Custom Backpack

I recently had the pleasure of working with a customer to create a backpack. She picked out this great fabric by Richloom called Emily Garden. And I found a cute butterfly pendant for the flap.

Inside is a nice and simple solid red, which matched wonderfully with the floral print.

Choosing the fabrics and doodads for custom orders can be a long and often daunting process,but I love the results :)

Dusty Blue Floral Backpack

I've been super busy with the new job, the Rust Belt opening preparations and the wet basement, that sewing pretty much ground to a halt recently.

But I was able to squeak in this backpack. There are about 6 more cut out & ready to go.

I really like the bright yellow surprise inside. Although, if whoever gets this is as hard on their bags as I am, it will only stay so bright & new looking for so long :P

And because the lighting was so poor - here's a better idea of what the fabric looks like:

Backpacks are Coming Back

A while back I sent all my backpacks to a shop in Wake Forest, North Carolina - The Lemon Tree. Last month I decided to make some more for my shop. I know, it has been a long time coming. But my production has been sporadic at best recently. This is the first of the new batch. I am so glad I started making them again...they are so fun :)

This time I tried something different with the straps. Instead of 2 separate straps, I made it into one long strap going through a loop at the top. This way there is some versatility in the way you wear it.

I just love the exterior fabric. It was given to me for a custom clutch a while back and she told me to keep the leftovers :) Didn't it turn out cute?

It is rather soft and pliable, so I made sure the interior was sturdier. I went with a solid red denim. Gotta love red!

Peggy Handbags

I finished up some of the more recent bags I cut early last week. There were 6 Peggy's, 6 Karen's and I think it was 8 Anna backpacks. As I may have mentioned, most of my bags are named after their original "owner".

So the Peggy is based off this bag I first made for my mom:

The Karen is for my sis-in-law. I made a 6 pack for her.

Actually, the Anna was for her too, well, her daughter. Originally these were a pack also. They were the goody bags for my niece's birthday party.

And for the first 2 of 6 Peggy's:

A great red floral fabric that I have leftover from a custom clutch some time back...

And for those who like a little feminine floral...

Custom Backpack Completed

It is always fun when the customer lets you chose things. She knew she wanted basic black for the exterior with a specific pendant she saw on another bag I made. But when it came to the lining...it was all me. So I chose this fun bold almost psychedelic print - very fun :)

Last of the Backpacks

I am happy to say that the last backpack is done! And I am not sure if I should admit this or not...but I miscounted. I had 11. For some reason I thought I had 9. One bag had a semi-good explanation - it was cut before the holidays and set aside while I worked on custom orders. Number 11...still not sure how I missed it when counting.

I will have matching zip pouches for most of the bags also. There were a few fabrics that ran out when making the backpacks, so no matching accessories. I have a few that are teeny - like change purse size with a 3 inch zipper. They are so cute...but more difficult to sew than I expected.

I spent the morning taking photos of everything!!! Even my mini monster keychains I made ages ago but never pic'd and a few stuffies and table runners. I hope to be an editing machine & have them ready to start listing tomorrow. Is that too ambitious? Maybe, but I'll try.

Three More Down

I think I am finding my groove. It is helping that my youngest is currently addicted to Lego Star Wars on our Playstation. He looks so cute walking around the room - woots to wireless controllers!- mimicking the movements of the players. It is amazing how well a 4 year old can play. Although, he does stop every few minutes to go build actual Legos....quirky kid - gotta love him!

Anyway, he has been a little less "Mommy do this" these past couple days and so - viola - backpacks! I have another half done. That only leaves 3 to go! I am aiming for a finish by the end of the weekend. In my mind I will also have time to get the photos done too. Too bad the world and my mind do not tend to mesh as well as I would like.

So for now, here's the next three...two of which have straps other than the usual nylon:

Backpacks, Slowly But Surely

I can't believe it was nearly 20 days ago...and I only have 3 backpacks completed. But they all have some parts done. The boring tedious parts like tacking on the straps so they stay when I sew the bottoms with the sides. Or hand sewing the pendants on the flaps.I will say this in my defense...last week was mid-winter break and the boys were home. It's always tougher to get things done when the little guy is allowed free. Free to keep me too occupied with him - and laughing most of the time...so totally worth it!
So, here's the first 3 completed...inside and out...

Now I need to decide if I want to wait until they are all done before I start the 'photo shoot' or try it in batches. It would be a much easier decision if I had enough space for a dedicated spot to take pics. And if the actual shooting & subsequent editing did not suck an entire day (or two) away.

Sewing Again...Finally

It's been quite some time since I have posted anything other than a Wordless Wednesday on this blog. Why? Well, because I have not done anything. Well, nothing creatively speaking anyway. After a week or so of non-sewing, I took hubby's advice and just "took January off". It was nice, but now it is hard to get back into the swing of things.

One of my goals/ideas for this year is to make things other than bags. And to only make a select number of styles. I narrowed it down to backpacks & clutches. I may play around a bit with them. Like with the clutches, I may only make fun & funky & embellished ones rather than the simple versions. Or just one funky for every 3 simple. Something like that. Anyway....

Here are the ready to be assembled backpacks ... exterior print is the top of the two...

Holiday Orders

First I would like to start with some feedback I got from the pink ballet backpack. It always makes me feel so good to hear such a positive response from something I made. So I had to share :

"Amazing seller. I had a custom order (ballet bag), and she walked me through the entire process, asking the right questions along the way. If you don't know your canvas from your duck cloth, worry not. She is very understanding and was willing to work with my needs, despite my deficiency in the knowledge of craft materials!"

She even sent me a pic of the bag with her shoes in them...which I was so worried would not fit:

I can't remember whether or not I mentioned The 6 Pack. It was an order from a family member (thanks sis!) for a matching set of bags for her sis-in-laws & their daughters. With this one I had to design the bag first...I had 2 styles, a tab top and a zipper top. She went with the zipper top. Which is a good thing since the tab top needed some reworking.

These were the results:


I really like this design and plan to make more. But unlike these, the lining will NOT be canvas. I lost count of the broken needles littering my work area. The shorter, more structured, handles are fun too. I am not sure if you can tell by the pics on Sis's couch, but they stand up on their own.

Now to get my rear in gear and start sewing again. I think I was sewn out last month...I haven't touched my machine in over 2 weeks! I think that's the longest I've gone without in the past 2 years!

Holidays Equals Vacation

Hmmm...actually, looking at my recent posts, I'd have to say I already hit vacation made. With my blogs at least. They have been neglected while I gave my attention to the sewing machine. There have been 2 hand painted messenger bags, 3 custom backpacks, one altered backpack, 2 zip pouches, a pillow and a 6 bag set (pictures will be coming later for these 6 & the most recent backpack). So vacation...not really. But it is now, because for the next week there will be no sewing or blogging...well, not much anyway :)


These are the completed messenger bags. I think I may start making more of these...some in a half size. I was thinking about the smaller size for a while...ever since the summer zoo trips. I think it would be a perfect hands free was to carry my wallet, keys, camera & small snacks.

This pink bag was a bit challenging. The customer will be using it as a ballet bag. There needed to be 2 mesh pockets for the shoes and a box pocket on the outside for keys & small wallet. Not having the actual shoes in front of me made it tough to get the pocket size correct. I did have the basic measurements, which helped, but it would be nice to have the actual shoe for testing. She sent me a pic of the bag with the shoes in the pockets - it looked like a great fit. woo hoo!

Have a Happy Holiday! See you in a week or so.

Custom Black Backpack

Nice & simple solid with a little surprise inside....silky leopard print.


I think I may need to make a variety of solid color backpacks...after the holidays though. I am, almost, overwhelmed with custom orders. It is not that I can't get them done...I am merely surprised at the sudden influx of requests. Feels nice :)