My sister just got a new laptop, and requested a special custom bag to tote it around in! She, like many others in my family, loves Star Wars, and wanted her new laptop bag to reflect that. On the front flap is the Rebel symbol in red:
And on the inside of the flap when you lift it up is a while Imperial symbol:
I got to try out my sewing machines applique feature, which I hadn't used much yet. It was surprisingly easy! I used HeatnBond on the back of my fabric, traced the image (which I printed and cut out), cut it out again, removed the backing, and ironed it onto the black canvas. The stitching didn't take very long, but there were a lot of corners to turn on the white symbol! I really like how it turned out, and how professional the appliques look! It's the HeatnBond, I love that stuff!
The flap closes with two small velcro tabs. The bag is padded with batting, and lined with black fleece. The strap is adjustable. There is a quilted pocket on the inside for all the cords.
Next up on the bag list- a purse that looks like an owl, for my niece! I am in the middle of designing it now, trying to figure out the best and cutest way to make it. I may want one for myself, too! :)
Last week I made a new purse for my sister-in-law. I think she might be the only girl in the family I hadn't sewn anything for yet, so I figured it was about time! I used the free Buttercup Bag tutorial from Made By Rae. I also added some changes- I enlarged it, added a top zipper, piping, and some pockets on the inside.
Do you find it hard to pick out fabrics for someone? I do! Especially for something like a purse, because I want to to be their style, something they'd pick out themselves! Here is what I finally picked out. I think it's really soft and pretty, perfect for a spring purse! I love the symmetrical design. I chose out a pale blue thick stripe for the piping and lining. I bought 1/3 yard of each fabric, and used ALL of it for the purse! Lucky guess!
These are bad pocket pictures, I should have taken them before I sewed everything together! I love pockets. I always have so much in my purse that it's near impossible to find my wallet and phone quickly, unless they are in their pocket.
I feel more secure with a zipper on my bags. This style of bag doesn't sit up really well, so it's nice to know that when I toss it in the car or on the table, nothing will fall out. The little ribbon on the zipper pull makes it easy to open and close.
The finished bag! There is heavy interfacing on the top, to keep it sturdy, and just medium interfacing on the bottom. I've made three of these bags now, I think it's a great pattern!
Now I just need to make one for myself one of these days!
This week has been a big week for finishing projects!
I completed the bag my sister ordered from me. It turned out just like I hoped it would (which usually NEVER happens, so I was surprised!) The back has a huge full size pocket, with a corner opening, trimmed with the cute Japanese twill tape. The inside is the teal fabric and has 3 pockets plus a loop for sunglasses or keys. My sister picked it up yesterday and was really happy with it, which is all that matters, really!
And after that was completed, I made another Owl Messenger and started three sock monkeys. One is already up in the shop. I'm not much of a pink person, but I love this yummy monkey! I also started work on a whole new idea that is quite exciting. It's still in my head right now and I don't want to say much about it before I get it figured out, but I will say this: it is soft and involves the alphabet!
Today my sister and I took K and my nephew to see this movie:
Horton Hears a Who was the cutest movie I have seen in a long time! I am glad I have the excuse of having a child as the reason I go to kiddie movies, because I would go anyways :) I'm just a nerd like that. It was my nephew's first movie at the theater, and I was worried it would be too loud, too scary, or too something... but he loved it too! The only problem he had was staying in his seat. On the way home we stopped and got chocolate milk for the boys. K was in the back seat yelling, "oh NO, the WORLD, it has FALLEN into the chocolate milk, what EVER will they DO?!?!?!" Actually it sounded much differently, but I, the translator, have translated it for you so you don't have to do the work.
Just now K woke up from a nap and told me he had a "ho-bibbo" dream where the fish bowl squirted water into his eyes and the frog got stuck under his eyelid and I told him he could get it out so he put his head really close to the fish bowl and opened his eyes really big and the froggy went back into the water (that is the short version).
He is still sitting there on the couch, shaking his head, saying, "it was soooo ho-bibbo. I am sewious, so so ho-bibbo. You know what sewious means? It means a LOT of ho-bibbo."
I always get so excited about new projects... I love designing them, choosing out the materials, etc., but once it gets down to the actual putting together of it, I procrastinate! I have been meaning to make my sister a library tote for months now. Here are my supplies, aren't they lovely and bright? I have a vision of how it will turn out, I just hope it looks somewhat similar to what I see in my brain! I got that cute Japanese linen tape from ChocolateSwirl, I am loving Japanese fabrics lately.
I have sewn lots of totes before, but always simple gift-bag types, or sweet little girl purses. I just want it to be perfect, because, you know, people will see it! I know the only thing different will be the size, but it intimidates me. I found a couple tote tutes that I will be looking at, here are the links:
I have some new little girl purses coming to the shop this week. Actually a couple of them I wouldn't mind carrying around myself :) Here are some sneak peeks!
I have also had a few requests for purses (for any age) that resemble my plush felt owls... I'm working on something that I think is going to be so much fun!
