Another K.I.S.S clutch completed

Finally finished my third K.I.S.S Clutch. I've really enjoyed making this clutch. Quick and easy to make. I've used Home Deco fabrics on all of them so I think my fourth one will have to be in cottons. No flower on this one. I wanted to keep it simple.

If you'd like to make one go over to Christine's blog and take a look at hers

http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/2012/06/introducing-kiss.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChriswDesigns+%28ChrisW+Designs%29

Christine has used beautiful floral fabrics in bright and cheery colours. The choices are endless. I've even considered making one in pleather. Don't know if it would work but I think I'll give it a try.

~ Maria ~

Winner of the Bow Pleats Bag Pattern

Hi
Today is the day a winner is chosen for Bow Pleats Bag Pattern by Samantha

http://handmadebymrsh.blogspot.de/2012/06/completed-bow-pleats.html

Thanks Samantha for having me as your bag tester and for offering your pattern as a giveaway. I've had fun making the pattern and doing the giveaway. It's also been exciting finding out who the winner will be.

Ok I won't keep you in suspense any longer. The winner is comment #2 chosen by random.org

Debbie H congratulations.

I'll forward your email addy to Samantha so she can send the pattern on to you.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by and leaving a comment and taking part. Hope you'll all stop by more often. It's great getting to know knew people.
Don't forget you can visit Samantha's etsy shop if you'd like to buy the pattern and you'll get a 15% discount with the code  BOWPLEAT15

https://www.etsy.com/listing/102466194/the-bow-pleat-handbag-purse-bag-pdf

Thanks again to everyone.

~ Maria ~

HST Blocks

I was feeling like giving the bag making a rest for a bit and decided to buy some fabrics to match up with some of my stash and make some blocks. Sounds easy enough but not for me. Choosing fabrics is so difficult. I just can't visualize how it will look when sewn up. Then there was the problem of which block to make. I haven't done a lot of quilting in the past so anything I tried would have been pretty new to me. After many hours of searching I decided on some HST blocks. I made three and then got fed up and moved on to some UFO's. More about those in a while.

Here are my fabric choices.

There was white also which isn't in the photo and here is what I made with some of the fabrics.

Each block measures 12" x 12" and was thinking of making a quilt for my bed but I know that is just not going to happen. My attention span is too short so I may have to settle for a table runner. LOLLL I don't know where I'll go from here so they'll get put to one side for the moment while I finish off some other projects. I'm sure something will come to me eventually just like the Dresden plate blocks I made back in November 2011. LOLLL Yes it took me that long to figure it out. LOLLL

These are the blocks I made back then using scraps I had.

Sorry about the quality of the photos. Back then I had to use my cell phone because I didn't have the nice camera I have now.

Well finally today I took the first block and made a table topper with it.

I took this photo this evening so it could be better. Tomorrow I want to tackle the other Dresden block then I'll take photos in natural light. Hopefully they'll come out better.

This is the fabric I used for the back

And lastly today we had rain YAYYYYYY!!! after some very hot and humid days. Unfortunately it won't last long so I'm enjoying it for the moment. Seems like I'm not the only one. I caught a shot of the dove that belongs to our neighbour, he was giving himself a nice clean. Made me want to run out into the garden with my soap and shampoo. LOLLLLL

One more picture. This was taken from my daughters bedroom.

Aren't they just beautiful.

~ Maria ~

Bow Pleats Bag Pattern Giveaway

Hi
I'm back to give you details of the giveaway but first I want to say thanks to Samantha at

http://handmadebymrsh.blogspot.de/2012/06/completed-bow-pleats.html

for having me as one of her bag testers.

This was a fun bag to make. Not difficult and you can change it to suit your needs. Maybe extra pockets or put in a zipper closure like I did. The pattern has a magnetic button closure. It's up to you. I chose a normal strap but in the pattern you can choose to do an adjustable strap if you wish.
If you want to put a zipper closure into your bag opening like I did you can use this tutorial

http://sweetbeebuzzings.blogspot.de/2011/06/make-it-with-me-wavy-top-tote-part.html

 I find it's the easiest for me to do and can be used on most bags.

 Please NOTE that Samanthas bag pattern does NOT give instructions for the insertion of a zipper like mine.

Here is my Bow Pleats Bag.

I used home deco fabrics for mine which helped to make it stiffer. If you go to the link at the top of this post you will be able to see the bags that Samantha made. Really cute. You get a really different look with different fabrics so can be used during the day or for an evening out.

Ok about the give away. Starting from today all you have to do is leave a comment here, anything you like, I don't want to make it difficult for you.LOLLL

 On  SUNDAY 1st JULY  I will pick a winner using Random Organizer. Check back here after that date to see if you are the lucky winner. I will pass on your name and email to Samantha and she will send you your free pattern. In the meantime if you can't wait to see if you are the winner you can visit Samanthas Etsy at this link

https://www.etsy.com/listing/102466194/the-bow-pleat-handbag-purse-bag-pdf


and she is offering a 15% discount to all my lovely followers and readers, all you need is this code: BOWPLEAT15 to get your discount.

Best of luck to all of you and looking forward to your comments.

**Nearly forgot make sure you leave your NAME and EMAIL if you are on no reply otherwise you may miss out. Some of you also haven't enabled your profile so I can't get in touch with you if you should win.**

Thanks

~ Maria ~

A Giveaway

I'm really excited to post about a giveaway. It's a bag pattern that I tested out recently. No you haven't seen it yet because I haven't posted photos of it but those will come soon.
My computer died on me the day before yesterday and am waiting for it to be fixed. I think I may have lost some files but hopefully the most important ones will be saved, my bag pattern files. LOLLL. I'm using my son's computer at the moment which he set up for me in my sewing room. Thanks son, shame he's not into bag making. Not a bag file in sight LOLLL, Ummmmmm maybe I should start a special bag file for him. LOLL
 As soon as I get my computer back I'll post more details about the giveaway and also photos of the test bag. For the moment though I'll keep you in suspense a little longer.
Keep checking back so you don't miss out.

~ Maria ~

The K.I.S.S Clutch

Hi
I'm sure you're wondering what on earth is a K.I.S.S clutch. Well it's a new design by ChrisW Design that I had the pleasure of testing. K.I.S.S is the acronym for 'Keep It Simple, Silly' and was chosen by Monica, another tester. We had fun choosing names.
Here's my version of the K.I.S.S clutch.
I chose to do mine in Home Deco fabrics. I added a flower, that I made, to my clutch because I didn't have the metal ring that was the right size and it changed the look of the clutch completely which just goes to show how you can vary patterns to give them a completely different look.
The pattern is really easy. Possibly good for a beginner.
Ok here it is.

My first one.

This is my second one. On this one I did FMQ ( free motion quilting)

 

 

I've still to finish my third one but will post photos as soon as I'm finished. Take a look at Christine's clutch's and see how the different uses of fabric can change the look. Hers are really fun. 

Here's the link where you can see them and maybe even buy a pattern. Although it's a simple one the pattern is still as detailed as her more difficult ones so anyone could make this one.

http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/2012/06/introducing-kiss.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChriswDesigns+%28ChrisW+Designs%29

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Maria ~

To wash or not to wash. To iron or not to iron, that is the question.

I've seen this question asked so many times. I never bothered in the past. It's so nice to make a bag when the fabric is still new from the shop and hasn't been washed BUT there can be problems with some fabrics.

I soon discovered that when using fabrics other than quilting cottons it's a good idea to do both.
About a month ago I purchased some Home Deco fabrics which I promptly washed but forgot to iron. Today I took one of those pieces of fabric to make a clutch cut it out and proceeded to iron it before adding my fusible interfacing and look what happened.

Yes it shrunk. LOLLLL
After ironing the whole piece it ended up smaller than the original one in the photo below.

I had to scrap the lot and go iron my fabric before cutting out the pieces again. So my advice is wash and iron any fabric that you suspect doesn't have much cotton in it. There is nothing worse than making up a nice bag and then have it shrink when you wash it.
I'll post photos of my clutch that I made with this fabric in the next couple of days.

~ Maria ~

Harvest Time

Ok this post has nothing what so ever to do with sewing but I was so excited this morning I had to post about it.
Back on 26th April after my Bella Bag post I showed you a photo of my runner bean seedlings. They had just sprouted in pots. Well I planted  them out into the garden and they grew and grew until finally I had my first crop three days ago. Every morning I find more to pick. I also planted cucumbers and for some reason they decided to flower like crazy but produced no cucumbers. Well this morning I found one ready for picking and four others hiding in the foliage which should be ready in a couple of days.

Ok, I know it's not exactly enough to be self sufficient but it's a fun hobby when I'm not sewing and I can tell you there's no better taste than beans picked from your own garden that have not been sprayed with anything artificial.

~ Maria ~

The Eve Clutch

Remember the black clutch with the gray gathered panel in the center I tested for Christine. Well I've just seen photos posted on her blog of the one clutch made up in three different fabrics that she's made. One of them has even been made without the gathered center panel.  Amazing how one clutch could have so many different looks.
Here's the link. Take a look they are gorgeous.

http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/

~ Maria ~

A coat for me

I'm in need of a light weight, unlined coat so have decided to stop making bags for a while and make myself some clothes. I can assure you it's not a pretty sight going out with a nice bag on your shoulder wearing a birthday suit. LOLLLL
Making clothes isn't exactly my favourite sewing past time but find it hard to find clothes that I like and that fit well so it's more of a necessity than a labor of love.

This is the pattern I've chosen from a Burda magazine. I won't be making the trousers though. I don't like the pin tucks in them. I'm not even sure if I will like the style of the coat once it's finished. That's the problem with making your own clothes, you can't try them on to see if they suit you.

The magazine is in Turkish but thankfully I don't have to be able to read it to make it.
This is the fabric I wanted to use originally but as I bought the end of roll remnant last year for something else, found it wasn't enough for this project so ended up using another piece I had tucked away. Must have been there at least two years. LOLL

This is as far as I've got so far.

If it looks ok when I'm finished I'll buy some nicer fabric and make another one.
I'll post a photo when I'm done.

~ Maria ~

Clutch Bag

A few posts ago I said I'd be posting a clutch soon. Well here it is. It's another design by Christine at http://www.chriswdesigns.com/shop.htm.
Some of us have just finished testing it so it's not up for sale just yet but keep looking it will be very soon.
Great bag for an evening out with loads of space for all your essentials. I made mine out of velvet upholstery fabric for the main fabric and satin effect for the lining and gathered panel. Although it has loads of pockets inside once the pattern was cut out and the interfacing and fleece ironed on I managed to make it in about 10 hours with a few small breaks in between. Chris suggested using brocade fabrics or cottons but of course I like to make life difficult for myself and went with a much thicker fabric. Next one I'll try a brocade maybe. Anyway I'm thrilled to bits with it and would love to keep this one for myself if my daughter can keep her mitts off it. LOLLL
I put in a few things that I would take with me on a night out to see how they would fit and found that it still had room. This is a photo with the contents in it.

These are my contents. LOLL

I have never really liked doing gathers so this part was not my favourite but turned out quite nice I think.

Just a few more photos. I love playing around with my new camera. LOLLL

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Maria ~

Fabric Boxes

I made these fabric boxes so long ago I can't remember when so now with my new camera here they are.

These little boxes are so useful for all sorts of things. I keep one in the kitchen to put my garlic in.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. I've really enjoyed taking photos of my latest creations since I got my new camera.

~ Maria ~

Pouches

I wanted a break form bags so decided to make some pouches. These were really quick to sew up and so much fun.
These are the Dumpling Pouch and the Across the Pond Pouch. It's so cute, looks like a boat.

Actually I made two boat shaped pouches but gave one to my daughter before I had a chance to take a photo of it.

The black one below is the same pattern as the across the pond pouch shown above, only difference is I made it without the darts do it was flat.

This last one has got to be one of my favourites. I love the shape and the colours on this one.
It's a pencil case. I have been wanting to know how to do the binding at the side of the zipper like this one for ages and came across a tutorial but can't remember where. If I find it again I will post the link. 
I found it eventually so here it is http://www.nicolaforemanquilts.com/1/post/2012/03/how-to-make-a-pencil-case-a-tutorial.html

That's it for the pouches. Just have one last thing to show you in my next post.

~ Maria ~

Tohoku Bag & Showoff Bag

This isn't the first Tohoku Bag I've made but its a nice easy bag to make so made another.

and this next one has got to be the easiest and quickest bag ever to make up. It's the Showoff Bag which I made in about 3 hours.

I made this one with upholstery fabric. It's quite large and a wonderful bag to carry. The pattern only had one pocket which I didn't think was enough so I made four.

I still have more things to show you so keep looking.

~ Maria~

Wavy Top Bag

I've been waiting to get my new camera before I wrote any more posts about my bags. I was getting really fed up with the quality of my photos. I now have it so have quite a few new things to show you. I bet you were all thinking I was being idle. LOLL
The first one is
The Wavy Top Bag designed by Bethany at http://sweetbeebuzzings.blogspot.de/p/sew-alongs.html
It's a lovely bag with plenty of room and she also includes slanted side pockets in her pattern. That will be my next one.

You can see in the next photo that I have free motion quilted the bag because I didn't have any fusible fleece. Next time I may even try a stiffer fleece and see how that works.

What a difference a nice camera can make. Thanks hubby.

~ Maria ~