the hardest part.

~ Maria ~

Another Phoebe but Different

Here's another Phobe Bag but this one is made with upholstery fabrics. This one was slightly more difficult to do than the denim one because some of the fabrics frayed quite a bit.

I quilted the front and back to give it more stability and then the other thing that was bothering me about the bags I make was making them weather proof. Nothing worse than a shower of rain coming down and having to worry about soggy contents. LOLL
On this bag I added a waterproof fabric hidden between the lining and main fabric. I think I'll do this on most of my bags from now on.
The back of the bag I like as much as the front, it has a silver thread through it and sparkles.

Now for another project.
~ Maria ~

A Backpack and a Phoebe

The first bag is a denim backpack. Although the denim is quite sturdy I used some soft fusible fleece to give it a little more body.

The second one that I just completed last night is a Phoebe Bag that has been made in patchwork denim. I also added a denim flower to it and some buttons.


This is the back view



and the denim flower

I'm off to clean up the mess I made in my sewing room then I'll be ready for another project.
Would love to hear your comments.
~ Maria ~

Kitchen Set

At last I finished a kitchen set I have been making for a friend to give as a thankyou present. Took me longer than I thought. There was loads of hand stitching on the potholders but I think it was worth it.
The tea towel goes on the oven door handle and is held in place with a with a velcro band.
No more tea towels falling on the floor. There is a selection of potholders, the two at the top you can slip your hands into the opening like a glove and to finish it off I made a little matching fabric bowl.



Hope she likes it.
~ Maria ~

Be My Valentine

I'm posting this Valentine Heart because I don't think I'll have the time to make any hearts for Valentine although I will try. I can't resist making them. I have a nice pattern for some.

This one is last years. I forgot to take a photo of the reverse side. It had a pocket so you could slip a little note or card in with it.

~ Maria ~