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 ~

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 ~